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*