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Alphonse Gambino Elise Calcifet

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Alphonse Gambino noticed the woman in spite of her disguise. Of course he did - he had people watching the young princess around the clock. In another life - in another situation - Elise might have found the man in his usual, formal attire complete with large rings and a cigar between his teeth. She might have realized how dangerous the man before her could be. He might have sat at the table ominously with steepled fingers and men all about him. She might have been coming to ask him for a favor on this, the day of his daughter's wedding. But... no. Perhaps in an alternate reality that might have been their first meeting - perhaps Elise would have met Minuit and not the smiling, cheerful face of Alphonse Gambino.[break][break]

He gave a broad, cheerful grin upon seeing her but he did not speak up nor pronounce her name as he usually might have. He could tell Elise was going for a more discreet look this day. He did wave one hand dismissively at her concerns - but it was a kind, casual gesture.[break][break]

"Please, my dear. Not at all. I've merely been watching the festivities from afar! That man over there is quite deft with his blades. I wouldn't have it in me to even try!"[break][break]

Warm, sincere laughter and he leaned forward to eye the strange Pokémon. His face did not show anything but compassion and genuine interest. He smiled at the magical hedgehog and leaned back before he turned his attention to the princess.[break][break]

"It is you who must forgive me. I found myself so engrossed in the performance that I took some coffee without you. How rude of me!"[break][break]

Alphonse stood, his coffee cup empty - and he gently placed the equivalent of a fifty-dollar bill beneath the cup as a tip for the waitress. He smiled at Elise and added, in a half-joking manner.[break][break]

"Madame, I do not imagine you would need a bodyguard. You will have me with you though... And mine." He said, with a weary grin at Elise and a thumb over his shoulder to point out the woman in the black suit - who pretended not to be watching them.[break][break]

"Do not cook for me. But they do follow me around quite incessantly. Please be at your ease. You are as safe as can be."[break][break]

He leaned in and whispered - as if sharing a secret between friends.[break][break]

"They mean well, but they're a real drag. Hard for a man to cut loose and have some fun. But they've agreed to stay out of the carnival grounds. So I'd consider it a personal favor for us to head that way quickly."[break][break]

He straightened back up, and spike loud enough for his apparent bodyguards to hear: "Yes! Dutiful and reliable, that's them!"[break][break]

And with a boyish grin towards Elise he began to move, but only after allowing her to lead the way.[break][break]

As they drew closer to the main gate - it was not hard to see several of the attractions and hear the elevated, cheerful noise of people murmuring and talking. Alphonse did step in front of Elise briefly at the entrance - and handed a black credit card to the cashier. He didn't think twice about letting Elise pay for herself - she was his guest and had done him the honor of this meeting.[break][break]

"Two, please!" He said - and looked around distractedly as she woman fastened wristbands to Al and Elise's hands.[break][break]

"Oh! How fun! They have one of those fishing games over there! I've never been much of an angler myself - not for lack of trying, though! How about you? Do you have the chance to fish often? I'm sure you must be quite busy these days, miss!"[break][break]

Al took care not to call her by name or by title - if she was in disguise, he didn't want to ruin that by letting something slip!

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Alphonse Gambino Elise Calcifet

[attr="class","mitmain"]

Alphonse offered only a blank look at Elise let slip that she and her bodyguard were involved. The man, clad in a pair of khakis and a dark button-down, collared shirt blinked for a moment as though stunned. Then he began to laugh - a deep, amused peal of laughter that was as warm and sunny as the rest of him. He held up one hand and waved it slightly as if to apologize - and managed at last to get some words out:[break][break]

"I-I apologize, miss! I just... did not expect one of your station to so freely speak about your, ah, affairs!" One large finger reached up to wipe a single tear from his eye.[break][break]

"And your face just there was quiet comical. You must care deeply for this bodyguard of yours. I hope he guards your body well~"[break][break]

Alphonse allowed a hint of some mischievous tone to creep into his voice.[break][break]

"In any case, this is more my speed." Alphonse said, as they drew up to a "Pop the Pidgey" game - where a small cork was stuffed into a low-pressure air rifle.[break][break]

He held the two-handed gun easily enough in one hand - almost as if it were a large handgun rather than a two-handed rifle. And he reached up with his other hand to shield his eyes - no, to cover them so he could not see. There was a small, easy smile on his face as he regarded Elise as best he could with his vision obscured.[break][break]

"Here, lady. Watch and learn!"[break][break]

POP[break][break]

The cork sailed about two feet past the nearest Pidgey and hit only empty air. The teenage stall manager only laughed weakly and made am embarrassed but friendly smile. [break][break]

"Ah, sorry, sir. You... Missed." She said, with some hesitation as Al pulled his hand from his face and his shoulders sagged.[break][break]

"Alas~ Defeated by own hubris!"

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Alphonse Gambino Elise Calcifet

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Alphonse lowered his hand from his face to watch Elise take her shot.[break][break]

His shoulders sagged slightly beneath the apparent weight of his failure - he had tried to show off, and blown it! It would seem the Kalosian businessman might be good at fashion and sales and high-finance. But despite his large size it seemed the man lacked any martial prowess. His dad jokes aside, Al watched as Elise fired the cork at the line of Pidgey and managed to strike one on the first attempt. When Elise turned to regard Alphonse with her triumphant demeanor the older man could only offer an embarrassed smile and rub the back of his head; a youthful and earnest expression from the fashion mogul.[break][break]

"It is rare, for me of all people, to write a check I cannot cash. But you, miss - you say you've not done much angling, but you were spot-on with that rifle. It might be just a toy, but you held yourself as though you knew what you were doing. Could it be that you've handled the real thing before?"[break][break]

As Alphonse made idle conversation - well, this was a carnival game and it was all in good fun. The stall attendant offered Alphonse a small, wind-up Caterpie toy as a participation prize.[break][break]

Naturally, Elise would have her pick of something much more impressive.

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Alphonse Gambino Elise Calcifet

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"Mana?" Alphonse inquired with a subtle tilt of his head.[break][break]

"So, you're a Mismagius fan. I'm surprised you can tolerate the sounds it makes. Last time I heard one crying out I suffered from hallucinations - saw things that weren't there."[break][break]

His voice grew steady - his tone, hard.[break][break]

"Then again - it was Team Rocket. Maybe the Pokemon raised by bad people can go bad too? I... don't know, miss." He allowed, and tried now to refer to her as "princess". [break][break]

"Still... I've always been fascinated by ghost Pokémon myself. I found my first partner Pokémon in a cave - and it was a ghost-type. Ever since then I've liked them more than most."[break][break]

As Al walked and talked with the Princess, he suddenly noticed something. Elise might too - if she only noticed Al suddenly stop walking so abruptly that he kicked up a little bit of dust with his dress-casual shoes. The wealthy man didn't seem to notice - he had eyes only for whatever they had bolted onto behind Elise. Not close, either - a pair of buildings sat on the other side of the street from Elise and Al. And between those buildings, hidden in shadow, two figures could be made out. One of them had their arm against the wall as if to keep the other figure from running away. Alphonse placed a hand gently on Elise's shoulder and stepped past her - his jovial tone gone and forgotten.[break][break]

"Excuse me, miss. A moment." [break][break]

The big man stepped into the alley - between the "bobbing for Applin" booth - and a more active one featuring a ring-toss game and some Diglett.[break][break]

Alphonse's body language and purposeful strides would suggest he meant to get himself involved in whatever trouble he had spotted - and he left Elise to either stand and watch...[break][break]

Or to follow, her path further into the alley blocked by the large frame of Alphonse Gambino.

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