BRASS AND SASS

[leoblackwell]

seungseuls​:

“You’ll get an extensive yelp review as always…it’s really become the most amusing part of our trade.” In light of receiving such ‘gifts’ from Leo, she had instructed the members of the collective to maintain a keen eye when using the machinery. There weren’t ever many complaints, but they informed Iseul of the smallest of concerns and in turn she compiled all of the feedback and relayed it to Leo. Most of the review held praises, but she knew how valuable constructive criticism could be. “I’ll give you the first report in about a week and you’ll get updates as they come in.”

She would do the same with the armor if that got any use— but she hoped more than anything that neither herself nor Leo had the opportunity to try out this particular product of his. While she carried a gun at all times, Iseul had never fired it and the same could be said for the bisu knife that had been gifted to her sometime ago. Still, “that’s impressive,” she has to say, because the man is truly brilliant, “it’s especially needed now…you know, it feels as if any one of us can be attacked at any moment.” And I’m not a combat specialist, she finishes in her head. While she didn’t deem herself as important as Ervig ( not important enough for outside parties to make attempts against her life, ) having a form of protection like this one, would provide some peace of mind. 

When Leo speaks again, her smile is less confident. People like her, these ‘agents of change’, are sometimes deemed expendable in the grand scheme. If she has built her collective successfully, it will function as efficiently when the sands of her hourglass have fallen. This is what she tells herself in light of recent events— this is the life she has chosen to live. And yet, Leo’s words touch deeper than her platitudes…to be acknowledged as a standalone is more than she can ask for, “thank you, Leo…” she thinks to keep it at that but decides against it, just this once, “it’s hard to remember sometimes, you know? I get lost in the bigger picture.”

In those moments, she doesn’t think she matters as much; but words are heavy. “Thank you…I know it might sound like I’m just echoing the words you’ve said to me but you are as well…and I mean all parts of you, those that are essential for my people and those parts that exist with no purpose at all…”  

🔬

He finishes up the rest of his coffee, checking his watch for the time. With the chaos of the week, Leo finds himself scheduling everything he does in neat, tidy boxes. This morning meeting, albeit slightly business in nature, has taken a turn personal and gone over his scheduled time. That means fifteen less minutes in the lab today, if he means to be in bed before midnight in preparation for his upcoming week.

“I like to think that people like you and I don’t get lost, we merely make our own image in corners where people aren’t looking.” The praise for his work is kind. People see Janus as a house of hardened criminals and fighters. While it may be true for some of the house, statistically the odds are still against someone having combat prowess or even a fighting background. Leo himself prefers not to get his hands dirty but has good aim with pretty much any weapon with a trigger. The thinkers of house Janus though, they must be protected as they circle their wagons and protect their smart minds from the enemy gaze.

“I prefer to be unimportant. It makes all of this work easier, don’t you think?” Another rare insight from him and a true testament to how disheveled he feels by recent events. It’ll do him no good to keep wearing his heart on his sleeve like this. Not when there are so many primed and ready to do damage. Leo gets up from his seat, pulling out his billfold to slide cash onto the table under his abandoned coffee cup. His smile is genuine, for a change, as he looks over at her. A rhetorical question that doesn’t need an answer, truly, as he looks her over one last time. And because his good upbringing begs for it, he gives her a final smile and farewell. “Thank you for taking time to meet me. A pleasure, as always.”

[alivedean]

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER that lives in my head → 18/?

[leoblackwell]

seungseuls​:

✧･ﾟ*

Iseul has always believed that you can uncover a multitude of things when a person spoke of their passions; at the least, one can uncover if a person has their passions and how ardently they feel about them. During these conversations of theirs, it’s hard to miss how his eyes light up ( it’s certainly an entertaining part of their business dealings ). There are certain things in this world that are obvious to those who make the conscious effort to look. Then there are those things in life that you will miss if you make such efforts to remain oblivious. 

The collective has been using the former to combat the latter for some time now and she is just one of many that have extended their thanks to the inventor hidden in darkness. Whenever he begins describing the latest product Iseul tries to immerse herself regardless of her own expertise in this field. If somethings go over her head, something else will stick. The first of his proposed products already seems promising, with the members of the collective having pushed for an increase in eco-friendly machinery. “Just what they had been asking for; it was a hot topic at our last barn meeting,” she says with a soft laugh.

As far as her own safety measures…Iseul likes to say that she’s preoccupied with other things. Not that the woman believes she’s invincible or that she has a devil-may-care attitude about her life but such concerns tend to fall to the wayside when you’re the figurehead for an anarchist group. She’s lucky then, that Leo and his prototypes can serve this purpose— otherwise she wouldn’t be the first shop for items that would salvage all of her necessary organs. “That’s certainly something I would need…even more so if it doesn’t detract from my fashion choices,” the end of her sentence more of a joke than anything else. 

She continues with a little more seriousness, “I think we’ve all felt some sort of shift…” what with the recent events; Iseul would have to be stupid to remain oblivious of the increasing dangers. “I can’t risk leaving them without a herder, right?”

🔬

“I will have two sent over, discretely, this week. All I ask for is feedback.” If the printer model works efficiently, and does what Leo intends for it to do, he can ride the Green Wave of industry to a very big payout. A lot of his patents have become more relevant lately; it is like the universe is trying to tell him that it is finally time to branch out on his own. Leo has his reservations. With the House still mending and recuperating after Ervig’s death, his stability is needed more than ever. On the other side of the same coin, house relations are volatile and the future is uncertain. Leo has ran the pros and cons, risk versus reward, and come up wanting. There is no actual statistical way to guarantee his success and he hates that. Numbers are supposed to be the one thing he can always rely on.

A small laugh at her answer. “We can’t have you off-brand for any press interviews.” He holds his forearms up and out, the simple patterned short sleeved collared shirt on display. “As you can see: no one will know unless you want them to know.” Leo has taken to wearing the subtle armor whenever he leaves his flat nowadays. After Ervig’s death, he spent nearly thirty hours in his research lab, working on finishing up the prototype that has been on a mannequin for weeks. It’s funny how grief can manifest, and make things seem much more urgent and important.

“You are important, Iseul.” A rare show of complete honesty and intensity from Leo. Iseul is smart and capable, and she has built something from the ground up with her own two hands. That success should be rewarded by the world. He blames his sentimentality on Ervig’s death and the good coffee in front of him. “Not just your work, or your contribution to this house, but you, specifically. Don’t forget that.”

[leoblackwell]

zahranjoki​:

Ah yes, the disrespect.

Zahra had to hand it to Valentine. The AUDACITY that Jupiter’s Healer had displayed on the day of their Elder’s death was merely a slap to their faces. However, she wasn’t angry at her theatrics. In fact, the Enterpriser found it amusing, let alone entertaining. For once, someone was making a STATEMENT. Everyone else were either too calculated in their actions to not do anything, while the others lived in fear. It was flat out boring, as such she commended Valentine for standing out amongst the rest. However, she wasn’t sure how Lorenzo was taking it and if he’ll be raising it to Valeria. Those specifics will be between both Elders and in due time, she’ll find out. 

“Ah yes, actions do speak louder than words.” She pointed out at first with a cunning smile. “And sure, some actions aren’t necessarily in our favour. However, if we look at the SILVER LINING in all this, it’s that we have the upper hand given that we’re the ones steering this shipwreck of a situation.” The only downside is that anyone could simply fuck this up at any given moment. Although in Zahra’s opinion, it’s all the more reason to use them as a SCAPEGOAT at that point. 

“Be mindful of your words Leo. It’s a sensitive time.” she chided. Leo may say whatever the hell he wants, but Zahra will gladly put him back in his place if need be. No use in biting her tongue amongst those who have the same drive as her. “Fair enough, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and hold you accountable seeing as you have not completely failed in your role. I am a ‘see it to believe it’ kind of gal, so keep that energy up and ensure you DELIVER.”

🔬

There is something bigger happening, with the Valentine issue. Her flagrant show of disrespect to a man she is promised to undercuts an ongoing issue, and Leo is not sure what it is, but he knows there is a piece of the puzzle in front of him missing. And he wants to solve it.

“No offense meant, Mrs. Rossi.” Leo’s carefully veiled insults and colder sentiments finally invoke a response. Her chastising is expected and Leo notes exactly how long it takes to get it out of her. Another major difference between the two of them, Leo supposes, is that Zahra wields her power so overtly while Leo prefers to hide in plain sight, leaving business for the shadows. The power part of their power couple, Leo knows how lost Lorenzo would be without his wife and her backbone. The ever-changing dynamics of the Rossi family shift day to day now, and it is fascinating to keep up with.

“I always deliver.” Pride in his voice now. Arrogance, too. “But thank you for checking up on me. Please, don’t let me keep you from your duties,” Leo says with a flourish of his arms. He’s learning a lot during this funeral, more than he had initially hoped to uncover, but there is still a long road ahead of the Janus house.

[leoblackwell]

noellepersaud​:

“Then you know how it burns.” Noelle retaliates, an answer for everything. Sharp-edged wit that’s made subtler with time and the newly anointed ‘heiress’ affiliated with her name. It does not, however, take away from the streets smarts that both she and Leo are raised upon. As far as business partners go, she can do much worse than a self-starter who understands her plight all too well. And, unlike her other options, has more to offer than a brass fist. A thought to the likes of Javier, or even Serena - brilliant Fighters, but unable to offer Noelle what she needs in return.

It only makes sense that the cogs would turn instantaneously, with a focus on herself. She’s many things - but generous for the sake of generosity’s sake is not one of them. There’s a smirk in place, watching as Leo begins to needle and prod into her motivations. A low scoff at the suggestion of her as an ‘heiress.’ Just a few short months ago, Noelle was heir to nothing but an old couch and her mother’s recipe book. It’s an uncomfortable title bequeathed to her. Somehow, it draws a dark cover over all that she’s earned. But she knows it’s not Leo’s intent.

“You’re already my companion.” She reminds him fondly, a light knuckle playfully knocking against his jaw. Business deals are slick agreements, methodical and strategic in nature. But for all that Noelle is a titan of industry, she is still a person beneath her deals. Leo is, and will likely always be, the dearest of friends. Even if their arrangement burn their interests to the ground, Noelle will always go warm with fondness. “Always money.” She answers, easily enough.

“I hate the rich.” She starts, and she can practically hear the argument Leo is about to make before he even makes it. “The born-rich.” She corrects. “The entitled assholes who are born to all of this, and have no idea how to make it last.” She gestures to the room, adorned with grand structures. “The Dubois’ got lazy and complacent. They thought all of this could last without lifting a hand, and then their Board of Directors dump it on me and make it my problem.” She recoils with bitterness now. A resentment that Leo knows all too well. “I need to turn this around. Some new revenue streams, outside of the books.” It’s a grey area, one corporate types toe on a regular basis. But most do not do it with capo’s of the Rossi family. “I’m not going to fail just because they dealt me a bad hand, and called it a gift.”

🔬

It is true that Leo has a lack of business partners within his own house. He makes shadow deals with Iseul, trading off prototypes and products to see if they are viable and sustainable. But someone inside of the Rossi family? Leo could never trust them with his business in its infancy, not truly. There would always be an ulterior motive, or an expectation that Bronze Age exists to line the Rossi pockets when the reality is the exact opposite. His enterprise is a means of escape, Leo striking out in the world and forging his own path.

The title of born-rich truly can be despicable. Some of the most entitled, idiotic people Leo has come across drip with old money, rotting at the roots of their family’s trees and heirlooms. The truly wealthy are people like himself, Noelle, Zahra. Self-made businesspeople with ambitious and drive. Money is something that can be acquired with enough work and sense. But power and potential? Those things you cannot inherit from mommy and daddy.

"Money it is.” Leo has recently come into some supplemental income, with selling some design patents to Proto Labs that he has been sitting on. A six figure sale for an invaluable manufacturing editor schematic. It’s the first real money that Bronze Age Enterprises has made, and he has no problem paying it forward... for the right price. “I can help assist with any outstanding loans you have, and I have multiple business partners who would love a new venture to conduct some buying and selling at.” Leo’s connections in the Underground are deep enough that with a few well-placed conversation, and the cash-in of a couple favors owed to him, the conference rooms and penthouses of every hotel will be used, off of the books, at a premium rate for some circumspection.

“In exchange: discretion of my personal business operations, stock options, and a board seat under my shadow account. How do those terms sound?” Is he asking for a lot? Yes. But Leo is a businessman who is unafraid to take what he wants. On the same coin, the risk he will be putting out is no small ask. If Noelle is looking for money, the family business must be hemorrhaging. His upfront capital, increased steady incoming, and personal assistance are worth his asking price. Leo has ways of dealing with loan sharks that Noelle could never condone that are quick and efficient. If Palazzo Rossi is Dante’s Inferno, well, Leo has learned business from the Devil himself and has no issues putting his teachings into practical application.

[leoblackwell]

seungseuls​:

What an oddity, to hold secrets from those within your circle. What a greater oddity, still, who one may hold those secrets with. Iseul doesn’t necessarily remember how this agreement of theirs came to be, but it had benefitted them both equally— he was given numerous yelp reviews from those in the collective, and in return, her agents of entropy were given the necessary tools to push against the forces that be. 

It was an amalgamation of two very unique skill sets, hiding in the shadows lest they risk push-back from the more important members of Janus. The nature of their agreement, keeps her from being candid as her lips hover over the rim of her mug and she asks, “is there ever a moment when they aren’t wanting?” 

She must be the first to admit that bloodletting for the sake of this goal of theirs is archaic, and if she can keep her people from the dangers of their cause, she will do so. Those who have chosen to join her are much more than cannon fodder, and she worries for their wellbeing with the same fervor as she would worry for her own mothers. As such, the so-called lab rats are always wanting, and their leader even more-so. Sometimes you just have to fight fire with fire, and Iseul had yet to run out of gasoline.

A laugh bubbles within her when he regards her— the puppet master. She knows the word lacks any malice…and she’s certainly been called worse.

“As the sommelier of your inventions, what is it that you would recommend for one puppet master?” For all of her ‘endless knowledge,’ she wouldn’t pretend to understand a single thing about the man’s inventions. He had yet to lead her astray in what he had provided, and she had faith that he wouldn’t disappoint her this time either.

🔬

The back and forth of wits with Iseul is always refreshing, like a cool glass of water on a warm summer day.

“For your cattle, I’ve been testing out this new three-dimensional printer model. It can uses recycled materials and filaments that are biodegradable and twice as strong as the plastic garbage most commercial products are using.” Leo speaks in a disinterested sort of way, like he’s talking about the weather or NASDAQ score for the day. There are only a handful of tells that belay his excitement: the way he sits up straighter in the chair, the quickness of his tone underneath the feigned mundanity, the spark of his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. He’s learned how to hide his giveaways, with physical barriers and muted responses, but a clinical eye can see through him, if they know where to look.

“For the master herself?” His fingers drum out a specific rhythm on the table for a couple of beats. Bronze Age has been working on new armor, but it has not hit the catalogue just yet. The testing for the material has gone exceedingly well, but Theo still has reservations about the patents that are pending. Luckily, Iseul is too busy to do something like try to reverse engineer it for exclusivity rights. “I may be working on a new prototype material for personal safety. Something that would blend in under a blouse, protect major organs, all of the fun stuff,” Leo drawls.

“The possibility of war is on the horizons,” Leo knows this to be a fact. The houses have been alive with chatter, and some of it worries him. There are too many variables at play. Too many what-ifs surrounding Lorenzo, Janus, Minerva, and the balance itself. Leo’s last trip to the Middle feels tangibly wrong, and a foreboding has been following him since. “Only a bad general would go into combat unarmored, wouldn’t you say?”

[leoblackwell]

zahranjoki​:

Leo claimed it’s not wrong, but Zahra knew this was probably the last thing he wanted to do right now in a room full of souls who were RESPONSIBLE for this event. One of them was the culprit, their people just had to figure out who. Although the end result that they wanted may not turn up today, any leads or clues they could get would be enough to start the thorough investigation. She HOPED one soul in Janus aside from herself and Serena (who’s already investigating on her terms) had the brains to do such a thing. 

“Obviously it won’t, but grieving is a part of the said healing process. However, if you’re one of those BOYS who find emotions as a sign of weakness or prefer to do it behind closed doors, then to each their own.” she mused with a gentle smile. Nothing wrong with that, especially if they’ve been putting up a front for so long. “We all have our own methods of coping.” she added with a nod of understanding. 

“If you don’t mind me asking, how are your observations so far? Any concerns?” Although she didn’t task him with finding Ervig’s murderer, she was certain that he was probably investigating on his OWN terms. After all, the attachment he had to his pseudo-father was between him and the deceased—surely, there was a bond there given that Leo had got to where he is today with his association to the Rossi family. 

Now the question he posed not only irked Zahra, but it was an image she didn’t want Lorenzo to uphold given that his reputation should be high up there. “I’m his wife, not his PR team.” she deadpanned with a head tilt. “You try putting yourself in his shoes. His brother was just murdered. He has little to no time to grieve and he has a responsibility to fulfil. All eyes are on him. The label you claim is irrelevant and if you supposedly care you wouldn’t be the obvious grouch in the back. You’re a Healer, aren’t you?” There was no hesitation on her end to question Leo’s place in the House of Janus. This was simply a nudge or a ‘gentle’ REMINDER per se since this was a crucial time, and all efforts were required to not show a hint of weakness to the others.

🔬

Leo doesn’t have to explain his grieving process to anyone, least of all her. He knows goading when he sees it; Zahra is trying to suss him out and make sure that he is not a liability. And he isn’t one. He just knows that today has a bigger, better purpose than his own personal grief, and Leo is pragmatic, down to his soul, and cannot waste the opportunity.

“Nothing of concern just yet, aside from the obvious disrespect.” Leo is, of course, taking about Valentine and her horrid red display of defiance. That will be dealt with later. The pews are filled up, the funeral goes on smoothly, and the Rossi siblings soak up all of the attention. It’s a perfect scheme.

“Now now, Zahra, no need to get offended. He is putting on a good show. I would expect no less of a Rossi.” Leo’s smile is serpentine as he gets a modicum of satisfaction at the exchange. It should annoy him, that there is always so much reading in between the lines he has to do with his own house members. But honestly? It’s one of the best parts of House Janus. He is granted his independence at the price of strict judgement. It is a price he is currently willing to pay.

“And do not cast doubt on my role, either. The role of a healer requires a bit more tact. A funeral is not the place for business deals and posturing.” Leo has already begun his networking with the other houses. A show of force with the other healers. A business proposal with Noelle. A comfort contact with Julian. Ensuring the strength of the Collective with Iseul. All minor blips that do not even pick up on the radar of an elder that slide various pieces into place.

[leoblackwell]

zahranjoki​:

Leo’s professionalism was rubbing off the moment he spoke. Straight to the point and refusing to answer questions that didn’t quite matter, Zahra had to hand it to him. However, that didn’t mean she was going to back down. “Lovely.” she replied with a smile before averting her gaze to the crowds of people. She didn’t question it, especially when the members of other houses were showing up. They had control of the situation and it seemed like everyone had the same mindset, to not raise any suspicion by NOT showing up. It would be too early in the game to make an absent statement. 

Sighing, she looked back at Leo and shook her head, “HONESTLY? I don’t. I just wanted to have a conversation, is that wrong?” His reluctance to answer a subjective question meant that he had perhaps slipped up along the way and was learning from his lesson. However, she wasn’t going to add fuel to his fire just yet. Zahra treads lightly as always, finding the signs prior to stating the obvious. “I’m going to sound like a broken record…But you do know that you have every RIGHT to mourn.” she started at first. “Your feelings are VALID. Ervig was the foundation of your growth and development. He was an important figure in your life.” 

She could already foreshadow some acceptance with denial right after. However, that reassurance needed to be said. If someone had told her that when she was a child at the time of her father’s death, then perhaps she would have grieved in peace. Instead, she was conditioned to suppress it until acceptance—and look how she turned out.

🔬

“No, of course not,” Leo concedes, letting her chip a couple of pieces of his armor away. Zahra is a master player in the game they all revolve around, and he knows better than to give her too much resistance. Her concern seems genuine and he lets it wash over him for a second. Despite her qualifier, it is not something he has heard it too often; Leo is not a Rossi, after all, so how much grief would one assume he could hold?

It’s a nice sentiment, but they both know this funeral is not about giving people close to Ervig time to grieve. No, the Rossi family has made sure of that. With the extensive invitation list full of important people from every other house and invitations sent out attached with the promise of a metal kiss if compliance isn’t met, this is about more than the death of an elder. The basilica is a show of force and respect, a social pressure on their allies and competitors to show up and play their part. 

It is a beautifully tactical move, and one that Leo applauds and assumes comes from Zahra herself, but it is not a place for his personal grief. It is a business move. A place where Leo will spend his time watching the visitors like a hawk in hopes of seeing something worth following up on. After all, the probability of Ervig’s killer being in the cathedral right now is staggeringly high. Leo would be remiss in his duties if he ignored such a prime opportunity to observe and look for those trying a little too hard, or not hard enough.

“A show of emotion here won’t bring him back. I’d rather spend my time observing.” It’s a statement of fact and a small admission of his current objective. He has plans for private remembrance, away from the prying eyes of all of the souls present today, that will work to ease his pain. There is nothing about his process that he wants to share with anyone else. Leo is born a lone wolf, in the shadow of a pack, and he has long learned how to take care of himself. 

Leo’s eyes cut over to the front row, where he sees two elders grouped up together. He watches the interaction with rapt attention as Lorenzo accepts what has to be empty words and a saccharine statement. Edgar always did have a broodiness about him that lends so well to a funeral. Leo sees the opportunity to turn the conversation off of himself and takes the out easily. “Speaking of grief, how is your trophy husband holding up?”

[leoblackwell]

zahranjoki​:

❛ ☾ ◟━ LOCATION: basillica di san lorenzo ❛ ☾ ◟━ TIME: sunday, november 7th, 2021, during the funeral service ( event one, occasion three. )  ❛ ☾ ◟━ STATUS: closed for leo blackwell || @leoblackwell​​​​

Zahra needed a break.

Hence why she was secluded a few feet away from the basilica, taking a smoke break in complete isolation. It was nice to have some peace and quiet. Further her muscles can relax from all the false smiles and grimace. Death truly brought everyone together with this type of turn out and many had their own ways of making their own statements. It was interesting, but it also lit a spark in Zahra, nothing short of pure MOTIVATION and the need to keep up with everyone. The adrenaline rush that she normally had at the beginning of her criminal endeavors were slowly coming back to her. In fact, she felt inspired—to DO better and to BE better. 

Hearing an alarm go off, she took her phone out of her clutch and stopped the timer. It was time to head back. Finishing up her cigarette, she then disposed of it in the public ashtray and made her way into the basilica. The viewing still continued and she chose to stay at the back and let everyone have their time with one another. She’d interacted enough and just needed to gain her bearings. In the meantime, she decided to continue to do her solo check-ins with the rest of the group. Seeing Leo in her line of sight, Zahra strode over to him and greeted the engineer with a nod. 

“Leo.” she called out as she stood with him. Zahra had to give him credit, he was gifted, a self-made genius despite the upbringing. He may have been a Rossi at arm’s length, but he never crossed that threshold like Zahra did. Similar backgrounds, different outcomes. However, the Enterpriser knows very well to give credit where it’s due and in order to keep an asset, you need to ensure that they BELONG and VALIDATE their importance. Ervig’s death definitely impacted Leo in some way as the deceased played a role in their upbringing. However, she wondered how far along he was in the stages of grief…Because the last thing she wanted was his impulsiveness and brash attitude get in the way of their family’s agenda. 

“I’m sure the last thing you want to hear is a question about how you’re holding up. But I am checking in on you and genuinely want to know…Now in terms of the souls you were assigned to invite. Have they made their presence known?” 

🔬

The funeral is starting to give him a headache. Julian is a nice distraction, a true kind soul in mixed company, but Leo finds the event to be dragging on. He stands up straight as a familiar voice calls out to him, demanding his attention, and he turns towards his enterpriser with an aloof look on his face. The smell of nicotine hits his nose as he takes her in. Zahra balances grief with style, a well-placed statement that she is as put together as ever in times of grief. The start of her words are honeyed, but Leo knows better than to get sticky; she is looking for weakness in their ranks and he will not be the one to break.

And there she is. Underneath the platitudes is a shrewd business woman protecting her venture, and Leo can’t help the feeling of respect that bubbles up when he looks at her. He prefers these sides of their interactions, more transactional in nature than anything else. There is a mutual respect between the two of them. As outsiders to the Rossi name, they have built their own fortune under the Janus name in different ways. Zahra has the ability to slide effortlessly into the Rossi family, a feat Leo is never quite able to pull off. Any resentment over her success and his failure is smoothed over with a professional relationship and shared success.

“Everyone is present,” He ignores the question about his own well being. Regardless of how he feels, he is not going to share it with Zahra in a public setting. Noelle has already seen him at a low point, and convinced him to dust himself off when around others. He won’t make that same mistake twice, even as the grief burns in him as he pays his respects to Ervig.

Leo subtly tilts his head towards the other side of the Church. There, scattered among their respective houses, sit healers for Mercury, Minerva, and Jupiter. It is an irony that is not lost on Leo, that his job is to ensure that his peers are present for the funeral. Much like himself, they all have roles to play with their houses image, and his cutting reminder that any lack of presence for the funeral would be taken as a direct slight against Janus has been well received. The basilica is full of people, ranging from those who want to mourn the loss, to those who are too afraid to not show up.

“Did you need something else?”

[leoblackwell]

[leoblackwell]

noellepersaud​:

“And you of all people can’t afford to underestimate their blood unity, either.” It’s not the first difference of opinion they have, nor does Noelle anticipate it to be their last. His own righteous frown, met with a poignant glance of her own. Perhaps there is truth to both of their words. The House of Janus is larger than the family that controls it. But the family is sun, and the rest of Janus are composed of mere mortal circulating its orbit. The word ‘unprecedented’ is there for a reason, and it’s shown in the muddle of grey where they both find themselves.

Still - there is no denying the importance of Leo’s wisdom. A tidbit of information that shapes Noelle’s approach, as she assesses the grand House of Janus for opportunity. A fair trade, from the perspective she provides. If Noelle is thinking it, surely everyone else is as well. And what is reputation but a fragmentation of truth? She nods a cool head, unbridled in her own ambition. Is that not the heart of why she does what she does? The climb to the top is riddled with thorns, and she emerges as a poisonous rose. Unyielding in her place above the thorny masses, even as she reaches this new height.

She’s many things, but satisfied is never one of them.

“I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again - you are brilliant.” It’s not a compliment if it’s just the truth, and anyone worth their salt knows that Leo Blackwell is the brains behind Janus’ mighty weaponry. “I’ve seen what you could do since those engines and prototypes at MIT. I’ve seen what you’ve done since. You’ve got a gift.” Noelle prefaces, with the professional assessment of a woman who has made her livelihood off of potential and strategy. “But you’re never going to get out of the shadows if you’re doing it on their dime. Let me help you. Better the bitch you know, than the devil you don’t.”

🔬

The reminder of blood family still stings, even though that is not her intention. Her intention, of course, is sowing the seeds of dissonance so her own tune can slip in. Leo is aware of it, and also of the truth of her statements. It is a thought Leo has had before, one that blossomed into Bronze Age Enterprises. 

It is almost disappointing how quickly Noelle gives in. Almost. The flattery is a nice sentiment, but Leo ignores it, waiting for the true core of the offer to come into play.

“Ah, but I know the devil, too. You could say I was raised nine levels into the Inferno,” A small chuckle at the allegory and comparison of the Palazzo Rossi to the depths of hell. Still, despite his apathetic tone, she knows she has his interest. It is clear in the way his intelligent eyes sharpen and his lips purse just slightly. Most people have a hard time reading Leo, but Noelle has seen him through adolescence and adulthood; there is little of him he can hide from her, and it is a fault in the design of their business partnership. One he will have to be careful to safeguard against. 

“And let’s say, hypothetically, there is workings of something already deep in the shadows, away from prying eyes.” There are some cards he is not ready to flip over just yet. “What is your benefit from this deal?" He tries to figure out her angle. What could Noelle need from him, right now? She is on top of her game, in an impartial house safe enough away from the flames of war.

“What does the hotel heiress need from me?” He muses out loud, trying to figure it out himself instead of letting her answer. “Weapons? No, nothing so gaudy for a Mercurian soul. Armor for the upcoming war? Your house would not need something so overt. Competition eliminated?” That’s an interesting thought. “That would tip your neutrality, no. What else do I have to offer you? Companionship?” An annoying smirk tugs onto his lips. “Money?”

[leoblackwell]

juliansperez​:

Julian laughs, “I think it’d take more than that to try and explain what goes on inside of my brother’s head.” They’d once considered themselves the foremost EXPERT on the inner workings of Javier Perez – being able to take one look at their brother’s facial expressions, his mannerisms, and be able to figure out what he was thinking, and, perhaps more importantly, what he would do next. Perhaps Julian was still an expert on such things ( after all, they had been the one to change – not Javier ), but his skills had lost their potency without the pressure of continual close contact. Now, he’d barely spoken to Javier in months, and he was unsure whether he’d be able to gather the same read on the one person he’d known better than himself.

“Well, that makes me feel a little less special,” Julian says, tone playfully childish and whinging, as he juts out his lower lip like a toddler about to throw a tantrum. Truthfully, it did make them feel better – silently glad that it had been Javier to deliver their invitation, rather than another member of Janus. They were fairly sure that there were still some who didn’t quite RESPECT Julian’s decision to turn his back on them – and that the request for their attendance at the funeral would not have been quite so FRIENDLY had it not come from their own flesh and blood. 

“Anybody turn you down?” They ask, natural curiosity taking over ( Javier had been quite clear about what Janus would think of anyone who failed to make an appearance, and though Julian knew they would never be taken SERIOUSLY as a candidate in Ervig’s demise, they’d made sure to be here to avoid unnecessary SUSPICION ).

There is a lightness always surrounding Julian that Leo has always been attracted to. Not in a romantic sense, but the darkness in him has always sought out people made of different substances, and they are a foil to Leo’s energy. Julian is something pure and unfiltered, even under disingenuous conditions that raised them and Javier. Even in the middle of a funeral, Julian is a breath of fresh air that Leo realizes he has been missing. Maybe there is a silver lining to the doom and gloom of it all, and a friendship can be rekindled in the ashes of Janus. 

“No one is quite that stupid.” A dry comment as some more people shuffle into the pews around him. He can feel Julian probing for information, but knows that it is harmless. Unlike the Minerva hypocrites or nosey Mercury truth-hounds, Julian is too kind of a soul for any interrogation.

Leo scans the crowd, counting faces and ensure all of his invitees are in attendance. A second sweeping look to see reactions of people. There are many faking various stages of grief amongst the houses, a couple more who actually look bereft. The hall of the basilica, grand and holy, feels tarnished by the pit of vipers curling around each other, waiting for the smell of fresh blood before they strike.

“Lack of attendance would... exacerbate the situation. Most of the souls here are just ready for the event to be over.”

[leoblackwell]

seungseuls​:

Some people say that Rome wasn’t built in a day— to hear Iseul tell it, the city certainly didn’t fall in one. La revolución was a massive effort that required much of her time. And she wasn’t the type to be swayed by the idea that a singular randomized effort could upend centuries of bullshit. It’s no surprise then, that her ‘schedule’ ( if one may call it that ), demands more overtime than a more traditional career would. 

You’d have to forgive the amount of times she scanned her cellphone for any important text messages— and you’d have to wonder just how she made it from point A to point B without experiencing even one pedestrian collision. 

Even before she had admitted the fact, her mothers used to call her a workaholic ( for a very good reason )…they always knew her better than she knew herself. At the very least, Dahianna and Haneul had once known her…before the sands of time had claimed one mother and the grief had driven the other away. Some things had changed since then and some hadn’t. With the years coming and going, Iseul had continued to allow herself less breaks than she’d allowed anyone else in the Collective, but she’d stopped purchasing coffee beans and started a connoisseurship with looseleaf tea instead. 

That being said, her caffeine rehabilitation wouldn’t keep her from gracing Leo with her company every once in a while. He’d always ordered her favorites, after all, and she sees that this time is no different when she sits across from him, eyeing the peach oolong. “Good morning…thank you for the tea,” Iseul finds that it’s just the way she likes it, “I so humbly state that it’s thriving in the absence of organized religion…we lab rats thank you for caring enough to ask.”

🔬

“Fascinating,” Leo says with a shake of his head a lack of his usual sarcasm. The collective is truly something to behold, full of ideals and forward progress that realistically should not work so well in the real world. Not because the thoughts are wrong, or there is a flaw with the concept, but for the sheer unpredictability that is humanity and the unwitting selfishness that comes with it. Iseul has managed to harness that human factor into something more manageable, and if Leo thinks too hard on it he’s sure she has to be a cult leader or some kind of social genius. Maybe a bit of both.

“And the lab rats aren’t wanting for anything?” Leo asks with a quirk on his brow over the top of his sunglasses. The coffee is smooth and refreshing, warming Leo up as well as the morning sun. He knows Iseul is smart enough to read in between the lines of what he’s asking. Out of all of the members of Janus, she is perhaps closest to his hidden secret, getting to see some of the prototypes and developments of a company that does not exist in the public sphere. Not yet, at least. A handful of his global patents have returned in tact and approved, and Leo can feel the rumblings of something big and dangerous almost ready to be unleashed on the world.

“And what of the puppetmaster herself?” Leo leans forward, his lackadaisical posture improving as he takes a sip of his coffee. His words are bladed but dull still, lacking a bite. He has too much respect for the woman in front of him to insult her or what she’s created. 

[leoblackwell]

[leoblackwell]

javierpcrez​:

“ that motherfucker was terrifying. ”     javier chuckles, parking the car on his usual spot. the image was still perfectly engrained in his mind, and he knew that one of the reasons he still wore his crucifix and thanked for the food on his table before eating was because of it. not out of pity for jesus or any of that shit, but out of fear of the god that let it happen. 

it takes only a few minutes until a handful of men show up at one of the ends of the street, walking in formation towards the car dressed menacingly and, frankly, stupidly. javier motions for leo to get out of the car, doing the exact same after putting the duffle bag on top of the backseat and taking the keys out from the ignition.     “ alright, there are more of them than there should be. ”     he speaks under his breath, giving an easy, fake, smile to the other one so that if anyone was paying close attention to them, they wouldn’t be set off.

he leans against the nearest dirty wall and nods at mikhail, watching as a couple of men get inside the car, checking and counting the guns as per usual. the russian murmurs a complain about the time, and javier just shrugs.     “ your boss said at this hour, so figure it out with her instead, friend. ”     if anything, they were early for it.     “ what’s taking your boys so long, mikhail? they don’t got good eyesight? we can provide you glasses too. ”

🔬

The Russians look like something out of a B-list mafia movie, and Leo has to bite back a snort and sort his face into a blank expression to hide his amusement. Greasy hair, big chains, and chest hair on displays through open dress shirts, Leo feels like someone needs to yell ‘action!’ before they are allowed to interaction. Javier

The tension crackles around them, and Leo assesses Mikhail with a critical gaze. There is an extra layer of sweat on the burly man’s forehead, and Leo’s eyes narrow as he goes body to body. Javier does all of the talking, which suits him fine. He does not need to look at the guns a second time; they are pristine but bland, exactly what is ordered and mass produced for mob bosses and thugs.

“Wouldn’t be planning on something stupid, would you?” He asks in accented Russian. Mikhail’s face is colored with surprise as he barks something about money at the guy in the back of the formation, who heads to the trunk of the car. The metal of his pistol pushes against his skin, and Leo does some quick assessments. 

His pistol is in optimal placement, already cocked with a round in the chamber and seventeen more in the magazine. The average human reaction time is 0.225 seconds, and can draw his pistol in about .195 seconds with the current placement and the planned interference of his jacket fabric. Realistically, he could fire off two rounds before the Russians had a chance to draw, if they are quick draws, but the odds are not in their favor with too many variables. Like Javier, and if he would react the same to a perceived threat. Or any additional body armor hidden under the Russians, any targets still in the vehicle, or the additional threat of the unloaded guns on their hand, which could quickly be turned against them.

Leo glances over at Javier, who has much more experience in these settings. He’s fine to follow the other man’s lead in the situation as he keeps his wits about him and a very close look on the Russians.

[leoblackwell]

taintedvalentine​:

Oh? So this is how it goes. Suddenly, she realizes she is alone in this struggle, and her nerves start to fray. None of it. She offers Leo a gentle smile as she straightens up. “Is that a line you learned from Evrig?” She can feel the rage flare up within every fiber of her being. Who was Leo or Janus to place judgment upon her? As if they could possibly understand what their family had done to destroy her.

In response, she narrowed her eyes in the direction of the man in front of her. The tension in the air could be sliced with a knife. Before Leo’s obvious desire for attention from Evrig led her to distaste him, she had once respected him.

“It must be so easy for you to think you’re justified in your anger. A red dress is nothing compared to what he did to me. Wouldn’t be surprised if you were involved with that too.”

She feels herself grow by two feet. Ready to devour whatever could be found left of Leo. He represented everything that matched her pain. The never ending love for the despicable Evrig. Noelle had advised Valentine to keep her head down. A bitten tongue can only be tamed for so long. 

Her emotions near take over. The fear, the pain and the abuse. Evrig is forever engraved in her mind. 

“So…” She pauses. She wants to say it. Scream it at the top of her lungs. Fuck you and your family. Just say it valentine! “Don’t worry the last installments of my supply have been paid. Consider it part of your inheritance, asshole.”

🔬

The line is meant to stir up something in his chest. Leo decides not to give her the satisfaction. He feels the anger prickle around him and takes a deep, steadying breath to calm himself. No need to unleash the force of his anger at her in the middle of the Florence streets. That would get around. Everything loud and big does eventually between the houses. Any displays of his unhappiness will be much more subtle and well planned than a screaming match in the midnight hour.

Leo’s eyes narrow at her for a moment, trying to figure out if its a ploy to throw him off of his game or a genuine statement. He has never known Valentine to be that good of a bluffer. Then again, he isn’t sure he knows her well at all. Dismissal is the easiest, and he plays it safe.

“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, and I don’t care.” Whatever deal Valentine has in the works with Ervig, or one of the other Elder Rossi members, is not his business until they make it so. Leo is happy to stay in his corner with his guns and weaponry, away from some of the less savory parts of the family business. Ervig was no angel. Leo is a practical man when it comes to his former mentor, and he knows the darkness that lives in the man. Reason does not negate a father figure, though, and the balance is precarious until Ervig is taken from him.

People often equate him with the Rossi family. Like interchangeable pieces of the same puzzle, until they try to finish it and realize too late that Leo is in the wrong place. There is a divide there, though, one that seems non-existent in his childhood but has a wedge-like gap that has been exposed since Ervig’s death. Leo would rather follow him to the grave than admit any of that to the likes of her, though.

“Feel free to leave me out of your business and your problems.” The disdain seeps from his pores as he looks down at her. His voice is cold as steel as he regards her. Leo lets the coat of his jacket slide open to the ever-present pistol kept on his person. It is a handcrafted piece, of course, with intricate designs molded onto the barrel and stock of the gun. The gun has a blacked finish, with silver embellishments for Janus and his own rise to power. A personal homage that is a not so discrete reminder of who she is dealing with. “Your disrespect today - your justified red dress - won’t be forgotten.”

[richard-madden]