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 Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 12:18 am
"So, you'll come then?" Ralph asked almost in a begging way to Tia, after the snipe attack that worried her even more and she had to still think of the safety of others...
"Don't look so worried, I promise that you that once we both leave this house there will be no more danger." Ralph smiled as some aged wrinkles curled at the sides of his lips.
Tia managed a small smile as well. Somehow the attack had gone right past her, putting all her faith in Ralph. Wait a minute. Putting all her faith? She shook her head for a moment clearing her mind again. And how was it that he had known earlier that she was thinking of safety issues? Regardless of the endless questions that filled her mind and of course the extremely odd morning, Tia cleared her throat to get out her answer.
"Yes, okay, we'll go. The most I'm giving you is a week, no more."
Ralph bit his lip. He had wanted to stay with her for at least two weeks... for business purposes of course. His hair fell to the side for a moment before he decided to negotiate.
"Week and a half?"
Tia blinked. "... Um, ok. Just as long as this problem gets all sorted out."
Ralph smiled again pulling her into a hug. "Thanks." Tia chuckled patting his back while in the hug and breaking the embrace. "I don't think I had much of a choice." Ralph laughed, leading her back to the sitting room where Aturos had fallen asleep with his head rested on his fist, while Iqbal and Fortune were curled up on his lap. Tia whispered to Ralph softly.
"Aww. Look how adorable that is, definite Kodak moment right there." She reached for the small disposable camera from the nearby shelf and clicked the shutterbox. She put it back on, and chuckled.
"Here, wake him up slowly and make sure he eats breakfast before you tell him I'm leaving with you. Aturos gets a tad bit angry about waking him up and all... well, good luck dear." Tia patted his back again and tiptoed upstairs to get her belongings packed, because she assumed they would be heading over right after breakfast.
Ralph gave a small groan followed by a gulp. Why did he have to do it? There was just something about Aturos being grumpy that made him afraid to wake up the man.
As if on cue, Moros happened to come into the room with a plate filled with French toast. Ralph was thankful, and hopefully the aroma would be enough to wake up Aturos.
Iqbal's nose wiggled as he flicked one ear. Aturos gave a yawn with a murmur. "Mmm. French toast." Fortune gave a yawn as well, and made circles on Aturos's lap before curling back up in her sleeping position. Aturos had nothing else to do but wake up from the two on his lap. He blinked open and eye, then the other.
"So, you're taking Tia away for a week and a half, eh?" Aturos chuckled with a lazy face, reaching over carefully for a piece of toast.
Ralph blinked. "How'd you know?"
"Tia forgets the fact that my eyesight is crap, but my hearing makes up for it."
"Ah... then you're ok with it?"
"Eh, do I really have a choice bloke?"
"Well, probably not."
"I've grown attached to her kid, what's a week and a half," Aturos nodded ruffling Iqbal's hair softly, and stroking Fortune's head, "...but say, you got plans? I know it doesn't take a week and a half to get a problem solved."
Ralph promptly chuckled nervously. This guy was reading him like an open book. "Maybe..."
Aturos laughed this time giving a wave of his hand. "You take care of her, she's a good woman."
Ralph nodded; glad he didn't have to explain. "I will, no worries." He took his own piece of toast and rested back in the armchair, awaiting Tia's arrival.
A loud boom sounded as a few large suitcases fell down the stairs landing at the end. Tia followed after, cleaned up and changed into another one of her casual-formal outfits. She held the remaining luggage. She gave a wide grin to the two men and walked over to eat her own breakfast of French toast.
"It's settled then?"
Aturos nodded as Iqbal and Fortune awoke from the sounds. Iqbal rubbed his eyes as best he could while Fortune preened her feathers and stretched. Tia smiled giving her son a kiss on the cheek, and Fortune one on her head.
"You two be good while mommy is gone hmm? Listen to Uncle Atu." She gave one last nuzzle to Iqbal as he giggled.
Aturos raised an eyebrow. How long had it been since she had called him that?
"Atu?"
"Yes, Atu. I doubt Iqbal's first name for you is going to be Aturos."
Aturos gave a humph and stood up to lead the pair out. Ralph chuckled, helping carry some of the luggage out cueing Moros for aid.
One last departing good bye was given to everyone, as Ralph and Tia left for the week and a half.
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Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:20 pm
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GIN0 GAMBIN0 Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:12 am
The first task, it appeared, was how the two of them were getting to the estate in the first place.
"Eh?" Ralph blinked to Tia with the raise of an eyebrow.
"... I said, how are we getting to the estate?"
"Um. I thought you had that planned?"
Tia rubbed her temple annoyingly. Just when she thought Ralph may have had things planned he was as clueless as ever.
"Okay, we're just going to take my car."
Ralph smiled with a shake of his head.
"No can do. They'll shoot if they don't recognize the car."
Tia gave a groan. "So how are we getting there?"
"Um... there was a way... I remember planning it..."
Before Ralph could continue, a large black van appeared with a hard swerve on the curb. It was only riding on two wheels before it halted suddenly in front of the duo.
"Oh yeah! We were getting picked up."
Tia blinked. "Your lack of memory never ceases to amaze me. But, uh, Ralph? No offense but who is that? He's driving like a drunk."
A man gave a huge smile from the driver's seat. He looked fairly young as he revved the engine.
"'Ello Don, Don's Wife! Let's hit the road!" He got out from the car, and started packing the luggage into the trunk.
Ralph raised an eyebrow. "Who's my wife?"
"Yeah, who's his wife?" Tia added, eyeing the man.
"Oh, and Tia, this is Vico, head of handling transportation." Ralph gave a warm smile, "Vico, she isn't my wife, she's coming as a friend to help the situation."
Tia stared long and hard at the man. "... Ralph. I know you're the godfather sweetie, but you need to start hiring people who can drive cars. ESPECIALLY if they happen to be head of transportation." She walked to the car, giving a whack to the back of his head.
"Let's just get there okay?"
Ralph gave a whimper as his head was hit. "Tia why must you abuse me!"
Tia grabbed his arm with a roll of her eyes. "Get in here you idiot." She pulled him in all the way into the van shutting the door.
Vico blinked nervously. "S-sorry Don. And I'm sorry to you Miss. Didn't mean for the mistakes. So, we just going to the estate?"
"Yes, the estate, and hurry please. We shouldn't have any more delays." Another older looking man turned to the back with a serious expression.
"Ah, Biaggio you're here as well. That's going to help. Tia, this is my advisor, Biaggio."
"Please to meet you both, you can refer to me as Tia." Tia smiled warmly making sure she had her seat belt on. She wasn't about to trust Vico with his driving capabilities.
Vico gave another scarily big smile and revved the engine right into Barton's West Field. Of course, it was needless to say in this time, they had hit four trees, nine bushes, twenty plants, two mailboxes and a few fire hydrants, and surprisingly through all this destruction no police officers had been around and after a few curses in Italian from Biaggio, they appeared in front of the estate.
"So, we're here Don!"
The passengers got out of the car dizzily. Ralph tried to open the door, but it fell off.
"Such a good car this one has been." He escorted Tia out, as she was supported by Biaggio when Ralph went to talk to Vico.
"Eh, Don. We're going to need a new van. It seems like it's not going to be able to be fixed."
"So, Vico, fifth one this week?"
"Um, maybe fourth, I'll have to ask Jacopo."
"You do that my good man."
Meanwhile, Tia was being escorted to the main halls of the estate. And it did live up to her expectations. Ralph followed in after them, while a few larger men came out to the van to unload their belongings.
"Eh, yes, bring them all up to my room."
Tia blinked. "... And who said I'm staying with you?"
Ralph chuckled nervously afraid to answer wrongly. "Uh... no extra space. Sorry, of course there's two beds... don't get the wrong idea!"
Tia sighed scratching the back of her head. "Yeah, it's fine. Just lead me there so I can get unpacked."
"I'll take her there. Biaggio, meet me in the study in about an hour or so. We're going to need to do some explaining."
Biaggio nodded solemnly departing as Tia and Ralph were left in the hallway, to admire the large stair case that started on either side and rose to one main master bedroom with other passages skirting out from its sides.
"I'll give you a tour later. You should probably take a nap." Ralph smiled, leading her along the banister.
Tia nodded, following his lead. She admired the cleanliness of the house and the place itself as she entered the large bedroom.
"I'll leave you to explore the place, but really you should take a nap."
Tia smiled to him and nodded again. "Yeah, I'm going, you go do your godfather thing."
"See you in an hour."
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:15 pm
Tia yawned from the sheets of the large bed in which she lay. Her eyes flitted open once before closing again, murmuring and rubbing her head into a pillow. She smiled at the softness and soon drifted back to her slumber.
"Oh Tia..."
Tia's ears reached back a moment as she heard a familiar voice, but decided that it was only her imagination and mumbled something back to the voice.
"C'mon sleepy, I've got to fill you in on why you're even here..."
Tia opened one eye reluctantly to only find Ralph's warm smile greeting her. She rolled her eyes and groaned as she lifted herself off the bed, stretching as she stood. She looked down at her clothes for a moment, remembering that it had only been an hour of sleep rather than a night, so this meant that she really did need that hour.
Ralph gave a chuckle, extending a palm as a gentleman would, escorting her out of the room and down the wooden banister down to a large hallway on the left. Tia didn't resist any of his offers, only following him to the vast double doors at the end of the hall. Out of nowhere it had seemed Biaggio escorted the two into the room that looked like the main office. The three of them walked down the long strip of carpet that ended with a large leather chair, hovering over a wooden desk and placed in front of a large glass paned wall. Two smaller chairs sat facing the larger one.
Ralph took his seat at the head chair, while Tia took to the left chair facing Ralph and Biaggio took the right facing Ralph and across from Tia.
Ralph cleared his throat. "If you will Biaggio."
"Ah, yes sir." Biaggio shifted through the papers he had in his hand along with files as he spread them among the desk, "Ahem... well the basic situation afoot seems to be that there is another Godfather of a Mafia that wants to take over this division for his own uses. He's much more powerful than we are with more connections, and we've been running out of options." He continued to explain how the other mafia was also of the Fanalysam race.
Ralph only sighed, glancing to Tia. "So, what do you think of this?"
Tia eased back in her chair pondering the situation. "Well... you could always get him a woman or something."
Ralph arched an eyebrow. "Eh?"
"You have to make sure you get on his good side even befriend him and conjoin forces. You two could make quite a team... just show him you have something to join with and I'm sure he'll see you in a new light."
Ralph coughed for a moment, looking to Biaggio. "Well, I can't... this is what my grandfather was, I can't let it join into something that might destroy it."
"Sir, if you will... Miss Tia does have a point... and with all things considered, we don't have much of a choice in the matter..." Biaggio interrupted pressing the papers spread on the desk back into the folder.
"Well... maybe just getting on good terms is the way to go... I'm not ready to commit this place with someone who is trying to kill me after all..."
Tia stopped him this time, to voice her mind. "You never did explain why we were being snipped at..."
Ralph gave a weak smile. "Ehehe. Well, um... you see... they think..."
"Out with it Ralph."
At that moment, the doors flew outward revealing a handful of men marching their way to the trio.
"Sir, it doesn't look good at all over here... we've got some cars headed down here to the estate faster than bullets!"
Ralph stood up, glancing outside from behind his desk.
"Great, they're here early... Tia, quick go get dressed... something formal."
"Ralph?"
"Don't ask questions, Tia, just go, we don't have time."
"Alright..."
Tia stood up quickly, and her pace quickened up to Ralph's room as she begun to get dressed as formal as possible, it was rare that Ralph was serious. Her changing was forgotten quickly as people scurried throughout the estate like rabbits assembling their positions.
Ralph darted up the stairs himself, while Tia was in the bathroom, and quickly got on one of his best suits and jewelry, dressing himself as if it were the meeting of his life. He ran down the stairs again, heading to the door, as Biaggio opened it.
At the door stood a group of large men, looking more like bodyguards than anything else, Ralph only gave a nod of his head.
"We're just waiting on one more person then we can depart."
The man in the front nodded, and spoke something to the others behind him as the group waited for Tia to arrive.
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:10 pm
Red silk wrapped around Tia's body in the shape of a Chinese dress with gold floral designs embroidered into every inch of the cloth, while a slit could be seen from the side that crept up to her thigh. Golden sandals lined her feet, lacing up to her calf. Her hair sat atop her head as a mess of curls held up by red-tinted chopsticks while two loose strands feel on either side of her face, past her chin. Long crystalline earrings made of gold hung from her first hole, with two smaller studs in the second and third. A few gold bangles jingled around her right wrist, and on her lips she wore red, glossy lipstick with a sparkling gold eye shadow as an enhancer. A hint of blush could also be seen on her cheeks and to top her outfit off, she held a matching silk purse with beads embedded within it.
She admired herself in the mirror for a second, chuckling to herself.
"Well, Ralph did say I needed to get dressed formally..."
She then glanced at the clock quickly and remembered that she needed to be down with Ralph. Running as fast as her heels could take her, she actually managed it down the banister elegantly enough to appear before Ralph and Biaggio as well as the few large men at the doorway.
Ralph turned his head toward the sound of Tia's heels, smiling before his eyes widened. Never had he seen her more beautiful than where she was at that moment, it felt as though his heart skipped a beat on it's own, and his bottom lip fell open before he shook his head subtly, extending a hand out for her.
Tia blinked before finally accepting the hand, as snickers came from the group of men in front of her.
"Lovely little broad you've got yourself there...."
Ralph gritted his teeth. "She's a friend of mine, not my broad."
"Oh? So that means she's single?"
Tia arched an eyebrow answering for herself. "Yes, I am single."
More snickers erupted before a large clap sounded from the limo that was pulled up in the driveway. The men bowed down escorting Ralph, Tia and Biaggio down into the vehicle.
Ralph held her waist protectively as he walked, whispering something into her ear that could only be heard by her, as she nodded and ducked her head lower into the car neatly tucking her dress underneath her. He walked in after her, Biaggio last as they sat in a row along the cushioned seats. All three of them looked up in front to notice that it was darker farther back where two of the body guards could be seen protecting on large man who sat in between them. From the lighting, there could only be outlines of figures made which was curious to them, but they respected this man's customs.
A grunt was given before the center figure started to speak and what was voiced was very harsh and heavily influenced with an Italian accent.
"Ah, we meet at last Mr. Camelini."
Ralph acknowledged him, now certain of his identity. "Yes, it is a pleasure Mr. Achille."
"We are departing back to my home for our business negotiations over dinner, as you already know... may you introduce your guests?"
"Yes, I thank you for the opportunity. This lovely woman is Miss Tia, a friend of mine, and this is my advisor, Biaggio."
Tia and Biaggio bowed forward a little to show respect when being introduced.
"Miss Tia... you are quite beautiful..." Mr. Achille gave a small snicker under his breath as he eyed her from the darkness.
"Thank you sir." Tia clenched her hand slightly, as Ralph shifted his palm slightly around it to calm her. Tia nodded again, facing back to Mr. Achille.
"Either way... seems as if we're finally here."
The three of them glanced out the window to have pulled up to an estate similar to Ralph's. It looked larger and had a completely different color scheme, but it was enough to be a threat from what lay inside.
They were escorted out and into the front doors, behind Mr. Achille and his guards, as they came to a vast entrance, where they were told to wait for further instructions. While they were waiting, Tia whispered to Ralph.
"Who is this Mr. Achille?"
"He's the other Godfather."
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Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:54 pm
Tia lent back after whispering, thinking to herself. The men came back, along with Mr. Achille, who finally had revealed himself.
He was a stout man, with jet black hair greased to its capacity. His clothing, from what one could tell, was extremely expensive, and he seemed to walk around as if he knew it, strutting off his fortune in what he wore. Needless to say, he did have a fortune and more than enough to prove it.
The group of men surrounding Mr. Achille and as well as himself, edged closer to the trio, while he stood in the middle of the men, talking aloud.
"Well, now that you've finally entered my humble abode, Mr. Camelini, why don't you and your advisor come and we can discuss these negotiations over dinner... while Miss Tia can have her dinner with my son. She's not really necessary in our discussion, is she Mr. Camelini?"
He stood with a smug expression, as Ralph refrained from gritting his teeth again. Tia squeezed his hand for a moment before giving a nod, with a whisper.
"Go work things out with him, I'll be fine. Remember what I told you and Biaggio earlier."
Ralph gave a thoughtful look to her, as she left his side to one of the men.
"Yes, that's perfectly fine Mr. Achille."
"Ah, very good. Well then, shall we?"
With the wave of a hand, one of the men grabbed Tia's arm and she didn't react accept to follow the direction he was leading her in. Ralph and Biaggio were ushered to the dining room while Ralph gave one glance back to Tia before he pressed forward to the table. Once the dinner group was settled, the doors closed in the room.
Tia was lead up a flight of stairs and down a few halls until the last door in whatever hall it may have been. It was quite an elaborate door that shimmered all over. The burly man that had been guiding Tia in opened one of the double doors dragging her inside, and releasing his grasp from her.
"Mr. Feliciano, your father has a guest for you."
A figure was lying on a couch far from where Tia stood. It was hard to make out his direct features until he edged closer, but Tia didn't like where she thought this was going.
"Ah, how wonderful... I almost never have guests for dinner.... especially female ones..."
His voice was low and soft, bordering seduction as he stood up and walked closer.
"...or the beautiful females... You may go now, Marco. Have one of the cooks bring dinner up."
"Yes, sir."
With that, Marco turned and left Tia alone in the room, locking the door from the outside.
Tia stood still, only watching the movements of the man.
"Oh come now, don't be shy.... what is your name, lovely?"
"Tia."
"Hmm. Why must you be so cold in the words you say to me... isn't there something I can do so you have more emotion?"
He came clearly into view now. His clothes were loose and baggy, as his hair was short, and a dark brown, almost black. It seemed to be angled on one side while the other seemed to have barely any. His eyes were blue, with tanned skin.
His hands were in his pockets, as he now sauntered over to a table in the room, in which he sat on one side, where there was a chair facing him on the opposite one.
"Here, darling, come sit. The food should be here soon."
Tia grumbled to herself, not even bothering to answer his question. She sat as instructed, turning her head to the side, looking around the room rather than to him.
"Even your profile is beautiful..."
The table was small enough so that when he reached over, he could stroke her cheek. Tia refrained from the urge of wanting to hit him, and gave another nod.
"Thank you."
He smiled, seeming satisfied with something. "Ah, playing hard to get are we? Well, that good, because that's the thing I love most about woman... they're ability to drive a man to wanting you even more... it's one of the best talents."
Tia was about to answer with a lash of harsh words when the door was opened to have dinner revealed in silver platters, set up among a row of jackstands. The food did look delicious, and Tia saw no problem in trying to at least get a meal out of this whole mess.
"Thank you, you may go now." Feliciano shooed the cooks away with his hands, as they locked the door from the outside once more, before he turned his head back to Tia.
"You may call me Feliciano, and let's begin dinner before it gets cold." He gave her a smile, as she nodded returning the smile, while the two began their dinner.
---
"...Mr. Camelini?"
God, where did they take her? Ralph's mind wandered at the table as he turned to the voice when his name was called.
"Oh, yes?"
"This proposition you have... combining forces?"
"Ah, yes, Biaggio... if you will."
Biaggio nodded, taking out his folder again, now with new and updated statistics.
"You see sir, instead of handing over the land and the deed to all of our companies, Mr. Camelini has come up with the idea that we should maybe try and combine the companies for more money. In the end, as these statistics show, it will be a great investment."
Actually, this was Tia's idea... Tia... Ralph's mind sounded as he was distracted before turning back to hear Mr. Achille's reply.
"Hmm. Callisto?"
"Sir, it does look very well thought out... and to take over all of their companies and land would cost us too much money in the end while they seem to have come out with an investment over a reduction. And we don't seem to have any bad reviews of the Camelini family."
Mr. Achille stroked his chin for a moment, pondering the thought of his advisor, Callisto. He took the statistics in one hand and watched Ralph with one eye.
"Well, it seems as though you've got yourself a deal son."
Ralph smiled greatly, offering a palm. "Thank you, Mr. Achille, I know this way will work out to reveal a lucrative future."
Mr. Achille gave a hearty laugh, holding up a wine glass. "Indeed. Let's have a toast to this friendship and continue dinner over our new plans."
Ralph gave a laugh with him, as clanks of various glasses clinked together and the conversation was turned to the future of both mafias.
---
Tia took the last bite from her dessert and eased back in her chair, patting her lips free from any crumbs.
"That was delicious."
Feliciano smiled, standing up from his chair. His dessert was hardly touched as his mind had wandered far from that for most of dinner. He took Tia's hand and led her up, allowing her to leave her purse on the chair. He let go, sitting down on a cushiony couch comfortably.
"It was indeed."
Tia blinked as she was led and left. She shrugged peering around the room, walking over to the paintings on the wall. They caught her eye out of everything in the lavished room and she stood a few inches away admiring them.
Feliciano's eyes followed her movements, as he smirked to have finally found a plan. He stood up, and walked silently behind her, before wrapping his arms around her waist whispering into her ear.
"All of these paintings are by the impressionist Monet."
Tia almost jumped from him being so far and so close in almost the same minute. She wanted to kick him off, but she knew she could not harm anyone, not to jeopardize anything that Ralph needed.
"They're beautiful, Monet was an extraordinary man."
Feliciano nodded, pressing closer. "Mmm. He was indeed, but you're even more beautiful than anything here." He turned her around quickly, pinning her up against the wall, eyes filled with seduction.
"I appreciate the praises Feliciano."
She turned her head to the door, as her mind almost screamed. God Ralph, where the hell are you... I won't be able to keep this up much longer.... I know you told me if I were in trouble you would come and help me... but...
Feliciano pushed further against her brushing her cheek with his own. He let his fingers glide up and down her side as he nipped at the fabric that was up to her neck.
"Feliciano..."
She still stared to the door, trying to push him off, but he only pushed back harder again, holding her chin forcefully and pulling it to face him.
"Yes, my dear? How about you put those lips somewhere else..."
He pressed his lips close to hers, to the point where she could feel his breath. She stalled for as long as possible, Ralph's words echoing in her head. It was inevitable though, and Feliciano finally got his kiss.
Tia attempted not to make the kiss long or worthwhile, but Feliciano was getting into it more than ever. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, when he finally broke the kiss to breathe.
"Lovely, lovely lips..."
Tia shot him a glare, feeling as if she'd done something more than horrible wrong and the disgusting feeling in the pit of her stomach wasn't helping. Still though, she stared to the door hopeful.
Feliciano crawled on top of her, as he watched her head fall to the side again.
"No one can get in to disturb us, don't worry so much..."
He bent down nipping at the fabric again as he unhooked on of the few latches along her neck. Pleased, he began biting at her skin playfully.
Tia let him do what he wanted, as her teeth gritted silently.
Don't hit him Tia... don't hit him Tia... the voice resonated in her head over and over to calm herself. Before her eyes went wide and she began blushing.
"F-feliciano..."
He smirked, taking another kiss that was deeper and filled with lust, as his hand ran up to her thigh squeezing it tightly.
"Mmm."
Something mixed was the only thing he cared to murmur out to her, he wanted his prize there and then, and for her to stop being so emotionless.
He hands wandered under her dress and fell over her abdomen, as they crept downward slowly.
"RALPH, BIAGGIO! Where are you!"
She couldn't help but scream out, before he cupped a hand over her mouth.
"Don't you dare scream. You're not ruining this for me."
He eyed her all over, taking in her beauty to calm his anger.
"You should just give in... you look so beautiful already, why not have me?"
He unbuttoned his shirt with his free hand leaving it open so that it exposed his chest. He smiled again to her, removing his hand from her mouth and kissing it deeper and longer than before.
---
As dinner finished with the company on the first floor, they began to head outside of the dining room back to the front entrance.
"Mr. Camelini, it's been a pleasure doing business with you, we should meet for dinner again soon." Mr. Achille laughed heartily once more as Ralph nodded along with Biaggio.
A thump was heard from above as Ralph's mind wandered again.
"Oh, Mr. Achille it has been wonderful... I will ask Biaggio to set up another date, but if I may ask if I could go get Miss Tia back to take her home?"
He nodded sending a guard up to go and retrieve her.
"No, I would like to get her myself."
"Very well then, go on and find her." Mr. Achille snickered as he bid his farewell.
Ralph raised an eyebrow, was this man two faced? How would he find Tia in this place?
A much muffled scream was heard from above them, as he raced up the stairs.
s**t, what are they doing to her?! His eyes darted left and right down the halls as he followed the sound of the screams, before another thump was heard.
After another few minutes of searching, he finally found the door that lead to Feliciano's room, where he rammed against it several times, breaking it down.
"Ralph!"
Tia shouted out, smiling that he had finally come, as Feliciano had pushed her down to the floor. He eyed Ralph for a moment for giving him a smug look and licking Tia's throat up to her chin.
Ralph gritted his teeth, as he moved forward, pushing Feliciano off of Tia and picking her up.
"Don't you ever touch Miss Tia again."
His words shot through the room with tension and anger, even though his voice was steady enough and controlled enough to get his point across.
Tia hugged his neck, shaking as he wandered over to collect her bag. He left the room, carrying her out and back down to the entrance.
"Are you alright, Miss Tia?"
Biaggio asked as he saw her state, feeling her forehead.
"Yes... I'm fine now, just a bit tired." She rested her head on Ralph's shoulder sighing deeply.
Ralph smiled. "Let's go home then."
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:28 am
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:29 pm
Tia shifted in the bed lightly, exhaling deeply before her eyes opened slowly. The first thing she saw was Ralph's room all around her, and she yawned before the jasmine fell from being tucked behind her ear into her open palm. She tiled her head to it curiously smelling the sweet fragrance. It made her smile slightly.
Tuning back into reality from her slumber, her head glanced to the clock along the dresser as she squinted her eyes to check the time. Her eyes widened slightly as she read the number 11:30. How had it gotten so late? And she was still in her clothes!
She gave a grumble, tossing her shirt and pants to the side while she was left in her underwear, where she motioned over to the bathroom door. She would just clean herself up and change, then look for Ralph.
The door turned normally, as she let herself in, looking in the mirror, not even realizing the opening of the glass shower door.
It was at that moment that both Tia and Ralph's eyes locked onto each other.
Ralph had just come out of the shower, towel wrapped around his hips, all of his upper body wet, as droplets dripped down the sides of him, as well as his six pack abdominal muscles, or really just everywhere. His hair was down as well, gleaming form the shampoo used and his expression was a bit take aback, mixed with nervousness.
Tia gulped for a moment, before shaking her heads to get herself out of the trance that she had seemed to have for about five minutes worth of staring at him, as she turned quickly to open the door and head out. But, Ralph held the door closed from above her with one arm as he looked down, waiting for her to turn around and face him.
She groaned her mind as he cornered her in, as she turned to the inevitable of facing him, where her eyes widened at the closeness of them. Red crept onto her cheeks, deepening a shade as Ralph pushed closer.
She cleared her throat, mind racing. "I... uh... we... should... I... gonowfast." Her words seemed to loose themselves as she spoke, as well as her voice seeming to leave her, just staring at Ralph.
Ralph on the other hand seemed as calm as ever, his eyes seeming to only take in Tia, and nothing else but her. He held her cheek with his large palm gently, enjoying the feeling of how warm she was. "Shh, there isn't a need to be nervous."
Tia swallowed hard, trying to turn away from him. She felt this odd skipping around her heart, and butterflies in her stomach. Just looking at Ralph made her heart thump rapidly now. She tried to unlock the handle of the door, but her hand only fumbled clumsily.
Ralph felt how nervous she was, and frowned slowly. He let her go walking back to the sink area of the bathroom, head hung low.
Tia's heart beat began to slow back to its normal pace as Ralph walked away. She felt a slight twinge in her heart as he left, as if something had squeezed it. She let her hand fall from the doorknob, trailing after him slowly. She knew she wasn't in her right mind, but she didn't exactly know what she was thinking either.
She didn't wait for Ralph's consent as she gripped his shoulder turning him around forcefully. He almost lost his balance as she did, but she held him with one hand, while reaching up to pull his head down to her level. She pushed her lips onto his, kissing him lovingly. She held her place there for a good minute, just kissing him. Her lips started to pull away for breath, before Ralph dipped her down, kissing her further as she was held in his arms. Her eyes opened, staring at his face as she tried to push against him to break the kiss.
Ralph then opened his own eyes, finally lifting his lips away taking deep breaths, before letting Tia go. He blushed horribly turning back to the sink, hiding behind his long, angled, blonde hair.
Tia also blushed, turning her heel and walking out of the door, holding her heart while it thumped even more. "W-what was that... so odd... with Ralph? The..." She didn't understand what had just happened, but she wasn't upset, because the feeling she was left with was more like a fulfilling one... a one of something true, real.
She walked slowly, before sitting down on the floor, as she held her head trying to think what just happened through. "There has to be some logical reason... things... it shouldn't of... but..." She found herself questioning thoughts that had no direct answers or dead ends. It was just the feeling of something that made her feel full of... of... life.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Ralph as he exited the bathroom, looking to Tia. He held a hand to his eyes. "Ah... sorry, you're not dressed yet, the bathroom, is... um... yes, free..." He said through his palm swallowing.
Tia forgot that she had still been in her underwear, but seeing Ralph again made any thoughts she had been wondering before disappear... instantly. No regret, no limit, no pain... only the happiness in her heart. Her face seemed to light up around him, now that she thought about it... not to mention how she was so different around him... almost... lovesick?
She stood up walking toward him, just wrapping her arms around him, hugging him close. "It's ok."
Ralph removed his hand, looking down to Tia to make sure it was really her body pressed against his, as his own arms were in the air, before he cautiously placed them around Tia. He blushed again, wondering if he was in a dream or reality. Tia hugged him tighter. "It's odd Ralph... but I can't figure out this feeling I get when I'm around you..."
Ralph looked down to her head, returning her tight grip with his embrace, heart floating out of his chest from the delight. "I think I might have the same one... but I think I found a name for it."
Tia blinked for a moment before a word came to her mind as she loosened her grip back a bit as both their eyes met again when they answered with the same response in unison.
"Love?"
Tia blushed as red as Ralph had, and that was already as deep as a crimson rose. The word was left hanging in the air as the silence started to make Tia a bit uncomfortable. She pulled away rubbing her arm with a lopsided smile, rushing into the bathroom quickly. She sighed deeply in there as Ralph did outside in the bedroom.
The night continued on with Tia cleaning up, Ralph going downstairs for almost all of the night to work on some papers, while Tia finally decided to sleep.
It seemed as though Ralph and she were more than just embracing each other earlier that night, more like they had a mental connection, which seemed like garbage to Tia... but the word fit in perfectly, like a jigsaw piece in a puzzle. She sighed a bit frustrated, drifting off to sleep, so many questions still left unanswered.
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:32 pm
The next day in the estate was silent enough to hear a pen drop. It worried Tia, especially since the members dare not utter a word to break that silence. She was also uncomfortable wandering the halls, just because she could feel eyes staring her down. All she really wanted to do was find and talk to Ralph.
She knew yesterday that is was selfish and cruel of her just to walk out on him when it seemed like both had admitted mutual feelings for one another, even at the same time no less. He was probably hurt more than his appearance would care to show, and the only way to prove that was to find him and confront him; but not enough to scare him, only to figure it out.
Remembering the way to his office she followed the hallway, before a questioned look came across her face. Voices were loud and could be heard very clearly from the almost dead silent estate. She moved further, turning a corner to find two familiar men at the end of the hall. Her face turned a bit sour as she saw Biaggio and Ralph arguing.
"I've tried, I've really tried to explain to you sir, I can't let you do that." Biaggios's voice was distinct and straight forward; a side she had never seen before, it was almost like pure hatred spewing out from his every word. His clenched fist didn't give off a better vibe to the situation either.
"You don't have that authority Biaggio, and it is a bad idea, don't question me anymore." Ralph's voice was cold and hurtful, completely unlike himself. He sighed deeply rubbing his temple as he walked toward Tia unknowingly, while looking annoyed.
Biaggio's teeth gritted harder, as he turned around to Ralph and if one had not known better they wouldn't have assumed that Biaggio could kill. He pulled out a magnum from his coat pocket holding it straight to Ralph's head from his distance, and having a clean shot right through his brain.
"Don't you dare walk away from me, Desderio Arkadiusz!"
Ralph stopped, dead silent, as if the name was a trigger for an attack. His eyes changed completely to daggers, and if they were set on a target, it seemed like most like they would kill. Before even seeing Tia, he turned around pulling out his won deadly revolver to Biaggio's head (They stood only a few feet away from each other). "Don't you ever, ever, say that name again."
Tia's eyes widened as both of the men had pulled out weapons that could kill in seconds, and the thought made her heart slip right out of her ribcage to her stomach. She didn't move at all, rather just watched in pain; but her movements caught the attention of Biaggio, who turning his gun toward her, smiling.
"You don't agree and Miss Tia gets a bullet right through her head."
Ralph's face almost looked as if the color had been drained out of him as he heard Tia's name. Never, ever, would he loose Tia. Not while he was alive, never. He moved in front of Tia, eyes still locked on to kill.
"You know Biaggio, you're pushing your luck too far. Threatening Tia was the last straw."
Ralph let his gun down as Umberto and Tonio seized Biaggio from behind. They came fro ma passage built directly from their station to Ralph's office. Biaggio looked far beyond perplexed. Ralph shook his head with disgust as he made a known hand motion which both men understood, and thus Biaggio was taken away with no hassle.
Tia only stood speechless behind Ralph, not knowing what to say at all... except for one question. She nervously whispered to Ralph, hoping she wouldn't anger him even more.
"... who's Desiderio?"
Ralph gave a menacing growl from in front, clenching his fist deeply to almost dig into his skin. He grabbed Tia's wrist suddenly, dragging her into his secured office, pulling up a chair for her.
"Sit."
Tia was completely startled as this happened, only nodding to the command while obeying it. Never had she seen Ralph so serious and angered in all her life. Ralph sighed deeply, leaning against the desk facing Tia.
"It's time for you to know who Desiderio Arkradiusz, was."
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:17 pm
From Ralph's office, Tia could see the sky darkening with heavy rain clouds and mild sounds of thunder. Her face drifted back to him, as he rubbed his forehead unusually, like a severe migraine had overtaken him.
"It all began when I was younger and growing up in the mafia, you should already know my life must be twisted and screwed up beyond all reason. Most people's lives here are, and mine was no different."
Tia watched him cautiously as he began; only wondering why he kept referring his life in past tense. She didn't ask, only listening intently.
"My father, who's name I care not enough to mention, was an honorable man, and my mother, from what I remember and have been told, was a caring and amazing woman."
His head seemed to drift up from its earlier position, as he spoke with a matter of fact way about his father and when his mother was mentioned, his facial expressions changed completely to a serene and admiring way. The look faded as he continued.
"... but, sadly, she died of a deadly cancer that my father never had known of, or the doctors for that matter, until a few weeks before her death." He sighed once again. "... I was three years old, left alone to be brought up by the men of my family from my father's side, especially my grandfather, who was, as you know, the godfather."
Tia's face filled with empathy, wanting just to only get up and comfort him. She leaned forward to do so, but he shook his head.
"No, you must not move until I've finished, I have many things that are worse that you need to know."
Tia's face turned to shock, unable of answering, not even being able to contemplate how his life could be worse. He looked to Tia deeply for a moment, struck with pain by her face. He turned away to continue.
"My father... had always been a weak man. My mother was the beam that held him together, and when she died, he not only became depressed, but could care less to what he had to live for. Needless to say I was motherless and now emotionally, I was fatherless."
He bit his bottom lip, not turning to Tia all the time of talking, but only focusing on the bookshelf to the left of him.
"The only man, or family I had left, was my grandfather."
Finally Tia saw at least a glimpse of a smile on his face, which made her relax a bit more.
"He was everything to me. He taught me everything I knew... and for the years I lived with him, it was the happiest parts of my life. But, they were spread out because when I was ten, my life would change forever."
Tia's heart sank, as Ralph walked from her, talking to her as he watched the rain hit the glass-paned wall, he back to her. A thought also came over her, realizing that Ralph had become the godfather because his grandfather had died. She didn't even want to imagine how much that killed him inside.
"As you no know, my father was most vulnerable in his state, and when I was ten, he fell in 'love' with my soon to be stepmother."
Ralph swallowed hard, flexing his fingers as he spoke the last part, anger swelling within him.
"She was, to say the least, a backstabbing, abusing, mentally insane woman with two daughters. They were my first impression of women that I would keep forever."
Tia sat, fiddling with her fingers as she looked to the ground.
"Either way, my father married her and in turn, she adopted me. If anyone ever said we were the loving family of the mafia was wrong beyond belief. It had been, actually, good for two years, but it then just took one incident and I hated her. Hated. There was no way I could ever feel anything for that woman."
Ralph walked further away raising his voice slightly.
"She... hated my father with a passion, and since he had all the access to the funds, information, ties, everything to the mafia, all she needed to was get him out of the way and power would be hers." He paused to breathe. "So, what was happening to me while my insane stepmother plotted her way to the top? Well, her two demons from hell were allowed to hit, abuse, and do as they wished while she always slapped me... for what reason? Just because I was alive. She made my life hell on earth, always reprimanding me, directing every insult known... making me feel lower than the dirt itself."
He growled again, throwing in a curse or two as he tried to relax but his words only came out in more anger.
"And to hell with the fact that I could do nothing! Nothing about her, my life, anything! My father denied it all because he believed her to be his 'angel savior'. That idiot, he never knew anything."
He sighed banging a fist to the wall while Tia still hung her head low, listening, aching from every word.
"Either way, I snuck out to visit my grandfather, as he helped me boost my self-esteem, always ready to help... but there was nothing he could do to make it stop either. He said that he needed 'proof'. When he said that I was shattered, emotionally, physically... in everyway. I had given up hope in everything. And in that state, I drank away my problems, and in that night, I agreed to the worst thing in my life. I agreed to kill my father."
Tia's eyes widened, a hand slowly clasping over her mouth, speechless. Ralph didn't turn to look. He loved Tia, and to see the look on her face would just kill him.
"My stepmother found me and knowing that I would be under the influence of alcohol, she told me that tomorrow I was to kill my father. I agreed, not even sure what she had said at that moment probably, but she then realized, no, don't wait, go find him now and shoot him. I found the magnum my father had given me only a few weeks ago as a defense, and I walked. I walked until I found his room. He was sleeping in bed, and I head the gun with such precise aim, and I shot him.... right in the heart."
Ralph lost control then. He just couldn't take the emotions; he fell to his knees and just cried hiding his face in shame. Tia's eyes became wet with tears too, standing up walking to him, extending an arm for comfort before he snapped at her.
"No! I... I have to finish telling you. Just d-don't touch me... I don't need the comfort..."
Tia felt her heart sink down to the depths of her stomach as she stood, just watching and listening from behind.
"I... I knew all of this because of a video I was forced to watch the next day. The cameras had recorded everything down to the last second. My stepmother had won, in all ways. She became next in line for the mafia... I wanted to kill her, and I would have, but right before I shot my father, he told me that I should never forget Desiderio Arkradiusz. When I saw that, I vowed from then on never to kill anyone ever again, and when I make a vow, I stake it with my own life as he would have done. And it was weird, considering that he hated the mafia and hated the name Desiderio Arkradiusz. He and my grandfather were the ones that gave me the nickname Ralph, as a nickname, and I have always loved and used it since. But because my stepmother was the only one who ever used my full name, whenever I hear it, I feel like I want to kill someone because of the pain that she caused me." He paused, tears partially gone from his eyes. "My stepmother died a few days later because she was caught as a spy working as a double agent for both mafias, and was killed on the spot. Her daughters were never seen again."
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:52 pm
Tia cried silently as she stood. This was more for her to handle seeing Ralph in such pain, she wanted to speak, but Ralph said one last thing.
"So, know you know all the secrets I've lived with for twenty five years, and you are the first female I've come to tell... let alone become attached to. Because, I was so damaged be the female persona my stepmother and sisters played that I believed all females to be the scum of the earth, until you, Tia."
He walked slowly to the glass-paned wall as he finally turned to Tia.
"Ralph..." Tia's voice was harsh from tears as she crept closer, he merely shook his head.
"No, Tia, you don't need to be brought down with me... just... I have to go away, far away for awhile. I have to think."
He gave her one sad smile before he opened a latch in the window, jumping out, and running as fast and far as he could. He cried as he did, he was leaving the only person in the world who he loved... but from all of the other times he had tried to show his feelings, she had never shown them back, and he wanted a closing before he would have to leave. That was his closing, and now he need to get away, away from everything and everyone.
Tia gasped as she watched him jump, hurrying to the window, pounding on it as he ran. She wanted to scream to him, beckon for him to return, because every minute he ran her heart ripped and tore with so much pain that it was unbearable. By the time she had wanted to say anything her words would be pointless, they would never reach him. She cried even more, hitting the wall with such emotion that it scared even herself.
"Damn it all Ralph! Don't you know that I love you?!"
Tia's tears slowly stopped as she heard herself. What had she just said? The feeling of Ralph leaving was left in her heart; the pain that she felt so deeply... in all of her body... she finally knew and it took Ralph leaving for her to recognize it. She was in love with him, with the one known as Ralph.
It now all made sense, the feelings around him, the pain, the sadness... everything could be summed up in that four letter word that she had finally found. And then it struck her as to why he had put all of his life in past tense, he was telling her, telling her in a way that only she could understand that it was her who was his life now and that now was what mattered the most. He was Ralph and she was Tia, it was the new life that he would have used in present tense. Tia gave another smile, crying as everything hit her. Ralph had just left; gone.... she would not let him go until he knew that she knew everything, and that she loved him. It was her turn to heal and help him, and even if it killed her, she would do it, do it for Ralph.
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:42 pm
It rained constantly when Ralph left. Always, through the morning till the night all rain and uncannily it set the mood for the estate. It had been gloomy and dark, everyone loosing hope as much as the next. No one went out to search for Ralph, figuring that if the Don ran off the whole base of operations would have to be put on hold. When Ralph had just up and left, the days seemed to drag on longer, even Tia was counting down the day by the minutes. She had waited up all night and all day completely restless until one of the days she just passed out and slept through most of the day. And today was the day that marked the week and a half stay. It was the day Tia was supposed to depart back home, but she would not go without Ralph.
Tia sighed at the window, watching the rain fall down hard on the greenery and outside world that seemed to be going on while time stood still in the estate. The moment replayed in her mind over and over like a record, and each time the scene would come up Ralph's face would make her tear. Staying here was only reminding her, but he couldn't have just left, he was the Don, and if Tia knew Ralph as well as she thought she had, then he would be back... or so she hoped.
The morning drudged on as the past days had, and Tia could not even speak to any of the members in the household. Even they seemed to be getting the effect of the drab weather perfectly. They did of course try to cheer up Tia, but the only thing they could really do was to figure out what had happened with Biaggio. Upon further investigation, they discovered that he was a spy, and the price for that was death in Mafia terms. But, with the current situation afoot, that would have just been depressing. So, they left him to deal with later after the Don returned.
Eventually, Tia had to wander away from everyone. She just hated people at her case and needed to be left alone to solve her own problems. Her feet guided her down the same path that Ralph had escorted her through, with all the glass windows... the same place where she had first seen the beautiful flower gardens. She sat near one of them from the inside watching the water droplets hit the flowers and shrubbery, and listened to the rain that fell on everything else. She sighed deeply as a small tapping broke the rhythm of the drops from behind her, curious she turned around to see Ralph, soaked to the bone. She knew it was him from the small wave of a hand, and the undeniable smile that she had first seen him with.
Tia almost dropped dead, rubbing her eyes to make sure that it was the real Ralph. He gave another soft smile, turning away slowly walking out into the middle of the garden. Tia stumbled up from her position, running along the hall to finally find the right exit, sloshing through the rain, stopping to catch her breath as she reached Ralph, standing only a foot away. He turned almost casually, his facial expressions completely changed, to a calm serene look, his hair falling in place as it usually would. Tia swallowed hard with a few sniffs before her eyes welled with tears as she rushed into this arms crying into his chest.
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:45 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:08 pm
The lamp flickered towards the side of Radz's head, as his fingers nimbly found their way through the piece of paper he had been holding. Of course, he'd been waiting on someone, and he glanced at the clock. Shaking off a thought or two he wrapped his other hand around the cup he'd ordered earlier, green eyes scanning carefully.
It was a quaint coffee shop; something he'd loved about this place was its selectional area, lodged between two other big shops. He'd enjoyed the smaller things, and the less people, all the better to know who exactly you would be able to pin point if they walked in.
Sira smirked faintly as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the widows of the various stores she walked past. She looked nothing like her normal self. The fact that she could so easily change her looks to melt into crowds was something that delighted her to no end -- plus it was a useful skill, particularly when she was out on business.
She stepped into the small little coffee shop, a good fifteen minutes or so later than she'd agreed to. She was always late for meetings, though it wasn't due to laziness. She preferred to keep her clients on their toes. She headed towards the booth that Radz was sitting in and smiled brightly over at him with a cheery sort of smile as though she were merely and old friend of his.
She slid into the booth and propped her chin up in one hand before brushing red curls out of her face. She had decided on a whim that the color looked nice and was quite a bit different from her natural sleek black hair color. "How's it going?" she asked with a grin as she peered curiously over at the man sitting across from her.
At the sound of the small bell that had rung above the door when someone entered, Radz couldn't help but look up to find a woman there. He'd ignored her, for the mere fact that she looked nothing like who he was waiting for. He glanced back down to his slip of paper, fingers dressed with rings glinting off the light that had hit them.
He couldn't help though, to give a raise of his brow as the same woman approached him so openly, even sitting herself down as she did. His sunglasses slid down to the end of his nose, as he straightened his posture, yet still leaning against the back of the booth. "Sorry darling, not interested in women." He said bluntly, with a hint of a smirk traced on his lips.
She stared at him for a moment with a sort of blank look on her face before bursting into a fit of giggles. "Oh.. oh that's a good one," she snickered behind her hands. She cleared her throat and offered him another smile before idly toying with the end of one curl in an unconscious sort of way. "I'd be offended, but in all honesty you're much too pretty to be straight, Radz," she teased.
She did so love how the drastic change in her appearance usually set people off. No one could easily recognize her unless they were to look for the tattoo on her left palm or noticed how her eyes had a silvery sheen to them in a certain light. In her true form her skin was a sickly pale color, her hair was jet black and covered one eye even if she brushed it out of her face, and her eyes were entirely silver. Probably what set her apart from most people aside from how pale she was were her slightly tapered ears that came to a point like an elf's.
That person was noticeable in a crowd, something that could be dangerous for her considering her profession. The person that sat across from Radz was a relatively pretty redhead with curly hair, flawless skin, a charming smile, and plenty of curves.
Radz had thought very highly of his comment himself, giving a mental snicker, before his ears fell back a bit when he heard giggles. He sat up straight now, eyeing her carefully. This was interesting... could she really be who he'd of thought. "I thought so myself..." He mused along with her until he'd heard his name pass out of her lips, which seemed as attractive as the rest of her. "Considering if you know my name... I think I understand who you are now..." He trailed off, whilst taking the pair of sunglasses off to expose his full emerald eyes.
He bit part of his lip ring as a reaction to wetting his lips while he was trying to figure out what else to say, before he turned his head around slightly. If it weren't worse enough, all the men had their eye on the pretty little number that had made her way through the shop. Old men, with their teeth missing, as well as a few business nerds, as Radz called them, which gave him a bit of a shiver, but regardless he was here on business.
"Either way..." He left the sentence open for her to jump in at anytime, wanting to finish the business, but remembered his manners. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Ooh.. coffee would be great!" she smiled before all but beaming when a warm, steaming cup of dark brew was ordered and brought to the table for her in a few scant minutes. She added copious amounts of sugar and cream to the coffee until it was a faint milky color. She hummed a low noise of pleasure as she sipped at the contents before setting it aside.
"As for business," Sira spoke up as she idly stirred her cup of coffee, "I think I've found a potential lead on your brother's whereabouts, though getting the info wasn't easy." She smirked over at him, rather proud of herself for being able to track down a mafia boss. Truly her partner in crime, Jiro, had found the lead but she was the one who followed them and made sure everything checked out.
Ralph eyed the waiter as he had come as fast as he had run away, shaking his head with a smirk. "Aren't you just the one attracting all the men today? Having your own fun I see..." He couldn't help but laugh at the amounts of sugar, as he eased back in the booth, arm propped over the side of the cushioned head.
"Potential is good..." He nodded along to her words, as she mentioned his brother. Odd how it was only weeks ago that his mother decided to inform him about his father and brother, nonetheless that was back then, and his brother was now, 41 according to information. "This is good though, I'm glad you found something. Really, you could have been searching for something and ended up with a camel for answer, which would have amused me." He chuckled at his own joke, remembering the paper in his hands. "Ah, and your payment in advance, if you'd like." He handed her the check between his index and middle finger as he sipped his own coffee.
Ooh. Rent money. She snatched up the check happily and folded it neatly before shoving it into one of her pockets. No need for it to get lost in her messenger bag or stolen! Jiro would be quite pleased that he wouldn't have to hack into someone's bank account to siphon off money to pay the bills -- not that it was ever a problem with him, but strangely he had a conscience when it came to such things.
"I've got some more info that my partner is looking into as we speak. I'll notify you if I come up with anything useful," she murmured as she reached to take a sip of her coffee before pausing just as she brought it up to her mouth, "Something of immediate interest though. Your big brother seems to be getting married soon. From what I can tell it'll be quite the event, I just need to pinpoint the location."
He laughed at her enthusiasm at the check. Really he could care less about money at the moment, considering his position with his brother... he didn't think he'd have to worry all too much. Besides, he was sure that he wouldn't kick him out. Or at least, in the 70% range of things. The 30% lay with the death part... he figured this should be considered with his big brother being the godfather and all.
"Excellent." He said with a smile, drinking his coffee as he partially choked on the liquid, before swallowing it. "Married now? This opens the door to a lot of questions... didn't think I'd be interrupting a wedding to visit... huh. Well, what do you think he'd likely do if a brother you never knew existed and showed up as a 36 year old with you would say?" He pondered the thought in his head for a moment, drinking more coffee.
"Mmm.. can't really say seeing as I don't have any family," she chimed up, "Definitely no siblings." She snickered at that thought. Oh hell. If there were more than one of her the world would truly be doomed. "I'm going to guess he'll be shocked to find out that he has a younger sibling? As for what he might do to you if he feels threatened by you..?" she trailed off with a faint, bemused smirk as she sipped at her coffee.
If the godfather was anything the way she pictured most mob bosses to be, Radz would be nothing more than a pretty bloody smear on the concrete if he felt he were a threat to him or his family. She unconsciously tilted her head to the side as she pondered that thought. That'd be such a shame! A perfectly good waste of pretty-boy all over the ground. She scrunched up her nose at that thought before slurping down the rest of her coffee with a faint grimace.
: Radz felt a faint shiver at her last sentence as he finally mustered up an answer. "Well. Considering I've already risked my way getting here, there isn't much I can do now... which is why you'll be there to protect my pretty little face, hmm?" He gave a smirk and a playboy wink to her, feeling somewhat happy in his current state of having the good looks.
He gave a stretch of his hands, and a yawn, shaking away the hair that fell over his face. Perhaps his brother would take him in... maybe even if it would be for a day or two. After all, he was getting married, how bad of a guy could he be? His mind drifted on the thought, and it told him he'd better not answer it himself.
"But of course! I'm only the best in the business," she smirked broadly. It wasn't a lie, after all. She really was a top-notch assassin. It was always difficult to catch someone who could blend in to look like anyone she pleased -- including someone of the opposite gender. "I'll be there with you the entire way. That would be the deal, right?"
She smiled and leaned back against the vinyl seat, eyes glinting in a brief flash of silver from the lamp light that was flickering near by. "Once I get the rest of the info we need gathered up we should be set. Then you'll get to meet your big brother!" she beamed, "How exciting. It'll be like a tiny family reunion!"
Radz eased up as she spoke, nodding while chuckling. "That you are." He finished off his coffee, tapping his jeweled fingers idly against the table as he set it down before smiling at the last part. "Yes, that's what I knew of."
"This info, how long do you think it'll take to be uncovered?" He was fidgeting a bit on anxiousness, but to soothe it, he laced his fingers, elbows resting on the table as his hands covered his mouth glancing to her, and catching a glimpse of the silver color. "I'd like to think of it as something like that myself."
"I should have the rest of it by tonight," she smiled charmingly as she mimicked him slightly by leaning her elbows onto the table with her hands folded beneath her chin, "My partner is really good at gathering information. He's quite talented at that sort of thing. He finds all my leads for me. I do the dirty work." She smirked faintly at that admission as she peered intently over at the handsome man sitting across from her.
"I can contact you again later in the evening when I find what he digs up," she went on after a moment or two of quiet thought, "And from there we'll be able to come to a conclusion on what would be the best time to go and truly hunt your brother down." She smiled over at him quietly as she tossed her hair unconsciously over her shoulder. Really, she wasn't used to having such long hair.
Picking up his glasses while he was acknowledging her words, he slid them on again raising a hand for the bill, as he gave the waiter his smirk, before turning back to Sira. "What a lovely pair you two are. I'm glad I'm working with such pros, makes me feel a bit safer to take on such a person as my brother, or half-brother to be correct."
He slipped in a few dollars as well as a measly one as a tip for the waiter himself. He didn't like the guy, so you know; he'd gain money from some other person. He gave him his smile as he gave a chuckle back to her. "Ah yes, that should be good. I'll be staying where you know... shall we get going before one of these men decides to pin you down to the floor? I know you're quite capable of protecting yourself, but I'd rather this quaint shop kept it's name." He couldn't help but laugh at that. Well, it was her fault for coming to this part of town as an attractive woman, what else did he really have to say?
"Like that'd happen," she snickered behind one hand as she slid out of the booth and walked alongside Radz as they left the quaint little coffee shop. Her form shifted slightly as she stepped outside the door, making her look like a completely different person. The man did have a point! It wasn't necessarily the brightest idea to go gallivanting around as a voluptuous redhead, even if she did find it to be rather entertaining.
"I'll be in touch," she grinned as she waved goodbye and pushed her now dark brown hair out of her face as she turned on her heel and walked away to fade into the crowd before taking a rather roundabout way back to her apartment.
"Well, hey, I couldn't exactly not state the obvious." He chuckled, turning his head for a moment as he was about to speak before he left his mouth open for a moment before the realization hit him.
"I'll be answering." He smirked back to her, giving a bit of a three finger wave as he turned off to the other side a few new thoughts crossing his mind as he made his way back to the inexpensive hotel he'd liked to think had become his home in the town for the past week or so.
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:10 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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