He swallowed the lump that suddenly rose in his throat, never realizing until this moment that the little girl who was now a young lady never knew the fate of his family. She had been born after he had come to America, so she only ever knew him as the lone boy who grew to be the lone man, no family except hers. âYes, my mother and father are still in Albania.â He nodded slowly, meeting her eyes in a show of strength and support for her. âThey passed before I came to this country.â He didnât know if revealing the cause of their deaths would upset her more, so he kept silent, only answering the questions she felt comfortable in asking. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew the store should be open and that customers would be arriving soon, but in this moment, this was more important.
Eliza squeezed the man's hand, a small gesture of sympathy as yet more tears fell from her blue eyes, this time not for herself, but for the man who had always been family to her. "I'm sorry to hear that," she spoke quietly. "Do you still miss them? I--I mean, of course you do, how stupid of me to ask." Her eyes fell to the floor, as she realized that she and Alban had far more in common than she'd ever known. Both were orphans, and poor Alban must've felt so afraid, coming to a new country by himself. "I think about Lucian, and Laura, all the time," she said, her voice breaking.Â
Angus nodded, before stepping forward. The girl before him looked vaguely familiar. They had seen each other around, and at night clubs in the past, and she was also heavily featured in the local newspaper.
"Miss Capone, isnât it?" Angus spoke taking another step forward and holding out his hand.
The girl simply nodded, hesitantly shaking the man's hand. Say something, anything, she scolded herself internally as her gaze fell from the therapist toward the floor. The blonde had fallen into a silence for far too long, it was just habit now--leaving most unable to get a word out of her unless they were in the family.Â
"I--I'm not sure...why...I'm here..." the girl whispered, her voice trailing off as she began to realize maybe she shouldn't be there.Â
Angus put the final punctuation on a case file he was working on. It was well past his typical work day, but he had been forced to stay later and later since his secretary Miss Lazos had left Montford to pursue other options. He reached into his pocket procuring the key to his file cabinet. He twisted the key and opened his bottom right drawer putting the file in the correct alphabetical order before closing it. He carefully closed it before opening the drawer directly opposite from it and producing a bottle of Whiskey and a tumbler. He didnât like to drink while he worked, but he wasnât opposed to it when he was officially off the clock. He poured two fingers of whiskey into the glass before placing the bottle back in his desk drawer. He took a sip, allowing the warm sensation to wash over him.
Suddenly, he heard the door to his waiting area open.
Eliza hardly wanted to talk to anyone, let alone someone who wasn't part of 'The Family,' but all her neurosis were getting quite old. She hadn't slept properly in God only knew how long, jumped at any creek and grown, and was incapable of even walking through so parts of town. So as the blonde, and her body guard, stepped into the office of Montford's resident 'head doctor,' as some might call him, she resigned herself not to rush out as soon as she heard the man's voice come from the office.Â
Luis simply stared at her, as she picked at the buttons of her coat and nodded, rather than producing a voice answer.
"He can't hear you nod," he guard said, in a rather loud whisper. Â
Eliza knows how to use some of the technology of her time (1920s), like the telephone and a phonograph--but other's she isn't really educated in, or all that interested in.Â
2. Are they specially qualified in any particular field? Would they be considered at the top of the field?
The only field she's qualified in is ballet, and she is hardly at the top of that as it's only a hobby.Â
3. Have they ever been publicly acknowledged for anything? (Ex. Nobel Prize)
The little Capone is not publicly acknowledged for winning any awards, or any achievements of her own really.Â
4. Is there anything theyâve deliberately sought to improve at?
Ballet dancing.Â
5. Do they speak more than one language?
Aside from English, she can speak fluent Italian and a little bit of French.Â
Where the Heart Is (Day 7) || 30 Day Character Challenge
1. Where does your character live?
Currently, Eliza resides in The Capone Manor, the large estate on the outskirts of Montford.Â
2. Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it?
It was the residence of The Capones in Montford since her parents, Lucian and Laura Capone, were married and moved into the town--and Eliza couldn't bring herself to leave it after her father's death. It is the place she feels the safest and the last place she remembers being happy.Â
3. How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)?
A person would have to be damn near insane to try and enter the premises without permission, as it is always guarded and typically has Italian mob members conducting business inside.
4. Describe the space.
It is a rather large house, with more bedrooms than Eliza can count. Her bedroom is on the second story, down the hall from the main staircase, and has a nicely decorated sitting room and her own bathroom connected to it--she technically has an entire "suite" that is all her own. Her room is a pastel yellow color, with a queen sized bed with more pillows than one girl needs, a gorgeous and expensive comforter with lace decoration on the topside of it. The house has it's own staff (butler, cook, maid, etc.) as well as the aforementioned guards, and a black iron gate surrounding it. There is also a large formal dinning room, with an oak table that seats--well, more people than have been invited as guests to the house. There is also a library, several sitting rooms and offices, multiple bathrooms, a rather large kitchen, long hallways, many staircases, a less formal dining room--and a large, lavish, and well maintained garden outside.Â
Any resources Eliza Capone has are due to her status in the Capone family, being closely connected (immediate family) to both the current and former Capos of the mob branch that her family has served and been a part of.Â
2.How long have they had them, and how have they served the character over time? (Ex. Contacts, money, political power, fame, etc.)
Eliza has had these resources essentially since birth, and they have gained her protection, money, and fame. She is known throughout the city she currently lives in, as well as being known by other Italian Mob members as part of the family. She was also kidnapped, being seen as a powerful tool in the downfall of Lucian Capone (may he rest in peace.)
Resources & Abilities (Day 5) || 30 Day Character Challenge
1. Where did they learn their abilities?
Eliza has been dancing since she was old enough to walk, her mother (having been a dancer before her) trained her and Eliza fell in love with ballet. Though she hasn't danced in months, it's the only real/practical skill she currently possesses.Â
2.If they have an income, where does it come from?
Eliza doesn't work, and therefore doesn't exactly have "income." She is the daughter of two dead parents, both coming from old money families and mob families, so the girl lives off of family money.Â
3.Do they have a job? Do they like it? How do they feel about their co-workers?
She doesn't have a job, she's simply the daughter of the former mafia don, and the sister of the current. Her closest thing to co-workers would be members of "the family," most of whom she's known for her entire life.Â
He could feel his heart shatter at her words, wishing desperately that there was something, anything he could do to make everything better for the young woman. âI know, balerin, I know.â He held his hand out to her, allowing her to take it and let him gently squeeze it if she chose. âBut you wonât be afraid forever. Everything will get better with time. Te lo prometto.â
The blonde gave a smile to Ablan, even as the tears pooling in her eyes gently fell. She took his extended hand, and nodded. Eliza missed her parents, and her loyal guard, but she still had family now that was there to protect her. "Alby, where are your parents--I mean, are they still...?" the girl trailed off, not knowing the status of Alban's parents, mostly because she'd never thought to ask before now.Â
Gene glanced behind him as Eliza stopped at his side; Luis was not far away, and he had to wonder if it was for her privacy or his own comfort. The Capo wasnât known for his polite chitchat.Â
"Thatâs one way to look at it," He sighed, turning his gaze back upon the reconstruction. "The way I see it, is that now we know better. This building will be stronger, safer, better guarded. It will be a phoenix rising from the ashes.â He looked down at her and smiled. âEverything has moments like this, amore, but we endure. We donât know how to do anything else.â He shrugged, glancing back at Luis once more. âWould you like a different escort home? I canât imagine he makes very appealing company.â
The blonde eyed her guard, before nodding to Gene. Luis didn't seem happy with playing babysitter, and hardly seemed intent to adjust to it--after all, he was only supposed to be temporary from what she'd been told. "Of course, I think Luis and I would both like that," she answered. "I'm not sure he likes following me around much, to be honest." She gave a slight frown, wishing that Gio was still around. The girl had hardly been obedient for her former guard, but he had loyally served for most of her life.Â
Looking up at the older man beside her, Frankie's go-to person, who even seemed to be her right hand before Sal these days, Gene was family--but like most of her family, Eliza had to struggle to think of what all she really knew about the man. She'd always been kept out of business, before being entirely naive to what it was her family did, and now not exactly wanting to be involved. But she was involved, even before as she had been seen as a pawn to force Lucian's hand, and now would she be the same thing for her sister? "Gene, how long have you known The Capone family?" she finally asked.
Rhett cleared his throat, his hunger fading quickly due to the tension that was in the air. He knew that Eliza didnât want to discuss their situation, however, it had been months since they found out about their predicament, and he knew that all of them had more pressing matters to deal with. Yes, this detail needed to be dealt with in a delicate manner, but how could they do that if it was never discussed to begin with?
"Youâre right, Frankie. But I do want to know what her take is on all of this. Weâve never discussed it before, and even if I get so much as a shrug from her, at least I know she acknowledges the situation."
Rhett huffed, his gaze moving toward Eliza. Her features seemed a dead giveaway now. It was uncanny how much she looked like him. Her eyes, her smile, the color of her hair.There was no doubt she was his child.Â
"Eliza. I never want to make you uncomfortable, but I do want you to know that this isnât going away. So whenever you want to talk, we can. Nothing is too taboo. Ask whatever it is you like. React however you like. No one will judge you here."
Frankie almost dropped her fork as Rhett spoke. She had barely gotten her sister to speak in the last few months and the last thing she had wanted to do on her first night out of the manor was to bombard her with their familial problems.Â
She looked over and gave Eliza a reassuring look. âRemember, you donât have to talk about anything you donât want to.â She gave Rhett a stern look before looking back down at her meal.
There was nothing in the world that could have prepared Eliza for the events that had taken place just in the past few months of her life. She was still hardly adjusted, not sure what to make of trying to fall back into the life she'd had before being kidnapped--whilst also still grieving over her fallen father, the one man she'd once thought would never be defeated. And now, as she sat beside her pregnant sister and across the table from Frankie's new husband, she couldn't help but wish to remain in the safety of the silence she'd found herself in since her return.
It was overwhelming, to say the least, especially since Rhett seemed keen on discussing information that the blonde could hardly fathom. She bit her lip, as she focused on the napkin in her lap, and tried to keep herself from crying--something that she spent a lot of time doing nowadays. Why on earth had she let Francesca talk her into leaving the house?
He glanced over to where she sat, chalk held aloft in a shaky grip. He had been about to start cutting and slicing the orders, but instead he hit the cleaver into the hard wooden block, leaving it embedded and upright. Alban crossed over to where Eliza sat waiting and looked down at her before stooping down to balance on his haunches, now eye level with her as she sat in the chair. âElizaâŠ. if you donât want to stay, you donât have to.â He wanted to hold her close and twirl her around in the air as he used to do when she was a child, but long gone were those days and he couldnât even lay a comforting hand on her shoulder without her shying away. âIt pains me to see you this way, but it pains me more to see you put yourself through this just for my sake.â
Another deep frown formed on the blonde's face as Alban spoke, and she glanced away from him and down at the chalk board. Her hand traced small swirls and shapes onto the board as she thought of what to say back to him. "I--I'm just afraid, afraid of everything," she said, though her voice hardly rose above a whisper. "So, so much has happened." Biting the inside of her lip, she tried to prevent tears that were threatening to pool in her eyes.Â
Pete had just finished getting ready for work, and heâd set aside the paper, looking out of the window, and noticing that the day appeared as nice as people had been predicting. All of the previous snow would be melting throughout the day. Finishing his drink, he set the cup in the sink, and then headed out of the door. The temperature outside was warmer than it had been, and as he looked up toward the sky, he had just enough time to notice a huge chunk of snow falling from the roof of his home.
Without any other option, Pete jumped out of the way with a curse, and as he did, he slammed into another person. Quickly grabbing hold of the other person, his eyes went from the spot the snow pile had landed, and the person he had run into. âIâm really sorry about that. Almost didnât see that snow coming.â
The weather change didn't seem to bring the same joy that the changing seasons once had to the little Capone, as she walked, tugging at her scarf. The fast melting snow just happened to be another reminder of how much time seemed to be passing, time that was offering her no avail toward easing her mind. And as Luis sulked a few paces behind her, the girl seemed to be paying little attention to her surroundings--that was until she felt the force of another body smacking into her.
Her body going rigid, the blonde let out a yelp that caused her guard to jump to attention, her heart suddenly racing. It was an over-reaction of course, but the panic that set in as Pete grabbed hold of her was unavoidable. Quickly, pulling away from the man and taking a fast step backward, it took her a minute to regain her bearings and recognize the man. "Oh...Pete," she spoke softly, looking from the man to the fallen clump of snow. "Well, it seems you moved in the knick of time."
What are some of your characterâs hobbies? What do they do with their time?
Eliza likes to go on walks, journal, and read books, nothing too daunting or major.Â
LilacÂ
Favorite music artists? Movies? Books or authors? Actors?
Eliza enjoys classical music, such as Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, and anything that one would hear while watching a ballet. As for movies and actors, she rather enjoyed Lillian Gish in Orphans of the Storm, but it's been years since she's been to a picture show. Her favorite books include: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, and Summer by Edith Warton
Political stance? Are they active in politics or do they not care?
Eliza is not active in politics, and is easily swayed whichever way her family seems to lean toward.
What are some of their pet peeves?
Eliza doesn't have many pet peeves, though as of late she is rather annoyed by anyone who seems to gawk at her, or  when a room falls silent as she enters it.
What sort of gifts do they like?
Anything sentimental, or that peaks her interest. For example, some of her favorite gifts in the past have been her mother's old vanity (given to her by Frankie), her first pair of ballet slippers (given to her by Laura), and one of her mother's necklaces (given to her by Lucian).
What is their favorite time of day? Favorite weather?Season?
Eliza is particularly fond of summer evenings, when the air is cooling off and the lightening bugs are beginning to come out and twinkle about the yard--but as a whole she enjoys Autumn as a season, because of the weather change and the colors of the changing leaves as well as the anticipation of the holidays around the corner.Â
Where do they like to spend their time?
Eliza spends most of her time cooped up in her bedroom, and doesn't tend to stray far from The Manor unless she is going on one of her morning walks.Â
Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol?
Her favorite food would either be Penne Al Pesto, Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, or Tiramisu--all of which can be found at Dimitri's Italiano. She prefers not to drink alcohol, instead leaning toward herbal teas at night and in the winter, and lemonade, or iced tea in the summer.Â
Favorite animal?
Hedgehogs.Â
Do they have any pets? Do they want any?
Currently, she does not own a pet, but might get on in the future--a guard dog of some sort.
What relaxes them?
Herbal tea, hot baths, writing in her journal, mainly quiet activities.Â
Do they have any bad habits?
Picking at the buttons on her coat, the hem of her dress, or a napkin if one happens to be in her lap. She also tends to avoid things that are too serious for her, or that are too big of changes.Â
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romaincrisis
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