January 11 - Milano - The Voice

[SaintMeerkat]

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Archie gives her a quick medical appraisal before smiling warmly, reassuringly. "No, but perhaps we can help you, Virginia. I am a doctor. I can help if you've been injured."

[Mephistophilis]

OOC:   Is her voice like Caterina's when she speaks normally (rather than singing)?

[robertod]

Virginia nods her head, while further raising the collar of her coat.
"You don't have to worry. I am not injured. I had a surgical operation, that´s all. Are you tourists? What are you doing on the street at this time of night."
Although the woman speaks in a low voice, almost in a whisper, the timbre of her voice seems to be the same as Caterina's.

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, that's right," says Felicity. "We came outside with everyone else when we heard Caterina Cavollaro singing to look for her. It's strange that you didn't hear it. I'd like to hear you sing, if you don't mind. What kind of operation leaves a scar on your neck? And what is wrong with your chest?"

[Mephistophilis]

Andrew is perturbed by this woman. It almost seems like she has taken the voice of Caterina, had it surgically transferred even. But he knows that is impossible. Or at least, he did. Before he came across Makryat and his accomplices. But transferring a voice, that is something new even for them. 'If I may ask, Signorina, who was the surgeon? My friend here is a doctor and is looking for a specialist colleague...'

[robertod]

The woman makes a hand gesture to minimize the issue,
"Just a little problem with the vocal cords due to long term use. I am a singer. Nothing serious. I am already much better."
Addressing Andrew, in a snobbish tone of voice
"Well, the surgeon is known only in our circles. Both we and he prefer that he continue to be as such... without offence... sir"
Finally she gives Felicity a small smile and replies with a superb air.
"I think I sang enough for tonight. I don't want to strain my voice any further in this cold weather. But tomorrow evening I will sing at the premiere of Aida. If you hurry you can still find some tickets. You will be able to hear my voice on stage."

Archie knows that vocal cord surgeries are a thing. They are done on singers who develope voice problems with time. However, they are very difficult to make in this era and very expensive.

OOC:   The group already has the tickets for the premiere of tomorrow night, they got them from Caterina on the train....

[Mr. Handy]

"How is it you were able to sing at all after that operation, and so well?" asks Felicity.

Using Flattery. Also Assess Honesty, though I already know what she's hiding.

[SaintMeerkat]

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Archie resisted the urge to shake his head, but he was rapidly coming to mistrust this woman. Given his years of experience, he knew it was impossible for anyone to recover from surgery to such delicate musculature so quickly.

Finally, he could restrain himself no longer. "Impossible, signora. Impossible!" his voice getting louder and the damned tingling was no small part of his becoming irritated so easily.

[aine]

Clarence is very thoughtful, having read the fantastical scrolls, anything now seems possible. He wonders if this woman is Catarina but somehow transformed…

[robertod]

Virginia improvises a wry laugh
"I said I had surgery, but I didn't say I had it yesterday. The scar remained, but the recovery did its job."
The woman changes her tone of voice
"But tell me a bit about yourseves?"
"Are you in Milan for tourism? I assure you that there are more interesting things to discover than the milanese people health. Otherwise, if you really care about that, you can go to the Maggiore hospital in via Sforza. There you will find all kinds of scars."

She's arguing slyly so to avoid talking about things she doesn't want to talk about. I remind you that Felicity also glimpsed a scar under Mario Conti´s shirt. See the Conti´s apartment thread.

[Mr. Handy]

"We're friends of Caterina Cavollaro," says Felicity. "We met her on the Orient Express and heard her sing there. We stopped off to see Lausanne while she continued directly to Milan. She gave us tickets and invited us to her performance. I also met Signore Conti today. Do you know him?"

Thank you, I had forgotten all about that!

[SaintMeerkat]

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Archie listened as Caterina and Felicity talked. He was done with mysterious people in general, and it took all of his strength not to storm off, head to the train station, and head back for London, forgetting the promise he made to his dear friend. He sighed, defeated, rubbing his eyes, and then looked back at the two.

"Answer her, please. Do you know this Conti?"

[robertod]

Virginia sighs and replies in annoyance.
"I´ve not much to tell you about my sister. We haven´t been close for a long time. I am sorry that she´s missing. But I believe that she left Italy on her own initiative. She is emotionally unstable and it is not uncommon for her to make impulsive decisions. As for Conti, I know that he´s an old flame of hers, nothing more. I've already told everything I know to the police."

[Mr. Handy]

"It's just that I think you two have the same doctor," says Felicity. "He had a scar himself. He must have had a similar operation."

[SaintMeerkat]

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"Who is this doctor that worked such a miracle for you?" Archie cleared this throat. "And where might we find his office?"

[robertod]

Virginia shugs
"I heard that Conti has been unwell in recent months with some reports that he was afflicted with tuberculosis. Maybe this condition required a surgery at some point. However, I don´t know the details."
She then turns to Archie
"No miracle, sir. Just a surgery on the vocal cords. As I have already said, my doctor is part of my private circle of friends and acknowledges, which they are keen to remain confidential.
I apologize for not staying here all night long to talk with you about diseases and surgeries, but I am pretty tired and I would like to get some rest. Good night."
She makes her way to the building hall.

Her voice is very little altered, but her eyes express a repressed anger

A thoracotomy might be needed for treatment of a respiratory disease at a critical state, including tubercolosis.

[Mr. Handy]

"Good evening, then," says Felicity. "Perhaps we shall see - and hear - you at La Scala."

[SaintMeerkat]

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It was all Archie could do not to make a rude gesture with his tingling left arm. Once she was good and out of earshot, he grunted angrily.

"What...is going on..." he said softly to his friends.

[aine]

Clarence looks at the building, wondering what type of establishment it is.
“Archie, old man, it is a mystery.” He shakes his head thoughtfully.
“These scars, where about on the body are they? The throat?”

[Mr. Handy]

"She has one on her neck, and probably one on her chest, considering she was hiding it," says Felicity after Virginia has gone inside and shut the door. "Conti has at least one on his chest too. Maybe we can get the doctor's name out of him."