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Post by Rosalia Caito on Oct 19, 2016 13:06:09 GMT -5
He was right. It wasn’t easy for her at all, constantly living under her father’s thumb. Guys were always too afraid to get serious with her once they found out who she was. It was expected at this point, and she’d built up a kind of wall between herselfShe and other people to keep it from getting her down. That was why she stuck to letting loose at clubs and stuff these days. No sane person was looking for love in a club, so there was no disappointment for either party when it turned out to just be a one-night stand. It didn’t bother her anymore. This did, for some reason. She was almost taking it like a rejection. Something so stupid like him refusing to call her by her given name. Why? She didn’t even fully understand it. Maybe because she’d thought for a moment that she could be herself around him. Wrong again, Rosie.
He mentioned pressure and she shrugged it off, staying casual. “When that’s all you know, it just feels normal. Even if you know it’s not.” She couldn’t really imagine her life being any other way at this point. Or maybe she’d just accepted that this was the way things would always be. She’d end up with some guy her father picked for her, because anyone else would be too afraid of his disapproval to get serious with her.
After moving his feet off the other side of the couch, he indicated that he wanted her to sit down next to him. She managed a small smile, but shook her head. “I haven’t done anything I need to rest for. You’re the one who had to fight off the robots and then ran all the way here carrying me.” She’d literally been sitting in the palm of his hand the whole time. No exertion required on her part for that. “No, I don’t think they are,” she responded to his question about her bodyguards. “But then again, I didn’t know you were either.” She knew her bodyguards much better than she knew Dr. James Sanders though, so the chance that any of the three were superhumans was much slimmer.
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Titan
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Post by Titan on Nov 7, 2016 22:43:35 GMT -5
So this was one hell of a situation. Had James any idea that it would have gone like this, he'd have likely taken a sick day. But he was glad that he was there to protect Rosalia and get her out of danger. It had really worn him out though. But what happened next he could have never seen coming. Just as she'd said that she didn't know that he had powers, the front door cracked and fell in. Bruno stepped through, along with Rosalia's other bodyguard and another large man that James didn't know. But the fourth man through was instantly recognizable, and even more than the three large men before, intimidated the hell out of him. Gino Caito himself. Likely he was just there to make sure his daughter was okay, but it still scared James some. Rightfully so.
"James," the man said slowly, after walking over the see his daughter fully healthy. "I have to say I appreciate you getting my little girl to safety." James started to say something, but thought better of it. He did manage to sit up straight though, out of respect for the man. Then Gino turned towards him. "But then, there is the little matter of your power, that you....failed to inform me of. You've done great things for me. You're set to do even more great things for me. You're going to help me get my sight back. That, that kind of loyalty, I could never truly repay. But the lie...."
"Sir, I never lied. I..." James started, but stopped when Gino turned sharply towards him. "You can see the crossroads where I'm standing. Yes?" James nodded slowly, but didn't speak. "I can't abide people in my organization lying to me. Omission is the same thing as lying." He looked over to Rosalia for a brief moment. He had that feeling that she'd know where this was going. You didn't wrong Gino Caito and not come away with some scar, some punishment of some sort. The boss looked over at Bruno. "Take him outside, put one bullet in his knee. I don't care which knee. If he tries to run, or tries to stop you, put a bullet in the other knee too."
Bruno did just as told, and it didn't take long before they heard the gunshot, and the ensuing scream of agony. Bruno brought James back in after and dumped him on the couch. Gino stooped down beside James. "You work for me, as you always have. You understand that I couldn't let your deception go without punishment. We're going to move you into my facility. You'll have what you need to make sure the process and the surgery go off without a hitch. And your wound will be seen to. Don't fail me again. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir," James answered. He started to apologize, but he knew that the gesture would do him no good. Caito was a man set in his ways, and once something was done, there was no reason to dwell on it. "Take Rosie home, get the doctor set up and get that knee cared for."
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Post by Rosalia Caito on Dec 14, 2016 15:03:11 GMT -5
It shouldn’t have surprised her that her father came swooping in to retrieve her. To say that he was the overprotective type would be a major understatement. Of course she would have preferred a little more quiet time, but then again maybe it was for the best that she wasn’t alone with the scientist for too much longer. There were far too many emotions swirling around in her head at the moment, and she was far from comfortable with that state of being. Her father came close enough to inspect her, but did not provide any words of comfort or relief. Not even a pat on the head or any of that typical bullshit that parents did to their young children. That was what she was to him, after all. His little girl. Forever and always.
Yep. He even called her that when he thanked Dr. Sanders. God she hated that. But she quickly realized that something was wrong. This wasn’t just a typical gratitude speech. Normally James would practically be getting a medal of honor. Her father was mad that Dr. Sanders had not told him about his powers? And was going to punish him for it? Seriously? The gunshot happened almost before Rosie had a chance to process what the hell had just happened. “Really, papa? This is how you treat the man who saved my life!? What possible relevance could his powers have had for the kind of work he does for you? He’s not one of your hired muscleheads.”
Gino seemed to remain calm, but Rosie could tell that he was irritated with her questioning him in front of his men. She didn’t care at this moment. “Rosalia my dear, that is not the point. No one that is involved with this family would dare to keep such a secret from me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Great. From now on, I’ll make sure you get a full background check of every guy I fuck. How does that sound?”
“You will not speak to me that way, young lady.”
The voice was still calm, but she knew better. There we go. She’d hit the nerve that most grown men feared to even think about. Only daughter privilege kept her alive. “Prendila in culo da un ciuccio imbizzarrito,” she said before glaring at him one last time and heading out the door to the car. Thankfully there were two cars so she wouldn’t have to ride with her father. That probably meant he was heading off after this to some destination other than their home. Fine by her. She had no desire to be in his presence any longer. Not today, at any rate.
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Prendila in culo da un ciuccio imbizzarrito.
Translation: Take it in your ass from a runaway donkey.
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Titan
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Post by Titan on Jun 6, 2017 17:25:57 GMT -5
It had all happened so fast. James didn't have time to process anything, except the pain that wracked his knee. He gripped at it, blood pouring from the wound and coating his hands. Sweat poured from the scientists's skin and he was so close to passing out that he nearly fell over. But the muscleheads caught him and wouldn't let him hit the ground. "You don't get to sleep when the boss is speakin' to ya," Bruno whispered in his ear. James gave an exhausted nod. He understood, of course. There was no disrespecting the boss. The fact that Rosalia had spoken to him in that manner, and the look on the boss' face when that was said, well it said it all.
The boss caught the glare from his daughter after she threw out that insult. "Il tuo amico pagherà la tua insolenza," he said with a wicked grin on his face. Bruno knew what to do, and pulled his gun from its holster. One more shot rang out, and destroyed James' other knee. He screamed out in pain and slumped to the floor. Tears streamed down James' face. Why? Had he not been loyal? He had always done everything he was asked to do, or ordered to do. Sure, he'd let one small bit of information slip from being revealed, but the boss kept his secrets too.
The two large men grabbed James by the underarms and lifted him up roughly and helped him, or rather forced him, to the car. They threw him in as roughly as they'd lifted him up. The boss knew that his daughter had gotten in the car to avoid him, so he deliberately got in the same car. That, and he couldn't be made to ride in the car that blood was now going to stain the seats. "Home," he said to the driver. "Yes, sir, Mr. Caito," the driver answered and started off. It wasn't that far to the compound, so the conversation wouldn't be long. But there was no doubt that it would be intense. The boss' phone went off, and he answered it, putting it on speaker. "What is it?" he answered. "This guy's gonna bleed out, boss. What do you want me to do?"
Caito looked at his daughter with a wicked expression. "Let him suffer for a bit. Unless my daughter sees fit to apologize for her tongue," he answered. He looked at his daughter then, and another scream could be heard from James as Bruno stuck his finger in the bullet hole in his left knee. "Anything you want to say, Rosalia?" her father asked.
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Il tuo amico pagherà la tua insolenza
Translation: Your friend will pay for your insolence.
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Post by Rosalia Caito on Jun 8, 2017 19:52:23 GMT -5
Rosalia could hardly believe her eyes as she watched her father’s men shoot the scientist a second time. Anger filled her, but also guilt at the knowledge that the second shot was because of her. That additional pain he felt was on her shoulders. When was the last time her father had been this openly violent in front of her? She honestly couldn’t even remember.
Of course the person she wanted to see least right now was the one who slid into the seat next to her in the car. Seriously? Rosalia was tempted to climb back out the car, but honestly didn’t know what her plan would be from there. Get in the other car? Walk home? Neither of those options would be allowed, she was fairly certain. Sitting there in silence and looking out the window seemed to be her only option. At least it gave her time to wrack her brain again as she tried to push the thought of the guns and the blood out of her mind. It was not working at all, and it didn’t help that her ears were still ringing. Significantly more time would have to pass before she was able to move past this.
Speaking of ringing, she heard her father’s phone go off shortly after the car started moving. Her intention had been to tune it out, but the damned man put the conversation on speakerphone. He wanted her to hear this, and that just made her wish she could tune it out even more. However, as soon as she heard Bruno’s voice on the other line, she knew the conversation had to do with Dr. Sanders. He was really bleeding that much? Shit. Now she really felt guilty, but did her best to keep a straight face. Now her father was talking to her again. Her dark eyes focused on him. “He’s not my friend, papa. He works for you. You can do what you want to him, but who’s gonna do your surgery in two days if he’s dead or crippled?” The chances of something going wrong grew exponentially if the doctor wasn’t going to be at his best.
While it was true that Dr. Sanders was not her friend, that she’d hardly ever spoken to him prior to today, it bothered her a lot that he was hurting. Maybe more than it should. Despite that, she couldn’t bring herself to apologize to her father for being angered by his psychotic actions. Or maybe she should. Maybe he would ignore his own need for the sight-saving surgery just to teach her a lesson. The idea gave her chills, and she hugged herself in an attempt to stave off the imaginary cold. “You always kept me away from your bloodshed. Why show it to me now?” That was really the question she wanted answered, after years of living a sheltered life. He’d gone out of his way previously to make sure she was never around anytime one of his men had to have a ‘talk’ with someone. What had flipped the switch that made it suddenly okay for his men to shoot other people in front of her?
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Titan
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Post by Titan on Sept 22, 2017 17:52:29 GMT -5
There were times in James' life when he knew that he'd gotten into the wrong field, when he'd come across the wrong people. This was at the top of that list. From everything that he knew about Boss Caito, the man was never this violent, never. Something had changed and the man seemed to have gone unhinged. As if he wasn't dangerous enough to begin with...
His thoughts were cut short as he fell into unconsciousness. Bruno scoffed. "He passed out, boss. Want me to wake him up?" Caito looked at his daughter, the wicked grin gone from his face. It was almost as if he'd just realized what he'd done. There almost seemed to be a bit of regret on his face. He had never let his daughter see this side of him. Not that he did the actual work, but it was done on his orders. His eyes grew darker. "No. And keep him from bleeding out. For now." He hung up the phone and looked at his daughter, hearing her questioning of him. Usually, he wouldn't stand for that. But she deserved to know what was going through his mind. Surely she understood the mob boss' disappointment in the good doctor for the omission of the fact that he was an extranormal. Caito took a long, heavy breath and closed his eyes.
"Dr. Sanders is the best in his field, that is true," he started. "But there are those who could do exactly what he can do, and they wouldn't lie to me about their abilities. Still, my orders were a bit out of line. And you are right that I've never let you see this side of me. You are my baby girl, no matter how old you get. Do you understand that? But we all have to grow up." He took another long breath, his face settling into another dark expression of sadness. "My eyesight, and the recovery of it, might not even matter soon enough." If nothing else got her attention, he knew that would. "It's time that you learn, and see exactly what it is that I do. It's time that you see it, and learn that it will be your responsibility to do the same when the family is disrespected." He paused for a brief moment. The next thing that he was going to tell her was going to be the hardest thing that he'd ever had to say, even harder than when he'd had to tell Rosalia that her mother had passed away.
"Two nights ago, while you were out, I received a visitor in the office of our home. I sat in my chair, in the dark as I like to." It always was easier on his failing eyesight, more comforting to sit in the dark. "This visitor killed two of my bodyguards in a matter of seconds, but he stopped short of killing Bruno." In all the craziness, Caito imagined that Rosalia had not noticed the limp Bruno was walking with. "I had thought we were clear of him, bastard destroyed our Mooncrest family. Your uncle Mario. His entire syndicate wiped out by one man. He said that he was going to do the same to us. That he would burn my house down around me and then end me after I saw everything I cared about turn to ashes." He paused again for a long, long moment. That fact was that, true, Rosie had not seen the sort of violence that her father showed tonight, but this was also the first time she had ever seen her father afraid. "I have to be less forgiving, more proactive and I must show force. The truth? This vigilante seems more willing to shed blood than even Bruno. And as tough as you know Bruno is, the man made Bruno look like a helpless cripple. Tell me you understand." In his final sentence, his tone changed from the dark, foreboding vocal to a vulnerability that she'd never seen from him. He was truly afraid of this man, and afraid for his family.
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Post by Rosalia Caito on Dec 17, 2017 17:14:35 GMT -5
Rosalia realized there was basically nothing she could do to change her father’s mind. If he was going to let the doctor die, he would do so no matter what she may or may not say about it. Her father wasn’t thinking in an entirely logical manner right now. But this feeling in the pit of her stomach was awful. Never in her life had she been responsible for another person’s death. Her entire life had basically just been spent partying, taking advantage of her father’s status without ever having to worry about how he’d gotten to where he was. There were always rumors of course, people that wanted to get to know her or avoided her completely because of the shadow of Gino Caito looming over her.
Apparently that was the least of her father’s worries, though. He finally told her the real story behind what happened to uncle Mario. If this ‘visitor’ had been able to take down an entire syndicate by himself, what kind of chance would Rosie ever have to face him? Yet her father expected her to be able to follow in his footsteps. Take over the family business, as it were. He’d kept her away from everything for over 20 years, but apparently he’d decided that now was the time for her to be initiated. If anything, she just felt like he was willingly signing her death certificate as well as his own. Nothing her father was doing made any sense to her at all. Was this just because of the fear? Probably. People did drastic things when they were afraid for their lives. But what could Rosie really do about it? Nothing for the moment. This was not going to be something that she could talk her way out of.
Maybe she could run away? If this visitor was half as dangerous as her father seemed to think, it might literally be her only option for survival. The problem was that she had no way of actually doing that. No money of her own, nowhere else to go. She was stuck. Unless she was able to come up with some kind of plan, anyway. That would take time. Hard to tell how much time she would even have left. The ruthless visitor could obviously come and go as he pleased, and would undoubtedly pick off the Caito clan one by one until there was no one left who even carried the bloodline. Her shoulders slumped and she leaned her head against the window pane. “I understand, papa.” It wasn’t true. She didn’t understand anything, especially not why she was about to be caught up in all of this madness without any real choice in the matter.
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Titan
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Post by Titan on Jan 16, 2018 23:08:19 GMT -5
It had all happened in the blink of an eye, or so it seemed to James. The doctor had spent his entire life trying to do right, trying to do good in this world. But despite all of that, in spite of all the effort he'd put forth to make the world a better place, in this moment he didn't know if it even mattered. He was bleary eyed and fatigued, losing any sense of equilibrium and all sense of direction. He could hear voices, muffled and unclear, but voices that were familiar. The Caito complex was coming into view as James was returning to consciousness. The voices were the bodyguards, and there was no questioning what was happening now. The two larger men were pulling him from the car. It was close, but they'd managed to keep the doctor from bleeding out so far. The boss stepped out from his car after and he waited for his daughter to get out. James looked up at her, his eyes drooping shut, then finding their way open again repeatedly. They took them inside. Bruno was a little more rough than normal as he tossed the doctor down on the floor once they'd entered the room. James landed with a heavy thud, and he started to stand, his fists balled up and ready to fight. Standing didn't work for him though, as he got close to on his feet, the pain struck again. He fell to the floor. The boss just walked by as if nothing was happening. He looked over to his daughter, a firm look on his face. He nodded slowly to her, knowing that she wasn't being honest about understanding. "You should head to your room. This doesn't look good for the doctor." A sudden groan came from the doctor, and his breathing slowed. Blood flowed freely from the wounds yet again, the stress of him trying to stand up. Darkness overtook him and he passed out again. He would not wake up. ---end thread--- |
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