It had been just over a century since Annika had turned Giacomo and the two had mostly stayed in areas around Europe during that time. When tensions began to get high in Italy, Gia had almost begged Annika to go back to his home land. It was painful to see how different it was from when he left and the pressure of the invading army that was a threat to everything he held dear about his beautiful Italia.

Luckily, Annika was willing to help as best as they could so they had gone back to his home, to the impressive culture that was Rome and the armies that threatened to overtake the city. They were down in the streets together when they saw a man coming down the steps from the top of the wall. They recognized him almost immediately as a vampire which they both found intriguing and Gia, desperate for information, approached the man. "How is it looking from up there?" he inquired.

Arturo had met many of his own kind. His sire had long had more than him in his original coven, or harem, as it were. And he had traveled much of Europe to know a bit more history and where some of the more well-known 'old gods' were. But he was still always a bit surprised to meet another vampire in passing, let alone two. He could tell they were sire and spawn and from the younger's accent, this area was likely his original home. He had a moment of sympathy, as he understood the possessiveness he too had over his him town and country at large. But knowing the size of the armies on the other side of the wall, linger here was a silly notion, even for the likes of them.

Still, he smiled. "Ciao! I do believe it is time to leave before they set in a siege," he said in amusement, quite the outrageous thing to say being as his livery marked him as being in service to the Pope. Of course, a vampire in service to the Pope was mysterious and amusing in and of itself. Arturo's Italian was a bit rough, colored by his Spanish accent, but he had spent many years traveling and practicing languages. "Unless you've come to preserve history?" He said it with a cheeky grin and one could well have taken out the word 'preserve' and inserted the word 'loot' and he could have said it with the same smile. He jested, of course. Probably.

He shifted his dress helmet from his hip and spun it in his hands. "Mercenaries are camped all over the hills in a sea of metal and banners. Can't make head of tales of whether Charles plans to attack or just threaten us," he said, a bit more seriously if not very helpful. If it were him, he'd attack the city. Rome would never surrender, not while the Pope occupied the city.

Gia's stomach twisted at the news. Was it really looking that bad? What would happen if Rome fell, he couldn't imagine it. The man's other suggestion, though made at least partially in jest, was tempting. All of this beautiful art destroyed? Gone forever when it should have gone down in history as some of the greatest ever created? How could he just let that happen?

He was clearly lost for a moment in distressed thoughts so Annika took over happily for her progeny. "Is there nothing we can do to prevent the fight? Are there others who could assist?" she asked, clearing meaning other vampires. Maybe this one was from a coven. Truth be told, she cared very little to fight beside others. She was an individualist through and through and had her dear Giacomo not been so distraught about it, she would have easily let Rome fall. She wasn't one to try to change the way of things.

When one lived as long as they did, processed the same emotions over and over again, usually there was a sort of...detachment to the material world. Investing strong emotions into others was difficult. Which was why staying with one's sire made sense even before the compulsion. That was someone that would always be there, after all, always worth investing in. While the younger vampire's expression might not have been so dramatic, his distress was there, Arturo could see it deep in his eyes as he looked toward the wall. He was worried about this place.

His dark eyes shifted to the woman. At first, he wondered if she might be suggesting they meddle personally, and he raised a curious eyebrow as she spoke. Certainly, with their superior physical abilities and healing and beyond, they could turn the tide of a battle. To do so here, against so many... They would have to be very good, and it would be very obvious. "Is the city that important to you?" he asked instead of answered, looking from the woman to the young man. If his accent had not, his returned question made it clear he was not from the local coven. He'd met one of them, but they had been...rather confrontational. "Ah, but where are my manners. Arturo Diaz de Frontera. Spain," he introduced himself with a graceful bow. "Perhaps we enjoy the city while we can? I have some time before I must return to the Vatican." Though he would like to soon. As much as there was still debate whether the emperor would dare attack, Arturo would much rather be closer to his companion. That was what he was worried about, more than the city.

He gestured toward the city center. "The theatre, the markets, the coliseum or perhaps somewhere else?" He looked over the younger man, carefully. He was quite lovely. He understood the woman's attraction, if only on a physical level. He imagined there was much more there. There usually was.

Is the city that important? Annika gave was a clearly a pretty indifferent shrug but she glanced to her progeny as Gia whipped his head back to the man as if he couldn't understand why it wouldn't be important. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Annika Krause. Germany. And this-" she motioned to Gia so he could answer for himself.

"Giacomo Ettore. Rome." He stated the city instead of the country and punctuated it with purpose to make it clear that, yes, the city was that important to him. It was his home. Of course he wanted to save it but he wasn't a fool. He knew what that would mean to ask such a thing and to find others who were willing to risk that...was even less of a chance than the word 'unlikely' could entail.

Annika seemed to light up at the idea of enjoying the city though the phrase 'while we can' very much rubbed Gia the wrong way. He wasn't sure how he felt about this man but was trying to be logical rather than emotional about that. He was finding it challenging, especially being the youngest of the three of them. "Oh yes, lets! What shall we see, Giacomo darling?" she asked him. She was trying to be thoughtful about him and what he might like to see, especially if it turned out to be the last time, but she lacked the empathy to truly feel for him.

However, Gia was feeling far too stubborn to answer so Annika did so for him once a gain. "Where is the best place to enjoy the art scene? Gia so does love the art here in Rome," she suggested. Giacomo seemed to perk up a bit but was trying not to show it.

The woman seemed even more apathetic than he was. Arturo was more concerned for a few people and things in the city. Though he would admit much of the architecture was lovely to look at and the idea of seeing it burn… He could almost taste the man's despair, see it in his eyes and the way his eyes locked on him in indignation. He smiled at him but directed his attention to his sire’s introduction. “I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting. You shall have to give me places to visit.”

And then he returned his smile to Giacomo. Such a charming name. “Ah. This is home then. Rome is the heart of the western world, yes?” He said, making it clear he was very aware of the history they were surrounded in. He could not share the man's patriotism, but he did understand the attachment and would not fault him for it. Arturo couldn't say what he would do to protect his place of birth. Despite the fact he had helped burn it to the ground once. But that was neither here nor there.

“I should think we visit somewhere you would like to protect?” He offered. Standing against the entire army might be too obvious. But if it came down to it, they could ensure some particular place wasn’t destroyed. Of course, Arturo had his own priorities if a fight did break out and, oddly enough for an undead being, it was with the living. “I am a fan of the coliseum myself. But let's start with the market. I imagine there is much you can show me of the city.” He had very little detailed experience of the city himself but knew they would pass quite a few reliefs and arches and other wonders of architecture. While Arturo led them off, he purposefully wandered a bit, enjoying the walk rather than moving them directly there. And perhaps he wanted Giacomo to take the lead.

Gia felt himself start to relax a little. It was clear this man was noticing the discomfort he was feeling and was actually trying to do something about it, even if it was minimally. It made him a little sad actually that Annika was so unfeeling about the whole thing but she'd always been that way. He offered a nod and his despair faded a bit from his face though he didn't exactly smile.

Arturo started to lead but it wasn't long before Giacomo found himself in front of the three of them, leading the way and pointing out just about everything he could. Some of it was historically significant but a lot of it were things specific to him. Like his favorite shop and the place he'd visited his tutor and the tree under which he'd had his first kiss.

As they stopped by a location with several significant paintings, Giacomo lingered as he admired them with sadness and love and pure emotion in his eyes. "What if-" he hesitated and then looked over to Annika and then Arturo before back to the painting. "What if we take some of them?" he asked, lowering his voice slightly as if they might be overheard. "We could keep them somewhere safe..."

Annika's stoic, unfazed nature was not unknown to Arturo. He certainly could be that way on some topics. He imagined it came from age. Some seeing so much and knowing how little so many things mattered or perhaps being bored of the mundane. Whatever her underlying emotions and the reason for her keeping things to herself, Arturo wouldn't judge. But he was quite keen on his new company and although his own age betrayed him a bit, eager to see the world through another's eyes for a while.

Grand histories were always something Arturo enjoyed, but so where the small, private ones. To be young again, and to remember his first kiss...those were the days. Arturo ventured a small smile as the pale haired vampire led them on a tour of his personal Rome. Despite his reserved nature at first, Giacomo was proving to be quite charming and very well learned. He understood perhaps a little more of why his sire had chosen him, beyond just the pleasing features.

The soldier stood out a bit among the rest of the people. A few were armed, but less had the level of protection he wore, and to the caliber make it was. the little group earned a few strange looks, many recognizing the crest of the Pope on his armor and finding his foreign appearance quite strange. Arturo flashed a smile in return.

He followed Giacomo over to the gallery. He recognized none of the paintings of course, but he did know some of the styles and mediums. "Oil on canvas," he noted, gaze wandering from a painting of the Virgin Mary and a babe, others of naked onlookers, a few that might have been commissioned portraits. He looked over as the younger vampire stopped himself from speaking. Arturo raised an eyebrow, though he wasn't left suspecting very long. The man smirked and made a gentle "ahahah" noise, his own tone easy, but not very quiet. Even if they were overheard, what did it matter? "Now, now, what did we call it before?" Amazing what a short walk with the knowledge of impending battle could do to change one's mind. "Preserving history," he repeated. "Somewhere safe and return them once any danger was well and truly in the past?" He nodded. Had he done much the same himself? Here or elsewhere? He wasn't inclined to speak on such things.

Annika seemed mostly indifferent to the idea though was happy to be supportive of her progeny and certainly had no qualms about theft. But for the moment Giacomo was too focused on how Arturo had responded, his eyes lighting up with relief and appreciation. "Exactly. Preserving history." Giacomo of course had every intention of returning each piece once it was safe to do so.

Annika looked between the two and smiled though inside she was getting worried. She didn't do covens or community but she was seeing the way Gia was enjoying the man's company and was starting to feel threatened. She needed to be careful that he didn't get too attached because while she avoided covens, she had grown attached to her little plaything and wanted him to stay loyally by her side as he always had.

Arturo grinned. He quite liked Giacomo's passion. Theft might be a crime, but any raiders would do no better than them. Besides, it was the intention that mattered most, right?

It hadn't yet been a long time since he was free of his own sire. As much as he had a compulsory attraction, almost addiction, to the man, Santiago was not pleasant company. He was a vampire of the old world, given to greed and lust and a terrible wrath when one of his toys disobeyed. He used people like furniture, treated them like pets, and while he was a bit more delicate with his favorites, fawning over them, acting as their patron, it was ultimately for selfish reasons. Money or art or power or the pleasure of ruining their life. Some of his spawn enjoyed that life. Asked for it.

Arturo had not. He had spent many years at the man's mercy, and even now, his sire had only to call him. But for the moment...the vampire lord wouldn't dare.

As enjoyable as it was to have true company, he had no desire to join any coven. Not here, not anywhere else. He told himself he never would.

"I think we can make that happen..." He stood, helmet under one arm, tapping his chin with his free hand as he looked around the gallery. There were not so many people...And if Giacomo was willing to move fast...they might be seen, but they would never be caught. And in fifty years, no one would be alive to remember. Hell, in ten years. "How about I start a dis-"

He was cut off by the clanging of distant bells, the crude metal instruments tolling a warning. The Spainards expression tightened. "Well, that's certainly a better distraction," he noted, looking out toward the street and watching as the people began to move, so painfully slowly and woefully unprepared, away from the outer wall. Some of the guards moved in the opposite direction. But just as many fled with the regular citizens. they knew the armada that amassed outside the walls.

Despite his disdain for the church, there was still a part of him tempted to offer a prayer. He directed his gaze back to Giacomo. "I do believe now is the time to make your preservations. Before anyone else gets the idea. I am at your disposal," he added, giving a playful bow, ready and waiting to be directed to whichever paintings the man deemed important. Tragic as it would be to destroy the frames, rolled canvas would be easier to carry.