Thread: Good little Catholics (Part Two) (attn: Emma)

Reply by DeAnna Ross

As Constantino rises he will hear a voice behind him, "Memorial day we use to come here and walk among the stones with flags and flowers and my father would tell me stories about the men and women who were put to rest here. I come every year, even after I should have been laid down with them." She sighs. "I regret that the tradition will die with me. They deserve that and more..."

As Constantino turns he'll see her standing there in the pale moonlight. Long red locks of hair flutter in the wind, surreal green eyes that seem plucked out of fairy tales pierce into him seeming to seek a motive for his kind act, pale as milk flesh is exposed to the elements from her ankles up past her shapely turn of a calf and rarely exposed thigh. Emma Fitzpatrick is dressed in a pale pink dress, a 1950s cut with a flair skirt. Knowing the person that she is, it seems odd to see her dressed this way but it's appropriate on her shapely feminine form that is often hidden under more masculine clothing. Even her lips are touched with a bit of gloss that shines in the evening's failing light.

"Hello Constantino." She says softly, the warm humid summer wind carrying her words to him like his own sacred prayer given a moment ago.

Reply by Jess Phillips

Rising from his prayer after hearing Emma walking up behind him, Tino seems to disregard the new stain just below the right knee of his Italian Silk suit. Very rare indeed that he would show something less than perfection in public. He listens sympathetically to Emma's tale of Memorial Days past, no a word is spoken on his part. As she steps from the shadows into the moonlight. The accents of her attire and shapes, which have always been hidden by baggy and unflattering attire, strike him dumbfounded. His families recent troubles and the mysteries of the jyhad have allowed him far too little time to enjoy the finer things in unlife, like the beauty of a woman he has no desire to sleep with.

Tino walks to her slowly, taking care not to walk over any plots, respecting the dead in public, despite of what may happen behind closed doors. He will come close enough to her to see the twinkle of her eye and place a hand lightly on her arm. Since the moment seems to hang like a ripened grape, and the slightest breeze may rip it from the vine, he speaks with a whisper so as not to disturb it.

"Emma, you look beautiful. You remind me of the simple times. I, for one, think this look suits you very well and believe you would open many cold hearts if you assumed it more often. It almost embarrasses me, that I have not seen this side of you before." He pauses again taking in the refined elegance of the woman before him. "It also saddens me that I called you hear to given you information of a much more serious matter, rather than take you for a night on the town in which we could throw away our cares."

Reply by DeAnna Ross

"I make a terrible date, you don't want to hear from the last three guys I was seeing." she shakes her head as if trying to wish away memories that are better left in the past. "Thanks for saying such nice things though. I'd return the favor but you always look handsome." Emma seems to struggle to make the corners of her lips pull upward into a smile. Although Constantino might be tempted to think it's a failing on his apart, that perhaps she doesn't find him attractive, it's more likely that he reads her body language correctly and sees something of himself and Cici in her face... that emptiness of human emotion that can't always be hidden even though nothing else about her seems inhuman in the very least. If she followed any path other than that of Humanity, she must also know some way to hide it's signs well for there were no traditional 'tells.'

"I can't remember the last time I wore a dress but," Emma puts emphasis on the next word, "she insisted that I dress up. I realized I didn't own any dresses so I had to break out one of my mother's. I use to love her in this dress." Green eyes flutter to her mother's headstone and then back to Constantino.

"You said there is a serious matter? I hope there's nothing wrong with your cousin Ms. Caruso? I had assumed because I had not heard from you after her assaliant's release that everything had gone as expected?"

Reply by Jess Phillips

Constantino quietly listens to anecdotes of boyfriends past. Noting her apparent lack of attraction on her face, even though her words mention his appearance, the thought of trying to lighten her up bounces through his head. Ironic that is may be since Tino is about as serious as the plague on most days. When mentioning 'she' he can only assume that Emma refers to Melissa, the mystery girl whose playful nature can fool the wisest of men.

"You do her credit, by holding her memories to your heart Emma."

Tino bows his head, once again ashamed that a serious matter has to interupt his glimpse at simplicity. "Si, there is something I feel could help you and your friends who had protected this city for centuries." He will look back up and into her eyes trying to see if she caught his implied mention of Cahill. "It does in a way have ties to my cousin, but thankfully this time she is not the subject. You said the other attackers were released into the general populace, I wonder did they find justice? I ask because i believe i know who released them, I know whose influence reached up and placed the ropes around their necks. And I know who broke the old guardian down."

Reply by DeAnna Ross

Emma nods slowly as Constantino asks if the criminals found justice. "It may have slipped to a few loud mouthed guys looking for a break, from someone who has dinner with the parole board members from time to time, that Kirsi is younger than the press is reporting her to be. I assure you that every one of them broke the first night and most have every night since. I'm to understand that more than one has offered to turn on his friends in return for considerations but after the disappearance of the last guy who took a plea bargin, the judge isn't willing to approve any deals. That may be bad for Kirsi's lawyer though. This judge wants the guys to do hard time and isn't willing to give ground on lesser charges now which means if they can't be convicted on the charges carrying the harder time... some may walk." A bit of emotion returns to Emma's eyes just then. It's as if she blinked and something of herself returned with the mention of the miscarriage of justice being done.

"I guess your cousin made an impression ... rumor has it that the Judge on the case may have gotten it in his head to go heavy on these guys from a certain mayor of the city." Emma hesitates to gague Constantino's reaction. "I have to say that I'm impressed with your ability to sneak that one past me. I have no idea how you got to the mayor but, I am impressed."

She smiles, this time it does touch her eyes and the emotions seem to continue as she fidgets with her dress rather than standing shock still. "So... you got some answers from him. Good. Glad to hear the garbage sang for you and I'm even more happy to hear he sold out the brains of his operation. Who is it I'm hunting for putting us all at risk?"

Reply by Jess Phillips

Constantino smiles at the thought of his cousins attackers being hammered on a daily basis. Sure that if Kirsi could hear them suffer her wounds would heal even quicker. As she mentions the mayor and assumes he is linked to Tino in some way, he doesn't offer to correct her assumption, even the most trusting kindred can't play all of his cards. Getting to the matter at hand the smile fades from his face.

"The boy screamed, and cried, and pleaded, and confessed." Constantino looks around her, into the shadows and up to the moon. Leaning forward, hoping she doesn't flinch at his apparently forward attempt to kiss her, he instead brushes the hair away from her ear and whispers with no small hint of malice, "Kalnor, former Tremere Primogen Kalnor."

Reply by DeAnna Ross

Emma freezes as Constantino moves in towards her, like a deer in the headlights she's unsure of his intentions but doesn't flinch. When he says Kalnor's name, Emma curses in a language which Constantino is unfamilar with though can guess that her exclaimation was vulgar in nature by her tone.

She draws a long breath and lines appear on her face as she mutters angrily, "He skipped town shortly after the affair with Cahill and Stan. I would have suspected him expect several others have gone missing since that night... damn... " she shakes her head. "Damn unlikely that the little weasel Tucker is going to tell us where he went. If I know the Tremere they'll shore up defenses, work the spin, pass the blame and all stay tight lipped. Not a one of those bloody warlocks can think for themselves." She shakes her head.

"So that's it... Calhoun doesn't get a reprieve and Cahill, if he ever regains some sense of reality, never gets vengence. Their repayment for scarificing everything... a life in hiding and unavenged." She shakes her head and lets her eyes fall to the ground.

"I sometimed wonder why I..." She grits her teeth behind her lips and slowly relaxes. "I'll have to talk to Stan I guess. I can't expect that he will be completely kind to Calhoun but maybe I can get him to let up the hunt in exchange for exile or something. I know Cahill was his friend and clanmate but perhaps he can be made to see reason and that it may help how people think about him around here. Right now he's got a pretty low approval rating, if you know what I mean."

Reply by Jess Phillips

"I do know what you mean Emma, that was one of my concerns for his rule as well. I'm sure your words to Stan will let him see reason, and if you happen to mention that you came across the information via me, it may help to drop the coin for him."

Constantino smiles awkwardly and takes Emma's hand should she not resist. Kissing it gently he continues.

"Thank you, again for meeting me Emma. Please call me some time so that we may forget about the cares of this world some night. It will be good for both our souls." Releasing her hand he walks back to his waiting car and rides off into the downtown again.