prontissimo | kaisou inbox

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. ]

Wow, that has to be pretty interesting having a whole family that's magic. Um...if you can see the future, does that mean you can change it? Like...do things different to get a new future? Because if you can, that could be pretty useful.

[But it could also be a problem if that means he can find out secrets like that. It's not that Luca wants to keep secrets from him, but...well, if they let him in on the sea monster thing, he really wants it to be something he and Alberto decide together.]

Is it anyone's future or just your own? If it's anybody's, I don't want mine read.

[Bruno can just about feel Alberto's gaze boring into the side of his skull. He does cast a glance at the boy, to offer a brief, reassuring smile. It's a little on the nervous side, but he doesn't want Alberto to feel worried about him. That done, he turns his attention to Luca. ]

No, I can't change them. People...seem to think I can. They blamed me for causing their future happening, back home. But it's not on me. I just see them...anyone's.

[He appreciates that Luca pushes away from his own future, it brings another tiny smile to his face.]

Y'know, Alberto said the same thing. Sometimes it happens beyond my control- but I can avoid purposefully looking.

[ Alberto shoots Luca a little smile when he hears Luca decline having his future read, and then turns that little smile on Bruno when he mentions Alberto had said the same. Alberto and Luca see eye-to-eye about the importance of dreaming about the future, relishing in the unknown — it's this sort of thing that shows exactly why they're friends. What's more, Alberto takes Bruno's candor as an invitation not to worry for his sake, and so lightens up right away. He does raise a brow, though, some shade in his tone, twirling his empty fork as a conversational prop as he jumps back in — at least he's talking between bites, though. ]

I still think your neighbors sound like jerks... No offense.

[ But really, yeah, offense. Alberto's not great at group conversations still, as thrilled as he is by the chance to have any at all. Chitchat comes with practice and he's got many more years left to master it... if he ever does. ]

Edited 2022-08-20 19:24 (UTC)

Oh.

[In that case, that power sounds like the worst. If you can't do anything to change it, what's the point in knowing the future? It sounds even worse when other people were going around assuming whatever he saw was his fault. Luca smiles a little when Bruno points out that that he and Alberto said the same thing, and when Alberto speaks up, he realizes that they agree yet again.]

Alberto's right. It's horrible that everyone blamed you for something you couldn't even control.

[Like how people held Alberto and him being sea monsters against them even if they couldn't help it. He knows what Alberto meant about Bruno being 'under the dogs, too' now.]

Thanks. If it happens and you can't control it it's okay, but I'd rather not know.

[And sure, he'd rather Bruno not look either because secrets, but if nothing Luca does would change anything anyway he doesn't want to be sitting there dreading something bad that's going to happen, and if it's something good he'd like to be surprised when it happens.]

Yeah, I mean, they've apologised or...some of them have, but it's still not been...great.

[He realises he might be unloading on a couple of kids which he really would rather avoid doing, but he realises this is an opening for him to do some primo bitching and he can never pass it up.]

You know there's this one lady who blamed me for her goldfish dying? It was kept in this tiny little bowl with like...nothing. Just water. I didn't need a vision to tell her that her fish would die but she held a grudge over me for that forever and it's like lady, take better care of your fish.

[Fuck that lady!!]

Anyway, uh- important life lesson, kids is don't let other people judge you for things outside your control. Don't forget you're just as important and unique even if you're different or you don't do exactly what they want you to do.

[ Alberto wants to be very touched by Bruno's bit of fatherly wisdom imparted on the boys — and really, he is touched, and knows Luca must be, too, as they both share these sentiments very close to their hearts. But he's distracted. By the fish. Because humans keeping fish as pets in the first place is, well... news to him. ]

Wait, wait, hold on— I mean... Thank you, Bruno, yes, true, but back up: A lady kept a fish in a bowl of water? Why? I mean— if she was gonna eat it anyway, why was she mad at you that it died...? Was she saving it for a special occasion or something?

[ The only logical explanation, naturally. A fair assumption for an ex-fisherman? ]

[He'll keep that whole life lesson in mind, although it can be somewhat tricky to not let people judge him when they're chasing him with harpoons. However, like Alberto his mind wanders to the fish in a bowl. The fish was supposed to be staying alive in a bowl?]

How long did she expect it to live in there, anyway? I mean, she can't have been planning on keeping it too long if she's keeping it in a bowl. Why didn't she catch it closer to when she was going to eat it?

[Because Luca also assumes it was for food. Sure, he's aware of pets like cats and dogs, and of course his family kept crabs and the goatfish (though they were being raised for food), but none of these creatures were being kept in a small container you might put food in. Something like that sounds like it could only be a short term plan.]

[Honestly the fish is a really big distraction. Bruno's still pretty pissy about it and it happened well over a decade ago. ]

I know trust me. She wasn't gonna eat it. It was a goldfish. Y'know, a pet?

[He might be a little confused about how these kids don't know about goldfish. Don't MOST kids have one growing up? They even had them in the encanto and that place was well out of the way of society at large.]

Didn't you guys ever have pet goldfish? They're prizes at fairgrounds a lot, I hear.

[ Alberto casts a wary glance to Luca. Is this a human-ing thing they're missing out on, or is this simply a cultural thing that's different between Portorosso, Italy and El Encanto, Colombia...? Could may well be either — or perhaps even both. It's beyond Alberto's scope. So, as with anything Alberto doesn't fully understand, of course he won't admit to it, and just... boldly pushes on. ]

I meeeaaaan— obviously the ground wasn't very fair to it, considering, y'know, it's dead.

[ He points his fork at Bruno emphatically at the last bit. Not only is he not familiar with the concept of a pet fish, clearly, but also unfamiliar with the term "fairground." ]

Fish can't be pets. At least, on land. Since, hah, they live in the water...? If she went to visit it in the river every day, that's one thing, but, um—

[ He throws another cautious glance Luca's way, knowing his friend will be with him on this, and shifts the direction of his rhetorical fork-pointing Luca's way. ]

...That'd still be pretty crazy, eh?

[Luca had been thinking of an explanation of how of course he's had fish before, they just don't keep them in bowls where he and Alberto were from so it sounded strange. However, when Alberto speaks up, he quickly amends what his response is going to be.]

What he means is, we don't keep fish as pets in Portorosso, so this all sounds very strange to us. We keep cats and dogs as pets, though!

[Just to throw in one thing that he knows is a normal human thing to confirm to Bruno that this is just a small cultural difference, but they still know something about what he's talking about!]

Wh- [you can practically SEE Bruno's brain trying to do the mental gymnastics needed to understand what Alberto is saying] no, no. A fairground is like what this place has sometimes. With the sideshow stalls and the rides?

[He does not want to try and have to explain fairground in-depth, this was an error. ]

But yeah, no. They keep fish in bowls- or I guess tanks here, these days. Have you guys seen any of the pet stores here? You'll see 'em there, just...swimming around. Little fish buddies.

[Whhyyyyy are these boys so attached to fish?]

[ Alberto catches Luca's drift, and nods eagerly along to reaffirm their normalness, yup. They're definitely missing something here... But Alberto is still troubled by all this pet fish business — especially learning there's apparently a literal pet fish business... ]

So let me get this straight: People here go to the water — take the fish out of the water. Put them in a bowl...

[ He picks up Lorenzo off the table in both hands as he talks, and animatedly carries him over the table, placing him at the other end like a little live rhetorical prop... The rat just looks around like "what's going on" as he soars over the table, squeaks as he's set down, then scurries off back to the food with Daniela. ]

...Force them to live alone on land with nothing to do and nowhere to go, so people can watch them swim in circles and pretend it's their pet... And people pay money at the fish store for this. Or win the fish contests at the fairgrounds.

[ He glances to Luca for confirmation on this. He's getting all this right, right? ]

And this lady in the Encanto— she expected her fish to live a long, happy life like that...? And then blamed you when it didn't? Juuust to be clear on all this.

[ Because when you lay it all out like that... that's bonkers. ]

Edited 2022-09-07 05:55 (UTC)

We haven't been to any of the pet stores. I don't think either of us were planning on getting a pet.

[Which is probably for the best with these two. They're not really ready to have a life in their care. Sure, they might have managed with the baby birds, but that was only for a week. A pet is a full time thing.]

Yeah, your fish lady sounds kind of crazy. Also, a lot of fish like to swim in schools, and even fish that usually stay in a small area still swim around in an area larger than a bowl. The people where you're from sound really unfair.

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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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