Alastor could still remember the day he met his wife like it was yesterday. He remembered the heat of the summer, the smells wafting out of the cafe, and the sound of jazz floating through the air in New Orleans. He remembered seeing her there on the sidewalk, not five feet from him temporarily stopping him in his tracks her beauty so striking it rendered him speechless. It was hard to believe that barely a year later they would be married.
~1931 New Orleans~
What was wrong with him? He couldn't get her out of his head, she was beauty personified with her flowing blonde curls pinned back into an elegant updo, mismatched eyes of blue and green, and freckles gently dusting across her cheeks. A simple blue dress hugged her curves accentuating her natural femininity. He had only seen her in passing that morning on his way to work. He was completely awestruck by the vision before him. He had to find her, introduce himself, and hope that she was willing to give him her name in return. Never before had Alastor felt so drawn to another human being! She looked so lost standing all alone on the corner searching the buildings surrounding them so clearly she wasn't from around New Orleans, clearly either a tourist or someone who was moving to the city. He prayed for the latter, and more than that he prayed that his mixed heritage would not be a hindrance when he tries to approach her if their paths were ever to cross again.
"De Lancret you're late! I don't want another Clambake today because of you, I know your kind isn't known for your reliability but here a man is expected to work and be on time you twit. Now Get to work!" Walter Bordelon barked, his pale complexion turning a deep cerise. Alastor hurried away and began his daily work, it wasn't anything glamourous as he was little more than a glorified janitor at the time but longed to be behind the mic. So long as his current boss was in power he knew that it would be an excruciating climb to the top and since Doris had gone and married Alastors workload had doubled into secretarial jobs as well. Mr. Bordelon was expecting a new dame to come in for an interview today, He had run into her a few days ago at the cafe and said she had everything he was looking for in a new assistant. Mostly meaning she was young and attractive, Alastor rolled his eyes and almost felt bad for the poor broad having to work with the old sleaze in close quarters.
Too engrossed in his work Alastor did not hear the door open behind him nor the soft clicking of heels on the hardwood. "Scuse me sir but do ya know where Mista Bordelon can be found? I have an Interview with him this morning." Alastor stiffened at the flamboyant and adenoidal voice coming from the woman behind him, slowly he turned to find the woman from this morning standing behind him and tapping her heel in frustration. Like a deer in headlights, Alastor stood there unflinching for a moment before pointing off to the side where Mr. Bordelon's office was. The mystery woman walked away mumbling rapid Italian under her breath before knocking on the door and entering the office. "Way to go De Lancret as if she will give you the time of day now, you acted like a complete moron!" Alastor grumbled rubbing his eyes before going back to work, mentally kicking himself the whole time through until that door finally opened back up again and Walter ushered her out into the main area.
"Alastor will show you the ropes until you get yourself settled Miss. Bianco." He declared before slamming his door shut once more leaving Alastor and the woman alone, they stood there for a moment saying nothing until Alastor cleared his throat. "Salutations Miss. Bianco. My name is Alastor De Lancret, welcome to the radio station!" He held out his hand waiting to shake hers, she raised her perfectly shaped eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Ah you do know how to talk after all, the names Antonia Bianco but I'm not here to bump gums with ya Mista De Lancret so if you don't mind can you show a dame how to get by here?" Alastor smiled and nodded at her. The day passed quickly as he got Antonia (Toni as he discovered she preferred to be called.) Better acquainted with her day-to-day tasks. He felt like he was floating as he made the long trek home, he could hardly believe his luck! First, he sees her in passing that very morning and then she shows up for a job at the station, it is fate; Alastor could feel it deep within his bones. He could hardly wait to tell Maman about her, leaving out the fact that she didn't seem all that keen about him from the start after all they had only just met and a man of Alators breeding always had a bit more trouble winning over the ladies. It was only a matter of time before his natural charm warmed her up to him, he would just have to be patient and as an avid hunter, Alastor knew a thing or two about patience.
As he neared home he could smell his mother's cooking wafting out from the kitchen window, the rich blend of spices quickening his steps until he burst through the front door. "Maman I have the most wonderful news! It's the bee's knees, the cats meow, the snake's hips why yes indeedy it's utterly fantastic!" Alastor enthused gesturing wildly as his smile widened his mother poking her head out from the kitchen to look at her youngest child. "Oh, really Alastor come tell your Maman all about it while I dish the Gumbo." Sitting at the kitchen table he began. "Maman I met someone today, her name is Antonia she's the new secretary at work. I'm ab-so-lute-ly taken by her, she's quite the looker with the wit to match I'm dizzy for this dame Maman." Alastor gushed as he explained in great detail about his day and meeting her, he spared nothing not even the suspicion that she was not overly fond of him just yet but he was convinced that one day he could make her his wife. "Antonia De Lancret has a nice ring to it doesn't it Maman, I can just see it now. Antonia and I as man and wife, living in a nice house close to the station with a child or two while I finally become a broadcaster like I have always dreamed of." Alastor uttered dreamily while looking out the window. Celeste smiled knowingly as her son talked on into the night.