caughtinanetwork | 1st Letter

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[Marcello stared at the communicator, absolutely impartially and with great curiosity. Then he bent down and touched it. It was strange and left him rather confused. He had spent his life in an Abbey and never seen a starfish before - and only within the last few years seen the ocean. The memory of it - he kept imagining he could hear the waves lapping against the boat that had brought him to Neos. The Holy Isle. That memory was raw. His entire body felt raw.]

[There was a joke he could appreciate in this, though. He laughed and rolled his head back. Fate had seen it fit to keep him alive but always in fear of his life. Now he was safe. He closed his eyes half-lazily. Fate and destiny. He remembered Francisco who was the only family he had ever had: "do not be afraid, Marcello. Your destiny cannot be taken away from you; it is a gift from the Goddess".]

[The Goddess! He thought bitterly on how there was no fate now that couldn't be surpassed by his scorn. It was what he did for himself that made his destiny.]

[There, the communicator reacted to the touch of his fingers drawing down its arm. He found himself staring at words and images that grew larger, more colourful and changed. It was strange because he knew there was nothing wrong with his mind. He must have switched it on, like the papers described. But the sight was still an odd one, because paper didn't glow.]

What the - How did this thing come alive? Who are all of you!?

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[Whoa, hey, he knew that face! Granted, it had been a while since he'd last seen the man, but that face, all hard lines and angles, and the backswept widow's peak matched perfectly with his memory. Lloyd's face lit up and he immediately called the other man back.]

Vegeta! Hey, welcome back!

[Marcello had stopped and was listening to the younger man speak. He waited, patiently thinking. The conversation he was attempting to have was of no concern. He ignored the other man for a while. But he wouldn't leave. He sounded more frustrated than he should when he answered.]

Excuse me? Is this some sort of joke?

Edited 2013-05-28 01:43 (UTC)

Huh?

[Lloyd blinked, honest surprise in his face. Something niggled in the back of his head when "Vegeta" spoke, but Lloyd couldn't quite put a finger on it.]

Of course not. Don't you remember, Vegeta? You helped me train when you were here before.

[Had Vegeta lost his memory? Dammit, Lloyd hoped that wasn't the case.]

[Marcello had always entertained Francisco's bad jokes. But probably nothing would make him entertain this man. He coldly stared at him over his hands.]

Before? I've never met you before in my life. And you are the sort of man I would remember.

[...man, Lloyd had forgotten how unnerving Vegeta's stares could be.

But that wasn't what made Lloyd's stomach sink.]

Come on, it's me. Remember? Lloyd Irving. You're the one who told me I needed to practice fighting without my swords.

[Marcello had always emphasized martial strength. But even ensuring his men were trained he still struggled to find anything in common with this man.]

Swords? I am quite sure I've said no such thing. Evidently, you have confused my identity with that of another.

Edited 2013-05-28 02:55 (UTC)

[Okay, so maybe he and Vegeta weren't all that close, but it still stung to find out that Vatheon had taken someone else's memory of him.]

Even if you don't remember, that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Vatheon- This place- Sometimes it does this to people. Sometimes when people leave, they don't remember when they come back. I'm not making this up, I promise.

[Marcello was not concerned. Through the way that his eyes rolled, it was clear he was becoming very bored indeed. This man was still saying the same absurd thing. Except then he stopped.]

[He cut in immediately.]

I am highly aware of that. I trust that you are imprecated by some sort of curse?

[It was that, or Lloyd was just naturally dumb.]

Huh? No, I don't think so. There was a curse last week, but I think it's gone now.

[Wait. The fact that Vegeta's even asking about curses means that... Lloyd perks up.]

So you remember? About the curses that happen here?

[Marcello should count himself lucky that he's never seen Lloyd's attempts at schoolwork before.]

[Now Marcello was looking at Lloyd with increasing disfavour. Black magic and curses were signs of evildoing. The mention of curses, too, seemed to sum up the young man's presence. He recalled that he had used Rhapthorne's power, but that had always been intended a means to an end.]

[He did not wait for an explanation.]

No. But you will explain them to me, though.

[Dammit, he'd started to get his hopes up. If Vegeta didn't remember, though, he should at least be warned again.]

They happen here every two weeks, and anything can happen. They can make you sick, or show people your thoughts, or even change the buildings and everyone's memories. They can even change what we look like and can do. There was a curse once where I turned into a Saiyan just like you. You had to teach me how to make my tail stay put.

[He pauses, giving the other man a half-hopeful look.]

Do you remember that?

[What that told Marcello was that the entire city was cursed. It reminded him of Trodain, and the black beast he had encountered at the Lord High Priest's residence. And Rhapthorne. He felt the time he had lost control of himself.]

[It had to be some power to affect the whole city like that. Since what the young man was saying could likely be true, he was listening more attentively.]

No. Come now, do you not think I would remember a man so cursed he was turning into a monster?

[Lloyd stares at the man, completely taken aback.]

I wasn't turning into a monster! I just turned into a Saiyan like you!

["Vegeta" must have misheard what he said. Otherwise he'd be calling himself a monster too.]

[Marcello turned a little jaded. He had tired eyes and a disappointed face.]

A Saiyan. Do you intend to try my patience with these remarks? Surely you have better things to do than play jokes.

[Lloyd's voice takes on a defensive note. "Vegeta" doesn't believe him?]

I swear, I'm not making this up. I told you, curses here can do almost anything. I really was a Saiyan. You can ask Trunks!

[Wait.]

Except... dammit, I think he left.

[To this, Marcello sighed loudly. The young man could call him any name till he was blue in the face, but he seemed anxious to tell him of some things too. So he hung on. He was getting some information now. But, alas, he could see the man would never listen. It had gone on long enough.]

Well, such sorrowful parting should not be a cause of misery. I suggest you find him.

~~[He's telling Lloyd to leave, pretty much.]~~

Edited 2013-05-29 16:03 (UTC)

[~~See Lloyd. See Lloyd completely miss that subtle hint.~~]

No, I mean I think he left Vatheon. I haven't seen him for a while, and I don't see him on my starfish. You know, the list of people who're here.

[Unfortunately, Lloyd can't think of who else "Vegeta" might know who's here and could vouch for Lloyd's story of that curse.]

You'll just have to trust me on this, Vegeta. I wouldn't lie. Dwarven vow number eighteen: It's better to be deceived than to deceive.

[Marcello failed to show any emotions on his face, and thought that what the man had said was a very childlike morale. Life in the Church had brought him to a quick understanding of needing to be cunning.]

[His eyes met the other man's.]

Do you truly believe that?

What, that it's better to be deceived than to deceive? Of course I do. I mean, that doesn't mean it's okay if someone tricks me. Lying is the first step down the path of thievery.

[Another quote, though at least this time he didn't name the vow.]

But just because other people lie doesn't mean it's okay for you to lie.

[Marcello hadn't listened to the highest religious authority of his world. So probably nothing would stop him from lying. When Lloyd said his second vow he nodded agreeably.]

Yes. Some people are just so attached to exaggeration that they cannot tell the truth, however.

[Being the type of person who takes things at face value, Lloyd takes that agreeable tone to mean that "Vegeta" agrees with him, at least on the basic concept that lying isn't right, and now they're just talking about other people now.]

That doesn't mean I have to be one of them. What good is my word if I lie all the time? But yeah, that's why you can trust me.

[This was something good to hear.]

[Nevertheless, Marcello was shaking his head. The impression he would give Lloyd would be different to what he was thinking - that he only trusted himself.]

Well, you strike me as nothing but a good man. I am sure your word receives as good as it deserves.

[Therefore, he seemed to have no problem with it.]

[Okay, what teenage boy after being complimented like that would even think to look any deeper? Lloyd can't help but give a self-conscious, pleased grin.]

Thanks. Don't worry, it usually does!

Hey, if you came back, maybe Trunks will, too. Want me to let you know if he does?

[Marcello calmly nodded. He had a growing feeling that he was gaining the boy's sympathy. That made him easier to manage.]

Please. I would appreciate it, of course...

Edited 2013-06-01 11:26 (UTC)

Got it!

Oh, that reminds me. If you don't remember, I should warn you. There's a guy here who looks a lot like Trunks, but it's not him. His name is Angelo. You can tell him apart because his hair is longer in the back.

[Well, assuming that Trunks didn't ever wear his hair that long and Lloyd just didn't know.]

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