FLASHBACK
Felix & Marciano
Time: Late Evening of the 26th
Location: The Gentlemen's Grill and Cabaret
Mention: @Potter Olivia
The dim, smoke-filled air of The Gentlemen’s Grill and Cabaret was acrid with the thick aroma of cigars and aged whiskey, and the sound of mellow jazz cutting through the air. At a table tucked into a corner of the room, away from the main commotion, sat Felix Ivanov and Marciano Giordano. Felix leaned back in his chair, one leg draped over the other, a glass of amber liquid swirling lazily in his hand. His youthful features, framed by slightly wavy dark hair, bore a grin that had gotten him both out of and into trouble countless times. Across from him, Marciano sat upright, his posture impeccable, his dark suit tailored to perfection. His sharp eyes watched Felix with an unerring focus that only hinted at the complexity of his thoughts.
A server approached with their meals, setting down a bone-in ribeye steak for Felix and a plate of venison chops with red wine reduction for Marciano. The rich scents mingled with the ever-present haze of cigars. Felix wasted no time, slicing into his steak with exaggerated enthusiasm.
“So,” Marciano began, his voice low and steady as he reached for his glass. “I hear you had quite the… performance at the warehouse last night.” He took a sip, his gaze unwavering as he set the glass back down.
Felix’s grin widened, and he leaned forward as though about to share the punchline of a joke. “Performance? Oh, Marciano, don’t undersell me like that. It was a masterpiece. The flames, the chaos, the girl scrambling for her life—it was art.” He gestured broadly, nearly knocking over his whiskey in the process.“And as for that little fire starter? Let’s just say I scared the magic right out of her. Turns out, she’s got more than just attitude—she’s a bona fide witch bitch.” He leaned back with an air of triumph, casually swirling his whiskey as though he hadn’t just described an act of arson with the enthusiasm of a theater critic praising a masterpiece.
Marciano's brow lifted ever so slightly with a glimmer of intrigue. “A witch, you say?” He mused, “Interesting. But tell me, Felix—how good is she? Are we talking about someone who can make parlor tricks, or is she capable of something more… substantial?” He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as his expression shifted to one of calculated consideration. “Because if she’s truly talented, that little display of yours may have just handed us a very useful asset—or, at the very least, someone worth keeping a closer eye on.The question, Felix… do you think she can be controlled, or is she more trouble than she’s worth?”
“Controlled?” he echoed, tilting his head as if tasting the word. “That depends on your definition. If by controlled, you mean cowed into submission, then maybe with the proper torture techniques. She’s got fire—literally and figuratively. But if you mean... redirected? Manipulated? Played like a fiddle in one of those stuffy orchestras you like, then yeah, I think she’s ripe for the taking.”
Marciano regarded Felix silently for a moment, his sharp gaze giving nothing away. He tapped a finger against the side of his glass. “Interesting,” he murmured at last. “If she’s as raw as you say, she could be molded into a tool. But raw power without discipline can be as dangerous to us as it is to our enemies. You’ve made a mess with her, Felix. One that may yield opportunity—but one that could also burn us in the end.”
His tone hardened slightly as he continued. “If you think she can be steered, then prove it. Find her weaknesses. Test her limits. And most importantly…” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a sharp edge. “Make sure she understands the cost of defiance. The Black Rose doesn’t tolerate loose ends.”
Felix’s grin only widened, his confidence unshaken. “Oh, don’t worry, Marciano. I’ve got this. By the time I’m done, she won’t know which way is up. I’ll make sure she dances to our tune—or burns trying to fight it.” He leaned back with a flourish, raising his glass in a mock toast. “Here’s to turning little witches into loyal pawns.”
Marciano didn’t raise his glass, but his cold gaze remained locked on Felix. “Just remember, Felix,” he said, his tone carrying an unspoken warning. “A pawn is only useful as long as it stays on the board. Don’t let your games cost us more than they’re worth.”
Felix laughed, a carefree sound that seemed almost out of place in the somber, smoke-filled room. “Relax, old man. You’ll see—I’m not just playing games. I’m setting the stage.” He raised his glass again, this time draining it in one smooth motion. “Trust me, Marciano. This is art.”
Marciano’s brow arched slightly, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Art, perhaps. But art has a cost, Felix. That warehouse may not have had crates of silks and spices but it was an asset all the same.”
Felix waved his fork dismissively, spearing a piece of steak and popping it into his mouth. He chewed leisurely, savoring the flavors before answering. “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Marciano. What I did was far more valuable than any shipment of spices or silks. That warehouse was a statement—a message.”
Marciano set his utensils down and folded his hands in front of him. “A message,” he repeated skeptically. “And what exactly was this message? That we’re reckless? Wasteful? That we can’t even manage our own resources?”
Felix chuckled, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his whiskey. “That we’re untouchable. That anyone who crosses us ends up choking on smoke and ashes. Fear, my dear Marciano, is the currency we trade in. And last night? I made a hefty deposit.”
Marciano’s gaze darkened, though his expression remained composed. “Fear might buy silence, but it doesn’t pay the bills. And Marek isn’t one to forgive reckless indulgence, no matter how well it’s framed as ‘strategy.’ You’re playing a dangerous game, Felix.”
Felix set his glass down with a sharp clink, leaning forward with a grin that was equal parts charming and infuriating. “Danger is half the fun, Marciano. Besides, I’ve already got a plan to make up for the ‘losses.’ Trust me, by the time Marek hears about this, he’ll be too busy counting coins to care.”
Marciano studied Felix for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he picked up his glass and raised it in a toast. “I hope, for your sake, that you’re right. Because if this little stunt of yours backfires, it won’t just be Marek you’ll have to answer to.”
Felix smirked, leaning in closer. “Come on Marciano.. Ever heard of insurance? By now, the paperwork is already being processed for damages. The payout will be more than enough to fund a new warehouse, and with the right adjustments, it’ll be even better than the last one.” He clinked his glass against Marciano’s, his grin widening. “Now, let’s enjoy this overpriced cabaret before I come up with another brilliant idea.”
Marciano allowed himself a faint smirk, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Let’s. And Felix? Try not to burn anything else down tonight.”
Felix raised his glass in mock solemnity. “No promises, old man. No promises.”