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Aurelio Menegi:
Although there was still a bit of chill in the air from winter's lingering caress it was still a nice enough day to be out and about and on this particular afternoon Aurelio had decided to do just that, having laid claim to one of the outside tables at a cafe not too far from the Square proper. The Torrent was dressed in all black as was his wont, with a black messenger bag sitting beside him as he looked over the menu.
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael walks by there on his way from work. Dapper as usual, today's vest brown-and-gold, doctor's bag in hand. He waves, seeing Aurelio from down the block.
Aurelio Menegi:
Aurelio looked up at the wave, giving a nod as the other Lost got closer. "Afternoon. Raphael, yes?"
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael stops by his table. "Yes. Aurelio, was it?"
Aurelio Menegi:
"Correct." He nodded quietly. "Care to join, if you are not busy?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"I would be delighted to." He sits, tucking his bag under the table by his feet. "Ahhh. nice and warm, out here." He means, of course, in the radius where Aurelio's hot mantle overwhelms his chilly one.
Aurelio Menegi:
Aurelio smirked a touch at the comment, sliding his copy of the menu over for Raphael to peruse. "Does tend to help in the cooler months."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Thank you." He takes the menu and looks it over. "So, we barely got to meet, the other night, what with... Mr. Thursday."
Aurelio Menegi:
"True. That must have been...interesting for you." He nodded quietly. "Haven't run into anyone from where I was yet, but I would not be surprised if I do. Was there for...some time."
Raphael Sharpe:
"I feel rather bad about having pressed him on it. But the way he said it... and my not recognizing him.... it felt like a threat." Raphael sighs, clearly unhappy about it. "Admittedly, I think not remembering is what... kept me solid. But... it is nearly as unpleasant, watching someone else break like that, and knowing it's my fault."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Understandable. Part of why I expressed caution, in case things came to blows in a public place." Another small nod. "Agreed. Taking from others can be too easy at times, if one is not careful. Feeling remorse for such is good, if painful at times."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael looks at him, for a moment, and then looks again, more intently. "You're...?" He glances down meaningfully at his own bladed hand, which is far more of a giveaway.
Aurelio Menegi:
"Perhaps similar, yes." He offered his hand in kind, a touch revealing the marble to be shockingly cold, especially compared to the marks of Summer about him.
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael reaches out to carefully touch the other man's hand, cautious of his blades even against what looks like stone... eyes widening when he feels how cold it is. He speaks very softly. "I think you do it a little differently than I do." Moving slowly so it won't read as threatening, he gently, gently, places the tips of all the scalpels on that hand against the Elemental's frigid skin to demonstrate how he does it - not quite as if they'd press in when doing it for real, but something subtler than that - lifting them away quickly enough it's clear he's not actually going to use his ability. "From what I can tell, mine's a little too distinctive a feeling to make it easy, unless I'm operating on someone. So I rarely use it. I've only recently learned to.... shift that, a little, going off of something.... I heard the other night. And that's... still distinctive, just different." His cheeks darken - turn pink, to mortal eyes. It looks like flirting, most likely, if you can't see the reality of it.
Aurelio Menegi:
Aurelio watched the example gesture with a brief note of wariness in his features, although that faded as Raphael pulled his hand back. The blush brought up a bit of a confused look but he nodded nonetheless. "Different method, same effect it seems. Haven't had to use it much since I got back myself."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael gestures a little vaguely toward himself. He's very pretty, in a languid, slightly too thin and pale, kind of way... you could mistake him for a Fairest, from a distance, but up close... there's a lack to him. "Perhaps it's because of when but... I have that whole... Byronic thing, going, which I've been told isn't too uncommon, for us. And that's sort of... well, Dracula was based on Byron, in the original text. So it comes off.... cough a little goth."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Perhaps. I've heard of the book, but I cannot say if She would have known about it when I was taken." He offered a small shrug. "The look suits you, for what that's worth."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Thank you," a little wryly. "So what do you do, when you're not..." Glancing down at the other man's hand again, to fill the blank.
Aurelio Menegi:
"I'm a glassworker by trade." He replied with a note of pride in his voice. "I was trained in Venice in the art, and there is a workshop here in South Philadelphia that follows the same techniques. Came here after my return to see what I could add to their talents."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Really? I didn't know there was a Murano workshop here. I don't know the first thing about the technique, of course, but I've heard it produces quite beautiful pieces."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Named after the island, in fact. The original owner was also trained there and came before the Great War, and it has been running since. Not a large workshop but good enough for the work, with a gallery as well."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Forgive me, I think I must have missed a day in my history classes. Which one is the 'Great' War?"
Aurelio Menegi:
"The first World War. Heard it referred to as such, before the second made the title moot."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Ah. Thank you." Visibly relieved when it turns out not to be another horrible history surprise. "Unfortunately art glass is well out of my budget, I'm sure, particularly with just having moved here, but I am always pleased to meet an artist."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Welcome. Had a lot to catch up on myself, so I understand." He nodded quietly, giving a small smile. "Quite welcome. When did you arrive? Been since January myself."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Just last week, to Philly; I was in Baltimore, for a few years, before that, though."
Aurelio Menegi:
"That where you're from, to guess?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"Yes. I was studying medicine at Johns Hopkins, but I was... forced to drop out, right near the end of my residency." There's bitterness in the words, but when the waiter comes by, Raphael smiles politely, orders his food in a voice that holds nothing but polite cheer.
Aurelio Menegi:
"I see." He nodded with an understanding look, giving the waiter a polite smile as he put in his own order. "Was something similar on my end." He continued once the waiter headed off. "Was getting ready to open a workshop of my own."
Raphael Sharpe:
"They do have such impeccable timing, don't They?" He sighs. "So I've just taken a job at the Mütter Museum, right up the street there."
Aurelio Menegi:
"So it seems..." He gave a quiet sigh of his own, glancing up the street when it was mentioned. "Ah. What sort of museum?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"Medical oddities. It's affiliated with the Philadelphia College of Physicians, so it's educational, or has things that historically were, but also a lot that's just plain interesting, or downright creepy."
Aurelio Menegi:
His eyebrow arched a touch at the description. "Sounds...interesting. And a good fit for you, by the feel of things. May it serve you well."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael chuckles softly. "Yes, their catchphrase is 'Disturbingly Informed'. Very... what's the phrase. on brand. And they bring school tours through there, would you believe?"
Aurelio Menegi:
"Really...must be interesting for the young ones."
Raphael Sharpe:
"They only even bring 5th grade and up, but... that's still pretty young, for what it is. I'm getting the impression already that my being there may be something of a mercy, on occasion." A very small, bitter laugh. "Or at least I tell myself that."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Oh?" Cue curious look. "How so?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"Takes the edge off it, for the ones who can't really handle it. Too much fear shuts people down. And while that's ... useful sometimes, those times aren't 'a twelve year old on a field trip.' ."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Ah...I see, and good point." He nodded quietly. "Imagine they appreciate it, even if they do not know the source."
Raphael Sharpe:
"All they know is that the tour guide calmed them down a little, right."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Indeed."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael tilts his head, eyes Aurelio curiously. "You're a lot... calmer, than I would have expected, from the heat."
Aurelio Menegi:
He seemed amused by the comment, smirking a touch. "Not the first to say such. As I see it the fire is something to be kept checked until needed; letting it run wild serves no one."
Raphael Sharpe:
"I suppose a glassblower would know a thing or two, about controlling fire."
Aurelio Menegi:
"I try to, at least. Makes the work that much easier."
Raphael Sharpe:
"You're quite the... high-contrast one. Mm. Have you met Lux? they're also an artist."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Don't believe I have, no. What do they work in?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"Street art, mostly, the spray paint and that, but they dabble in a lot of things, I think."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Ah...interesting." He thought a moment, then looked towards Raph. "I heard of a mural that made the news recently. Their work, or another's?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"Hmm. didn't see the news story. If it was neon, probably theirs."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Perhaps. Was a protest piece of some kind; certainly made it's point."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Mm. I'll have to look it up, it sounds like them."
"But they're a little like you, only the opposite of it."
Aurelio Menegi:
"In the...temperature department, to guess?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"Well. Not physically, but yes."
Aurelio Menegi:
He nodded quietly. "Which way were you thinking of, if I can ask?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"Mm. Cold where you're hot. energetic where you're still." Stupid having to talk around things.
Aurelio Menegi:
Pesky thing, that... "I see. Would be interesting to meet them, then."
Raphael Sharpe:
"I know they'd like to have more people to talk art to. I've started.... taking lessons, I guess you could put it, though it's not like painting classes at a normal school or anything. More experimental. "
Aurelio Menegi:
"Not a bad thing, that. Could give you my number to pass to them, perhaps?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"I'd be happy to."
Aurelio Menegi:
Once Raph was ready for it Aurelio gave his number, pulling his own phone after a moment. "Would not mind yours as well, if you wish. It's good to find a...kindred soul, if you follow."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael pulls out his phone, and a stylus - scalpel blades aren't so great for touchscreens, and nods for him to go ahead. Once he has it: "Yeah. Yeah, I do follow. Petra is one, too, but she... doesn't seem to be.... burdened by it, like I am." he recites the digits of his number, for Aurelio.
Aurelio Menegi:
The number was added in with a little finagling, a nod given as he moved to pocket the phone once again. "Do not think I've met her yet. She may carry it in her own way; would have to ask, though."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Short little woman, very birdlike." 'Like' as in an actual bird person, but we're not saying that here. "Definitely different than us, yeah."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Shall keep an eye out for her, then." He nodded quietly. "It's interesting at times to see how similar tasks there take shape, and how those burdens are carried here."
Raphael Sharpe:
"I don't think she came by it quite as.... directly, as I did. Or perhaps you, I don't know, of course." Raphael sighs, because yeah, burdens. "Not hard to guess why I did, I'm sure." With scalpels for fingers, and all that, yeah.
"You said you've only been here a few months? here Philadephia, or....?" or here the real world, obviously.
Aurelio Menegi:
"I can imagine." The conversation with Thursday had said much, after all. "My own took time, but what had to be taken from others because of it is remembered."
"Here in Philadelphia. I returned to Venice first, and was there for about a year."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael nods. "I don't remember how it was done, only... to what purpose." looking down at his hands. He takes a deep breath, lets it out, puts his polite smile back on. "Ah, I couldn't imagine you'd adjusted to being here that fast, from.. well, I get that impression you're older than you look."
Aurelio Menegi:
"A fair bit, yes." He allowed himself a small smirk, wry little thing that it was. "Still picking up some things, but can handle enough for day-to-day."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Yeah. I had to catch up with medicine, too, took a while. And... well, catching up with that much history is easier for some of us than others." Raph holds up a warning finger and puts on his smile as the waiter finally returns with the food, tucks his phone back away to make space, polite thanks and all that until the man is away from the table once more, and the smile vanishes again.
Aurelio Menegi:
"Indeed." He sat back a bit in his chair at the warning, giving the waiter a nod and a polite smile as the food was brought in. Once they had left he looked back to Raph, keeping his voice low just in case. "This country had just finished its reunification when I was born, for what that says. Quite a lot to miss."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raph nods, just... picking at his food, rather than eating it, doing what to anyone else looks like crumbling little bits off the edge of the bread with his fingertips, but Aurelio can see is really cutting tiny, tiny bits off, and in half, and and in half again, until they disintegrate. "Pretty close to the same time, I think, then."
Aurelio Menegi:
Aurelio was actually eating his, on the other hand, quickly but neatly nonetheless. "Most that I've met haven't had as much of a loss, although there are a few here about the same or longer."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Yeah, it's...." He sighs heavily. "Even having caught up, the social adjustment can be... hard. You're better at it than I am, I believe; I still tend to come off too formal. Part of why I stuck with the clothing; it makes it easy to pass as one of those 'steampunk' people, so it passes as mere affectation."
And then his phone buzzes, he fishes it out, and for a moment at least, genuine amusement breaks his dark mood. "Ah, Lux. The first thing they want to know is if you're hot."
Aurelio Menegi:
"One benefit of being new to the tongue as well, can pass things off as missed translations. Not perfect, but it works well enough"
He glanced towards Raph's phone as it buzzed, chuckling at the comment. "Will leave that for them to decide."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raph responds back and forth very briefly, whatever the next message is making him both snerk and blush, and then puts the phone away. because that would be rude. "Would you believe they're winter?"
Aurelio Menegi:
He smirked a touch, offering a small shrug. "Stranger things. Hiding in plain sight is one of their virtues, no?"
Raphael Sharpe:
"Plainer sight you will never see. But that would explain it, you never learned all the... archaisms I use. You probably have the same problem in Italian, instead."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Some, yes. Got some help on that front before I came here, though."
Raphael Sharpe:
"I suppose I really don't have much excuse after all, then," Trying to sound light, and failing. "Look, I... I know we've just met, but... one... of us, to another. Do you ever find yourself feeling like... like you hurt everyone you touch? No matter how hard you try not to?" They aren't being literal, exactly, but the metaphor is absurdly accurate.
Aurelio Menegi:
At the note of melancholy Aurelio did his best to give the Wizened a reassuring look. "Bringing your past with you to the now isn't a bad thing. I do that in my own way, with the work that I do. And, if I remember the line correct, everything old is new again, no?"
The question made him pause, sitting back in his seat a moment as he thought it over before looking back to Raph. "Sometimes, yes."
Raphael Sharpe:
"mm. Yeah. Steampunk, and all." Raphael looks up at the other man - he's a lot shorter - with that very particular anguish clearly showing in his face. "I know I have no business asking, and the answer may be personal. But... how do you... live with it?"
Aurelio Menegi:
"No worries; is worth asking. Overall, I do the best I can to repair what harm may have been done, and channel any...darker thoughts towards more productive things."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael blinks, startled to hear him admit to the other part of the problem. "I'm still working on.... productive. But I don't think... any part of... this particular topic of conversation can go any further here." He takes a couple of slow deep breaths, struggling to compose himself. "I do apologize. I.... Mr. Thursday isn't the only one I've done it to, the last few days. It's... unsettling."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Understood. Willing to help how I can, though." He nodded quietly. "One peril of knowing where to hit to hurt most is sometimes doing it without intent."
Raphael Sharpe:
"Thank you. I should... like to speak on it more, somewhere we can speak more freely." Raphael grimaces and nods, because that's it exactly. "And I do it.. well. A little more Autumn."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Let me know when and I will be there." Another small nod. "Right. Fear can be soothed as much as it can be unleashed, though. Like you do with the young ones."
Raphael Sharpe:
Raphael gets this look on his face like he's fighting himself over what to say - he's pretty sure this is NOT an appropriate time for "come back to my place", even if definitely no innuendo were intended, but damn does he want to say it. "That's what I do when I'm doing it on purpose. But when I....cut by accident...."
Aurelio Menegi:
"The wound can be treated the same way. The attempt to mend shows intent, to fix what a misplaced touch has done." He looked Raph over at that. "May not always work perfectly, but is always worth trying."
Raphael Sharpe:
"I try, but... too often I don't get the chance." His anguish only makes him prettier, somehow, which is only the more disturbing when you can see the claws.
Aurelio Menegi:
"Trying shows that you care, which is something they may have taken for a time. Reclaiming that is a step away from what was done."
Raphael Sharpe:
"They have to let me near them again for that."
Aurelio Menegi:
"True, but if you let them know you wish to make amends that is something."
Raphael Sharpe:
"I try...." He squeezes his eyes shut tight, fighting the emotions. "Pray forgive me. I am becoming... a bit agitated."
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