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Tweak says, "Did you miss me...?"

Justine Baptiste (savageallure) wrote in haunted_roads,
@ 2008-06-20 13:05:00

Entry tags:

justine, tony

Week Ten - Saturday
Who: Justine and Tony
Where: Chroma
When: After dark, of course

Chroma had for so long been her shelter outside of the penthouse she and her siblings shared. It had been a place of her own creation, under her own control where that inevitable feeling of safety that tended to come with the familiar settled in. The recent visits of Mikkos, his son, his wife had shattered the solitude it had once provided. Now the evenings where she had once looked forward to spending her hours amongst her patrons were dreaded, that unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach, never knowing who might show up next in this same unexpected manner. She felt hopeful that no sign of any of the Aristedes family in recent days meant perhaps she was truly going to be left out of whatever familial drama was going on amongst them. She hadn't been tied to them for years, for lifetimes. Whatever softness her heart held for Mikkos, or his for her, was surely just nostalgia - or so she wished, so she tried to convince herself.

She'd kept word of all visits but that very first from her siblings, from Chloe especially. She loved her younger sister, but given her propensity towards brash action, Justine feared the worst outcomes should the littlest Baptiste discover all the tawdry details of the recent going-ons at Chroma. It was obvious that something ate at Justine, disturbed her usually unflappable grace, but her siblings respected her privacy enough not to pry - something she couldn't have been more grateful for. She couldn't sort out her own emotions when it came to Mikkos' grand return, she had no desire to try and discuss them aloud.

It was late when she finally gathered herself together enough to ready herself for Chroma. Dark hair was pinned up elegantly, back and out of her face, accentuating those stormy jade-hued eyes of hers, a light dusting of make-up covering her pale skin. She went with black for the night, wanting to blend into the crowd that was surely already filling at least the main bar area. It took only moments to select a pair of shoes, to grab a small clutch and take her leave of the Penthouse.

Sure enough, the parking lot was full when she arrived and though a line had formed outside, she obviously made her way in without an issue. Justine dropped by her office only long enough to lock away the small purse she'd carried, the keys on a stretchy chord around her wrist as she headed back out to assist her staff behind the bar. Lingering alone in her office seemed an invitation for trouble as of late and there was no need for that tonight.

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shadowwhisper
2008-06-22 03:41 am UTC (link)

Of course, why stay in her office waiting for trouble, when there was trouble waiting for her outside in the main bar area? Anthony had made sure he was on the reserved list to get into Chroma without having to wait in one of those absurd lines that mortals always seemed to find themselves in. It was one of those times that knowing people in the city came in rather handy. And so, he was already inside when she did arrive.

Tony busied himself, however, for a time regarding the stock and what was available. He had particular tastes, and it would have been an easy choice had it been for him. Easy in that his tastes were not all that refined. Despite the wealth he had gathered, and the image he presented, he was still, and always would be, a child of the streets. Simple booze was good enough for him, rather than this fancy stuff. Even if not and again it had a flavor to it.

As he watched everyone going about their business, he only smiled a bit as he regarded the mortals, and the less than mortals doing what they do. It was always an interesting dance, no matter what his demonic companion thought of them. Humans were dangerous in their own right, and especially in numbers, but in small numbers, they were often just amusing. Especially to toy with.

He had been just about to approach one of the underlings, when she appeared. Letting his gaze wander for a moment, Tony just smiled to himself. Definitely was a lovely creature, but if all the stories were to be believed, she was also much older than he was. Which made her someone to deal with cautiously. But regardless of anything else, he always preferred to deal with those in charge, rather than the employees of any particular business. And so, he began to walk in that direction.

“Ms Baptiste.” He said with a bow of his head. “A pleasure to finally meet you. Anthony Pastorelli. At your service.”

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savageallure
2008-06-23 08:20 am UTC (link)

From the way he introduced himself, Justine felt as it perhaps she should know far more about this Mr. Pastorelli than she did. Sadly, she knew only that he lived in the Towers, knowledge gathered from seeing his name on a lease filed away, discovered one night as she'd been on a search for something else. He seemed to have a reason to approach, given the confident manner in which he introduced himself, and Justine could admit that she was curious as to what it was. Given all the visitors Chroma had had lately, she was understandably a bit suspicious of all newcomers.

Still, she managed a most polite smile, "It's lovely to meet you as well, Mr. Pastorelli. Is there something I could interest you in drinking this evening?" She gestured behind herself for a moment, to the extensive selection of both wine and miscellaneous liquors he could choose from - it was Chroma's position that they should have any and everything their clientele could desire, after all.

That sneaking suspicion remained that he might have had a more specific reason for venturing out to track her down tonight and Justine's curiosity showed no signs of tapering off. "Or perhaps there is something else you sought to find here tonight?" she inquired after a moment, determined to try and perhaps get to the core of things rather quickly, if possible.

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shadowwhisper
2008-06-24 12:18 am UTC (link)

Not everyone knew who Tony was, and he was more than happy to keep it that way to tell the truth. He tended to operate through layers and layers of operatives and influence peddlers, and other various scum of the earth type people. That way, when things began to fall apart, he was in a position to escape with as little personal danger as possible. He had learned his lesson long ago.

“I’m not sure what I expected to find here, though I must say that your selection is better than I had expected. I would like a bottle of your oldest and finest wine as a gift for someone.” He said simply as he glanced from Justine to the bottles she described. “I’m afraid my tastes are rather… rarified, and I was never a very refined when I came to my drinking, even when I was younger.”

He gave her a wry smirk at that before he shook his head once, and shrugged again. “Though I may always be of service to you as well. One never knows.” He grinned at her as he bowed his head at the end of his words. “But while that might be good for the long run, I really did come in for the wine.” That was, after all, his primary purpose for going there. Another was to actually meet one of the owners of the building. Always was good to know who controlled your havens.

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savageallure
2008-06-24 08:41 am UTC (link)

The siblings made it their business to know as much as they could about the tenants whose homes they oversaw. After all, one could be taking quite the risk to just allow anyone to move into an apartment in a building which housed their family. Justine knew far less than some did about Tony, it wasn't as if his shady dealings turned up on a credit check, but she'd been alive long enough to get a feel for people. Men, especially ones that played at being this charming, were generally trouble.

"Well, if it is wine that you sought, you came to the right place." And if it was a rare wine he wanted, well that really couldn't have been found anywhere else. To fetch that, she had to excuse herself for just a second, wave over the bar manager on staff with her that evening and request that a certain vintage be brought up from the wine cellar. She returned to where Tony waited, polite smile in place, "We do have a bit of everything, though wine is obviously our specialty. I'm sure we could come up with something at least comparable to whatever you might crave."

It seemed odd that he thought he might be of service to her, perhaps another indicator that his potential for causing trouble was higher than some. It never hurt to keep such offers in mind, though, especially given how things had been going lately. Who knew when you might need a favor?

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shadowwhisper
2008-06-25 02:29 am UTC (link)

Yeah, because all men who are charming are up to no good. It’s a fundamental law of physics. Though, in Tony’s case, while he wasn’t up to no good at that moment, the item was going to cause some little bit of trouble for someone else. But that was the fun part of the vampire. Always scheming to make someone’s life difficult.

“Yeah. Wine is the name of the game today.” Tony just grinned a bit, his hands were linked behind his back as he waited for her to return. “Your selection is the best I’ve seen. I’ve seen a handful of similar places, but they don’t quite pull it off quite as well as your place does. Though, I do remember this one site in New York. Wonder if its still there.. “ He just grinned as he regarded Justine as they waited.

“My tastes are simple. Simple beers. Fine wines and such are perfect if you’re celebrating something, or entertaining guests, and the like. But most of the time, simple beers are good enough for me. Suits the lifestyle I grew up with, and am most comfortable with.”

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savageallure
2008-06-25 08:42 am UTC (link)

It wasn't that all charming men were trouble, but there tended to be a certain breed, one that was almost too smooth for it's own good, that were more often than not up to no good. For some reason, Tony struck her as just this type...or perhaps it was simply that Justine was on edge lately anyway. You didn't live as long as she and her siblings had without honing your instincts and then learning to trust them, surely even Tony would agree with that.

"The staff here has worked diligently to ensure that our cellar is far more extensive than anyone else's in the region." And it didn't hurt that she had a few connections that could provide her with vintages that would have otherwise had to be handed down through the generations. Nothing about Chroma had been done less than full-tilt, after all. "Are you fond of traveling then, Mr. Pastorelli?" He'd mentioned New York, after all, and it was only polite to make conversation while the pair waited for the vintage he sought to be brought up to the bar.

Justine nodded in understanding - for many, the type of alcohol they chose was a sign of their background, their upbringing, even the lifestyle in which they currently found themselves. She had always been more suited for wine because it had been the singularly most popular drink for much of her youth and now, well, she simply enjoyed what little taste she could savor. "There is a lounge down the hall that is well-stocked in just those such things," she assured him with a smile. The main bar had a few of the more popular names, but the Teal lounge had a vastly more extensive collection.

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shadowwhisper
2008-06-28 10:20 am UTC (link)

Tony would agree with it whole heartedly. He had learned, long ago, that the moment his instincts said to leave, it was time to leave a town. While he always built connections within a city, they were never so important that he couldn’t just pick up and head to the next city at a moment’s notice. That was another reason, why the bulk of his wealth was in assets he could access from anywhere in the country.

“They’ve done quite the job there. It is truly the best I’ve seen in my days.” Tony just grinned as he glanced back toward her. “Whether or not I enjoy it has never really entered the equation, I find staying in one place for too long tends to become boring. And boring is the bane of our existence. So, a few years here, a few years there. America is a huge, young country. There’s still lots to see within this land, don’t you agree?”

Tony grew up on the streets as a child, for him ‘wine’ was the rich snobs drink. No flavor, no real kick, something the weak elite saved for themselves. He had been far more accustomed to what would be called moonshine in the modern times. They made their own drinks and they always had a kick to them. At the mention of the lounge, however, his gaze perked up a little. “I just might have to check that out sometime soon then. See just what you carry that might appeal to the kid in me again..”

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savageallure
2008-06-29 09:28 pm UTC (link)

If there was one lesson to be learned through these extended lifespans of theirs, it was most definitely that mankind was given instincts for a reason. Listening to them, honing them, could be the difference between life and death. More than once they'd swept Justine from what could have evolved into a risky situation and she was sure the same could be said for Tony, for most supernaturals, actually. And while he did definitely send up a bit of a red flag, it wasn't enough to send her mind into a panic. After all, it was easy to sense that age alone allowed her to have the upper hand for the moment.

Justine nodded lightly, "There is very much to see, yes. For those of us from older mother countries, it's quite fascinating to watch this one truly come into its own." She'd seen more of America's growth then he had, but she was rather fond of the young nation, of the trials and tribulations endured. No nation was ever perfect, not even her precious France, but watching the lessons learned was most interesting.

Those that thought such things of wine had never truly had the vintages worth fighting for, the kind rescued from the perils of war, hidden in cellars and passed down through sacred family lineages. It was these that Justine sought most of all; holding a bottle in your hand that was years older than anything a mere mortal could possess always sent a thrill down her spine. But, to each his own, and if wine wasn't his taste there were surely other things at Chroma to amuse him. "I'm sure my staff would be more than happy to accommodate you at anytime." Justine was ever the professional, always the perfect hostess.

Marlowe arrived with the bottle she'd asked for in hand, Justine took it for a moment to check it, inspect the vintage and make sure it was in peak condition. "Box it up for Mr. Pastorelli, will you?" Marlowe nodded, vanishing to the back of the bar to take care of the gift.

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shadowwhisper
2008-07-02 03:35 am UTC (link)

If only he could convince some of his associates of such things. Especially the foolish demons that far too often underestimated just what the good little mortals could accomplish on their own. After all, even though they were the foundations of power in the world, only a fool thought the supernatural races actually controlled it. If they did, they wouldn’t be forced to hide in the shadows the truth of what they were.

“Quite fascinating to watch. Also a land of opportunity for those who know how to be in the right places at the right times. Very little is stagnant here, unlike back in the motherland. Too many traditions, too many customs, for one to really stretch their wings and thrive back home.” Europe was the home of the Elders, where many vampires were older than most nations in the world.

Different tastes for different people. Wine, even good wine, was so much different in regards to how it tasted and affected people as opposed to ‘hard liquor’. One had a taste that was to be savored and enjoyed. The other was designed to knock you on your ass. It was all in what a person would enjoy most at the moment. And Tony always did enjoy the point blank, pure, unadulterated joy of a quick drunken stupor.

“I’m sure I will have to come back again soon then.” Tony said with a nod of his head. “Time pending, of course. I do thank you for your time, however.” He then grinned a bit as he glanced around the business again, before he turned his attention back toward her. “I trust that your other business is doing well these days?” The question would sound just like someone making small talk, with no real meaning otherwise. Just honest curiosity. Even if he would likely use the answer to his benefit at some time. That was just Tony for you.

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savageallure
2008-07-02 05:48 pm UTC (link)

It seemed common, anymore, that so many supernaturals would discount the human race and what they were capable of: great cruelty and huge shows of compassion both, spurs of creativity and technological advancement that benefited everyone, not simply their own kind. Justine could see both sides of the coin of most days, both the benefits of mankind over her own people and, alternately, the gifts that came with being a vampire as opposed to being a mortal. She'd never understand the thought process behind those that could easily cast them aside. Of course, she'd always had a certain undeniable affection for humans and perhaps that's what affected her view of them so. Whatever the reason, she didn't seem to be of the popular school of thought for her kind.

"I hope you will plan a return trip," Justine flashed another polite smile, "If you'd manage to let me know ahead of time, I could ensure to have whatever drink you might prefer on-hand in the lounge of your choice." It wasn't difficult to do, stocking a select bar with a certain alcohol for a particular patron. How many times had she done it in the past? She took his question pertaining to her "other" business in stride, palms resting flat against the bar before her, "Quite well, thank you for asking." It promised to continue that way as well, as long as their were supernaturals looking to create a new life, she'd provide the documents for it.

Marlow returned, the bottle of wine encased in a sleek black gift box, a golden ribbon tied around the upper half. "Miss Baptiste," he handed the vintage over before taking his leave of the two of them. "Here you are," she turned to Tony, setting the box to rest on the bar before him, "I hope that whomever you're gifting it to finds it to their liking."

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shadowwhisper
2008-07-03 01:37 am UTC (link)

Tony had no affection for mortals whatsoever. To them, they were nothing more than prey, playthings and victims. They would never amount to anything more than that. But, prey can always be dangerous to the predator. Especially if they had teeth of their own. And mortals definitely had teeth. More so now than at any other point in their history, they had sharp teeth that they could use.

“Where would the surprise be in that?” Anthony asked with a soft chuckle and a shake of his head. “But I will consider it. Though, I do not know if I will announce any visit ahead of time. I don’t like to make such plans more often than not.. and sides, then it wouldn’t be a surprise what I found in your pallor now would it?” He just grinned back at Justine.

At her words about her business, he inclined his head once. “That is good to hear. It is a necessary service in these days, more so than ever before. Pity about that.” He would so much rather to rule openly than to sulk in the shadows and hide his very nature. It was just the way he was in the end.

“Thank you.” He said as he took the box into his hands. He offered her a smile though and a shrug of his shoulders. “I suspect she will not. She has never been the type to accept anything gracefully. But, I prefer to think she just might be able to do it this once. We shall see.” No, he fully expected his gifts to be refused and destroyed in some matter, but that was her issue when it happened.

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savageallure
2008-07-04 11:47 am UTC (link)

Should the subject of mortals ever come up between the two of them, it was safe to say that they would never agree. Justine had lived her life long enough beside the 'weaker' race, to know that sometimes they were anything but. She had a certain respect for their frailty, for the passion with which so many of them tore into life - both things she hadn't felt herself in some time. Perhaps that was why she had such a fondness for them.

Justine smiled lightly, "Well, whether you choose to give advanced notice or not, I do hope you'll decide to return. I'm sure finding something to suit your tastes wouldn't prove to be overly difficult." Besides, that was precisely what her staff was trained to do: please their customers to the best of their abilities.

She could only nod in agreement as the discussed turned towards talk of her other business ventures. Things had definitely picked up in that arena as of late - it seemed there were a number of supernaturals in need of documentation to help them settle into new lives. "It is unfortunate, but so far also a system that seems to work." Mankind could be cruel, especially when it came to things they didn't understand - she didn't want to see the day that they discovered the other beings that shared their realm.

"My pleasure," she smiled as the box was handed over. Marlowe had done an excellent job wrapping the gift, was probably in back now typing up an invoice to be sent to Tony the next day. "Hopefully she will accept this one without too much of an issue." It would be an unforgivable waste to destroy such a delicious vintage.

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shadowwhisper
2008-07-05 08:42 pm UTC (link)

She might be surprised by what he thought of humanity. He lived his life amongst them as well, after all. Though, he did tend toward the more predatory of the race. The criminals, the power hungry, the ambitious, the ones who tended to live the lifestyle he lived or wanted it enough to do what they had to for it. He had no doubts about their strength, but they were still his prey, and he would never treat them otherwise.

“Oh, you can bet on that. As long as I am within the city, I’m sure I will have more than a couple of people for whom I am responsible that I will need to do a little shopping for.” Anyone who worked for him for more than a short period of time soon found out he was rather generous with those who served him. If nothing else, it helped ensure that those who did serve him, were quite loyal in the end. It always amused him how many others were unwilling to even give a proper thank you to their loyal minions.

“I do hope you keep ahead of the curve, such systems tend to break down quickly.” Tony said with a nod of his head as he glanced back toward her. “But if you need any help in that regard, do let me know. While most of those I know in such fields are… shall we say, younger, they are quite efficient. But I’m sure you know your own business.” He just smiled at her.

Then he took the box from her and chuckled softly. “Somehow I doubt it. But, we shall see. I do thank you, I doubt I would have found something suitable on my own.”

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savageallure
2008-07-05 10:26 pm UTC (link)

It made sense, really, that he would gravitate towards humans whose personalities, whose lifestyles might be similar to his own. Justine herself tended to do the same, to find herself drawn towards strong yet flawed humans, intelligent and caring individuals that weren't quite aware or were too stubborn to realize they needed saving. After all this time, sadly very little surprised her anyway.

That other little business of hers didn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon - there was always a fresh crop of supernaturals looking to start a new life or whose lifespans were at a point that required them to move, to start somewhere new before people started noticing how they never seemed to age. For now, and the foreseeable future, it was likely that those unmentioned services would be required. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," she assured him with a gentle smile as he offered up his help.

The well wrapped box was handed over, the gift put into his possession. "Well best of luck then, perhaps this time will be the exception to the rule," she added, that polite smile returning for a moment. "Have a good evening, Mr. Pastorelli." She couldn't let her guests leave without an appropriate farewell after all.

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