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Post by Carlos Castro on Aug 26, 2008 14:28:28 GMT -5
Carlos started and turned, unsettled by the intimate caress of air.
"Likewise," he said. More or less.
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Post by Julian on Aug 26, 2008 14:42:59 GMT -5
"I have finished it." *Julian continued nonchalantly, stepping from the shadows with a box in his hand. Inside was a simple mask of lined leather, something meant for comfort and ease of speaking, simple in design and function.*
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Post by Carlos Castro on Aug 26, 2008 14:51:51 GMT -5
Carlos nodded.
"As we agreed. You work quickly."
He was eager to see it, eager to know what this man considered a job well done.
"What do I owe you?"
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Post by Julian on Aug 26, 2008 15:05:35 GMT -5
*Julian handed the box to the man, casual as ever.*
"What do you think it is worth?"
*For that was the true question, how much did this man value protection from something 'ugly'?*
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Post by Carlos Castro on Aug 26, 2008 15:43:40 GMT -5
Carlos raised an eyebrow.
"I assure you, Monsieur, either Erik or I am capable of paying any sum you require. Do you not have a fee for such services?"
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Post by Julian on Aug 26, 2008 15:54:10 GMT -5
"But...money seems so...trivial." *Julian purred thoughtfully.*
"What is it worth to you, truly...to look on him without fear?"
*Julian's brow arched, studying the man.*
"Perhaps...a favor?"
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Post by Carlos Castro on Aug 26, 2008 16:16:24 GMT -5
Carlos bristled slightly, though less literally then he'd have done in his other form. Was the man calling him a coward? It wasn't fear it was...
Nothing he felt like admitting.
"What sort of favor?" he asked stonily.
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Post by Julian on Aug 26, 2008 17:19:49 GMT -5
"Nothing too big, I'm certain. Just...something later." *Julian smiled eerily.*
"When you are able to help me."
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Post by Carlos Castro on Aug 26, 2008 17:38:46 GMT -5
Carlos had now had some experience with this sort of thing. And open-ended, non-monetary deals with shady fellows who didn't seem "quite right" were a bad thing. He shook his head.
"I happen to like money just fine," he said. "And I expect, in a civilized country, to be able to use it for goods and services."
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Post by Julian on Aug 26, 2008 17:41:58 GMT -5
*Julian pursed his lips slowly, watching the man twitch. Something had happened. Something had him on edge. He rolled his eyes briefly.*
"A thousand francs." *He answered with a casual flip of his wrist.*
I'll get what I want, one way or another.
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Post by Carlos Castro on Aug 26, 2008 17:54:00 GMT -5
The man struck Carlos as not only uncanny but a bit fey, and he wondered what on Earth Julian could want from him.
And preferred not to find out. He handed over the requested sum, having come well prepared and provisioned. Realizing belatedly he ought to have assured receipt, he opened the box slightly, enough to see the mask though no details. It seemed functional enough. He no longer cared what it cost--he could neither leave, nor live with Erik as things now stood.
"Thank you," he said. "We both appreciate what you've done."
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Post by Julian on Aug 26, 2008 18:05:45 GMT -5
"I'm certain you do." *Julian hissed, his smirk all too pleased.*
"My services are always available, should you need anything else."
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Post by Carlos Castro on Aug 26, 2008 18:20:51 GMT -5
Carlos had no idea what the man was insinuating, though he knew it was something. There seemed to be layers beneath Julian's every word, places Carlos could not touch and did not want to. He was just unsettling.
"Yes. Well. I'll keep that in mind," he said. "Thank you again. And goodbye."
He figured that was good enough, and turned to go, carrying Erik's mask before him.
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Post by Julian on Aug 27, 2008 8:01:38 GMT -5
*Julian watched the man start to go, then slipped back into the shadows. But he did not return to Erik or his studies. This man was keeping Destler from him, and he was curious as to why. He figured if nothing else, he could speak to the man on the mask's construction and any preferences he might have on a later variation. And so he followed the other as he slipped through the Opera's cellars and back to Destler's domain.*
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Post by Erik Destler on Sept 9, 2008 10:52:27 GMT -5
***NEW DAY/NIGHT***
Now dressed in something a bit better fitting, Destler had made his way once more into Julian's mother's domain and waited, knowing Julian would easily sense and find him again.
He paced a bit eagerly, impatient now to be able to play again as he now had in his bony hand a new case. A decent instrument he'd...procured which would work until he could get his hands on another Stradivarius. He lamented now having destroyed his own beloved instrument, of course.
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