Plank Sinatra Gratia Mindaro – An Old Friend
Marissa lead Gratia Mindaro Fiordilatte out of the elevator and towards what seemed to be an office area. Many people were working quickly at desks, there seemed to be one woman overseeing them. She was wearing a pencil skirt, white semi-transparent nylons and a button up shirt that seemed intent on not using its namesake. Strangely, she seemed to be the one leering at those around her – not the other way around. As she noticed Gratia and Marissa she took note of it. Walking through one of the aisle’s of cubicles slapping one woman’s ass as she walked by and finally landing at Marissa’s feet, demanding a high five – which Marissa dutifully gave.
Marissa nodded at Gratia and looked towards her superior. “I’m going to go back downstairs and join Barty, this is Gratia Fiordilatte – she’s been hired to transport the goods.” Marissa gave Gratia one last gaze of affirmation before turning to leave.
The superior responded passionately. “You look good, Marissa.” As she was leaving the girl seemed to think of another annoying thing to shout. “Yeah, goods, because that bitch is fiiine.”
The girl stretched out her hands, seemingly waiting for Gratia to give her a hug before she simply took one, it was short albeit uncomfortable. “I’m Vitoria Dodici, I’ll be going with you, gotta make sure you don’t get any smart ideas and steal our prize hen for yourself.” She said with a piercing laugh.
Vitoria led Gratia into a secluded area of the office spaces. Gratia’s careful examination of her surroundings revealed that the tile floor was muddied in this hallway, it seemed like many people had come and gone compared to the rather enclosed office space Marissa had introduced the two in. They reached a pale tile door, within said door, Gratia could hear labored breathing, labored enough to be heard through a door. Vitoria turned to her guest like a tour guide, with a tour guide-like smile to boot.
“Don’t worry, it’s not quite time enough for anybody to be having some real fun in there.” Vitoria said covering her mouth feigning disgust. “She’s just been through a whole lot.” Vitoria said in that Vitoria brand of sarcastic worry. She opened the doors and Gratia walked inside, she was met by an old friend.
Bianca Nuit
Bianca was literally and figuratively stripped of everything that Gratia would recognize her by. Gone, were the usual designer shoes and frilly dresses. Instead she found herself suspended by her wings arms at her side wincing in pain at the slightest breeze. She felt devoid of life, devoid of what she was, the men who had took her thought she was a thing - and now she did too. She looked at Gratia and her eyes began to leak tears, but she did not blink. She winced as she hung her head in shame.
Her head sinking towards the ground, wings outstretched, arms too Bianca’s lips seemed to move – mouthing words. It was hard to tell, even Vitoria was trying to see what the girl was saying, leaning down. The only noise that escaped was a small, stuttered inhale, and the sound of her tears connecting with the concrete. As Gratia’s eyes glanced down towards where the tears made their impact, she noticed a disconcertingly large pile of feathers. It was only then that Gratia noticed that Bianca had perhaps a mere half of her glorious feathers still attached to her once radiant wings.
"I'm sorry." She said, trying to speak again - words reaching barely a whisper
Bianca’s fall was complete in every sense of the word.
“Eh, dumb bitch is broken I guess.” Vitoria said as if she was talking about a phone. “Pack her up, would you?” Vitoria said motioning towards Bianca with her left hand reaching her lower back with her right.
VGNB – Shit Hit’s the Fan
The man straightened up his tie and scoffed.
“Well that’s quite rude if I do say so myself.” He said underneath his breath unhappily. “If you would, allow me to tell you a story.”
He didn’t approach VGNB, but he sat down where had once stood – when he sat down the team would notice that he was quite tall, coming almost eye level with the students while sitting.
“I’ve had a couple children, I’m sure you’re surprised to hear this but old men like me actually have lives too.” He said pulling out a knife from inside his suit jacked that was latched to the side of his rib cage. He caressed the blade with his thumb, highlighting how sharp it is. “You see, each of my three children, they have their own unique problems.” The man said flipping the blade over to his other hand and continuing his caressing.
“You see, whereas yours might be refusing seniors their kind thoughts and a drink of water, theirs are a bit more general. One of my sons, he is very angry; at me, the world, himself it’s different every day. My daughter, she is very into connections – exactly the type no man wants for his daughter I might add. My other daughter is often times quite pragmatic, however she also follows suit with my other children in that she often times desires what others have, even if what she has is better.” The man said taking his spectacles off of his furrowed brow and retrieving a handkerchief from his breast pocket. “They tell me that I, am greedy. I of course told them that to be a successful businessman greed is quite necessary. But they don’t want to hear it, kids these days are all so anti-establishment.” The man said chortling to himself while he replaced the glasses.
“But I suppose I’m leaving you all in the dust. You see, what’s important is to find the things that can bring a family together.” He said, seemingly painfully getting up from his sitting position and resuming standing. “For you folks, it could be anything – Charades, painting, perhaps drinking a nice refreshing glass of water with kind older men could be your thing.” He said taking a very parental glare at Beryl. “For my family, it’s running this bank… Running a Faunus smuggling ring, and recognizing Huntsman when I see them – mostly, we also play charades though.”
The team realized he had drawn two more blades during his soliloquy. They were all very much gold, seemingly bending.
“I suppose It’s about time we begin, isn’t it?” He said dutifully and somewhat solemnly. He brandished his knives and made a charge for Beryl reaching his arm out in front of him blade pointed for her heart. He threw another one of his blades mid-stride at Napoli's thigh.
