text; un: signorvespa

[prontissimo]

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. ]

Comments

[sos_pilot]

[ As much As Alberto means no harm, every 'excuse' he gives towards her just... stabs her a little more. They didn't know her. They had the rest of her family. Oof. Ow. Taking the swords off the wall and stabbing her with them would have hurt less.

But on the other hand... He's a good kid, but is he really THAT good? How can he really listen to all that she's said and say she's not at fault? She looks at him for a brief time - her eyes may be a bit watery again - trying to asses him. Do sea monsters have different ideas of families? How they're supposed to work and function? Is the society in his world just so alien to hers that this story isn't hitting the notes it normally does?

She does have questions for him... but alas, her tale isn't over yet. She sighs, looking down at her legs. ]

... I thought that's what would happen. That, while I was gone, my uncle and my brother would raise my boys together. And that maybe I could send out messages, telling them where I was, and how hard I was trying to get home. But... the messages never made it. And my uncle and brother assumed I died out in space... and Donald blamed Scrooge for it, since Scrooge had the rocket made. He took the boys away, and never told them what happened. All the boys knew was that I was gone... and that was it. Donald never told them what I'd done, or who their family was.

[ A whole legacy of the McDuck clan, hidden away because of her. Sure, Donald and Scrooge were slowly repairing the men between them now but... would it ever truly heal? Things could never be as they once were. ]

As for Uncle Scrooge... he stopped adventuring completely. He shut himself away in his mansion, refusing to talk to people, and he hid everything related to me. I guess it was just too painful for him. And for ten years, that's how they both lived their lives - away from each other, hiding who I was. But one day... Donald needed someone to watch over the boys, while he looked for a job. And as it so happened, the only person available... was Uncle Scrooge. That was the day the boys learned they had an uncle... and they instilled in him the love of adventure again. He... they... they came together again. Scrooge loved the boys, and they loved him, and... they even moved in together. Donald kept saying it was only for a little while, just until he repaired his house boat, but they were a family again.

[ Just without her. But maybe that had been for the best. The story seems to have physically drained her for a moment, as she leans on the table, laying her head on her arms. She misses them. She misses them all so much. And she knows that the magic of Avalon is, technically, making sure she isn't missed right now. They're all safe and frozen in time. They may even be safer there than here.

But she's been deprived of her family for ten years. And now she may be here another long time in Avalon. Much as she's grateful for the company of Drake, Fenton, and even Gandra and Darkwing, they're still not her kin. Quietly, desperately, she speaks up - ]

... Could I get a hug before I continue on the saddest story ever?

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto listens carefully, letting his eyes drift thoughtfully, sadly, to his own legs, copying her at first... It is a sad story, technically, but to Alberto it's bizarrely reading as kind of happy, because her sons had these uncles?! He never had any uncles, no one else stepped up to take care of him after his dad left him... The literal only point he can keep coming to in reaction to this whole saga is that her boys weren't alone. They weren't alone. That's all that sticks out to him. It's wondrous to him that they had either uncle there to help them and protect them and provide for them and love them. He is an anomaly among sea monster culture as much as he'd be among humans or, uh, bird people, but his exposure in the world is so, so limited to the bizarro fantasy island his father created for them... But— he's increasingly certain that his dad probably doesn't speak about him this way now, after he's been gone so long. If his dad missed him after he left... unless he got stuck on the moon or killed or something crazy, which Alberto doesn't like to entertain the thought of... then it's not been enough to drive him back home. Her children weren't alone. That's all he cares about and he doesn't understand why that's not the primary point for her, too. All this guilt instead. He's never known an adult to feel guilty in his life. Granted— he's really only known two adults.

Throwing him just as much for a loop as anything else tonight, though, when she asks for a hug...? All that worry and torn expression fades from his face in an instant, his brows raising as his eyes widen. Adults... can do that...? Like— that's allowed...? She's breaking every mold of what he imagines a parent is supposed to be like and he can't parse whether it's because she's a great parent because she loves her boys so much and uh, maybe his perception of good parenthood is skewed, or if because she's kind of not a parent because she wasn't there for ten years...? But— still was sending messages to them the whole time? It's a lot to process and consider. What's a lot simpler, though, is that she's asking him for a hug. So without a hint of hesitation, he leaps up from his stool and throws his arms around her neck. If she ever asks that again... she'll quickly learn Alberto will probably never say no. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ She's 110% grateful for the hug, and leans into it, using one hand to touch his arm. Touch-deprived for ten years as well, she doesn't say a word for a good long time, just... needing that extra bit of warmth and reassurance. It just feels so good to be held, and she knows it's just kind of... weird to ask for hugs. She kind of wants/needs hugs a lot. All the time. So it's really, really nice that Alberto shows no hesitation, not even a second to process it. Good kid. Such a good kid.

With a good squeeze to his arm, she begins to straighten up, determined to finish this damned thing - and get back to happiness! They both deserve to be happy tonight! ]

You know what? I'm just gunna skip a few things and head right to the good parts. Turns out there ARE people who live on the moon, but they didn't trust me, but I won them over, they helped me get back home, I reunited with my family, and we're all good now, the end.

[ Yes, she's leaving out the General of the moon people was using her to start an invasion, and that the family had another huge fight before she got there, but the IMPORTANT thing is that it's all over and they are together again. She's burdened this kid with enough knowledge, maybe they can unlock stage 2 another day. But tonight's been exhaustive enough on both ends.

She looks Alberto right in the face now, a genuine smile appearing again, as she ruffles a hand through his hair. ]

... So the reason I got all... crazy-weepy when I got here... and did it again, uh, several times... is because I get super worried when kids don't like me. Because then I get worried my kids won't like me. And, yeah, I know it's... kind of silly. But it's hard to turn off that little voice in your head sometimes. It helps to have a good kid like you around.

[ Her Bruno is a bit harder to 'silenzio'. But she needs Alberto to know that he did nothing wrong, and that her own issues are... exactly that, her own to work through. He doesn't need to push or excuse her, he doesn't have to worry about her (moreso than he already does). It's never the job of the kid to worry about the adult, the adult needs to do the work. He's done more than his fair share. ]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto lets her hug him as long as she wants, until she pulls away, so just follows her cues. He looks at her with slightly worried eyes, still entirely unsure how he's supposed to be processing this, but he feels for her. He can't really imagine what parents feel like, and has never known any parent he's known to express doubt about their parenting to their children explicitly... He wasn't even entirely sure parents felt doubt about their parenting, it always just seemed like parents know what to do and that's why they're the boss. But... Della's making him drastically reconsider this perspective and he doesn't know how because— well... he has no parents. It's not really applicable.

But it does make him empathize with her and draws a lopsided, half-hearted smile on his face, returning her meaningful gaze. He understands having that little voice in his head, at least. What's more, though, is that she calls him a good kid, says it's helping her to have him around... He doesn't quite comprehend how, but it's maybe the first time he's been told that outright. It turns his cockeyed smile a little more bashful, especially when she ruffles his hair. He feels like he's supposed to comfort her...? H-He doesn't know how but— she's talking to him kinda like a friend, like he'd talk to a kid, so... J-Just talk to her like what he'd say if he were talking to a kid...? Maybe...? He's winging this, oh boy, with animated gestures and mounting emphasis, as usual. ]

Ehhh— Heh. Well, uh— I like you, Signora. And once your kids have the time to get to know you, I'm sure they'll like you, too...? Ahah, like you said, it sounds like a happy ending, eh? So don't let the stupid Bruno in your head try and tell you it's not...! Just tell that voice, "Silenzio, Bruno~!" You can't let it trick you like that! Cuz— just cuz you're here now doesn't mean it's gonna be like the moon again, heh, y'know? So you don't have to worry about all that stuff now! I mean, you're fighting and doing all this magic stuff and crap here to save our worlds so you can go home and see your family again, right? That's all that really matters. So— Forza, Signora!

[ Surprisingly sound, touching advice, coming from a fourteen-year-old.

However.

who the fuck is Bruno...? ]

[sos_pilot]

[ That had been adorable and wholesome for a few good seconds until she heard the name Bruno. Is... is that what Alberto calls the voice in his head?

... Wh. Why wouldn't you call the voice in your head your own name??? Bruno can't possibly be Alberto's nickname, it doesn't make sense! True, it's a very weird point to stick to after all that's been said but... indeed, WHO and WHY the fuck Bruno???

It would be so easy to just shove all the oddities she's picked up from him as "sea monster stuff", but that seems slightly prejudiced, and she does want to learn everything and anything about him, no matter how strange. So, yes, she's happy, just... confused...? But doesn't want to show she's confused, despite the puzzled expression and raised eyebrows - she quickly tries to imitate his body language, a swinging fist in the air. ]

Y-Yeah, that's the ticket! We hear Bruno, we block him out! Silenzio, Bruno!

[ Desperately trying not to whisper-add "whoever that is..." ]

[prontissimo]

[ To be fair, Italian nicknames do not always sound like the names they should be nicknames for... but this is not one of those instances. Nor is it "sea monster stuff." Alberto is just a weirdo. Della will come to learn this.

And even as well as she tries to hide it, Alberto picks up on that confusion, and it does not settle well. Weirdness intensifies. He draws back, gesturing emphatically, pinching his fingers and waving his hands. ]

No, no, no, no— I said Forza, Signora! Like you mean it! "Silenzio, Bruno~!"

[ He repeats with more gusto, raising his volume, egging her on to repeat after him. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ All right, now this is just plain cute. Her confusion, while still kinda there, is losing to cheer. Yeah, let's get that self-esteem and fun right back up! Bonding time!

She moves to stand on the floor, copying his gesture, pinched fingers and waving hands and all - shouting with gusto!]

SILENZIO, BRUNO!

[prontissimo]

Louder! You gotta show him you're the boss!

[ His gestures just become more animated and more Italian the more he gets amped up, spreading his legs slightly with his bare feet planted flat on the ground before her, as if steeling himself, shaking his hands in the air at her as he raises his volume even more, more aggressive this time. ]

Silenzio, BRUNO!

[sos_pilot]

[ She's close to joyful laughing at this moment, loving every single second of this!

He wants loud? He'll get loud. She has generations of VERY loud yellers in her family, so she definitely has a set of lungs on her. She inhales as much air as she can handle... and then, hope his ear-drums don't pop... ​]

SILENZIOOOOOOO, BRUNOOOOOOOO~!

[ ... hope he doesn't have neighbors that are going 'THE FUCK?!' right now. ]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto's whole face breaks into a wide smile, and he's not even able to contain his glee at how into it Della gets. This is great...! He waves his arms about even more enthusiastically, about as enthusiastically as one can get, getting his dander up, contorting his face into one of one of pure passion, raising his volume to match hers as best he can, which, yes, is surely leaving every neighbor along the whole hall wondering, "What is going on in Room [xxx]...?!" ]

Silen~zio~! BRRRUUU~NO~!!!

[ Della and Alberto sure are two peas in a pod. And with their powers combined... they can be twice as obnoxious.

As he practically shakes his whole self at her, the way he's waving his arms about, palms open then with fingers pinched in mounting enthusiasm, you'd think he was coming to some major point with this, some "take-back-your-life seminar" type of moral here, but... no. He's fourteen. This is all he's really got. ]

Well?! D'he shut up?!

[ He technically doesn't need to yell anymore (d-did he need to, to begin with...?) but it's hard to cool such hot coals. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ And right now, this is all she really needs - the sort of childlike, simplistic way of kicking a bad thought to the curb. It won't be permanent, but few things in life are. Kids have such a great, easy way of thinking and it's times like this that made Della wish growing up was merely an option.

She slaps her hands on her hips, and yells with Alberto, even though their throats will be in sooo much pain tomorrow morning. ]

I CAN'T HEAR A WORD HE'S SAYING! THERE IS NO BRUNO HERE!

[prontissimo]

Whoooo~!

[ Alberto throws his fists in the air triumphantly, whopping, face scrunched in high energy, but rushes to grab Della by the wrist unannounced, and drags her suddenly back toward the center of the room. ]

All right, then! Andiamo!

[ He releases her just to rush off and climb under his crazy window decorations again, fumbling to open the window with lots of loud tinkling as his squirming around under the sail-turned-curtain disturbs all the trinkets in the net. He emerges again pretty quickly, though, sliding the ice sled back inside through the window, and turns to face her with a wide, almost mischievous grin. ]

Let's go do the slev!

[ The what

But he's excited to go "slevving" at least, now, that he doesn't need to hide himself anymore... Quick turnaround. The power of a few hugs, eh? ]

[sos_pilot]

The slev? ... Oh! Right!

[ Eh, she can correct him later. The fun part is the important part, especially now that they're hopped up on FUN ENERGY! ]

Let's go! I'm gunna teach you the ins and outs, the ups and downs, and then we'll find the highest hill with the steepest bottom!

[ She races to the doorway, ready to fling it open and adventure into the night! And maybe catch a cold. That's future Della's problem. ]

ONWARD, ALBERTO!