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Realistic or Modern Blackjack Temptations

Characters
Here








Alessandro Morello.











MOOD: slightly amused
LOCATION: the Morello house
OUTFIT: click!
TAGS: Val, Luca ( MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ), Leandra ( Desert_Blossom Desert_Blossom )



/*right side*/





Bringing a whole army to the enemy territory was probably a way smarter idea than just three more people but Sandro was more than content. Val and Luca equalled the whole army anyway and if Sandro needed someone to have his back and protect him from a stray bullet, it was these two. The trio grew close. Closer than family. They say blood is thicker than water and Sandro was very well aware of what the saying meant. Always choose your family, your blood relatives, no matter what. However, only very few knew the full saying which was that the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. Guess what, meaning the exact opposite. And the full version was one Sandro identified with the most. He didn’t care that neither Val, nor Luca were his blood relatives. He trusted them with his own life, especially on nights like this one. The feud with the Salvatores had been dragging on forever now. Who knew if this whole deal was genuine or another scheme to try and end the Morellos?

They wasted enough time, they needed to go inside. Val left for a while and the other three hovered in front of the entrance for a while longer but then entered. Sandro walked first but he felt that Luca and Leandra were not too far. His eyes were already scanning the premises, locating the door, the casino, all possible exits. Now all he needed to find out was where the dinner was held but apparently, his clever Underboss had it all under control. The blonde beauty reappeared soon and her arm snaked around his. To an innocent observer, the small group may look like two couples out for a night of fun. But in Sandro’s business, fun was a relative and rather debatable term.

Hearing the location of the dining room, Sandro suppressed a groan and had to agree with Luca. “They better do. I’m wearing one of my best suits for them. If they sprinkle it with blood, I’ll drown them in theirs.” he mumbled, being very much aware of his overall sour mood. He needed to snap out of it and fast but it was hard, bearing in mind that he was no longer a free man and tonight, with its public announcement, was going to seal the deal on that. “They either know how limiting that place is and it’s somehow their twisted way of showing us they are also caged or it’s an elaborated trap. I’m going to bet on the latter just to be safe.” he said and pressed the button for the elevator which took ages to finally arrive.

Sinking into his own thoughts the whole ride up, Sandro managed to calm himself down a little and when the elevator opened again on the target floor, he was able to slip into his usual demeanor and place that signature lopsided grin on his face. After all, if the Salvatores created a trap, they were about to be the ones caught in it. Indeed, who needed an army with such an arsenal around him? “Have I told you you look gorgeous?” he leaned to Val, smirking widely. “So much metal suits you.” he winked as they walked towards the last room on the left. Upon entering, Sandro almost laughed. It was mostly empty, just the Don was sitting there and a few seats from him, a sulking girl. Sandro nodded his greeting, there was no need for glorious introductions. “Is this everyone that’s coming?” he asked, his tone laced in slight mockery. “Maybe we overestimated them.” he whispered to his companions with a chuckle, half-hoping that the rest of the group he had seen downstairs only came to enjoy drinks and machines in the casino. Sandro knew better than to think less of a girl just because she was female, Val was the perfect example of what a girl could accomplish if driven enough, but still, the group accompanying the rival Don just seemed…insufficient.







/*do not remove credit*/

wagging my tail.

coded by weldherwings
 
location
Salvatore Casino
mood
Shocked
interactions
Tony apolla apolla Alessandro & Gia _amaranth_ _amaranth_ Luca & Val MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat
outfit
Click!
Malia / Leandra
Luca proved to be the perfect distraction for the walk through the casino, eliciting a laugh from Malia with his flirting. “Is that so? And here I thought dinner with a rival family would be fun enough for you…” She replied, glancing over when Val rejoined them with directions for where they’d be going. It was no surprise that being cornered in the penthouse put the small group of Morello mafia members on edge. They were in uncharted waters, swimming in a sea of Salvatore’s empire. Having only one way out didn’t bode well- trap or no trap. So much for distractions from everything that could go wrong…

When the Morello group entered the dinner room, led by Sandro with Val at his side, they immediately outnumbered the Salvatores sitting at the table by double. Aside from lackies used more for security than business matters, only the Don and Gia sat at the table so far. And while Sandro apparently saw this as a good thing, chuckling a little about overestimating the rival family, Malia did not. She’d been hoping to find a busy room that she could easily slip into the background of and perhaps avoid Gia’s notice all together, but there was no such luck. Moving towards the table, the brunette’s grip on Luca’s arm tightened for a moment as she chanced a small bow of her head in respectful greeting, first to the Don and then to his daughter. Her gaze then shifted to the guards standing behind the Don, silently counting them and wondering how many she’d be able to take out if her cover was blown.

Needing a drink, Malia glanced over at the well-stocked wet bar to the side of the room for those that wanted something stronger than the fine wine being poured by servers. “I think I’ll get Sandro that drink now…” She uttered to Luca, releasing his arm. “Try to keep him in this chipper mood…” The brunette joked with a small smirk to hide her own nerves. Unfortunately, Malia peeled away from the consigliere just as someone new entered the room and collided with her. The man was quick to catch her waist, offering a steadying hand, but it was the familiarity of his voice as he apologized that made her glance up. Her first instinct was to smile as her eyes met the handsome man’s, but then she remembered where she was and-

“Tony…?” Malia breathed quietly, her body reflexively relaxing into his hold before her mind could process what he was doing here. This was the last place she expected to run into her NSA lover, and based on the expression on his face, he felt the same way. She glanced around the private room of mafia members for a moment before back at him in confusion. “What are you doing h-…” But even as the whispered question slipped from her lips, the FBI agent’s brain connected the dots and her dark eyes widened in surprise. Tony- short for Antonio. As in Antonio Salvadore…

Keeping things surface level had seemed like such a good idea six months ago when Malia and Tony began their fling. They’d both been more than happy to avoid bringing surnames into the mix- hell they hadn’t even managed to exchange full first names. Antonio was simply Tony, while Malia was simply Lia. The brunette obviously had her reasons for not wanting to delve into personal information and her past, but now it made sense why Tony had been happy to play along. He was the son of Don Salvatore. Fuck!

Malia’s pulse was racing, and not just because her body had been conditioned to expect the pleasure that usually followed Tony’s touch. His sudden appearance threatened her job. Both her jobs. She’d been sleeping with the enemy, no matter how she sliced it, and if their tryst was discovered…

The brunette’s hand moved to the heir’s chest and she pushed away from him gently, defying all her impulses to move closer instead. “No harm done…” She finally replied to his apology, hoping those words would remain true. Forcing her lips into a polite smile that felt foreign when directed towards Tony, Malia let her hand drop away from his suit. “Though there are easier ways to introduce yourself Mr…. Salvadore, I would presume?” She added as if they’d never met, hoping Tony would take the hint and play along.
coded by natasha.
 
location
Salvatore Casino
mood
Keep cool
interactions
outfit
Gregory Vietto III
The underboss’s greeting took the form of a flame as he lit Gia’s cigarette. Soon he found himself beside two of three siblings with the youngest Salvatore offering a sassy goodbye as she bee lined it for the Casino entrance. “Nice ride?” Vietto mused, watching Gemma until she disappeared from view. His gaze shifted to Tony and Gia when they discussed their sister plotting their deaths and he shook his head with a laugh. “I hope I’m not included in that.” He then nodded his head when the Don’s heir took his leave, settling his gaze on Gia. Ever since Gia had taken more of an interest in the family business, Vietto had been spending more and more time with the brunette, so it wasn’t uncommon for it to be just the two of them.

What wasn’t common was Gia reaching out to fix the underboss’s tie. Vietto arched an eyebrow, watching her with an amused expression before she caught herself. He laughed at her comment about “momming” him and he shrugged. “Your words not mine…” he grinned, letting her finish before catching her hands with his and gave them a uncharacteristically comforting squeeze. “I’m sure your father has his reasons for not sharing the agenda for tonight.” He said, knowing very well how Gia was feeling. But there was nothing either of them could do about it. Releasing her hands he turned with her to walk into the casino. They didn’t get very far before Gia grabbed his forearm and asked him to find Gemma.

Had anyone outside the Salvatore family tried sending the Underboss on an errand to fetch someone, he wouldn’t have been so amenable. But it was Gia asking him, and he knew she was right to want to protect Gemma from the ire of the Don. And so, Vietto nodded simply. “Of course. We’ll see you up there shortly.” He replied, offering a brief salute of his fingers before diverting his course towards the slot machines. He’d known Gemma long enough to have a pretty good idea of where he’d find her amongst the dazzling lights and melodic chimes meant to entrance visitors and distract them from the realization they were losing more than winning. Sure enough, Gemma was at her favorite slot, feeding Salvatore money right back into Salvatore pockets.

“Feeling lucky?” Vietto asked, coming up beside Gemma and resting his shoulder casually against the slot machine she was perched so elegantly at. The youngest daughter of the Don looked out of place amongst the gamblers- some of whom were tourists, some addicts, but none as refined as the young woman in the rhinestoned black dress. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were dressed for something a little more important than a night of gambling…” He teased gently, offering her an easy grin.

“I’ll make you a deal though…” Vietto said, pushing off the slot machine and strolling around behind Gemma with his hands in his pockets. “You get a jackpot on your next pull, and we’ll get out of here…” He suggested, leaning in over her shoulder from behind. “If you don’t… well, we both tough out a dinner from hell with siblings we’re not too fond of.” Vietto added, straightening once more as he watched the slot machine. “Though between you and me, I’d gladly trade my brother for yours any day.” He admitted before letting out a knowing sigh. “Even if Tony’s priorities are a little questionable these days.”

coded by natasha.
 
















scroll me!







location
Casino -> Dining Room.




interactions
Luca, Sandro ( _amaranth_ _amaranth_ ), Leandra ( Desert_Blossom Desert_Blossom )




mentions
Gia, Tony ( apolla apolla ).




outfit
click!











Valentina

underboss








Her father had always told her that the power of an underboss can vary, that it depends on the power they have and the respect they demand. He taught her that the Esposito name would only take her so far, especially because she was a woman. If she were going to garner the respect she deserved from the rest of the Morello family, she would have to earn it. It was easier for some than others. Sandro and Luca were representatives of that. It only took her finally beating them in a spar to get those looks, the twinkles in their eyes and the slight smirks as they realized just how strong she could truly be. But it took time to get on the good signs of most of the others in the family. Part of her job as the underboss of the Morello family was to run the day-to-day affairs of the family. She made decisions on things that were too arbitrary to take to Sandro, offered her opinion on things that did, and now and again would assist on jobs that required a... woman's touch.

Hearing Luca's words, a confident smirk graced her lips as Valentina glanced back at him just to say, "If they don't, they will certainly learn shortly." From what Valentina had heard about the Salvatore family, they were built on old money as one of the oldest crime families in the city. They had their roots in practically every underground business and money front there could be. The Don was a relatively terrifying man, but he had a weakness for his children. From what she was told, the oldest was a son but had no business being an heir. The younger two were both daughters, both badass rebel women who could put any man in their place, kind of like Val. But they were daughters of the enemy, and while the blonde might deep down wish she had female friends in similar situations, she wasn't sure she could ever trust them. At least men were easy to read, and Val could almost always tell when they weren't telling her the full truth. Women? They could smile their way out of anything.

Besides, the feud that the Morellos and the Salvatores had engaged in long before Sandro became Don had taken much from both families. She just hoped that there would be a truce that evening. "Cheer up, Sandy. Spilling some blood as a family could be a good bonding activity for our newbie," she said with a teasing tone, bumping her shoulder against his as she turned her blue gaze back on Leandra for just a moment. Though the brunette on Luca's arm didn't elicit any jealousy from her as she and Luca had been just friends with benefits for quite some time now, Val wasn't exactly happy she was tagging along. And it was for the same reasons she didn't think she could objectively be friends with the Salvatore women. Stepping into the elevator, her heeled knee-high boots clicked against expensive marble flecked with gold. The Salvatores certainly had to pull out all the stops when they built that casino, didn't they?

The elevator dinged open moments later, and Valentina held her head high. She wasn't about to let anyone walk over her. Alessandro's words caused a smirk to pull at the corners of her lips. "I think you have, but I'd be happy to hear it time and time again," she responded, giving him a once over. "You look quite dashing yourself." From the outside perspective of those that didn't know them, it might seem like the pair were flirting. But, for those that did, they knew that everything was strictly platonic between them. Entering the dining room, Val was actually surprised. Certainly, the Don of the infamous Salvatore family would come to a meeting with them with only one woman at his side. She knew better than to underestimate the brunette, but that didn't mean 4 against 2 wasn't a bargain. But those numbers increased at the entrance of who Val could only assume was the Don's son, running directly into Leandra. Releasing Sandro's arm, she moved to peer out the nearby window, planning exit routes just in case. Who knew what that evening had in store for them?




♡design by neon reverie, coded by uxie♡
 
















scroll me!







location
Casino -> Dining Room.




interactions
Val, Sandro ( _amaranth_ _amaranth_ ), Malia ( Desert_Blossom Desert_Blossom ).




mentions
Gia, Tony ( apolla apolla ).




outfit
click!











Lucius

consigliere








If there was one thing Lucius hated, it was being trapped in some place he couldn't get out easily. Okay, he hated quite a few things. Clowns, hospitals, the possibility he might end up on death row one day for all that he had done. That last one was a fear buried deep down that he didn't talk about often, if ever. But it was still a fear. Luca knew that, at the end of the day, if he were to be caught, Sandro and the Morello family would do everything in their power to keep him from capital punishment. But there was only so much that could be done, only so many dirty cops and judges that could be bribed. It was never a sure thing. That, and being trapped in a place with a lot of people that wanted him dead wasn't on his top 10 list either. He could only imagine that both guards and inmates wouldn't be too thrilled about him showing up in prison. Wherever it took place, being trapped but Luca on edge. And so when Val told them about their dinner plans for the evening, he was less than enthused.

"Me too. I'm not quite sure Belinda over at the dry cleaners would be able to get any more blood out of this suit. She gave me a stern talking to last time I went there," Luca responded, forcing himself to be light-hearted in light of the thoughts that were running through his mind moments ago. Trap or no trap, they had to be prepared. And so he was distinctly aware of both the gorgeous woman on his arm and the deadly firearm strapped to his hip, hidden beneath his suit jacket. The elevator ride was short and relatively quiet compared to the alarms and sounds from the casino floor below. He could feel the anxiety beginning to build in his chest, the same feeling he got on the drive to any hit he ever made. No matter how many times he killed someone, whether they deserved it or not, he was always nervous before. Maybe it was the adrenaline leading up to the unknown. Or maybe it was the darkness of the act itself. Whatever it was, it reminded him that he was still human, despite the less than stellar choices and acts he had committed in his life.

But as soon as the doors opened and they entered the Salvatore dining room, any nervousness dissipated almost immediately. It was the Salvatore Don and a singular woman against Sandro, Val, Leandra, and him. Yeah, there were guards. But they were ultimately useless, everyone knew that. Certainly, this wouldn't be the whole group, right? That would be a mistake on the Salvatores' part. What was the whole point of this meeting anyway? Was their Don on his deathbed and finally wanted a truth? They moved toward the opposite head of the table, and Val released Sandro to go look out the window. Luca stood to the left of his brother and leader, just in case. He felt Leandra squeeze his arm, and Luca's blue eyes glanced down at her in a bit of surprise. He raised an eyebrow curiously at the bow, knowing that it was an attempt at respect. But was still surprising. "Sure," he answered her, watching as she went to grab a drink before running directly into a newly entering party. Well, looks like it wouldn't just be them after all.

As the consigliere, it was Lucius's job to act as a close, trusted friend and overall confidant of the Don. Because he had grown up so close to Sandro, it was an easy step up the ladder for him. He was one of the few that was allowed to talk back to his leader, a power he particularly used to tell Sandro when he was being testosterone-fueled and stupid. Sometimes that ended in arguments that turned into fist fights. Their sibling nature came to the surface now and again. But Luca knew that sometimes the only way to get Sandro to realize how wrong he was was to beat it into him. Walking a few steps towards the table, Luca picked up the wine glass from the place setting and brought it to his nose, inhaling the scent. Earthy with light aromas of oak and red fruits. Certainly expensive, and definitely something the Salvatores would serve at a dinner party. Lucius took a sip and nodded in appreciation. At least he knew it wasn't poisoned. Turning his attention back to Sandor, he asked, "Shall we sit?"




♡design by neon reverie, coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:






  • These days, knowing more makes you more miserable.






















@gemmathegem



















nine lives

 






  • These days, knowing more makes you more miserable.






















@tonio_the_onlio



















nine lives

 





Gianna Salvatore.







MOOD: anxious
LOCATION: casino
OUTFIT: click!
TAGS: everyone


/*right side*/



There was nothing one could be jealous of when it came to Gia’s situation. She might have been her father’s best soldier, a ruthless murder machine who was capable of taking a life in way too many creative ways and she wouldn’t even blink when doing so. Daddy dearest trusted her with all the most difficult tasks and the good girl she was, Gianna always carried them out flawlessly and dutifully. And yet, she couldn’t say to be enjoying her father’s favor. Not like she used to. Before she turned into this dark version of her, she used to be the textbook definition of daddy’s girl. She pointed her little well-manicured finger and her father moved mountains to make it happen for her. Well, not anymore. Apparently, becoming dark Gianna had its pros and cons and losing the attention of her father was one of them. She never complained, never said anything about it, always obeyed the orders. But it was situations like this one that she felt like not valued enough, like she was invisible, just another employee.

As she was about to take her place by her father, once again, the man showed her she was not up there with his son and other men in his organization. Places by his sides were reserved for Vietto and Tony. Don’t get her wrong. Gia loved her brother to the moon and back. But Tony didn’t even want to be a part of the family business and yet, dad kept pushing him into it. Gia yearned for a drink but she was forcing her not to order a glass of bourbon. Tonight was already a high risk situation, she wanted to keep her head clean even if it was just in case. And around three seconds after she thought about the whole setting, the door opened and the Morello group entered, led by their fearless leader. Gia took a sip from her sparkling water and measured all four persons quickly. And then the glass froze in her hand.

She knew the Morello douche-canoe and his lackeys but what surprised her was the face of the brunette accompanying them. The surprise took her aback for one simple reason. Gia knew the girl. Sure, the last time they met, they both ended up rather shitfaced thanks to a significant amount of tequila shots they both kicked back but Gia still remembered her face and all color disappeared from hers. She loved that evening and it seemed to her she finally found someone to hang out with, someone outside of the whole mafia dealings. Only to find out that Lia was actually just another Morello minion. Gia’s hands around her glass tightened and she focused on one thing only. Keeping her mouth shut.

Gemma appeared a moment after Tony did but it was the sister who came to join Gia first. She didn’t spare her any look and Gia sighed inaudibly. Once the whole family was seated, Gia looked at her father in expectation. He sipped his drink in such a calm fashion that no one would believe him he was in the room with his mortal enemy. “Take a seat, kid.” he hummed at Alessandro who clearly didn’t appreciate the name used. The moments before beginning were dragging and Gianna was growing more and more anxious. And then her father started talking. A really heavy and somewhat bad feeling nestled in the deepest pit of her stomach and something was telling her she was not going to like what was about to happen. "This tension is killing me." she whispered so only her siblings would hear. And her fingers itched for another cigarette as she watched the rival family slowly take their seats. Sandro started talking to her father and Gia had to bite her tongue very hard not to speak out of line.




/*do not remove credit*/
wagging my tail.
coded by weldherwings
 
Last edited:








Alessandro Morello.











MOOD: slightly amused
LOCATION: the Morello house
OUTFIT: click!
TAGS: Val, Luca ( MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ), Leandra ( Desert_Blossom Desert_Blossom )



/*right side*/





“Do we need to get you more suits then?” Sandro turned to Luca. “We could save Belinda some hard work.” he laughed as the whole group was on their way to the dining room. Count on Val and Luca to lift his spirits in any situation, no matter how grim.

It took one look for Sandro to calm down. Churning in his stomach was still present but it was caused by the whole situation with secrets and quite honestly, he was concerned over Val and Luca’s reaction to the news. The whole deal his father had made with Marco Salvatore was kept under the lid and only very few actually knew about it. Sandro himself promised not to reveal anything until the time came and while he was glad that after tonight, there would be no more secrets between him and the two people he kept the closest, it still didn’t feel right. However, seeing Salvatore sitting in the room accompanied just by his daughter who wore a fake bored expression on her face, Sandro started to doubt there was something to be afraid of.

“Then I’ll keep complimenting you until you get sick of it.” he smirked at Val, brushing invisible dust off his vest. He enjoyed this playful banter the two had going. There was no pressure between the two, they were just keeping it all light and breezy. Val let go of his arm after a while and waltzed over to the windows. What might seem as an innocent admiration of the view was so much more and Sandro knew what she was doing. Good girl. Always working. Val was one of those people who didn’t need orders simply because she herself knew what to do. Her intuition was always on point and that alone made her an ideal underboss. The fact that she was as close to Sandro as his sister was an added bonus to the whole dynamic.

Leandra walked aside as well and Sandro stopped paying attention to her for the time being. A mistake on his side because if he spared at least one look, he would notice the encounter between her and the future of the Salvatores. Instead, he nodded to Luca as they approached the table. “Let’s he.” breathed and took his seat across the table of Marco Salvatore. Nodding in greeting, he unbuttoned his jacket and reached for his own wine glass. There were no cordial greetings or handshakes between the two. Both men knew where they stood with each other, there was no need to fake anything. Slowly the table was filling with people and Sandro leaned back in his seat, staring at the rival Don with his signature lopsided grin. “There is no need for pleasantries, Marco. I think we can both agree that this whole evening is only a pure necessity.” he drawled and took a sip of the rich red wine. A vintage older than himself if he dared to guess. “Everyone is burning with curiosity.” Sandro was definitely not going to be the one to break the news. “I’ll leave the honor to you, Salvatore. Since you’re selling.” he widened his smirk and set the glass down.







/*do not remove credit*/

wagging my tail.

coded by weldherwings
 
location
Salvatore Casino
mood
Uneasy
interactions
Tony apolla apolla
outfit
Malia / Leandra
Under almost any other circumstance, Malia would have been only too willing to remain in Tony’s arms. But here, in a room full of her enemies, the few seconds already felt suspiciously long and she was afraid her tell-tale heart would surely give them away. She could feel his surprised gaze on her as her dark eyes scanned the room to make sure they hadn’t garnered unwanted attention. So far they looked to be in the clear and the FBI agent wanted to keep it that way. Fighting her instincts, Malia untangled herself from the handsome man’s arms, feigning an introduction befitting what should have been their first meeting.

The brunette bit the inside of her cheek as Tony’s eyes roamed over her, worried he might not take so kindly to her working for the Morellos… but she let out the breath she was holding when his mouth finally twisted into a grin and he played along. Call me Tony. His hand found hers, raising it to his lips for a kiss, earning a warning glance from Malia for milking things. And yet, her fingers did tighten around his when his lips pressed against her skin, only loosening when they left. It's nice to meet you, Miss...?

For a moment Malia faltered. When she’d been with Tony, she hadn’t been an FBI agent, or an alias, or a woman out for revenge. She’d just been her. But now, she had to play the part of- “Leandra… Tedesco.” The brunette replied, feeling a pang of guilt for lying to Tony. If her face betrayed any sign of her feelings though, his gaze was luckily trained on someone behind her. By the time his eyes found hers again she had a poised smile in place as she withdrew her hand from his. His grin was the same she’d come to known, and it was all she could do to maintain her charade as Leandra. “Of course.” She said simply, allowing him to move to the table first.

With her back to the room of mafia members, Malia closed her eyes for a moment and let out a long, steadying breath to collect herself. She’d been foolish to get caught up in a dalliance while on an assignment. She could have blown her cover, and over what? Some pleasurable nights? A charming smile? An escape? Rookie mistake. Malia straightened out her dress a little and turned, trying not to glance at Tony as she walked over to her own place beside Lucius. Only once seated did Malia realize she’d forgotten about her quest to the wet bar, but now it was too late. The wine would have to do. Her gaze shifted between the two dons as she picked up her glass, trying to make sense of their cryptic exchange.

Everyone is burning with curiosity… I’ll leave the honor to you, Salvatore. Since you’re selling. The brunette’s brow furrowed slightly at her boss’s words. What was Don Salvatore selling? Drugs? Illegal arms? The FBI was sure to be interested in whatever it was, even if it wasn’t necessarily why she was there. Dark eyes flicked to Valentina for a moment for any sign she had an idea what Sandro was alluding to, and then to Luca. It wasn’t surprising that she wasn’t in on the reason behind tonight’s dinner, but it was odd that the two closest to Sandro were in the dark too. And they didn’t seem like the only ones. A scan of the Salvatore family offered similar results, though Malia didn’t let her gaze linger on anyone long. Somehow she’d managed to accidentally have history with not one, but two of the siblings. Just fucking great.

coded by natasha.
 
location
Salvatore Casino
mood
Sick to his stomach
interactions
apolla apolla Gemma
outfit
Gregory Vietto III
When Vietto made deals, he always intended to see them through. Every now and then he didn’t keep his word, but that was usually in the cases when breaking his promise would cheat his enemies. So when he told Gemma that they would get out of there if she hit the jackpot, he meant it. Particularly because the odds of that happening were extremely low- even if he was a good luck charm as Gemma deemed him. Resting a hand on the back of the youngest Salvatore’s chair, Vietto watched as she hit the button on the slot machine and it began to whirl before them.

With each matching symbol, the underboss became less and less sure that he and Gemma wouldn’t be heading for the horizon instead of dinner. Though as the last wheel stopped spinning, he let out an imperceptible sigh of relief as the taunting chime of a failed spin sounded from the machine. To Gemma’s credit though, she took the loss well, and held up her end of the deal without pouting. Fine. Lead the way. But you owe me a cookie. Vietto couldn’t help but chuckle at the young woman’s conceit and nodded with an amused grin. “I think I can handle that…” He replied, holding his arm out for Gemma to take.

The pair walked to the elevator together, and Vietto glanced down at the brunette when she leaned her head against his shoulder. The youngest Salvatore had always held a soft spot in his heart, and there’d been a time when he was just as mischievous as her. But since becoming the underboss, Vietto had been trying to live up to the title, which being more responsible than he was perhaps naturally inclined to be. Perhaps that was one of the reasons he was now escorting Gemma to a dinner she didn’t want to instead so she wouldn’t get in trouble rather than letting her do what she wished. “Giant chocolate chip cookie, got it.” He nodded as the elevators door opened, noticing the uneasy look in her blue eyes before her lips turned up in a small smile as she told him not to leave her. “And I would never dream of it.” Vietto nodded, walking into the dinner room with Gemma. He escorted her to the seat that the Don indicated, before taking his place on Salvatore’s right hand side.

Once seated, one of the servers tried to fill the underboss’s wine glass, but he put his hand over it, waving away the server. “Want to be sharp…” He uttered when the Don gave him a questioning look, hiding his true reason for remaining sober. Picking up his water glass instead, Vietto scanned the room, taking in all of the guests as they all took their seats one by one until his gaze settled on his brother. On the left side of Don Morello while Valentina sat on the right as Underboss. A satisfied smirk crept onto his face for a moment before being replaced with a serious one as the Dons began speaking. Vietto didn’t know what Alessandro meant by Salvatore selling, but he didn’t like the sound of it. He did his best to maintain his poker face though the growing pit in his stomach was making it difficult. And became all but impossible when Don Salvatore revealed that what he was “selling” was his seat at the table… and his youngest daughter.

Vietto’s gaze jerked from the Don to Gemma, a sickening feeling replacing the pit as he realized he’d just delivered the brunette to the proverbial slaughter house. “There must be a mistake…” Vietto uttered, not realizing he had stood up until Salvatore motioned for him to sit back down. “I do not make mistakes when I speak.” Don Salvatore said sharply, not mincing any of his words. “Our two warring families will finally find peace and even greater power through the marriage of Don Morello and Gemma.” The older man was stoic, perhaps to hide any guilt he felt over marrying off his daughter to the enemy, or perhaps because he truly valued money and power over the happiness of his children. Either way, Vietto slowly sat back down, truly witnessing the darkest side of their way of life. “Now… I expect everyone to behave. After all, this is a dinner to celebrate this momentous engagement.” The Don picked up his wine glass, raising it first to Sandro and then to Gemma. “A toast to the couple.” He stated firmly, practically ordering everyone to raise their own glasses as well and get in line with this contract. Or else…

coded by natasha.
 
















scroll me!







location
Dining Room.




interactions
Alessandro ( apolla apolla ) Vietto ( Desert_Blossom Desert_Blossom ), Lucius.




mentions
Gia, Gemma, Tony.




outfit
click!











Valentina

underboss








From the top of the casino, Valentina's icy blue eyes glanced out over the city, appraising the bright flashing colors of the strip. It was a gorgeous view, and she felt a sense of serenity overcome her as her gaze scanned across the buildings and streets. The cars and people milling about below looked like ants to her, and Val briefly wondered how high up they truly were. She had never been afraid of heights, and had always wanted to do something like ziplining or sky-diving. Honestly, with all the tourist trap locations offering the former in the city, she was a bit surprised she had yet. No, what was more haunting was the fact that there were no real exits out of their location aside from the single door leading to the elevators and a set of stairs. So, if she had to get Sandro out of there quickly, it would be more difficult and she may have to act as a bullet shield. But she would do it for him.

Despite all those negative thoughts, the sight of Las Vegas did give her a sense of calm. It was where she was born and raised, where she learned the ways of the street and the mob, where she grew up and into who she was supposed to be. It was her home, loud and obnoxious, but beautiful nevertheless. It was an unconventional place to raise children, but her childhood was certainly far from conventional anyway. After all, how normal was it for a child to learn how to shoot a hang gun, to learn hand-to-hand combat, to learn to track exits, and to lie convincingly enough to get anyone to do as she said? Probably not super common. But Valentina had loved that life, and her father and family, despite all the negatives that had certainly come with it. So, the lights and sounds were comforting to her, able to hear the latter even as high up and behind glass as she was. Speaking of which... The blonde raised a manicured hand and tapped the glass one nail against the window. Bulletproof. Good.

Hearing Sandro's words behind her, Val turned back towards the table, seeing some had taken their seats. She paced back over to the table, running her hand along the back of her Don's chair as she passed. Now both daughters were there, along with the Salvatore son and underboss. She had heard of the older Vietto, more from Luca and through the grapevine than anywhere else. He was impulsive and vain, but what Las Vegas mob man wasn't? The Vietto brothers were more alike than they let on or even believed themselves. But it was entertaining to her, as an outsider looking in. The blonde underboss took her seat at Alessandro's right hand, reaching for her wine glass as well. She took a sip of her own, savoring the luxurious flavor and texture against her palate. Interesting how the Salvatores seemed to be buttering the Morellos up, with fancy wine and dinner. Was her joke earlier true? Were they truly going to offer a truce?

But then Sandro, her brother-in-arms, said something that caught her off-guard. "I'll leave the honor up to you, Salvatore. Since you're selling." Val did her best not to show the surprise on her face. He knew what this dinner was about? And he hadn't told her? Rage boiled up in her chest, but she pushed it down. In her position, she must be obedient, must abide by the Don's rules. If there was something he didn't tell her, he likely had a good reason for it. That didn't mean it hurt any less, however. And then her heart dropped into her stomach as the real reason they sat at the table was revealed: the Salvatore and Morello families would be merged by the marriage of Gemma and Alessandro, who sat on either side of her. Her entire body went rigid, ice coursing through her veins. If they were merging, what did that mean for her, for her position, all the hard work she had put in to get to where she had? Certainly, her best friend would have told her if that were to change, right? Raising her glass at Don Salvatore's request, she quickly took a sip, hoping the wine might calm her. It didn't. Turning her angry, icy blue gaze between Alessandro and Don Salvatore before finally landing on Gregory, she narrowed her eyes and placed a hand on her weapon. "So who do I have to kill to keep my position?"




♡design by neon reverie, coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:
















scroll me!







location
Dining Room.




interactions
Lea ( Desert_Blossom Desert_Blossom ), Sandro ( apolla apolla ).




mentions
Gemma, Tony ( _amaranth_ _amaranth_ ), Gregory, Val.




outfit
click!











Lucius

consigliere








Wouldn't it be funny, if the way that the infamous Reaper went down was by poisoned wine? That would certainly be deserving of a humorous place on his epitaph. The thought put a smirk on Lucius's face as he took another sip of wine. Though, if he were being truthful, he wanted to go out on his terms. Maybe jumping without a parachute, giving up early in a fight to give his opponent an "upper hand" that no one would believe. Death was a funny thing, the one constant in life, something that he knew would happen eventually. Though for him, he couldn't help but wonder if that constant would come sooner rather than later. Knowing that those in his line of work tended to not make it past 50 brought some anxiety. But, at the end of the day, there was a risk of death on every job he went out on. And he had always been okay with that. Fearing death does not a good hitman make.

Swirling the maroon liquid around the base of the crystal wine glass, Lucius turned his attention to the room around him. Another brunette entered the room, no doubt the other daughter of Don Salvatore. She looked younger and less than enthused to be at that particular dinner. Lea's voice caught his attention, and he caught the brief end of her interaction with the Salvatore heir. She was gorgeous, so it was not surprising in the slightest that Antonio already seemed taken with her. A smirk played on his lips as Luca rolled his eyes. Well, maybe that could be used to their advantage in the future. Especially if they needed someone to coerce Salvatore decisions in the future. Though, an heir who didn't want the throne probably didn't have very much power. And then there was his brother. The older Vietto who took a seat at Don Salvatore's right hand.

It wasn't exactly the way he wanted to have a family reunion, especially with a big bother who hated him. Well, to be fair, he didn't want to have a family reunion at all. But before Luca could make his brother's acquaintance, Sandro agreed and approached the table. The brunette hitman sat to the left of his Don, taking another sip of wine as the others finally settled into their seats. Lea sat alongside him, and he offered her a nod, turning his attention back to his friend and leader. But that evening would not go the way Lucius had thought. No, the following conversation between Dons left him surprised, confused, taken aback. He glanced between Sandro and Val, and one look at her face told him that she hadn't known either. Their brother had hid this from them, something so important and dangerous. But why?

Lucius couldn't help but wonder if it was because he didn't want their counsel, didn't want them to try and talk him out of it. That was their job after all, and he would have certainly knocked some sense into Sandro had he known. The Salvatores and the Morellos historically do not get along, and so forcing them together meant that morale might plummet. Before Luca could speak up and question Alessandro's decision, his brother did instead, standing up. Don Salvatore shut him down immediately, sending Gregory back into his seat. The hitman raised his glass, finishing off the deep red liquid in one go. He nearly choked in laughter at Valentina's question, following her gaze over to his brother. Normally Luca would try to temper the blonde woman's murderous instincts. But that fight was one he would be interested to see play out. Leaning his head closer to Sandro's, murmured only for the two of them to hear. "Are you sure this is a good idea? Do you really trust the enemy?"




♡design by neon reverie, coded by uxie♡
 






  • These days, knowing more makes you more miserable.






















@gemmathegem



















nine lives

 






  • These days, knowing more makes you more miserable.






















@tonio_the_onlio



















nine lives

 





Gianna Salvatore.







MOOD: enraged
LOCATION: casino
OUTFIT: click!
TAGS: everyone


/*right side*/



The tension in the room was so heavy that one could literally cut through it. Two families with no love for each other were seated at one table and hostile looks were exchanged. No one even tried to hide their distaste over the shared meal and Gia almost started to pray for this to be over soon. She hated not knowing and even though she used to be the princess who knew nothing about the family business except that it existed, that girl was long gone, replaced by the Black Widow of the Salvatores, a girl who was skilled and efficient, a girl who was always kept in the loop. And even if her father refused to tell her everything, she could always pry it out of Vietto. However, now it seemed no one but her father and that smug asshole Alessandro were aware of the news. And Gianna was just unable to relax until one of them finally spilled the tea.

Hearing Sandro’s words about selling, an ominous feeling took over Gia and she let out a small exhale. And yet, it was not until her father spoke that she was on the verge of fainting. Salvatore’s voice filled the room, positively silencing every hum. Even Gia felt ice on her spine when her dad told Vietto he never made mistakes. And then the real bomb was dropped, causing Gia’s head jerk to the side. Years of practice helped her to keep her face from sporting all sorts of expressions but the disbelief spilling inside was consuming her like an acid. Her body flinched slightly when Gemma’s hand found hers but Gia gripped it back, inaudibly letting her sister know she was there, that she would always have her back. The girls didn’t even have to look at each other to communicate that as Gia laced their fingers together.

Her free hand reached for her wine glass and her eyes ran around the table, stopping to stare at the Morello Don with a smirk painted across his face, sipping his whiskey as if he just won the jackpot. Her grip on the delicate glass tightened even more and when the blonde girl spoke, her fury reached the peak. “You could start with yourself.” she hissed mere seconds before the glass broke under the pressure of her fingers and Gia found herself with a palm stained with wine and blood. So many things happened at once that only when she reached for a napkin did she realize Gemma’s hand was not in hers anymore and Tony was laughing out loud as if this was just another hilarious evening. Gemma made her dramatic exit and Gia wrapped a white napkin around her injured hand to stop the bleeding from multiple cuts.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she hissed at her brother, punching his arm as hard as she could. “And you?” Turning to her father, Gianna just shook her head and parted her lips to give them more of her mind when her father spoke. “Save your insults, father. Gorillas are way smarter than your neanderthal son.” she spat and rose up to her feet. She would go fetch Gemma but there was no way she was bringing her back to this circus. “Excuse me, I seem to have lost my appetite anyway.” Her tone was dry and she spun on her heel strutting for the door. Her rage blinded her and she marched straight for the elevator, catching the door right before it closed completely. Gia slid inside and looked at her sister. “Let’s get out of here, Gem. I suggest a shooting range for the rest of the evening.”




/*do not remove credit*/
wagging my tail.
coded by weldherwings
 








Alessandro Morello.











MOOD: slightly amused
LOCATION: casino
OUTFIT: click!
TAGS: everyone



/*right side*/





Sandro knew what to expect. After keeping even his two closest friends in the dark, he knew that the revelations would be cruel and dramatic. It might have been selfish but he still rather let Salvatore do it himself. It was indeed selfish but also, it allowed Sandro a first-row show to the whole glorious humiliation of the man. Alessandro was giving up a lot by agreeing to the terms his father had worked out but it was the other old man who was literally selling his daughter to make sure his old precious ass would live to see his comfortable retirement. And on top of it all, two empires were coming together with only one Don which was Sandro. So yes, if you asked him, it was a pretty sweet deal. He got a pretty wife out of it with a dowry at least half of the world could be jealous of. This merger made Sandro twice that powerful and it basically meant that the Salvatores ceased their strength to benefit the Morellos. Even Luca and Val had to see it.

Using the vocabulary he did, Sandro received many looks but his gaze remained fixed on the old man. His smirk only grew, especially when he noticed shock and stress written all over their faces. The other Vietto even rose to his feet only to be silenced by the Don. This was already pure chaos and Sandro relished in it. His earlier worries dissipated and he reached for his glass, raising it in a toast. His eyes found his future bride and he already saw she was not too happy. As if she could change the agreement. Sandro would marry her even if he had to drag her to the altar kicking and screaming. The details had already been agreed upon and no amount of tantrums was going to change that.

When Luca leaned closer, Sandro let the Salvatores breathe the whole sensation through. “Don’t worry, brother.” he whispered back and met Luca’s stare. “A bite from a toothless dog doesn’t hurt.” he offered a wink, patting Luca on the shoulder. “This is larger than us. I’ll explain everything very soon, I promise.” he added and looked back just in time to see his future wife storm out after dousing her brother. The other girl was squeezing a bloody napkin and the table in front of her was covered in glass shards, spilled wine and drops of blood. Wow, they really were a classy family. Especially with the heir laughing like a nutjob. No wonder they needed someone sane to take over.

With Val’s comment, Sandro himself chuckled and reached for her hand. “Easy there.” he hummed, reaching for her hand. He then brought her knuckles to his lips and placed a soft kiss there. “You’re still my best girl, you know that, right?” he asked her, offering her a reassuring squeeze. “Nobody is replacing my people.” And with that statement, he gave the other Don a look which dared him to oppose. “Well. I do believe I was promised a wife, not a runaway bride. Is this all you have to offer, Salvatore, or shall I take this as the deal being off the table?” he asked. “After all, I see you have an heir of your own as well, maybe you’ve reconsidered? If that’s the case, I believe we’re done here. Or is my lovely fiancée going to return so I can get a better look at the goods?” Sandro was trying everyone’s patience and he knew that. But he also knew he was perfectly safe. No one was pulling a gun at him. Not tonight. Not when the Salvatore’s future was at stake.







/*do not remove credit*/

wagging my tail.

coded by weldherwings
 

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