[Whether Elliot realises it or not, he's on Dante's home turf. Rome: its own unique world of gods and demons, hidden sanctuaries in the form of quiet cafes and seedy gatherings of chairs in dank, gloomy bars. Elliot isn't in anywhere noticeably seedy, at least not on first inspection. In fact, he's in a tourist trap, a big, open restaurant just off the Colosseum, with overpriced sandwiches and purses ripe for picking. It's tough to notice Dante at the side of the room, sitting next to the kitchens as he pretends to be one of them. However his Breitling and the cut of his shirt tells a different story. The map that he has spread out on his table isn't of Rome. The slight padding underneath his jacket isn't a wallet but a holster for his gun. The waiter doesn't speak to him, but instead silently serves him Kronenbourgs as soon as the final sip has been taken. Something is just a little off. But that's all difficult to notice when you're busy planning the best route to St. Peter's or if it's worth paying a taxi fare to get there.
In fact, very few people are paying Dante very much attention at all, apart from those who are paid to do so. He likes it that way: quiet in the noise. And so he's too calm, too careless, too smug to realise that his pockets are vulnerable, that if someone managed to distract him, the contents of his jacket would be susceptible to sticky fingers. Oh well. You live and you learn.]
[ Italy is an interesting change from Africa an England - of course, Elliot sticks out like a sore thumb in his brightly coloured clothes and his odd accent. It also doesn't help that he looks no older than fifteen or sixteen at best, large dark eyes only setting him up to look far younger than he is.
Anyone familiar with the occult may recognise the few tattoos that show. The long sleeves hide most of his tattoos, but a close eye might be able to spot the white ink in the center of his palms and it takes no effort at all to see the one on his hand and the bands around his wrist. When he speaks, it's in Italian, up until he says that he has an easier time speaking in English and asks if it is okay if he continues in that.
Somehow he's managed to charm the restaurant owner even with his strange accent, into allowing him to put on a show for the diners -- magic. Or well, sleight of hand, really, but the way he does it, looks as though it's magic, effortless and untraceable. It's obvious that this isn't his first or last rodeo when it comes to magic tricks. From getting coins into sealed cans, cards folded up into salt and pepper dispensers, and various other tricks that seem to have captivated his audience enough to distract them from what he's really doing - robbing his volunteers blind right in front of everyone without anyone even noticing.
The thing about magic tricks is that either everyone is focused on what he does because they're trying to find the trick, trying to prove him wrong, or because they're amazed. It leaves them easy targets to focus their focus away from pick-pocketing. A watch here, a wallet there - he never steals anything important, no rings, no jewelry. Sentiment isn't what he's after. Sentiment makes people human. Materialism destroys humanity.
He's not Robin Hood though; Robin Hood never forced malicious spirits into people. Robin Hood didn't feed off the deceased spirits like they were Kitkat bars.
When he's done wooing the diners, and he's lovingly made mention of his tip hat, which surprisingly got tips, (Italians were far more kind than the English) he was almost on his way, until a certain watch, on a certain someone caught his eye. It's a statement - one that will be noticed if stolen. But it's a statement that means this guy has money, and whilst Elliot really wants to steal his watch simply to spite him for the statement he's making with it, he'll settle for stealing the rest of his stuff since he has precious little time before people begin to notice their wallets are missing. Most of what he got honestly is used to pay for the sandwich he seemed to order in the beginning, to go, and the rest is used to tip rather generously. He sets it down at Dante's table, hand reaching out to wrap around his wrist, ah, he is a touchy feely one isn't he? ]
Nice watch. Was it expensive?
[ The words are hummed out as he turns the stranger's wrist this way and that. If people are getting uncomfortable with him bugging this guy, well, he's not noticing, and if he is, he doesn't seem to care. But unfortunately for him, it's the former. ]
[Dante is typically far from averse to touch (he is Italian, after all), but normally he is the one to do the touching. He slaps his colleagues hard on the back as a form of encouragement, presses his forehead to theirs when he has something important to say and invades personal space when it suits him. But normally others aren't quite so touchy feely. Yet there Elliot is treating Dante like an old friend or, even worse, a family member. Elliot is not a family member. That combined with the fact that a stranger is touching Dante's five thousand dollar watch like a pickpocket and Dante is a little concerned. His guards are even more concerned and they lurch forward when Elliot reaches out for Dante's wrist, a firm look of "not yet" being the only thing stopping them from pulling him to stand by the fabric of his jacket and taking him outside, or into the cellar depending on how poorly he behaved.
Dante is...curious. Good god, the boy has balls if he knows what he's doing, although Dante half expects that he doesn't. To notice someone's wealth is one thing, but the danger and power of them is another. You don't accost and/or act chummy with a crime leader in their regular haunt while they're surrounded by their men, not if you want to keep your throat intact. Elliot makes a definite change.
And so Dante's eyes narrow slightly, curious, wondering, letting Elliot touch his watch as he pleases, like person with a cat pawing at their arm.]
You know the answer to that, I am sure.
[It's a challenge, a small one, a call of "let's stop the bullshit, please". Dante has always been keen on frankness over pussyfooting. He can see the tattoos on Elliot's hands and at least half understands their meaning. It's enough for him to know that there's more to this boy than he's letting on. If he wants to continue touching Dante, he's going to have to let on a little.]
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In fact, very few people are paying Dante very much attention at all, apart from those who are paid to do so. He likes it that way: quiet in the noise. And so he's too calm, too careless, too smug to realise that his pockets are vulnerable, that if someone managed to distract him, the contents of his jacket would be susceptible to sticky fingers. Oh well. You live and you learn.]
oh god im so sorry for how long this got
Anyone familiar with the occult may recognise the few tattoos that show. The long sleeves hide most of his tattoos, but a close eye might be able to spot the white ink in the center of his palms and it takes no effort at all to see the one on his hand and the bands around his wrist. When he speaks, it's in Italian, up until he says that he has an easier time speaking in English and asks if it is okay if he continues in that.
Somehow he's managed to charm the restaurant owner even with his strange accent, into allowing him to put on a show for the diners -- magic. Or well, sleight of hand, really, but the way he does it, looks as though it's magic, effortless and untraceable. It's obvious that this isn't his first or last rodeo when it comes to magic tricks. From getting coins into sealed cans, cards folded up into salt and pepper dispensers, and various other tricks that seem to have captivated his audience enough to distract them from what he's really doing - robbing his volunteers blind right in front of everyone without anyone even noticing.
The thing about magic tricks is that either everyone is focused on what he does because they're trying to find the trick, trying to prove him wrong, or because they're amazed. It leaves them easy targets to focus their focus away from pick-pocketing. A watch here, a wallet there - he never steals anything important, no rings, no jewelry. Sentiment isn't what he's after. Sentiment makes people human. Materialism destroys humanity.
He's not Robin Hood though; Robin Hood never forced malicious spirits into people. Robin Hood didn't feed off the deceased spirits like they were Kitkat bars.
When he's done wooing the diners, and he's lovingly made mention of his tip hat, which surprisingly got tips, (Italians were far more kind than the English) he was almost on his way, until a certain watch, on a certain someone caught his eye. It's a statement - one that will be noticed if stolen. But it's a statement that means this guy has money, and whilst Elliot really wants to steal his watch simply to spite him for the statement he's making with it, he'll settle for stealing the rest of his stuff since he has precious little time before people begin to notice their wallets are missing. Most of what he got honestly is used to pay for the sandwich he seemed to order in the beginning, to go, and the rest is used to tip rather generously. He sets it down at Dante's table, hand reaching out to wrap around his wrist, ah, he is a touchy feely one isn't he? ]
Nice watch. Was it expensive?
[ The words are hummed out as he turns the stranger's wrist this way and that. If people are getting uncomfortable with him bugging this guy, well, he's not noticing, and if he is, he doesn't seem to care. But unfortunately for him, it's the former. ]
BET YOU THOUGHT I WAS DEAD. WELL NOT YET, BITCH.
Dante is...curious. Good god, the boy has balls if he knows what he's doing, although Dante half expects that he doesn't. To notice someone's wealth is one thing, but the danger and power of them is another. You don't accost and/or act chummy with a crime leader in their regular haunt while they're surrounded by their men, not if you want to keep your throat intact. Elliot makes a definite change.
And so Dante's eyes narrow slightly, curious, wondering, letting Elliot touch his watch as he pleases, like person with a cat pawing at their arm.]
You know the answer to that, I am sure.
[It's a challenge, a small one, a call of "let's stop the bullshit, please". Dante has always been keen on frankness over pussyfooting. He can see the tattoos on Elliot's hands and at least half understands their meaning. It's enough for him to know that there's more to this boy than he's letting on. If he wants to continue touching Dante, he's going to have to let on a little.]