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The hulk of the building, as it was, hid behind scaffolding, tarps, and other implements of construction. Most of that labor was done- all that remained were the details. And the administrative aspects of opening a theater. Luigi arrived on site, and made his way into the foyer like he owned the place. Because he did. Refined Rhythm. Cultured tempos. Potential in edifice. The Vampire looked over what soon would be his domain, clearly pleased with what he saw. Both presently and in the future.
If curiosity killed the cat, then it's a very good thing Phaedra Lamb's already a vampire and thus undead. She is drawn by mysteries, by oddities, by breaks in routine and also by ooh, shiny. Of course, the thing of it is, despite being a Mekhet, she's just got no Obfuscate to help her be subtle in these explorations. So Luigi can plainly hear there's someone or something scuttling around in the depth of the construction site.
She wasn't aware he'd come home to roost again.
"A mouse?" A smile. "Come out little mouse, and I can give you a proper tour." He adjusted his multicolored coat, and walked slowly through the foyer towards the grand staircase.
There's a pause, a moment of stillness and silence. Then, the side of one of the tarps moves, and there's someone just barely peering around it. Blonde hair is visible, little else is yet.
Luigi gives the splash of blonde a grand bow. "The best parts are further in, piccolo topo. You are welcome to join me as I make sure the workers have done their job well."
What comes out from behind the tarp is unmistakably Kindred--she's short, five foot and a smidgen, and dressed in a peasant blouse with floral embroidery and a pair of yoga pants, once-white sandals on her feet. Her long blonde hair has a couple sticks and leaves in it, and is bound out of her face with a scrap of leather shoelace. Really, she's nothing impressive...until you get to her pale blue eyes, which seem large and intelligent, raking over Luigi like she's seeing below the surface. There's something kind of eerie about that gaze, something that tends to set people on edge.
It would be against his ingrained machismo for Luigi to flinch at the sight of a young lady, but he does straighten warily. Still there is a smile. "A, truly, Piccolo Topo, you have nothing to fear," he assures her, and gestures for her to come closer with a roll of his hand. His own eyes were light gray and blue- aged, resting in the face of a friendly old man. "I am Luigi Fabri, Knight Errant of the First Estate, at your eternal service."
Calamity's usual gig is skulking around abandoned, derelict buildings. But sometimes you just wanna see some shit being built, and not have to worry about rusted catwalks and rotted out floorboards, and so they've nosed their way into this building. Keeping to the shadows, of course, but...
That's a heartbeat, too close to be someone on the street.
"What does Piccolo Topo mean? Mouse?" The question is soft, her voice uncertain, as she steps closer. "I'm definitely not a mouse, I'm a lamb. Phaedra Lamb..." A pause, whatever she was going to append to that cut off as she hears that heartbeat and looks around.
"...is this going to be another Theater Incident?" The question asked toward the heartbeat, voice raised slightly.
In answer to her question, Luigi gestured with an open hand. "Little mouse to be exact, but if you say..." The vampire trails off as she looks around, and he turns to face towards the entrance, also looking for an interloper. "The opening will be in a month!" he called out in his accented voice. Then in a softer tone over his shoulder to Phaedra: "Theater incident?"
A fairly diminutive person steps out from behind one of the pillars holding up the mezzanine, a dark bandanna covering the lower half of their face. Their ratty gray sweatshirt hangs loosely around their thin frame, and they shove the sleeves up to the elbows as they come into view. They tug the bandanna down, too, revealing a smirk, and they upnod at Phaedra.
"Dunno. Who's your friend?" The youth gestures to the other Kindred, looking at him kinda curiously.
"Theater incident." She grins at Luigi, and thinks for a moment. "Maestro Fabri, please allow me to introduce Calamity. Calamity, Luigi Fabri. I think it's his theater this time, so we should try not to do the shouting match thing this time, unless he turns out to be an asshole."
Luigi glanced between the two, then laughed. "You two know each other? Wonderful! Come come!" he gestured for them to follow, and started for the grand staircase. "You wound me, Signora Lamb. How can I be anything but happy to have guests?!"
"...Hey." Calamity holds their hand up in a small wave hello. "...You own this place?" They give the Kindred an appraising look, almost a threat assessment, and take a fee steps closer to Phaedra.
"Oh, we're not guests, we're pests." She laughs brightly. "Maybe once the theater's open, I'll drag Calamity to a show here, but for now? That's not quite the way this story goes. Getting in trouble is half the fun, because then you get to work your way out of it again. Yes?"
He turns before taking the first step. "Of course I own this place. But it is not quite finished yet." Luigi says this holding up an index finger. "One month, I hope. Then this place will hatch and stretch its magnificence across the city. " The vampire regards the smaller vampire, the smile ever present. "Ah, but Signora, it is I who decides who is pest, and who is guest. And I say you are guests. Perhaps mischief guests, but still..." Luigi extended an open palm to her. "Do you not want to see the secret room?"
Calamity gestures their agreement with Phaedra about the getting in trouble, and as Luigi finishes speaking, their eyes narrow, mildly suspicious.
"...Secret room?" They look to Phaedra, gauging her reaction.
Phaedra tilts her head to one side, her gaze lingering on Luigi's hand, looking perhaps like a skittish dog who's been kicked one time too many. Eventually, she steps closer, but doesn't accept the hand. "Do you get there through the pipes? I hear that's how Mario tends to get into secret areas."
A laugh. "Mario. That is the video game, yes?" he asks, and starts up the stairs once Phaedra comes closer. The hand is a thought long forgotten. "Perhaps we do. But no turtles." He stops at the top, and leans slightly on the tarp covered banister. "How...well do you two know each other?"
As Phaedra reacts, Calamity steps closer to her, and slightly in front. Not aggressive, just...a little protective. They do snort at the Mario joke, and slowly start to climb the stairs after Luigi, reaching out to offer Phaedra their hand, instead.
"...Decent amount, why?" They answer after a couple seconds' thought.
"Well enough." She accepts Calamity's hand, her grip gentle and cold; she hasn't bothered to blush herself up for this exploration. "Calamity's a good friend for me to have. We've gotten each other into a lot of different troubles."
Caution. Acceptance. These were displayed in rapid succession, and punctuated with a short nod. As they ascended the stairs, Luigi turned and took hold of the handles of the large doors that promised grandeur beyond. "Mischief friends. All should have at least one. I believe the phrase in English is 'Partners in Crime'?" Again the Ventrue smiled and opened the seemingly heavy doors with ease. "Benvenuti nella culla della creatività." He bowed and gestured into the main room of the Theater. Even in the dark, the pure artistry in the almost complete decorations stood out. The entrance gave way to a carpeted path that split into four directions, two heading down into the bowl and two heading to the higher seats situated above the entrance. Luigi went down, and pointed towards the domed ceiling. "The chandelier arrives next week. You cannot have a Phantom without a chandelier!"
"Mmph. Somethin' like that..." Calamity mutters, and flashes Phaedra a small grin.
"Fuck...this place's fancy as shit..." Their eyes are wide as they take the place in, reaching out to run a hand over the woodwork.
Half a second later, they turn to Luigi, eyes narrowing slightly again. "So what're you building a theater for? Just...'cause?"
"For the record, I don't speak any Italian. I'm busy sounding stupid in English." She laughs and then moves into the room, closing her eyes and inhaling the air. "He's a fancy person, Calamity. Think of him as sorta-kinda-a little like Simon, but being nicer about it, at least for now."
The interplay between Phaedra and Calamity earns delighted confusion from Luigi, but he continues towards the stage, motioning for them to follow. "I am building this because I love Theatre. I love art in all its forms, but performance upon a stage is the pure...breath of the moment. Transitory, and ...awesome in its imperfect..." He hops onto the stage, rolling aside a work cart to give the others more space. "Its imperfect moments."
Calamity leans against the front row, their eyebrows going up at Luigi gives his speech. "Sure is..." They mutter in agreement to Phaedra.
"You got family here?" They ask Luigi a couple seconds later. The question, and in particular the word 'family', has a sort of...weight, to it. (prob wits+streetwise to figure out what the layers are to what they're asking, if anyone wants?)
Phaedra looks between Calamity and Luigi, her smile dimming somewhat, and it's her turn to casually place herself between the curly-haired enby and her fellow Kindred.
"No. My family is all quite dead," he states with the only hint of sadness Luigi has shown so far. It quicklys comes and goes.
Phaedra gets a curious look, and Calamity nods at Luigi. "That...sucks, 'm sorry." Then, quieter, to Phaedra. "'S he...?" Her hand gets a squeeze, wordlessly asking if he's like her.
Ah, the joys of dissymmetry of information. Phaedra glances between them quietly for a moment, weighing the situation. "Yeah, we've left introductions half-done, but if we do them fully and properly, we do them fully and properly."
Calamity's cut short question catches Luigi. Suspicion. Caution. Dismissal. He looks at Phaedra. "If you have things in hand, Signora, then I shall not push the issue," he tells her with a smile. "And while I would be delighted to give a full and proper introduction, I do still have work to do- a proper inspection."
"It's not a problem; Calamity is someone who understands the importance of secrets, you see, due to their own experiences in life. We're not the only ones who believe in a Masquerade, or who're vulnerable to the threat of exposure. Can we join you on your inspection, still?" Her smile is innocent enough.
Calamity stiffens a little and gives Phaedra a cautious nod. They understand.
"...Yeah I get secrets, an' that sort'a shit. I don't need'ta know more." A shrug, and they shift from foot to foot. "Lotta place to inspect, what're you lookin' for?"
The question hangs in the air, before Luigi breaks the moment with a laugh. "Imperfections! I paid quite a bit of money for quality, and I will not have this work be anything but correct!" He motioned for them to join him on the stage. The curtains were not yet hung, and much of the scaffolding above lay bare of lights- one could see clearly to the back wall of the stage. "You are quite welcome to join me on the inspection, but il meglio del meglio awaits us at this moment."
She clambors up onto the stage with the grace of a raccoon climbing into a dumpster. "Ill what-now?"
"...Yeah I got nothin', Italian's kinda close to Spanish? But only kinda." Calamity follows Phaedra onto the stage, vaulting themself up smoothly.
"I think in English it is best of the best? I am uncertain, forgive," Luigi said with a shrug as he headed to the back wall. Like a showman, he waved his hand, and the brick wall suddenly had a door that would belong handsomely on a quaint brownstone. The Vampire opened it and gestured to a set of stairs that winded further upward.
Phaedra looks up the stairs curiously, then back at Luigi. "This isn't a trap, right? You're not going to turn out to be evil and luring curious young souls into your lair to eat them or anything?"
"'S how theaters get haunted, isn't it?" Calamity might be making a joke, but they have an arm wrapped around themself, the other one gripping Phaedra's hand again. Heart beating a little faster than it was before, like they're nervous.
"You would impugn upon my honor, Signora?" Luigi asks, still smiling but there is weight to the words. "Guesting laws are not to be trifled with. Besides, I have already had dinner." He glances to Calamity. "If you do not wish to see, I will not force you. But the view is...unlike anything else."
Phaedra squeezes Calamity's hand gently. "On your honor as a Knight? Alright, I'll come see. Seeing is most of what I do, after all."
"I'll go if you go." Their voice is quiet, as they blink at Phaedra, and they shift to shove their free hand in their sweatshirt pocket. There's a quiet clink of metal from it.
"On my honor as a knight," he confirmed, and lead the way up the stairs. They gave way to a two level room cast in dark woods. Behind them was a window that reached high to the ceiling, and whose view was unmarred by the construction around it. There were a set of heavy drape waiting to be mounted, but at the moment, the view was unobscured of the Old City. Along the walls of the first level were shelves awaiting books or statues or what ever whimsy struck Luigi. The second level was a balcony on both sides. The room stretched away from the window towards what could only be the copula at the top of the domed ceiling of the theater. The room circled it, and carefully placed windows allowed one to peer down into the stadium of seats and would offer a birds eye view of any performance. "Welcome to my home. It is...unfurnished at the moment."
Phaedra lets out a soft delighted gasp. "Oh! This is pretty. I love the velvet on the chairs--makes me want to curl up like a cat on one of them."
Calamity whispers out a soft swear, when they reach the top of the stairs. "'S a nice place, shit..." Their gaze casts around the room, taking in the details, the valuables, any other exits. They stay close to Phaedra, still nervous even as she gets excited about the place.
"Many of the older theaters have places like this," Luigi noted, mostly not looking at the two. He walked towards the copula, hands behind his back. "You are welcomed to curl, Signora, if you wish. The velvet will make you feel royal..." He glanced back at them over his shoulder. "...like a cat!"
"Mmm, I'm about the furthest thing from royal most of the time. Seems like too much work, and I'm busy with other duties and things." A glance at Calamity. "I'm not gonna say you gotta trust him, but he's the sort of person whose honor means something to him. He's not gonna hurt us unless we fuck up with regard to guesting laws. So don't set anything on fire, ye?"
She sticks her tongue out at the pyromancer just slightly. Blep.
"Fuck you." Calamity says it with affection, and nudges Phaedra's shoulder. The corners of their mouth twitch up, too, and they slip they finally slip their hand away, padding over to one of the windows to look out over the city.
"Ususally 'm outside, t'get views like this."
Luigi gives a slight bow to Phaedra at her commentary of him. Then he returns towards the spiral staircase. "Here, let me improve the view," he offers, and makes a dismissive gesture at the wall holding the window. All at once the wall is gone, along with the window, and part of the ceiling as well, giving them what seems to be an clear look of the Old City. And the night sky above them. "If you are the sort to attract fire, I would appreciate not doing so here," Luigi urges with a laugh. Then he wanders to sit in one of the chairs. "How long have you been in this city, Signora?" he asks Phaedra.
"All my life, but the answer to the question you're actually asking is 'about five years'." She takes off her shoes before curling in one of the other chairs, feet tucked up under her ass, not too weirded out by the vanishing wall. "I'm almost as young and naive and innocent as I look. Almost."
That makes Calamity gasp in delight, and they trot forward to the very edge, their eyes bright with excitement. "Fuckin' sweet. Won't set anything of fire 'les you're an asshole." They give Luigi a smirk and then turn back to the view.
"Careful, the wall...it is still there. Would not want you to run into it." Caution delivered with a chuckle. His eyes focus on the other vampire. "Almost? And yet you are perceptive enough to know what I asked. But so young. this explains your...brave nature. Explorer nature? " Luigi shakes his head some and presses on. "Do they let you roam so unsupervised?"
She tilts her head at Luigi, eyes wide and unblinking. "No power in the 'verse can stop me." Her River Tam impression is pretty accurate.
And then she laughs, shaking her head slightly. "I suppose they think I'm tame enough, or trust in my insight to keep me safe."
Calamity puts a hand out to feel the invisible wall.
"This's fuckin' amazing. Can anyone down there see this, 're does it just look like regular building?"
The reference is lost on Luigi, and he blinks while keeping up a smile. When Phaedra continues, he discards his confusion. "Insight?" But then Calamity's question grabs him, as the wall flickers in and ut of view under his touch. "No, out there, they see the building. That would be...not well done if others saw part of the building vanish."
"I'm the Haruspex of the local Circle. A seer, Maestro Fabri, a diviner and reader of signs as well as tarot cards. And was known for at least some of that even before I came to be part of all this." This is punctuated with a gesture between herself and Luigi, to make her meaning clear.
"She'll call you the fuck out with her cards, too." Calamity turns to flash Phaedra a smile. "Seen her do it."
That secured Luigi's attention, and he placed both hands behind his back as he considered the woman. "Una strega? Bene, c'è solo danno se lo faccio essere dannoso." He clears his throat. "This would be interesting to witness, I think, but for now, I must need finish my work for the night." He waved a hand and the wall and window returned to normal. "You may stay up here if you like, or leave if you prefer. Or join as you earlier asked."
"You keep saying things in Italian...I'm tempted to learn to speak it someday, because I hate not knowing what people are saying." Phaedra glances at Calamity, then back at Luigi. "We might stay here for a while and talk behind your back. Don't worry, if the walls have ears, they'll only say nice things about us afterward."
"Maybe only 'bout you..." Another flash of a grin, and Calamity wanders back toward Phaedra.
"But nah, won't burn the place down or anything. Won't even know we were here, prob'ly."
Phaedra laughs warmly, and gestures for Calamity to come closer. "Well, that was less trouble than it could have been."
"...Yeah." Calamity takes a few steps closer, looking at the door.
"You just meet him, or...?"
"Mmmhm. Though I've nosed around the theater a couple of times before. He's gone in and out of town; I wasn't expecting him to be around tonight. He's definitely older than me."
"Mmmm..." Calamity looks thoughtful. "You believe him, 'bout his family bein' dead? 'S been some shit going down, maybe weird timing for a guy like him to show up like this..."
"I believe him. And I bet when his family were alive, they were all in Italy, not from anywhere near here." She shakes her head. "It's interesting, to see one of his sort trying to make it in town, though..."
"How d'you mean?" Calamity leans against Phaedra's chair and cocks their head a little, curious.
"Mmm. We...there's a social dynamic, among us, different groups. I belong to a witchy pagan sort of group. Finley's a scientist sort. Those are the two biggest in town, I'm pretty sure. Luigi, though, his group is very, very small in Philadelphia. They're...old-fashioned, kinda stuffy. The sort where someone as young as me wouldn't be let out unsupervised, most of the time, because I haven't been trained in proper Manners."
Calamity wrinkles their nose. "Oh. Ew. Tracks though, he owns a fuckin' theater like this, 'course he's old fashioned and stuffy. You got manners just fine." They smile and nudge Phaedra's shoulder.
"...he was polite enough about it, though. Not sure how much of that was because you were around." She shrugs. "I'm curious about how he'll end up here. He plays polite enough."
"Polite doesn't mean much, can get away with a fuckton 'f you're polite 'n loaded. Sure he's got secrets that'd make him look not-so-polite..."
Ever the optimist, aren't they?
"Guess it's kinda cool he let us up here though."
"Yeah. Just...be careful, if you meet him and me or Fin aren't around. Okay? His sort of people tend to also care a lot about us being big secret hidden, you know?"
"Don't plan on meeting him when you're not around. Would'a just left before he saw me 'f you weren't here." There's a beat, and they gesture to the invisible wall. "Doesn't seem to care too much 'bout keeping shit from me..."
"Yeah, but note the words we weren't using in front of you." She laughs. "Anyway, what are your plans for the rest of the night?"
"Don't got any - was gonna dick around in here but 's boring now. No more mystery and shit." Calamity shrugs. "You eat yet?"
"...not yet." She gives Calamity a bit of a sheepish look. "I was planning on stopping by a party tomorrow where I know I could get some easy, but..."
"Think he'd mind, 're should we find someplace else to go? Dunno 'f it's like, rude or some shit..."
"I'd feel weird doing it in his home, I think, honestly. I wasn't entirely joking earlier when I talked about walls having ears. Some of us have a talent for reading the most charged memories an object holds, and I don't want to leave that here."
"'S fair enough. Where d'you wanna go then? Your place is pretty far away..." Calamity leans into Phaedra a little, a hand gently resting on her shoulder. The casual touch of close friends.
She leans into the touch. "I dunno. Though if you wanted to come to my place, we wouldn't have to walk anymore. I have a motorcycle now."
Calamity scoffs out a laugh, until they realize that Phaedra's serious. "Wait really? When'd you learn t'drive?"
"...I mean, it's something I'm still learning, technically, but. Uh. I...vampire biker gang?"
"I gotta see." Calamity grins and stands up straight, bouncing on their heels. "Never been on a motorcycle before."
She grins, standing. "Well then, let's go!"
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