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The Shofuso House was not a typical point of interest in the park out of season, and particularly at night. But this night it had a single visitor - Luigi sat on the edge of one of the traditional walkways that ran along the outside, his feet swinging freely as he smiled like a kid. That this was possibly ruining his burgundy long coat was of little concern for the Ventrue.
It's a quiet night, a light breeze in the air, and there's very few other people visiting the House and its accompanying garden tonight. But the sound of footsteps approaches the walkway where Luigi's sitting, and his beast stirs as another enters his proximity.
The one to whom that Beast belongs looks harmless as ever, dressed in a white shirt with sleeves rolled up past the elbows, a grey vest and dark slacks, his black leather shoes well-shined and well-worn. He blinks owlishly behind gold-framed glasses, and tugs at his ponytail lightly as he catches sight of Luigi.
"Signore Moynihan," Luigi said without looking back at the newcomer. His legs continue to kick freely. "Beautiful night, no? Come, sit, sit. Share a breeze or two with me." He pat the edge of the walkway next to him.
There's a soft sigh, and Henry hesitates before walking to join Luigi. "I...hadn't realized you were in Philadelphia. Careful, this city isn't exactly friendly for the Unconquered."
But he does take the offered seat, folding his hands in his lap quietly, shoulders tense.
"I did not exactly...what is the word...pubblicizzare...announce my arrival," Luigi said with a shrug. "I had to duel for my allowance to relocate here from New York. It was...a small thing." He turned his head to study Henry once the Gangrel had settled in. "You look good, Signore, no worse for wear all these years. And if our people are so frowned upon here, then it is...impressive that you have remained in tact." Luigi stretched out, flexing his hands together before he leaned back to rest on them like a kid. "Are you the last? It has been.... incredibilmente difficile to contact anyone who knows anything."
"Oh, that's the thing of it--I don't know much of anything at all. I keep my head down and don't go out of my way to make people mad, because there's some who've really trashed our reputation, locally. But, I've also spent a couple months doing work for my family, instead of for us. Brokering some goodwill."
He watches Luigi quietly, drawing one knee up against his chest and hugging it. Also a childish posture, but more timid.
Luigi laughed softly. "I see.... old dogs do not learn new tricks indeed," he said with a hint of sigh. "Which family did you end up with- a most curious arrangement. An extra layer of ...politica, like second cake on top of another cake." He waves a hand to show he is still uncertain about the notion of THAT much sweet.
"Would you be interested in a purpose, Mister Moynihan?"
"I belong to Okorafor and Kan. Nominally a Daeva family, but it's more functional than some of the families about. They're the legal arm of the caucus, the ones who arrange legal identities for those who need them, and take care of other business matters. Ejaita Okorafor and Sora Kan are both Carthians, but ones who speak business."
A pause and then a sheepish smile. "I'm really only an errand boy for them, most of the time. They aren't given much to putting trust in one of us, to handle things that are sensitive. But, ah. It gives me something to do with my nights, I suppose?"
"Do not worry, I am not interested in trying to stage a return of the Invictus to power here," Luigi stated. "Or...an attempt to claim power? Perspective....it has been long since the Invictus were of any note here, from what I have heard, and I have no intention of changing that." The Ventrue held up an index finger and started to wave it in front of him like a sword. "I will follow my duties, but that is not one of them. In the meantime.... Signore, it would be smart for me to have someone who knows the system here working with me. I have been using the Toauti family for that up until now, but now that I am here, I need a more direct and personal touch." Luigi stopped air fencing. "There will be documenti e contratti legali to worry about, but a negoziatore is what I need."
That wildly waving finger makes Henry flinch and curl defensively around himself, eyes wide.
"A...negotiator? What, you want me to...work for you, while I'm working for O&K? To...help you get used to how people do things around here? I, uh. Hm." He seems reluctant to directly tell someone so far above him in the Invictus 'no', but is clearly shying away from the idea.
"Work for? I could hire you, no? Would your Offices not allow this?" Luigi wondered.
"I mean, O&K isn't a typical family--I'm employed by them, more than, you know, part of the family, so to speak. Touati, Shiri's probably actually going to treat you with the respect you'd get from a family member. I've only got so many hours in my night to work for people. And I'm still holding some time for myself and my dancing."
It was, after all, the one thing people respected him for.
"Oh, I did not mean to negotiate with the family," Luigi stated. "I meant, for my Theater! I need someone to negotiate with production companies and stagehand unions and everything else that means. Buuut....if you do not have enough time, capisco perfettamente." Luigi sighed, but despite the apparent loss, he still smiled. "So you still dance? Think it is good enough for a professional venue?"
"I do dance competitions in the local region, and have won more than a few." He rolls his wrist, relaxing slightly. "There's a style that's become popular called 'electroswing', that I've really been enjoying. It takes fundamentals of jazz and swing, and brings in modern elements of EDM and drum'n'bass, making something familiar but new."
"Sounds revolting!" Luigi declared, but with a boisterous laugh that it was apparent he did not mean his words. "But seriously, I have not heard of this. Where do you learn such things? if you remember, i to can..as they say, cut a rug!"
"Well, I spend my time off in dance clubs, picking up the latest moves and styles." He looks sheepish. "It's what I'm good for, you know? Some people are smart or strong or good at fighting or know a lot about science. I...dance."
"You always did think so little of yourself," Luigi said with a sigh, pushing himself off from his seat. The Ventrue dusted himself off. "I am surprised with your skills a Daeva hasn't tried to claim you, though we are a bit old for that now."
"One tried, a while back, but she...I got busy and I haven't seen her in a while and...I suppose it was just a passing fancy." He looks up at Luigi. "Are you bored with me already?"
"Not at all! I was just going to suggest we walk while we talk. You can at least do this, yes" Luigi stated with a chuckle, and motioned for Henry to join him.
"I suppose I can." Henry rises nimbly, with the near-boneless fluid motion of a ferret or a slinky. "So...are you coming here to get away of the political game, the cutthroat world of New York politics? Retiring from the high-speed life we used to be a part of?"
The Ventrue started walking just before Henry caught up to him. "Hmmm...it is something like this," Luigi confirmed. "Ho saldato i miei debiti," he added in a bit of a sing song as he waved his hands. "And now I would like to use what I have earned to enjoy my life, such as it is. Part of why I chose this city, though do not tell anyone, is because of its reputation as...an amenable place to be if you are like us. It is easy."
"...no one's told you about the killer were-mermaids yet, have they? Easy is...relative. But no, I won't tell anyone that what you were seeking was a simpler life. I'll let them think you exactly as dangerous or as ruthless as you present yourself." He sticks his hands in his pockets as they walk.
"Killer mermaids? You made that up," Luigi insisted, doubt creeping into his smile. "And I doubt anyone will find me imposing or ruthless. So far it feels like no one believes I am a proper knight of the Invictus." He tsks, then chuckles. "But no..you made those up, didn't you?"
"I did not make up the killer mermaids. The Keeper of the Bala Cwnwyd Elysium was infected by them and has been lost. There's still a kill-on-sight order out for him. They're called Nereids. They haven't been seen in a couple months, though, as far as I've heard."
There was still doubt on Luigi's face, but eventually he nodded. "Merda. That is something else. Still, our kind's greatest, and most deadly enemy has always been ourselves. But here, for whatever reason, that is less of a problem. That is what I mean by easy. You remember- New York was a jungle. "
"I remember." His voice is low and heavy, and he glances off in the other direction, away from Luigi. "Not fondly. They told me to leave, and I'm lucky I ended up here, if we're being honest."
"Yes, yes, very luck," Luigi agreed. "Although I admit I thought you would one day... scateni la morte frenetica, and suddenly would look upon you with new awareness. But you kept your head. And kept it down. Smart. So who should I know in this Old City, hmmm?"
"...you thought I'd what?" He turns his head to blink at Luigi uncertainly. Yet another who doesn't actually know much Italian.
"Who you should know. The Sakima--do not call her a Prince, ever. She's in charge of us all. I haven't really spoken to her much, but I have the sense that if I needed to, I could. For Crones, you want to keep eyes on Henevi and Lamara, they seem to be leaders of a sort, locally. My closest contact in the Ordo is Eyrgjafa. She's got good eyes, and knows when to keep a secret. Carthians, Okorafor and Kan, obviously. But also Cory, she's got a real head on her shoulders."
"Well we all have real heads on our shoulders," Luigi stated. "It would be unfortunate to have a fake one." He shrugged, but it was obvious he had committed the names to memory. "Grazie. In New York, that would have cost me two favors. Will you at least take one?"
"If you insist. Did you have something in mind?" He sounds guardedly curious.
Luigi blinked at the question, then laughed. "You have never traded for favors, have you?" he asked, and waved a hand. "No no, it is your favor. You decide what you need it for, and when."
"See, here's the thing about Philadelphia. I'll bank it for when I can find a way to use it to help someone else. That's the attitude in the air here." He smiles slightly. "And I'll do it without asking a favor of them in turn. There's no reason for me to spend my nights accounting for who owes me what."
"No wonder the Invitto were not so much here," Luigi noted. "This place is turned on its head!" He took a moment to laugh. "It is good to see you doing well, Signore Moynihan, and if you are the only other of us here that I have to be concerned with, then I can actually relax."
Henry seems to be considering his words thoughtfully. "There's Harold Wright and his family, but he's working with limited resources and pawns who don't want to be playing the game. There have been others--Sir Rembrandt Phillips; he didn't remain long. Jasper Wright, an Alder and Steward. Commissioner Anna-Marie Cordray, who tarnished the reputation our covenant has with certain other parties. And who was determined to unseat the Sakima and was pretty open about it. She's...no longer someone who you will need to be concerned with."
That last sentence is soft and Henry seems to be watching Luigi's reaction very carefully.
"Oh? Did she also decide to leave? I know of her by reputation- it seems unlikely the commissaria would give up what she saw as prey." Luigi was curious, but did not appear to be worked up by the matter.
"She did not leave. As I was told, she was captured by some of those she'd wronged and bought before the sun. The nail that sticks up the highest is the one that gets hit, they say."
"Was it another kindred?" Luigi asked.
"You know, I never asked." Henry shakes his head. "I've tried to distance myself from her and her methods. Keep my head down even more than usual, since I found out."
A pause, a bit of a conflicted expression on the Gangrel's face. "She acted like everyone ought to follow her orders, just because she gave them. Didn't matter what clan or covenant, she expected everyone to be as a servant to her."
"Ah so she lacked completely in any sort of charm or tocco abile...ah...'good touch'." Luigi tried to translate the phrase. "No loss of note then. I will not concern myself with the matter unless her Sire comes to press it. I guess I shall have to go meet these others you mentioned." He seemed to not be particularly looking forward to such a happening.
"Delicate touch. She had nothing of subtlety about her. I think she was a clansmate of yours." Henry gives Luigi a thoughtful look. "You, uh...if someone told me when I woke up, tonight, that I'd run into you, this wouldn't have been how I'd have expected this talk to go."
Luigi look delightfully surprised at that. "How would it have gone then, in this imaginary world of yours?" he asked while tapping his head.
"Much less amicably. You held more power within the covenant than I did, when I left New York; I can't imagine you've lost too much esteem, even in dueling your way out of the city. I expected to be browbeaten and scolded for being useless, scorned for my lack of ambition, you know. The whole kit and caboodle."
"You know surviving as long as you have, especially starting in New York, is an accomplishment all its own, yes?" Luigi noted. He wagged a finger at Henry. "And maybe in my first few years I might have done that, but once I saw that the salire per il potere was worse than that which had me initially assassinated, you could say I was...what is the word....but you understand what i am saying. I swore my oath as a Knight specifically to not have to worry too much about such things. Thankfully dueling is in my blood."
"...what sort of man is it that you think I actually am? I'm curious now." A slow, slight smile makes an uncertain appearance on his face. "To survive so long, despite being so...pathetic?"
Luigi raised a single finger. "First, Signore Moynihan, you are not pathetic. You have a sense of awareness that is unique, and affords you your survival instinct. Which...has..." He gestured emphatically at him. "...paid off."
There's a bit of startled laughter. "I think you and I might end up friends, at some point."
He grinned at that. "Be careful, Signore! Friends can be a weakness!" But it was evident that Luigi did not mean it.
"I'm fulla weaknesses, one more won't hurt." The grin is echoed. "Especially not one which knows his way around a sword. Oh, dashing Knight..."
There is a snort of a laugh from Luigi. "I was too old to be dashing when I was taken by my sire, I do not think I qualify now," he insisted with chuckles.
"It's not a thing about age, not really." Henry shakes his head. "It's about demeanor. How you carry yourself. How you present yourself to the world."
Of course, if Henry's someone who thinks about presentation, then the way he dresses and talks and acts is definitely something to consider.
"And this is why you dress as a librarian?" Luigi asked, leaning a bit into the question.
He shrugs. "I dress to make it clear I'm not a threat. Not a power player. Not someone who'll challenge the status quo or try to seize power. It works, doesn't it?"
The Ventrue only considered that for a second before nodding in agreement. "It does. And anyone who likes to prey on the weak...well..will they find the claws?"
Henry tilts his head to one side slightly. "If I said yes, would you start formulating plans for finding ways to make use of me?"
"Would you want me to, Signore?"
"No." He physically shies away from Luigi by several inches as he says it.
"Then no, I would not," Luigi states clearly. "It is not my duty to direct others into action."
"Makes sense, I suppose." Henry nods thoughtfully. "I think I'm going to head out. I've got some errands to run for Ms. Kan. But, uh...good to know you're here, yeah."
"Yes. Grazie- for coming to speak with me," Luigi said. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, Signore Moynihan."
"And you, Sir Fabri." Henry nods respectfully, before separating from Luigi and making his departure.
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