[ It feels like an incredibly wise choice to have asked Katsuki to be their chaperone for this mission. It sounded exciting, first of all — everyone knows Alberto and Luca love a good race — but it so happened that fortune smiled on them, because Katsuki was born in the Year of the Horse. So his animal for the race is, you know, useful... He has a sled and a massive beast of burden. Whereas Luca and Alberto have a, uh, a rooster... and a monkey... Once again, as it's been proven so many times already: without Katsuki, the boys would have been doomed.
They're only a couple days into the trek, but even their first day, Alberto was keenly aware of how lucky they were to be on Katsuki's team. Plus, you know, all his cool explode-y powers and fighting expertise and such. Alberto's been going to his fight club for a while now, and while he's learned a lot from Katsuki about hand-to-hand combat, he doesn't have magic powers. He and Luca can't shoot fireballs, or explode things with their minds, or turn invisible, or whip out crazy vines and carnivorous plants... or cast spells and fly around on a staff, or control magical goop, or make themselves rubbery, or gain super-strength super-cat-powers... or all the other crazy magical things all their friends can do. Even more subtle powers, like if their cooking could heal you, or super-hearing, or their moods affecting the weather, traveling between shadows, even talking to rats...! He wouldn't want to see people's futures, or people's pasts, both sound awful, but jeez, out of everything else all their friends can do? Alberto would at least settle for a nice chat with a rat! But he and Luca are just... normal. Well, maybe not normal, but not magical. They've got about one trick up their sleeve. Luca's the only other person he knows who's normal(-ish) like him, so, there's that at least — whatever that's worth... Being magic seems the far better option, though; if he could, he would. Alberto's felt so motivated to make himself useful in tough scenarios, ever since Isabela had to save his butt with her flowers back in October when rescuing Bruno together. But without any magic... it's hard. So this monkey's monkey business better help make up for their normalness! Luca's rooster— Alberto has doubts about... Luca might have to pick up the slack for it instead.
They've gotten their winter gear down pat by now, and came well-prepared with snow gear and food and camping supplies. It's impressive how much camping supplies they own, for two eighth-grade boys... How do they own so many things? Or, perhaps a better question— Why do they own so many things? Last year when he moved to Stardew, Alberto lived with three adults, and he was the only one who thought to bring any food or kitchenware...? He feels particular pride in that. Bruno just brought rats. So Alberto's extra determined to be on top of this mission; he's older, wiser, a man of action now! Yeah! Not over-compensating for any insecurity at all... And even if he is: eh, if they make it out of this unscathed, it's worth it.
They're leaving the first lodge they'd encountered, ready to get back on the trail. It's early morning, Luca's rooster having woke them up at the crack of dawn — one useful thing it can do, at least. Alberto's not... overly thrilled about that contribution to the group effort... But he's not one to talk. Because his monkey is presently causing him problems as he tries to load up their sled with food and other supplies they've restocked here. As soon as he puts one thing in, the monkey throws another out. Just to be spiteful, maybe? That's Alberto's interpretation. As he fights with his monkey, the two of them oddly mirrored, scrambling back and forth trying to predict each other's movements like a cartoon stand-off, he calls out to Katsuki and Luca. ]
Hey, uh, a little help here, guys?!
[ The monkey chitters shrilly (is it laughing at him, um...?!) and starts hopping up and down on the back of the sled, as if gleefully. Alberto waves his arms exasperatedly at it, raising his voice lamentingly. ]
This mission is for you, you know! We're here to protect you! Stop throwing your own food away, mamma mia...!
[ They're clearly off to a great start... Bless Katsuki and bless Katsuki's horse. ]
backdated to January Event; closed to Luca and Katsuki
They're only a couple days into the trek, but even their first day, Alberto was keenly aware of how lucky they were to be on Katsuki's team. Plus, you know, all his cool explode-y powers and fighting expertise and such. Alberto's been going to his fight club for a while now, and while he's learned a lot from Katsuki about hand-to-hand combat, he doesn't have magic powers. He and Luca can't shoot fireballs, or explode things with their minds, or turn invisible, or whip out crazy vines and carnivorous plants... or cast spells and fly around on a staff, or control magical goop, or make themselves rubbery, or gain super-strength super-cat-powers... or all the other crazy magical things all their friends can do. Even more subtle powers, like if their cooking could heal you, or super-hearing, or their moods affecting the weather, traveling between shadows, even talking to rats...! He wouldn't want to see people's futures, or people's pasts, both sound awful, but jeez, out of everything else all their friends can do? Alberto would at least settle for a nice chat with a rat! But he and Luca are just... normal. Well, maybe not normal, but not magical. They've got about one trick up their sleeve. Luca's the only other person he knows who's normal(-ish) like him, so, there's that at least — whatever that's worth... Being magic seems the far better option, though; if he could, he would. Alberto's felt so motivated to make himself useful in tough scenarios, ever since Isabela had to save his butt with her flowers back in October when rescuing Bruno together. But without any magic... it's hard. So this monkey's monkey business better help make up for their normalness! Luca's rooster— Alberto has doubts about... Luca might have to pick up the slack for it instead.
They've gotten their winter gear down pat by now, and came well-prepared with snow gear and food and camping supplies. It's impressive how much camping supplies they own, for two eighth-grade boys... How do they own so many things? Or, perhaps a better question— Why do they own so many things? Last year when he moved to Stardew, Alberto lived with three adults, and he was the only one who thought to bring any food or kitchenware...? He feels particular pride in that.
Bruno just brought rats.So Alberto's extra determined to be on top of this mission; he's older, wiser, a man of action now! Yeah! Not over-compensating for any insecurity at all... And even if he is: eh, if they make it out of this unscathed, it's worth it.They're leaving the first lodge they'd encountered, ready to get back on the trail. It's early morning, Luca's rooster having woke them up at the crack of dawn — one useful thing it can do, at least. Alberto's not... overly thrilled about that contribution to the group effort... But he's not one to talk. Because his monkey is presently causing him problems as he tries to load up their sled with food and other supplies they've restocked here. As soon as he puts one thing in, the monkey throws another out. Just to be spiteful, maybe? That's Alberto's interpretation. As he fights with his monkey, the two of them oddly mirrored, scrambling back and forth trying to predict each other's movements like a cartoon stand-off, he calls out to Katsuki and Luca. ]
Hey, uh, a little help here, guys?!
[ The monkey chitters shrilly (is it laughing at him, um...?!) and starts hopping up and down on the back of the sled, as if gleefully. Alberto waves his arms exasperatedly at it, raising his voice lamentingly. ]
This mission is for you, you know! We're here to protect you! Stop throwing your own food away, mamma mia...!
[ They're clearly off to a great start... Bless Katsuki and bless Katsuki's horse. ]