Artificial Nocturne (Giovanni)

[Sorcha Venn]

Sorcha’s clear blue eyes drifted curiously, as they usually did, to the people that passed by her as she walked with purpose into the station, watching for the next train to pull in. She was on time, as she always was, but she seemed nervous, even unsure where her heels created a confident rhythm. Many nights had gone by that she had been aimless, alone in her solitude created by her own doing.

Though she had spoken to the man scheduled to arrive any minute more than a few times, he would still be a rare glimmer of her own kind in a sea of faces that would grow and wither with age. So many years had passed with mortals, seeing them become old while she remained in her prime. It used to be disconcerting but now it held a lackluster affect on the red haired woman, she had more things to worry about than the affairs of humans right now.
All around her, the city and its denizens were bustling, unrestrained from the changing of time and lack of daylight. Bright fluorescents had been on since the very kiss of dusk in the train station, mechanical in their white brightness upon the tile and concrete floors and echoing walls. Two men argued about the political status of their favored officials, one of them crass, loud, obnoxious, his voice echoing just like all the other city ambience. A woman in a simple navy suit caught her gaze and smiled tiredly out of politeness, as that what was the proper thing to do if two strangers locked gazes. She smiled back, as strained as the motion seemed, and resumed peering out at the train platform.

She moved her purse, a small tan one she always loved to use, into the grasp of her elegant fingers as she felt the subtle rumble of the train approaching, the even less discernable flicker of electricity that buzzed upon the rails a welcome, and yet even more nerve wracking sound. It was odd, how easy it was to simply speak on a phone, but in person, a whole different story.

[salvatore]

New York, such dreadful place. The only thought that crossed Giovanni's mind was his purpose here, that was the only thing that made him take those steps toward the train station. He had just left the airplane and saw no friendly faces, yet it was to be expected as he himself had told his contact to wait on the trains and not on the airport, most probably his father's agents could be there and he didn't want this "relationship" to be revealed just yet. It was too dangerous and could lead to other discoveries, unwanted to him and the other person.

With him only two guards had come, one Asian, the other Caucasian, they both seemed menacing yet more laid back than the guards his father usually had with him, a more casual attire too. Giovanni himself sported a cream suit, white shirt, no tie and some nice comfortable dark brown shoes. He had the same confident walk his father had, the same grayish eyes but a completely different motion of mouth and eye turning, quickly revealing his younger blood. Many people looked at him, it was easy to perceive he was somewhat important. And for once he was happy his father had been late.

He liked his father, he really did, but he had other meetings to make before actually heading "home". He looked at the tracks sighing, then looked at his watch eying down the man standing near him. Shaking his head and rotating his shoulders releasing a sigh upwards he heard the sound of the train coming, finally. Giving one step forward he watched as one of the doors stopped right in front of him, opened and allowed him inside. His two guards following right after. To be fair he didn't need them, he doubted the local Lycans knew who he was, except for Viktor.

He sat on one of the benches as a seemingly young guy, around his twenties played some Mexican tunes on his acoustic guitar. They were beautiful, so Giovanni said nothing, spoke no word, he just remained silent watching the movements of fingers the boy did, moving from fret to fret. He enjoyed the melody, the Latino influences to it, the kid had some real talent. He looked at one of his guards and chuckled while giving him a nod with his head. When the kid was done playing Giovanni clapped, took his wallet out and threw an absurd amount of money at him.

"That's some real talent kid, go and buy yourself a better guitar, or maybe new strings, those are a bit loose as it is." The kid looked at the money surprised and said thanks as the train stopped once again, his destination. Giovanni got up and gave a gentle pat on the back of the kid to allow him to leave first. Taking a step outside he took a deep breath and realized he was out of his comfort zone for the first time, he didn't like it but would live with it.

His eyes traced the various people walking around and his target was extremely easy to spot, there she was, Sorcha, a very classy and beautiful woman, of an exquisite and beautiful hair and lovely eyes, clearly anxious about his coming. She had been the only person he had trusted until now and he hoped she would still be of value to him now that he was here, now more than ever. He turned to his guards and whispered "Go around town, try to find any spots vampires or Lycans might go to, call me by tomorrow night, use the cash I gave you." they both nodded and walked away.

He slowly made his way toward her turning his head to a side smiling, almost like if he was examining her face but in a warm manner. "Finally, we meet in person after so long..." He took his hands out of his pocket to grab her arm and kiss her hand gently like a true gentleman would, bowing his head. "I would say it is great to be here in New York, but I'd be lying.".

[Sorcha Venn]

As she stood out somewhat, he did as well. People who had a spark within them, a natural charisma, drew the eyes and attention away from the mundane to focus on something truly unique. Even during the phone calls he had a tone that meant business, the type of man who wouldn’t dare let anything get in his way. Someone who was powerful enough to convince Sorcha, a paranoid shut-in of a woman, to help him with a bigger cause. Since she had no attachment to the vampires at the base she would be the perfect candidate for Giovanni’s plans. This visit was a result of everything prior; plans not yet ready to come to fruition almost ready to be enacted. The train sat idle for a moment, other men and women emerging and blending in with the rest of the faceless crowds, while others pulled themselves away from the mob and disappeared within to the next stop.

Sorcha saw the two men he was with excused with a whisper between people coming and going in front of her, had she not turned away to look in the direction of a cell phone ring, she may have even seen the money being distributed. When she turned back the men had already dispersed in the crowd which was fine with her, it was Giovanni alone she had come to welcome. He approached in a manner of grace; the smile he gave was contagious as her own lips turned upwards slightly.

"Finally, we meet in person after so long..."

She nodded in agreement as he kissed her hand, the gesture polite and yet seemed lost in the customs of New York. People rarely wanted to meet eyes, on the street, as if that contact would deem them odd or rude. Things like a kiss on the hand as a greeting were missed in the daily routine. Yet, as out of place it might have seemed, all the humans in their own lives were oblivious and ignorant to the exchange.

“The pleasure’s all mine Giovanni,” The vampire said softly, the smile growing when her eyes met his after the slight bow. A case of shyness had overcome her, if it could be called that. In the presence of her own kind, she was always a bit meek, hopefully this much older vampire would understand. After all, she had told him many things about her own mannerisms,

"I would say it is great to be here in New York, but I'd be lying."

“It may grow on you, it has for me. I quite enjoy the nights here, though Fitzwilliam’s is no testament to my claims.” She was right. The sheer mass of bodies, noise, and blandness of the underground station had no hold over the vast parks, the skyscrapers that lit up the sky and stabbed at the stars in challenge. New York was no quiet country, or beautiful marina outlook, but its beauty was hidden beneath concrete and noise. Everyone had their own preferences though, and she understood what he meant. Sorcha seemed to be able to look past all this. That was why, after all, she had not packed up and left yet. “Shall we head up? These lights have been killing me.”She was purposely leaving any business out of their conversation. Safety of confidentiality was what she sought if they were to discuss anything like they had been talking about over the phone.

[salvatore]

Her tone of voice was already well known to him so hearing her made it easy to perceive she was much more shy and reserved in person. It also became easy to understand perhaps she had opened more to him than she had to most people, which he was proud of. If she trusted him that was halfway towards an excellent partnership, and he would need someone loyal by his side. Of course he trusted his goons, but not well enough to have them be major pawns. The bad thing about this world is that most people can be bought, which would later on prove to be a good thing if his plans weren't to fail.

He listened as she claimed the nights of New York to be pleasant, and even if deep inside for now he preferred to disagree he simply lowered his eyes and chuckled as a friendly way of showing he'd try and believe in her. The words she spoke were true, this place was awful, the confusion, the noise, the faceless people forming crows of what seemed like ants, just running around in a frenzy, this wasn't his style even if Japan had a lot of that as well. At least in Japan he had places he could call home since it had been the only place to accept him in a long time.

He would get used to it, of that she was right, it was about to become his new domain, so he would have to learn to live with it, no matter how hard it proved to be. And finally the smartest thing he heard all night obviously came from her lips. It was time to leave that dreadful place. He wouldn't have a proper conversation with her in that rat hole, to think of a place was a completely different thing.

He knew little of the city, but he had enough connections to find a place to stay. A place to hold a conversation with someone without fear of being rudely interrupted was a different thing tho. He could just go to his father's house, he would find it easily, but then again, he wasn't just ready to see his old man yet, there were other things he had to worry about before that. By now the elder would know of his presence, it would only take so long for him to be found so he had to get out of the typical buildings used for stacking of transport.

Surely he would be greatly greeted by the people at his father's house, but it was a welcoming he did not wish or was prepared to handle. Giovanni was just like his father even in terms of social gatherings, he hated them, he didn't mind being with two or three people he knew, but large groups or even just more than four people was an excruciating thing to go through, especially if all eyes are on you, it simply makes it all harder, and for now, he wanted to keep it easy and simple.

"Not very keen with the town yet, so as you may assume, I don't really know of any good place to head to." He took a step back and looked at the stairs heading outside "So maybe you go ahead and show me the way, perhaps you know of a better place and can start proving me wrong on my general idea of this town...". He awaited for her response with a warm smile.