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It was amazing that Cait was getting into it with Rianne. Otherwise she would be up on the stage looking silly. Them both being so into it made it a show. There was a point where Rianne wasn't sure if Cait was a great actress or actually checking her out.

Cait gave the green light. They'd have an amazing closer to the song. Transitioning from hands on her hips while she shook them to throwing her hands out "Oo-oo-oo, the one I need. Oh, yes, indeed." She lept on 'indeed'. Wrapping her legs around Cait and holding her behind her neck. While her subcompact pistol would not be visible to the audience in its thigh holster, there was no way Cait wouldn't feel something against her side.

The song wound down and Rianne dropped down from Cait. Make sure the dress hadn't decided to give people a show, then because dress, curtsied before moving to leave the stage still walking as if to the beat. "That was amazing! Too much fun!" She said to Cait.

"That's such a culture shift from New York. Is that like a Quinceañera for little Texan boys and girls?"

The Ranger laughed, ”Not anythin’ so formal. It is more of a thing with the college there, but it has affected the rest of the area. I don’t think first boots are as big a deal in other parts of Texas.”

Noel’s answer to his question about her drinking whiskey both told him that he had best not order her whiskey and that she didn’t remember the time she had whiskey with the Ranger. And if she wasn’t much a drinker she might not care for or know her taste in beers.

"I'll have whatever you have?"

She’d seemed to enjoy an adult slushie the last time so the Ranger ordered a pair margaritas. Frozen with salt.. The reviews had said they were good here, he’d be the judge of that though. While he waited he turned to Noel and asked, ”Do y’ remember anythin’ about how t’ dance or are we at square one?”

His compliment was met with one in return. He smiled. Always nice to be complimented on your appearance, especially by someone you put in that extra effort for.

"You always go out armed?"

The Ranger looked down. In his excitement while getting ready he had left his pistol where the grip was printing. "Better t' have an' not need than t' need an' not have." he said as he used his right hand to shift the gun so the grip wasn't so obvious against his shirt.

"But I have every faith that you won't let me make a fool of myself on the dancefloor."

"Wouldn't dream of it. Jus' follow my lead an' we'll have everybody else jealous by the end of the night. " Jealous of the pretty girl he had and jealous of the great dancer she had. And if she picked it up like before she'd do better than several of the others on the floor by the end of the night.

"Lead on, Ranger."

Door locked behind him, the Ranger set off. Ever since Pointe Du Hoc Rangers have always lead the way, and this night had a feeling like a battle was coming. That sense of excitement and anxiety. He had to force himself not to bounce as he walked.

As Cody Johnson said, "If she gives me half a chance at romance I'm gonna dance her home."

He might as well admit it to himself, he liked Noel. The question was, what does she think of him?

They went down the elevator and out the front. A block away stood the garage. The Ranger only kept his Suzuki Hayabusa and his murdered out Mustang GT500 Hellcat Tamer in this garage. The Fordasaurus could live at his office.

As they approached the car he hit the remote start and 765 horses came to life. Always the gentleman, he even opened the door for Noel before going around the car to sit in the driver seat. The interior of the car was nice, well kept and clean. It also had racecar seats. With as much get up and go as the car had it was only fitting.

When the Ranger had finished Devon thanked him and expressed his appreciation for the full disclosure and services Blackforest provides before diving in. Devon began by discussing why having a security team such as the Ranger’s would be such a boon. The social reforms Haven pushed could easily have a violent backlash. More than likely lone wolves, but the chance of a larger reaction always existed.

A transition from security, a defensive action, to more aggressive actions. This was the service Ranger could provide that other security firms could not. This was the place where more than anything else the two men needed to be on the same page.And so far it seemed good, Devon was admitting he could not be so naive to think violence and death were not possible.

Sometimes you have to burn away the rot for healing to happen. The Ranger stood ready to burn it if it would lead to healing. Devon seemed to have his head and heart in the right place. He would shoot where Devon pointed.

Moving on, Devon informed the Ranger of some of the structure. A group of individuals. He said some are involved depending on the mission. So despite being a group they still had areas of responsibility and things they more individually oversaw. And provided the two men reached an agreement, the Ranger would be invited to meet them.

Finally, it came around to the paperwork. The standard contract. The extra-curriculars would of course be handled differently, paper trails are problematic for those. As for payment, the Ranger had assumed the pay would not be as good as what his normal clients paid. This was not a huge problem though. As a contractor he was not exclusive to Haven, but would give Haven preference. Any time a clandestine job with another client would conflict with a job for Haven he would take the Haven job.

The security side of the arrangement was also a more steady stream of income to offset some of the cost. That and he could onboard more staff over time to handle more jobs to make up the rest. He might have to find Jude some help if he did that though.

As Devon finished speaking the Ranger turned to the paper work. ”I completely understand.” His eyes flew down the contract. Scanning across the details. He’d read dozens of these security contracts had learned where to look and what to look for on them. All the usual terms for permanent security staffing, terms of payment, outlining how disagreements are settled, the type of access he would have to Haven facilities and the access his employees would have. He kept reading. Beyond the normal terms there was also the terms for Ranger to reside at Haven. A request he had made early on in the negotiations.

It was easier than finding an apartment and meant he was nearby in case of an emergency.

Still scanning he spoke, ”Max sold y' as someone I could work with, Devon. I had some reservations comin’ in here. I could run y’r security no problem... Now after meetin’ y’ I can be y’r shooter.” The Ranger pulled out a pen and signed the contract. ”Y’ve got y’r head on straight an’ I agree with y’r goals. I can do the necessary f’r y’.” And maintain a degree of separation to protect Haven in case something goes sideways.

Documents signed the Ranger put his pen away. He then slid the documents over to Devon.

”There’s our public arrangement. Let’s settle the private one.”

The man thanked Rianne for letting him sit next to her. And it turned out is was more than just a metal hand that this man had. He sipped his drink, Rianne let him remain silent. He had that right after all. In reply she nodded back and returned to her drink.

She didn't catch the man sizing her up, but knew he must be. What good of a wingman would he be otherwise? Though he did have a strike against himself, he was tapping his foot and couldn't find the beat.

Finally the man commented on the song and that'd it would be easy to dance to.

"It would be." If you had rhythm.

Almost as if he knew she was thinking it the man commented that he didn't have much rhythm. Which was interesting, most people who had poor rhythm thought they were at least okay. It also seemed the fella he was wingmaning for had brought metal arm out to get him some experience.

But what was really interesting was that Ollie, what metal arm had called the man, was someone that metal arm had to get out of the station. Police, fire, or EMS? Based on how metal arm was wingmaning without making his scoping out Rianne obvious she put her money on police.

"Sounds like you're a good friend." She replied back quietly. Then at a conversational level she said, "The first step is finding the beat." She tapped her hand on the counter and every time the first beat rolled around she said, "One."

"It sounds like you're parents are wonderful people." Often times having to fight seemed to warp people. Make them jaded, cynical, and less accepting of things not associated with their struggles. Though, perhaps since the two fights were so similar it was easier to understand. "And it's really cool that you can learn from their experience to help in your own struggles."