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Post by Sedona Rossi on Jan 2, 2010 0:35:10 GMT -5
Sedona rolled her eyes. "If it's better that way, you wouldn't get so upset about it." They both knew that 'upset' for Teo didn't look much different than any other emotion, but it was the best word that she could think of to describe it, rather than using 'touchy' again.
What Teo really needed, in Sedona's opinion, was a girlfriend. "You practically have a girlfriend, by the way. She lives here, and you do a pretty good job of keeping her out of things. Gio and I have no problems having relationships. Of all the things that could scare Mateo Rossi, and it's commitment." She knew she was pushing her bounds with him, and she wouldn't really say much more than that.
"Teo, come on. Forget it. Maybe she won't even show up ."
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Post by Mateo "Teo" Rossi on Jan 2, 2010 0:56:48 GMT -5
It was Teo's turn to roll his eyes. "Shana is not my girlfriend," he said. "She can barely stand me, and make no mistake, she would run out of here as fast as possible if the opportunity ever arose. And I... Look, she's a pleasant girl, but never forget that she's a prisoner here. I took her prisoner, and now she's stuck here."
It was true that sometimes Shana's presence here seemed more friendly, and that he enjoyed spending time with her on occasion. He might even have gone so far as to admit that he would miss her if she were gone. But he didn't for one second mistake that for love.
"Just do me a favor and stay out of my non-existent love life. Unless you would like me to inquire about yours?"
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Post by Sedona Rossi on Jan 2, 2010 12:05:34 GMT -5
"No, I didn't mean she was your girlfriend... just for all intents and purposes, you kind of do. Aside from the fact that she's here against her will, she's basically what a girlfriend would be like. Right?" Minus the affection and all of that, of course.
At his 'threat,' she only smiled. "You can ask about mine. I actually don't mind sharing, but I don't think you want to hear about it." Sedona didn't have boyfriends. Around Daddy, she didn't have flings, either. It was safer for everyone involved if he thought she just wasn't interested in any boys. For the most part, she kept it hidden from Teo and Gio as well, but if Teo wanted to push it, she'd share.
"I'm not trying to meddle, anyway. It's just that it's... Kate."
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Post by Mateo "Teo" Rossi on Jan 3, 2010 1:37:49 GMT -5
"She'd be like my girlfriend in a really unhealthy, borderline abusive relationship," Teo pointed out. "I keep her here against her will, I lock her in her room when she's in the way, I don't tell her what I do or the fact that I'm a wizard..." He stopped and gave Sedona a pointed look. "She's more like a pet than a girlfriend. And to tell you the truth, I'd let her go tomorrow if I could. But I can't. Not yet."
He knew his sister better than she thought, and he didn't for one second believe that she wasn't interested in boys. Rather, he suspected that her big problem was that she liked ALL boys, and couldn't commit to just one. Sometimes, he wanted to lock her up just like Shana, but he knew his sister would never stand for it.
"And as for Kate... She's always going to mean something to me. But we had issues... We can't ever get past them. I hate it, but it's better this way."
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Jan 6, 2010 12:27:11 GMT -5
Kate was pondering all of what the Rossi's were discussing. This was Teo. This was...the big tragic romance in her life to date. He was the one who set all the standards. It wasn't hard considering she practically grew up with him.
Also because of who his father was, and Teo's natural fire there had been girls chasing him ever since she could remember. She had never felt so loved in her life when he chose her, nor surprised for that matter. He was the first one to introduce her to love, and to everything else and she would always remember him.
It was that fire that she loved about him, but the strange tender moments as well. The part that he hid away from the world to survive in it's harsh climate, it was still there, but well guarded. She lived for the moments he'd feel at ease around her. At ease, but not in control merely at peace...like he trusted her when he didn't trust anyone else.
So much had changed between them, their career goals for instance, but Teo would always be a part of her soul.
She had been standing at the door for over fifteen minutes trying to work up the courage to knock.
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Post by Sedona Rossi on Apr 6, 2010 17:35:29 GMT -5
(Gonna assume Kate hasn't knocked yet? Mostly because I dunno how soon Sam'll see this)
Sedona frowned at her brother on both counts. "You could let her go and you know it. Keeping her here obviously isn't going as planned."
Not that Sedona was supposed to know what the plan was. Daddy tried to keep her oblivious, but Sedona had ways of being in the know on everything. She hated being in the dark and made a point to do everything she could to avoid it.
"And what's she going to do anyway? Drop her back in the states, wipe her memory, and you're done."
Of course, she was well aware that Teo did not like being told how to do his job, and she was pushing her limits nearly endlessly tonight. She was half expecting him to snap at her.
"And maybe Kate won't even show. You know how she can be."
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Post by Mateo "Teo" Rossi on Apr 8, 2010 15:46:20 GMT -5
Teo sighed. “Dona, it’s not that simple. And you know I can’t discuss this with you.”
If Dante Santino hadn’t just arrived back in town, maybe they could have sent Shana back to America with a blank slate. But Dante was here… and that changed everything. He was going to have to set some spies to see what the younger Santino was going to do, now that he was home.
Which was another reason why Kate’s return was such a problem for him. She didn’t approve of what he did, and if he knew he was keeping a girl prisoner simply because she was the girlfriend of his rival’s son… well, he didn’t think she would be thrilled about that. And he would never be getting back together with her. Not that that was a consideration…
“If she doesn’t show, it’ll be because of me. If she does….” He trailed off. “Even if she does, it doesn’t mean anything.”
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Post by Sedona Rossi on Apr 8, 2010 17:35:42 GMT -5
Sedona frowned even more deeply. She personally hated the fact that her father, Teo, and even Gio refused to talk to her about family business things. She always found out, anyway, but they refused to be the ones to tell her. Why keep her ignorant of these things, anyway?
"Well, I think it's fairly obvious that he's not here to find her. But fine, I'm done," she said, putting her hands up in a surrendering motion.
"She'll come because of you, too, you know. Well, and me. But mostly you." The bond started between Kate and Sedona, back when the latter had been kidnapped as a child, a memory she claimed not to have. She was pretty sure no one believed her, anyway. "And if she doesn't come because of you... well, that's a compliment, too."
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Post by Mateo "Teo" Rossi on Apr 12, 2010 16:00:59 GMT -5
“The entire plan was flawed from the start, and I know that. I knew it all along, but it was out of my hands. But I need to keep her here a little longer, to see how it plays out.” He followed this up with a sort of warning look, reminding her that this subject was closed.
The truth was actually far more complicated than all of that. The kidnapping had been a tactical error, yes. His plan had been to kidnap Dante himself, and he still believed that would have worked better. This way they were depending on Dante to figure things out, and it turned out that the younger Santino was not actually all that bright. But he had finally come back home… which meant that they had to wait a little longer to see what he was going to do.
The fact that Mateo would actually kind of miss the fiery redhead had nothing to do with it. And of course, now that Kate was in town, the situation was more complicated than ever. Kate always threw him off. And no matter how hard he tried to deny it, he couldn’t help but feel that he was caught between Shana and Kate. The thought was not as pleasant as it might have sounded.
“Kate and I had our time,” he said bluntly. “We’re too different. I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that she means nothing to me, because I know you won’t believe me… but…”
He trailed off, realizing that she hadn’t actually said anything about that. Why did he feel the need to keep explaining it? Was he trying to convince her or himself? “We should get back out there.”
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Post by Sedona Rossi on Apr 12, 2010 17:32:11 GMT -5
Sedona knew well enough that she needed to drop the Shana issue. But Sedona didn't drop anything. "It's just weird, you know? I mean, don't most people go looking for their loved ones when they disappear? I know you all looked for me. And maybe there is some big search for her where she's from... it's just seems so quiet."
She shrugged, letting Mateo go on about Kate, and she raised her eyebrow, arching it in a way that said she knew he still felt for Kate.
"Kate won't be bossed around by you. I know how you can get irritated by that. Anyway, I hear she's in law enforcement now..."
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Post by Mateo "Teo" Rossi on Apr 13, 2010 15:55:22 GMT -5
Teo had his theories about why Dante Santino had not tried harder to find Shana. He had, after all, spent the better part of a year watching the guy before he took Shana. Dante had essentially lived like a muggle in New York, pretty much swearing off everything that had to do with his past. When Shana “disappeared,” he had contacted the muggle police, her family and friends… but then he left it up to others to handle the case while he wallowed in misery. This brought Teo to the conclusion that Dante secretly liked being miserable. He was the type that embraced tragedy, soaked it up and let it pour from his fingertips as “poetry.” He considered himself a writer, a poet, and an artist, and he was inspired by sadness.
But he didn’t bother to say any of that to Sedona. Again, he felt it better to tell her only what she needed to know. He wanted her to stay out of the business, and was not about to tell her any secrets about their enemies. Instead, he focused on Kate.
“I know what she’s doing now,” he said. “Do you think I wouldn’t have checked up on her?”
He wasn’t surprised she’d chosen to go into law enforcement. He’d suspected that was where she would end up, just based on that last argument he’d had with her. It almost felt like she’d done it just to spite him.
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Apr 29, 2010 15:47:50 GMT -5
Maybe she had done it to spite him just a little bit, but it wasn't only him. Her life as a child was severely messed up until she met the Rossi's and they took her in. She vowed early on that if it was up to her criminals would pay. She never thought of the Rossi's as criminals although she wasn't oblivious to what they did, but they were family and it was their way, besides...they never hurt anyone who wasn't asking to be hurt, or at least that's what she believed.
Sighing one last time and aching for a cigarette she knocked on the door.
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Post by Mateo "Teo" Rossi on Apr 29, 2010 22:27:22 GMT -5
As far as Mateo was concerned, this conversation was over. It was just going to go in circles at this point. And maybe Kate wouldn't show up at all, and then this would all be a moot point.
"We should get back out there," he said, an expression of finality on his face. He grabbed the bottle of wine and his glass, then nodded toward the pasta. "Could you bring that out?"
It would have been so much more convenient if they could use magic, but since he didn't want Shana to know that they were wizards, magic was out of the question.
Almost as soon as he stepped out into the living room, the knock rang out. For a split second, Teo froze. It had to be Kate.
He took a breath, and his face remained expressionless as he set the wine bottle on the table. "I'll get it," he said. Taking one last sip from his glass, he set that down as well and then moved over to the door, avoiding everyone else's eyes.
No matter how prepared he thought he was, seeing Kate standing outside still managed to hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Hi, Kate," he said. He had no idea how he kept his voice so even.
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Apr 30, 2010 13:40:40 GMT -5
A ton of bricks would have been preferable to what Kate was feeling at that moment. Her heart was pounding, adrenaline was running through her as if she were being held at wandpoint, but no this was worse, this was her past invading her present, and at one time what she thought would be her future.
"Teo..." she whispered. She didn't know why she wasn't prepared to see him, after all it was his house, but still it sent shocks down her spine and further conversation seemed impossible.
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Post by Mateo "Teo" Rossi on Apr 30, 2010 13:52:51 GMT -5
Merlin, she looked good. He couldn't even say that she hadn't changed a bit, because she had. She had changed for the better, as if being on her own had agreed with her. It was only then that he realized that a part of him had secretly hoped she'd fall apart without him. But of course she hadn't. She wouldn't. Not Kate.
He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do now. Was it appropriate to hug her? To take her hand? In the end, he did neither. He just flashed one of his rare, genuine smiles at her. "You look good, Katie."
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Apr 30, 2010 14:05:38 GMT -5
With the nick name that she didn't let anyone else use except if they were member's of the Rossi family, a smile flashed on her face. Regardless of what happened between her and Teo, they were family til death did them part, and even then she wasn't sure.
"You look like hell." she teased. Teo looked immaculate as ever she was sure, but something in his eyes alerted her to the fact that he was tense. She shook her head, she was probably just as tense as he was, although a small part of her was proud for being able to still do that to him.
She wasn't sure if she was supposed to hug him either, the idea seemed dangerous as if touching him would send her back all those years and she'd simply melt into him, a dangerous thought indeed, for now her hands were safely tucked into her back pockets.
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Post by Sedona Rossi on Apr 30, 2010 14:17:19 GMT -5
Sedona had taken the pasta, but not without a look to her brother to say that while she was letting the conversation drop, she wasn't doing so willingly.
She hated having to drop these conversations, but she also knew when she pushed her brothers, or her father, to their limits, and she'd inevitably give in... until the next time, when she pushed just a little further.
But when Kate appeared, her eyebrows went up and she watched the short exchange before interrupting the reunion.
Putting the pasta down, she squeezed fast Mateo and pulled Kate into a hug. "I'm so glad you came!"
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Post by Mateo "Teo" Rossi on Apr 30, 2010 14:31:26 GMT -5
It was easier to let Sedona take the lead. It spared him the uncertainty and the awkwardness and made it easier for him to pull away.
"I'm glad you came, too," he said, stepping aside to let the two of them have their moment. "Please, come in. We were just about to serve dinner. You're welcome to stay."
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Post by Shana O'Malley on Apr 30, 2010 14:35:39 GMT -5
When Kate entered, Shana licked her lips and tried to hide a somewhat perverse smile. She was looking forward to this, in all honesty, and her eyes met Mateo's briefly as the two girls came into the room and the door was closed.
It was a fleeting glance. She didn't care to see the warning in his eyes.
She stood up. "Ah, you're Kate. I've heard so much about you. I'm Shana."
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Apr 30, 2010 14:35:52 GMT -5
It was easier for everyone for Sedona to interrupt, relief swept over Kate and she hugged her friend back. Although she was relieved a part of her felt torn away as well. In any case it was for the best she was sure. Locking on to Sedona she could pretend to be more at ease.
"Of course I came." she smiled and then nodded towards Mateo when he allowed her in.
"Oh Merlin." she said rolling her head back in anticipation, "Good food...oh how long it's been..."
Kate didn't really know what kind of blood she carried, but she would always consider herself an italian simply because of the Rossi family and after being in America for so long Italian food sounded heavenly.
Kate turned toward the voice and was momentarily stunted by the pretty girl. "Hello." she smiled glancing back towards Teo and then Sedona. After a moment remembering her manners she extended a hand to shake. "It's nice to meet you Shana...unfortunately I haven't heard a thing about you."
Sedona would have told her if there was a new woman in Teo's life wouldn't she? Oh Merlin. Besides why would that affect her anyway? They parted long ago, and surely the same obstacles were in their way now as there was before.
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