The sea air comes up from the waters onto the island, the open air cafe taking advantage of the clear night with the warming air of an early spring by moving the tables out further into the promenade. As Carnival draws to the end of its season, fewer tourists remain, many of them having returned to their ports of call and gone back to their normal lives. Local Venetians take advantage of the lovely night instead, leaning on the railings in couples and small groups to watch the boats come in and out.
     Victoria is also enjoying the weather herself, already occupying a small cafe table for two off the main path but still in view of the embarking vessels. Black slacks and a matching jacket tailor to her body over a green silk blouse that sets off her eyes and the russet in her hair as it curls past her shoulders against the ebony. She reads through a file, pages captured with brads at the top efficiently so that no little notes might be lost in transit, pausing every few lines to make a note on a nearby legal pad in a neat clear hand.
     One of the waitresses brings her a large cappuccino, setting it on the glass top next to her and earning a brief distracted smile before she turns to the pages before her again.

     Remaining in the general confines of the city for the time being is Hansl. He is an easily distinguished figure among the Venetians and remaining tourists - for one thing, he does not convey an impression of relaxation or vacation, or even the stress which comes from vacation. He remains as militarily erect as ever as he steps smoothly from gondola to dock, one hand gripping a rounded stone finial as he lifts and subsides.
     The blonde hair is still worn short, combed back to one side, the Aryan features composed tautly. He is as recognizable by the angle of his spine as by the white scar running along his cheek.
     "Frau doktor," he greets as he arrives, clad in charcoal grey elegance, "good evening. You are well, I hope. I apologize if I am late." Each sentence is delivered clearly and separately, ended with a precise punctuation point.

     Looking up with a polite smile, Victoria closes the folder and sets it on the table next to her coffee, "Hello. Yes, thank you, and yourself?" She offers out a hand in greeting, getting up slightly in American fashion as she nods to the other seat, "Oh, no, you're not late, I was just early."
     "I'm glad you were able to take the time to look at this, I would hate to have you come out to the chateaux if it was something you weren't interested in working on. Are you enjoying your trip to Venice so far?"

     The hand is taken, and bowed over, with a Teutonic click of his heels. He then waits until you've seated yourself again, settling into the chair opposite.
     "I am in good health." He is dead. For being dead, he's in excellent health. Sitting upright, he leaves his hands on his knees and leans back just slightly. "Venice is pleasant, ja, I imagine. There is much to be done."
     Hansl glances to the pad on the table, then shakes his head slightly. "I am interested in hearing of the chateau, frau doktor. I do not know of the nature of the work beyond the little which you have said. However, I am willing to consider the work." He holds himself with care, the pale blue of his eyes seeming almost clear and translucent for a moment as he speaks, nodding very slowly as he does so.

     Chestnut eyebrows arch slightly as she seats herself again, taking up her coffee for a sip, "You haven't gotten to see much of the city then, I take it?" Since it is imagined to be pleasant rather than said to be so.
     She sets her cup down again, sliding the folder over between the chairs in preparation of opening it. However, she doesn't seem to want interrupt the small talk period if it is of interest. "It's been a bit more... something than I expected." She smiles, somewhat amused at herself maybe, though not entirely with enjoyment. "I've never been to Carnival before, so I suppose whatever I was planning on seeing was likely to be incorrect. The pacing hasn't been quite as I thought it would, though."

     "I have not explored very much of the city as yet," Hansl agrees. "An acquaintance has offered me a tour. I must call him. I have been holding my time in readiness for being called upon, however, by the Dignitary."
     Il Dignitaro...
     He resettles in his seat slightly, giving the impression of adjusting his cuffs without actually doing so. "I arrived after the opening of Carnival. I have been told that this was an error which I ought not repeat."
     One hand lifts to pick up and examine a placard upon the table a bit distantly, with the faintest hint of a frown. Du ist? "I do not know what pacing would be considered usual. What expectations had you?"

     "The ball was quite the event, I haven't ever seen one like it, I must say." Victoria agrees with a smile, "I can see how there would be reasons not to attend if someone didn't enjoy large gatherings, but it would be a shame not to at least go once if you had the opportunity." One of the harder gala events to get an invitation to, and the two young vampires manage somehow to do so. It would be a shame.
     "I'm not sure, exactly." She answers with a hint of a frown, picking up her cup, "Maybe... more parties? I've only been to a few. And they've all been nearly overwhelming, but I'd kind of gotten the impression that one would be moving from event to event even in one night." She shrugs, "I suppose I could have if I'd wanted to, but it got a little... loud for me."

     "I did not attend - I only arrived after," Hansl agrees, voice low. "No doubt there will be other events."
     He doesn't seem a very social creature, all in all, though he is polite enough about it. "I do not believe that there is any requirement."
     There is a pause as he sits there, stiff and uncomfortable, setting the placard aside again. "I apologise, frau," Hansl says formally. "I am told that I am not very accustomed to the society of others."
     Another small pause, and he shifts. "My mind is chiefly occupied by other thoughts, often. But tell me, how may I be of service to you?"

     Smiling again, she shakes her head slightly, "No apology necessary."
     She opens the folder and leans over a bit to see the pages contained within, the first being a brief history of the castle itself with an image of it by way of introduction.
     "The chateaux was built sometime in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century by the Savoy family." Of northern Italian fame, "It was primarily used as a fortress for the trade road leading from France to Italy when it was created, but a century later or so, the town of Rolle was built around it, taking its name from the castle itself. It passed through the hands of a handful of other families before falling into one until I acquired it around five years ago."

     Slowly, Hansl nods, attention focused as he listens. "Unfortunate," he comments. "But frequently occurring. You are having the castle renovated, then - is it in very bad condition?"

     "No, actually, it's been very well taken care of." She says, turning the page to another set of images of the building and its four towers, "It just hasn't been a primary residence for over a century. So while it's been updated with some of the modern comforts like plumbing, it isn't necessarily equipped to be a permanent home in the same way that we're accustomed to. Things like additional restrooms for guests, combining smaller rooms into suites, and updating the kitchen."
     Victoria points to the square tower at one side, "The library for example is a big project for me. There wasn't anything wrong with it as it stood, it just wasn't large enough for my collection. So I've expanded it to the entire tower so that I'll have room when it increases."
     She points to the wing with the smaller of the round towers, "I've converted this into a master suite with my office and other rooms, though there's still a good deal of space available for whatever I decide to do with it later." Her pen moves over to the tallest of the round towers, "And here is where the chapel is located."
     Unlike many chapels, the first floor of the four-story tower seems to have no windows at all. Retaining a good deal of its fortress ambiance. In fact, there are not as many windows as one would expect on any modern structure around the first floor of the building itself. None on any of the four towers and smaller ones on the wings connecting them.

     "I see," Hansl remarks. He has no real opinion to offer, perhaps, not being an architect. The artistic eye can take in only limited amounts from a distance and through diagrams and pictures.
     He nods to glance at the chapel, one eyebrow arching upwards. "That is a very unusual design."

     Nodding, Victoria agrees, "Well, it was the chapel for those who lived in the fortress originally. And stonework is so expensive that the other families probably didn't want to worry about the trouble to add windows. I'm considering adding some with light boxes that I've picked up in France, but I want to see the mural finished first."
     That leads to turning the page to photographs of the chapel itself. "It was dedicated to St. Maurice, the patron of the Savoy family. One of the later lines that acquired the castle, however, covered the mural over with paneling." The pictures are rather extensive, some of them detailed and others from farther back to include most of the full image on the walls. "When I removed it, it was uncovered. As I mentioned before, most of the damage is moisture related from what I can tell. I don't think they used anything experimental in its creation, and the artist isn't immediately recognizable, it could have been anyone that the Savoy patronized at the time."

     "I would recommend before you do so, that you examine the structure more closely." Hansl examines the photos intently, shaking his head slowly once again.
     "Flouroscoping and x-rays as well will tell you much, not only of the artwork, but also of the stonework. An examination may turn up more than is immediately evident of the matter - there may have been plans for windows, for example, and the structure of them covered up when money ran short. It is an historical opportunity."
     He rubs his chin slightly, then settles his hands on the table. "It is difficult to say."

     She nods, "I don't know a great deal about restorations, honestly. Some, but nothing in depth." She slides the folder over further to allow the German to flip the pages as he likes, "And the artisan is only important to me as a historical reference, not necessarily as information on doing the restoration or not. I'd like to have it done as a matter of preservation in any case, even if it's an anonymous or unknown piece."
     "You're welcome to take that with you to review if you like, or even come and view the work before you decide if you're interested in attempting it. I have plenty of guest suites at the castle, you would be welcome to stay there while you consider it and then when you do the work."

     "As I am unable to leave until I have heard from Il Dignitaro," Hansl agrees, "I would be unable to accept or decline in truth just yet."
     The folder is taken, and the charcoal seems to reflect against the pallid paper as Hansl frowns down intently, lips slightly pursed. "I would recommend the examination, in any event, if cost is not an issue."
     One fingertip taps on the table absently, the lone drummer of a vanished army. "If Il Dignitaro will permit, I will examine - however, some materials for initial examination will be required."

     "I understand it's going to be expensive, but the money isn't endless." Victoria says with a slightly sad smile, "Unfortunately, really, because it's something I'd enjoy being able to toss money into with abandon. But, I'm prepared for a sizable outlay for the project, there are other elements of the renovation project in general which aren't necessary that I've put off until I know better how much that will entail."
     She takes up her pen again and nods curiously, "Of course, I can have them sent up so that they're waiting for you? If you have someone in particular to contact I can work through them or William's firm will likely know how to get a hold of them."

     "No one in specific," Hansl says quietly. "I am sure that mein herr will know admirably who to recommend."
     For a moment he stares further at the folder, contemplating artistic projections. Then he flips the manila closed, sliding it over.
     "I have been trained to work primarily alone, frau doktor. I will accept what aid you think best, but I have nothing in mind which would be specific."

     Victoria nods, making a note on her page of some nature, "That's no problem with me, I'm not in a rush. I'd like to make sure it doesn't deteriorate further without some attention, but outside that there isn't a specific timetable." She seems to plan on being in the location for some time if nothing else.
     "If you'd prefer to work on it yourself, it's not overly large." She says, "It's just under seven feet high, ten or so feet wide though it's somewhat irregular. The chapel itself is large compared to the size of the castle perhaps, but not so large as a church that serves a community."

     "Ja, of course." Hansl nods slightly, sliding back from the table. "I will contact you, frau, as soon as Il Dignitaro has informed me of his plans for me. From there, I may make such decisions as are permitted me, depending on what occurs between now and the future."
     He begins to rise, motions fluid. "I will as well see who else might be available, frau doktor, should I be ill-advised to accept."

     "Of course, I wouldn't wish to take you away from anything more advantageous or challenging." Victoria says with a nod, rising herself as the chair is pushed back, "I appreciate you taking the time to look into it at all."
     Offering out a hand in another American shake, she smiles, "That would be great, thank you. Just send word to me at that number when you're sure of your plans either way, we'll make arrangements to have you met at the station in town and have whatever supplies you might need on hand when you arrive. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time here in Venice."

Posted by rowan at March 11, 2004 01:26 PM