There had been a letter sitting on desk at work. Crisp envelope with his name neatly written on the front. Davide knew the hand writing. He had received similar letters over the years at infrequent patterns. This time it was his mother writing him. Her handwriting was a little more stark compared to his father's, but none the less he hadn't been prepared for what was contained in that letter.
Normally, his parents wrote to advise of their various adventures out in the world. They were rich, they wanted nothing to do with the Giovanni family politics, and thus they ventured out making sure distant "business contacts" were in good standing. Old, retired, living the life of luxury and travel. The best sort of retirement that Davide could ever imagine for himself... if he was someone who wanted a boring life.
Davide ignored the letter for several hours after starting his day. Responding to other memos and reports that were sitting on his desk. He pushed the letter off to the side until it was time for lunch, before noting the seal had already been neatly broken. More than likely his brother, but that was nothing new either. Dante always liked to know whatever was going on and Davide had never tried to hide any letters from their parents. There was never any reason to. Davide unfolded the single page and started to read. Pale eyes scanned over the first paragraph while only half paying attention until a single word caught his eye. Marriage. Then the vampire was sitting up almost rigidly, leaning forward in his seat so that his elbows rested ungracefully on his giant wooden desk, and those eyes widened as he reread the first paragraph.
Davide, we were informed of your actions at the family dinner. A wince trailed across his features. It seemed like everyone in the Milliner family branch had heard about what had happened. Davide was tired of hearing about it. Additionally with a Puttanesca daughter. Considering they were with another major family, his parents were probably worried about pissing them off and causing drama. Drama was the last thing either parent wanted because of how it would affect their lives. As such, we have come to a mutual agreement with the Puttanescas. You'll be marrying the same girl who embarrassed you. I'll be arranging the exact details with their family, you'll be updated on where to be and when. Make sure you have a tuxedo suitable, ready as soon as possible and on standby. This is how you'll make up for your mistake. Don't do anything else to attract unwanted attention, at least until after your marriage. Regards, Mother.
He felt stunned. Almost like someone had chucked an ice cold drink in his face... not an unfamiliar sensation to Davide, but it still felt like a shock all the same. Perhaps worse because he was sober and hadn't been expecting anything like this today. The letter fell to the desk and Davide sat back in the leather chair, trying to process the information. Marriage. Him?! Getting married?? Before he was too old to avoid it?!? And to Vivi Puttanesca?? After the dinner and falling for her con... an obvious con in retrospect, Davide had decided that he was going to avoid the woman for awhile. Hot, yes, but someone who had embarrassed him like that? For what? Just for fun?
A sigh escaped Davide and he suddenly moved, pulling open a drawer and pulling out a bottle of whiskey. Something strong for emergencies, he had told Dante once upon a time. If this wasn't an emergency, then Davide didn't know what would be. He was getting married! There had always been the looming threat of marriage, it was expected of him at some point, but Davide had never considered all these circumstances. An arranged marriage... a contract marriage, all because he had allowed himself to be a touch too horny one night and had fallen for the con of the woman he was supposed to marry.
It didn't take long for Davide to finish the bottle, looking as surly as he slumped at his desk and allowed his mind to travel down whatever sullen path it wished. The whiskey was strong enough to dull everything else out, letting his thoughts slide entirely until everything faded. He fell asleep at his desk, failing to grapple with how he could be married at any day moving forward. The old adage of a ball and chain kept coming to mind, dragging him away from everything he enjoyed now. Drinking, partying, perhaps even working as much as he did.
After the date was picked and the ceremony completed, Davide's life would change entirely. What the hell was he supposed to do with that? He slept through anyone knocking on his door, lost in those circling thoughts and troubled dreams.
