When Vijay and Ryder returned, he had a small book, no bigger than his palm open,  red eyes on ginger again, free hand reached to hold his, guide closer, while he shared the page's content in a softer tone. "Consider my body a canvas, your tongue a brush. You know how I feel about  blank pages, open spaces.  Emptiness is there for you to fill it. You have a lot of catching up to do." Book closed and back into an inner pocket in one motion, red-haired finally gives his attention to Ryder, reaching for a handshake. "Ryder. A pleasure to finally meet face to face." You can get corporate out of a suit, but can't get the suit out of corporate. "My, my, suits barely hide both of you, so all over the place. Good that guests don't give a fuck. My name's Arki." And not a dete more. When introductions are done, he finally takes the cigarette out of his mouth, breathing out red smoke, holding his copper divine's waist with the gentleness of a lover, even if there is nobody around to play pair. Ryders' visible hostile position was not only ignored but even amusing. But, Arki was looking at him, every detail, mark, scar. Studied, and calculated, strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities. Red glow, looking into him like he is a poem book. And only intention in that gaze is to learn. He smiles usually softly, gesturing at the party in front. "I hope you took time to enjoy this gathering of hideous wannabe bigshots with pure shit they see for fashion. Observing this disgrace does lift the mood. Drinks are tolerable at least. Have you decided to brief me in, cutie? If so, now is a good time. I was about to leave after the fireworks, like anyone else with self-respect."

— Once the two arrive back Vijay immediately feels heat rising to his face as he hears the words that were obviously addressing him whereas Ryder just watches the scene in silence and is busy with holding his mood at bay. V is impressed by Arki’s spontaneous little declamation. “What a surprise! Turns out my fiancé is a poet.” He says with a true surprise in his voice doesn’t think twice and immediately falls back into his role as well, letting Arki lay a hand around his waist and starts gesturing between the both men to make a proper introduction. “Sorry for the interruption. Arki— this is Ryder. He’s part of my small merc team.”  Ryder,back in his arms crossed position, unable to stand entirely still, watches every single move of the redhead and isn’t delighted about the reach for Steyr’s waist. V’s already way too comfortable with this guy. What did you not tell me? Ryder doesn’t like it when someone he doesn’t know gets this close to his best friend. He can’t turn off his protectiveness about Vijay even if he wanted to. Then the redhead offers his hand to shake. Ryder decides not to accept. Sure it’s not quite the etiquette in this place to do, but since he knows now that this man is the same person Vijay talked to in the Afterlife, the same masked guy who saved them on the gig that went wrong Ryder is not keen to shake hands with him for a second time – now less than ever since he sensed a true Corpo in him. So all Arki receives is a derogative gaze from him, upper lip slightly twitching like a watchdog is about to bear its ivories. Scharfenberg feels the red gaze on him, knows the guy tries to read him too. He doesn’t know if the man has a scanner or not but he sure won’t find any info about Ryder this way, thanks to V’s exquisite deletion of all data connected to Ry’ past. Arki will only see the data for Richard von Reineck for as long as they are here.Arkis' question about the gala however lets Ryder find his voice again. “I would rather be at another party right now than having to endure this poor sense of fashion walking around. All I see is hideous snakes, loan sharks and wannabes corporats. If this info on our target wasn’t of such an importance and V didn’t beg me to come with I’d have not set a foot in here. This dinky joint of a bar there doesn’t even serve any beer!” Ryder ends with a huge disappointment in his tone.

Give me your faith, something I can believe in And you'll be my family, my brother, my friend Tell me a truth that I find not deceiving Teach me a lesson that I understand Build me a shelter, a place I can dwell in Show me a future that I can enjoy Give me a reason and I'll be your fellow Show me the target I have to destroy Exterminate annihilate destroy Show me my leader and I'll pledge obedience Whisper the name of the enemy mine Blessed be my fate and my tools of expedience I'm going to fulfill what's my mission divine Exterminate annihilate destroy