Some even fall to the earth [tag; Sofia]

Blue suede loafers rose and fell with silent steps as the man walked along the hall, well manicured hands rested in the pocket of his pressed slacks. The collar of his crisp white shirt rested over the soft blue tinted vest as Blake walked, a certain pep to his steps. The man loved when things went his way, even more a job well done. Granted things had gotten sloppy, a regret he would have to learn to live with, but he had accomplished his goal. His brows knitted as the pain in his side reminded him that he did have injuries, three broken ribs to be exact. Ah, well he would get proper care when he felt ready to deal with being fussed over, maybe. He didn’t mind the brushing to his face nor the cut in his lip as those alone had gotten him the comfort of a beautiful red haired woman. Such a nice perk to his job he thought ardently ad the sounds of his steps echoed, causing him to stop. He knew he could never sneak up on Sofia but it never keep him from trying.

The man remembered the last time the two had taken to the cellar, him seeing her help regrettably. She had been the assistance he had needed then but sharing credit came hard for the man, nearly as hard a true commitment. With his work he doubt he would ever settle down but he hoped that even into his gray haired days he would be graced with a beautiful woman in his bed. He hoped that his charm never dimmed and mysterious allure was always there. Smooth palms ran along each other as his hands were freed from the warmth of his pockets. “I figured when I didn’t se you upstairs you would be down here.” The smirk played on his lips as he spoke into the empty space. His attuned senses told him he wasn’t alone but he couldn’t peg her location, a troublesome feeling rose within him as he liked around the dimly lit room. “I thought you would like to know that despite…complications…” he spoke through clenched teeth as he remembered the events of days ago, “the job has been completed.”

Long fingered hands ran along the soft fabric of his vest as he stepped more into the cellar to run his finger along one of the many bottles resting on the shelf. “I don’t l surprises, Sofia. “ the annoyance was there in his voice as his ribs thronged softly, “Especially the ones that could possibly mean my life. So, can we be sure that next time all information is valid.” He hated violence despite his job title. The man preferred a distanced approach, a dash of poison here and there and he could watch with a grin as his target dropped helplessly to die alone. Blake knew at times that he would have to get in the thick of it but he wished He had other options. “I’ve left everything I acquired from the location in the office.”

His head snapped to the left as something as close to a whisper touched his ears, his wand hand shifted, ready to draw if needed. “Sofia?” his eyes narrowed into the darkest corner of the room as his heart have a jolt before it pounded painfully. He wasn’t the type to feel afraid but he was on edge lately. “we need to speak about something rather important…” his past was coming back to haunt him in the worse ways. Blake felt as if someone were watching him and the more he felt that way the more he was close to snapping from the pressure of his own anxiety.


@Sofia Rossellini

Uh-oh.

Like a meerkat, Sofia's head snapped upwards as she heard footsteps. Collina Verde was a vast and sprawling Tuscan villa so dark spaces were readily available. Out of habit, she stayed in the shadows. She knew it wasn't anyone she didn't already know. The place was warded so heavily, it take an actual army to even get into the driveway but that didn't mean she was any more at ease.

The tall Italian was busy organising her wine collection. Some people collected handbags or cars or other dinky little things but for Sofia, wine was her one true love. It was the only thing in life that hadn't let her down yet. She had wines dating back over a century. She'd taken over the reigns from Vincenzo, her grandfather. There was a 1968 bottle of red wine that came with strict instructions only to be opened at her grandfather's funeral. Sofia half wished he'd die so she could see what the big deal was but she'd never tell him that.

At Blake's remark, she scoffed. "Rude," she muttered underneath her breath as she carefully restacked another dust covered bottle gently. The cellar was a huge, echoing space. It was in the bowels of the house and accessed down a gorgeous spiral stone staircase.

Oh, he didn't like surprises? "You're in the wrong profession, babe," came the cheery response from across the other side of the room as she wiped her dusty palms on her firm thighs. Sofia blew at her chestnut curls before adjusting the bow on her dress and stepping out into the light. When called, she didn't answer. He was holding himself stiffly and in the dim light, she could see rapidly forming bruises. Her long legs crossed the concrete floor swiftly as she reached him. Without asking for permission, she reached out and stroked the pad of her thumb across his blackened cheek bone. "Who is it?" She asked shortly. They were passed playing games now.

The sound of her voice relaxed the tension in his muscles, eased away some of the worry he’d allowed to build up. It seemed to blur together, her voice, the distance closing between them which was followed by her touch became a quickly passing second. There was no beginning and no end and they just were. He stood, letting his eyes wash over her face as a hand rose to rest over her wrist, the right edge of his lips twitched up into a smile. “No one who is alive now. It’s just bruising, I’ve had worse.” He had, hell, he currently held worse injuries. None of it was important, a mere hazard of the job. Blake oddly enjoyed that she had been worried, was it worry? He cracked a grin, “Besides this adds to my allure.” He gave a chuckle, his brows twitching slightly.  It was hard for him to remain serious half the time, even if the situation called for it.

He shifted to move away from her, pacing just a bit. “I wanted to talk to you about something else, something that is starting to bother me.” His hands found their way into his pockets, brown eyes moving to wash along her frame. “You look nice,” He added in a distracted tone, his head tilted a bit, “Were you going somewhere today?” He found that he was oddly jealous by this unknown fact, strange. He had been spending far too much time in Sofia’s company if he felt such things that had to be it. His throat cleared, lips pursed before he sighed. “I have a sinking feeling that my past is catching up to me.”

Blake had been many different men and it was hard to say which life was finding him now, but it didn’t mean that he would easily shake the feeling. That disturbing feeling that someone was watching him, plotting against him and using his habits to form such a plan, that was unnerving.”I’ve felt as if someone is following me.” And it would explain how he had been met with force during his last assignment. His hand pulled from his pocket as his shoulders rolled, “It’s affecting my focus…” As if to make his point he ran his hand along the area in front of him as if his current state was reason enough. “I’m not sure how to carry on from here now that I’m certain this is happening.” He only hoped she could help.