[Shaman_Yuri]

Minnie approaches Dame Valentina and Artos, bending to one knee much as the latter had done when he first met the former, although more at a distance as denoting her lower status.  “I…I’m not exactly sure, ma’am,” she answered haltingly.  “It may be that I am so dim that I didn’t get the test.  He always talks circles around me leaving me tied up in knots inside.”  She pauses a moment before going on, willing her tail to stay still.  “But if I’m right, I believe Tony has cracked under the pressure and needs help.  He’s not right in the head.”

[gilga]

@Minnie "What makes you say that dear?" She say and look very interested in what you are about to say. You can sense that she personally like Tony.

[Shaman_Yuri]

“He told me to expect to be tested and that the test would be very, very difficult.  He said that to tell me was to disobey you.  He said that he couldn’t stand to see me hurt, but his actions while he spoke were either the best acting I’ve ever seen or…he’s sick in the head.”  She risks looking up into Dame Valentina’s eyes.  “This wasn’t the Tony who has taught me all these years.  Something isn’t right but I don’t know what that is.”

[gilga]

"Wasn't himself? what do you mean?" She ask, there is something in her eyes but you cannot recognize it. Somehow, although Valentina is the most socially skilled person in the Mafia, perhaps in the entire city. Nobody knows what she really feels, ever, somehow you are certain that what you see from her is actual concern.

[Shaman_Yuri]

“He keeps insisting he disobeyed you, Dame Valentina,” Yulia explains, her gaze not wavering from the woman.  “In order to protect someone as insignificant as me.  The Tony I know would never waste Family assets by squandering himself so lightly.  And his loyalty for you would never waver.  Either I am so dim that I couldn’t see through his game, or he needs help so that he can return to faithfully serving you.  I have spent half my life having my mind bent…no sharpened…by that man.  He demands perfection of me…and of himself.  Something doesn’t add up, Dona.  But I am too dim to figure the riddle out.”

[Jayde Moon]

"No, I thought we'll just go to the bar... It is a slow hour and you seem... interesting. I am Bekki by the way."

"'Bekki', is it?  Artie.  Good to know you."  She orders a soy brew and turns, facing Bekki but also the room in general, still maintaining an eye on the whole place.  "As for interesting?  I wouldn't say I'm any more interesting than any other choob jandarin' about the place.  Just passing the time, y'know?  But you, you work here, hey?"

[gilga]

Athos, "will you excuse us?" Said Valentina and signal Minnie to enter the room. "Lock the door dear will you".

"Tony... did you sleep with Yulia"

"No, you can see the slap she gave me for trying"

"Do you expect me to believe it?"

"I kissed her and she slapped me, I understand the hint, I am no rapist."

"Why did she slap you Tony?"

"Because of what I did before I kissed her."

"And what was that?"

"I told her how people become black agents."

"Why would you do that?"

" Because that torture is mainly mental, despite everything they are doing to you the most difficult thing is knowing that there is no hope. That you are already dead. If I explain the procedure then you cannot do that to her."

"You have a lot of nerve to disobey me. Did you fall in love with her?"

" No, I didn't though to be completely honest, I warned you when you insisted that I sleep with her. I can't sleep with her for so many years without developing emotions. I love her very much but this is not why I did that. "

"She would not have never made it without your guidance if anyone could keep her sane in these life it is your training."

" You might be right, but I am just an instructor, Yulia did all the hard work."

"Why did you do it then ? "

" Because I failed, the previous time."

"When you trained me? I became a raising star in this family."

" Indeed you did, and you became so socially skilled that I am completely at your mercy."

"So how come you failed Tony?"

" Because that abuse had nothing to do with what you became, if any it is what will bring your downfall."

Valentina gives Tony a look - she is angry but she keeps her cool.
"My downfall?"

"You say the right things you twist everyone around your little finger. You got the entire family to do your bidding, politicians, cooperate suits you softly manipulate them all. But you could learn to do these things - without torture. They damaged you . . "

"How was I damaged?"

"Did you form any emotional attachment since then?  anyone at all?"

"Attachments are weakness, I am completely free."

" This is the problem Valentina, one day I will no longer be around, either you decide to kill me now. Or I'll just die from some other reason. What will happen then? You will have no one.
"
Valentina seems upset, she looks at Tony and say.
"You know that I got enough to kill you, no questions asked?"

"Valentina, you do not understand that yet - and I am terrified of the day when you truly understand that. You can kill anyone you want - you can find some ruse to kill every member of this family. If they did not do anything bad, you can talk them into doing something bad.  You became so powerful, that there really is nothing that I can teach you."

"I really hate you right now Tony. I work hard and within the rules."

"Look Valentina - if you kill me you will have no one to stop you. The things they did to you, they will  surface back up. You will become a monster. "

"What does it have to do with Yulia? You seem to only talk about me."

"Valentina, she is not so different than you. So young and she is already more powerful than most adepts. There are maybe 100 people int he city at her skill level and above. It was the same with you."

"So what do you want?"

"I want you to like her. I want you to teach her.

"She is right, you are insane. "

"Valentina, come here

Tony hugs Valentina.
"What can I do with you Tony?"

"Just mentor her. "

"You do not ask me to spare you?"

"I ask you to save my flowers. To keep them safe.  Anything that I am lives in you two. I gave you my entire adult life."

"This is completely fucked up."

"I know... "

"You are not going to exist this room... I think that ever. You are the only one in this family to openly disobey me. I can't allow that.

"Just be gentle on me. Let me see Yulia before you decide to finish me."

"Okay, I owe you at least that.

Valentina talks to you, "Yulia, What would you do in my place? The one person I love is the only one that disobey me. If word of his behaviour gets out my entire empire can collapse. If you were in my place, what would you do to Tony?"

[Shaman_Yuri]

"If you were in my place, what would you do to Tony?"

The unexpected question echoes in Yulia's head.  She had been very happy when these two titans had forgotten her and she wishes she'd never come back to notice.  So much of what they were speaking about is over her head.  Still, she got the basics.  Valentina was another student of Tony's and the two care for each other.  But Valentina can't afford love, or believes she can't.

"I'm not the one to answer that question, Dame Valentina.  My answer is your answer to this question.  Do you need someone who will challenge you when you are wrong?  If yes, then you need to find a way to let him live because no one else will.  Certainly not someone you could trust like Tony.  If not, then he must die.  Only you can answer that question, Dona."  She swallows hard before adding, "and if he must die, I ask to be the executioner."

[gilga]

"No, I thought we'll just go to the bar... It is a slow hour and you seem... interesting. I am Bekki by the way."

"'Bekki', is it?  Artie.  Good to know you."  She orders a soy brew and turns, facing Bekki but also the room in general, still maintaining an eye on the whole place.  "As for interesting?  I wouldn't say I'm any more interesting than any other choob jandarin' about the place.  Just passing the time, y'know?  But you, you work here, hey?"

"Oh but you are. You know every exist, aware of every guard in here. You even noticed that I was checking you out... It makes you interesting."

[gilga]

Valentina size you up. Saying “You moved a lot in this world so soon. From a being nothing to being an executioner.”

As for you Tony, “No I am not going to kill you, if you have gone to such a great length to protect your precious Yulia I will respect it. I can only imagine what hurting you would do to her - you see I can still torment her all I want.

But I will let you keep your flower - to train her your way. If she is nothing but  brilliant, your other *Flower* is going to kill both of you wackos. "

She then turn to you, she holds your hands and give you a very personal look. 

Yulia, I have shown you nothing but kindness and mercy since you were a powerless child.
I saw the potential and I gave you the one person I trusted to protect you. He had to use some very unorthodox methods, but he did what he had to help you survive this abuse. 

You did *That* to him... I know it is not your fault, but you broke him. His love for you took his sanity away.  You are welcome to my team - and I will treat you fairly, but do not expect me to like you.  I don't know if I can ever like you. I look at you and all I feel is pain... pain and anger. You have made me the loneliest  person in this family.”

[Jayde Moon]

Artie shrugs.  "Just a nervous sort of girl, y'know?  Never know when one of these high rollers is gonna get drunk and cause a ruckus, put his hands where they don't belong.  I've learned it's best to move out as quietly as possible in those situation... if I make a scene, Casino's as likely to side with the guy spending a ton o' cred than the girl who's just waiting on friends, yeah?"

She thanks the bartender as he delivers her beer.  "Hey, thanks," then she turns back to Bekki.  "I'm sure you've seen that type of shit happen before?"

[gilga]

@Artie "People usually behave in here, but it can happen. The security here is very intense, way better than any other joint I worked in. First time in here? "

[Jayde Moon]

Chuckles, "It's, and to be honest, I'm not a big Casino type of girl in the first place."

Artie watched the girl for any signs that this was more than small talk.  "What about you?" she jokes.  "Come here often?"

[gilga]

@Artie You are not sure exactly why is Bekki interested in you, but her interest does not appear to be professional. She appear to be on a brake, and having her buying you a beer after sneaking a peeks for over half a hour makes you think that she wanted to talk to you for a short while and was just looking for a chance. (Or that the security here is even more upscale than you estimated providing that Artie really is a security risk)
"To be honest I only work here for a short while, I just moved here from London few weeks ago... I am a bit lonely" She smiles.

[Shaman_Yuri]

They’re both crazy, crossed Yulia’s mind although she didn’t express the thought at all.  Those few moments of the past ten years not spent with clients, training for clients, preparing for clients, and getting sleep for herself, Yulia had spent reading, among other things, 20th Century romance literature.  She’d often thought about love and tried to understand it, but the concept of love, romantic love especially, never felt real to her.  She thought perhaps what she shared with Nagisa might someday be such a thing, but she really didn’t know. 

Tony had essentially traded places with Yulia, condemning himself to a room.  The irony was not lost on her. 

And for what?

Love?

She couldn’t wrap her head around it.  Would she condemn herself to the sheets for anyone?  Tony?  Not a chance.  Nagisa?  Athos?

But Tony, knowing the ramifications, had done just that for her and for Dame Valentina. 

It was too much to absorb right now, and Dame Valentina’s angry gaze was burning into her.  She’d have to ponder these heavy thoughts more later.  It appeared she’d have the freedom to do so.  That in and of itself was beyond imagining.  Yet here it was.

Knowing Valentina was awaiting a response, Minnie dropped back to one knee and bowed her head.  “Dona Valentina, your humble servant will do everything in her power to deserve the trust you have placed in her.”