Chapter 160 - Casting. Studying Guns.

(Cont'd) "But. That's where your process has its downsides. Many people have not seen real nobility and they don't care about the subtle details of your portrayal as long as you look graceful and elegant." Jouny brought up Tayaw's criticism this time.

"Really…" Luca is now more likely to take Jouny's words seriously. He no longer treats Jouny as a mere stranger but a stranger who says things that might help him. 

"Yes. In other words, your process does not fit theater and operatic plays." Jouny concluded the criticisms and waited for Luca to speak his mind.

"So. What then?" Luca does not have anything to say.

"I heard that 'Mantua' only has a few shows left. You found a new job yet?" Jouny changed the subject. Luca tried to hide his frustrations at the situation he is reminded of by the question. 

"Not yet." Luca shook his head while Jouny nodded.

"I heard from my friend that musicals are getting more modern. And modern musicals focus more on the story and acting than actual singing." Jouny said what she heard from Tayaw.

"Hm. So you're saying that's the reason I can't get a job?" Luca asked. 

"Probably, yes. Maybe there are other reasons, we don't know. But, instead of grinding or waiting around for something that you might not get in Broadway, why not try working for our upcoming film? At least you have something to do for now." Jouny stated her real intentions, pulled out a stack of papers from her handbag and handed them to Luca. Luca looked at the papers and he figured that it is a complete film script 

'Gold, Blood, and the Deer.' Luca read the first page and started reading. (I know. I'm terrible with titles. I'll explain though why I named the film as such.) Luca, after scanning for a minute or two, realized something.

"A film about the mob?" Luca could not believe it.

"Yes." Jouny simply confirmed.

"Are you guys nuts? You're asking for trouble!" Luca hearing Jouny's casual tone, thought Jouny is crazy. 

"We're not." Jouny ignored Luca's concern.

"Look, I've grown up around people who got involved with the mob. This is serious business." Luca tried to express the risk of making the film. Despite his apprehension of the script's story, he still eyed the script in his hands hungrily and wanted to read it more. 

"We know. But my friend said it was approved by the people concerned. What was the name? uhh. I can't remember. The director said that they're the good type of mob." Jouny tried to recall.

"The Coniglio Family…" Luca was dumbfounded after he connected the dots. His apprehension quickly disappearing, knowing that the Coniglio is not like other mobs.

"Coniglio Family. That's what it was." Jouny nodded.

"How?" Luca asked, hungry for gossip.

"I dunno. Ask the director, he wrote the script." Jouny just shrugged her shoulders. Luca also dropped his curiosity on the matter seeing as Jouny knows nothing about it. 

"Well. If it's them then I guess it's fine. Anyway, seeing as you've approached me directly, and talked to me for this long, I just want to be sure… You're really offering me a role? No auditions?" Luca asked, excited.

"Yep. And you will play the lead role, Giovanni Cervo. That's the parallel of the real life uh…" Jouny tried to recall again. (Cervo which is 'deer' in italian. 'real life' Gonzalo Coniglio is dubbed as 'Golden Rabbit'. 'fictional' counterpart, Giovanni Cervo 'Golden Deer'. So with the themes of the film, I titled it as "Gold, Blood, and the Deer.")

"Gonzalo Coniglio? So this film is about his life, huh." Luca connected the dots, looked at the script strangely and his mind ran a mile a minute. 

After letting Luca entertain his thoughts for a few moments, "So, you up for it?" Jouny asked.

"T-this. May I have another role? Does a fictional version of Don Sylvio in your film? I'll take that instead." Luca said hesitantly. Jouny while having an inkling of what Luca is feeling, does not want to waste Luca's skills for a supporting role. 

"Sylvio who? Anyway. No. Take it or leave it." Jouny said, which frustrated Luca. Seeing Luca's expression, Jouny shook her head.

"You are our first choice for the role. Look at it this way. This film will prove your acting skills to the world. You will play Giovanni when he was in his late 20s to his 60s. The work you did to play Duke Borgia? You can use it with us." Jouny said. Her words this time, is her own input and impression of Luca's skills. 

"I would love to but… I'm playing THE Gonzalo Coniglio. I can't…" Luca mumbled. Jouny figured it out. She figured that Luca is afraid of his skills being inadequate as she was afraid that her script was going to make Tayaw lose money. 

"Hey. It is a huge responsibility, I know. But we're trusting that you'll do a good job, that's why I'm talking to you right now." Jouny assured Luca. Jouny's assurance seemed to have failed however as Luca still looked at her with hesitance in his eyes.

"You won't be alone. The director will help you; he will guide you." Jouny added. 

Listening to Jouny made Luca curious. "This director. Who's he, by the way? He managed to convince not just any mob, but THE mob. He must be a huge deal, huh?" Luca asked.

"The director is what you may call, a very promising upstart. It's Isaac Yawat, he made 'September Ninth'." Jouny revealed. 

"He won the Sorrento … " Before Jouny could continue, "Yeah. I know him, alright." Luca interrupted.

"Oh?" Jouny nodded.

"Every actor's heard of him. He has mixed… reputation. Anyway, you could have just told me that Isaac is looking to hire me, I would have said yes immediately." Luca said, the hesitation that was once in his eyes is now replaced with excitement.

"Yeah? So, you'll work with us?" Jouny asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, of course! I mean, Isaac said on TV that the actors in 'September Ninth' are comedians, right? If they did great in that film, how hard could it be to do the same?" Luca smiled widely. 

"Good. That's good then. I'll take this one first…" Jouny said as she took the script on Luca's hand.

"Wha – t" Luca was dumbfounded as he watched Jouny put the script back in her handbag.

"We have not printed a character script for you yet, and it's better if you don't see the entire thing, for now. Okay?" Jouny said. 

Luca also understood. After all, there are no papers signed yet, just verbal agreements. 

"By the way. If you know any actors who are also struggling, can you give me their numbers? I'll take a look at them." Jouny asked. Luca, hearing it, is glad to oblige and help his friends.

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

Woodhaven, New York - Juliana

*ta-ta-ta-ta-taff-taff* Wow. Just like that, Tayaw just emptied his magazine in maybe three seconds. I draw the target back to us and surprise, surprise; nine out of fifteen bullets hit the 10-point circle and the rest on the 9-point circle. Considering how Tayaw almost casually and quickly he fired, this is incredible. 

I have to say, Tayaw is a quick study with a Beretta, with a suppressor at that. At first, he was lost with the recoil of the gun but after my coaching and him getting used to it, he now shoots just as good, if not better than my uncle's best shooters that I've seen. His stance and posture need some work, but all that matters is hitting the target. 

"Phew" "Damn." Spectators behind us agree with me too. Five of my uncle's men who were doing their own shooting practice earlier, are now watching behind us. Unlike my expectations, our 'date' has become a spectacle for my uncle's men instead of a personal intimate one. To be exact, it's Tayaw's shooting that has become the spectacle.

Even though Tayaw and I established earlier that we're not really on a date-date, I feel like my uncle's men are intruding. I also think they did it purposefully, basing on the smug smirk on their faces when they did, and their quick stink eye for Tayaw when Tayaw was not looking. I tried glaring at them, but it didn't work. 

Now though, it seems that they've grown to like Tayaw. Not only are they impressed of Tayaw's shooting, they are also loving Tayaw's crass jokes. I would have been embarrassed listening to the jokes had I not grown up around these types of men. 

"By the way. How do you hear out of that thing?" Bryan, the gun range's manager, asks Tayaw.

I'm curious too. Earlier, I saw Tayaw put earplugs AND THEN wear the earmuffs on top of it.

"Ah. My ears are very very sensitive. I get migraines when hear loud noises for too long." Tayaw explains as he points at his left ear.

"So that explains the suppressor." Another man comments.

"That's right. Thank goodness, you have these incredible muffs man." Tayaw replies. 

"Fellas! Don't act like firing a 9mm Beretta like a BB gun, at a rate of a fully automatic, is normal…" One of the men says. Oh. I didn't notice. Me and the rest of the guys also looks at Tayaw for an answer.

"I-uh…" Tayaw seems to struggle answering.  "Well. I lift weights and I do rock climbing a lot back in Teungeb. Grip strength, baby. Adding to that, I also played a lot of airsoft back home." Tayaw finally explains, as he flexes his biceps to them. The guys don't look impressed, maybe because they're just as ripped. But I am impressed. 

Not only am I impressed by his arms, but by his figure as well. Before we started shooting earlier, Tayaw took off his suit jacket and loosened his vest, displaying his body hugged tightly by his white dress shirt. Unlike my uncle's men who have bulging muscles, Tayaw's muscles look like a deer's or a cheetah's, very toned.

Wait a minute… A guitarist doing rock climbing? That's… Something's wrong with that answer. Oh well, the guys seem to have been convinced by his answer, whatever. 

"Ah." Tayaw interjects as he looks at his vintage looking watch. This guy really loves vintage looking things. The car, his suit, now his watch.

"It's 7:30. Gentlemen, we have a dinner reservation to catch." Tayaw says to the boys.

Thank God. I'm starving and I don't want to yell at the boys out of hunger. More importantly, private time. 

Tayaw grabs his suit jacket and hat, and I also fix my dress to get ready.

"Wait, my guy. Come hang with us some time, huh?" Bryan steps in between me and Tayaw and he pats Tayaw's shoulder.

"I'm customizing and AK74N, take it for a spin when it's ready. I'm gonna add a can on it for your ears." Bryan says. Wow. Someone has a crush.

"Alright. I'll come by again when I want to unwind. Hey. I saw some vintage guns back at the counter. Are they functional? I wanna study them." Tayaw asks.

"Oh. We haven't used those in a long time. I'll take a look at them later." Bryan says.

"Thanks man. I really need to study them. I'll even pay you to gather me guns like it." Tayaw says and proceeds to fist bump the guys.

Huh, it's like I'm third-wheeling here.

"Dinner?" I ask Tayaw as I lean on him and I hook my arms on his.

Heh. That's it. The discomfort in their eyes looking at my actions. That's right, it's my date, not yours. 

"Yeah. See you fellas." Tayaw says, and with that, we're finally leaving. 

After we enter his car once again, I hear Tayaw chuckle.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Heh. They're really protective of you. You're lucky." Tayaw replies.

"So you noticed?" I ask.

"Psh. I may be stupid sometimes, but I'm not entirely clueless. I found it adorable though. You must be quite close to them for them to be that way." Tayaw says. 

"Yeah. Sometimes I take them for granted." I shake my head as Tayaw's words reminds me how good I got it.

"So, any of them had the balls to ask you out?" He asks.

"Nah. They don't see me that way. At least, that's what I think." I say. I mean, one guy from one of the subordinate families tried to ask me out, but he can't take the pressure of going out with the Coniglio's princess. 

"And, if I'm gonna date someone, it'd be a guy who's not in the mob." I say.

"Hmm… Is that a hint for me?" He chuckles and I snap my head to his direction. This smooth bastard.