Gina Torrio: *She's curled up on the floor, baby spraweld across her chest, both asleep. A mastiff slumbers beside them, jowls flapping with each heavy breath he takes in and out. The house is something of a mess, but aside from that everything seems in order, joe's boots absent from the door. He likely slipped out to fetch a fix, or beat the punching bag some at the gym. *

Claudius: There's a quick, gentle knock on the door. Loud enough to be heard, but certainly not banging. He stands on the other side, in his Obfuscated form, waiting paitently.

Gina Torrio: *Its the dog that wakes first, extending a foot into the moll's side as it stretches and makes to investigate the noise, a sniffing happening at the door. Gina wakes up and slides archie to her hip, calling* Hello?

Claudius: "Good evening, Gina," comes from behind the door. He looks down both sides of the hallway, then back. "How are you tonight?"

Gina Torrio: oh jesus.. *She gets up, moving to set the sleepy infant in his cradle before scurrying to the door in haste* I'm sorry darlin.. how long have you been standing out there.. *she unlocks the door and steps aside, the mastiff trotting away to the bedroom*

Claudius: He smiles and steps inside, hands folded over his lap. "About thirty seconds. Had I heard no answer, I would have knocked a bit louder."

Gina Torrio: *she shuts the door behind him, locking it and hugging the man tightly a moment. Unpleasantness would come soon enough.* hmm. I've missed you. *she looks up at him* You've been alright?

Claudius: He smiles and hugs her back...tightly for her, certainly. For his part, it's gentleness, that undead strength being held at bay. Crushing the little woman would be bad. "I have been well, yes. Things are moving along perfectly. A bit of trouble brewing, but nothing that cannot be handled." He pulls back a bit and looks at her. "And you?"

Gina Torrio: *She cocks her head, uncertain how to answer that.* .. reckon.. alot of good and alot of bad all at the same time.. it makes it all kind of an even muddle. *she offers, nipping at his chest on impulse before tugging him to the kitchen table to have a seat. The couch is covered in laundry. which would explain why she was on the floor*

Claudius: He raises an eyebrow and follows along, calmly settling himself down at the table. "Do tell?"

Gina Torrio: well.. *a deep breath. maybe the bad then the good. She settles herself into a chair, faint bruise of what must have been a black eye still visible on pleasant features*.. loves... I hear tell gunther's killing folks.. *her eyes don't leave the table*

Claudius: "He's what?" He frowns deeply, leaning back in his seat. Fingers tap rhythmically on the table-top. "I see. Who has he killed?"

Gina Torrio: Not for certain he's killed anyone.. but reckon he had a lass... and.. well.. *she rises, moving with a swallow to fetch a paper from the kitchen counter. She sets it on the table in front of him and flops back into her chair guiltily*... folks were talking about it at the carnival... said it was like to be gunther what did it...

Claudius: He looks down at the paper, reading it. "I see." He sighs...a sculptor and an actor. "Who is saying that it was Gunther, exactly? If I can ask?"

Gina Torrio: *she wracks her pikey brain for their names, tinking back to the carnival.*... was.. a folk named keith, one named jeff.. a lass named stevie... I think? Jarod was a singer for their band i reckon.. or some such.. he was good folk. I don't know the Nia lass... but.. *she swallows and sets her hands in her lap, shoulders hung guiltily* ... Tommy said she was gunther's lass... and she had a baby in her. *her voice gets gradually softer, eyes in her lap*

Claudius: He listens quietly, staring at the newspaper. A small, distracted murmur comes forth. "Poor girl..." He shakes his head, jaw a little bit slack. "You're sure it wasn't someone else?"

Gina Torrio: no peaches.. I'm not sure.. reckon.. mayhaps i need your help.. I don't know how to find out.. *she looks up from the table, moving from her chair towards claud, pushing at the table until she can sit on his knee* I can't ask him... i don't think he tells the truth any more anyhow.. *she sings quietly*

Claudius: He sighs out old, dead air and nods, arms slipping around the little Italian as she slipped onto his lap. "No, I don't imagine he does. I will see what I can discover, if anything. Sady has been...elsewhere, as of late. Gunther has taken in with others. But I will learn what I can."

Gina Torrio: *she nods and hugs the old nosferatu, guilty* i'm sorry darlin. this is my damned fault.... Not right to toss you in the middle of it.

Claudius: "Why in the world, Gina, would you consider it your fault?" His head tilts a little bit before he hugs her back, hands smoothing soothingly over her back.

Gina Torrio: Loves.. *she looks up at him resting her chin on his collarbone* I kept him safe.. i kept telling folk over and over that he was good, that he didn't mean anything by what he'd done... told everyone what was going to kill him not to... .. and I was wrong. If I'd have just shut my bloody mouth, folk'd be around today. things'd be better. *she shuts her eyes and swallows. shoulders slumping. She ruined everything she tried to fix* I just make things worse.. is all.

Claudius: "You do not know that, Gina." He smiles sadly, watching her. "You don't know that things would have turned out any differently. It is possible, yes. But even then...do not take the blame for Gunther's actions. His actions are the fault of no one but him. And do not give up trying to help the good people, either. Do not second-guess yourself."

Gina Torrio: he was my-*she breaks off, head dipping as she scowls at herself. a heavy sigh, and she rests on claud's chest* damnit... i've just.. I've to find out for certain afore tom just goes off hunting the folk.

Claudius: "Tom." He tilts his head to the side. "Thomas? The one I know?"

Gina Torrio: yes peaches.. he's the good bit i was talkin about afore. *she gives Claud a half smile, cocking her head in the opposite direction as claud did his*

Claudius: "Ahh, yes. Tommy boy." He smiles a little bit, and nods. "I don't imagine it would be a good idea for me to question him about these things, even as gently as I normally do."

Gina Torrio: no... though i reckon he doesn't mind you as much as other dead folks.. *a nuzzle with her nose to his chin. She sighs*

Claudius: He smoothes his hand over her hair softly with a slight nod. "I will see what I can discover. And do not concern yourself about the fact that you drug me into this, Gina. I do not mind. You know that."

Gina Torrio: i know claud darlin.. its me what minds. *she raises brown eyes to his face and gives a crooked smile*

Claudius: "I know you do." He chuckles warmly. "And that is part of what makes you wonderful."

Gina Torrio: oh.. you're getting soft on me old man... *She shifts in his lap and rubs his chest affectionately* what would the folks down below say?

Claudius: "The same thing that they always say," he says with a slight smile. "I went soft long before we met, and you know that."

Gina Torrio: *She smiles wearily and wraps her arms round his neck* oh, but reckon you scared the willies out of me, first time. *A nudge to his chin with the top pof her head* are you happy loves?

Claudius: "I..." He pauses and considers that. "I am content, Gina. I am as happy as I will be, in the state of life that I am in, I believe. Is that an acceptable answer?"

Gina Torrio: *she cocks her head and looks up at him. Her hair would be tickling his face, were dead flesh ticklish. Gina nibbles her lip* Reckon so. You're happy as you can be, for a time. its not the total same.. but its a good place to be anyhow, i figure. *a sigh* we've to get you fixed up old man..

Claudius: "One day," he says with a patient smile. "I will...get fixed up. Of that, I have no doubt."

Gina Torrio: *She leans into the old nosferatu, head resting on his shoulder*... was there anything what you wanted to do loves? I'm a bint i am.. i never do ask you.

Claudius: "Anything I wanted to do?" He gives her a bemused look. "Well...if you would like, I just so happen to have, nearby, a few of my works. I told you I would bring them by...but I did not want to carry them all the way up here if you were not home."

Gina Torrio: *she sticks out her tongue, touching his neck with it for kicks*

Gina Torrio: *she nearly bites her tongue* Really loves? I'd love to see them, ifyou were of a mind for sharing... *she perks up, sitting up and shifting to face him*

Claudius: "Well, I didn't carry them because I needed the exercise..." He chuckles. "Yes, I would love to share. If you will allow me to take you there, or bring them here, I would love to show you what I have been working on."

Gina Torrio: no peaches.. I'll come with.. archie could use a bit of air, bless his soul.. *she's off his lap in a flash, scuttling to the bedroom*

Claudius: He smiles a bit and stands. Hands fold behind his back as he calmly waits for her to be ready.

Gina Torrio: *scuttle, bustle, scurrie.. she slows only when it comes time to bend over archie's cradle, little blonde waking him up gently and softly settling him im the sling at her shoulder. A little hat is wrestled on to the dozey tot, followed by tiny shoes. It was hot out.. she supposed that'd be alright. Her satchel is slung on her hip and she stands looking about, trying to recall if she was missing anything*

Claudius: He smiles a little bit and nods to her. "Shall we?" He steps to the door and turns the knob, to open it and lead her out.

Gina Torrio: Sounds good darlin. *She nods, trundling out the door with her son curled close, mastiff whining as he's not invited*