.:|A Giovanni Affair|:. -Chapter one CLOSED-

[Kinu]

Giovanni


The Giovanni are respectful, genteel and well-mannered. Affluent beyond imagination, Clan Giovanni traces its roots back to before the Renaissance, to a family of merchant princes. The clan still maintains its original home in Venice, in a thousand-year-old loggia just outside the heart of the city. No other clan makes such a spectacle of humility and propriety as does the Giovanni. And no other clan hides its blasphemous secrets as well.

According to tales whispered in Camarilla salons and Sabbat esbats, the Giovanni's money spoiled the family, and the Venetians turned to nigrimancy out of perverse boredom. Surprisingly enough, the family demonstrated a great aptitude for trafficking with the dead, and their newfound abilities caught the eye of a forgotten Antediluvian. The vampire Embraced the head of the family, Augustus Giovanni, and brought him into the world of the Damned. This particular Antediluvian, the legends say, had a profound interest in death, and the Embrace of Giovanni and his family was intended to further the vampire's knowledge of what lay beyond the wall of mortality.

The Ancient's plan worked better, albeit differently, than he'd intended. Augustus, a cutthroat and mercenary merchant, saw the opportunity to seize his doddering sire's power and did so, hunting and killing all of the Antediluvian's descendants as well. After drinking the Ancient's blood, Augustus became a member of the Third Generation and founded his own clan, the Giovanni.

Other vampires reacted in horror, and, for a century, the "Devil Kindred" Giovanni were rooted out and destroyed wherever they went. Finally, the Giovanni sat down with the newly formed Camarilla and formed a mutual truce. This truce guaranteed the Giovanni would not participate in the Jyhad and would leave other vampires to their affairs. The Giovanni agreed, thus averting the genocide they surely would have otherwise met.

Taking advantage of other vampires' lack of involvement with them, the Giovanni quietly continued to amass wealth and power, practicing their Discipline of necromancy all the while. Few believe the clan is engaging in either practice for altruistic purposes, and recent global movements by the Giovanni have many Kindred worried. With all that money and all those harvested souls, something is on the horizon; it is an ill wind that blows out of Venice.

Members of the Giovanni clan are also members of the Giovanni family, and those not Embraced often serve their Kindred relations as ghouls. This familial tie - members of the clan are related by blood twice - ensures complete loyalty on the part of the Giovanni. While concentrated primarily in Europe, the Giovanni have recently been expanding into, the world market, and the clan seems to be more prolific in recent nights.

 

[Kinu]

"Welcome one and all." Came a rather dark, smooth voice from the stairwell of the entrance hall, silencing the roar of noise rising rapidly from below. The whispers, the rumors and the general chit-chat of those who were long over-do for a catch up ceased immediately and all eyes turned upward. The powerful looking Giovanni remained above the throng of familiar faces and the heat of the main body. Holding his head high with a rather enticing smirk dancing across his lips. They knew something was going on, if they knew what they were clever indeed. For only the closest, most trusted members of the family knew its dark secret. And even those select few hardly ever tasted the sweet wine of immortality.

"It is both a pleasure and an honor to see you all together under one roof once again, it has been far too long. I trust the trip here from your.. respective homes, wasn't too cumbersome?" His sharp claws clicked against the solid, gold trimmed marble railing, in fact, the entire manor was loaded with Giovanni wealth. The family was sickeningly rich and they displayed it without shame or hesitation. Though this was only the Manor, the Mansion itself was where the Clan gathered, but it wasn't safe to keep the mortal family lingering around the 'den of secrets' for too long. One way or another someone would sniff something out and need to be dealt with. Before the rumor spread and things became chaotic. They were all hungry for power in one way or another.

"Michelina and I would like to personally thank you for joining us on this most magnificent evening and for such a considerable occasion. Though, I don't see why we can't mingle more often. Then again, if we're all in here who's out making our wallets plump?" He smiled, a rather handsome if not wicked smile which invoked a wave of laughter through-out the sea-like crowd. Ah yes, they melted so easily. It was like heating butter or molding clay. "So, please continue your conversations and forgive my ramblings. Though do remember the Formal Dinner this evening, there will be a little surprise for a special few that attend. And no, we Giovanni are above mere door prizes my dear." He glanced a giggling female in the crowd who was being jostled by her cousins and piped up with her guess. "We can surely do much better, do you not agree?"

A simple tug on the fishing pole, setting the hook. He knew he had them as soon as the whispers began. Ah yes, true Giovanni. "Enjoy your afternoon, relax and feel free to make yourselves at home. For now, you truly are home." The male descended gracefully and as soon as his face was out of view he looked disgusted, like he'd just finished an hour-long bought of wretching. Strands of his ink colored hair falling into his comely features, the instant his paws touched the marble floor below and he was visible once again his expression melted back into that of a proper socialite. At least they were Giovanni.

 

[Kinu]

The 'Chosen' guest list and those under consideration.


Amaro Giovanni, owned by Ruriska
Nalleme Giovanni, owned by NessyLove
Cry Wolf Giovanni, owned by [Recyclable]
Tejina Giovanni, owned by YourDarkLover
Knuvxy Giovanni, owned by Roddy McMay


Remember, you are Giovanni, make us proud and reap the sweet fruit of your labors. Either that or kiss up in a.. Giovanni way and you'll move up the ladder. If your not found out. No-one likes an obvious a** kisser darlings.

 

[Kinu]

The Manor Layout:

. neutral The Main Foyer|:.

. neutral The Grand Ballroom|:.

. neutral The Main Dining Room|:.

. neutral The Lounge|:.

It's not exactly the Giovanni Mansion, but it will do to suit our little event do you not agree?

 

[Kinu]

{-Those who we've contacted, feel free to post now. n-n If you have any questions PM me. I'll reply as soon as I am able. More will be added as the days progress.-}  

[AnimeChickie]

Sitting with her hands placed on her lap, Michelina Alessandra Giovanni observed the mortal family quietly. The petite figure only looked like she was still a teenager, but if nature had progressed like it should, she would look.... too old. Two lifetimes to be exact.

This event was no casual get-together. She was here on a mission, and she would succeed no matter what happened. There was no room for failure especially in this family. Thankfully she learned that long ago, if she had not, then she wouldn't be sitting here attending this event now.

After listening to Amadeo's greeting speech, she couldn't help but admire her elder moreso then she already did. Setting everything in place, she knew her mortal family was naturally greedy and envious, but with all of those unfavorable traits came along with ambition. That was the key to their success besides their superior manipulation and socialization skills.

So, she would observe carefully and wait for those that Amadeo had pointed out to her. Then she would speak with them and then... they would make their decision.  

[[Recyclable]]

Cry Wolf entered the lavish entrance hall, breathing in the rich scents of the manor. She looked up at the Giovanni, her blue eyes flashing with admiration. She walked into the foyer as he finished his speech, and nodded in greeting at the seated Michelina, a small grim smile on her face.

She walked towards the center of the foyer, her hips swaying inticingly as she walked. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder, and turned her head to look back at the staircase, before looking away and at the other Giovanni's in the mansion.  

[Kinu]

Amadeo moved silently, weaving his way through the crowd with a predatory grace, his eyes flashing in the dull bright over-head lighting of the spacious room. Family moved up the stairs to occupy the second story. A few teenagers leaning over the railing to glance the throng of relatives below. The Elder of Giovanni smirked, flashing a sharp canine for a mili-second before it dissappeared under the cool, cultured exterior. Spying Michelina he slipped silkily to her side, standing beside the chair she'd decided to reside upon. His eyes cast over the surrounding crowd, not looking at her directly. "Things are progressing well, you have the list I've provided?" So far one of the chosen had arrived, his dark hair falling across one eye, shielding him from those on his right.

"Once you find them speak with each and invite them to the Lounge tonight after the Formal Dinner. I want you there as well." He didn't sound sentimental, in fact, he sounded oddly cold. As if the entire affair, though natural to one who spent a life time in the company of family, was some kind of mask or ruse which in reality it was. But it felt good to have the house full, like a fresh kill or the scent of blood on the midnight air. Or the feeling of a crypt. He was unusually calm tonight, unusually hospitable. Perhaps he had to be, in front of his fellow Giovanni. Then again perhaps he had more than the little midnight surprise up his sleeve.  

[AnimeChickie]

Nodding at Cry Wolf softly, Michelina observed the meanki silently. One of the chosen that Amadeo had pointed out. She would go speak to her in a few minutes. The teenager's blonde hair fell over her shoulders as she leaned forward in her chair. Interesting....

Noticing Amadeo approaching her, she paid no attention to him. She only listened as he spoke. She continued to gaze out into the crowd keeping an eye on Cry Wolf. "Yes, I have the list..." Michelina nodded softly and continued to watch in silence.

It was surprising to see such a young looking Giovanni mingling with the older mortals, but Michelina had proved herself more then naive. She still hadn't spotted any of the other chosen kats, and she was rather surprised. Chosen they were and they were expected to be here. Very disappointing....  

[[Recyclable]]

Cry Wolf walked towards a window in the foyer, her tail brushing against the polished floor as she walked. Leaning forward, her arms across the sill, she looked out of the window into the night. She touched the glass with a hand lightly, and retracted at its cold temperature. She turned herself around, her elbows now resting on the sill, her legs crossed though she was standing. Chewing on her red, bottom lip, she looked back towards Michelina, and now at Amadeo, who was speaking to her.

Taking a nearby seat, she crossed her legs in a lady-like manner, with her tail curled slightly around the chair.  

[Kinu]

Amadeo merely nodded, his dark eyes landing on Cry Wolf momentairily before he clicked his claws along the skull wrapped about his wrist. "Very well then. Don't enjoy yourself too much." A faint smirk and he was gone into the crowd. He was going to scan the area for the others, if they didn't show up then they weren't worth the effort. Of course they might just have been shoved around or dragged off and into some endless conversation about Giovanni politics or who had been doing what since when. That was nothing new. It had even happened to him a few times and in fact he spied a relative he particularily wasn't too interested in seeing. One of his cousins. A big time trader in import export goods, always happy.. too happy in fact. The kind of smile worn by those who grinned while they shot you over some deal gone wrong or bad conversation. He was a rather... volatile individual.

Melting away into kin he partially scanned the railing with his eyes, not here, not yet. They hadn't arrived, he sensed it. Though he was pleased to find that along with mortal relatives some spirits had decided to follow after. It wasn't uncommon to see someone walking around with a ghost following them and the Giovanni appeared to have quite a few of those individuals, along with some promising necromancers. Another Necromancer was what they needed though he ignored the female portion entirely. Sexist, yes. But to Amadeo he could afford to be whatever he pleased. Old habits die hard.  

[AnimeChickie]

Getting up, Michelina nodded to Amadeo and approached Cry Wolf. "Hello there." The teenager smiled softly and gazed up at the meanki. She would be considerably shorter then most of the faekats here just because her growth was stopped when she was... still growing.

Tilting her head innocently, she continued to smile at the meanki. Now... the process began.

((EDIT--> Darnfoodgemonkeys. I must head off to bed, swim meet tomorrow. >.> I'll try to reply in teh morning. @_@))  

[[Recyclable]]

"Hello," she said, looking down at Michelina in a manner that was more questioning than welcoming. Once again, she nodded in greeting at the fae, watching her while also looking out at the others in the foyer.

(nyah, short post, but i must go)  

[Ruriska]

Amaro had almost forgotten how rich his family was. Living a rather rustic life in a forest and hunting for a living didn't exactly make you feel at home when it came to these family reunions. Perhaps staying away for so long had been a stupid idea. The red-furred male glanced around with his silver eyes, one hand opening and closing into a fist compulsively. He was nervous. Not only did he hate large crowds, but he didn't know anyone here. Ok, so he recognized a few faces from his youth, but their gazes glossed over him without even a hint of recognition. Not that he'd liked them anyway.

He found his way out of the main throng and leant against the wall, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. Listening to the conversation around him almost put him to sleep. Apparently young Marko had fallen in love with Josephine, a match his mother did not agree with at all. How... fascinating. They were also talking about the earlier speech. Amaro had only heard the last bit, turning up as a wave of laughter rang out. Unfortunately that meant he missed the joke entirely and was left looking bewildered.

Gee. This was going to be a great day.

From his new position he could actually see quite a lot of the hall, and was thus pleased with himself. Just think of the others as trees... moving tree, but trees. You're in a forest of faes. Amaro said to himself. It calmed him down somewhat and he continued to observe with his keen gaze. The male was in fact searching for someone, but so far he hadn't had any luck. So far she'd remained extremely elusive. Then again, maybe she wasn't even here. Amaro muttered a curse under his breath and then continued to watch the crowd for his mother.  

[nessy]

Head held high, cerulean hair rippling down her back, she strode into the manor doors with poise, grace, and above all, beauty. Her deep eyes scanned the foyer, and the room beyond with its gathering, and they lit a bit. Yes, this place was lovely indeed. The money and power rippling through the air was enough to get drunk on alone.

The white nymphae calmly stepped forward, mingling with the crowd, small talking here and there, intruding on a conversation where she thought she could make a quick comment, make herself heard, and slip away before anyone asked her name. It was a talent she'd learned at her mother's knee, and one she prided herself on.

She so loved social gatherings. And one hosted by the Giovanni was one never to be missed. Guaranteed to be opulent and dazzling, how could Nalleme have turned down the great invitation?