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text; un: signorvespa

i hate this

the sky has been leaking for DAYs... WEEKS??

it's so cold my eyes are frozen!

i hate this weird white water

i want to go outside...

[ A photo of a colored pencil drawing is attached... depicting Alberto "(in a blanket)" beside his familiar Carlo and his pet compsognathus Sofia, trapped inside his home "(forever?)," labeled "cold, alone... and fed up!" beneath falling snow — AKA "weird white water??? (every day...!!!)" — outside the window... All of them clearly "very unhappy" — the sheer image of misery itself. ]

SO!
let's trade!!!
anyone who can help me find or make something like this, i'll cook you food or something, whatever, we'll talk......
but as soon as possible,
i need one of THESE:

[ Another image is attached of Alberto wearing what... seems to be a diver's suit? Or something??? Holding a "giant umbrella" in one hand and Sofia on a leash in a harness in the other, Carlo floating above, all "dry, safe, warm, and NOT at home..." There's still plenty of ~~snow~~ white water around them, "but not on Alberto!" Most importantly, though, in this drawing, they're all happy! — as... baffling as it is to anyone else, surely... No thanks, no niceties, just complaints and demands, urgent, desperate, and maybe a little, um, bizarre? Un po. The kid's gone mad with cabin fever, possibly? This is... well... th-this is something. Definitely something. Ahem. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ ... Wait, that's what he's mad about? Della pauses, trying to figure out how she landed here from where she jumped. ]

Uh, but, you said I could look through your stuff, and -

[ Actually, you know what? THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DEFEND HERSELF. Sure, when it comes to stuff like "privacy" Della almost doesn't know the meaning of the word. To her, what's hers is everyone else's, so why wouldn't everyone else feel the same? But it's clear in this moment that this is not the hill to die on - it's not even a hill to step on. Just. Stop.

She physically mimes closing her own beak with her fingers, in other words, "shutting up right now." It's difficult for Della to not make any kind of noise but it seems every time she says things, things get worse, so maybe right now shutty the uppy.

It's a small relief when he thrusts the pitcher and glasses at her, since he's still not kicking her out - even though she's given him, like, at least six more than reasonable excuses to do so - and just scrambles to the table to put them down. Then she sits, hands on her lap, head down, not touching a thing. No sir. Just gunna sit here and be quiet and speak only when spoken to and stop messing things up.

At this moment, she really does look like the child in the situation, shrinking in on herself as much as possible. She's suddenly getting flashbacks to being a young duckling and being reprimanded for teaching her younger cousin swear words, even though that was hilarious... but oof, Uncle Scrooge had let her HAVE IT for a good long while.

So. Just gunna... sit there. And be quiet. Not making a peep. Not moving an inch. The struggle is real. ]

[ Alberto's left fuming in the kitchen, and there's a loud series of clangs and bangs as he shoves a stack of pots and pans off the wooden stool he uses as storage space in the corner of the kitchenette, piling them gracelessly on the floor, and shleps the stool over to the desk. As he places it down, he turns to Della, looking like he wants to say something, but... chooses not to, clearly, and with another little grumble under his breath, heads back to the kitchen. This isn't as bad as it seems. He's just mad... Mad and confused. He doesn't know how to process emotions — he just feels them.

However, it's clear that not only is she not kicked out, but that dinner's still on, and Alberto's even going to sit beside her at the same table... so even for all his grumping as he brings out dinner, conversation is surely on its way, too. And hopefully with it, resolution. But that, uh, will take a moment for him to figure out how...

He returns with the plates of pasta in each hand, wearing a softer scowl than before as he at least tries to compose himself. The shuffled music continues playing in his pocket, now blasting an eerily mellow but cheery pop song, which just draws even more attention and weight to this awkward silence as he says nothing upon his return. He sets the pasta in front of them a bit noisily, and glances up at Della awkwardly once he takes his seat. He quickly tears his eyes away, though, closing them and sighing... before a dramatic idea comes to mind, and that conflicting epiphany lights his face up again, though his brow stays knitted. He reaches over, pours Della's glass of water and his own from the pitcher, sliding each glass into place. But instead of setting the pitcher of water down and leaving it alone once he's done...

...he makes intense eye contact with her, staring her down silently, as he plunges his hand into the half-empty pitcher. And when he does, the most amazing, unexpected, yet clarifying thing happens: his hand transforms... It loses a finger and gains webbing instead, claws instead of fingernails, turning purple and scaly. He holds it up demonstratively, his scowl staying put but turning slightly more worried as he holds deliberate eye contact still. Then, hand still dripping wet, for good measure, he takes it and drags it down one side of his face, even along his ear and a bit of his hair. And that, too, transforms, purple and scaly, ear turning to a fin, gills opening along his neck behind it, whites of that eye turning yellow, part of his hair turning to frills... He keeps his webbed hand held up as he stares her down, half-transformed, without saying a word. After a short, silent moment like this, he takes his other, humanlike hand, and wipes himself down rapidly, wiping his webbed hand on his pant leg beneath the table; and just like that, just as quickly as he'd turned fishy, as soon as he's dry again... he looks human once more. He waves his now-dry hand dismissively, like "see...?" Indeed, it's a dramatic solution, but a solution nonetheless.

And he figures, this blatant demonstration shows all that needs to be said, without a word. Why he's "trapped" inside, why he's hating the snow, why he won't go sledding with her but will go sledding with Asriel, why he won't get wet, why he's "allergic to hose water," his apparent proclivity toward oceanic things like dressing as a shark ghost of all things for Halloween, his strange slip-ups talking about "humans" when they first met as if that didn't include him, everything... But most important of all, it explains why he kept his distance after she told him she found sea creatures and merpeople "disgusting." This is him. Disgusting or not. He wasn't mad that she felt that way, just disappointed, but... he is still kinda mad that she read his letters, but they'll touch on that later. They've gotta get this cat out of the bag first. ]

[ Oh, he's sitting next to her! That's a good sign, isn't it??? She flashes him a nervous but well-meaning smile...

And then comes the transformation. Her entire body freezes up, eyes wide due to surprise and... okay, look, an arachnophobe isn't going to be all gung-go about spiders instantly when one of their legs pokes them in the face, so Della's stomach is already flip-flopping, hoping it's not showing up on her face. Ew ew ew gross gross gross...

However! There IS a saving grace! As we've learned today, nothing can really stop Della's curiosity, including her own distaste - so when she notices that even his eye changes, that... prompts her brain to flip a switch. She furrows her brows, blinking a bit, and then leans in as he demonstrates, cupping her beak. ]

Wow... even your pupils change! That's... actually pretty fascinating! I suppose it's to be able to see clearly through the water... is your vision affected when you're part monster and part human? I -

[ But just as she's about to bombard him with a million and one questions, she reminded she was supposed to shut up, and promptly does so, leaning back with an apologetic expression. If he doesn't want to explain anything, she's certainly not going to interrogate him! ]

[ Her genuine questions actually break the ice fairly well. After a beat, he matches her apologetic expression, offering a sheepish, awkward half-smile of his own. ]

Eheh... Uhh, um— yeah. I guess a little? Ehh, not really, heh. I see great either way. I mean— I can just see better under water, y'know... in the dark and stuff...

[ Is this permission to talk??? And ask??? SUCCESS! THE FRIENDSHIP MAY BE SAVED AFTER ALL! SHE'S NOT ENTIRELY A BAD MOM!!!

Almost literally lightning up, her apologetic smile turns into a sincere, eager one, with a bit of pumped fists and totally forgetting the food. ]

You can see in the dark better under water? That's so cool! Are you faster on land or on water? Hey, do your insides change too? Like, do you gain fangs or a forked tongue?

[ these are totally normal things to ask children! ]

[ No one's ever actually asked him questions about being a sea monster... Massimo just never asked him questions period. So it's actually doing a lot to dissolve the tension, making him feel both bashful and boastful, letting out a shy little chuckle. ]

Eheh~! Definitely faster under water, pretty much the fastest — I'm a great swimmer! And uh, I-I don't really know about, like, my uh— guts...? I mean, I get gills, y'know, to breathe, but— Y'know. Heh, here...

[ He's stalling his pasta, too, because... well, they need to get all this out of the way, clearly. And she's taking more of an interest than he'd expected her to, for someone who said sea creatures are disgusting. Maybe she just— needs to see for herself... That's what helps sea monsters find land monsters not so disgusting, too, he figures, right? So with that, but without announcement, he jumps up and all but dashes the short distance to the bathroom. But he hovers at the door, turning around with a nervous half-smile, a rare moment of second-guessing himself. ]

...Uh— D-Don't be scared, okay?

[ He's clearly anxious, but on the other hand, also clearly excited to sort of... show off, seemingly, like he so often is. Asriel got a big, fun, dramatic reveal under the pretense of Alberto teaching the goat monster how to swim at the lake. Robyn met Alberto as a sea monster first, under a similar curse herself encountering the merpeople here together, so he didn't even need to make any reveal to her — just an admission that he wasn't cursed, too. And Chara? Surprisingly enough, Chara's never seen Alberto in his monster form. They just know he's not human. So Della is set up to be one of a very select few, though Alberto's still apprehensive for obvious reasons... But like so many things Alberto does, it's kind of zero to one hundred with this kid. The little hint of shyness mixed in is an endearing rarity for him, though. ]

[ Fascinating! Truly fascinating! She wishes she had something to write this down with - man, Huey would be all over this, asking all the right questions! And Alberto himself sounds like he's back to his usual self! This night may be salvaged after all!

When he makes the dramatic leap and run, she's surprised but it easily clicks what he's about to do. She doesn't want to make a promise she can't keep... He's still pretty gross, all things considered.

But... fear? Hm. She places a hand on her chest, eyes down thinking seriously about this... She then takes a deep breath, and then stands up, eyes steely with determination. ]

I've really screwed up a lot lately, Alberto. And... knowing me, I'll probably screw up again in the future somehow. But at the very least, I can try to fix what I broke. So...

[ With a deep breath, she then opens her arms, more for showmanship and dramatic flair - maybe a trait they both share. ]

... Show me everything you've got, kiddo!

[ The bit of flair is indeed comforting for Alberto. He's never known an adult even remotely like Della. They have a lot in common and that's not lost on him. What resonates more is how gracefully she recognizes, even to him, a child, that she's probably gonna screw up more; because he can also pretty much guarantee the same of himself, and holds that near and dear in the worst ways... Because none of the other adults in his life have never let him forget it. How much of a screw-up he is. Knowing she doesn't like sea creatures, but is still now accepting him literally with open arms, after groveling on her hands and knees apologizing to him — hell, apologizing even before she knew what was wrong! No other adult has ever apologized for hurting him. They've barely even accepted his apologies for screwing up.

So this stark contrast? It actually has him a little wistful, and it's strangely exciting. His anger over her reading his letters to Luca is subsiding, and it feels a little less like "getting this out of the way" now that he's given permission to expose himself...

Not that he actually does, of course — staying dressed here, and it takes less than a minute for this big reveal. He just flashes her a bashful smile and darts into the bathroom, jumping in the shower fully clothed. Like Alberto cares about creating puddles on his own floor...? No, he doesn't clearly, as he pops back out of the bathroom seconds later, sopping wet, clothes soaked and dripping a steady puddle on the ground beneath him as he stands at the foot of the bed with arms and legs splayed dramatically, showily... tail idly whipping left and right. ]

Ta-da~!

[ ...Wait, tail?! In fact, the tail he's grown is very long (don't think too hard about how his pants accommodate this new member, it's fine, it's fine), with sharp dorsal fins not unlike a sailfish — surely indicative that he may just well be as fast a swimmer as he'd boasted. He's grown fins and frills, what used to be tanned, freckled skin now covered in iridescent blue and lilac scales. He beams at her with a wide, toothy smile, however forced it is, revealing a mouthful of sharp, yellowed teeth, just as Della had guessed at. The whites of both eyes are yellowed too, pupils elongated, and his nose has flattened some into his snout. But for all its change, his face is no less expressive than when he's presenting human, and there's an obvious, expectant look of shyness and hopefulness, trying to read Della's reaction as he stands there baring all with arms and legs and tail all thrust out, chest puffed and panting slightly just for sheer excitement and anticipation. Still obviously the face of a child — even if it's a maybe gross, probably slimy, aquatic child. It's still recognizably Alberto. ]

[ Hurk - it's not easy at first. Her stomach does immediately seem to squeeze itself in knots. Again, one does not merely conquer their disgust by simply willing it away with the power of friendship. Baby steps. As such, she grabs the chair behind her for a good couple of seconds, eyes wide and sucking in on her cheek a bit.

Amazingly, the tail does save the day, in its own way. It quickly flips Della's brain right back into curiosity mode - where does the tail go when he's human?! As far as she's been learning, humans don't have any tails at all! Supposedly. She's never taken a look at a human without pants before. Mental note, get on that.

So when she exhales and lets go of the chair, she really does look at him again, and can see Alberto "through" the scales - his awkward body language, the desperate eyes, the charming little smile. The fangs are pretty cool, not gunna lie. A few more breaths, in and out.

Then, she pushes herself away from the chair, steeling herself for her next big move. She can't cure herself overnight, but maybe this baby step will become an adult step. She approaches him, looks him right in the eyes... and hugs him.

Not the desperate, choke-hold of a hug like moments before, but a gentle, motherly embrace, tucking his head to her shoulder. Yes, her stomach is still gagging from here to infinity, but she's not going to let him go right away. ]

... It's nice to meet the whole you.

[ He'd expected the look of swallowed disgust and discomfort on her face — he can recognize it. He'd steeled himself for it in the shower, thought of it even as he felt his tail growing back, though he's always vaguely aware of its presence, or absence, when dry. He knew what to expect on that front, the way most any sea monster would look at a land monster.

But what he didn't expect in the slightest was to be embraced... And the words that come along with it worry his brow, eyes and lip quivering as he's pulled into this gentle, accepting hug, and he's frozen in place for a moment processing what's happening. And though Della's hug is not the choke-hold it was in the kitchen, where Alberto had so awkwardly pat her on the back in turn, ginger and gentle and uncomfortable... Now the tables have turned, and it's him who rushes her into a tight hug, both arms abruptly wrapping around her waist and chest, as he buries his face close in her shoulder. Their height difference is not so much, so it's perfect fitting for hiding how moved he feels by this moment. His usual MO, as well.

He can't help but think back to his first hug with Massimo, having been stopped from running away after he'd been so certain he'd ruined everything, even Massimo's livelihood, as much a fuck-up of a kid as he'd been with his actual father... But when Massimo stopped him, all that was needed to break down those walls was admitting he, too, had been a fuck-up once — even someone so capable and admirable as Massimo.

"I once made my father so angry, he punched a hole in a brick wall."

"...Then what happened?"

"Well— we fixed it."

And that was all it took to fix it for them, too. Just that vague admission. And one tight, unexpected hug Alberto thrust on the man out of nowhere instead of words in return, despite words being what he'd so longed for from Massimo the whole time. Now? He was again at a loss for words, and Della's own elicited the same solution, after so much mysterious distance. A fast, tight, close hug, slimy and scaly and wet or not — she started it.

And that's what means the world to Alberto far more than the woman even knows. He could probably count how many times he's been hugged in the past two years on his hands — his sea monster hands, with two fewer fingers than when he looks human... which, of course, is nothing more than a natural defense mechanism. Because, truly, this is the whole Alberto. And every time he's revealed it... he's been proven it's okay to do so. Ironic that it was another sea monster had been the one to teach him, indirectly, that it's not okay to be himself, his father ever-critical and ever-fed up with Alberto's near constant Alberting, but... that's a revelation for another day. This? This is enough. This is more than enough. And the way he doesn't let go shows that without any words, after all. ]

[ She wasn't sure what to expect when she embraced him - maybe more awkward pat-backs like before? But then he just clings to her, and - initial ew gross wet scales blech - okay we're good. Well, not good good - nobody clings this desperately if they get the physical affection they want all the time. No, this is the hold of someone who has been deprived of what everyone deserves. It breaks her heart all the more. Even gross sea monsters deserve hugs.

Another common link between them - on the moon, ten years, no physical contact with anyone. Maybe she needs this hug as badly as he does.

What about his family of gross sea monsters, or any gross sea monster friends? Did he have any of either back in his world? And how many people was he hiding this form from? How long did he plan to keep hiding it? She can feel her eyes getting wet again at all the awful possibilities of his home life, and remembering she contributed to his need to hide himself... Maybe he'll forgive her, though she doesn't deserve it, but she will never forgive herself. Add it to her ever-growing list of sins.

She has to do better. For him, for her boys, for everyone. She has to do better.

She holds him as closely but gently as she can, hoping he doesn't notice the tear or two rolling down her cheek. ]

It's okay. It's okay. I'm not going anywhere... Thank you, Alberto.

[ For giving her a second chance. How does she keep earning these? ]

[ "I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm not going anywhere..."

And even being thanked? He's not even entirely sure what he's being thanked for, but it strikes a chord all the same. He's absolutely hiding a tear or two rolling down his own cheeks, which he just nuzzles in Della's shoulder to dry off. And it dries off most the water on his face, as he feels his scales retract and nose grow slowly. Something about making the Change right now by accident, just by virtue of hiding that he's even slightly tearful, kind of makes him laugh, which just retracts those tears, too, as he lets out a vague huff of a chuckle and pulls back from the hug at last.

He keeps his hands on her shoulders, seeking eye contact with a soft, lopsided smile, but draws back. He gives himself a good shake off, giving an even better example of how the Change works, transforming back into a "human" in an instant as he dries off in the heated room... And yes, his tail magically retracts into his body, too. It is fascinating, from a biological perspective. But for him, uneducated as he is? This is just him. Plain and simple. Take it or leave it.

And for all his doubts and suspicions, for all his certainty a scene like this would never happen between them, Della's apparently decided she'd rather take it than leave it, gross sea monster or not. Alberto's not mature enough to thank her outright. But, well, in his own way, he still does: ]

Eheh... Uh— Th-The pasta's gonna get cold, huh...? Dai, mangiamo.

[ If she has more questions, he'll answer them, but, whew, he needs a Moment, he needs an ice breaker, he needs to keep his hands busy twisting a fork, but most of all, he needs to fill his mouth with pasta...! For having such a sharp, silver tongue, Alberto's emotional intelligence doesn't exactly follow his expressivity and emotive nature, so in an unapparent way, it's really no surprise why he's attracted to reticent adult men like Massimo and Lan Wangji... But an equally expressive but awkward adult woman? A game changer? He doesn't know what moms are supposed to act like, but if this is it... maybe he was missing out and never had a point of reference to realize it. He admired his father so much despite everything; but that didn't mean he related to him. It's a lot to chew on... especially without anything to actually chew on. He goes ahead and steps back toward the table, waving her along limply, pasta thankfully still warm and waiting for them. ]

[ Her eyebrows rise, and she glances behind her at the table - huh, what with all the emotional highs and lows, she'd completely forgotten about dinner. She wasn't fibbing before either, she was hungry - to be fair, she's kind of always hungry - but now that food is being brought up, her stomach loudly reminds her that it's time to eat. Grrrowwwl. ]

Not gunna lie, I completely blanked about the pasta... and I think we both drained all of our strength for all this touchy-feely stuff, so we'd better carbo-load ourselves pronto.

[ Her stomach has decided that it's better to be full than nauseous, apparently. She makes a beeline right back for her chair - giving his hair an affectionate ruffle as she passes him - and once her duck-tail is seated, she's going to forgo all manners and just wrap as much pasta as her fork can handle before cramming it into her face.

Mmm. Mutual understanding and emotional bonding. No sweeter spice than that. ]

... Fiff if freally guut!

[ "This is really good" in mouth-full-of-pasta-speak. ]

[ The fond little tussle to his hair as she passes just makes his smile all the more relaxed and genuine... He wasn't expecting any of this, and for as intense and emotional as it got, it's true — well, he's now pretty happy this evening's unfolded the way it has... Beyond the best case scenario he could've imagined, by far.

He resumes his seat, and he's even more pleased to see Della's reaction to his food. It's not so unlike his own reaction to Massimo's trenette al pesto the first time he had it, too... except, y'know, Della knows how to use a fork and doesn't shovel it into her mouth with her hands like a wild man. It's his second time ever cooking for an adult, and knowing now that even Della herself doesn't know how to cook, he's filled with pride, feels it swelling in his chest. It even takes him pause to take his own first bite of pasta, because he's too smitten with seeing how much Della likes his cooking, just staring at her, kvelling. Like a creep. A really happy, proud creep.

Finally, with a little puff of a chuckle, he snaps out of it and starts wolfing his own food down, too, just as well-practiced as she clearly is at piling as much pasta onto his fork as he can manage. Too much alike... Too much alike. ]

[ Della's used to being stared at while she ate, mostly because she knows her food manners are atrocious but has stopped caring about that for a long time. She assumes that a child will give her more leeway, but doesn't really blame him either way... nor really caring because FOOD. Oh gods she's so hungry. TONIGHT TOOK SO MUCH OUT OF HER.

In fact, one could argue she's a bit too sloppy, even in the presence of a kid - once the pasta has pretty much vanishes, she's licking the fork AND the plate for any remaining bits and sauce. No shame, no regrets.

Once it's established there's simply nothing left on the silverware, she leans back on her seat, hand on her belly, and lets out a pleased BURP. ]

That might be the best pasta I've had in a really long time.

[ It... might also be the only pasta she's had in a really long time but shhh semantics. ]

[ Alberto is not even in the slightest bothered by Della's table manners (or lack thereof) because they're pretty much identical to his own... He's just a couple bites behind her after scarfing down their food, not even pausing for conversation for all their gusto (and indeed, as a palate cleanser after, uh, all this shit), that just as he's about to take his last bite and lap up all the remains in his own pasta dish... does he take notice that she's beat him to it. Seeing her lick the dish and fork clean draws a wide, bright grin on Alberto's face, before he proceeds to do the same with even less decorum than she'd shown. She's in like company — minus the burp. Because he could definitely eat more, but... he won't. He's saving the small bit remaining in the kitchen for his pet and familiar (because of course he's trained them to eat pasta; of course he's trained them to eat pasta, oy va voy) — but once an almost-competitive pasta-eater, always an almost-competitive pasta-eater, he could be a bottomless pit if he wanted to be... But he doesn't. He's far more satisfied by hearing Della belch in satisfaction.

He leans back on his stool a bit, carefully balancing himself to sit crosslegged on it, biting his lip as he fails to wipe the proud smirk off his face. She has no idea what that compliment means to him, no idea what any of tonight means to him, beyond the tiny unspoken inference she gleaned from the way he clung to her in their hug. The kid craves validation way more than he craves pasta... And even if he's quick to brag, and hesitant to talk so openly about his true emotions, there's some strange truth that reads between the lines of the two, which surely she'll tune into over time, if not even tonight this very moment, with the way he beams at her over their empty pasta dishes, clutching his bare feet in both hands without falling off the stool, even if he wobbles a bit. She's paid him a high compliment in more ways than one. ]

Heh— Benissimo~ Ahah, y'know, my boss back home taught me how to make it... Massimo. He ran the pescheria I worked at in Portorosso. Trenette al pesto was the first human food I ever had, actually!

[ For as much as Alberto keeps a stiff upper lip, though he's not at all what you'd call stoic necessarily, he is fond of talking about Massimo. Massimo and Luca. And that's about it. He'll reminisce about his very short time in Portorosso in great detail if anyone gives him the chance to. Just the way he says his boss's name points to that somehow — a certain unplaceable dazzlement in his tone and smile. He practically doesn't even need to say this man was a father figure, if he's a human teaching him how to cook and employing him in a human town, right? If Alberto was this eaten up about revealing himself to someone who's not even human herself, it goes without saying that such an arrangement was no small favor. ]

[ The plates may be empty, but Alberto is potentially serving up something very filling - backstory! Now's a chance to latch on and really get to know this weird kid, and hopefully prevent anymore accidental insults in the future. It's clear there's almost a revered awe in the way he speaks about Massimo - although Della probably would've chosen chili dogs over pasta when it came to "first land person food" but she's not gunna judge. Pasta's a good second.

So after stretching her arms, she moves to slightly copy his body language, more out of affection and showing she's ready to listen - her 'good' leg propped up on the stool, her metal leg hanging back and forth. ]

He sounds like a pretty cool guy... why don't you tell me about him? I wanna hear every last detail, no matter how small. Give me all you got.

[ After all, she knows that by learning about Massimo, she's really learning more about Alberto. It's a win-win. ]

[ The request draws the most bemused, but slowly ecstatic looks from Alberto, another lopsided smile spreading across his face. He's not used to adults asking him questions, either. Della continues to throw him for a loop. But that doesn't deter him, no, no. He leans forward slightly to get comfortable, adjusting himself as needed and leaning back or forth as he explains the wonder that is Massimo Marcovaldo. ]

Oh, uh— We-he-ellll..... Uh... M-Massimo is my friend Luca's friend— well, I guess she's my friend too, uh, Giulia— Massimo is Giulia's dad. And, uh, he runs a pescheria in Portorosso by himself. That's the human town I moved to— I went there with Luca... And, uh, Giulia comes in the summer, but otherwise, he's alone, sooo— he asked me to help him out, heh. And in exchange, I lived with him, and he cooked food, and he paid me some soldi, I mean— not a lot, but enough to go see a movie and get gelato or whatever. And he taught me, like, everything — how to cook, how to fish... I help him cuz, y'know, I know all the best fishing spots, and then when we're done, I go deliver the fish to the townspeople on Giulia's bike. I'm, uh— heh— I'm better at the fishing part... But Massimo's great! He's the best fisherman in town. And, hah, probably, like, the biggest human ever?! Like—

[ He suddenly climbs up to stand on top of his stool, towering over Della, and spreads his arms out as wide as they'll go, voice even more emphatic than before, for sheer obvious admiration even just over the man's size, for such a gangly noodle of a boy. ]

This big?! He's huge, hah!

Edited 2021-12-31 05:08 (UTC)

[ Della nods accordingly, chuckling at the high points, and smiling all the while. He does sound like a good man - huh, fish monsters are fine with fishing? Interesting??? - and someone she'd like to get to know. When Alberto moves to show-case his size, Della can't help but laugh in merriment. She would do the same thing to show off someone's size too - they really were meant to be friends. ]

He sounds like he's got a heart as big as the rest of him! No wonder the two of you get along so well - I bet he's really glad to have such a great assistant like you around.

Heh, uh— Y-Yeah, I'm a great employee...

[ There is something about the mirthless laugh laced through that sentence, the way his smile falters ever so slightly as he climbs down from the stool again and resumes his seat, that maybe implies he's, uh... not a great employee. But he'll lie to save face without hesitation. He's more interested in praising Massimo than himself right now, anyway — for once, he's not interested in boasting. Amazing. Della's asking all the right questions by giving Alberto the stage here. ]

I'm probably, like, the second-best fisherman in the world next to Massimo, hehe... You should see him on his own, hah— he's so cool! The first time we ever went fishing with him, it was amazing, he pulled the net out of the winch and it had some driftwood stuck in it, so he just put a knife in his mouth and sliced it off, like it was nothing!

[ The dazzlement is interrupted for just a second, to point out an important explanation at that, cuz— otherwise that might sound a little weird... ]

Oh, uh— He only has one arm. He was born like that— though, eheh, he tried to joke with me once and say a sea monster ate it, but... that was before he knew... He, uh, heh, used to hunt sea monsters before Giulia met us. Obviously not anymore, but— He's got a cool tattoo of a sea monster on his arm, too! I mean— even though it has a harpoon through it, ahah, but, uh, y'know... It's still cool...

[ So Massimo knows Alberto's truth and still hired him and adopted him into his home, stopped hunting sea monsters because of his relationship with the boy. That's important subtext there.

But as charming as it is worrisome, of course Alberto would be infatuated with Massimo's tattoos. Of course he would be. And you bet your bippy he draws fake silly tattoos on himself with markers all the time, even here, copying the man — Della just hasn't had occasion to see yet. But she surely will catch him on a "tattooed" day sometime...! ]

[ There is... an odd, slightly morbid feeling of relief towards Massimo - no matter how "ick" Della feels about fish and fish people, she never actively hunted them. (Aside from that one time with the torpedos. ONE TIME.) It was more of a "you stay in your lane and I'll stay in mine" situation. So, hey, that must've been hella more awkward for Massimo than anything Della did wrong! ... Not that it justifies her actions, but it does make her feel a little better.

But as she listens, she gets a bit thoughtful, cupping her beak before she voices her next opinion. ]

Huh...! You know, that in case, since you were the first "friendly" sea monster he ever met, and maybe the first one a lot of people have ever met... You're kinda like, their ambassador!

[ ... like he even knows what that is. She tries again. ]

Like, you represent all sea monsters! People can go "Who is the perfect example of a food sea monster?" And we're like, "Alberto!" If anyone has sea monster-related questions, we can go right to you. Cause you're the expert on them! And you're out there making a good name and example towards all sea monsters! You are living proof we can all get along!

[ Alberto's face goes blank for a second listening to this perspective, but then slowly lights up, a smile crawling across his face as the gears turn upstairs. ]

...Heh... I am kind of like that, aren't I? Hah! "The Sea Monster Ambassador!" I mean, it was my idea to go to the human town when me and Luca ran away, and I am an expert on human-ing...! Heheh— L-Luca's co-ambassador, though — I couldn't have done it without him. I'm the Sea Monster Ambassador in Portorosso and Luca's the Sea Monster Ambassador in Genova! Hah!

[ He's boastful as always, but at least gives credit where credit is due. Whoever this Luca kid is, obviously an important friend Alberto seems to look up to, if he's writing all these letters to him and willing to share his new title... He likes this perspective a lot. Although, he won't admit that he's probably the worst expert on sea monster stuff because he grew up on the land alone with his father, rather than down below with the rest of the sea monster village like Luca did... But that's why they need to be a team. They lean on each other's strengths. ]

[ Boy, that name has come up a lot, hasn't it? Between all their conversations and the journal, Luca and Massimo are clearly tied at Alberto's favorite person ever position. Time to continue the interview in a new direction. ]

So Luca is a fellow sea monster like you? Tell me about him! Is he your b-f-f?

[ Pause. Does he know that? Just in case - ]

Your best friend forever?

[ Good on Della to second-guess Alberto's knowledge of slang — but he's now keeping that term in his back pocket. Once she explains its meaning, though, his face all but lights up. A chance to talk about Luca?! ]

Yeah, me and Luca are gonna be friends forever! He's the best! He moved to a faraway place called Genova, so now we write—...

[ He pauses awkwardly, face faltering a bit, searching Della's in a sudden moment of hesitation and conflict, glancing at the box of letters and then back up to her...

But then clearly steels his resolve and forces a smile back on his face, though a bit more wistful now, and even reaches over to pull the box of letters forward a bit. ]

...We wrote letters. He'd send me photographs from Genova and tell me all about the human school and living with Giulia and her mamma. And I'd write him letters all about my life in Portorosso living with Massimo, and send him photographs...

[ He lets his hand rest on his Polaroid camera, too, to demonstrate what all Della had just stumbled into without saying it... and also to try and imply how significant and private those letters are to him so she'll understand why he got mad... without having to say that, either. He just doesn't wanna say the things. She can catch what he's laying down... So he just moves on swiftly to sweep that awkwardness under the mat without addressing it. His voice retains that wistfulness, but grows fonder as his smile grows warmer, eyes eventually drifting idly from Della back to the box again by the end as he gets a little swept up in reminiscing. ]

Sometimes, hah, he'd call us on the telephone — it's expensive, cuz he's so far away, so we couldn't do it all the time... But whenever he did, Luca's parents and his grandma would all come up to the surface, heh, and we'd crowd around the telephone in Massimo's kitchen so we could all hear Luca's voice and talk to him. He'd talk to his family, of course, mostly to Signora Paguro, hah, but— Massimo always let me talk to him by myself for a while, too — so we could catch up. It wasn't for long, but— Heh, letters aren't enough, y'know~?

[ That is to say: He can't do that here. He turns back on her with a sheepish smile at that, practicing his expertise in their shared skill of just swallowing things and pretending everything's fine. But he is opening up, clearing up some major mysteries about his life he'd failed to be frank with Della about, and is in fact revealing so much more about himself than he even knows. Than he even realizes. But there's no doubt: this is his BFF. It's a completely different energy than the way he spoke about Massimo, this bittersweetness about him, a certain dreaminess in how he speaks and lets his fingers drift over his Luca-related items, compared to standing on his stool at full height and full volume with only lavish praise to sing, rather than describing simple fond memories like these; he spoke about how much he admires Massimo, but he speaks about how much he misses Luca. ]

[ Awww. There's clear differences between his ardent praise for Massimo and this fond elaboration on Luca. Della sheepishly smiles when the "subject" of the journal is brought up, giving a half shoulder shrug of a wordless apology for it yet again - but fortunately Alberto seems cool about it for now. She can always apologize again if need be, and wouldn't mind it.

But... she had kind of assumed Luca was 'alone' family-wise just like Alberto was, but clearly that's not the case. Another big 'oof' about Alberto, heart-strings definitely tugged - but absolutely not something to comment on! Swallowing down those feelings, she keeps nodding and smiling, trying to encourage him to say all he wants to. ]

Oh, I definitely get you. If I had a chance to hear my boys, I'd take that over a letter any day. Oh, I bet all of you would get along just like that!

[ Snaps her fingers! Yes, she could see it now - Huey would asking all kinds of invasive scientific questions, Louie might ask if they could go pearl diving, and Dewey would wanna try and be a sea monster too. She sighs in her own fond way, missing them as well. As much as she cares about Alberto, he (nor could anyone) couldn't be a real replacement for her sons. ]

And if Massimo and Luca ever show up here... they'll be counting on you, you know. You'll be the expert to them on magic, and quests, and the best food here... Of course they already think you're super awesome, but then they'll think you're super MEGA SUPREME BEST awesome!

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