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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[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.]

[Marcello brooded on that for a while. He was wondering if he should say anything at all. He believed he might be able to count on Angelo interfering in his business, again. At any rate, he had this conversation in his hand.]

Yes. I believe we've already met.

[He had no desire to explain further.]

Edited 2013-06-01 14:01 (UTC)

Oh, good. Then I guess you didn't need my warning.

[And so long as "Vegeta" isn't going to mistake Angelo for Trunks, what else needs to be explained?]

So, did you need any help with anything else? I've been here a pretty long time.

[Perhaps there was something Lloyd could tell him.]

No.

Lest you tell me how you came to know Angelo.

Edited 2013-06-02 15:16 (UTC)

[Lloyd blinked. Why was "Vegeta" asking about Angelo? Because Lloyd had said he looked like Trunks?]

Well, when he first showed up, I thought he was Trunks. When he told me he wasn't, I thought he was Trunks's brother.

[A fact which Angelo had encouraged, but that was another, much more complicated story that he still wasn't sure he had straight.]

Anyway, he didn't have a place to stay, so I let him stay with me. We were roommates for a few months. Then he kind of adopted Ib and I wanted to live closer to a forge, so we split up.

Why do you ask?

Edited 2013-06-03 02:26 (UTC)

[Wearily, reluctantly, Marcello gave a firm but polite answer.]

Well, I have my reasons. I will be sure to share them before long, which is an amount of time I find myself with lately given recent events...

But my relationship with my brother is no concern of yours, nor anyone else. And if you do not wish to make matters worse, you will not tell him I had this discussion with you. After all, I am still entitled to my privacy. That is all I have to say.

[He was watching Lloyd, wondering if he would react. His reasons concerned no-one but Angelo. He knew something would be said, and he trusted this conversation was going to be of great use to him in getting under his brother's skin. For Angelo was making it clear he was not going to be left alone.]

[Lloyd heard all of that, but most of it went right through his head. Only one thing grabbed his attention and stayed, shoving all the other words aside.]

Wait, Angelo's your brother? No way! I thought you weren't related to him, Vegeta! I mean, he looks like you, but you're not even from the same world! How's that even possible?

[In the end, Marcello had had enough. He sourly answered.]

It is, and that is the truth. I honestly have no idea how you think it isn't. I already told you that I am not the man you think I am.

Do I need to make it clearer?

But- But you look like Vegeta!

[Lloyd, haven't you learned your lesson from mistaking Angelo and Trunks?]

If you're not Vegeta, then who are you?

[Already understanding his likeness, he hand-waived the other name.]

Marcello. Angelo's older brother. I hardly think he would have failed to mention me.

Marcello?

[Why does that name sound familiar? Angelo's talked about his brother before, but Lloyd could swear he'd never said his brother's name. How else would he have heard it, though?

What he doesn't remember just yet is that the one time Angelo did refer to Marcello by name, he didn't add that Marcello was his brother. It's also been more than half a year since that particular conversation came up.]

He did say he had a brother... He didn't tell me your name, though. He just said he had a brother who he didn't... I mean...

[Wow, there is no tactful way to finish that sentence.]

[Marcello shut his eyes. The man he wanted out of his life had left him an opening in this conversation - and he was not sure he wanted to exploit it at all. He would have asked Lloyd so many questions. There was also the reward. Angelo had tried pestering him for attention. Withholding it was the last scrap of dignity he had.]

There's no reason to finish your statement. I have nothing to say on the matter.

Edited 2013-06-06 10:06 (UTC)

[With relief, Lloyd realizes that Marcello knows what he was trying to say. He doesn't have to finish that sentence. Something about that bothers him, though. Or maybe it's something about Marcello's attitude.]

Doesn't that bother you? I mean, don't you care? He's your brother.

[Marcello cared for Angelo; for the way he had ruined his life. From his childhood, even.]

How on earth can you presume that my caring, or lack of it, is any business of yours? Or... do you believe I do care?

[Lloyd was walking on thin ice.]

Edited 2013-06-07 02:15 (UTC)

Well, Angelo's my friend and I care about him. If he thinks you hate him, and he's upset, shouldn't I care about that? Especially if he's wrong. I mean, you do care, right? He's just got it wrong?

[Thin ice? You mean this isn't solid ground that can handle his blunt and tactless stomping around?]

[Marcello stared at Lloyd with piercing eyes. He had not imagined himself ever having to face his brother again. He had lost everything, including his hope, and was being reminded that his life was a disgrace.]

[And a man who had to live in disgrace was better off dead. But he had been denied that dignity. Had Angelo also revealed his shame? If so, there was nothing he could do about it. His brother had won - and the reminder of him made him speak quickly so he could forget.]

He has gotten plenty wrong. However, he is no longer my concern. I have no knowledge of what my brother has discussed with you, but I care for Angelo no more than any other man.

[It's precarious ground, Lloyd. Your foot went straight through the ice and stomped on Marcello's pride.]

Edited 2013-06-07 23:01 (UTC)

What? You can't mean that! He's your brother!

[And family is family. Even with his rocky relationship with Kratos, and with all the man has done, he can't help but still care. How can that be different for anyone?]

I honestly always say what I mean.

Ask my brother; he will tell you the same.

[It was true. He had meant everything he said and did to Angelo during their life at the abbey. But the truth now was that his brother meant nothing.]

I thought he was just exaggerating, or maybe he made a mistake and got something wrong. Brothers can't hate each other that much. What did he even do?

My brother has done more than any other man to betray me. I suppose such behaviour is natural for a man with no conscience. Even one I shared my home with.

Hence, I have removed him from my life entirely.

I am glad to be free of the burden.

Edited 2013-06-08 17:47 (UTC)

[Lloyd bristles at what Marcello is saying about Angelo.]

Now I know you're wrong. He's not like that at all! Maybe he's lied once or twice, but he had a reason, but he's never betrayed anyone!

[He takes a breath and lets it out, trying to reign his temper back in. Still, his voice has an edge of stubbornness to it.]

This has to be a big misunderstanding. If you guys just talked, I'm sure you'd figure it out.

Truly?

I am aware that you believe this is a simple misunderstanding, Llord. I am hardly upset. But I hope one day you understand how I feel. Still, perhaps in your closeness to my brother you are blinded to the truth that some people are better off apart.

It is unlikely my brother and I will ever see eye-to-eye.

I'm not blinded to anything. I lived with him for months. I know you've got to be wrong. Just give him a chance. He can't be that bad.

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