12 Feb 2024, 18:35
Churlish Christmas
25 December, 2023
Udinesi Estate, Udine Italy
Terrible Presence in Effect
| Aura of Unease Present |
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There is something that is just... not right about him. A chill in the air, a sense felt deep in the bones. The shadows might seem more lively, the night might play more tricks on his opponents' eyes. Yet there is one, undeniable truth -- the source is him.
He only felt slightly out of place as pale eyes slowly scanned the rest of the table at which his 'extended' family sat around from his own seat as guest to their household. Viewed slightly higher than a guest because of his connection with a daughter of the family yet lower than a son-in-law due to the knowledge that there was no ring shared between the two, he sat with painfully plain poise and frigidly cool countenance with his hand politely covering the mouth of the wineglass to prevent the attendant house elf from filling it yet again. What he had indulged so far was enough. Here, at least, he felt the need to be sober, to be attentive of his surroundings and aware of the people and the things happening around him. His insight, while most excellent for a plethora of reasons, he did not trust totally for a similar plethora of reasons. For all intents and purposes, the Chiadovini felt that he was in enemy land, in foreign territory whose land he knew not.
The respectably aged woman sitting at the table's head nodded to him politely. "Non beve molto, signor Chiadovini? You do not drink much, mister Chiadovini?" She asked lightly, remarking softly in the native tongue. "Capisco che la tua famiglia produca ancora il proprio prodotto. Abbiamo salvato alcuni di loro dalla nostra prima famiglia che si unisce. Un ricordo dell'occasione. I understand that your family still produces their own product. We saved some of them from our first family joining. A reminder of the occasion."
"Da quello che ho capito, non beve per divertirsi, madre. From what I understand, he does not drink to make merry, mother." Eviana spoke before he could, with a quiet snap to her words that was accompanied by the briefest eye contact shared between them dripping with nothing but a terse 'warning' of sorts. Leonardo met her eye with a withering gaze and a forced half-smile that if bladed could cut. "Anche se ti assicuro, beve davvero quando lo ritiene un momento adatto a lui. Si potrebbe quasi considerarlo... un quotidiano costituzionale, di sorta. Though I assure you, he does indeed drink when he deems it a time befitting him. One could almost consider it... a daily constitutional, of sorts." Behind her glass, her dark eyes twinkled with malice at the cutting remark as her lips curled softly into a vixen smile. Leonardo's loaded gaze never departed her.
"Moderazione in tutte le cose, mia cara. Moderation in all things, my dear." He remarked coolly, "Non sta diventando una signora della tua natura raffinata ridurti alla tetchiness. Dopotutto, non è come se non fossi a conoscenza delle mie abitudini. Li hai osservati per il tuo beneficio e l'hai portato alla conseguenza finale, altrimenti non saremmo seduti qui insieme in questo modo. Lo faremmo? It is not becoming of a lady of your fine nature to reduce yourself to tetchiness. After all, it is not as if you were not aware of my habits. You observed them for your benefit and took it to the final consequence, else we would not be sitting here together like this. Would we?" His words were never above a soft, cordial invoking. “La strada dell'eccesso conduce al palazzo della saggezza You Non sai mai cosa è abbastanza finché non sai cosa è più che sufficiente. The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom…You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough.” His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, though a small ripple of satisfaction came and went as the woman's dark brow creased and she silenced herself with her wineglass.
Madame Udinesi, neither blind nor deaf to the circumstance, did the the natural thing that a well-adjusted human had an aptitude to do in such straits, and politely turned the conversation towards a different focus. "Il dono della vista Chiadovini è ancora molto ammirato da noi, signor Chiadovini. In effetti, è ancora molto ammirato dal resto del mondo, se dovessi azzardare un'ipotesi. Hai seguito le orme di tuo padre come Veggente di denominazione, o hai preso una strada diversa? The gift of Chiadovini sight is still very admired by us, mister Chiadovini. Indeed, it is still very admired by the rest of the world, were I to hazard a guess. Have you followed your father's footsteps as a Naming Seer, or have you taken a different path?" She folded her hands in her lap lightly as she turned her full attention to Leonardo. "Sei diventato professore di Astronomia per un breve periodo alla scuola del tuo allevamento. Hogwarts? You became a Professor of Astronomy for a brief time at the school of your breeding. Hogwarts?"
Leonardo's fingers curled ever so slightly over the wineglass' mouth, gripping it lightly. "Sì. E ' stato un mandato tagliato corto dal... sfortunato evento della morte di mio padre. Un peccato, perché mi stavo trovando molto successo lì. Yes. It was a tenure cut short by the... unfortunate event of my father's passing. A shame, for I was finding myself highly successful there." He spoke softly once more, his interest seemingly lacking in this particular area. "Forse, se sarò fortunato, potrò tornare. Fino ad allora, sono attualmente tra le aree di lavoro. La debacle è stata crudele nei confronti della mia capacità di trovare un lavoro; un sospetto assassino sotto il proprio impiego ha una strana tendenza a offuscare il nome di un'impresa, diceria o no. Perhaps, if I am lucky, I may be able to return. Until then, I am currently between areas of work. The debacle was cruel towards my ability to find employment; a suspected murderer under one's employment has a strange tendancy to tarnish an enterprise's name, rumor or not." Carefully, carefully. The careful words had to be chosen for this delicate procedure, this little dance of formality and poise that could neither waver nor wobble in nature lest the trace of blood be scented in the air.
Madame Udinesi only nodded slowly with pursed lips and a slightly creased brow. She did not pressure further, returned once again to silence besides a quiet and almost inaudible verbal instruction to the attendant house elf, who quickly scurried off to do as it was told. Only afterwards she turned back to Leonardo with a pleasant smile. "Spero che resti ancora qualche giorno, signor Chiadovini. I hope you will be staying at least a few more days, mister Chiadovini." She said cordially. Leonardo shifted a bit, lifting his chin slightly in preparation for speech, but the madame raised her hand demurely and fixed him with a look of knowing. "Per favore, non è un problema per noi. So che Eviana rimane qui più che nel tuo luogo di residenza, e che tuo figlio rimane con lei. Please, it's no trouble for us. I know that Eviana stays here more than at your place of residence, and that your son stays with her." She lowered her hand again and bowed her head ever so slightly in polite recognition. "A un padre che ama suo figlio non sarà negata la possibilità di visitarlo. Siete i benvenuti qui in qualsiasi momento, anche se non ci frequenti in riconoscimento dell'invito esteso. A father who loves his son will not be denied the ability to visit him. You are welcome here any time even if you do not frequent us in recognition of the extended invitation."
Across from Leonardo, Eviana stiffened ever so slightly and then the motion passed. Not before the Seer's eyes tracked to her quickly... and then turned away again. Madame Udinesi continued. "E ' Natale, mister Chiadovini. Questo è un momento di festa, e che cos'è la celebrazione se non si può stare con la propria famiglia? Ci preoccupiamo per la sicurezza di Dante solo se alcune delle storie che ho sentito da Eviana sono vere. It is Christmas, mister Chiadovini. This is a time of celebration, and what is celebration if one cannot be with one's family? We only worry for Dante's safety if some of the stories I have heard from Eviana are true."
The Seer's eyes flashed to Eviana, losing for only a moment the controlled countenance of neutrality. The woman only met his eyes evenly, and was there a hint of amusement in those eyes? A look of knowing, of knowing exactly what she was doing here. "Oh, davvero? Oh, indeed?" He lilted lightly, inquisitively as he pierced her dark and soulless windows for an explanation. "Beh, se non sarebbe troppo indiscreto di me, sono curioso di ciò che è stato detto su di me. Tuttavia, sono abbastanza educato da astenermi se tali racconti sono di un... natura sgradevole. Well if it would not be too prying of me, I am curious of what has been said about me. Still, I am polite enough to refrain if such tales are of a... distasteful nature." Eviana's eyes revealed nothing. Nothing that he could glean at face value anyways.
He would see to it that that would change, as the rest of the conversation blurred into the background and he felt himself replying automatically and simply. His eyes never depared the woman. That infurating woman...
At the conclusion of the family dining, Eviana excused herself... and the Chiadovini politely excused himself thereafter. This was for the sake of pursuit. This was for the sake of tracking the Udinesi woman through the halls of her own manor, gaining slight ground on her with each one of his long and smooth strides that seemed to glide across the flooring as opposed to rise and fall with a sway or a step. Gas lamps on the walls flickered as he passed, seeming to dim and then heighten again only when the dark shadow of the man no longer cursed their places.
In a flutter of black and silver, the Chiadovini snatched Eviana by the shoulder, spinning her towards himself in a firm yet violent act. His eyes boiled with silver. Cosa diavolo era quel piccolo atto? What in the world was that little act?" The Seer's voice snapped with every consonant as he held her by the wrist. Eviana twisted her had a bit, but rage kept the Seer's hand firm. "'...delle storie che ho sentito da Eviana sono vere.'?! In nome di Dio, cosa hai calunniato su di me?! '... if some of the stories I have heard from Eviana are true.'?! What in God's name have you been slandering about me?!"
With a twist of her pretty lips and a creasing of her perfect brow, the Udinesi woman retorted coldly. "Niente che non abbia le sue radici nella pura verità. Nothing that doesn't have its roots in pure truth." She twisted her hand again, still trying to escape his grasp. "E tu mi toglierai le mani di dosso per non aggiungere un'altra storia da raccontare. And you will take your hands off of me lest I add an additional tale to tell."
"Non ne ho bisogno, sono sicuro che hai già raccontato quella storia. So che hai il cuore e l'intelligenza di una demonessa. Tutto quello che devo sapere è che hai mentito, e che devo proteggermi di conseguenza. I've no need, I'm sure you've told that tale already. I know you have a demoness' heart and wit. All I need know is that you have lied, and that I must guard myself accordingly." Leonardo's voice dropped into a low rumble. "Ma quello che voglio imparare è perché lo stai facendo. Perché avete fatto tutto quello che avete fatto, e cosa volete da mio figlio? But what I want to learn is why you are doing this. Why have you done all you have done, and what do you want with my son."
Eviana's lips curled into a disgusted sneer. "Mi sto assicurando l'eredità su cui hai sputato. Che ti sei disonorato e ti sei reso peggio di un traditore di sangue. I am ensuring the legacy that you have spat upon. That you have disgraced and have made yourself worse than a blood traitor over." She said venomously in a tight whisper. "Mi sto assicurando la sua eredità ora, invece che la tua; dal momento che hai dimostrato di non valere più dei disgustosi fanghi e babbani che ammiri nei tuoi libri ammuffiti e nella tua disgustosa prosa. I am ensuring his legacy now, instead of yours; since you have proven that you are worth no more than the disgusting mudbloods and muggles that you admire in your musty books and sickening prose." She wrenched her wrist from his grip. "Dante porterà avanti non solo l'eredità dei Chiadovini, ma anche quella degli Udinesi. Restituirà entrambe le nostre case al potere e imparerà a tagliarti fuori dalla sua vita. Non importa quanto ti preoccupi di lui, quanto pretendi di amarlo: un giorno ti rinnegherà, proprio come avresti dovuto essere decenni fa quando hai avvelenato il tuo fidanzamento perfettamente organizzato. Dante will carry on not only the Chiadovini legacy but the Udinesi legacy. He will restore both our houses to power, and he will learn to cut you out of his life. It will not matter how much you concern yourself with him, how much you claim to love him: one day he will disown you, just as you should have been decades ago when you poisoned your own perfectly arranged engagement."
She rolled her shoulder back to challenge Leonardo's height, only a few spare inches shorter than he. "E ' ora che l'imbroglione venga ingannato. Te lo aspettavi, e ora ti metterò al tuo posto; in un modo che tuo padre era troppo stupido per non farlo. High time the trickster is tricked. You had it coming, and now I will put you in your place; in a way that your father was too much of a fool not to." She tipped her head, waiting in silence for a few moments. "Sei in silenzio ora? Cosa è successo alla tua lingua viziosa, quell'attrezzo argentato che così spesso gocciola con argomenti contro babbani sporchi? Perché cadere in silenzio ora di tutti i tempi? Per rendersi conto con orrore, forse,che non valete niente di più della vostra progenie? Meno? You are silent now? What happened to your vicious tongue, that silvered implement that so often drips with filthy muggle counter arguments? Why fall silent now of all times? To realize in horror, perhaps, that you are worth nothing more than your own spawn? Less?" A smile curled upon her lips. "Almeno il tuo bambino può essere insegnato correttamente. At least your child can be taught rightly."
The Seer's hands withtreated within the folds of his opera cape, his entire body seeming to obscured by the black velvet of it. His eyes gleamed with fury, and his words were soft in turn. "Donna spregevole. You despicable woman." A storm of words and emotions that did not outwardly show instead screamed deep within, wailing desperately against the walls of his mind as he fixed her with a chilling glare but acted not. "La politica della nostra specie non è una battaglia in cui vorrei spargere sangue. Non lo è mai stato, ma mio figlio non è una pedina nel tuo gioco. Non è una pedina per questo mondo, e non sarà mai una pedina a meno che non sia sopra il mio cadavere immobile. The politics of our kind is not a battle I wish to shed blood in. It never was, but my child is not a pawn in your game. He is not a pawn to this world, and he will never be a pawn unless it is over my unmoving corpse."
Dark brow creased over pale eye. "Anche allora, scoprirai che non rinuncio facilmente al mio fantasma. Fate questo e non smetterò mai di agire contro di voi. Non sono una persona da prendere alla leggera, nonostante il mio passato macchiato. Anche se non sono stato responsabile della morte di mio padre, non presumete che io non conosca i modi per assicurare i miei desideri. Even then, you shall find that I do not easily give up my ghost. Do this, and I shall never cease acting against you. I am not someone to be taken lightly, even despite my spattered past. Though I was not responsible for my father's death, do not presume that I know not ways of ensuring my desires." His eyes flicked now towards the bowels of the manor; to go to his son, to take him away from this hellish place. Every trap there was had a way to loose it. Some were harder to unlock, some were more difficult to pry, but surely as man's nature was to take upon himself selfish desires there was a way to use such a nature to the end of escape; to preserve one's life and then to expand that preservation to another. For one who so desperately loved another, such a feat was as possible as the lengths one was willing to go--the length that their love was willing to extend to the point of singular or mutual destruction.
Leonardo had cherished few and loved even fewer yet. At arm's length he kept his enemies and farther away than that those that he considered 'friends'--those that he was at least mostly sure would not take steps to ensure his destruction. But Dante, his boy... his boy he held next to his chest in every regard; a pull and a powerful strain that he could not elude nor escape, as if a silvery thread had been secured to both and disabled him from attempting to separate himself fully from the draw of the other end. It was to him that he was the most attached, that he had the most personally-appointed obligation to first and foremost; politics and interplay be damned. "L'unica corda d'argento che hai su di me è quella che ti permetto di tenere. Importa quanto lo sforzi; non ho paura di staccarlo se ne ho bisogno. The only silver string you have on me is the one that I allow you to hold. Mind how much you strain it; I am not afraid to snap it off if I need."
"Le tue parole sono più vuote del vento. Sai quanto poco sei aggrovigliato che ti credi più libero di quello che sei. Your words are emptier than wind. You know how little you are tangled that you believe yourself freer than you are." Eviana cooly retorted. "Ma poi di nuovo, lo sai già. Forse è il momento per voi di aprire gli occhi alla realtà, invece di accecarvi ad essa. La tua famiglia ha passato così tanto tempo a volgere gli occhi al futuro, che cadono nel canyon un semplice passo di fronte a loro. But then again, you have already known this. Perhaps it is time for you to open your eyes to reality, instead of blinding yourself to it. Your family has spent so long turning their eyes to the future, they fall into the canyon a mere footfall in front of them." She fixed her dress and ran a hand through her hair to remedy her slightly ruffled appearance before taking a deep breath with a pleasant smile. "Fortunatamente, ero qui per prendere la tua caduta. Fortunately, I was here to catch your fall."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving the Chiadovini to simmer in the rage that he had spun about him, the fury constrained only by a thin shell of human flesh and bone.
The rest of the day went as Christmastimes of most usually did. Dante happily opened his presents with the help of his mother, father, grandma, and aunts; one of which was the bottle of Starry Sky Solution that Leonardo had prepared weeks ago for this exact occassion. They would have a nice time with it, Leonardo was more than sure; and yet his face was still cold and stony in fix, eyes rarely departing from Eviana's bright and smiling one as she played with the infant Dante and put on airs for the family about her. Leonardo too forced a smile or two for geniality, though the emotion behind it was absent.
There was emnity here. Emnity that would only fester and form a larger divide the longer it went unchecked. Leonardo knew not how far it would go, how long it would engorge itself, but the forefront priority was in his mind, in the lap of that woman.
For the sake of Dante, his child, this would not be how the story ended.
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⟣𝙱𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚜, / 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜⟢