salvatoremancini

[salvatoremancini]

It’s Time | Self Para.

The Church was bathed in light.

It bled through the stained glass. Brought to life, perhaps, the most beautifully harrowing depiction of Christ’s Crucifixion he’d ever seen.

And only He could have known how long he’d stared.

How much time would pass before he saw it again? Would he ever? It was strange, given the grand scheme of things, that questions like these were still the ones that plagued his mind.

The echo of footsteps soon became apparent from the back of the Church. Unmistakable. Thin, delicate heels in a slow, but uniform beat. Each step brought them closer but he didn’t take the moment required to turn and look. They stopped, only to be followed by the soft sound of a feminine sigh. The color of her dress caught the corner of his eye; impossible, in its utter boldness, not to...

How had she still managed to drop to a knee?

Modestly shrouded in what could only be described as being akin to a khimar, the woman made her way along his pew in elegant motion. Until she’d reached out to touch his shoulder lightly, he could have only assumed identity. Now he knew for sure. Fingertips squeezed gently, and it struck him as utterly absurd how much could be conveyed through the tiny gesture. Especially from her.

“It would appear God has answered my prayers,” he said, words accompanied by an almost bitter sweet smile.

“I thought I might find you here.” The brunette didn’t look at him, nor, rather more apparently, did she acknowledge his attempt at a joke. 

“Don’t you have an Awards ceremony to be attending?”

Sal turned his head just in time to catch her wry smile. “I’m here to ask you to be my date.”

They both laughed quietly at this, neither with enough conviction to feel anything but empty. She stopped first. When she did, and for the first time since her arrival, Alessia Auditore turned to look at him. 

It was a strange sort of relationship they shared. Long before their bitter business rivalry, they had been good friends. Yet their paths had pulled them apart in slow torture. Hardly unexpected, in the shadow of their last names, and yet as unwelcome as though it had crept up on them with cruel surprise. It seemed unlikely they would have ever wound up hating each other, but both had made it abundantly clear, as soon as the lines had been drawn, that the other would always take a back-seat to family.

It hurt him to see his daughters making the same mistakes. 

Friendships always felt like they’d last forever until they didn’t.

But Alessia wasn’t here as the typically smug competitor. Alessia was here as the young girl who had once looked to him as a brother, and an role-model, and everything in-between. A woman who had since grown enough to respect and admire the things he had achieved, even if they were, occasionally, at the expense of her own pride. 

“Polizzi told me.” She rarely stated the obvious. “He also told me that they aren’t fighting to keep you here.”

Salvatore Mancini was not the only one with connections at the FBI. Her reach was arguably more extensive, and he couldn’t help but wonder if that had offered her knowledge of his impending indictment long before his own warning had come...

“They want to put me on trial in Italy. I’m a prize,” he said coolly, words having little to do with an ego. He was. In another Launceston era: one that would have been hotly contested. “But the DA’s Office has enough on their plate, and a track record that doesn’t bode well with the hopes of successfully prosecuting a Mafia boss.”

A silence hung heavily in the air. 

One day, it would be her...

“How long are you looking at?”

“More than I have left.”

Saying the words felt like taking a knife to the gut. And yet with her, they still rolled off the tongue with far more ease than they could with his children. And that was exactly why he hadn’t told them. How was he supposed to explain that if--and it seemed increasingly likely with each new meeting--his lawyers couldn’t find a way to impart a God-given miracle, he wouldn’t be coming home until it was to join their mother?  

He watched the woman as she pressed her fingertips into the side of her head. She’d gone for the eye before the stark realization she was wearing make-up set in, and it hadn’t gone unnoticed. How much she had changed...

The exasperation, disappointment, sympathy...it was all genuine. Obvious in her tone, too. What would have happened if the roles had been reversed?

“They’re coming today. Why are you alone?” 

“I’m not alone,” he mused, gesturing to her with a hand. It earned a kind of frown he hadn’t seen since she was a kid. “I thought someone might find me here, I just didn’t expect it to be you.”

“Your girls would want to be with you, Sal...”

“My girls do not need to see their father dragged away in handcuffs,” he assured firmly. “This city has punished them enough already, Al. I don’t plan on adding to it.”

The two fell, once again, into silence. 

Alessia held out her hand, palm up, and after only a brief hesitation, Salvatore had reached out and taken it. Intertwined, they fell against the pew, and into the gap between them. God, how had it come to this? Why couldn’t they be as untouchable as everybody thought?

“They should have been here an hour ago,” Salvatore scoffed bitterly, shaking his head as he took note of the time.

They couldn’t even get that right.

“I’ll wait,” Alessia assured, eyes, once again, focusing toward the Altar.

There was a lot to be said for that; her willingness to take the risk of remaining at his side. Whilst neither had heard anything to insinuate she was next on their hit list, Auditore was an even bigger prize than himself, and they both knew it damn well. It wouldn’t have been a stretch of the imagination to think they might pick her up on some bullshit charge, before flinging a case they’d been building at her, as though God Himself had blessed them with two birds in that moment they’d set foot into the Church...

Salvatore appreciated. More than she would accept.

It was probably a good job that footsteps had, once again, started to echo from behind. The last thing he needed was for his thoughts to drift to the things he’d miss. Not just the things he’d physically leave behind, but the moments his lack of freedom would deprive him of. Walking his girls down the aisle, holding his grandchildren...being there for them when all they needed was their father to tell them things would get better.

How many more times could he let them down?

Alessia turned her head back to clock the intruders. If her looks could kill, perhaps he’d have been off the hook...

“Get out of here, Al, or we’ll book you too,” Corrado Polizzi, the RICO bitch she had in her pocket, warned. 

“Go fuck yourself, Polizzi,” she shot back.

Salvatore probably would have cringed at the use of such language in Church under any other circumstances. Instead, he found himself admiring it a lot more when it wasn’t him, or his brother, on the receiving end.

“It’s time. You know how this is going to go down, Mancini, so let’s do it with a little dignity,” the agent said, tone softening somewhat. The Italians had been good to him, and it seemed he hadn’t forgotten it now it counted... “I don’t want to make this any worse than it has to be.”

It was funny...he’d had his rights read to him so many times it felt like a ridiculous routine. Aside from a quick spell in prison during his twenties, however, they’d never managed to make anything stick. Yet now? With each word uttered, he sunk further and further into the realization that this time was different. That this time was likely going to be the last.

God, he thought he’d prepared himself. That he’d readied himself for this in the time he’d been given to make his peace and plans to fight in a strange and equal measure. But he’d been wrong. He wasn’t ready. 

Could he ever have been?

Polizzi encouraged Sal to his feet with a giant hand rested on his shoulder. Al followed suit, and before he knew it, his arm was being dragged behind his back as though he were an animal to be restrained.

There was so much he wanted to say.

Polizzi waited impatiently.

The pause lingered awkwardly, before he finally sighed. It wasn’t enough.

“You two don’t have to fight each other.”

Salvatore squeezed her delicate hand, before finally, and rather reluctantly, letting go. Almost as soon as he had, Polizzi took his second arm carefully, locking it behind his back.

The woman stared back at him, and he could see it in her eyes that his words had resonated. Struck a nerve, without doubt. Neither needed to clarify to whom he was referring.

As Polizzi urged him to turn, ready to be guided from the familiarity of his Church, the Mancini Don offered her his goodbye.

“So don’t.”

#self para: it's time #self para

[salvatoremancini]

@Gracie. [private]

This city had blown holes in his family.

His grand house was empty, and as he stood at the threshold to an otherwise impressive dining room, he couldn’t help but hate himself for it.

The food that waited hadn’t been prepared by either of his wives, nor would they sit at his side to enjoy it. Gia was gallivanting God-only-knows where, doing God-only-knows what. His brother was dead, and his sister was in such a state of decay at the incarceration of her husband, she’d carted herself off to therapy on the other side of the country. It sucked the life out of him. It sucked the fucking life out of him to know it could only get worse.

What had happened to them? Once they had been a beacon of what was great. Now scenes like this were more reminiscent of a tableau from a well-written tragedy. Even being with Gracie--the only thing he had left--hurt more than it comforted, because he had let her down on almost all possible fronts. Of that, he was more than aware.

“Thanks for making time for me, Gracie,” he said gently, kissing the top of her head. The most important thing in his life deserved better. "How long has it been since we’ve eaten together--” he stopped himself before he could say ‘as a family’ at the risk of choking on the damned words, “--just me and you, huh?”

#mobstarter #convo: Gracie Mancini

[salvatoremancini]

@Italians.

Take the time to enjoy yourselves tonight, but please make sure to exercise caution and vigilance as you do so. There are too many important people gathered in this room to think somebody won’t try something.

#all of them auditore or mancini #he ain't about interacting with the other peasants #mobstarter

[salvatoremancini]

charlie-hathaway:

“How quaint is this party?  Another year has passed and I’m drinking vodka at The Palace.  May this potato water keep me company tonight.”

Quaint is certainly one word for it... I suppose finishing the year on such a low note has its perks, though. Things can only get better in the new one.

#convo: Charlene Hathaway

[salvatoremancini]

adrienne-stclair:

Lovely decoration. 

New year, new beginnings let us hope

New beginnings. Perhaps a shift in the norm is required, also. Clearly, Launceston needs change. I hope she will work hard enough to achieve it.

#by change he means OF LEADERSHIP YOU BITCH #convo: Adrienne St. Clair

[salvatoremancini]

veronika--auditore:

…you bought us a house?

Thank you. Thank you so much. This is the most amazing gift that anyone could have gotten for us. I just- thank you. 

The best for the best. Your father is a brother to me, Veronika, and that makes you my family. We look after our family, always.

Just don’t tell your mother that...she’ll want my head if she feels outdone.

#convo: veronika auditore

[salvatoremancini]

the-lovely-lisette:

I was offered the same advice by my dear cousin once. What is your spirit of choice?

Take solace in knowing at least one of your family members has their head screwed on straight.

I drink rarely, but when I do, Scotch is yet to steer me wrong.

What about you? What’s needed to intoxicate a French ego?

It is days like this

#convo: Lisette Marseille

[salvatoremancini]

the-lovely-lisette:

that I consider smoking.

A terrible habit that no day is bad enough to procure. Drink, instead.

It is days like this

#convo: Lisette Marseille

[salvatoremancini]

veronika--auditore:

Are you serious? You mean I might never make it through this endless pile of things that I’ll probably only use once?

Honestly anything that’s not a stupid blender I’ll be happy with. Though you really didn’t have to get me- I mean, us anything, Sal. But I- we appreciate it, nonetheless.

It’s a curse.

Now, it might be ‘another’ box, but inside you’re going to find some keys. I, as much as anyone, know how time away from Launceston is important. And now you have a place to go, and call your own, in Florence, whenever you like. Make sure you enjoy yourself, kid. 

#HAVE A HOLIDAY HOME RONNIE XOXO #best not really uncle 2k17 #convo: veronika auditore

[salvatoremancini]

veronika--auditore:

Please tell me you’re not here with more boxes. I can’t open anymore boxes.

It’s custom, kid. One of the curses of an Italian marriage. I’ve still got gifts in the garage that Francesca and I never opened. 

Take it. I promise it’s not a kitchen appliance or embroidered towels.

#convo: veronika auditore

[salvatoremancini]

theone-andonly-gia:

Gia scrunched her nose at her father before giving the waitress a smile, nodding a long with his words as the woman walked to one of the lesser complicated machines. “Haven’t heard by now, papa? I am an old italian man, at this point.” Gia watched as she poured the steaming liquid and sighed. “Literally wouldn’t function without this. It’s so nice to be home. How’re things, papa?” 

The older man raised his eyebrows slightly at this, turning back to his daughter with a look of amusement. 

“I certainly hope no,” Salvatore laughed, shaking his head. “Dio, if you really did turn out like Carmine or Carlo, your mother would never forgive me. Don’t turn your back on your femininity to try and appease those around you, tesoro. Embrace it.”

It was at this point his face softened slightly, the amusement fading away into a generous smile. "We’re all glad to have you home. Particularly, me and your sister.” As for the next question, he skipped over it without much desire to answer. It wasn’t a secret that things hadn’t been well for the Mancini family in some time. The last thing he needed to do was mar this afternoon with his daughter to beat a dead horse. It had been discussed more than enough.

“You’re not planning on leaving us again any time soon, are you?”

Italians

#convo: Gia Mancini

[salvatoremancini]

maria-damatox:

Neither do I and for those who do, it’s nothing more than wishful thinking; something that won’t get them very far. Something is brewing, that I can be certain of, it’s now just a matter of working out what and when. 

I’ve been good thanks, feeling free is a feeling I really can’t describe. How about yourself? Sal, you should know by now you never need to apologize to me about you schedule, I know how hectic it can get and business always comes first, apart from family of course. 

However now that you are here, I wonder if I could steal a moment of your time, This is a certain matter I would like to discuss with you. 

I’m glad another openly shares my viewpoint. I suspect you’re right. However, all we can really do is be alert and prepared for when whatever it is that’s brewing finally breaks. God forbid it’s over Valence again...

I can only imagine... I’m doing well enough, grazie. Time will tell how long this lasts, I’m sure.

I always have time for you, Maria. Speak plainly.

#convo: maria d'amato

[salvatoremancini]

gracie-mancini:

But Papa, this is my pumpkin spice latte.  While everyone obsesses over a drink for fall, I just want all the cardigans.

Yes, but said people don’t have to keep their pumpkin spice lattes in a closet... Surely, you must have run out of space by now? 

#convo: Gracie Mancini

[salvatoremancini]

gracie-mancini:

Why am I always the last to hear about the cardigan sales?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone look so disappointed over cardigans, principessa... 

#the awkward moment when ur own dad judges you xoxo #WE NEED SOME FAMILY TIME OKAY #convo: Gracie Mancini

[salvatoremancini]

maria-damatox:

“All I keep hearing from people within this city is how quiet and peaceful it has been, in general people seem pleased about this. However it makes me think they’ve heard the expression ‘the calm before the storm’. After all this city doesn’t know what peace is.”

I think they forget that ‘quiet’ and ‘peaceful’ are not synonymous. Things might have calmed, but they have not been peaceful in Valence for some time. I don’t expect that will change any time soon.

How have you been, Maria? I’ve been meaning to meet with you for some time. Forgive me, and my dire schedule.

#convo: maria d'amato #we can use this conversation to start the interaction we talked about if you'd like!

[salvatoremancini]

natexzampella:

“Unless we’re going to stand here and continue to twiddle our thumbs while everyone else moving forward, then I think we need to start getting to work. Time is money and every second counts.”

Your enthusiasm and work ethic is appreciated, Nate, but that’s not why I’m here. Leave them to it for a while. I’d like to talk to you. Nothing to worry about, but it is a topic better handled in the privacy of my office.

{Italians}

#convo: Nate Zampella

[salvatoremancini]

theone-andonly-gia:

“I’ll have a coffee, black. And what’ll you have?” Gia asks, turning to her companion.

“Black coffee,” Salvatore scoffed playfully, giving his daughter little more than a fleeting glance as he turned to the waitress. “My girl, she already drinks like an old Italian man. At least I have taught her something. Make it two.”

Italians

#convo: Gia Mancini