WARNING: SUPER TIME SKIP (for me, it did)
Happy reading!
Chapter 2; Venice
Sunday
September 21, 2014
Barely making their scheduled trip and having been heaving deep breaths the moment they sat on their designated seats, Lovina and Gilbert rested their heads as they played back all that happened yesterday and earlier this morning.
Convincing Lovina's parents is not really the kind of triviality you would want to get mixed up with. As an only child, it's just plainly natural for their course to be like that; the overprotective, doting guardians. They studied Gilbert like a hawk on a prey, scanning eyes rounding up on the albino as he silently fidgets in place. They know of what he did to their daughter, their former relationship, and not to mention, his overly-obnoxious behaviour that even their neighbours find disastrous.
When he was at the foyer of their modest dwelling the other day, he would see them taking numerous amounts of glances to his being as they tried to talk Lovina off the trip, squawking things like the distance, their businesses, the dangers (she's with Gilbert, of course), and a prominent amount of pessimistic thinking. They tend to do that once in a while, like all parents do. They were as persistent as their child was, interrupting at every chance they get when they see a loophole on Lovina's pleading, sitting with their hands resting either on their knees or laps and just devouring them both with stares.
No doubt could come upon you when you think of Arrigo and Eulalia Vargas as a good pair of people. In fact, they were beyond the word; they're angelic. Lovina's father is a man with a nice built and height, tall nose, wide lips, amber eyes, and the blackest set of locks you will ever see, while her mother is a glowing, moving, red-headed figurine. She has a body that was practically carved out by the angels themselves, swaying naturally with every move she makes, a voice humming with the sweetest tune would ever hear. She has apple green eyes that twinkle up to the level of the stars, plump lips, and pink stained cheeks. Lovina treats this unfathomably; she is their priced possession, their only heir.
So when they finally gave their consent of approval (with hundreds of death glares upon Gilbert), the uncharacteristic happened as their brunette of a daughter leaped out for joy and hurried once and for all to pack her things and necessities. They will be staying for a week in Venice in line for the event (that would end at Monday the following week) and seeing that their tickets don't say otherwise. You can't take all of Venice in one day, Gilbert insisted.
They arrived at the Valia* train station barely fifteen minutes before their ride moves on. It was a big place, an outdoor palace with the mix of modern technology as its steps lead you into marble stones of a yellowish hue and automatic ticket slots. It took Gilbert a maximum of eight minutes to switch their pass for a Venice one, for they had made a mistake last night regarding the places attached on their tickets. It took all of Lovina to scowl at the girl behind the computer at the registrar who was eyeing Gilbert while flipping an almost invisible bundle of hair on her shoulder every now and then. The moment she handed the newly engraved magazine-like papers, Gilbert dashed for it ("I'm the one being eye-ly smooched here!") and they set off, their supposed train just arriving on the tracks. They got in immediately.
As their train passed quickly upon a succession of fields and all things green, the two lounged on their seats, sometimes talking about things they couldn't care less if they wanted to, putting their headphones on for a couple of hours, Gilbert snoozing for a about a half and Lovina begrudgingly wiping off a trace of morning-glory on his chin.
"How did you get a VIP ticket?", Lovina asked when they both quieted down. "I mean, even Angelica couldn't get her hands on it because, apparently, it's super darn expensive." She asked, eyeing Gilbert. Angelica Robles's name rolled off her tongue smoothly as the woman was a prior interest of her companion. He never pursued her, though, because that's when the whole fall of him over his friend happened. Lovina cringed.
"Connections." He smirked. "My sweet, sweet auntie's in charge of the venue and the placement of practically all the paintings. Three nights ago, she phoned me up, knowing that I'm the only living person who will want to go at such an event in our family. And get this, she actually thought that you're still my girlfriend, so, she told me that she was given three VIP tickets, one for herself and two extras and invited me, with the condition that I'll be tagging you along, to go and attend the event."
"Hm. So all that 'I've saved up enough money' and bullshit is just you screwing me up?"
"No! No! See, this is why we broke up."
"What?"
"You never see me as a gentleman! I can be gentle if I want to. I've saved up enough money to cover all of our expenses in this trip." Lovina gaped. "That's right, darling." And his grin went even wider.
They went on with this for the whole trip; bickering and self-amusing with the view their seats provided. It wasn't long until their moving ground screeched gradually, signalling their stop. They got off and went to get their luggage and checked everything they have to do before leaving, with Gilbert phoning the hotel they will be staying at. Apparently, one of the perks of being a VIP in the event is a fully paid hotel reservation in a nearby five-star at the event venue. Lovina cussed at a laughing Gilbert for this, with the blonde yelping out the excuse that he picked the room.
Fifteen minutes passed with Gilbert saying that their host will be sending a Gondola for them (he rented it, he paid for it) to add more romance to their supposed friendly activity, in which Lovina took the luxury rolling her eyes upon. It arrived shortly than expected, their Gondolier stirring their ride up to them, politely asking for a certain Signor Beilschmidt, Gilbert's grin surpassing the redness of his ears. As they placed themselves comfortably, packing their baggage at the rather capacious boat, they took the liberty of being a foreigner in their own country.
The great azure above was placated with patches of smokes floating about in the air, making themselves presentable as if they were stroked with immeasurable amount of concentration from one detail to another. The gentle yet astounding whisper of the breeze welcomed them, saying their subtle hellos and salutations to the couple as their stout and oddly elfin of a Gondolier drenched them with sights they've been missing their entire life. Structures, with the utmost of class and elegancy, fancied their eyes, Vaporettos and occasional private Gondolas bumping into their floating steed. They were surrounded by Latin; surrounded with life and urbanity, with music they, themselves, were playing inside of their heads, beating rhythmically with every flow, every sweep of their boat. Lights of any kind lingered almost permanently in everywhere as they were met with not only by anything astounding, but a whirlpool of all things bright, from the land itself to the people inhabiting it as they received some waves from shop vendors they have passed from. They greeted them back with an equally genuine smile, both of them.
Venice is wonderful, beautiful in every sense you could ever muster. Lovina could feel it; the boiling mixture of anxiety and gladness, residing ever so gracefully in the pit of her stomach, never wanting to leave. Gilbert can almost taste it; all the things they're going to do, the things they should've had ages ago finally making its way into their grasps.
Their ride becoming slower than that of its usual, they were met by a pristine building larger and wider than that of the others. It's of a metallic and golden hue, the words VINO boldly encrypted on a large plaque on top of the main entrance. Two men in suits blissfully accommodated them and their driver, tying off a rope tautly on their boat and on a wooden pole on the right of the planks.
They got their baggage safely tucked in and delivered by the help of a service lad, listed down all of those needed by the reception area, and headed up smoothly, albeit excitedly, towards 301 B. Grandeur greeting them in every nook their eyes land upon, the place was full of white and gold. Sometimes, an occasional sapphire, and it was a mix that they hadn't had the slightest idea that would work.
Just by the receiving lobby was a spacious welcome rug sutured in engravings of gold that rounds up a center table. It then supports a large china, with the same hue as the said building, encasing a bundle of abundant black roses. Underneath them were straight boards of wood, panelling from the entrance up to the floor they were brought upon. Across the main door was a wide-set of stairs just behind its lucrative and palatable flowers and by either side of it were two elevators whose statures compliment the hotel theme. The whole look was completed by protégés and guests buzzing up with crews and staffs, adorned by crimson and white uniforms. They were wearing gloves.
As their lift halted, the glowing numbers above them indicating their designated floor, they hurriedly walked off the placid and warmly lit corridor and almost instantly finding their room. Slashing the mechanical lock with the given card key, they slowly opened the humongous Mahogany in front of them, fearing of what to expect.
Neither of them has slept in a hotel suite before, nor did they opt to for their trip today considering that it wasn't for them to decide upon. So, it was easy to say that the reactions they held could compete for one if they had a chance to do so one day. Lovina let her eyes wandered wildly with her mouth slightly agape with Gilbert flying off to explore the room, obviously impatient for his best friend.
The first thing that they saw was marble, laying their feet gradually on it as if it couldn't support their weights and breaks off on them. It spreads up until the glass window, just behind a table and miniature vase of the one downstairs at the lobby, which overlooks the canal and plaid up buildings of Venice. There were two headboard beside the said table, leaning themselves on the walls and were encasing two spacious cabinets each. They were of a vanilla hue. The whole room was in cased by a glass door separated from the door by a step.
By their right was another step leading to their main room, holding two separate queen-sized beds with one beside an enormous window for a wall. Unlike the welcoming room, this one's flooring was of a red carpet sweeping up until the bathroom by the right, returning to a yellow marble. There was a side table by the middle, an erected lamp on it, some drawers underneath, and a vague painting of a sunset landscape placed just atop of it.
With her feet glued to where she was, Lovina heard Gilbert's muffled voice, "Shit, Renata! I'll never go out ever again." He rushed up to his bewildered friend, holding up two bottles with white liquids filling the spaces inside. "We have six different of these in the bathroom, and they have a silver dye in one! Heck, they even have a plasma TV inside!" He said, ecstatically.
"What, like, this one?" Lovina pointed at the one in front suspended on the wall in front of their cots. He nodded. "Huh. I'd wager they even have an air conditioner in there." She huffed as her eyes started darting all over the room, noting the body mirror beside the hanging telephone adhered just by the window wall. She'd better call her parents.
"Come on! I know you. Deep inside, you're screaming my name and the word awesome in one sentence!" He teased, going back to their lavatory. "You've got to admit the good stuff."
"And what part of good are you?" Lovina walked towards the phone and dialled her mom's number, seeing as it wasn't limited for the hotel lines only, whilst observing her own reflection. She mentally slapped a reminder to braid her hair for later. Wearing a beige wool coat paired with black leggings and leather boots reaching up until her knees, it was more convenient and practical that way. She was also wearing a red scarf given to her by her father for Christmas last year. "Eulalia stabbed you a million times before letting me go to this trip, and you call yourself good?"
"Call her 'mom', you ingrate!"
As rude as they could ever get, Lovina and Gilbert marched off their hotel suite the moment they rummaged their baggage unto the floor and their beds. Tying the last thin bundle of her hair up with the rest of her braid, and convincing Gilbert to change into a simple white, v-neck shirt and faded out jeans, they went out.
With the ring of the lift signalling the ground floor, they hurried up to the entrance and were visited with the same stunning view. With the painted canvas of moving colours still in front, their Gondolier met them halfway the glass panel, opening it with a wide grin. They set off.
"D'you have anywhere in mind to go to?" Gilbert asked Lovina when they were both settled down in their Gondola, their Gondolier swaying them slightly with every paddle.
"I still have to buy a formal dress for tomorrow", she answered, not taking her eyes off nowhere.
"And then watch that opera by the front docks and grab some gelato", Gilbert grinned.
Darting her eyes to her friend, Lovina cringed, "I hate that you know me so much."
They proceeded with their sightseeing, the usual infrastructures of Venice meeting them in every way of the canal. They would stop by once in a while in something peculiar that had caught either of their attention, with Lovina pointing the most and letting her heart even more from the first stop to the next. Gilbert couldn't be more amused.
Sunday
September 21, 2014
11:41 pm
Amanda Rivers is not really a relative of the Beilschmidt's; in fact, the family barely knows her. . . except for Gilbert, that is. They met each other two years before this event happened, but there were certain similarities. A specific spot on the list is that this one is connected by the force of Art from the last.
It was quicker than the breeze that the rain comes along with when it touches dry ground, but not any faster than light. The albino, who had the face of a younger version of himself now, was looking at this painting in a certain exhibition, which happens to be Amanda's first work at that state. His eyes were as intricate as ever, criticising every bit of detail his sight could hover to, every color that he catches and every little thing in between of the canvas and the multitude of acrylics applied to it. He was wearing a near-to ragged jumper of a blue hue that encloses both of his arms down to his wrists, a white shirt underneath, and a simple grey Sneakers. An arm was folded in front of him, holding down his chin slightly, and the other one was hugging it closely to his body. Not to mention, his hair was of a shocking and natural-looking palette of silver, so, naturally, the forty-year old Amanda, who has a jet black hue for her hair, was intrigued by this fellow. She was the first one to approach.
The first thing that came after her greeting of a "brilliant enough?", was her looking directly at the boy's eyes and being horrified enough to let out, "I am not a worthy sacrifice for Dracula." And that's where their maternal relationship started; with Gilbert being ridiculed and joked at to the point that he laughed at it himself, and her finding a younger friend that she couldn't stop imagining as her young up until now. So, she let him call her "Auntie", seeing that it'd be rude to his biological mother if he calls her mom (who thought that Amanda looks younger than her age).
The now 42-year old woman is standing inside a huge, white tent that could accommodate at least fifty people inside, and holds fifteen different pieces of painting that varies in size. There were other two outside that holds the same amount and were being properly set up by people in black shirts and smiling faces, just like she does.
"I can't believe you're still here."
She turned her back from the pristine painting in front of her, and her grin went even wider. "Neither I am to you." She let out a silent squeal, enveloping the approaching blonde. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I finished earlier than I expected and decided to come here and settle myself for the week." The man she was talking to have a crisp and elegant accent of superiority, but, Amanda could hint the tiredness as he spoke. She curled up her arm to his side and patted him.
"The things you do for a friend, huh?" She smiled.
He chuckled, "If it's my art exhibition, he'd stay in my place for a month. How long is this going to take again?"
"The last day will be on Monday of the following week. He is a famous painter, that boy is."
"Expecting a full house much?", he grinned, turning his head to her.
"Yes, of course. That's why—", she crunched up her brows and noted the bags under his eyes. "—we extended the VIP ticket for a whole week. What happened to your face?" She added, concern evident in her tone.
"Oh, don't get me started with that."
She grunted, "Fix your shit before tomorrow and I won't." Amanda folded her free arm on her back. "By the way, my nephew's coming and he's got his girlfriend with him."
"I never knew you have a nephew."
"Well, he's like you." She said and his brow rose. "We're not really related but I let him call me that. I love him like one, anyway- "
"You need a husband—"
"And besides, he is a very peculiar one."
"What, so now you're picking weird kids up by the streets?" He laughed and squeezed her arm.
"Hey! I'm not a pervert like you," she said, "I met him two years ago at Victor's exhibition and, I'm telling you, I thought I saw a walking porcelain, Ken doll. Only more human and a little like a vampire."
"What?" he asked, his grin never fading.
She squinted slightly but continued, nonetheless. "His name is Gilbert Beilschmidt. He's from Germany and has the reddest eyes and palest complexion I have ever seen. I mean, it's completely blood and white that it'll really scare you. But, after our conversation at the first day of the exhibit, he came back and that's where we got to know each other. He's a really good kid, mind you, and he's got this really amazing sense of art in his being that I'm actually quite envious of him." She chuckled slightly and removed her arm gently from his now stiff one. "It would be really nice if you get to know him, seeing that you're both passionate at that field of work."
She waited for an answer from his companion, putting aside the stiffness his body did. "Are you alright?", she asked him, peering down to see a pair of eyes widened extremely. He was suddenly sweating. "Oh my goodness, are you alright?" she repeated and shook him slightly, now more alarmed.
"W-w-what. . . What?"
"Are you sick? Do you want to go and get some med—"
"No. . . ", he smiled shakily, "No. Just. . . lost in thought. And exhausted." He chuckled, his breathing getting heavier.
"A-are you sure—"
"Yeah, yeah I'm sure. Erm. . . uh, y-you're n-nephew? Nephew, right? Gilbert, was it?"
She was now a few inches away from him due to his occasional trudging. "Yeah. .. he's coming tomorrow with his—"
"With his girlfriend," he added, "He's coming with his girlfriend, correct?", he said, voice now louder than before and a hand protruded, urging her to go on.
"Y-yeah. . .", she hesitated but saw his 'enthusiasm' for her to continue, "name's—her name is Lovina Vargas. A brunette with the same course as him. Top of the class and. . . and quite lovely, I guess.", Amanda shrugged nervously. Good thing that the other staffs were too busy outside, wouldn't want them to see this hysteria, she thought. But, as if on cue, the blonde's eyes widened even more and he was gaping at her, his hands shaking vigorously on place. He was struggling to keep his composure.
"I-I—", he stammered, "better g-go now, A-Amanda. . . "
"Do you know them, perhaps?"
"No!", he exclaimed nervously, "Haha! Absolutely not, never heard of them. W-well, I best be on my way now. So much. . . exhaustion—"
"Do you want me to take you to your house? You look awful."
"I can manage on. . . my own. Thank you for the offer though.", he smiled weakly and started walking towards the entrance, his slight shaking still clear.
"Are you sur—"
"Yes."
"Well, alright.", she couldn't move, it was the first time he lost his composure in front of her.
"Thank you. See you tomorrow, Amanda." He said.
"You too.", She answered, her eyes fixated at the retreating form outside the tent. The color of his person blended outside perfectly, his dark blue silhouette being eaten wholly by the night. Their night lamps were still unlit.
With concern still looming over her, she shouted, "Sleep well, Arthur!"
I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE! SO, TO BE FAIR, MY UPDATES WILL BE MONTHLY (STARTING NOW BECAUSE I DIDN'T UPDATE LAST SEPTEMBER)!
I added a day, date and time guide. So, let's say that we're in their universe, it's Sunday (their trip to Venice) today and tomorrow's Monday which will be the day for the exhibit. (IF YOU FIND A PHRASE OR A SENTENCE TELLING YOU OTHERWISE, PLEASE IGNORE THAT/KINDLY POINT IT OUT TO ME. THANK YOU.)
Seeing that this thing had been sitting on my laptop for a while now, I decided to finally post it. Though I don't really want to because I feel that this is so incomplete, but, for the sake of updating (and seeing that chapter 1 sorta ended like this, too), here it is!
I Know I'm A Dreamer, I actually got moved by your review to update because it was all in caps lock and I kinda, like, heard them being yelled at me. Hahahaha! I didn't mean it as bad thing. Actually, it's a good thing because you made me finish this chapter. So, thank you, dear. J
Mizushi-Hime, Aww, thank you dear. All will be revealed later. TEEHEE
Amanda Rivers, the Gondoliers, and the others who were mentioned that are not the series or in the manga is purely mine. Though, I did not specify their looks because I want you guys to have your own images of them in your heads.
YIZZ, STUTTERING ARTHUR, MAH DEARS! HA!
Btw, if there's an error or unfinished paragraphs, phrases, or sentences, please let me know.
Reviews are ultimately welcome.
Thank you for reading,
- Radical