Narg
Independent Alliance
Posts: 153
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Post by Narg on Sept 7, 2018 22:51:23 GMT
Melisse's limousine pulled up in front of black iron gate, in the heart Mayor's Hill. It lingered for a good couple of minutes before opening and heading in to the estate. The new Capo of Oddhaven had called Melisse to his estate to discuss matters of importance. This new... Revenant had been put in charge of Giovanni affairs for the entirety of Oddhaven, a role that did not seem suited for his status. Melisse somewhat understood what that felt like, being from slightly outside of the main family lineage, but the idea that a Revenant would be put in charge of Kindred affairs was perplexing to say the least. Apparently he was a man of incredible wealth, given the size and apparent luxure of the estate. Then again, just because a pufferfish grows in size does not make it anything more than meat blowing itself out of proportion.
If Oddhaven needed a new Capo, why had they not come to her? She had proved herself to be invaluable to the family during the turmoil of the False Gehenna, and she had furthered the material assets of the family immeasurably through her human trafficking efforts and work with Cornaro in the drug trade. Instead some random Revenant with hardly any ties to the family, other than those of the monetary nature, was running the show, when She, a proven, capable kindred could have easily filled and thrived in the position. Something didn't smell right, and it wasn't only the musty odor of dead spirits that pervaded the grounds.
Melisse approached the grand doors of the mansion, her heels clacking on the reflective, immaculate marble steps that preceded the entry. She rang the doorbell and waited. Only moments later, a woman, apparently in her fifties, with sandy blonde, greying hair tied back in a tight bun, opened the door before her. "Ah, Ms. Ghiberti. Capo Dunsirn is waiting for you. If you would follow me, I can take you to where you will be meeting."
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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Sept 10, 2018 1:23:57 GMT
Melisse barely acknowledged the servant as she followed her through the mansion. That she'd even had to ring the doorbell when she was expected was just another indignity to add to the growing list. Though, then again, no one had ever accused the Dunsirn of being sticklers for the niceties. And while Melisse held Cornaro in no less regard for being a revenant, that was a very different case. Firstly, Cornaro was older than most vampires and had access to necromantic arts forgotten by most of the Clan. Secondly, he only held an honorific title as a Lord of the Family, not an administrative one as Capo of Oddhaven. Though certainly lesser than the Clan's criminal undervaluation of herself, but no less troubling, was what this said about how the Clan undervalued Oddhaven as a resource. The Sabbat had been on the wane in South America for decades and the Laibon were growing more willing to look outside their traditional territories; the city would soon be a crossroads in the Kindred world. This was to say nothing of the commercial importance of the ports to mortals and the occult geography of the Forlorn Isles, which was very amenable to the creation of wraiths. But, Melisse supposed, the lack of proper oversight would just allow her to do things her way. A doppio sangue like herself would never have free reign over such a rich prize if the Anziani understood its real worth. Still, the intentionally comedic mismanagement of the Isles by the Padrone had its disadvantages. She would very much like the Family to assign a Kindred enforcer or two to the Capo; the mortal gangs she was gradually collecting were sufficient for dealing with mortals or weak Kindred but her wraiths could only do so much on their own in combat. If you don't mind me doing it myself, I'm gonna roll for Melisse's starting BP. Adding Herd 3 to this.
kfE9ahvAp_ At BP 8 of 10
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Narg
Independent Alliance
Posts: 153
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Post by Narg on Sept 26, 2018 1:17:53 GMT
The butler was used to not being regarded and lead Melisse in silence up the large staircase to the second floor of the mansion, and through a doorway into a long hall on the left. Eventually the two came to large, glass, French doors, which the butler opened for Melisse, and then stood to the side. She gave a small bow and said, "Master Dunsirn is waiting."
The study was a rather large room with bookshelves and paintings on the left and right walls. An old globe sat in the corner next to two very expensive looking leather highbacked chairs to the left, and a liquor cabinet with many expensive burbons and whiskeys stood against the wall on the righthand side of the room near the tall bookshelves. Directly in front of Melisse, in front of a large bay of windows looking out over the grounds, sat a large Cherrywood table. Upon it was an array of computer monitors, and to the sides of the eight foot wide table were large, yet orderly, stacks of paper and books.
A small man sat behind this comically large, Burnsian desk, in a rather modest, yet quality, swivel chair. The man's workstation seemed utilitarian and every inch of space was in use. He wore a grey pinstripe suit that complimented his carefully styled mousey brown hair. His intense green eyes were intently focused on the screen and papers before him, flicking between them, only momentarily looking up at Melisse before looking back at his papers and saying, "Salutations Ms. Ghiberti. I apologize for my rudeness. I got caught up in my work. Things have been hectic lately. Indeed, that is why I wanted to speak with you. Please take a seat, I will be with you momentarily."
Even as he said this, he pressed a key with a stroke of finality, arose from his desk and went over to liquor cabinet. "Is there a type you prefer Ms. Ghiberti? I quite like A negative myself. We have a robust collection I assure you."
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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Oct 7, 2018 0:26:19 GMT
Approaching and taking the seat with a languid, graceful pace, Melisse waited a moment before replying, "Thank you, Capo Dunsirn. Variety is the spice of unlife in my estimation, so any type would be just lovely."
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Narg
Independent Alliance
Posts: 153
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Post by Narg on Oct 7, 2018 5:24:44 GMT
"A negative it is then." Gavin said with enthusiasm. "This is personally some of my favorite. This blood is particularly oxygenated, as it was harvested from an Olympic athlete, believe it or not. Christelle Daunay, a marathon runner. You will find it rejuvenating and exquisitely rich, I ensure you." Gavin took a wine glass and poured some of the brilliantly red liquid down along the side before setting it before Melisse, then filling his own.
"Thank you so much for coming, and on such short notice at that. As you can see, it is taking me some time getting situated in Oddhaven. For such a small place it is particularly complex, in regards to the political and economic climate amongst the society of the dead." Gavin took a sip of the blood, and muttered under his breath, with sincerity "...marvelous, just marvelous..." before setting the glass down and continuing.
"And regarding economic endeavors, your work within the trafficking and drug trades here in the Isle's is prolific. After analyzing your market presence, I must say I'm impressed." He bowed his head ever so slightly and raised his glass an inch or two towards Melisse before bringing the glass to his lips once more. "...truly exquisite..." once again muttering, most likely reflexively, fully engaged in the flavors and tastes of the blood.
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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Oct 20, 2018 0:23:28 GMT
"Oh, I can't take much credit, really, when your family has been in the slave trade as long as mine has it's easy to learn the right things and make the right connections," was what Melisse outwardly said in reply but, as she raised the glass to drink, she inwardly thought, "You can stop pretending to enjoy it so much, you doos, I know that Kine blood is doing nothing for you. All you're accomplishing is to remind me what you really are." "Yes, indeed, truly exceptional," she commented brightly after finishing a sip.
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Narg
Independent Alliance
Posts: 153
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Post by Narg on Oct 25, 2018 1:39:20 GMT
"Well you know how it is." Gavin said, sipping more blood. "The family isn't always clear about what it needs from prospectives, or so I hear. A... Diversity of talents, both in breadth and depth, are important to the family. And in regards to that... I am in need of those talents."
Capo Dunsirn's expression became more serious, before continuing. He toyed with one of the rings on his finger as he spoke, "I know that I have... taken time out of your busy night. The last thing I want to do is inconvenience the usual function of the families within Oddhaven. Indeed one of my primary goals here is to streamline it, and to do that, we need to solidify and centralize our resources. Many of the other fields of business that we have within the city, art smuggling and theft, the collection of relics, pawn shops, prostitution, and other various illicit activities, are hardly in a place that is creating consistent revenue. This is hard, given the territorial agreements that we have with others in the alliance.
"We trade in many forms of vice, just like the Setites, and honestly, have been bumping heads. While they don't specialize in human trafficking, we have an... issue that needs to be dealt with. A Setite drug dealer, by the Name of Joseph Romani, has killed our consul Daniel Dunsirn. While trying to mediate a trade agreement with one of Cornaro's pushers, and Romani himself, things got far too out of hand. I'm not certain of the details, but what I am certain of is that one of my most trusted men is now dead." Gavin's green eyes glared into his drink with cold rage. He looked back up and smiled, trying to hide his anger from Melisse.
"But, by no means do I want you to think I think of you as a hitwoman. I find you to be far from that. Normally, I would have this punk killed in the streets like the dog that he is, but unfortunately, we don't have anywhere close to the dominance in the city needed to make that sort of move. We'll need to work this out with diplomacy. I need you to meet with the Setite consul and get this sorted out. I don't want the snakes thinking that they can strangle us without getting bit. Jolene has vast holdings within the city, as she's been here longer than I have. We need to make sure that these... misunderstandings are kept to a minimum if we're to right this ship and secure Oddhaven as a foothold for the Family's power within the Isles. I think that we can make Oddhaven a Giovanni stronghold, Ms. Ghiberti. I hope that you're willing to work with me on this front."
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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Jan 31, 2019 1:32:48 GMT
"But, of course, Capo Dunsirn," Melisse replied, "I am always at the family's disposal; and I can certainly see the importance of this matter. Both our family's standing in the city and the stability of the local Alliance are imperiled by this situation, and I assure you that I will treat it with all the discretion and diligence that it calls for."
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