Eliza groaned as her bare foot padded into the kitchen during a desperate hunt for water. The dance had created a nauseating stomach and spinning head that could only come from a hangover. One, Eliza was not proud to say, was caused by Benny fuelled rage.

"Hi" she heard a male speak.

Eliza gasped and jumped back almost taking a chair down with her as she fumbled to the floor. To her knowledge all of her companions were still sleeping. Apparently except one, who judging by his clothing, did not make it home last night.

"Arcade" she greeted with a small laugh "don't do that to me."

He held up his hands in mock surrender "sorry" then continued to cradle the treasured coffee in front of him. Once Eliza had found a cool bottle she sat next to him, legs crossed on the chair ready to discuss his exploits.

"Who was he ?"

Arcade smirked and squeezed his mug a little tighter "Swank."

Eliza playfully slapped him "you certainly made a first impression then."

He gave a small breath of a laugh, almost embarrassed. "I didn't sleep with him." He admitted a small blush colouring his cheeks, he continued to look down at his coffee.

"Oh...but...you stayed with him ?" Eliza cocked an eyebrow and took a moment to assess her friends embarrassed body language.

"We talked. We literally sat up and talked about everything and anything."

Arcade gave a warm smile down into his coffee mug and a slight glow covered his cheeks.

Eliza gasped "you like him ! You genuinely like him. Arcade Gannon this is a first !" She sat forward leaning towards him desperate for more information.

He grinned "he was dare I say it...a gentleman."

Eliza clasped her hands together in genuine happiness for her friend "I am so glad for you !"

Arcade shushed her slightly and swatted away her praise then turned to her his loving glow changing to genuine concern.

"I heard about a certain checkered wearing non-gentleman who shall not be named." Arcade tapped the side of his mug irritated "Swank spoke about him with such praise I had to hold my tongue !...I didn't say anything about you two, obviously.

Eliza smirked "very unlike you to hold your tongue."

"Well I didn't want to give the first impression of being a bitch."

She gave a loud hearty laugh which left a slight soreness in her hungover head.

"Get this he said he didn't want to get 'acquainted' and not to waste his time."

Arcades jaw dropped "you saved his life ! After he shot you in the head none the less. He owes you."

"Apparently not according to him. He thinks he is so much better than me !" Eliza hissed in fury as her fists tightened.

"Pride is not a very admirable feature."

"Indeed."

Eliza leaned back in her chair smirking to Arcade.

"Since when did you get so smart."

"I would say since I met a boy but lets be honest I always have been" Arcade winked.

"So what shall you be doing about Mr Swank ?"

Arcade paused thoughtfully.

"I think I shall play it ...coyly." He smirked and stood for another coffee refill "yes, he shall come to me."

Eliza grinned "don't play too coyly or he might go chasing some other boy...or girl." Arcade hummed with a raised highbrow, Eliza continued "Arcade have you confirmed that you are in fact his type, per say."

Arcade clanked his teeth against his stirring spoon, deep in thought.

"Not outright but it doesn't matter. If someone is to like me, they will like me for me and not because my gender suits."

Eliza grinned "Arcade you are just the cutest fucking thing ever."

"Aren't I just."


The meeting between the Chairmen that morning was nothing of significant importance. Intake and costs were discussed along with the tax due to Mr House which Benny gave a roll of the eyes to.

When the meeting, finally Benny thought, finished he was cornered by one of his men.

"Tommy. To what do I owe the pleasure ?"

"I seen your buddy Swank letting out your best gals doctor buddy this morning."

Benny frowned for a moment lost in the conversation. For a brief moment he thought he had meant Julie, which would have created a much more awkward conversation than what he desired.

"Liz isn't anything to do with me and Swank can do whatever the hell he wants."

"Sure about that boss ? You and Miss Eliza have a certain chemistry about you...can almost say its deadly." Tommy smirked at his own joke as Benny sneered.

"She is not my problem."

"When people I kill rise from the dead they usually become my problem. She might be getting that doctor to get the dish on our man Swank."

"Nah" Benny shook his head sticking his hands into his suit pockets "she ain't like that."

"And you would know ?"

"She's not smart enough for this town is what I mean. Too nice."

Tommy raised his eyebrows. For someone that was supposedly not his friend he seemed to be defending her a fair bit.

"Do we keep a eye on her or not ?"

"Nobody keeps an eye on her, you got that ?"

Tommy stayed quiet taken in his managers sudden rage.

"Dig ?" Benny spat.

"Dig" Tommy mumbled as Benny stalked away from him. Tommy snorted as his words settled in. "Dig. Ha. Very funny boss. Eliza, grave, dig."

He looked up to find he was speaking to no one.

The Lucky 38 group were sitting nicely in the cocktail lounge. Due to pressure Eliza had put on Mr House, Raul had been able to set up a decent projector system for them. Each of them sat comfortable nursing hangovers and watching colourful movies depicting a world that did not exist anymore.


Veronica sat with her head in Boones lap as he played absentmindedly with her hair.

"If I was to meet someone like Swank. I wouldn't have just talked that's for sure."

Cass hushed her with a small giggle as Arcade drew her a look. "I didn't have quite a sheltered up bringing as you. I don't have to open my legs to every suitor I meet in the hopes of experiencing life."

Veronica gasped and Boone snorted.

"Easy now !" Eliza called on her back muffled from under a pillow which was blocking out the head pounding sun. "Ronnie only opens her legs to the pretty ones !"

"I don't open them at all thank you very much."

"Maybe you should" Cass laughed "it might loosen you up a little."

"Oi" Boone chided.

A quiet chorus of laughter echoed the room. Eliza loved that her small group had over come all awkwardness. They felt more like a family now than anything else. Being polite was civil but to be witty and snarky proved true friendship.

The elevator dinged and Raul rushed in, flustered and out of breath.

"Arcade ! There's been a shooting at the Tops ! You're needed !"

Arcade instantly stood up ready to sprint to the elevator doors.

"Should I go ?" Eliza called.

"No boss. They're not letting anyone in but Medical."

She nodded quickly and looked towards Arcade who stared as if waiting for approval. "Go ! Go ! " she shouted.

The elevator clanged shut as Arcade entered leaving an awkward silence as everyone took in the information.

"Who was it ?" Boone asked.

"Freesider. Wanted liberation for the poor people" Raul spoke.

Eliza bit her lip in concern "I should do something to help them."

A warm hand touched her shoulder as she turned to find Cass' concerned eyes "it's not your game Lizzy."

"Mr House has the power to help him yet he does nothing !"

"And you are just his employee. Don't get involved."

Eliza sighed in frustration. Her position of power was severely limited.

"Now isn't the time to think of Independence" Veronica's small voice sang out "lets just hope nobody was seriously hurt."


Eliza paced the worn carpet of the penthouse suite. She would occasionally look up at Victors blank face and then continue her strides as his silence followed. Eventually at 3 minutes past 1, the message came.

"Message from The Tops partner."

She ran over to the activating securitron and tapped her foot impatiently.

"It seems Mr Gannon will be held up for a few days. Seems no one was killed but some injuries need a bit more help than a few stitches."

Eliza nodded quickly relieved to hear of the lack of casualties.

"Let him know to stay safe, would you ?"

"Can do."

Victor's screen flickered a few times then eventually shut off as he reached another terminal. Eliza left crawling into her bed exhausted. Seconds before sleep took over she smirked to herself. Arcades coy plan wouldn't be working much anymore seeing as he now had to share a building with Swank.'