prontissimo | kaisou inbox

Yeah, I'm Luca! I just showed up a couple of days ago, so I haven't been here too long.

[Yep, two days without any interaction with any adults. No big.]

Oh, and what's your name? Alberto told me all about you but he didn't say your name.

[But Luca does want this guy to know that Alberto was talking about him (and very enthusiastically so at that) so he doesn't think that Alberto just didn't care or something. Especially after Alberto did so much to make it clear that this guy was a very good friend of his. It's just that Alberto forgot to mention his name. Then, finally noticing the small animals on the man's shoulders, Luca lights up.]

Oh! What are those? They're cute! Are they your pets?

[Because growing up in the sea and being very new to land, Luca's never learned what a rat is.]

Okay, that...lines up.

[With Alberto fuckin' ghosting him. He casts Alberto a little look about that- he's still ruminating on that one, young man, you scared him!!]

I'm Bruno. And he did, huh? Only good things I hope, haha.

[That laugh is a little too nervous to be genuine. He's too used to people only having bad things to say about him, and while he's sure Alberto wouldn't do that...well. Old habits die hard. Still focusing on the rats is a good thing, it's a nice distraction, he holds out his hand. ] Daniela and Lorenzo.

They're rats! And yeah, they are. Their names are [he points at each in turn]

[ While he does catch Bruno's eye, and averts his own, when Bruno silently scolds him about disappearing, Alberto still can't wipe the grin off his face; and as soon as Bruno says his own name, his eyes shoots to Luca. His amusement over all this is barely concealed at all — in fact, he's not even trying to hide it. He can't keep it together when Bruno introduces the rats, smiling ear-to-ear with mischief in his eyes, waving a hand both dismissively yet demonstratively at Bruno and his rats, his gaze still fixed on Luca expectantly. ]

I swear I had nothing to do with it, hah... Those're all their real names. No kidding.

[ But even despite the way Alberto's voice is dripping in humor, it's clear to see he's so amused because he's telling the truth. Just... y'know, casually, his new friend Bruno, walking on up in here with Daniela and Lorenzo... And it's evidently purely coincidence? No wonder Alberto's acting weird. ]

And Signor Bruno's writing a story where the rats are in love — but Lorenzo's too shy to tell Daniela how he feels. Again: all him, I swear.

[ Meantime, Alberto never mentioned to Bruno why he found it amusing that his rat was named Lorenzo, nor why he guessed that it might have a wife named Daniela, and after their initial sweet bonding moment over it, also never brought it up ever again. So Bruno's in the loop about as much as Luca is – which is to say, neither of them are... Alberto's just having a big laugh by himself, here, really... ]

Bruno?

[Oh. Well, that's a funny coincidence. Luca glances at Alberto. Sharks, he hopes Alberto didn't do the 'silencio Bruno' thing in front of Bruno, because that would have been awkward. Carp, Luca will have to remember not to say 'silencio Bruno' in front of him, he doesn't want to make this guy feel bad. Especially with how nervous Bruno seems already. Luca decides to reassure him.]

Oh, he's definitely only said good things! I'm really glad he had a friend like you after he got here!

[Which is also completely true. Alberto had told Luca about how they talked every day, even if it was sometimes just over the written messages on the Everything Machine. Then he hears the names of the rats and...he looks at Alberto again, absolutely certain that he must have been the source of the names. Until Alberto responds, and his response is far too genuine for this to be anything other than an amazing coincidence. He turns his attention back to Bruno, a huge grin on his face.]

Wow! Those are my parents' names!

Thaaaat's me. He has told me about his...Bruno? [He taps the side of his skull.] In his head? I'm an unrelated Bruno. Completely different.

[He feels it's probably important to establish that.]

And yeah- well, he's a good kid. I'm glad to be uh- around for him.

[He smiles at Alberto's enthusiastic description of the rat story.]

They are? No kidding! And yep, I have a whole, elaborate romance planned for them, you wait and see, it's gonna have so many twists and turns in it.

[ Alberto can't swallow his smile when Bruno breaks the ice about, well... Bruno. Important to establish, it's true. It's still really uncanny and funny to him. He has nothing to say to explain it, but he'll just keep throwing this sly look between his two friends on that note.

It's surreal in the best possible way, like his life is conjoining in on itself. He met Bruno his very first day here, so he's been a central character from the start — and with such an intro as they had, how could he not make an impact...? Long before they became close in Stardew so much later. Now that Luca's here, it's thrilling to see the two worlds of his life — literal, two worlds — finally meeting, Portorosso and Kaisou together at once. It makes time seem more real. Like that short chapter together with Luca in his life wasn't just a fantastic dream that ended too soon — like that part of his past is still part of his future... And here he is now! Alberto's felt so displaced secretly since finding himself spirited away, and naturally has talked to no one about it, but seeing his two closest friends now face-to-face beside one another brings so much ineffable comfort to that disjointed feeling.

He shoots the pair another fond smile each, and leaves the conversation to them, stepping off to the side quietly to finish up dinner. He mixes the penne and chicken with the pesto and cream, softly humming along to the music still playing from his phone in the background, while he listens in on the two chatting, and begins plating the food up. ]

Oh, good. Just...so you know we're not talking about you if that gets mentioned.

[Though Luca's still going to avoid saying 'silencio Bruno' around him. Oh no, did Alberto...]

I...uh...hope however you found out about his Bruno wasn't too awkward.

[Since he'd feel bad if someone as nice thought Alberto was yelling 'silencio' at him. But no matter how the name of Alberto's Bruno came out, things are clearly fine now, and Luca is eager to hear more about this rat romance.]

Wow, I can't wait to see how it all plays out!

[He's even more invested since he can pretend it's about his parents as rats.]

Hah, probably...hopefully not?

[Bruno waggles his hand in a so-so motion. The whole thing was an experience to be sure. But then, he's spent almost his entire life being a hated figure, so the thought that a kid had named the voice in his head that stops him from doing things- the voice to be hated and dismissed- Bruno was...well. Par for the course. ]

It's not the first time my name's been used for active hatred so it's fine!

[He just says that breezily, no big deal, part of the regular!]

You and a couple of people! I'm surprised how popular it is. I never thought it'd be that cool when I was doing it for myself in the walls.

[Just. In the walls. He gives no further context to this. ]

[ Alberto snorts to himself at the stove when Luca tells Bruno he hoped the whole "Bruno" reveal wasn't too awkward... He was ready to beat Bruno up. Until he saw he looked like... how he looks. But he's not over eager to share that story, it was pretty awkward... And all in the past now.

However, Bruno casually dropping "in the walls" stops even Alberto in his tracks in his confusion, looking up into nothingness for a moment before turning over his shoulder with a bemused expression to interrupt. ]

Eh? "In the walls?" Is that part of your house's magic? You can go through the walls?

[ He turns around fully to face Luca and tag on an explanation there, gesturing emphatically with the pasta spoon, which drips a limp, wet noodle onto the floor, Alberto not even acknowledging it. ]

Bruno lives in a huge magic house, Luca. In a tower...

[ The hell. Endlessly tickled by so many weird coincidences between them. And eager to show them all off to Luca, naturally. ]

Oh.

[People were using Bruno's name with active hatred? And actually meaning it instead of it just being an unfortunate coincidence of the voice in their head also being named Bruno?]

But why would anyone do that? You're so nice!

[Judging by the few minutes of knowing this man, though also basing it on the fact that Bruno had clearly been looking out for Alberto. And then...in the walls? What was this man's life before this that he was living in the walls? Of course, Alberto mentions that Bruno lived in a magic house, and Luca hopes that there's some magical 'living in a house where you can walk through walls' explanation, but he's concerned after Bruno's previous comment. The huge magic house with a tower is another fun coincidence, it reminds him of Alberto's own tower, hearing that, but...then he reminds himself of the truth behind Alberto living in the tower. He shakes that thought away, though. Not all towers are on abandoned islands.]

Wow! Did you keep all sorts of stuff in your tower like Alberto?

Edited 2022-06-27 02:12 (UTC)

Oh um...not really? I mean, yeah there's probably more room than normal, but I just...lived in the walls for a while. Well. Ten years. For complicated reasons.

[Reasons he's definitely not going to get into with these kids right now. Not when he's just met Luca after all. ]

My tower's mostly for me to use my Gift. It's got a lotta sand. There's a little side room with like...a hammock in it? I'm used to not needing a whole lot. Just me and my rats.

[ Alberto goes about setting the table as they talk, depositing silverware and glasses for the three of them, and carefully fetching a pitcher of water from the fridge with both hands. When Bruno mentions the sand, Alberto nods exaggeratedly in agreement, looking between the both of them pointedly, having seen the tower himself: "can confirm, lotta sand." Likewise, he waves a hand demonstratively at Bruno, looking at Luca with his brows raised high, when Bruno mentions his hammock in his tower — like Alberto's had had. The weird coincidences just never end.

He's still curious about the walls, though, even though Bruno kinda dodged the question. Doesn't feel great to be left hanging, does it, Alberto? A taste of his own medicine; that's good for him. ]

Oh— Is that when you and, uh— hah, Jorge— is that when you and your family were unbreaking the walls? With the speckle?

[ A fair enough guess? Alberto's never heard of crawlspaces or false walls, nor does he have any concept of how homes are actually constructed. His first assumption is not "living in hiding inside a secret room with little to no social contact for a decade." As far as he's learned about Bruno, he's a family man. Not even an inkling they might be prodding at something uncomfortable for him. After all, with his own lack of socialization for the last decade, it's not like Alberto's the best at picking up cues, himself... ]

[He lived in the walls for ten years? Luca is very concerned for this adult. He's concerned in the same way he was concerned when he saw all the tally marks on Alberto's wall, and he's pretty sure that no, Bruno probably didn't stay inside the walls for ten years just because he and his family were unbreaking the walls. The idea of Bruno's tower having nothing but sand and a side room with a hammock really isn't helping. The more Bruno talks, the more he thinks of Alberto alone in his tower for all that time.]

Bruno...why did you live in the walls for ten years?

[If he thinks he can evade him with a vague answer, he's definitely going to have to think again.]

Yeah, yeah, that's...part of that.

[Wow, but does Bruno just not want to be part of this conversation now. It's never easy, talking about the walls, but it's even harder with kids. Trying to explain the complexities of why he locked himself away from his family. Why he felt it was the only way he could save Mirabel from a lifetime of poor treatment. To try and stop history from repeating.

None of it worked, ultimately. Maybe it would have been better if he never left at all. Maybe they would have solved things sooner. He just doesn't know. He frowns down at the rat, petting her ears absently. ]

I had good reasons. It was all I could do at the time. I thought. I- look, kids, can we uh...not talk about this one?

[ Alberto's standing beside Luca by now, and worry tugs his brow as he watches Bruno pet the rat, examining his face. When Bruno outright asks them to drop it, though, Alberto reaches out and gives Luca a gentle tap on the chest with the back of his hand, shooting him a long face with raised brows. Best to drop it. Alberto knows enough about Bruno's life with his neighbors back home, at least, that, whatever it is with the walls, if he doesn't wanna talk about it— Alberto gets it.

He throws Luca an exaggerated glance with a nod of his head, indicating back toward the plates of pasta sitting ready on the counter, and then darts his gaze to the table with another little nod, then back to Luca: silently saying, "Help me set the table." Once Luca picks up his cues, Alberto will be right behind him to fetch the third plate, since Luca of course has only two hands... ]

[ But first, Alberto steps aside to Bruno for just a second, and places his hand gingerly on his forearm, smiling softly at him. He doesn't say another word about the topic, just drops it immediately with zero response to what little Bruno did explain. All he has to say, in fact, is: ]

Dai, mangiamo.

[ He gives a little nod toward the table, then goes off to get the third plate and follow Luca to finish setting the table. He slips his phone out of his pocket as he walks over, and quietly puts on some old jazz to smooth over the sudden silence. Just like that, conversation over, no further questions. Whatever Bruno's hiding, Alberto trusts Bruno has his reasons — if not good ones, just reasons are enough for Alberto. ]

[Luca's mind is buzzing with a million questions, frantically trying to construct scenarios that could lead to someone living inside the walls of their own home, but no. Bruno is asking them to not talk about this one, but the sheer willpower it takes for Luca to stop asking questions is incredible.]

Okay.

[He says this, then goes completely silent. He'd say something else, change the subject, but the only thing he can think about are all his questions that he's not supposed to ask. Luca's grateful when Alberto indicates that they should go set the table, and he follows him quickly, getting a couple of plates to set out for them. Still in silence, which means that even though he has something to do to distract him, it's still impossible to keep his mind from wandering back to the thoughts from before. At least Alberto put some music on, though. Music at least makes the quiet less unbearable.]

So...um...

[Why is it so hard to think of anything other than 'living in the walls for ten years' now that he's not supposed to be talking about that? Oh! Alberto's food!]

So have you ever had Alberto's cooking before?

[Did he already have the answer to this? He might have been told this already, but he doesn't care.]

[Bruno visibly relaxes once the subject is dropped. He's definitely not ready to reopen that particular wound yet. He casts Alberto a grateful glance, then moves to sit down, putting the rats on the table- something that would NOT be allowed in Casita, but he's pretty sure the boys won't be opposed to it. ]

I mean, I've tried stuff he made when we were sharing a cabin, but not quite this yet. I'm sure it's fine though, he seems like a kid who knows what he's doing with food, right Alberto?

[ Alberto's not in the slightest opposed to the rats on the table. In fact, he plucks a couple noodles off his plate and plops them right on the table in front of them. Rats eat pasta, right? Right. Probably? Definitely. Sure.

He nods in agreement with Bruno's praise, shoveling a forkful of pasta into his mouth already without waiting for the others to take their first bites, and starts talking while he chews. But Bruno's already well-acquainted with Alberto's table manners (or lack thereof) and Luca's are... better, but not by much. ]

Mmhmm! And I've only gotten better since then, heh. This is new — I've only made it once before. It's good, though, right?

[ Both fishing for compliments and congratulating himself. Whether he deserves the praise is another matter. Because while his food generally tastes fine, more often than not, in fact he does not know what he's doing with food... His food in Stardew was less experimental, didn't really involve much meat besides fish he caught; he stuck to pasta and the vegetables they all grew... Now living in the city again, he's broadened his horizons — but not his food safety knowledge. If they don't all get sick tonight from him mishandling this chicken, it will be a blessing. Luca's only been here two days, but he's got no idea the gastrointestinal gambles that will soon become his reality. ]

He does! He's been doing all the cooking since I got here!

[And all the cooking's been amazing! Luca, of course, is also okay with rats on the table, and also offers them a bit of spaghetti, following Alberto's lead. He tries to pet one of the rats as well, if they'll let him. Then, once he's done doing that, Luca grabs his fork and starts eating the pasta. He's glad he learned how to do that, since he doesn't want to out Alberto and himself over something so small.]

[At least he's got used to Alberto's complete inability to eat like a regular person. He's kind of glad Luca is a little better at it, he was starting to wonder if these two were actually just feral children pretending to be vaguely civilised.

Bruno (with much better table manners instilled by his mother) gets a forkful of the food, putting it to his mouth and chewing, making thoughtful noises as he does so. It's...not great, but he's gonna fight through this. ]

Y'know! This is pretty good! Never had anything like this before, it's definitely one of a kind.

[He's here to fluff this kid's ego and encourage him to try things!! He smiles at Luca.]

Man, you're lucky if this is what you get every day!

[ Alberto makes a comedically incredulous face at Bruno, pausing with his forkful of pasta still mid-air. ]

Bruno, thaaanks, but, uh— your sister owns a restaurant. And her food has magic healing powers...

[ He turns to Luca with a flat face to explain further, letting his wrist flop over limply, overturning his fork. A short noodle falls off carelessly, but is quickly claimed by one of the rats. ]

His sister has magic healing powers, Luca. Her cooking heals your body. And his other sister controls the weather with her feelings. Bruno's house is magic, his town is magic, his family's magic... Lotsa magic.

[ Nonchalantly, y'know. But just another easy bragging point about knowing Bruno. Alberto never knew about any real magic before coming here, so it's all still quite novel and fantastical to him, and he knows Luca will be just as impressed. However, he knows how Bruno feels about his Gift, so he doesn't outright disclose it out of consideration. But at the same time, he knows Luca: the interrogation is probably about to begin. ]

[Of course, Luca eating in a more civilized manner is just a clever ruse, and eating with a fork still feels very unnatural to him, but it's all a part of convincing Bruno that they're absolutely and totally human. Luca smiles when he hears Bruno complimenting Alberto's cooking, before his expression shifts to one of shock when Alberto goes on to tell him about Bruno's sister. After hearing that, Luca's attention is solely focused on Bruno and he forgets the twirl step a couple times before he remembers how he's supposed to eat spaghetti again.]

Your sister is magic? Your whole family is magic? Are you magic?

Yeah? But it's still good food. She's definitely never made anything like this before.

[Which is a true statement, if not due to geographical reasons over anything else. He raises an eyebrow at Luca's wide-eyed stare. It's...interesting, being here. Where people don't automatically know the Amazing Madrigals. There's something...freeing in the anonymity. ]

Yuuuup, whole family is magic. I uh- I see the future.

[ Alberto casts a curious eye on Bruno when he admits his Gift, shifting his gaze to watch Luca's reaction, somewhat nervously shoveling in a large mouthful of pasta as an easy excuse for silence. Alberto watches Luca's face searchingly, expectantly, unsure what Luca's reaction will be, just trying to keep a poker face as he chews. He knows how Bruno feels about his Gift. He purposefully didn't spill the beans like he did with Pepa and Julieta's Gifts; Alberto figured if Bruno wanted to reveal his own, that's his business. But he can't help inwardly feeling so excited to brag about Bruno to Luca. A whole new kind of grownup compared to most anyone they've known back home — and it's just one incredible impressing thing after another, in Alberto's eyes, foreign as that might be to Bruno, too. He's got two little boys sitting here hanging on his every word, practically starry-eyed over him, in total contrast to the panic this evening started in. ]

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omg this got lost, i'm so sorry, i didn't know we were waiting for meee!

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sorry this is so late! real life circumstances slowed me down. down to continue if y'all want tho!

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