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Post by Korso Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 15:41:24 GMT -6
"Uh-huh....yeah....oh, I've been busy....the days been long...the nights, even longer...even louder..."
Korso tapped his cigar, dropping ashes to his tray. Beside it was a framed photograph: Korso, over a decade younger, standing among several men, one was his friend, John Diverio. In front of his was a young Charlotte, standing straight with her hands folded in front in a dignified manner, and then there was the even younger Aria, pouty-faced with her arms folded.
"...Oh around here it never sleeps. The city roars at night, howling to the world, calling all to its den. It's a fearsome thing indeed...you like that, huh? I stole it from some smartass on the radio."
Korso inched the phone away from his mouth, just enough for him to get another puff from his cigar.
"...Uh-huh...oh, yes we've got women," said Korso, crackling as he eyed an invoice from the Hotel Aquila. "...Oh I take time to fun...oh yes...should come down here soon. We're opening up a grand ole place, you'll love it."
The door opened. His secretary stepped in and walked her way to his desk.
"Yeah...We got rat problems...gonna have to exterminate each of'em soon," said Korso, lowering the phone from his ear long enough for his secretary to whisper something in his ear. With a quick nod, he shooed her away. "Listen, I gotta meet with my daughter, I'll talk to you later...ha, I know you will."
Korso hung up the phone and crushed the end of his cigar into his tray, then folded his hands and awaited his daughter to enter his cold, dark room.
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Post by Aria Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 15:59:55 GMT -6
After what Aria had saw last week, she was still pretty furious with her Dad. Dante did tell her not worry about it, but she couldn't help it, she needed to speak to her Dad about that. She also wanted to speak to him about letting her go to the new event he was planning alone. Or least be accompanied by Dante. She had no idea if he would let him, Dante always belonged at Korso's side. Hopefully she would be able to use her big eyes and get him to say yes for once in his life.
She knew he was most likely waiting for Charlotte due to he had called at meeting for her, but it appeared Charlotte was running a bit late, which made this the perfect opportunity to talk to her dad.
Aria walked up the stairs and headed toward Korso's office, and once she got there, she opened up the door quickly and a bit loud. Green eyes staring into her Dad's blue eyes. He appeared surprise to see her, which made her smirk a little. It always amused her when she could sneak up on her father.
"Score one for me so far.." Aria thought to herself as she turned around and closed the door behind her. Once closed she walked to her Dad's desk and placed both of her hands on it as she leaned forward just a bit.
"You and I need to talk, and I do not want to hear that you can not speak to me right now. Charlotte is running late, so you have time." Aria said as she glared at her father. "What was with you torturing that poor man last week!? I tried to get it out of your men, but no one has budged, afraid you'll beat 'em up too! I want answers Dad, cause once again I've seen you torture someone." Aria said as her voice started to raise in volume.
Aria was clearly upset. Her stance, her eyes, and even her breathing showed this. The only thing she was trying to hide was the little bit of shaking that was caused by her being nervous talking to her Dad like this.
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Post by Korso Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 16:13:15 GMT -6
Korso raised an eyebrow as Aria stepped through the door. He was expecting Charlotte, but instead was graced with his youngest's presence. Before he could greet her, Aria demanded an explanation for last week's "incident". The Don squinted his eyes, slightly aggrevated, but did not unfold his hands.
"A poor man, you say?" asked Korso. "I know poor men, I see'em everyday, like that red head down the straight." His unbreakable gaze remained on Aria's eyes. "I know what a poor man is. That man, was a snake, a spawn of evil, attempting to sneak into MY Eden."
His eyes darted to his black curtained window, where a sliver of sunlight peeked out from the corner.
"Besides, shouldn't you be more concerned about that flower shop I got for you? You just stick to your business, and stay outta mine, ok baby?" said Korso with a comforting smirk.
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Post by Aria Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 16:24:11 GMT -6
Aria immediately saw when her Dad got aggravated, it made a chill send down her spine, but she kept her glare up. She didn't let it falter once. She listened to what he said, her right eyebrow to raise just a little. How did her Dad know he was a snake, a spawn of evil? Didn't he tell her that no one wanted to her them when they were younger. Her glare got a bit colder, realizing that it seemed that her Dad was lying about things. And she didn't appreciate being lied to. After all she was twenty years old now, she didn't need people treating her like a child.
"Besides, shouldn't you be more concerned about that flower shop I got for you? You just stick to your business, and stay outta mine, ok baby?"
At that comment, her eyes widened as her eyebrows raised. And then before Korso knew it, Aria slammed her hands on the desk and her expression went even colder. "When you're torturing people in public it IS my business! When I see you doing that stuff, it's my business. I'm your daughter, not someone you can push away like that! I'm tired of it!" Aria said as her voiced had raised two times in volume.
"And you say that was a spawn of evil?! I thought there were no bad men that wanted to enter this Eden, I guess you lied, huh Daddy? Which means you've been lying to me for years! So not only are you keeping men guarding me twenty-four seven without my consent, you're lying to me. Good to know how much you love!" Aria said as she leaned forward, getting a little bit closer to her father.
"I bet if MOM was here, she wouldn't let you treat me like this. Cause I am getting tired of it, Daddy!" Aria said before she did a comforting smirk right back at him, mocking him.
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Post by Korso Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 16:41:56 GMT -6
"When you're torturing people in public it IS my business! When I see you doing that stuff, it's my business. I'm your daughter, not someone you can push away like that! I'm tired of it!" Aria said as her voiced had raised two times in volume.
Korso, without blinking, keep his eyes on her, but his smile had faded. He took a deep breath through his nose.
"And you say that was a spawn of evil?! I thought there were no bad men that wanted to enter this Eden, I guess you lied, huh Daddy? Which means you've been lying to me for years! So not only are you keeping men guarding me twenty-four seven without my consent, you're lying to me. Good to know how much you love!" Aria said as she leaned forward, getting a little bit closer to her father. I bet if MOM was here, she wouldn't let you treat me like this. Cause I am getting tired of, Daddy!" Aria said before she did a comforting smirk right back at him, mocking him.
His right hand twitched. With his eyes closed, he exhaled, maintaining his cool.
"That is the last time you bring your mother into this, God rest her soul," said Korso, trying to hide the anger in his voice. "That clear, baby?" he asked, a sharp glare firing back at her.
With another deep breath he stood up and made his way to the window, pulling back the curtains a little. He squinted as the sunlight touched his face.
"A well-maintained garden is bound to attract snakes every once in a while. No matter how well you keep it, snakes will come, and it's my job to make sure they're removed. If one comes, more are bound to join them. First they go for the vegatables, then the other animals, and then the gardener himself..." He turned his eyes back to Aria. "...and even his family."
He dropped the curtain, allowing it to conceal the light once more.
"So until I make sure the snakes, an' rats for that matter, are dealt with, I need you to do something. I need you to keep your eyes off o' me. I need you to let my men do their job. I need you to let me protect you...or I can have you be placed somewhere else. Somewhere dark, heavily guarded, and away from the public. Which would you rather, baby girl?"
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Post by Aria Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 16:56:01 GMT -6
Aria figured she messed up when she talked about her mother, but she hadn't expected the sharp glare that he gave her. That made her twitch. She watched as Korso got up and walked to the window, opening the curtain just a little. She pushed herself away from the desk lightly and followed him just a little. She stared at the back of his head while she put her hands on her hips. Aria could tell he had pissed him off, but for once she didn't want to back down.. This one time she wanted answers.
When he started talking about the garden and the snakes, she narrowed her eyes slightly in confusion. Though the confusion quickly left when she heard him get to the point rather quickly. She also backed up just a bit when he looked back to her. She could still see a little bit of anger in his eyes and she really didn't want to be close to that.
Aria then rolled her eyes and looked away from him when he told her to keep her eyes off of him and his men. She was about to fight him on that, but then he threatened her. Telling her how he could put her in a dark, heavily guarded place, away from everyone. This made her looked back at him and give him a sharp glare of her own.
"You do that and I'll run away," Aria said sharply, "I'll run away and never come back. I'll have you worrying about me constantly! You'll wonder if I am dead, you'll wonder if I've been raped! I'll give you so many mind games, that you won't be able to focus on all of this stupid mafia stuff!" Aria said as she took a few steps towards her father.
Now she was up close to him, staring up at him, giving him one sharp glare that would make other people shudder. "So threaten me again, Daddy. You know I do not like that, and you know I do not like having guards around me twenty-four seven. Also, as long as I keep catching you doing your work, I'll make sure to keep it as my business. So how about you keep your business in the basement where it BELONGS!!" Aria said as she yelled when she said the last word.
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Post by Korso Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 17:15:53 GMT -6
Aria stepped forward, threatening to run away.
I got eyes all over this city, she wouldn't make it past downtown without me knowin' he thought. Then came the part where she got in his face and demanded an end to the threats, the bodyguards, and the "business". She's a tough one, just like her mother. I'll this slide...let her think she's got this won.
Korso set his heavy hands on her shoulders, and looked at her with a straight face. And then, a smile appeared.
"I'm sorry baby, you know my heart is set on keepin' you girls safe." Using his index finger, he lifted Aria's chin. "I once lost you, don't want it happen ever again, that's all. But you're right, I think it's about time for you to have some space, you're probably old enough to start datin', aren't you?"
His mind flashed to a few of his best men. Men that would treat her right. Men that would protect her for the rest of her life. Men worthy enough of the Marcello name. I'll set her up with one of them soon. She won't even know they're workin' for me. Win-Win situation, he cunningly thought.
He pulled Aria closed and gave her a fatherly hug. "I'll keep my business on the low. But you gotta give those pretty eyes on your shop and not the shadows, right baby?" He pulled back and extended his index finger, slowly waving it side to side like a hypnotist. "And, about your mother...never...again...got it?"
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Post by Aria Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 17:36:52 GMT -6
The moment she felt her father's hands on her shoulders, Aria twitched just a little as she closed her right eyes. She was pretty much expecting to be punished for talking to her Dad like that. But when he smiled at her, she felt herself ease. Though she immediately went to looking shocked as he started to apologize.
Aria let her father lift up her chin, her green eyes going straight to his eyes. Her face softened when he talked about how he lost her once, and she immediately felt a bit bad.. She had been told a lot she had died for two seconds after her mom did. It was a miracle that she was brought back to life. And remembering that made her look away from him.
"But you're right, I think it's about time for you to have some space."
Those words made her look right back at him, shock in her big green eyes. "What?" She asked, stunned.
"You're probably old enough to start datin', aren't you?"
The shock looked went away and she gave him a little look. "I'm twenty, Dad, of course I'm old enough." She said as she crossed her arms. But the look didn't stay for long as she remembered how Dante had asked her out on a date the night they went for a drive. This caused her eyes to catch a little bit of a glow.
"That means I can ask for his blessing to go out to the cafe with Dante!" Aria thought as she felt herself get excited. But it didn't last long, cause next thing she knew she was given a hug. She immediately hugged back and listened to his promise. "Fine, Dad.. As long you keep your promise." She said as she felt like she had won the argument more than he did. He usually never budged. Thankfully he did. She gave him a tight squeeze on the hug before she felt him pull back.
Her expression faltered when she saw his index finger.. "Crap" She thought as he told her to never bring her mother up again. This made her bite her lip. "Sorry, Daddy.." She said, her voice full of guilt.
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Post by Korso Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 18:55:37 GMT -6
The sorry look on Aria's face brought an inner delight to Korso. Her ashamed apology was like a waving white flag to him. The argument was over, the chips were set, and soon the pieces fall into place.
With a smirk he playfully rubbed her head.
"You may be 20, but you'll always be my little Princess Aria," he said, smiling. I'll have your sercurity pulled back, but that doesn't give you an excuse to be reckless, okay?" His mind flashed to a recent photograph of a Mr. Dean McCoppin that reigned atop a stack of many more that featured other new faces to Gatsberry. This town is gettin' too loud for its own good.
His worries aside, he gave Aria another loving embrace, holding dearly onto his youngest daughter...just as the door to his office opened...
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Post by Charlotte Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 19:38:53 GMT -6
Charlotte jumped out of the car and started running to the house. She had been at training with Cruella and hadn't realized she was running late for a meeting with her father. She still had sweat on her and had her leotard on under her dress, one of her shoes was only half buckled, her make-up wasn't touched up as she usually did after training and her hair was even falling down a bit and was not perfectly in place.
She ran up the steps and rather then looking or knocking as she usually would she opened the door to her fathers office.
"I am so sorry I'm late Daddy." She started catching her breath and looked up to see Aria and her father in what appeared to be a rather deep conversation. She pulled herself up and brushed her hair back behind her ears and smiled at the two most important people in her life.
She walked over to them and kissed Korso on the check. "Please forgive me Daddy?" She gave him her pout I'm so cute look. She then turned to Aria and kissed her temple encouragingly. Aria didn't usually come in to Dad's office, she hated Daddy's work and tried to avoid it. Which meant that what she wanted was very serious and she was probably being stubborn about whatever it was. These two were sometimes way to alike for their own good. Both were so stubborn and rather unwilling to look at the other's perspective and didn't like to give an inch unless necessary. She was glad she didn't have to mediate again.
"Hey Dovey. Do you know what you want to do for dinner?" She asked her sister wanting to change the subject as much as possible between the two.
She looked back at her father again. "And you wanted to talk to me Daddy?"
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Post by Korso Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 20:04:45 GMT -6
As Charlotte entered, Don Korso's eyes darted to his grandfather clock, then back to her.
"I am so sorry I'm late Daddy."
"You're late," he said, a tad coldly. "You should be more responsible."
She walked over to them and kissed Korso on the check. "Please forgive me Daddy?"
Her warm kiss softened his annoyance. "For you, princess, I'll make an exception." With a smirk, he stepped over to his desk and sorted through his papers while the two sisters briefly spoke.
"And you wanted to talk to me Daddy?"
Korso leaned against his desk and smacked the sheet of paper in his hand.
"The construction's been paid, sweetheart. The Moonlight Lounge is set to open soon." He stepped towards his two girls, showing them the invoice in his hand as proof. "As you know, I want this place to be our legacy. Opening night's gotta be smashin' success, but I'm gonna need some pretty dolls and some pretty voices, and baby, you got both." He smiled at Charlotte, resting his hand on her shoulder. "What'cha say? Think you could show this town how a Marcello can sing?"
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Post by Charlotte Marcello on Jun 15, 2017 21:52:30 GMT -6
Charlotte nodded as he talked about the Moonlight lounge. He had been talking about it for months. She was there when they broke ground and started building. He said when he started it that it would be one of the greatest places in Asberry bar none. The fact that her father wanted her to be the main entertainer was huge and it showed how much faith he had in her ability. Charlotte blushed at her fathers suggestion, and compliment.
"Daddy I don't know what to say." She said honestly. "Are you sure you don't want to go out and hire a big name singer." She asked with concern. She didn't want to let her father down and some people who hadn't heard her sing will thing she had only gotten the position because of her father. Cruella had told her how sometimes owners would put girlfriends family members in shows that were absolutely horrible just because of their place in the owners private lives and she never wants anyone to think of her dad like that kind of guy. She looked up at her father with concern and a bit of fear.
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Post by Korso Marcello on Jun 16, 2017 11:53:26 GMT -6
"Are you sure you don't want to go out and hire a big name singer"
Korso, with a scorned expression, beamed his eyes down onto hers.
"Did I say anyone else?" He asked, a slight growl to his voice. "I'm giving you an opportunity to shine and you're willing to throw it to someone else?" He marched back to his desk and slammed the paper on his desk. "Years! It took me years to get where I am, and it took a lot of opportunities, opportunities that came on a blue moon. As my oldest, you have an obligation to help carry on the Marcelo legacy. How can ya do that when you're playin' second fiddle to a two-bit skank from the streets that took an opportunity you passed up?"
Korso's eyes shot straight to Charlotte's.
"You got talent, baby," said Korso, grabbing a stack of photographs on his table. "But this town is full of talent." He held up a photograph of Anita Page. "You need to get aggressive out there. I made it to the top by beating out the competition and winning my place at the top."
He stepped back to Charlotte, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I made my decision: I want you to sing, baby," said Korso in a more gentle tone. "Now what's your decision?"
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Post by Aria Marcello on Jun 16, 2017 12:59:54 GMT -6
When Charlotte entered the room, Aria immediately looked at her her sister. She received a kiss on her temple before she went to ask their Dad for forgiveness for being late. This made her smile at how their Dad couldn't stay mad at her. Charlotte then asked her what she wanted for dinner, causing her to blink. "Oh, I hadn't even thought of dinner.." Aria said as she was now wondering what she wanted dinner. "Give me a moment." Aria said as she walked away from the two of them, giving them space to talk.
As she thought of what she wanted to eat, Aria listened to their conversation. And when their father told her he wanted her to sing at his new speakeasy, Aria turned to look at both of them. A smile on her face. Then she heard Charlotte ask her if he really wanted her to sing.
"Oh Charlotte tak-"
"Did I say anyone else?"
Aria was interrupted by her Dad's growl and sudden anger. She jumped when he slammed his desk, causing her hand to over her mouth a little. She hated it when he got hard on Charlotte. Her green eyes went back and forth between them as she watched both of them react to one another. She was about to tell him that he was being harsh on her, but when he showed a picture of Anita Page, she stopped. He then made a point about how he made it to the top by beating others.. And since Aria heard this before, she mouthed the words, knowing exactly what he was going to say.
But his lecture didn't last long, cause next thing he was placing his hand on her sister's shoulder, asking her what her decision was. This made her bite her lip before she sighed. "Take it, Charlotte... You deserve it." Aria said, trying to encourage her sister to take it. "You've done so much for me.. It's time you get the spotlight." Aria said as she walked to her sister and grabbed her hand close to her.
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Post by Charlotte Marcello on Jun 16, 2017 14:10:59 GMT -6
Charlotte hated when her father yelled at her it made her feel sick inside. She felt close to crying when he stopped for a moment. Charlotte opened her mouth intent to speak and explain to her father her concerns but it was like the sound wouldn't come out.
Then Aria spoke. "Take it, Charlotte... You deserve it. You've done so much for me.. It's time you get the spotlight." Her sweet voice said.
Charlotte's heart calmed and she could speak again. "Of course the answer is yes Daddy." She told him honestly looking up at him. "I'm just afraid of disappointing you that's all I meant by what I said." She promised. "Thank you so much for this opportunity Daddy you don't know how much this means to me." Now there were happy tears in her eyes. She would get to preform in the best club in the city every night that she physically could. "I can honestly say I can't wait to start." She told him.
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