Bar 94, home of the open air sky walk and the second best view in the city. The floor is made of rich, honey hued wood, and the furnishings are all sleekly modern - metal paired with the warmth of the wood. The space is surrounded by windows on the exterior walls, and most of the tables are lined along them, giving diners an incredible view of the city.
It's not her usual stomping ground, not even a work haunt. Nadia is officially on an evening off and has left the crime scene photos, the uniform, and the otherworldly politics at home for once. She's sitting at one of the tables near the windows where she can gaze over the city and, further off, the lake, getting some perspective on the whole thing. Deep green slacks and an elegant top, she's dressed to look right in the bar while not having made the kind of effort that she associates with uncomfortable enforced 'smart' social. Calm, peaceful - not something she has had much of lately.
The bar itself is relatively quiet, a few people eating, a few more drinking, a cluster of people who look as though they're there for some kind of managerial meeting. Outside the night presses in on the banks of windows with the stars overhead lost in a blaze of light from the city.
"It is a wonderful night isnt it." The hat is tucked in his hand as he stands beside her table a respectful few steps from it as he continues, "The cityscape has always amazed me even when I was a boy. If you ever have time Detective, climb as high as you can in the city and just look down at the city. It is like looking at a sea of fireflies."
Eventually, he looks at her and offers a small smile as he says "May I join you if it is not to much trouble? Drinking alone is never something that should be done on such a night." Giving her a once over he smiles, perhaps the first and only so far, genuinly as he says "You look lovely this evening Nadia, I hope you take no offense to that. It's nice to see you with your 'hair down' so to speak."
"...thfuck?!" Lost in the view and her own thoughts, the voice startles her even before she realises where and more importantly who it comes from. "Please." Years of politeness drilled into her by her elders kick in before Nadia can decide whether she actually wants the company but her eyes do dart to the floor around him, looking for that shadow. "And thank you. It's rare enough that I have an evening with no obligations that it seems worth making an occasion of it." She does have a drink, the remains of a glass of red wine in place of her usual beer, and to an alert observer the napkin to one side suggests she has already eaten. "I had the...dubious privilege of a ride in one of the birds many years ago. It's an impressive sight."
Moving to settle himself across from her, he rests his hat on the table as he adjusts himself at the table. The shadow? It's there. Its moving along with his movements like a normal shadow. Ominous.
"Then you understand what I mean" Sal says smoothly to her with a smile before looking back out the window "it really is a beautiful city, even with everything going on. Full of memory." In time, a bottle is brought over and a wine glass which Sal brightens at before tipping the waiter and reaching for the bottle of red wine and pops the top with little effort before be begins to pour into the glass.
"No thanks needed, everyone deservces a night of enjoyment here and there. Even if it is shortlived. How did you manage to get some personal time off?"
"Despite everything, detectives in the midst of an investigation are entitled to leave their phones at home once in a while." She manages a smile, perhaps given that the shadow is behaving itself. "But you speak as if Chicago has been home to you for some time? I understood that could become...awkward after a while." Quiet it may be but speaking openly of the difficulties of a vampiric lifestyle was probably not the best idea. "Various investigations are in progress though - I wouldn't be putting my feet up if I thought all progress would halt on the things I have open." Nadia manages to keep her tone light, not too defensive.
"Thats not what I meant" Sal says quietly with a soft chuckle as he takes a small sip of his wine and leans back to look at her "you strike me as someone that is more prone to do everything necessary, even working themselves to the bone, to accomplish a particular set of goals. I can respect that, that was all."
Listening to her, he doesnt dismiss her comment or question but he does seem to take a moment to consider how to answer. When he finally speaks, there is a small amount of humor in it "Everyone needs time away to destress. If not, thats how mistakes are made and in your line of work my dear, I do not see that as a positive trait. To answer your question, I have and without the correct way of handling certain issues, it can become quite problematic. There is an easy way around that particular annoyance though, one that I like to think I'm rather suited for."
"And you are going to make me ask what that is rather than simply teling me in order to keep up the air of mystery." It is presented as fact, not a question but she does seem generally less inclined to confrontation than she was the other night at Fireside. Nadia doesn't go so far as to admit that one of the reasons she is here and not at home or talking things over with Hazel is a long conversation with HR about too much time up to her eyes in serial killers. It was a step down from suggestions of talking with the shrinks and she desperately wants to avoid that until she has come to better terms with the changes in her world. "My goal currently? Closing this case with as few additional bodies as possible. Then determining who among the...Accords needs to be watched to make sure they don't put anyone else at risk." Given that only one group tended to regard humans as walking snacks, the comment is at least a little pointed.
"Not at all" Sal says with a small twist of his slips into a smirk "though I could if you'd like. In honesty, I could weave it through so much doublespeak and wordplay that you would have to work at it...or I could simply tell you that the easiest way to bypass a problem is simply be smarter than the issue." The player also would like to avoid mile long poses at the moment.
"Ahh" he says, the grin fading slightly into his normal playful smirk "I see. I suppose that depends on who you see as the larger threat overall. Your attitude to keep the collateral damage to a minimum I can respect. There is nothing wrong with that."
"The latter will be an ongoing project and is not entirely my problem. The former? The former is very much my problem if only because it has so much press coverage that people, normal human people, will get involved and might get hurt. And no matter the nature or past crimes of the victims, simply killing them and leaving body parts to be found is..." How to explain that she thinks that criminals deserve justice as much as anyone else otherwise the entire concept is lessened, at least how to do so without sounding hopelessly naive. "You really do seem familiar you know."
"La giustizia cieca" Salvatore says as he lifts his glass to his lips in agreement and takes a sip "though from the rumors I hear about you my dear, you've made it your problem. While you may not be the one to police this project" no pun intended "you have taken on the added stress and burden of such a thing. I have no wish to see these people mutilated, whether they're guilty or innocent...their deaths are a waste. I honestly wish you the best of luck in the matter."
Her final comment garners a small reaction from the shadow as it seems to fold its arms moments before he does after setting his glass down, and leans back in his chair fully to study her. The silence drags on for a time, broken up by the background noise of the bar until he eventually speaks. His tone is mild and more relaxed but there is an edge to it now, someone who is used to life on the streets in the dead of winter, "Your memory is impressive my little Farfalla. Its been a number of years since we saw each other last, you were a little wisp of a tom boy then when I gave you that name."
Nadia raises her own glass to his toast and then...Stops. She looks at the glass, sets it down, half reaches for it again. "Tore, Uncle Tore, he was the only one who..." She blinks, stares at the shadow, breathes. Her jaw sets, the determination that has seen her make a career despite obstacles, the stubbornness that pushes her through interviews with killers, and something else, something more akin to the emotion that prompted her to inform the supernatural leaders of the city that they had fucked up in front of everyone. "You. You fucking...vampire." She hisses the last word, still at least a little aware of their surroundings. 'An old family friend' he'd always been introduced as, someone who worked with her father, who's grandfather had worked with hers, who had ties back to... "Did they know?"
"Mind your tongue little one" his voice is soft and gentle, but the look in his eyes is cold and flat "you're not to old to take over my knee to scold. Some things, even in anger, you keep to yourself." Even the shadow seems to tremble away from the man, and the few people that are near their table look away with alacrity. Nope. Nothing to see there. The mans entire stance screams 'danger' even if he hasnt moved. After a moment, more to illustrate the point, the feeling fades as he takes a sip of his wine.
"Uncle Tore" he smiles for a moment, "its been a long time since I've heard that name. It is wonderful to see you again in truth my little Farfalla." Did they know. Did they? Sal offers a small shrug of his shoulder, "I am sure they suspected if nothing else. I am rather hard to forget. I think its the chin honestly."
Nadia's lip curls in a silent snarl but she can't hold his gaze much as she hates herself for looking down. "You try it and you might find yourself with a bamboo enema." The growl is under her breath and manages to sound more like a stroppy teenager than a hardassed cop responding to someone trying to intimidate her. "Wonderful. Right. What do you want?" She pulls herself together once the weight of that supernatural presence is lifted. There's wine left in her glass and for a moment the struggle on her face is clear - drink it or throw it in his face. In truth it is probably their surroundings that decides her. She drains the remaining wine and signals a server over to ask for another.
A bamboo enema. The comment earns a genuine laugh from him as he says, "There she is. Thats the girl I knew in the woman in front of me. Defiant and ready for a fight no matter the odds. You always were strong." Sal says with a chuckle before lifting his glass to study it.
"If I were to tell you the truth, you wouldnt believe me. You would only assume I was lying to play a game with you. If I told you anything other than the truth, you would know I am lying and would still not believe me. So I will let you be the judge of things, take it at face value or dont."
"I didnt want anything from you in truth. I just wanted to take your measure and see the young woman you had turned out to be. Why do you think I never introduced myself by my full name? You had already had this feeling in your head when you first saw me. Then I hear about you railing against the powers that be, speaking your mind and giving them a lecture the likes they probably have not been on the end of in years." Seriously, who would do that? "I was rather proud of you if you wish to know the truth, entertained to be certain, but proud. Other than that, I just wanted a drink with my favorite niece."
The black clad figure who delivers Nadia's fresh glass gives the pair a look, perhaps wondering at the exact maths involved with someone who appears to be in his 20s claiming a 30 something woman as his niece. He's too well trained to linger though. Nadia shakes her head. "No, no if there's one thing I've learned so far, va...your people always have ulterior motives. There is a reason you have been such a 'close' friend to my family down the years." Still clearly a little on edge her eyes dart to that damn shadow again, it's better than failing to meet his eyes again. "And I presume you know I haven't spent much time at home since that Thanksgiving thing with Gio?"
"You are entitled to your opinion, and maybe in time I can prove to you otherwise. Till then, feel free to second guess me based entirely on my...ethnicity" he searches for the word for a second with a smirk "all I ask, is you keep an open mind. Not everything is as simple as black and white Farfalla. You know this."
The shadow is still there, slightly more subdued but slowly returning to normal as its back straightens slowly and occasionally casts glances between the source and her. "I do, and I can understand the reason why. In fairness though, Gio deserved it...and the respect you showed your mother proves to me you have a good heart. Most wouldnt have waited" he notes with a soft smile "or cared beyond making a bust. You did good."
She snorts, irritated at herself for preening just a little under his praise as if she was still that young girl looking up to one of the few people who didn't expect her to be something she wasn't. "Most people would have taken the pay off he offered me and not done it at all because life would be a damn sight easier if I chose to use those connections the way half the department still thinks I do." Nadia *knows* he is a criminal with fingers in all sorts of pies, she knows the people he's 'worked' with, the things they've done, the hushed conversations in private rooms. Things might not be black and white but this is not a 'good' person, vampire or not. If he would stop being so damned reasonable. "Mama managed to get some things to stick, and they all came to watch me graduate the academy. I told people what would happen if we were in the same room, it happened. No misunderstandings and we both got a slice of pie first. If he'd run we would have had a problem."
"Most people would have" Sal agrees before reaching for the bottle to refill his glass slowly "but most people dont have your strength of character. Of integrity. Who you are is important, and I'm proud of the young woman you have become. I mean that" he finishes pouring and looks at her, lifting his glass towards her "I may not have been there in person, but I still have the recording at home. You are who you are, a sum of your experiences in the blink of an eye."
"You try harder than most of your associates on the force, work harder and have more to prove because they are the idiots. They think you can just coast by on your name and connections, but we both know that isnt the case. If it were? As you said, it would be much easier for you.. but easy isnt in your blood and if nothing else, I respect that about you. You dont give into temptation and you stick to your guns. If more people were like that? Perhaps things would be better off in this world."
Smirking he says, "You were honest with them. You warned them even. You did what you were supposed to do and followed through with your words. Be proud of yourself Farfalla, you've earned it."
"Can we leave my blood out of this?" Nadia winces slightly and reaches for her glass, keeping it carefully within her sightline and out of his comfortable range. "And please stop calling me that. I'm not a little girl anymore and you can't just send me back out to play with a pat on the head." She runs a hand through her hair and stares at him, trying to read his face, his intentions, something. "I work as hard as I do because that is how to get results, I've proven what I need to and not just to the department. The wolves, some of them at least have my back, I've got a couple of reasonable vamps who I can talk to. Sure I've fallen into this world but I don't intend drowning in it." Another sigh, "And I am pretty sure you ought to have a record longer than I am tall and the only reason you don't is..." She gestures at him, a wave of the hand that takes in everything from that charming smile to his vampiric nature. "I'll figure out how to deal with that one of these days."
"Its a common phrase" Sal says with amusement "and nothing more." He sits there quietly, letting her study him as he drinks his wine slowly. "You're looking for a reason to call me a liar and give you the justification you need to walk away. In truth, I wouldnt blame you if you did" he answers with a small chuckle before pressing on, "but you havent yet. That speaks volumes more than your words do" he notes but offers a small shrug.
"You have grown up, there is no denying that but make no mistake little one, you will always be that same little girl that used to kick me in the shins. It just appears now, you're capable of far more."
The mention of wolves and vampires causes a small tightening of his jaw for the briefest of moments before he says, "Just be careful Nadia. Everything you think about me? They are just as bad as that if not worse."
"What do you even know about me besides the loving Uncle that bounced you on his knee and associated with your family? You want to judge me before you know me, is that it Detective? What happened to innocent till proven guilty?" There is no animosity in those words and the smile never dips, even if his eyes look back out the window towards the city. "Maybe I misjudged you."
"What happened to..." She shakes her head with a slight, almost surprised chuckle. "Salvatore you may be many things but given your association with my family I am confident in saying you are anything but innocent. How many of Chicago's milestones have you been involved in? St Valentine's day? Death's Corner? Thompson's Mayoral run? O'Banion's death? The Taxi Wars? Havanna Conference?" A slight tilt of the head, "Or should I go later? Post war? I at least don't think you would have involved yourself on the wrong side of that, profiteering perhaps." Mob or not, the family had some standards and supporting Il Duce was far beyond the pale. Nadia's voice is low, quiet enough not to carry to the rest of the bar. "And the reason I think the rest of those things about you is because I have met them. Some of them at least."
"Speculation at best without a shred of evidence your honor. The Detective is letting her personal feelings get in the way of solid police work." Sal arches an eyebrow back at her with an amused grin, "Guilt and innocence my dear, is all a matter of timing." Leaning forward, he places his glass on the table and folds his arms and hands on the top before looking at her seriously for a moment, "I'll even offer an example."
"You know of this world.. one I never wanted you to see.. nothing for it now. In any case, any of the people that you talk to are guilty of more laws than you can count. Many would look at you as either food, a hindrance or a play thing. You have said that you strive to protect the innocents of the city from the things that go bump in the night. So why do you go out of your way to protect them as well? Why not blow the lid on the whole thing."
"I..." She purses her lips and takes a sip of her wine. "Many, not all. As far as I've been able to learn the Lost are trauma survivors on a whole different level, the wolves..." She shrugs, "Some good, some bad, so far none have done anything in front of me that requires trying to negotiate an arrest warrant for someone who turns furry every so often, I won't be surprised if I end up having to deal with it sooner rather than later though. Your people? Perhaps I am biased but you feed on people, you're blood suckers in an entirely literal fashion and the thing that brought me into this world? A crazed, bestial killer tearing bodies apart and leaving them where they fell. Oh, and a vampire. I already have one of the princes trying to turn me into a pawn and a babysitter assigned. Can you blame me for being biased? And you, I know you and I know Mia Famiglia. No I can't arrest you for something that happened a hundred years ago but would you expect me to act as though none of those things had happened? No. No more than you would expect me to ignore the proximity of a known killer to a seemingly random murder."
Nadia sighs. "There are innocent people among the...other side of the city, there are also guilty ones but they must still navigate this world. My world. They are still residents of the city I swore to protect and serve. If they are my problem they are also my people." It makes sense to her, just the same way that searching for the killer removing criminals from the street rather than letting them clean house for her makes sense.
"Is that all you think they do? Turn furry? Sure they play nice, a nice play at being 'human'...but they are killing machines. Necessary sacrifices and colateral damage are words you will hear often when dealing with wolves. Look at the fires that are sweeping the city Nadia, I have heard the stories from the Allthing. Sure, the creature was killed but look at the after effects."
"The Lost? Yes they are victims, taken from time and forced to live out their lives as monsters to something more powerful than they are. If they escape? They are forever altered, longing for what they knew and dreading what they know will happen. Not all come back in the right way."
Shaking his head slightly, "As you said, there are some good and bad. Not all of our kind feed on humans. Some can endure on animals. Even those that do feed, many do not kill." Taking a deep breath, he lets out a deep sigh before looking back at her fully "I told you at the start, you are free to keep your own opinion on the matter. The Prince? That was your own doing. You stood up to them and managed to let them save face from what happened with the wolves. They used your action to exploit the situation. He sees you as both a threat and possible weapon."
"You hold yourself to the law, and that is a wonderful thing to do. I mean that. However, if that is your position on things...that it is your duty to protect your charges on both sides of the fence? Then you need to be prepared for what may come Detective. You cannot look at each person and see only criminal and innocent. Thats not how this side of the fence works."
"Is that what this is? A sit down talk with little Nadia on the way the world works?" She blinks slowly, a hint of irritation creeping back into her voice. "I hear 'necessary sacrifices' and 'acceptable collateral' a lot every day. From my colleagues, from the news. I rarely agree with them. The fires? My understanding is that the fires are related to something that has crawled out from some hole in the fabric of reality and it is a danger to everyone, no matter their...status. Some people are aware of the danger and others are not; am I more inclined to protect the latter? Absolutely. However the former are the ones who can help deal with it and so I will deal with them." It feels as though she's justifying herself and it's...ugh. Nadia scrubs a hand through her hair again and reaches for her wine glass, spinning the stem between her fingers. "Perhaps I should put it a different way, I am not interested in playing politics with anyone furry, fanged, or...fairy. I have enough of that shit at work. I am interested in taking care of those who are in danger or who can't defend themselves. If some of those people happen to be...non human then so be it."
There is a flash of irritation in his features from the tightening of his jaw to the twitch at the corner of his eye as he watches her and listens. "Of course, how silly of me. A necessary means to an end. Using those in a position of power to accomplish things that you want for the purposes you want." Downing the last bit of his wine, he places the cork back in the bottle as he picks up his hat to rise, "For someone that doesnt want to play at politics, Farfalla, you seem to have a good mind for it." With that, he turns to leave as he places his hat on his head.
"Wait, what. What the *fuck* is that supposed to mean?" She stands, reaching to grab his arm and stop him from leaving. "When did I say anyone was a means to an end? What I *said* was that I was going to deal with va....with people whether you thought I should or not because they...Ugh." She lowers her voice again, aware that she nearly said something that she shouldn't at much louder volume than was wise. "You *do* know that I was the one who tracked that fucker to his lair right? And sat waiting for the fucking pack to come tell me everything was ok? And have them coming to ask me if I can please make sure they don't get arrested for stalking the ASA while trying to figure out if she is possessed by something?" And talking of things she shouldn't be saying at any volume... "And now you're sitting here having reappeared in my life after apparently watching me way too fucking close to be anything other than creepy and pushing my buttons while treating my like I don't know why a hero has done a bad thing or vice versa."
This five foot three woman stopping a man almost a foot taller than her is comical to me. Sal stops when he is grabbed and turns to look down at her, fully. "I said what I meant and meant what was said" he says quietly "you are good at politics." His gaze travels down to look at her hand on his arm for a long moment before looking back at her, "It isnt in what you said Nadia, its in how you said it. I have been nothing but open and honest since I got here, and have been literally seen as the Devil for existing."
Leaning down, he avoids looking into her face and speaks towards her ear quietly, just for them. "Let me be crystal clear Nadia" her name is said with a touch of frost trickling in but there is still a pleasantness to him "I am not telling you what you should or should not do. As you have pointed out, you are a grown woman and to old to be sent off to play. Your choices are you own, and the consequences are you own. What I do know, is this...for someone that doesnt want involved in all of the political from any side, you are neck deep in it. What I KNOW is...you are moving pieces on the board by your very nature and you dont even realize it. Why do you think the Prince sees you as valuable? Why do you think he saddled you with a babysitter?"
At the mention of him coming back into her life, Salvatore stands back up to look down at her, "I have told you to see things as you wish. Question, doubt" sulk, stomp your foot "but think. I meant what I said, I wanted to have a pleasant night with my niece. Nothing more."
"Maybe next time you should phone and invite me for a drink rather than stalking me." The hair standing up on her neck, the shiver that wants to work its way down her spine at his closeness, it all makes her want fight back, to empty that damn glass over his head and scream at him. Over emotional? Perhaps. She's willing to admit that she doesn't have the most healthy response to stress but it's effective. "The prince sees me as a tool, something to be kept close, kept an eye on, and turned to his advantage because it means he has an officer in the know rather than one he has to...whatever. Open and honest? You keep saying that, ever heard the phrase about the lady protesting too much?" The petite cop's voice drops to a hiss. "Your 'Farfalla' may have adored her Zio Tore, but Nadia...Nadia has pretty damn good instincts for when she's being played."
"If you had given me your card, or your number...I would have. Sadly, I was not one that got your card at the Fireside that night." Other people did, he got ignored! "What is one marble when you own the entire bag? Thats not why, and if you think its just because you're an 'officer in the know'...then you're not seeing the bigger picture."
Shaking his head slightly, he simply says "If I wanted to play you, this would be an entirely different conversation we would be having now, you might have even walked away from it with your hand still attached." His eyes travel again down to her hand that is still clutching at him, "As I said, maybe I misjudged you. We will see. Now, let go Detective" the word is articulated strongly as he lifts his gaze back towards her face "unless I am under arrest."
She lifts her hand, slow and deliberate and definitely not afraid of him. "Somehow I don't think you need my card to find me." With an effort of will and in a deliberate display of...something, Nadia turns her back to him and sits down, returning to her wine and gazing out of the windows. Later she will go home and have a long and intense conversation with the heavy bag in her conservatory.
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