Duilio Rossi
Fresh off the Boat
Forgive us our trespasses.
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Post by Duilio Rossi on Aug 1, 2015 2:37:06 GMT -5
He could just lose himself in this painting, wander off and disappear and no one would suffer for it. That was the better option, the more comfortable one. Good God, anything would be more comfortable than airing his shame in this room to this man he had barely met! Oh, this could go so terribly. This could destroy all of his hopes for Mariella. If Enzo chose to send him away, would he still keep Ella safe?
He heard the other two leave, and he had to tear his eyes away from the painting and return them to the man who held his fate in the palm of his hand. Drawing in a deep, shaky breath, Duilio stepped toward the chair Enzo had indicated and sat down heavily. "Thank you, sir," he said with a nod as he reached for the glass and took a grateful sip of the liquor. Liquid courage: That was what they called it, and that was what he needed.
"Yes, sir," he replied, meeting Enzo's gaze with desperation in his own. "But you must understand ... Mariella has no part in what I must tell you. Mariella is blameless. I ... I need her to be safe. But ... "
He cleared his throat nervously, then reached into his pocket and removed the bag of diamonds. He reached out, placed them on Enzo's desk, and then rubbed a hand anxiously across his brow. Here it was. He had to say what he had done.
"I ... I have a skill at cracking safes. I trained with an older family associate. He saw promise in me after my first kill. And these diamonds ... I stole them. I cracked the safe that everyone said could not be cracked. But I didn't ... I didn't ... "
Oh, God, oh God, this was so horrible!
"I failed to ensure that ... well, I ... they came for me. They came for me and I was not home, and they were angry, and when I arrived ... "
He had tried so hard to maintain eye contact, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't look as he told this man that he had murdered his relatives. Duilio stared at a spot on the floor, between his feet, and the shame hung heavily around his neck.
"When I arrived, they were all dead."
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Post by Mariella Rossi on Aug 1, 2015 2:54:34 GMT -5
"Oh why thank you Pietro." She said blushing like she was expected to, even if she didn't feel much like blushing. Ella took his arm and looked at Duilio. She wanted him to know that she would be okay, even if this man turned out to be cruel and cold. The next look was a reminder for him to think before he speaks because she was growing might short with him for acting out instead of thinking things through like a normal person. After all if he thought things through in the first place maybe they wouldn't be here right now.
As they walked down the hall she took in the surroundings of the school. There was something that just was so much bleaker than her lovely home and her own school. There was a beauty and an energy there that was always light and joyous and here seemed dark and cold and empty. Or maybe that was just the energy that was coming off of Pietro.
"Teaching potions must be very rewarding." She said with a smile that was slightly put on after a moment or two of silence hanging between them. So she gather that he was older than her. At least by a few years, of course that didn't bug her given that Salvador was five years older than her. Oh dear there she goes thinking about him again, she had to stop. No thoughts of her dead love was allowed to cross her mind while she was with the man that was suppose to be her new love.
"Your Uncle is a very sweet man, and it appears you two are close." Family, she should start by asking about is family. After all it was the most important thing next to god. "Do you have any other brothers or sisters? I always wanted a little sister... but Sadly now it's just me and my twin."
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Post by Pietro Antonucchi on Aug 1, 2015 4:26:07 GMT -5
He offered her a smile as she took his arm, and they began their walk through the corridors of classrooms. "Yes, teaching is a wonderful thing to do. The students are ... well, full of life, I suppose. And potential. Watching them learn and discover their abilities is very exciting. When I got into it, I was really only doing it because I love the subject and the job would keep me close to my family, but I discovered very quickly that children are delightful."
Yes, all right, that was good. He didn't have to mention how much things had changed since the unpleasantness, how the students who had trusted him now feared him. He swallowed hard against the despair that was always so close to the surface.
"Uncle Enzo is extremely devoted to his family, and I appreciate that very much. He has always shown great care for me. I am glad that your first meeting with him went well. He can be intimidating, certainly, but he will always look out for you."
Oh, she was very good at asking questions and keeping up the flow of the conversation. That was good. He could cling to that. "I do. I also have a twin. His name is River. And we have a younger sister, named Suki. River teaches Transfiguration here, and Suki is a healer at the local hospital." They passed his classroom, and he considered showing her the inside of it, but decided at the last moment that it would be a bad idea. After all, his classroom was full of memories of Serafina. Instead, Pietro turned to open the door to River's classroom. This was a much more neutral zone.
"This is River's classroom," he explained, ushering Mariella inside so that she could see what a typical classroom at Cascade was like. As she looked around, he closed his eyes for a long moment. This was already awkward, and he knew it was his fault, and he may as well explain right away. After all, he didn't want her thinking that she was the problem.
He drew in a deep breath. "Miss ... well, Uncle Enzo didn't tell me your last name. But I feel I must be frank. His intentions were clear to me when he summoned me to his office and then sent us off together. My uncle ... well ... "
He looked at his feet, at his perfectly shiny shoes. Everything was perfect, even tidier and more shiny than it had been before. He felt as though he would break at any moment, and cleaning things helped: shining shoes, organizing his books, washing and re-washing his kitchen utensils.
"I do not wish to be less than welcoming. I am trying very hard. But I lost someone very recently ... someone very close to me. Someone I would have married. And I understand that you must be feeling nervous and out of place, and that you have been through a terrible ordeal." After all, what else could she have meant by 'now it's just me and my twin'?
"I do not want you to worry that you have done anything wrong. I am grieving, and I believe you are grieving, too."
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Post by Enzo Antonucchi on Aug 1, 2015 4:48:52 GMT -5
"I figured that much son, you have done a good job keeping her shelter clearly. She is as pure a freshly fallen snow." Which was good because when the woman is made aware of what it is they truly do they wanted to get all involved and he couldn't have that of bride to the future heir. He sipped at his drink some and raised an eyebrow; a clear sign that he was waiting for Duilio to get a move on with his tale of what had happen to his family.
Now when you work for the Mafia you are made aware of the fact that you put your family life at risk, but there are ways to make sure they are safe by covering your tracks or paying people off to make sure no harm comes to them. And with each word of Duilio story it became clearer and clearer that he had made no attempts to protect his family before he took on this heist. And while he was very impressed with the boy's abilities... the fact that he had no hindsight, that he was impulsive and hot temper... Did he really need another River to coach the every move of? Maybe because River has certainly earned his bones in the last few years.
Still as it stands right now, he was more a liability that something worth keeping. But he did have that perfect sister with him, and who knows? Given time and the proper punishment, he could earn his keep.
"And they spared your twin sister which makes you a luck man. He said sipping his drink before seating it back down and looking Duilio dead in the eyes. "I am about to make something very clear Duilio and it's this; if it was not for your sister I would have sent you out the second you told me you did not ensure that you could protect your family after what you did. Pietro needs and bride and lucky for you, she is perfect. I want them married within a month and if you consent we can write up a quick contract promising her to Pietro and you to work for me.
But let me make it clear, pull anything like that again and I will put you on the first boat back to Italy myself. Clear?" He wasn't about to punish the poor girl for her brother foolish actions. She had suffered greatly and he knew with time and Pietro natural affection toward woman she would be happy here. But he wanted to instil the fear of Enzo Antonucchi into this one... "And if that is clear do we have a deal? Your sister will marry Pietro and I will make sure she is always protected and cared for. And you will work for me until the end of your days."
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Duilio Rossi
Fresh off the Boat
Forgive us our trespasses.
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Post by Duilio Rossi on Aug 1, 2015 5:04:20 GMT -5
He closed his eyes, waiting for the horror he knew was coming. But as long as the words contained a promise of Mariella's safety, he would agree. It didn't matter what he had to do. If she would be taken care of, then Duilio would be happy.
After all, that was the best he could hope for anymore. He had been an arrogant youth, sure of his own abilities, seeking only his own pleasure at every moment. But now? Now he knew that he was nothing, that he was the worst of the worst, that he should be dead but that instead he was alive with only one job to do: protect Mariella.
He flinched as he listened to the harsh words, but they were kinder than he had expected. He was being offered a second chance. It wouldn't be offered if not for Mariella, but what did that matter? If Mariella had been murdered, too, then he would have eaten his gun right there next to her bleeding body.
"Yes, sir," he replied, completely chastened, still staring at that spot on the floor between his shoes. Could people die of shame? Was that something that happened? "Anything. I will do anything as long as she is safe.
"But, please ... I need a teacher. I do not ... I do not want to be this person anymore." He swallowed hard, leaving every shred of his pride here on the floor in tatters. Finally, he looked up again, eyes shiny with emotion that was too heavy for him to cope with.
"Please help me."
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Family?
Aug 1, 2015 18:02:16 GMT -5
Post by Mariella Rossi on Aug 1, 2015 18:02:16 GMT -5
Outside of family and is day job she didn't really have much else to ask him. Because everything that she wanted to know about this man she knew she couldn't ask yet. But lucky for her he seemed very content filling the air with ramblings about the school and his family. As it turned out he had a twin brother as well which made her smile. "I always loved having a twin, even if they cause trouble. I couldn't imagine my life without Duilio." He also had a little sister which must be nice. "I would love to meet her sometime." She said with a smile. It would be nice really, she never had any female family members and she always wanted one. Still the woman was working as a Healer which meant she was probably not married or looking to marry which was odd to her. What sort of woman didn't want to be married.
They walked into another classroom that was not his and she was drawn to the bookshelf first of all. English textbook were rare and hard to come by back home so to see so many was just... "These are beautiful." She said smiling as her fingers ran over a few before pulling on off the shelf and gently flipping through the pages. "I only have even seen one other transfiguration text book in english, I always wonder if they language difference would cause..."
She was cut off by his next words and she realized she had probably been talking too much. "Oh yes Mariella Gianna Rossi... is my full name." She closed the book and moved slightly closer to him again, her heart felt for the man as he explained that he had lost someone he wanted to marry as well and he was still grieving.
Her own chest became tight with fits of emotional bouts she tried to keep under control. She was not about to cry, not about to become emotional when he was the one telling her this right now that would be rude. "Thank you for being honest with me Pietro. Now I must be honest with you. The reason my brother and I are here... is because my family and my fiance an also no longer apart of this world." She said with a soft smile before letting it fade. "So as long as you understand that you have not done anything wrong as well I think we will be able to come to an understand."
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Family?
Aug 1, 2015 21:48:50 GMT -5
Post by Pietro Antonucchi on Aug 1, 2015 21:48:50 GMT -5
Pietro chuckled at Mariella's observation about troublesome twins. "Oh, yes, River is also excellent at causing trouble. But I would tend to agree with you: there aren't many things more precious than having a twin, as infuriating as they may be." So, not only were they both twins, but they were both the responsible halves of their respective duos. Similarities. Things to talk about. He clutched at them, hoping desperately that if he collected enough of them, he could give her what she deserved as far as being a welcoming, comforting person.
"As she would be thrilled to meet you. That can be arranged whenever you'd like. She is a lovely person, if a bit brash." Oh, Suki. He could already tell that Mariella might be a bit taken aback by his sister, but there were worse things. Suki would, after all, be welcoming and kind. At least, he thought she would.
Then they were in River's classroom, and Mariella was admiring the books. "Speaking of English, yours is very good. It must have taken much study to master the language so thoroughly in a country where you were not forced to depend on it." She was clearly intelligent, which was one of the qualities he admired most in a woman. Thank the Lord for that! He nodded, offering the most sincere smile he could muster. "Miss Rossi, then."
His brow furrowed as she explained her situation, and how very similar it was to his. It was awful enough to lose the person you had intended to marry, but to lose other family members at the same time? He was impressed with her strength under such horrific circumstances. So, they were both struggling to hold back their soul-shattering grief. Yet another similarity. Cold comfort, that was.
Pietro swallowed hard, struggling for the right words. "You have my deepest sympathies. To lose your love in such a fashion ... " He looked up and away for several moments, blinking hard in order to maintain his composure. "Yes," he continued, reaching out to squeeze one of Mariella's hands with his own. "We have an understanding." The heavy silence was somehow a bit lighter, having made clear to each other that any reticence was due to grief rather than disrespect. They both had enough to worry about without adding paranoia about each other to the mix.
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Family?
Aug 2, 2015 14:15:37 GMT -5
Post by Enzo Antonucchi on Aug 2, 2015 14:15:37 GMT -5
This was a good little set up he had going. So long as he kept this girl safe... so long as Pietro kept her safe, they would have Duilio for life. And he could certainly break any and all impulsive the boy has. "Oh do not worry Duilio you will get all the help you need. I am going to set you and your sister up in home not to far from my own. You will both live there until the time comes that she is to me married." He fact hopefully they could put something together quickly. It would be grand of course, after all the future head of the family was getting married. But it need to happen all rather soon. Because things with the O'Brien's was heating up and who knew how long they... he had. "Well all that left is the matter of some paper work."
Enzo reached into his desk drawn and pulling out two stacks of paper and pushing them towards Duilio. "I am sorry they are written in english. But this one here promises your services to my family until the end of your days and this one promises your sister to my nephew. Now I just need you to sign here."
He showed the man were to sign and handed him a quill watching for his reaction. He should know exactly what he is signing himself up for if he was raised properly. At very least he didn't have to worry about proving himself, just redeeming himself and this was the first step. Putting his own life on the line to keep his sister safe. "I would hurry up and sign Duilio... your sister might be back any second and we don't want her to know the truth now do we?"
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Duilio Rossi
Fresh off the Boat
Forgive us our trespasses.
Offline
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Family?
Aug 2, 2015 14:59:51 GMT -5
Post by Duilio Rossi on Aug 2, 2015 14:59:51 GMT -5
He was going to give them a home? God, he was going to give them everything and all it would cost was Duilio's obedience. He could do this, right? He just needed to listen, to follow orders and not go off on his own to pull stupid shit. Just do what he was told ... live the life that Vincenzo had lived ...
Never before had Duilio actually understood the gravity of his brother's situation. No autonomy, but all the responsibility. Burdens without choice. He was already chafing under the expectations. But ... Ella.
"Thank you," he replied, and then the papers came out. Oh, no ... he pulled the document pertaining to Mariella closer and stared at it. The words were gibberish. He saw his sister's name, and Pietro's and ... the longer he stared, the more baffling the document appeared. The letters seemed to swirl, to jumble together into a great big meaningless stew. How could he sign something that he couldn't read? The only person he fully trusted was Mariella, and he couldn't have her read these things. But what if his reluctance to sign angered the man in front of him?
He took the quill, still staring at the paper as Enzo's threatening words struck him in the gut. Finally, Duilio cleared his throat and looked up. "But ... I cannot read them."
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Family?
Aug 2, 2015 16:03:19 GMT -5
Post by Mariella Rossi on Aug 2, 2015 16:03:19 GMT -5
"Thank you. I am sure there are some gaps in my knowledge, but I felt it was important to learn any many languages as I could. I'm only fluent in Italian, English and French, and I would love to learn German someday." Some men didn't like girls as smart as she was, not that she was trying to brag or anything but she was rather bright. But Salvador always said her brain and wit was the best thing next to her beauty and just the fact she knew how to carry herself. Hopefully Pietro wanted more than just a pretty face, because while she had no problem just being a pretty face, she did like being smart as well.
It was odd being referred to as Miss Rossi by the man that would be marrying her soon enough because Salvador had never called her Miss Rossi. She was just Ella, his sweet little Cinderella.
It was funny how much they had in common but she suppose that was good, this way there were no hard feelings. She understood he needed time, and he knew she needed time. Even after they are married she would understand if he still didn't want to touch her or be overly affectionate towards her. Hopefully they could become friends first and then when they are both ready to open their hearts again, lovers. But she wasn't holding her breath, let's just hope that they could make it to friends.
"Yes... It is a nice understand to start from." She said with a smile before brushing back her hair some and saying. "You also have my sympathy, I am sure she was a lovely woman." He had taken her hand and gave it a light squeeze. How odd that all it took was a little squeeze and she found a bit of comfort in this man. With this silence hanging between them she cleared her throat and said. "Should we back to the office? Or is there still more of this school I should be viewing?" Her eyes casted down to his hands, there was something odd about his right hand. A circular scar, right through the center and she titled her head as she looked at it. Vincenzo would sometimes come home with scars like this one, when they were odd shapes and in weird places. "This scar... How did you get it?"
Maybe he would be more willing to tell her of his true life, every other man in her life felt the need to protect her all the time.
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Post by Pietro Antonucchi on Aug 3, 2015 0:28:40 GMT -5
Wonderful! Intelligence. They could be happy together in the long run, Pietro felt sure of it. They would be able to discuss things, to question all forms of 'knowledge,' to teach each other new and exciting information. Perhaps he could even learn some French!
They could at least be friends and share mutual respect, if nothing else.
"That is very impressive," he replied, his tone of voice beginning to lose some of its cold detachment. After all, they had an understanding, and that was a comfort. He didn't have to hide his pain from her the way he had to hide it from the men in his life. "I speak only Italian and English. Does your brother also speak English? If not, we will have to teach him."
She had a lovely smile, too, and Pietro did his best to return it. "Well, there is a marvelous library, and the grounds are splendid," he continued, starting to move toward the door when her gentle squeeze on his hand arrested his progress. What an immense question. How much should he divulge? On the one hand, honesty was important, but on the other, he needed her to feel as though she had been paired with someone dependable who could ensure her safety.
A bit of a wistful look passed over his gaze as he looked down at his own hand where her fingers passed over the knotty flesh of the scar. Pietro drew in a deep breath. "Well, as I think you know, our families are involved in a dangerous life. I recently found myself in a situation with some enemies ... that's how I got this, too." With his other hand, he indicated the scar running diagonally across his face. "I assure you that this does not happen often. The Antonucchis are a powerful family, and you will be well protected."
Oh, how he wished he still felt as confident as he knew he sounded.
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Family?
Aug 3, 2015 19:07:53 GMT -5
Post by Enzo Antonucchi on Aug 3, 2015 19:07:53 GMT -5
"Well when you learn english then you can read it." Enzo said with his patience for the boy wearing mighty thin. "The one concerning your sister just states that you are giving your consent for her to be married to Pietro. And if she has children with him what will happen to them if her and Pietro both die." Of course that wasn't all that was in there But Duilio didn't need to know that. After all he wasn't about to tell the boy everything all at once. Every family has secrets after all.
"And this one just promises you to me for the rest of your days. And if you end up pulling anything like you pulled in Italy I will just kill you no if ands or buts." He pushed the paper closer toward Duilio and narrowed his eyes some. He already wasn't liking the slight fight that was being put up by the boy. He just wanted his contract signed and he wanted the signed before Mairella and Pietro got back.
"I am waiting Duilio and if you do not sign them now, you can forget about receiving my help and I might as well tell that beautiful little sister of yours why."
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Duilio Rossi
Fresh off the Boat
Forgive us our trespasses.
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Family?
Aug 5, 2015 23:49:50 GMT -5
Post by Duilio Rossi on Aug 5, 2015 23:49:50 GMT -5
"I am waiting Duilio and if you do not sign them now, you can forget about receiving my help and I might as well tell that beautiful little sister of yours why."
Oh, God. This was terrible. This man was frightening and harsh and Duilio felt small and out of place and very, very afraid. His hands were shaking and he hated that fact and wanted desperately for it to stop. He couldn't ... he simply couldn't ... what if these papers said something bad about Mariella? About what would happen to her? What if this Pietro person was abusive and ugly and didn't treat her respectfully? What then?
Finally making a decision, Duilio reached out for the document pertaining to his employment and signed it, quickly and cleanly, not worried about what it might say. The document that truly concerned him was the one about Mariella. Looking up, he did his damnedest to make his eyes hard and unyielding just like Enzo's.
"There," he said. "You have my service. But this other one ... the one about Mariella ... I must know everything it says."
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Post by Enzo Antonucchi on Aug 6, 2015 2:17:11 GMT -5
His fingers tapped against the desk as his eyes narrowed at Duilio. He was getting sick of waiting on the boy to just sign the papers. It wasn't like he was totally screwing him over with these. Sure there was a few things he probably needed to know that he wasn't telling him but those would be relieved in time. "I'm waiting Duilio..."
Finally the boy wrote his name on the line on the first contact and Enzo smiled, "Thank you Duilio. I am glad to see you..." But the next contact remain unsigned. He wanted to know everything in it that had to do with his sister. Part of the man found that commeriable, he would have down the same for Marisol. But the other part of him would have realized that he was at a extreme disadvantage. And that if he doesn't signed that piece of paper, the chances of marrying her to a good man was going out the window.
"You know Duilio I think it very honorable of you to be so protective of your sister. Perhaps then you would be best suited to explain to her why she isn't going to be married. It's a shame really, she would have made a lovely bride." He said with a small fake sigh as he started to pull the contact back and away from Duilio.
"Let's just hope she'll understand why she can no longer marry Pietro and have the life she always wanted. Be a wife and a mother..."
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Duilio Rossi
Fresh off the Boat
Forgive us our trespasses.
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Post by Duilio Rossi on Aug 6, 2015 4:18:39 GMT -5
Duilio's hand darted out to slam down on top of the contract that Enzo was tugging away. He gritted his teeth, fighting desperately against everything inside him that threatened to burst free and condemn them both. His father had sent them here, to this? This man was supposed to be his family? Yes, Duilio had made a royal mess of everything, but why did that mean that Mariella should suffer even more than she already had?
Oh, what he would have said if he hadn't so recently learned the error of his impulsive ways.
He was a failure, a complete and utter failure. Here he was, about to sign away his sister when what he really wanted was to beat this horrible man until that smug face was nothing but a bloody pulp between his fingers. Pure hatred overtook him as he stared at the paper, at the spinning letters in their meaningless jumbles. Why, why, why was this happening to them?
Because you are foolish. Because you destroyed the life you used to have. This is your fault, Duilio.
He couldn't say anything. He couldn't trust himself to open his mouth. It didn't matter how much he hated himself for it. He signed the paper. Jaw clenched, nostrils flaring with barely controlled rage, Duilio signed and then tossed the quill down onto the desk. What else could he do? She wanted to marry. It was all he could do for her.
He was overwhelmed with shame as he sat there, trembling with suppressed emotion, staring at that spot on the floor between his feet. Well, he'd signed, hadn't he? He'd signed away everything he had left: his sister and any hint of pride that might have remained or might have been rebuilt.
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