Giancarlo:
Aug 28, 2002 05:55 PM
As Jasmine leaves the Freak Show, she runs into a very short man, who's no more than four feet tall.

"Hey, watch it! You almost broke my camera!" he says as his fedora gets knocked off his head. He picks the hat up unceremoniously, then looks at Jasmine. "Hey, you're one of the acts in that freak show, aren't you?"

Jasmine:
Aug 28, 2002 07:46 PM
Jasmine frowned at the little man. Agitated, she ran her hand through her hair, which hung long and loose. She didn't notice or care how strange she must look that way.

"Yea, but the shows over now. Come back next week."

Giancarlo:
Aug 28, 2002 09:21 PM
The man shakes his head. "I came here for a story, but Miss Williamson hustled me out without an interview. But I guess I could complain to you instead. What kind of a lousy freak show doesn't have any midgets?"
 

Jasmine:
Aug 28, 2002 09:38 PM
Jasmine can't help but smile as she looks down at him.

"Why? Did you want to join us?"

Giancarlo:
Aug 28, 2002 09:42 PM
The man laughs slightly. "Hardly! I already have a *real* job." He pauses, then stage whispers. "But I want to marry a girl shorter than me!"
 
Riu:
Aug 29, 2002 12:58 PM
Jasmine laughs despite herself.

"Well, I hope you find her, mister...?"

Giancarlo:
Aug 29, 2002 01:07 PM
The man smiles. "No worries, miss; as soon as the season starts, I'll find me a nice little wife." He laughs. "I found a great one last year, but she joined a traveling circus..." He sighs, but it's pretty clear he's more than happy to laugh at himself. He tips his hat to Jasmine, bowing slightly. "At any rate, I'm Giancarlo Flamino, reporter and photographer extraordinnare. I'm sorry; I forgot your name..."
 

Jasmine:
Aug 29, 2002 04:08 PM
"Jasmine Monceau. One of the strangest freaks both sides of the Mississippi." She grins and playfully does a sweeping curtsy.

Giancarlo:
Aug 29, 2002 04:15 PM
"Oh, I don't know; I think that firey dame was stranger than *you.*" Giancarlo pauses. "So did Miss Williamson want some press on this place or not?"
 

Jasmine:
Aug 29, 2002 04:26 PM
"Yea, you're probably right." She pauses. Her draw clenches.

"You'll have to ask Libby, if it's ok with her."

((How do you pronounce his name? Is it like Juan + Carlo?"))

Giancarlo:
Aug 29, 2002 04:39 PM
"I would've after the show, but she seemed a bit distracted." He laughs again. "Well, may as well come back next week, I guess. Where do you live? I'll walk you home."

((I THINK it's like John+Carlo. But I'm not sure; I just found the name on an Italian names site and thought it sounded suitably pretentious.))
 

Jasmine:
Aug 30, 2002 12:53 PM
Jasmine shrugs. "If you want to. I don't live far from here."

Giancarlo:
Aug 30, 2002 01:32 PM
The man laughs. "Don't worry; I won't do anything untoward. I told you I'll only marry a short woman, and your legs are far too pretty to hack off."
 

Jasmine:
Aug 30, 2002 02:45 PM
Jasmine blinks in surprise and then grins, "Well I didn't exactly see you as the axe murderer type."

Giancarlo:
Aug 30, 2002 03:07 PM
"No, no!" Giancarlo objects. "But if you didn't have any legs, you *would* be shorter than me..." He smirks. "Did you take the subway to get here?"
 

Jasmine:
Aug 30, 2002 03:44 PM
"Actually, I walked," she said simply. "But I'm sure you're not up for the trip. We could take the subway....but I don't have any money for tokens..."

Giancarlo:
Aug 30, 2002 03:55 PM
"Walked? I guess that's part of your act, then." Giancarlo smirks. "I think I can spare a nickel, if you'd put up with my company on the way home, anyway."
 

Jasmine:
Aug 30, 2002 05:00 PM
She smiles, "I guess I could stand it."

Giancarlo:
Aug 30, 2002 05:08 PM
"Well, then!" Giancarlo starts towards the subway; he has to hustle with a slight shuffle to keep up with Jasmine. "How did you fall in with this freak show crowd, anyway?"
 

Jasmine:
Aug 30, 2002 05:10 PM
"Well, Libby just walked up to me and asked if I wanted to join. That was all there was to it, really."

Giancarlo:
Aug 30, 2002 05:16 PM
"Not much of a story, I guess," Giancarlo says, disappointed. "But I'm sure I could get some nice pictures. You think Miss Williamson would let me come back next week?"
 

Jasmine:
Aug 30, 2002 05:26 PM
"I'm sure she would if it was good publicity."

Giancarlo:
Aug 30, 2002 05:43 PM
"Oh, it would be. Which do you think is the best act? Besides yours, of course."
 

Jasmine:
Aug 30, 2002 06:46 PM
Jasmine grins, "Why don't you come Saturday and see? Maybe Libby will give you a discount. Since your writing about the show and everything."

Giancarlo:
Aug 30, 2002 08:21 PM
"Oh, but I already saw the show--I would've taken some photographs, but I didn't get a chance to ask permission. Since it's not quite pressing news, I didn't think it was a good idea to take them without asking." He smoothly buys two subway tokens. "But I wanted to know which *you* liked the best, not which *was* the best." He smirks.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 02, 2002 02:25 PM
A few people look at her funny because of her hair. Jasmine blushes and quickly ties it into a messy bun.

"Alex's probably. Except for today. And you didn't see *all* of the acts. There were a few people missing."

Giancarlo:
Sep 02, 2002 03:13 PM
"Oh, really? Who? Do you think I might be able to see *everyone's* act? I want to write the best story possible, you know."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 02, 2002 03:44 PM
Jasmine shrugs, her eyes are on the subway tracks as they wait for the train to come.

"Try next week. Which act do you think is the best?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 02, 2002 03:57 PM
Without even a moment's pause, Giancarlo says, "Yours, of course. But they were all rather good. How do you all do your acts? Your tricks are more impressive than most films, and these are live, and in color..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 02, 2002 04:01 PM
Jasmine laughs. "Thank you. We just do them. The same way..." she pauses to think of an example, "the same people some people can wiggle their noses, I guess."

Giancarlo:
Sep 02, 2002 04:03 PM
"I don't believe you," Giancarlo says simply.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 02, 2002 04:10 PM
Jasmine smiles.

"I could show you, I guess, but I generally don't like to unless it's for the show and especially not in front of all of these people."

Jasmine looks warily at the people around her.

"It'd cause to much trouble and besides, it'd give them a free show." She grins.

Giancarlo:
Sep 02, 2002 04:13 PM
"Oh?" Giancarlo asks. "The show doesn't need free advertising, then?"

A train pulls onto the platform. "Is this ours?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 02, 2002 04:18 PM
Jasmine nods. "This is the one."

After everyone's gotten onto the train and they've started moving, Jasmine speaks again.

"Do you mean free advertising from your paper or from my act?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 02, 2002 04:32 PM
Giancarlo laughs a bit. "Oh; I'm not so bad as that. I'll write a story even if you don't perform for me, don't you worry. But if you showed off in front of strangers, I think it'd more likely bring 'em to the show, not make 'em tired of it."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 02, 2002 04:44 PM
"Hm, maybe your right. Libby was thinking of having the audience meeting us after the show anyway. Would you be the barker? I'm not any good at that."

Giancarlo:
Sep 02, 2002 05:01 PM
Giancarlo laughs. "Well, that's not a good idea on a crowded subway car, is it? Maybe next week. Or maybe just ask your Miss Williamson to bring out one of her acts while she's barking in front of the show. That'll work--until the police make her stop, anyway."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 03, 2002 04:48 AM
Jasmine grins.

"It would be interesting though, wouldn't it? I wouldn't be able to ride this thing again. Not that I ever do." she pauses, "I don't know if she'd be up for that. It might be best to let word of mouth do the work."

Giancarlo:
Sep 03, 2002 02:20 PM
"You're wise beyond your years," Giancarlo says, smirking. "And besides, I likely draw enough attention for the both of us." Almost everyone who passes by stares at Giancarlo, though sometimes they quickly avert their eyes as though they aren't watching him. He *is* exceptionally short. "You get used to the looks after a while," Giancarlo says ruefully.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 03, 2002 02:43 PM
"You make yourself sound like an old man," Jasmine smiles thoughtfully.

Giancarlo:
Sep 03, 2002 03:15 PM
"Well, I'm short enough to be one," Giancarlo counters. "No complaints, though. How about you? Do you mind....what you can do?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 03, 2002 03:40 PM
"I'm not sure sometimes...some days I like it and some days I *hate* it...I think I'd miss it if I lost my talents though. It's easier knowing your not the only one."

Giancarlo:
Sep 03, 2002 05:36 PM
"Can I quote you on that?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 03, 2002 07:22 PM
"Ok by me as long as Libby says you can write about the show."

She decides to change the topic.

"So, how long have you been a reporter?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 03, 2002 08:11 PM
"Since I was fourteen," Giancarlo says. "I hawked newspapers before then, on street corners, you know. And I interviewed my friends and parents before then, but you don't get too far if you're handwriting your own press."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 04, 2002 01:18 PM
"I would have thought all that practice would help you out."

Giancarlo:
Sep 04, 2002 03:15 PM
"True enough. I meant, it's hard to make a profit if you can only write up five copies before your hand cramps up. Printing presses are *much* better for that kind of work." He laughs. "What do you do in the off-season? For work, I mean."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 04, 2002 04:02 PM
"I'll be begging people for spare change if I'm not careful," she smiles. "I study animals so normally, I'd be be stuffed in a lab somewhere, or if I'm lucky traveling someplace; but I've stopped that since I joined Freak Show...I'll have to start looking for a job soon."

Giancarlo:
Sep 04, 2002 04:21 PM

Giancarlo shrugs. "You've got the whole summer to work in the show, though. And by then I'm sure you'll've found a wonderful job!"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 04, 2002 05:33 PM
"You're probably right." She nods towards the doors. "I think this is our stop."

The train slowly screaches to a stop. The doors open and people start pouring out.

Giancarlo:
Sep 04, 2002 05:44 PM
Giancarlo keeps one hand firmly on his hat and the other on his camera, jostling his way out of the car with the rest of the crowd. He looks around once he's safely out, trying to meet up with Jasmine again.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 04, 2002 05:55 PM
Jasmine ends up being pushed out of the car. She almost falls, but catches herself at the last minute.

"I'll never get used to these things," she mutters. She looks around for Giancarlo.

Giancarlo:
Sep 04, 2002 05:59 PM
Giancarlo remains unspottable 'til the crowd has dispersed, what with his height and all. He's relieved to finally spot Jasmine. "Thought I lost you there!"

Jasmine:
Sep 04, 2002 06:16 PM
Jasmine walks over to Giancarlo.

"I thought I'd be trampled," she says cheerfully. "Let's get out of here and into the sun. "

Giancarlo:
Sep 04, 2002 07:59 PM
"*You* thought *you'd* be trampled?" Giancarlo laughs. "I felt like a grasshopper in a zebra stampede!" Giancarlo heads out of the station. "Lead the way, Miss Jasmine."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 05, 2002 05:58 AM
Jasmine leads them to her apartment. She presses the button for the elevator.

"Lucky for you it works now."

Giancarlo:
Sep 05, 2002 11:55 AM
Giancarlo looks like he's about to laugh. "Lucky indeed. So you live upstairs?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 05, 2002 01:02 PM
Jasmine smiles, "That's right. Third floor."

She presses a button and the elevator labourously makes it's way up. When they reach her floor, Jasmine goes to her door.

"Uh, it's a little messy..." she says apologetically. Jasmine opens the door to reveal her apartment. She scoops up all of the clothes in the living room and takes them into a backroom.
When she comes back she asks, "Do you want something to drink? I have coffee and I think I have some tea somewhere."

Giancarlo:
Sep 05, 2002 01:13 PM
Giancarlo can't help it. "Where do you keep it, under the bed?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 05, 2002 01:25 PM
"What, the tea?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 05, 2002 01:38 PM
"Never mind," Giancarlo says, shrugging. "My place isn't too neat either, but then, I'm just a bachelor. I thought all women kept their places immaculate."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 05, 2002 01:56 PM
"Well, I certainly dont." Jasmine laughs. "But I try to clean it up when my dad comes over. He tries to surprise me once in a while."

Jasmine motions to a chair, "Sit down. Did you want anything?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 05, 2002 03:29 PM
"Oh, coffee, please, if you're set on entertaining." Giancarlo sits down, hardly able to keep from laughing. "I'll have to have you over sometime, to return the favor."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 05, 2002 08:10 PM
"Oh, sure I'd love to." Jasmine smiles.

She doesn't notice that Giancarlo is struggling not to laugh because she's too busy hurrying to the kitchen. A few seconds later, the sounds of clanging pots and pans can be heard from the kitchen. Giancarlo is pretty much left to entertain himself.

Giancarlo:
Sep 05, 2002 10:24 PM
Giancarlo looks around for any magazines or newspapers or other printed materials that may be in the room, a smirk still on his face.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 06, 2002 01:35 PM
::There's a cardboard box sitting under a window filled with books::

Giancarlo:
Sep 06, 2002 01:39 PM
Giancarlo picks whichever one's on top and takes it back to his seat, reading it, whatever it is.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 06, 2002 01:57 PM
::An old picture falls to the floor. It has a little girl on it who looks about 11 or 12. Behind her stands a stern-looking man who looks like he's trying to smile, but not quite making it. Beside him is a middle-aged woman who's smiling sweetly::

Giancarlo:
Sep 06, 2002 03:15 PM
Giancarlo isn't sure if it's a sensitive photograph or not, but he can't help examine it for a little while before tucking it back into the book.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 06, 2002 04:05 PM
The clanging in question has stopped for sometime. Suddenly, Jasmine calls out.

"How much sugar do you want in your coffee?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 06, 2002 04:19 PM
Giancarlo sounds a bit flustered. "Oh--just a spoonful, please. No cream."

Jasmine:
Sep 06, 2002 05:19 PM
A few moments later, Jasmine comes out looking as if she's won some battle. She's carrying two cups of coffee and she hands one to Giancarlco before she sits down.

"I hope you like it." She smiles as she takes a sip of coffee. "I see you've found one of my books."

Giancarlo:
Sep 07, 2002 09:58 AM

"Thank you," Giancarlo says, setting the book down. He sips the coffee. "It's delicious." He glances back at the book. "Sorry; I got bored..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 07, 2002 02:27 PM
Jasmine sits back in her chair.

"No problem. I'm just sorry I don't have anything very interesting. Those are all the books I have."

Giancarlo:
Sep 07, 2002 02:30 PM
"I see. Um...there was a photograph in this one..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 07, 2002 03:50 PM
Cheerfully, "Oh, really? What was it a picture of?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 07, 2002 04:02 PM
"Looked like a family." Giancarlo takes it out and hands it to her.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 07, 2002 04:40 PM
As Jasmine looks at the picture, her face goes pale. She says in a tiny voice, "I haven't seen this in a long time."

After a moment, she looks up again. She's smiling just as brightly as ever, but her face is still a little pale.
"We were kids together. Me and the girl I mean. Best friends."

Giancarlo:
Sep 07, 2002 10:16 PM
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought it might be your family or something." Giancarlo sips his coffee again. "Something happened to her? Or don't you want to say?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 08, 2002 05:09 AM
"Oh, nothing happened to *her* I just haven't seen her in years."

Jasmine tucks the picture between the couch cusion and the arm of the chair. She studies Giancarlo for a long moment and then a grin slowly spreads over her face.

"So, what kind of a name is Giancarlo, anyway?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 08, 2002 08:11 PM
"It's Italian, like the spaghetti and the lasagna and the spicy meat-a-balls." Giancarlo smirks. "Or like-a my grandfather. What about Jasmine? I haven't heard that name much; sounds kind aexotic." 

Jasmine:
Sep 10, 2002 01:31 PM
Jasmine laughs. "My mom gave it to me. She liked fancy things like that. She probably would have *loved* your name."

Giancarlo:
Sep 10, 2002 02:16 PM
"Really? Well, I always did think it sounded awfully pretentious for a reporter, but I never could settle on a good pen name." He pauses. "Although I guess John Carlo would've worked."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 10, 2002 03:15 PM
Jasmine takes a sip of her coffee. "No, that'd be too easy to figure out."

Giancarlo:
Sep 10, 2002 03:32 PM
Giancarlo laughs. "You're a pretty bright dame." He looks into his coffee cup, suddenly deep in thought. "I'd better write that story quickly," he says. "I mean, before Memorial Day. It's not really *news* to say there's a freak show on Coney in the summer, not even if it's headed by a former aristocrat..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 10, 2002 04:59 PM
Jasmine takes another sip. There's an amused grin on her face.

"Not even if the freaks are real?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 10, 2002 05:48 PM
"Maybe not. Sounds like something for the scandal sheets, and I'm a serious journalist." He grins. "Or, at least, I write serious journalism. I guess *I'm* not too serious, but my stories are."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 10, 2002 06:20 PM
"Mm?" Jasmine says as she took another sip of her coffee. "Then what made you want to write about Freak Show?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 10, 2002 10:18 PM
Giancarlo laughs. "Like I said, I just wanted an excuse to go to Coney. Besides, not *every* story can be a big scandal or disaster...and people seem to like happy stories sometimes. Might as well learn how to write 'em."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 11, 2002 01:19 PM
Jasmine smiles, "Yea, it is nice to hear something nice in the news sometimes. You'd better talk to Libby soon if you want it before Memorial Day."

Giancarlo:
Sep 11, 2002 01:27 PM
Giancarlo sighs heavily. "I'll go see her tomorrow, I suppose, but I can't expect to find many midgets there... Well, perhaps I could get some pictures of you right now? An action shot at the show is best, of course, but in case those don't turn out?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 11, 2002 04:31 PM
Jasmine laughs. "Maybe you'd be better off covering Dream Land. I hear they have a Midget City there." She pauses a moment in thought. "What would you want me to do for this picture?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 11, 2002 04:46 PM
"Well, I shouldn't mix business and pleasure," Giancarlo says, laughing. "When I go there I get mistaken for an act, but I guess that's not so bad. There's some good-looking ladies." Giancarlo smirks at Jasmine, looking her up and down. "For the picture.....let's see...I'd need your hands in the air, facing me....completely nude, of course..."

((Someone did her homework! More than me! (Well, no, I did my homework fine, but I haven't crammed lately. ^_^) ::claps::))
 

Jasmine:
Sep 12, 2002 05:45 PM
Jasmine blushes, but tries to play it off.

"How about a picture of me with my hands around your throat? I could get my neighbor across the hall to hold the camera."

((::takes a bow:: ^_^
Hey Julie, I had an idea for another varient character, but since we already have a lot of people in the yarn, could I have her meet Libby here? She'd probably meet Libby like everyone else did, only end up not joining the show. Do you want to?))

Giancarlo:
Sep 12, 2002 05:49 PM
Giancarlo laughs. "That's not very polite." He laughs. "It was worth a try, though--that line works *just* often enough..." He laughs. "Sorry."

(('Course, now that I think about it (well, OK, now that I looked on another Coney Island page ^^;;;), Dreamland was burned down in the 1910s....oh well! ^^;;;

Sure, bring her over if you'd like; everyone's welcome on Venura.))
 

Jasmine:
Sep 13, 2002 01:20 PM
Jasmine smiles. "That's all right."

Giancarlo:
Sep 13, 2002 01:28 PM
"Well," Giancarlo says, reclining, "that was lovely coffee, but I'd probably best be going. Care to walk me home?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 13, 2002 02:05 PM
"Sure, and then you can walk me back."

Giancarlo:
Sep 13, 2002 02:10 PM
"If you like," Giancarlo says, standing. He heads out the door, a rather annoying smirk on his face.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 13, 2002 02:31 PM
Jasmine sticks her toungue out at his back and then follows.

Giancarlo:
Sep 13, 2002 03:31 PM
Giancarlo goes down a flight of stairs and over about three rooms. "Well, here we are!" he says, finally laughing.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 13, 2002 03:55 PM
Jasmine laughs. "You have to be kidding."

Giancarlo:
Sep 13, 2002 04:07 PM
Giancarlo pulls out a key and unlocks the door to prove it. "Shall I walk you back home, then?" he asks, grinning.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 13, 2002 05:05 PM
Jasmine smiles broadly. "I still can't believe this. Why didn't you say anything."

Giancarlo:
Sep 13, 2002 05:10 PM
"Well, you didn't ask!" Giancarlo says, his eyes twinkling.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 13, 2002 05:58 PM
Jasmine smiles. "Gee, now I can come over all the time and borrow sugar and gossip and all that other stuff neighbors are supposed to do."

Giancarlo:
Sep 13, 2002 06:01 PM
Giancarlo laughs. "Come on in, if you'd like." His apartment is quite clean, though sparsely furnished. The man sets his camera down on a shelf, lovingly. "Don't you know any of your other neighbors?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 13, 2002 06:07 PM
Jasmine looks around the apartment as she talks. "Some of them, but we don't talk very often. I think I'm a little too strange for them. I thought you said your apartment was a mess?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 13, 2002 06:10 PM
"It is. I haven't beaten the rugs in years. And we'll not speak of my bedroom." He pauses, then laughs. "As for the neighbors, I'm probably too strange for *mine,* too, but they can't help remember me when they see me...I'm pretty easy to spot, you see. Except in a crowd, of course--unless I were wearing stilts..."course--unless I were wearing stilts..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 13, 2002 08:40 PM
Jasmine laughs. "They'd know you were there soon enough. After you said something, I mean."

Giancarlo:
Sep 16, 2002 02:08 PM
"Well," Giancarlo says, with a resigned air, "if your freak show thing ever falls through--God forbid--we could start up our own circus show, I'd wager." He smiles. "Don't know why that would make us *strange,* though!"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 16, 2002 03:29 PM
Jasmine smiles. "That's an idea. And you're still welcome to be my barker on the subway."

Giancarlo:
Sep 16, 2002 03:56 PM
"Just name the time and the station and I'll be there!" Giancarlo says, laughing. He pauses. "I guess I can't offer to get you anything; we already had coffee...uh...well, I think I have some bread I could toast, if you wanted..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 16, 2002 06:45 PM
"I'm fine." Jasmine smiles.

Giancarlo:
Sep 16, 2002 09:41 PM
"Well, then the least I could do is entertain you," Giancarlo says, smiling. "I have a radio, or if you'd rather, you can look through my newspaper clippings. I have them all in a scrapbook. Some of them are quite good."

Jasmine:
Sep 17, 2002 01:54 PM
Jasmine smiles, "Written by you, I suppose?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 17, 2002 02:19 PM
"Who *else* would they be by?" Giancarlo asks, sounding truly baffled. He smiles. "Well, there's a few photographs that go to stories I didn't write. I figured I'd keep the articles with 'em, so you'd know what the pictures were of and all..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 17, 2002 04:53 PM
"Do you have any left over from when you were a kid?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 17, 2002 05:01 PM
"Oh, tons," Giancarlo says. "Not too many *of* me, but I've got boxes of photographs I took. My parents regretted buying me a camera, you know." He grins, then goes back into his bedroom and brings back a shoebox. "Take a look if you'd like."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 17, 2002 05:14 PM
Jasmine picks a photograph from the shoebox and looks at it.

Giancarlo:
Sep 17, 2002 05:32 PM
It's a picture of a mutt dog and a small girl who's happily hugging it.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 18, 2002 12:51 PM
Jasmine smiles. "She's cute. Who is she?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 18, 2002 01:09 PM
"My little siter," Giancarlo says. He laughs. "If you want to call her little, anyway. She's five foot six, to the inch."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 18, 2002 02:16 PM
"Really? It must have been hard to put spiders in her hair, then. Do you see her a lot?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 18, 2002 03:05 PM
Giancarlo laughs, shaking his head. "No...she moved upstate....and since she's four years younger than me, I was taller than her for a *little* while. Happiest six months of my life." He smirks.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 18, 2002 04:43 PM
Jasmine laughs. "Do you have any more brothers or sisters?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 18, 2002 04:49 PM
"Just loads of them," Giancarlo says. He rummages through the shoebox, pulling photos as he goes, and naming off no fewer than ten siblings, none of whom are short in the least.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 18, 2002 05:38 PM
Jasmine looks at all the photos, dumbfounded. "Ten? How did your mother handel you all?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 18, 2002 05:51 PM
"Twelve if you count Bella and me," Giancarlo says with a smile. "I don't know how they managed, myself, with Papa working three jobs and Mama taking in laundry. But we got by somehow, and we even got Christmas presents most years. Once the older kids started working things got easier for us younger ones."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 18, 2002 07:55 PM
Jasmine shakes her head. "My uncle has five. He and his wife do a good job with them, but I couldn't imagine having to look after *that* many."

Giancarlo:
Sep 18, 2002 08:22 PM
"I think you need a husband first," Giancarlo deadpans.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 19, 2002 01:01 PM
Jasmine laughs. "You're probably right, but it's not likely to happen."

Giancarlo:
Sep 19, 2002 01:56 PM
"I'd like to have half a dozen someday, at least," Giancarlo says seriously. "But I'm a little scared of how I'd discipline them when they got taller than me..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 19, 2002 02:13 PM
"You just have to give them the look; my father was always good at that."

Giancarlo:
Sep 19, 2002 03:02 PM
"Was he now?" Giancarlo asks. "Let's see it, then." He looks at Jasmine expectantly.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 19, 2002 05:56 PM
Jasmine smiles, "I don't think I could. I'd have to be mad about something."

Giancarlo:
Sep 19, 2002 06:05 PM
"Just think about the nude-picture comment I made earlier," Giancarlo says, smirking."Just think about the nude-picture comment I made earlier," Giancarlo says, smirking.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 20, 2002 11:34 AM
Jasmine looks at Giancarlo sternly. "Now, stop that nonsense. It's time you acted like a young lady."

Giancarlo:
Sep 20, 2002 06:06 PM
"I'm not so sure my little boys'd appreciate being called young ladies," Giancarlo says with a grin.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 23, 2002 01:36 PM
Jasmine laughs. "What? No girls? You at least have to have one."

Giancarlo:
Sep 23, 2002 02:04 PM
"Well, I don't think I really get to decide," Giancarlo says with a smile. "But when I do have some kids, I'll have to have you give me some more lessons." He pauses. "Though I guess it might irritate my sons enough to be called ladies, it might inspire obedience..." He pauses. "Was your dad strict, then?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 23, 2002 03:36 PM
Jasmine smiles. "He is in his way. He isn't that bad, though."

Giancarlo:
Sep 23, 2002 06:16 PM
"Oh, he's still around, then?" Giancarlo asks. "Where does he live?"

Jasmine:
Sep 23, 2002 06:21 PM
"Not far from here. I went over for lunch just the other day."

Giancarlo:
Sep 24, 2002 09:48 AM
"Is he still with your mother?" Giancarlo asks.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 24, 2002 12:51 PM
"No, she died a little after I was born," Jasmine says matter-of-factly.

Giancarlo:
Sep 24, 2002 02:11 PM
"I'm sorry to hear that," Giancarlo says. "Guess that explains why you don't have so many brothers and sisters." He stops himself belatedly. "Sorry..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 24, 2002 03:07 PM
Jasmine smiles. "It's all right! Dad tells me a lot about her, so it's almost like I knew her."

Giancarlo:
Sep 24, 2002 03:16 PM
"She was nice, then?" Giancarlo asks. "Was she a good cook?"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 24, 2002 03:27 PM
Jasmine laughs heartily. "A good cook! Where did that come from? Dad never talked much about her cooking. I'll ask the next time I see him."

Giancarlo:
Sep 24, 2002 03:31 PM
"Well, my ma loves to cook," Giancarlo says with a smirk. "And she's quite good at it. Or maybe I was trying to make a transition and invite you to dinner or something. Just as friends, of course; you're too tall for me."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 24, 2002 03:36 PM
"Sure." Jasmine smiles. "Are you as good a cook as your mom?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 24, 2002 03:39 PM
"Oh!" Giancarlo says, laughing. "I'd meant to take you out somewhere. I don't cook often, but I'm pretty good. *No one's* as good as my mother, though."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 24, 2002 04:53 PM
Jasmine grins. "Well, if you can stand being seen with me in public, then I 'd love to."

Giancarlo:
Sep 24, 2002 05:15 PM
"Oh, I'd thought you'd be the one ashamed of me," Giancarlo says airily. He smirks. "I guess it doesn't matter, though; I'll bet you'll see a lot of me from now on. I wonder how come you didn't notice me at this apartment earlier, though; I'm kinda hard to miss...but I guess I'm not home so much, what with having exciting stories to chase."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 24, 2002 05:39 PM
"I could never be ashamed of someone who offers me a free dinner." Jasmine grins. "I guess we just missed each other."

Giancarlo:
Sep 24, 2002 05:41 PM
Giancarlo smiles at Jasmine. "Well, it's pretty rare to see someone who doesn't just stare at me like I'm...well, a freak..." He laughs. "If not that, some people talk to me like I'm a child!"
 

Jasmine:
Sep 24, 2002 06:49 PM
"Believe it or not, I have an idea of how you feel..." Jasmine smiles a little thouhtfully, but then claps her hands together once. "All right! Where are we gonna go?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 25, 2002 09:42 AM
"Oh, it doesn't matter," Giancarlo says non-chalantly. "Though we might have to take the subway to get something *good;* most the places around here aren't known for fine cuisine..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 25, 2002 01:17 PM
"Just about anything will be fine, really."

Giancarlo:
Sep 25, 2002 01:52 PM
"Well, there's a great steakhouse a few miles away," Giancarlo muses.
 

Jasmine:
Sep 25, 2002 02:17 PM
"That sounds good. When do you want to go?"

Giancarlo:
Sep 25, 2002 03:01 PM
"Next week, maybe?" Giancarlo asks. "I'm pretty busy this week, but barring any catastrophic world events I should have some time early next week."

Jasmine:
Sep 25, 2002 04:38 PM
"That sounds fine. I'm pretty much free except for Saturday and Sunday."

Giancarlo:
Sep 25, 2002 04:45 PM
"Well, we can decide later," Giancarlo says. "I know where you live now." He pauses, frowning. "But I should probably take you back home; I've got to get back to the office and work on a story..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 25, 2002 04:59 PM
Jasmine grins. "I'm sure I can find my own way home."

Giancarlo:
Sep 25, 2002 05:15 PM
"Well, I guess I can let you do that," Giancarlo says, smiling. "Those stairs aren't so much fun with short legs..."
 

Jasmine:
Sep 26, 2002 12:50 PM
Jasmine turns to go. "All right then. I guess I'll see you next week."

Giancarlo:
Sep 26, 2002 01:03 PM
Giancarlo bids her goodbye, and then heads back to the office. Although he's supposed to write a political piece, his thoughts keep drifting back to the one he'll write on Libby's Freak Show...

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