* / the kill

[erica]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: dddddd; border: #cccccc solid 8px; width: 420px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] THIS IS WHO I REALLY AM INSIDE Tagged: rosa/alexaa The Outfit: click here The Notes WOO FIRST POST It was a small, old building that looked like it had gone through hell and back. Squeezed between two other buildings on either side of it, it looked hardly big enough to be anything of importance. No one would be able to guess what was hiding underneath, deep underground. A sign was hung above the door made of new wood with perfectly painted lettering that read “Vitale’s Pawn Shop”. The place was clearly taken over by a new owner judging by the quality of the sign that didn’t match up with the quality of the building. The interior had a slightly better appeal than the outside, having a fresh coat of paint on the walls and new hardwood floors. One of the back walls had obviously been busted out in order to expand the store so there was more space for the inventory. There was an almost constant flow of merchandise being shipped to the store’s owner, Carmelo Vitale, from his hometown so the extra space was needed. Plus, the space was needed to build the basement for Melo’s second business. He hadn’t wanted to tear down the whole building and rebuild it with a basement; it took too much time and too much money. This way, he spent less money and it drew less attention since all of the work was done behind the store. There was an archway that led into the added section of the store lined with a rustic looking crown molding. Shelves lined the walls with random items that were sold to Melo or shipped here from Messina. Currently Melo was sitting behind the glass counter filled with an assortment of jewelry. His legs were stretched out and his feet sat comfortably on top of the counter. Business was slow today so, like he usually did when there weren’t many customers coming in and out, he held a few knives in his hands and his eyes were locked on a target he’d hung up on the wall to the right of him, the one that faced the outside. A small, old fashioned cassette player he’d brought from home sat on the counter softly playing some Sicilian folk music. If someone were to ask Melo why he actually liked that genre of music he couldn’t really tell you. Most found the combination of ukuleles, guitars, accordians and musical instruments of the like annoying but for some reason it gave Melo peace of mind. His fingers lightly gripped one of the knives with care and raised it to just about eye level. Eyes still fixed on the target, he tossed the knife and watched it whisk through the air. Bullseye. Knives were his favorite weapon. They were so unpredictable and versatile. They were sharp and dangerous much like his mind and how those gears in his brain worked. Maybe that was why he liked them so much, he could relate to them probably much more than he could relate to actual people. Another throw, a potential bullseye but it was thrown off course by a slight interruption of concentration. Melo’s dark eyes moved to the source of the distraction, the bell above the door announcing the presence of a customer. Quickly he tossed the remaining knives randomly across the target so he could retrieve them later. For a few moments, Melo watched the blonde haired male walk around the store aimlessly. He could tell the man wasn’t actually looking for anything in particular but simply waiting for assistance to get what he really came for. Might I help you with something? Melo questioned, his Sicilian accent coming through slightly. You could tell though that he’s lost some of his accent in recent years since moving to Valkyrie. The man simply nodded and explained a particular gun he was looking for. Melo stood, placing his hands on the counter. He didn’t ask questions, he cared not who this man was, who he was affiliated with or why he was interested in purchasing weapons. All Melo cared about was making a successful sale. Once the number of guns was establish and pricing was worked out, Melo turned and entered a door behind the counter that read “Employees Only”. That door led into a room where any normal business would keep their lounging area, a desk to do “accounting” type work and other things. There was another door in this room that led to the basement and Melo’s collection of weaponry. It’s there that he fetched the guns and packed them away in a large box. When Melo returned, he set the box on the counter although he slid it out of reach of the blonde man when he went to grab it. Cash or credit? he questioned, a brow raising at the other man. Dude must’ve been a fool to think Melo would give up possession of the box without a method of payment. The man pulled out an envelope and handed it over. Gladly taking it, Melo removed the contents and counted it quickly. Satisfied, Melo released the box and sat back down comfortably in his chair. Pleasure doing business with you, he muttered as the man swiftly took the box with a firm nod, and exited the store. Just as Melo was stashing the cash away in the register, underneath the money from the sales of the actual shop the bell rang once more. He looked up this time to see a familiar face. Rosa, what’re you doing here? he questioned, closing the register and moving to the target on the wall. He removed his knives and sat back in his chair. Did you happen to bring food? I haven’t gotten the opportunity to grab something, it’s been so busy here, he said dryly, smirking at the emptiness around him. created by ADE! Pb-ified by WILL

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[alexa]

[atrb=width,430,true][atrb=style,background: repeat url(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv227/hay-anna/SWP0116.jpg), bTable] out in the everglades , SLEEPING WITH THE POOR IS A FORTUNE FOR THE BRAVE, I CAN EASILY SAY THAT WE WILL NEVER CHANGE BUT BE IMPLACABLE AND NEVER LOSE YOU FLAMES WOULDN'T YOU SAY THAT valkyrie definitely had it's potential, at first she wasn't so sure about it but once she made it here - it proved her wrong. from the looks of it, it had a lot of people that she thought needed to have a hit on them. maybe that was just her bitchy side talking but she really hoped for the latter that it was really the people who needed to go. rosa decided that she would first start with the italian mob, even if they had nothing to do with what happened to her - the words 'italian mafia' were all she needed to hear. rosa walked through the streets of valkyrie, having just got back from doing a job for one of her recurring clients. she never met them directly, which normally was a deal breaker for her but they always paid on time so that cancled it out. right now she was currently on her way to see her brother for no good reason, it had after all been a total of a few hours since they last saw each other. ...he was the only friend she had, she didn't really go out of her way to talk to people. it was against her code, never let anyone into your life whom you didn't need to know. less chance for you to get hurt by someone you cared about...rosa groaned as she yanked the cigarette out of her mouth. why couldn't she just forget about it and move on, it always had a way of sneaking back into her thoughts. she was trying her hardest to forget everything that happened back in sicily, forget ever blaming her brother for something that was out of his control. rosa was trying everyday to let the past be the past, to wake up and say, you know what, i forgive you. it wasn't your fault - so stop blaming yourself. see, so easy. now why couldn't she just say the fucking words? she was a prisoner in her own fucking guilt for being so cruel to her brother. he may not have said it or even showed it, but she knew him - she knew it was eating away at him. her hazel eyes glanced up and noticed the sign that read her family's name, a small smile on her lips. though it faded when a blonde haired man stepped out and looked in her direction. he was carrying a rather large box and she could almost guarentee that it wasn't full of anything but weapons. rosa placed a blank expression on her face as she yanked open the door, her eyes not leaving the guy until he turned to walk away. Rosa, what’re you doing here? her eyebrows furrowed together as she tried to think of a reason. turning her back towards him, she hopped on top of the counter and swiveled her body around to face him. "i came to see you..i want to give you something." she exclaimed, her accent ringing through each spoken word. Did you happen to bring food? I haven’t gotten the opportunity to grab something, it’s been so busy here. rosa began to remove her backpack as he spoke, of course he wanted food - when did he not? she stopped for a moment, only to look around and see that the place really was busy. her eyes landed on him, a smirk on her lips before she went back to looking through her backpack. "no food, but i did bring you this..." she said, holding out and envelope which enclosed half the amount she had earned today. "and don't say you won't take it, put it with the rest of the money i give you that you don't use." she didn't know why she always did this, it wasn't like they were hurting for money or anything. maybe it was because it gave her the feeling that she was actually contributing to something, not just by beating up or killing a few people who didn't pay what they said they would but actually paying for something. letting go of the envelope, she grabbed one of the knives from his hand, giving it a look over. "how've you been mio fratello" she smiled, before throwing the knife at the target that looked as if it had been getting enough use. rosa watched as it landed a bulls eye, smirking lightly at her older brother as she swung her legs back and forth. ( TAGGED FOR ERICA/MELO . outfit. FINALLY YO.)

[erica]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: dddddd; border: #cccccc solid 8px; width: 420px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] THIS IS WHO I REALLY AM INSIDE Tagged: rosa/alexaa The Outfit: click here The Notes they izz the bomb diggity yo. That day that he and Angelo rescued Rosa was still so clear in his mind. It happened years ago, a fair amount of time needed for getting over the death of a family member or a bad breakup. But this, this was something different. This was something that it was safe to say Melo will have a very tough time getting over, if he’s able to get over it at all. Every little detail was tucked away in a corner of his mind, hidden from others but so evident to him. He could remember the constant worry over the span of that year where he was helplessly trying to pinpoint his sister’s location and find the men who had so ruthlessly broken apart their family. Family dinners weren’t the same. Instead of aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives of the like talking loudly and boldly to each other across the long dinner table and excitedly engulfing plates upon plates of home cooked food it was a time of silence and worry. Most of the time, Melo wasn’t even present. He’d lock himself away in his room, thinking, planning, plotting. With every day that went by, there was a greater chance that he’d never find his sister. That she’d been killed or taken far far away from their home land. With that thought in his mind, he was being emotionally torn apart. The distance between he and his family had gotten much longer as the year progressed and as he and Angelo came closer and closer to finding the people who’d taken his sister. It was a cold night when he’d found her. The place they’d kept her was disgusting. It was an old beat down warehouse in a town miles away from where they lived. Her condition was terrible and just thinking about it made his blood pump faster and faster through his veins. Revenge was at hand, he started plotting it the moment he saw his sister lying in that dirty bed, a torn piece of cloth cluttered with holes, barely qualified to be called a blanket tossed over her half naked, abused body. The night would sometimes replay in his head and no matter how many times he’s tried to forget the whole thing he just can’t. One look at his sister’s face and the memories just come flooding back. And he can’t even imagine what it’s put her through. She lived it, for a year. And it was all his fault. If he had just taken the deal and not been so stubborn, arrogant and bent on having things done his way then maybe none of it would’ve happened. He tried to keep his guilt hidden, to put on a poker face but it was hard sometimes. Luckily, Rosa didn’t seem to be holding anything against him for what happened and although he hasn’t heard the actual words I forgive you the fact that their relationship was almost the same as it was before, helped him through it. When she mentioned she’d come to see him and brought him something, he sat up a bit as if he were expected she’d read his mind and had stopped by some place to bring him some nourishment. Though she hadn’t brought anything with her but that backpack of hers and he doubted the contents of it had anything to do with food. Her words were confirmation that he wouldn’t be eating any time soon, but it was fine. He wasn’t dying yet. As she pulled out an envelope he already knew what the contents of it was, so he immediately began shaking his head. She had intervened right when he was getting ready to tell her that she didn’t need to give up her pay, not on a job that he didn’t assign her. Sometimes having a sibling was a huge disadvantage. It’s like she knew what he was thinking or about to say all the time. Despite her comment he continued to shake his head. Nope, I don’t want it unless it’s from a job for me. And I know it isn’t, he muttered, pushing the envelope away from him. But of course, she eventually dropped the envelope apparently not caring if it was in his hand or not. Melo shot her a look before taking the envelope with a shake of his head. There’s no arguing with you I don’t know why I try, he said as he removed the cash and ditched the envelope in the trash can behind him. The bills shuffled noisily in his hands as he counted them, glancing up for a split second when his sister spoke to him once more. Making a mental note of the amount and adding it to the amount already in the register he tucked it away with the rest he’d received from the blonde man earlier. Finally he sat back and relaxed, twirling a knife in his fingers that his sister soon snatched up. Assolutamente nulla…Think I’ll close up shop early today. It’s pretty dead, he responded just as the knife stuck a bulls eye. He offered an impressed expression, leaning back slightly on the back two legs of his chair. Someone’s been practicing, he pointed out. What’ve you been up to? Besides making money, he questioned, his fingers tapping lightly on the arm of his chair to the music that played lightly in the background. Doesn’t that accordion make you want to dance? Perfezione, he commented with a smirk, knowing he’d receive some shit for enjoying the old school folk music. Sometimes I think you’re actually 40, is something he wouldn’t be surprised to hear from his sister, he’s heard it so many times before. created by ADE! Pb-ified by WILL

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[alexa]

[atrb=width,430,true][atrb=style,background: repeat url(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv227/hay-anna/SWP0116.jpg), bTable] out in the everglades , SLEEPING WITH THE POOR IS A FORTUNE FOR THE BRAVE, I CAN EASILY SAY THAT WE WILL NEVER CHANGE BUT BE IMPLACABLE AND NEVER LOSE YOU FLAMES WOULDN'T YOU SAY THAT it was safe to say that her past was what kept her going, the fuel she needed to keep herself from going mentally insane. she never talked about it to anyone, especially not to melo. certain things were meant to be horrid memories for her and only her. sure she told them what they already knew, rosa felt that no one else needed to have that burden of what truly transpired on their shoulders. after a while rosa had lost track of how long she had been away, by the time her brother found her it felt like an eternity had went by. everything had seemed like a dream, better yet a nightmare that was stuck on reply. rosa had been under the influence of drugs for most of her sexual experiences and quite honestly, she was glad for it. the girl didn't think she would've been able to handle it if she were actually concious to it all. it was bad enough that she even tried to kill herself and almost succeeded if it hadn't of been for one of those fucking guards. at that moment rosa looked down at her wrists, lost in her own thoughts for a split second before she shook her head to get rid of them. "if you want, i can go get you something - if you're that hungry" she laughed. it seemed like all he ever did was eat. eat, eat, eat, sell some weapons and eat some more. rosa wasn't complaining, she'd rather him stuff his face than butt into her life where he wasn't needed. Nope, I don’t want it unless it’s from a job for me. And I know it isn’t she stared at him blankly for a moment before putting a scowl on her face, why couldn't he just take it? well, she knew he would anyway otherwise it was just going to stay on the counter because she wasn't picking it up again. her fingers picked at her jeans as she watched him finally cave in and take the envelope anyway. all she wanted to do was to feel like she was contributing to something more than just killing a person she was told to. besides she had an image she needed to keep up with and it wasn't like she had cashed stacked up somewhere at home. There’s no arguing with you I don’t know why I try rosa shot him a small smirk as she hopped off the counter to stand beside him. "i don't know why either, you do it every time...no good." she exclaimed. she placed her hand softly on the back of his and leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead for a proper greeting. "it's just half..it was an easy job." she lifted her shoulders up and down lightly, not going any further on the matter. Assolutamente nulla…Think I’ll close up shop early today. It’s pretty dead once again she took the opportunity to look around and notice that it was empty. "was i your only customer..oh and that russian bastard with the staring problem." she asked. rosa placed a grin on her face as she watched the bulls eye, the grin still there as she looked over at her brother who seemed impressed. "i've had a lot of practice as you know..." she nodded. running her fingers through her hair, she said deeply as she thought about what she had been up to. "nothing..just working - you know i don't have a personal life." it was the truth and sort of sad at the same time but sadness was an emotion she was lacking at the moment. the smirk she had on her lips slowly faded as she listened to her surroundings, hearing that music that she thought she left in the old country. it was somewhat annoying back home and it was extremely annoying here. Doesn’t that accordion make you want to dance? Perfezione she stared at him for a long moment, just looking at him as if he were some foreign person she had never met before. rosa then gracefully reached over and turned of the machine, shaking her head in disagreement. "no it doesn't.." she replied blandly. "are you sure you're not 40 or older.."italian words" this wasn't the first time she had mentioned that to him, it had to have been the hundredth time. so why did he ask her if she felt like dancing when what she really wanted to do was pull out her gun and blast that music back to where it came from. crossing her arms over her chest, she absently looked around the store once more before her eyes locked onto him. "what is it about accordions that makes you so happy? that sound..irritates me." she was only telling him something that he had heard from her for years. she glanced at the door that read 'employees only' and spilled the thoughts that came to mind. "anything new downstairs or what..and do you have anything for me." rosa didn't mind speaking somewhat freely because they didn't have anything to worry about. a part from the criminals in valkyrie, civilians only knew he owned a pawn shop and she was stripper down at underneath. ( TAGGED FOR ERICA/MELO . outfit. >_>.)