M.S.R.P. II

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This stately Italian villa lords it over Palermo, with its seat at the Southern foothills of Monte Pellegrino a small way from the centre city - deserving its name as the 'Crown of Palermo' for many different reasons. The true value of the modest maison and the grounds encircling it is unknown, although the beauty of the house and its attributes is recognised throughout the world. However, the interior of the house has never appeared on film or in magazines, as all previous owners of the house cherish their privacy. The exact plan of the house is not known, as the layout has been changed many times and no blueprints exist despite the fact that it was originally built in the 1800's. The entire facade of the building as well as its interior has been refurbished, brought back to the time in which it was renowned as one of the most beautiful houses in the region and it is now lit up after dusk, visible after dark from certain vantage points in the city, its best attributes highlighted and enhanced by a soft glow.
A lengthy driveway bordered by beautifully kept flora and fauna meanders its way to the front door of the house, gently curving back round the building itself to complete a full circle, only breaking off to meet with a large garage that is located to the rear. The driveway itself is composed of a dark asphalt with an ample width, enough to allow the passage of two cars. The gardens that hem the driveway contain plants from all over the world, a private display of the most beautiful things the world has to offer. Both flowers and shrubbery are trimmed neatly at least once a week, and the trees that vault over the asphalt surface are carefully held back from causing any blockages of the thoroughfare - both the well being of the plantlife and the occupants of the vehicles is considered and catered for.
The placing of this 'humble abode' is the absolute premium and nothing drags this house's value downwards; no noisy neighbours, barking dogs, screaming children or pesky lowlifes. The neighbourhood in which it resides is one that has become known as a 'business' neighbourhood, mainly because of the suited people that come and go in their overly expensive vehicles. It entertains businessmen and women as only a Sicilian neighbourhood ever could, but the calm that pervades the roads and houses is never pierced by gunshots as some of the neighbourhoods towards the centre of Palermo. It is, perhaps, one of the quietest and most efficiently controlled neighbourhoods in all of Sicily.



Recently refurbished in a modern style, the kitchen still enjoys the trappings of Italian style and cuisine. A careful and detailed approach was taken to the kitchen, as one of the past occupants of the house was a top chef whose life revolved around the kitchen, and did not include a wife, children or many friends. The array of electronics includes a commercial oven used in top restaurants across the world, a reliable microwave of the best make and an immense fridge/freezer that could possibly hold an entire human body. All appliances blend into the conceptual flow, maintaining a fresh and modern look whilst bringing in a certain unique and memorable touch of brilliance.
The kitchen itself is an easy flowing part of the open plan design, able to be navigated easily and quickly; all in all a well planned layout that pleases the eye and the user. The plan includes a breakfast bar in front of which there are several stools. Seated there, one can easily be served from the kitchen bench, and watch your food being prepared in front of your very eyes. The materials used in the construction of the kitchen are top notch, marble and the finest woods, chrome and titanium - no expense was spared.



Due to the differing occupations of previous owners of the house, desires and needs that evolve from the kitchen have been catered to. A cupboard is kept exclusively for bottles of alcohol, and overhead are racks upon racks of wine glasses, champagne flutes and martini glasses. On the shelf below the bottles of alcohol are several necessities for a home bar, such as liquor pourers, condiment dispensers and a couple of cocktail recipe books. Also seated on the rack are several silver ice buckets of varying sizes and a couple of cocktail shakers. In addition to this are several overhead liquor dispensers integrated into the metal part of the rack, ready for a bottle to be inserted and locked into place.



In every Italian house, the kitchen is the centre of activity, and if there is a grand kitchen, then it only suits that the house have a grand dining room with enough seats for the whole family. A secondary dining room is sometimes necessary, and this is located in the room next to this dining room. It is only necessary to open the French doors and the open plan expands to include a second table and more seating for guests. The house is perfectly capable of catering to a large scale dinner party, and the chef would have no trouble serving due to the floor plan. The plates and utensils are neatly placed inside the serving cabinet that sits in the corner of the room, conveniently close to the table for table setting purposes.
The guests are treated to the best seating, the demure colours complimenting the wallpaper and other fabrics used throughout the room with a finesse that denotes the fact that only the best interior designer was hired to complete this job. Nobody could get bored in a room like this, there is simply too much to look at and admire, from the new age paintings, to the small but regal fireplace, from the vibrant kitchen to the shining wine glasses that dangle above it from the hanging rack. It truly is a stylish plan that aims to incorporate every type of owner, be they focused on the kitchen and their cuisine, the dining room(s) and entertaining guests, or the living room and their own comfort.



A living room could not go without a fireplace, and this living room certainly does not go without. With a glass of wine in one hand, and a book in your lap, you can easily imagine yourself seated in front of this fire as the sun sinks from the sky, or as the heavens open to pour rain on the earth below. It helps that the living room�s contents continue on to compliment the dining room and kitchen, and that this design flows warmly into the rest of the house, welcoming occupants and guests alike with energy, warmth and comfort. The fabrics used in the living room differ to those used in the dining room, aesthetically separating them from the other room, but also helping to compliment it. A medium sized mirror hangs above the fireplace, helping to give the open planned compilation of rooms a certain depth that it would not have otherwise.
As far as entertainment goes, this part of the plan caters to the avid cinema viewer, and the bookworm all in one. To the right of the fireplace towers an immense mahogany bookcase that boasts novels, journals, magazines - anything that could ever catch your fancy - delicately placed in between rows of books are several items of an international variety such as masks from pacific island tribes, fragile rice paper portraits from Asian countries and several antiquities. The size of the bookcase lends its aid here, ensuring that despite the high amount of small adornments in addition to books, it does not look in any way cluttered.



For cinematic satisfaction, a wide screen built into the ceiling slowly rolls down at the press of a button, and the projector (also bolted to the ceiling) comes to life, able to cater to DVD, VCR and television requirements thanks to the electronic devices stored in a medium sized cupboard on the wall between the living room and the kitchen that blends into the wall and opens with a small amount of pressure to the locking device. Also contained inside are a wealth of DVDs ranging from Sci Fi to Documentaries. The picture on the wide screen is of exceptional quality.



Located on the upper floors of the household, the bedrooms each boast an ensuite and a superb view from their respective balconies. Privacy is afforded with thick velvet curtains that serve to hold in already accumulated heat, immense pieces of heavy fabric that have a thermal backing especially for this purpose. The wallpaper itself is tough and durable, able to be sponged clean should any accidents happen, and still be none the worse for it - the same applies to the high quality carpets that are present throughout almost every room in the house, excepting those that have polished wooden flooring, or tiles, such as the kitchen and the bathroom.



The linens used in the bedroom are all high quality brands purchased at a surprisingly low price through a 'friend' of the previous occupant. They are all made in Italy with no expense spared, their dyes designed not to fade or discolour due to the sun, which is extremely necessary due to the large windows that are set into all three bedroom's walls, allowing sunlight to invade every single corner of the room at certain times of the day, depending upon where the rooms are placed in the house. Every bedroom includes a large armchair, a walk in wardrobe, a desk, chair and laptop with wireless internet access, two deckchairs on the balcony outside the room, as well as two small tables - one inside, and one outside - a cordless telephone and an alarm clock on one of the two bedside tables.
All three bathrooms include large spa baths, a large shower, two sinks and one toilet. There are linen baskets and a linen cupboard in each, inside which is stored towels, facecloths, bathmats, bed linen and other miscellaneous items. The mirrors in each bathroom slide aside to reveal a first aid cabinet and a cabinet filled with hair accessories such as shampoos, conditioner, gel, spray and anything else that could be desired. Strangely enough, each bathroom cabinet contains a large supply of high quality makeup and other miscellaneous women's items, in addition to electric razors, shaving foam and other men's items. It is to be assumed that these were gained through side deals with certain 'friends' of the previous owner, who exploited people as best he could for his own personal gains. Whatever the origin of these items, it is clear that they cater to every need of either a man or woman, obviously making the adjoining rooms suitable for either a woman, a man, or both.
Each of Corono di Palermo’s four ensuites is designed to compliment the bedroom with which it is adjoined. Colouration and design therefore varies within each of these rooms, although content does not. Every shower has a low, medium and high setting for water pressure, along with two faucets for hot and cold water, allowing the user to adjust accordingly. The Bath, also, has hot and cold faucets, as well as a small silver switch to turn on the spa setting. Above both sinks there is either one large mirror or two small mirrors, each sliding aside as mentioned above, in the gap tween the sinks is a soap dispenser, either fixed to the wall or on the bench in the middle.



The grounds are immense, matching the house itself. It would seem that the space surrounding the house itself is covered entirely by grass, trees, flowers and shrubs, giving it a very natural look that compliments the house and it's design. The fact that the house is not in any way modern in looks does a great deal for the property, and ensures that the building does not jut out from its surroundings, but blends in instead, creating a beautiful demurely coloured abode with a gorgeous surrounding of greenery. Amidst the mass amounts of green that border the perimeter are several small security huts, stationed at strategic points that allow the occupants to survey the fence and report any acts of vandalism or attempted intrusion.



Due to the fact that the house and its surrounding grounds are set on a hilly expanse of territory, there are several stairways around the property, all leading to different settings, reclusive gardens and idyllic clearings shades by trees and dappled by sunlight. In these settings there are sometimes marble benches, or sets of wooden tables and chairs treated against the weather so that they can prevail rain or shine.
As mentioned above, all bedrooms give out onto a balcony or a terrace. The house itself, being set on a hill, has the advantage of being built slightly into one of the steeper faces of the hill, therefore letting the one bedroom lead out onto a small courtyard that is also easily accessed by a set of stairs leading up from the poolside below. The pool itself holds unchlorinated water, pure and crystal clear, a refreshing touch on a warm summer's day. Beside the pool are several deckchairs and a table for alfresco poolside dining, allowing those there to enjoy the amazing views of Palermo and the surrounding countryside. 3 Stairways lead upwards from the pool to several of the rooms, and to the main entrance of the house itself, with another stairway leading down from the pool area and ending at two doors that are hidden from sight - completely out of character with the rest of the house. These doors lead to an armoury and a meeting room at a level below the pool. Both are hidden from view by mass amounts of shrubbery and trellis work - you would not know they were there unless you were specifically told where they were, and how to get to them.



On a lighter note, the house also has a wine cellar and two offices which reside in the basement. These are for business purposes only, and are not used when entertaining guests. They are kept under lock and key - keys are laser cut by an unnamed party and given directly to the owners. No house staff enter the offices at any time. Each office has a small paper shredder and incinerator for that business you just don't want known. Books containing up to date Laws from almost every country in the world line the shelves of both offices, located behind the identical large leather chair and desk that take crowning glory in both rooms.



Apart from the house, there are several security posts (mentioned in the above description of the house) around the 7 foot high brick perimeter fence topped with barbed wire and shards of glass. These are only accessible by a code, which is changed every hour. The only way to obtain this code is to be a security guard. Every security guard signs in with an ink impression of their thumbprint at the beginning of a shift and is given a code to enter their assigned post � one guard remains in the hut at all times, even when under fire, the other patrols. Every guard requires background checks, and must be thoroughly cleared and searched before entering the property through the main gates - the only vehicular entrance to Corona di Palermo's grounds. All guards are armed only after passing through security, and their equipment is checked nightly for faults or sabotage. Guards are only hired after the aforementioned security check, and if they possess the necessary abilities and mentality for the job at hand.
The entire property is monitored by security cameras, which are watched through CCTV (closed circuit television) by one of the three heads of security at an undisclosed location on the property. Not even the guards know of this location - only the heads of Security, who have gone through a rigorous security check, which is even more in depth than that of the security guards on the perimeter. The main security control room is entered through a fingerprint and retina recognition technology, as is the meeting room and armoury. All windows on the property are tinted against snipers, and every vantage point that could possibly be used is noted in the guard's handbook, which they must memorise before they are able to commence their jobs.

NPC(s):
10* Gunmen
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Arm(s):
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Vehicle(s)
2006 Jaguar XK Coupe [Atanasia]
2006 Mercedes E500 [Cristoforo]
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[font=Times New Roman, serif]Cristoforo stood on the balcony looking down at her as she swam in the pool, his face rather straight, his eyes emotionless. He was always a bit more serious, you could say, when it came to these sorts of things. He didn't really like to fool around, in fear that it might result in problems with the organization, however...This was his sister and he could not really feel too bad. He turned and walked back into his room, removing clothing as he went, knowing full well that this was not like the old Dons had done things. Then again, who has two Dons, one of which is a woman? La Famiglia Canelupo does, that's who. That family, that supreme force was going to control the entire island of Sicily soon and there was nothing anyone could do to prevent it from happening. Cristoforo stood looking in the mirror, naked, just as naked as he had been when he was born, and sighed softly. "How many scars line my body?" he asked slowly before nodding his head. He grabbed a pair of trunks from his closet and pulled them on. He was darker than Atanasia due to labor he had done in Sicily. That meant, he didn't really need, nor want to wear sun screan. Maybe he would get cancer later on in life, but for now, it did not cross his mind, nor did he really care.

He descended the steps and walked out into the back and stood there looking at his sister swimming in the pool. He smiled when he realized she didn't know he was there. "Perfect," he whispered. Suddenly, he dove into the pool, his arms wrapping around her torso and he pulled her under with his dive. Just because they were adults did not mean they didn't fool around. They were siblings, for God's sake! Of course they were going to joke around, beat each other up, and all of that fun stuff. It's what siblings did. He let go of her and swam back up to the surface and grinned, his body now glistening with little droplets of water. His hair was now pushed back out of his eyes, that whole 'slicked back' look doing it for him. "I must admit, Atanasia, it is beautiful out today," he said to her and smiled. "And...I must admit, sis, this house is the most beautiful house I have ever seen anywhere..." There house, the one they had gotten from Don Benevantano was the most beautiful house in all of Sicily. Being the owners of it was a treat, a privelage and it definitely did deserve bragging rights. "So...Did you have a nice day?" he asked her, now lying on his back, floating in the water, his body soaking in the sun slowly. Ah, what peace...[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman, serif]He looked at her when she splashed him and rolled his eyes. When she mentioned running up the mountain, he rolled his eyes and moved so that he was standing now in the water rather than just floating in the water. "To this day, I still do not get your obsession with beating your body into submission," he said to her. "You don't need to work and your body stays the same...Hell, I eat all day and look! I don't gain a pound...You're obsessed, Atanasia...You're obsessed," he said to her simply and then laughed, knowing full well that she didn't care if she was obsessed. She liked to run up the mountain and he had an obsession with blonde women. Big deal! Cristoforo walked to the steps and walked up them, walking straight passed his sister. He walked around the pool then and grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist after drying his hair and torso. "I have been working, thank you very much...Unlike someone I know," he said, giving her a glance before he walked inside to get a few things to show her. Yes, while she had been running, he had been putting numbers together that she might like to see. He searched around his desk for a moment or two before he finally found the folder that he was looking for. "Ah, here it is," he said before turning around to head back outside.

He left the house once more and walked over towards her, seeing her sitting on a reclined chair, since she was here to tan a little bit. "Well, well...Trying to tan some more, huh? You must have a hot date if you're so worried about how you look," he said to her before rolling his eyes. He reached over and handed the folder to her. He then pulled a chair up and sat down next to her. "Alright...So, in the folder in some information I pulled up about Benevantano's rackets before we destroyed them...He pulled in quite a bit of money from these businesses just in extortion. When it came to prostitution, his profits doubled and sometimes trippled," he explained to his sister. "However...The biggest single earner that he had was this," he said and pointed to a drug factory. "No, it wasn't his...It was some Jersey fellow that owned it here...He paid Benevantano two hundred thousand dollars a week so that the factory was not bombed...That's a nice pay check right there," Cristoforo said and leaned back in his chair to let her look at the figures for money, for recruitments and for all those other things. "I think that we should take over those same rackets and then...Then worry about taking control of Depaolo's rackets as well..." The Depaolo Family was the Family that Cristoforo had allied with during the war against Benevantano, however both Cristoforo and Atanasia knew that they could never stay allies for ever. The two twins were too ambitious and wanted too much power to let the Depaolo keep their power. They would be destroyed, that's for sure.

As Salvatore [NPC Gunman]:

Salvatore, driving Cristoforo's Mercedes, drove to the gate and then waited for it to be opened. Once it was, he drove in, only to park right after the gate closed. He got out and gave each of the four men there one of the packaged AK-74s along with a vest each. He waited until they were all suited up before he drove off up. After some more work, each man had received his weapon and vest and he filed into rank to begin guarding the compound as well. The Mercedes was parked in the garage to be used later on by one of the Family's regimes.[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman, serif]Cristoforo watched as she read over the information and then heard as his Mercedes was parked in the garage, signifying that the weapons had been delivered to the soldiers guarding the estate. He shrugged his shoulders at that, knowing that he was safe in the compound. He looked back down at her for a moment and thought to himself about when they should move against Depaolo. Now or later, he thought to himself and he sat down, stroking his chin. "I'm torn...If we attack now, we might surprise them, since they are still weak from the war...However, we are not that strong yet either, which could result in our demise. However, at the same time, if we wait, they could gain more strength and more money," he said to her and closed his eyes a moment to think to himself. "Let's wait...If we move into them right now, we'll surely be destroyed...However, if we let them think we're a peaceful family, then they will not expect an attack later on, giving us the upper hand," he said and nodded his head as if he made a very important choice. It was an important choice...Wars were never good for business, but they happened. They had to happen.

"So...I've told you everything that I have planned," he then said to her and smirked. "What about you, Atanasia? You know you can't swim all day nor run," he said to her and cleared his throat. "Do you have any interesting plans set up?" he asked her. By then, Salvatore, the gunman that had picked up the weapons appeared. "I'll give you a second to think," Cristoforo teased before he walked over to the gunman. "We all good, Sal?" he asked. "Yes...Dr. Phibes gives his regards and all of us guarding the compound are now armed," he said to the Don. "Good, good...Return to your duty," Cristoforo said before returning to his sister. "Well?"[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman, serif]Cristoforo looked at her for a moment and then nodded his head. "Seems like a fair and smart set of plans you have," he said to her with a nod of his head. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment, just enjoying the fact that he was now a boss. Well, both he and Atanasia. But, just the thought of actually controlling a Family, having the power and the say to send someone to murder someone else, to earn the money and the respect that the rank deserved. It was not something to be taken lightly and he was very glad that he and Atanasia had gotten it. "That is very good indeed," he said and then took the folder, assuming she was done looking at the figures and closed it up. "Well..I suppose that is it, unless there is something else you wished to talk about," he said, looking at her. If she had any other business she wanted to mention, it was now that she should get it out, since he was here with her now, rather than waiting for another time when he might be too busy or something else. [/font]

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[font=Times New Roman, serif]Cristoforo looked at her and then closed the folder to bring it back inside. However, before he could go inside, she questioned whether or not anyone had called. "No, you're not that special," she said and then laughed before scratching his eyes. "One guy did...Some...Anton Valenti," he said to her and shrugged his shoulders. "He said he's the guy from the warehouse," he said to her and shrugged his shoulders. "What ever that means, Atanasia, is beyond me," he said. He figured she would understand and that she would tell him when she wanted to. He walked inside and dropped the folder on his desk before he walked back outside to hear her next comment about the weapons. "Yeah, I sent one of the boys to do it...We now have ten armed soldiers guarding our house," he said to her and grinned. "As for the state of their family? Assimilation will occur any time now...Any time now," he said and nodded his head before rubbing his cheek. "There are rumors of a New York City Family that might want to form an alliance with us...How do you feel about that?" he asked her before he sat down once more on the chair to think to himself for a moment about the whole situation. A firm alliance would protect them and make a lot of money. He couldn't think of anything wrong with it, to be honest.[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman, serif]Cristoforo simply grinned and nodded his head as he looked his sister in the eyes. While she was one to kid around, he knew in the end, she was someone to be taken seriously when it came to Family, both blood and Canelupo. It's like if you take a mother's child. How do you think they would respond? He knew that while she spent a lot of time running and swimming and tanning, all to make herself look good, or just because she was obsessive and compulsive over certain things, that in the end, she really did care about the family. That was why she was serious about this alliance and that was why she wanted to see them. "Well...From what my men tell me, they are getting over a war with another Family there. Nothing to worry about, from what my sources tell me, they will win. Currently, they're resting in Midtown New York City, but you never know what anyone plans on doing before it already happens," he said to her with a small chuckle. "I'll ensure that when it becomes time to form this alliance, that they come out here to formally get it worked out. Maybe we can even make some extra money for the Family," he said and leaned back a moment to think to himself about that. Business...What an amazing thing.[/font]

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