Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 85

Thread: The Bittersweet Midnight Wake of Apolonia Rosario Patron

  1. #21
    Dan the Man
    Guest
    The gun speeder was boarded by the two Gamorreans and fired up, accelerating across open desert as the sedan followed. A pair of headlights shone from behind as another gun speeder approached from behind, creating an armed caravan. The three vehicles rocked and sped across dunes and rock-strewn plains, with an open star-filled sky hanging above them.

    Dan slid Arya's chrono into his jacket pocket, and checked his own chain-fastened timepiece as he did so. It was fast approaching 8 at night.

    In the faint distance, he could see lights. As the caravan descended into a valley, he could see something truly alien to Tattooine.

    Trees. Rows and rows of them.

  2. #22
    Arya squinted out the window as they flew through the desert, her skin pimpling as the cool night air wafted through the vents. The shapes visible in the lights they were approaching...

    She looked sharply at Dan. "You weren't kidding when you said he was a vaporator plantation tycoon. I thought you were just using flowery speech."

  3. #23
    Dan the Man
    Guest
    He shrugged as they drove through the outskirts of the hacienda.

    "I only kid when it suits me. Welcome to the garden spot of Tattooine."

  4. #24
    She managed not to gape open-mouthed at the scenery as the speeder drove through the expansive grounds and pulled up to the house. As the speeder came to a halt, their door was opened, and Dan helped her out. Arya simply smiled, choosing to remain quiet until spoken to.

    But she kept her eyes open, marking where the speeder was driven to be parked, how many security guards she could see, what other guests were present. . .

  5. #25
    Vittorio Patron
    Guest
    From a dimly-lit fourth floor window, Vittorio Patron watched his brother return home, and shed a tear in salutation.

    "He hasse come to do murder to me, Arjanto."

    The young attendant fetched his master's coat, holding his brandy and cigar as the older man put on his outer garment.

    "He comes to mourn her, and to revenge hisse broken heart."

    Through the glass's reflection, Vittorio could see his servant's fierce eyes light up in concern for Mr. Patron.

    Missa Patron, turn thisse man away. Your beloved hasse died. Thisse house needs to heal.

    Receiving his drink and cigar again, Patron shook his head slowly.

    "You do not understand. Thisse man isse my brother. Thisse house will never heal until he does come back."

    It was all very bittersweet. Vittorio took a deep drink from his brandy, then returned both it and the cigar to Arjanto.

    "I will go to see Dan. You are to treat him asse family."

    Arjanto wanted to protest, but respected his master's bizarre request. As Vittorio made his way to the front door of the hacienda, his servants prepared both for Dan's arrival, and Apolonia's wake.

    It was to be a night best dressed in black.

  6. #26
    Arya rested her hand in the crook of Dan's arm, and he led her up the steps of the hacienda, a word that was unfamiliar to her but obviously meant...house. Servants bustled around, a seeming swarm of them inside the front door as it opened to greet them.

    A tall, dark haired man with a full mustache and grey distinguishing his temples was there to meet them. Or rather, to meet Dan. Arya caught the faint whiff of a fine cigarra from his expensive black suit. She chose not to smile, waiting to see how this greeting would go.

  7. #27
    Dan the Man
    Guest
    Dan paused in front of his only true friend. The light from the house's interior reflected in his eyes, and he eased out of Arya's grasp, embracing Patron fully.

    "Vittorio...Vittorio, I'm so sorry."

    The plantation owner embraced Dan back, intensely, and whispered through tears he choked back.

    "I loved her so much, Dan. So much."

    Dan's embrace tightened, and his voice also wavered with grief. He tilted his head away from Vittorio's and stared into space beyond his shoulder with hard eyes.

    "I know, Vittirio. We both did."

    The pair embraced for a minute longer, and slowly parted to collect themselves and dry any tears that may have been shed.

    Dan pulled his hair back over his shoulders, then gestured for Arya.

    "Vittorio, I would like to introduce you to my colleague, Arya Ravenwing. She's come to support me in my mourning."

  8. #28
    She watched the dialogue in front of her, and stepped up at the appropriate moment, hand forward to be shaken. Vittorio's grasp was warm and leathery. "I am sorry for your loss. From what I've heard of your wife... she must have been a very special woman."

    Tears glistened in Vittorio's eyes once more, but he managed to keep better composure when speaking to a complete stranger. "Thank you, Arya." Her name on his tongue sounded exotic. The smuggler smiled what she hoped was an appropriately sympathetic look, and stepped back to Dan's side.

    She didn't take his arm again.

  9. #29
    Vittorio Patron
    Guest
    "Come, come in."

    Vittorio gestured to both guests, stepping to the side so they could follow him into the hacienda atrium. At the far end of the room, an ornate casket rested on a raised platform, surrounded by a dozen well-wishers.

    He looked at Dan, and his face took on a fleeting but grave expression. After a moment, he let it pass, and looked to Arya.

    "Misse Ravenwing, would you care for a drink?"

    It was a pleasant diversion. He knew well that Dan would need his own time.

  10. #30
    Her head came around from staring at the casket, and nodded at Vittorio's query. "Ah, if you're serving beer, I'll take the darkest you have."

    The casket was ornamental, but nothing could dress up the fact that it held a dead body. She was more than willing to be distracted from the room, and from Dan's trip to view his lost love.

  11. #31
    Dan the Man
    Guest
    As Vittorio and Arya gave him space, Dan walked slowly to Apolonia's casket, his gait slowing. He slid to his knees as he reached the cool dais it rested on, and collapsed over the ornate mouth of the coffin. With a hand that now shook uncharacteristically, he caressed her ivory skin, tracing the contours of her regal face to her sepia tresses, arranged beautifully atop her head, and spilling down her shoulders.

    Her skin was cold to the touch, but Dan didn't feel it. There was a warmth here unfeelable by any hand but his own and Vittorio's. Leaning forward, the killer ran a finger over her pink lips with infinite care.

    This time, her eyes didn't open for him. They would never open for him again, and it was time to say goodbye. With all the love he had in his heart, he touched his lips to hers, and gave her the kiss he'd saved for her. If she'd only asked him.

    And all at once, it was too much for his aching heart, and Dan slid to the floor, his back against the cold dais. His strength was gone.

  12. #32
    Vittorio Patron
    Guest
    Vittorio escorted Arya away at a brisk but cordial pace. He wanted only to give his brother that which he needed so much. Vittorio understood that Dan loved Apolonia every bit as much as he, and to deny him was too much for him to bear, now that she was gone from them both. He had already said his goodbye. Now it was Dan's time.

    Reaching a room with dim lights and polished hardwoods, Vittorio pulled a stool away from the bar's counter, gesturing for Arya.

    "Come and sit. I wish to know of my brother's friend."

    Taking a seat of his own, Vittorio nodded to a servant behind the bar, who took to procuring his favorite tequila.

  13. #33
    Arya allowed herself to be escorted away, and sat on the bar stool with the ease of someone who'd done the same often. The dress did cramp her style a bit, however. Her eyes automatically marked the exits as they adjusted to the dim lights.

    "Ah, well, I'm not sure that there's much to tell about me. I really haven't known Dan all that long, but he is certainly a ...singular man." Arya smiled mysteriously, as though to lend innuendo to the honest truth. The servant behind the bar turned to her. "I'd like a Guiness, if you have it."

  14. #34
    Vittorio Patron
    Guest
    Vittorio smiled.

    "Well, I have known Dan for a long time, and I trust his choice of acquaintances implicitly. Be sure, he hasse a definite reason for everything he doesse. You have no doubt impressed him."

    He poured himself up a shot of tequila, and a voice to Arya's side caught her attention.

    "Will Norfree's do?"

    The barman gestured to a bottle of dark draught similar to her request.

  15. #35
    Impressed him? Maybe. "Norfree's? I'm game to try it." She smiled at the barman, and turned to Vittorio.

    "You say you trust his choice of acquaintances... Has he brought many people here in the past?"

  16. #36
    Vittorio Patron
    Guest
    "No."

    Vittorio spoke emphatically, shaking his head as the bartender popped open Arya's drink, and set it atop a napkin.

    "It isn't often. He's a very private person, but he isn't prone to flightse of fancy. With him, everything hasse a meaning."

    Taking another shot, he continued.

    "Its a very romantic kind of life he leadse. Very hard to understand, and harder to love."

  17. #37
    She tasted the beer, and nodded appreciatively to the bartender as she set it back down on the napkin. Vittorio seemed to be downing shots at a fairly fast pace, and she tried not to feel concerned for the older man.

    Emotional distance from other people came easier than it once had. It came with the Job. The capital letter slid automatically into place.

    "Then, if you don't mind my asking, why do you trust his judgement? He mentioned... a falling out you two had."

  18. #38
    Vittorio Patron
    Guest
    Vittorio nodded and laughed softly, understanding Arya's confusion.

    "Love and rationality are strange bedfellows, yesse? If I did not love him like the brother he isse, then tonight would not be happening."

    He raised another shot, and with his other hand, pressed a finger to his forehead.

    "Here"

    then to his heart.

    "and here"

    Shaking his head, he took another shot.

    "They are few and far between to agree. I do not ask if I am right. But I do make the choice. The only choice."

  19. #39
    Arya nodded as though she'd understood what the older man had been saying, and took a long swallow off her beer. He was definetely putting away his alchohol, but she had to remain alert, in case ...

    ...in case this turned into the bloodbath she was expecting it to. "You choose to love, although your rationality warns you against it? A noble, and honorable choice." She raised her glass to his fifth or sixth shot, and took another sip.

  20. #40
    Vittorio Patron
    Guest
    "You are worried about tonight, yesse?"

    Vittorio cut through the pleasantries. The tension in the air was nobody's secret. Setting his bottle aside, he propped an elbow on the counter.

Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •