The Butcher's Apprentice

Status
Not open for further replies.
"You take the black, I think I'll have the blue, with the relaxed cut trousers, not too tight around the leg," Vanni corrected, running his claws through his hair. "Come on, Ivan, let's go pick out some shirts." He headed over to the shirts, leaving the clerk to go find some options for them.

The clerk smiled indulgently, shaking his head to himself as he hurried away to get the suits. Teenagers these days. Well, at least they seemed willing to pay. And if money wasn't an option, so they said, he'd definitely try to get the biggest commission he could.

<I have to admit, Nikolai, that sometimes things move much faster here than a country boy like me is used to. Sometimes I don't understand how everyone is not always dizzy!> Pyotr remarked with a laugh as he joined his boss out by the car.
 
Ivan waved a hand dismissively at the correction and went with his friend to find shirts. "I really wish I had paid more attention to Mitri when he talked about suits or got dressed or whatever. Or when dad dragged me out for new Sunday suits. There are so many options and things I don't know about them..."

Nikolai laughed. <It does take some getting used to. But, I also grew up in Moscow. It is still much faster paced than back home, but still. It isn't so bad for me.> he got in the car, waited for Pyotr to get settled, then started driving off to L'Alba Rossa and their business meeting.
 
Just about the time that Pyotr climbed out of the car in the unfamiliar garage of L'Alba Rossa, Vanni and Ivan were themselves leaving the store, dressed to the hilt for the evening: new suits, shirts and ties, cufflinks, shoes, hats. Vanni had even gone so far as to add a set of spats to his shoes. He'd gone for a blue suit and a matching wool fedora, and had chosen a bowtie instead of a necktie. They'd even invested in a pair of overcoats for when it got cooler later on. Straightening his tie and running his claws through his hair, Giovanni Bonaduce checked his image once more in the darkening window of the store. They'd closed the place out, but the clerk was going home happy with a big fat sale to end his day. "I think we're more than ready now," he smirked at his friend.

Cesare was understandably a bit curious. He sat in his cousin's office with a glass of wine and a cigar, wondering what she was up to this time. She'd called him quite suddenly, which wasn't too unusual, and wouldn't tell him who they were waiting for. Also, not unusual, but always interesting. So, he decided to pass the time while they waited casually throwing questions at her, trying to guess what the meeting was about, or at least guess what her mood was. They had played this game many times before, and she was very good at it. He was never able to guess ultimately, but he sometimes did get a bit of a hint from it.

Pyotr smoothed his suit jacket as he climbed out of the car. <I must admit, Nikolai, I am a bit nervous about my English. I have much improved with Ivan's help, but I still get very tripped up at times,> he confessed to his boss. <You will help me, I hope, if I run into any difficulty? I just have not met anyone this important before...who didn't speak Russian, that is.> Pyotr was very much showing his youth now, fidgeting nervously with his hat and tugging at his goatee.
 
Ivan purred as he took in his reflection. A nice, slick black suit with a black straight tie. He adjusted the fedora on his head, nice and black with a delicately contrasting deep blue band around it that matched his tie. "We look good." he said, standing straighter, chin held a bit higher. For the kid that was usually staring around or watching the ground and off in his own little world, this was all quite the change. He turned to grin at his friend. "We should have gotten canes, too." he said with a laugh. "Come on. Lets go over to Dimitri and Pete's. Show off our new clothes and see if anything fun is going on there. Then maybe go celebrate our new status at Lilly's Petals." Tonight was a damned good night in his opinion...a damned good night.

Aurora couldn't help but laugh as her cousin threw questions at her. She hated that she let off that she wasn't mad, but she couldn't help it. She loved the game and she loved that the family wasn't having as many problems as it was when she was first getting married. "Would you stop trying to guess, Cesare? You know I'm not going to tell you. I'll tell you one of our guests is a cat. There. You have your hint."

<Da, da! Of course I will help you.> he said happily. <Aurora, she is good. She talks slowly when she is talking to me. Her cousin will be there, too, and they will probably speak in Italian to each other. But, both of them are good and slow with their English. Aurora doesn't have an accent, so she is easier to understand. But, I will help.> They were led inside, down some stairs, and into the tunnel that ran beneath the building above them, and in front of two lavish wood doors. He turned to his friend and smiled before knocking. <You will do fine.>
 
"You know, I was thinking the same thing, but I wanted to have my paws free and not have to think of keeping track of one. Maybe next time," Vanni nodded, heading off with his friend towards Anne's Place. It felt different to him, too. Usually when he was this dressed up, he was being dragged somewhere by his brother. But tonight, they would make their own fortunes.

<Aw, you're no fun,> Cesare laughed, but or her off the hook after that. He rolled his cigar between his fingers, idly wondering what Vanni was up to. Without a doubt off with Ivan. Now that Vanni was getting older and could actually be trusted, he'd arranged for Caprice to spend each Friday with someone different in the family, as a treat for her, and so that Vanni could have the opportunity to go and have fun, and he could be available at L'Alba Rossa. Fridays were usually quite busy.

But Vanni had been in an odd mood all week; distracted, evasive and a bit more irritable than usual. He was even less enthusiastic about tutoring, though he diligently went without complaint. Maybe a Friday night to blow off some steam would do him some good.

Pyotr grinned back at Nikolai, relaxing and looking a bit more confident as he let Nikolai knock, and waited to be invited in. At the last minute he put his hat back on, adjusting it firmly.

Cesare's ear twitched at the knock. <Ah, now all shall be revealed,> he smirked at his cousin. He got up himself to go and answer the door. "Ah, Nikolai Bogdonavich, it is a pleasure to see you this evening," he said when he saw the cat on the other side. He stepped back and invited the gentlemen in politely, waiting to be introduced to the young, fat man accompanying him.
 
"That's a good point. I didn't think about needing to keep track of it." Ivan said with a smile, heading towards the underground gambling den/speakeasy/whore house that his older brother owned and ran with his best friend. "So, your week's been hell, huh?" he asked conversationally as they walked. The warehouse district was a bit of a walk from the shopping district after all.

Nikolai smiled brightly as he was let in, ushering Pyotr in ahead of him. "Pleasure is mine, Cesare! My friend and I bring only good news. This is my butcher, Pyotr Bogdanovich Dimitriev. He is one my son Ivan is apprenticing under. Pyotr, this is Aurora Tarquinius and Cesare Bonaduce."

The woman purred and stood up, walking around her desk to hold her hand out to the man. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dimitriev. Please, both of you, sit." she said, motioning to the chairs she had in front of her desk.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Pyotr stepped in and politely removed his hat again, shaking hands with both of them, bowing slightly as he did so. "Is good meet you, da? I am hear many thing about you, am eager to meet. You are excuse Russian, ah, English. I am try, learn very hard from Ivan," he said, greeting them both and trying to put on his very best English. He sat down where he was directed, looking between them both. "Ah, I am have interesting time early with boys. I am today give Ivan, eh, promote, for good apprentice. I am take care of, trash, for Nikolai. Today, I am show Ivan how I, eh, carve large meat for Papa. Friend Giovanni is with him, I am invite to watch, is want to see as well," he explained, looking to Nikolai to ensure he was making sense. "Both boys are, eh, have large potential for learn. But Giovanni, he is eh, very interest more in what is make wound, than maybe Ivan is interest in carve. I am make promise for boy, I am talk to you, so you are know. Is very interest in business, is strong young man."

Cesare's eyebrows went higher and higher as he listened. Well, this certainly was news. Once Pyotr was finished speaking, he re-cut his cigar, which had gone out while he listened, and relit it, puffing thoughtfully. He looked to his cousin to see what she thought of the news. He had relinquished Vanni's 'job training' to her, and had kept his role with his brother purely as guardian, to ease the tension at home. If there was anything to do with L'Alba Rossa, they both went to her, as they should. But wow. His little brother was growing up. Not a kid anymore. He had to admit, he felt quite the swell of pride.

Vanni scratched at an odd burning sensation in his ear, completely unrelated to the blush on his face. "Man, you have no idea the torturous hell I've had to go through this week. You only had to think about her, I had to look at her! And when I went in on Monday, you could tell they'd done the deed. I couldn't stop thinking about all the places in her apartment they might have done it. They had to have done it there, because Squirt said Tig had been gone most of the weekend, didn't come back until Sunday evening! Do you think they might've been at it the whole time?" He shook his head hard, trying to clear it. "You don't know how hard it is to study at a table your teacher may or may not have been laying on, getting her brains fucked out!"
 
Aurora smiled politely as she listened, watching the man's face and easily piecing together what he was saying. "So, what would he be doing in this apprenticeship? The same as Ivan or would you have him cleaning up the trash mostly? Honestly, I'm glad to hear he's showing interest in something. Especially something that goes with the family business." she said with a smile. She looked over, giving a look to Cesare that said you're doing very well with the boy before she looked back at the man in front of her.

Nikolai had taken his seat and was ready to translate anything for his butcher if he ended up needing it. If he didn't, he stayed quiet, just sitting back and listening happily. He was so proud of his son. He would have to do something special for him...

Ivan sneezed and rubbed his nose, looking ahead as he listened to his friend complain about his week. "Damn...I bet they did...I mean, that's what I'd do. Wouldn't you? The whole weekend, everywhere we could..." He glanced over. "How could you tell they did it, though? I mean, with the guy she was with, I don't doubt it...but you said you could tell..."
 
Pyotr blinked, a bit confused at first. "Oh! Nyet, was not my thought for apprentice. I, eh, just want to give news for you. I tell you he is have interest in make the wound. But I am not in business for make wound, da? Wound is already make. So I promise him, I tell you, maybe you help him learn to make wound?" He looked over to Nikolai again for help. <Did I say that right? I don't think I explained it well...> he worried.

Cesare grinned, understanding. <Maybe I should get him a nice pair of leather gloves...> he purred to Aurora, making reference to the own pair he wore when he needed to have a specific kind of conversation with someone. He didn't do that as much these days, but she'd know what he was talking about. He was proud of his brother, but he was also still trying to figure out which direction Vanni would take later on. He loved the sciences now, and had taken a very specific interest in Chemistry and Biology. Maybe it was time to ask him exacly why. He had a feeling they were linked, somehow.

Vanni groaned, discreetly rubbing the inside of his leg. "Oh God, stop..." he begged his friend, grunting uncomfortably. "As for how I know? She was practically floating on clouds when I came in on Monday. You could see it on her face. You know that feeling after you, you know, relieve yourself? I mean, you don't get that look, that feeling without getting some."
 
"Ah, my apologies." Aurora said with a purr. "Maybe it is time for him to finally see some of the action..." she looked over at Cesare. <I think a pair of gloves are a good idea. Maybe a good knife, too. Does he know how to shoot?>

Nikolai gave his butcher a reassuring look. <You're doing fine. She has this way of only vaguely listening to anything anyone tells her sometimes. She has a lot on her mind at any given moment.>

Ivan grinned. "Yeah...you're lucky, having a teacher that's so good looking. Mine are all old and cranky and no fun to be around at all. Some of the substitutes are nice." he shrugged and glanced over at his friend. He picked up his pace a bit, really needing a drink suddenly. "At least she's with a fairly descent guy...and not some guy that's just going to use her and move on."
 
<Mm, I believe so. I had to ban him from the armory at one point, I think he was sneaking one out every now and then. wanting one to carry, and you did give him one when he and Dimitri and the others went after that two-bit group that roughed up his little sister. He could probably do with some proper lessons. And I know for sure he's had his eye on my Lupara,> Cesare smirked. <He likes that flick-knife he's got, uses it pretty well from what he's told me.>

<Ah, da. I understand. Yes, I suppose she would,> Pyotr nodded, relieved. He sat and waited politely for Aurora and Cesare to finish their discussion, fiddling with his hat a bit.

"Ms. Kacey's really smart, and she knows people just as well as she does all the stuff she teaches. I don't think she'd let herself fall for someone who'd do that to her. But then, we wouldn't let her, either. Tig's a good guy; a little rough around the edges, being, y'know, from poor Irish and stuff, but he's a good guy. Better than a lot of the upper class jerks we know, si? I just don't know what all else they could have in common. Ms. Kacey's so smart and cultured and stuff..." He shrugged, relaxing a bit now that he'd calmed himself, but he still hurried along with his friend, eager to get a drink in him as well.
 
<I completely forgot about that.> She laughed softly and smiled over at Pyotr. "Thank you for letting us know. I was under the impression he wasn't ready yet, but I guess I've been wrong."

"Da. And Tig's so...Irish and...I mean, him and Dimitri go to the same fight club sometimes. Just for the fun of beating the shit out of someone. Maybe it's just that whole...opposites attract thing?" he suggested, smiling as his brother's establishment came into view.
 
"Da. Are welcome. Is least I can do for such good friend of Ivan. Is very good and polite young man, am always happy to see him at shop," he answered with a happy nod.

Cesare stood and went to shake his paw again, ready to escort them to the door. "It makes me very glad to hear you say those things," he told the butcher honestly. "We will certainly do the right thing for Vanni, thanks to your information."

Pyotr stood as he shook Cesare's paw, guessing the meeting to be over. "Da, am glad. Is very good for meet both." He turned to shake Aurora's paw as well, bowing slightly as he did so. When she took his paw, he also kissed it politely, showing the gentle demeanor that seemed almost uncharacteristic to those who didn't know him.

Vanni shrugged, still a bit unconvinced. "Maybe, though I doubt she knows about the fighting; that's something she'd definitely not go for. She's a real pacifist. Doesn't like wars or fighting at all. Except, you know, defending yourself and stuff." He smirked to himself as they approached Anne's Place, tugging lightly at his jacket, making sure everything was in place.
 
Aurora purred softly. "You are very kind." she said, watching him leave. Right when Nikolai put his hand on the door to open it, she spoke up again. "Oh, you know what? My crematory is deciding to try and up the prices on me even though I already pay them extensively to keep their mouths shut." Her eyes traveled to Nikolai. "Maybe there is some sort of arrangement we could come to?"

Nikolai's ears perked and his hand slid off the door handle. "Well, I think there might be..." he said, glancing over at Pyotr. <Would you be willing to do some disposal work for Mrs. Tarquinius?> he asked, not wanting to make a decision about the man, for the man, when he was right there.

"I bet he's on his best behavior around her." Ivan said, opening the door to the warehouse. He grinned and tipped his hat to the stunned doorman before walking on in. The joint was adequately packed with young men and women out for a night on the town with gin and dancing and gambling. Ivan looked over at his friend, a grin on his face. "We should start with a drink, I think."

The infamous Crybaby Frankie was behind the bar, filling drinks and trying to avoid eye contact with any of the servers. He carried a distinct disdain for each and every one of them and it was well known why. At least to the kids that worked there and had gone to school with him. He grew up pretty much on his own because of his mother's profession, which mirrored what most of the waitresses were doing in the back rooms. Not helping his mood any was the fact he hadn't had a day off in over a month, not counting Sundays because the bar was always closed on Sunday. When the two well-dressed young men bellied up to the bar, he gave them a glance but little else. "What'll ya have?" he asked, before turning and staring at the two. "Ho-ly hell...that can't be Little Vanya and Lemonade Vanny...you two playing big kids tonight?" he asked, a grin coming to his face.
 
Pyotr's ears twitched thoughtfully. <Hm, yes, I think I could manage that. Especially now that I have some help downstairs,> he answered with a grin and a nod. <As long as it's not too much more than what you give me.>

Cesare smirked at the suggestion. That would be a good idea. He'd been wondering for awhile how they would get those scabbers out of their pockets. If they wanted to get greedy, now they had an option to take their business elsewhere.

"That's always stop number one," Vanni agreed, removing his hat to run his claws through his hair before replacing it. He twitched his nose at Frankie's little nicknames. He never liked the guy, and spoke to him as little as necessary. "Unlike some, we don't have to play," he answered smartly before ordering a Sambuca on the rocks, just for a change. He didn't even try to hide the fact that the statement was directed at the whiner behind the bar.
 
Nikolai smiled. <It shouldn't be. Things have been pretty quiet lately.> He turned to Aurora. "I am think we are able to come to agreement. So long as you are niet try and keep my butcher down in basement all of day!" he said with a cheerful laugh.

The woman smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it." she said, sitting back in her chair. She glanced over at Cesare. "Though, we might be sending a mortician over soon." The smirk that crossed her lips was heartless and wicked, the kind of smirk only Aurora could really pull off properly. As long as her kids weren't around. "What is the going rate for a butcher's services?" she asked, looking back to Nikolai.

"Going rate is a good business set up and shop front." he said with a smirk. "But for you, you are tell me what mortician is pay."

Crybaby Frankie laughed. "What's the special occasion? One of you finally hit puberty?" he asked, turning to pour Giovanni his drink.

"A martini for me, Frankie. And no. I got a promotion at my job. Mr. Dmitriev let the both of us down into the basement and I got to help him work."

Frankie paused in what he was doing to glance over at the boys. He put Giovanni's drink in front of him and went about mixing a martini for his boss's brother. "God damn...So, is it true that the meat makes it upstairs behind the display cabinet?"

He shook his head. "It all goes down into the sewer after being ground up, or into the fire some of it."

"God damn..." he put the martini in front of Ivan and laughed softly. "Guess you two need new nicknames then..."
 
Pyotr caught the smirk and his ears twitched again. She was not a woman to mess with. Not that he would, he was the ultimate gentleman and a man of his word and honour, but he finally understood why Emily had been so hesitant to tell her she was quitting. He also understood how fortunate she was to get away with just her fingers broken.

Cesare took out his notebook and flipped through it, finding the correct page before quoting a price. "That's the original price for the work only, not for the wagging lips. Since Mr. Dmitriev does the work himself, I'm sure there's no need for that," he said simply. "And yes, you may need to show a mortician how business is properly done. But that'll be his choice."

Pyotr shook his head. "Ah, nyet. I do not, eh, how you say, wag the lips. Is good price, will help keep machine in good work. Eh, keep them sharp from extra work." He meant the maintenance, but he couldn't quite put his finger on the word. All this business talk in english was starting to get to him.

Vanni eyed Ivan a little, but kept his mouth shut. He was, by nature, a bit more closed-lipped than his friend, even though it seemed that the boys at Anne's Place were all aware of Ivan's mentor's other job. It still seemed odd to him that Ivan would talk about it so freely. "I won't be down there working, but maybe soon I'll be helping to bring in some fresh business," was all he said on the matter, giving Frankie a curt grazie for the drink.
 
Aurora nodded. "I like paying a good price for good work." she said, looking over at Pyotr again. She stepped up to shake his hand again. "I'll hammer out the rest of the details with Nikolai. Thank you for the information about my cousin. I'll be sure to start putting him to work." she said with a soft laugh.

Nikolai tipped his hat to the two other cats and smiled. "You both are have good night. We will talk soon."

"Still. Damn." he smiled. "Well, you two enjoy yourselves." he said, turning to knock against the wall behind the bar.

Ivan smiled and picked up his glass, turning to look at the room. "Lets get lost in the crowd before my brother comes out here."
 
"Head to a table? I'm in the mood for a game," Vanni suggested, picking up his drink. "Even though he'd look for me at the craps table first, but I prefer the action."

Pyotr shook her paw again with new respect. "Da, I am wait for Nikolai to give me information. And are welcome. Is good I can help. Nikolai is help much when am only poor immigrant with only knife and no shop. Is my way to thank. I help, eh, ally, too." He replaced his hat finally and tipped it to the both of them, following Nikolai out of the office. Once they were back in the hallway, Pyotr breathed a sigh of relief. <That was a bit more difficult than I thought it was going to be,> he admitted, glad to be able to talk safely in Russian again.

Cesare bid the both of them good night as he closed the office door again. <Well! That was certainly good news all around,> he grinned. <Do you have any ideas on how to start his training? I have to admit, I was not the one to do the training back home. That was left to Papa and the Tios.>
 
"I don't understand craps..." The young man said as he followed his friends. "And no one here will teach me. I'm damn good at blackjack, though. And roulette is fun, but nothing to play if you want to win money...And tonight, I feel like winning." He smirked. "I'll watch you, though."

Nikolai smiled at his butcher as he led the man back to the garage. <You did well! I'm glad that my son is able to repay you for teaching him, by helping you with your English. I'm sure Miss O'Connor is helping as well...> he said, glancing back towards the door they just left. <She doesn't work for Mrs. Tarquinius anymore, does she? I think I heard something about that...>

<Well, do you want to hand it over to me?> She asked, looking at him. <Though, I think formal lessons from his older brother would mean much more to him. And I'm sure he would think I was going to do to him what I did last time and stick him with that Irish woman and the sniper to try and scare him into behaving...> She sighed, moving back to sit down. <I think you will do fine teaching him. You were taught well. I'm sure you remember your lessons well enough. I'm interested in seeing how his love of science plays in with his love of making holes in people...You know, I had completely forgotten about that night he went out to help Dimitri and Ivan get revenge for their sister...even though it showed up in all the papers. Without the boys' names, of course. I was particularly proud of the destruction they left in their wake and the fact none of our boys actually ended up dying...>
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back