Chapter 5 | Brothers

[beauchevalier]

Who: Angelo and Marcello.
Where: The clinic.
When: Early morning of the 6th.
Style: First/Action.
Status: Closed.

[Angelo, after being in his apartment for an entire week, decides to finally come out despite the curse still upon the city. He's cold and uncomfortable at best then finds himself wandering over towards the clinic. He begins to wonder if they might have something there to help him warm better. As he goes inside, he continues to wander around for a bit until he finds something he wasn't expecting to see. There was Marcello in one of the clinic beds, laying still and appearing asleep. Perhaps instead of disturbing him, he should walk away and hope his brother doesn't hear as he backs away slowly. Yet as he does, he bumps into the already open door and his SFC that was hanging loosely in his pocket falls out onto the floor making a loud noise as it hits the floor. Yet he still quickly he tries to pocket the item again before his brother awakens from the sound or possibly sees him.]

Comments

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello had, up till now, been able to turn his gaze on the people who had disturbed him. Now his sight not only failed to find people; it was in pitch darkness. The world had immersed him in it and become unseen and beyond his limits. Punished him, even. He could not accept it. So he had fought this weakness by pulling himself out of his bed. Walking independently. Denying this chastisement. He was good at pushing boundaries.

But all he came up against was his own failure. His determination was useless to him now. He tried to stomach it, but try as he might, he could not depend on anyone for help. He made a great show of not needing it. So when he heard something drop, he tried not to look weak; he sat up under the sheets and listened. He saw nothing. But if he wanted to know, he would have to speak. He did, and looked thoroughly tired of everything.]

Do you have some business here? Who are you?

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo sighs before turning to face his brother, now hearing that the sound awoke him. He notices right away though that his eyes aren't opening and made him feel worse. Not only killing him, but causing him blindness or so he can tell after coming back from death. He didn't want any of this to happen, yet it did. However he does remember hearing stories of people being revived, though never knew much after that. Slowly he does decide to get closer to Marcello and answers him.]

It's me, brother. I wasn't aware that you were here. I've heard stories of being brought back to life, though the rest was always unclear to me. Enjoying your time in the clinic?

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello's expression soured - and soured further. He knew what he was now. He was a weak man. Truly he had been right at the top of the pecking order, and come to fall so far. He had lived with his anger for so long and been driven by it. Now all of it just seemed to be leaving his body.

He sat up in a way that made him seem calm, when he was feeling confused and bitter. Never before had he lived without his anger - except before Angelo had come to the abbey. He had no idea how much his brother knew about the consequences of what he had done, and got ready to shut down any questions.]

No. I am astounded by the level of your obliviousness, however. I was... gravely injured. I would hardly be anywhere else.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo is quiet for a long time after he hears his brother's words, especially given everything that had happened between them. But of course he does at last speak up at least about one topic.]

I never wanted either of us to die during that duel nor did I expect you'd go to great lengths as to nearly burn down the island forest to kill me. Will you at least tell me why you did it? Or is my death something you desire that much?

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello lay against the headboard, and began to visualise the fire spreading around his legs. He knew every reason for what he had done, including turning his fire magic on the forest which had burned quickly and brought this sorry mess to an end.]

My feelings are something I will not share. How can you possibly think I have anything to discuss?

[He thought about their father, his mother, and how he had tried making the former pay by hurting his son. Because it was the only thing he could do to a dead man.]

In truth, there is much I have to say. But I will not talk to you about any of it.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo sighs and goes silent again for a few minutes. His mouth then opens to give his brother another response.]

You don't realize how much guilt I've felt for what happened. Going so far as to isolate myself for an entire week from everyone in this bubble. You don't know these people like I do, brother. In their eyes, I'd be deemed a murderer and imprisoned by the Defense Force if they find out. Or perhaps that's what you want after all. You did put me into Purgatory Island with the others back home. You'd see me being thrown into prison as an act of justice while you smugly grin to yourself. All because I got what I deserved or so you believe. Why don't you just admit it now? I know how you think.

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello seemed angered by Angelo’s guiltless admission. But he could not remain upset about it for long. He was concerned enough about his own problems.]

Yes. It's a sorry thing to admit, but you live my life and understand my thoughts and emotions better than I.

[His tone was calm and unyielding. Anyone else might have missed his sarcasm.]

And profess your guilt, certainly. But for what you have done to me you hardly appear to be repentant; your beautiful words are not truthful - they are hollow at the core. I do not expect a man as selfish and absorbed as you to take the slightest bit of responsibility even for the smallest things, and thus I do not expect you to understand why I incarcerated you in a place no worse than you deserve.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo groans and sits in a chair away from the bed. He was expecting no less from his older brother, this is always how it was at home too.]

Are you done sermonizing? We've done this song and dance before, brother. I always know what you're going to say about my behavior. I've heard it enough times at home, so you can save it. I shouldn't have come here in the first place to be honest. That way instead of being my problem, you'd be someone else's. Yet here I am again feeling sorry for you.

[His tone of voice then changes into a more serious one while retaining hints of slight amusement.]

I can see now, even if I was more than certain of it years ago, the reason why father and mother never told me about you. Especially with how you behave towards me in general. They were only protecting me from a brother I wish I never knew existed.

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello's tolerance was dropping the more Angelo spoke. He pulled back the covers as he felt around them, and pulled up his legs and swung them around. He leaned forward slightly as he climbed out of bed, into a space where he had to imagine what was around him.]

That's right. Forgive me, little brother; I am afraid my existence was an affront to your sainted mother. Whom I suppose must have been a guardian angel to stand by and watch a young boy be cast out of his home. Surely I hurt her deeply at such a young age that I deserved such treatment.

[There was plenty about his brother's mother that he knew, that Angelo didn't. As far as he was concerned, he was going to shatter that illusion.]

I have to observe that you have always been a poor judge of character as far as your family is concerned.

[beauchevalier]

[That did it. Any remorse he feels for his brother is gone. So when Marcello climbs out of bed, Angelo kicks the chair he was sitting on over in hopes his brother will fall onto the floor by tripping on it. His voice now having a tone of serious anger.]

Never talk about my mother that way ever again. You don't know half of what she did for me. And if we're going to discuss mothers, let's talk about how yours was a lowly housemaid who father only went to so he could have a child. That's why you were kicked out, because you're only a half-breed.

[powerandstatus]

[The experience of falling in the dark wasn't pleasant. But, as he was not going at quite some speed, Marcello wasn't flying - not that it would have made the slightest bit of difference. He curled over the chair like there was something underneath him he had to protect.

With a feeling of bottling his anger, he balanced himself on his hands. Then he brought up his left leg to lean on and pushed himself back to standing on his feet. He turned round on his brother.]

... And just what is new about that disgusting comment? Surely you must have run out of ideas, or that repetitive banality would not be all you have to say.

[He's heard it all before, Angelo; he's had twenty four years to think about it.]

I most certainly will talk about what I want, even if it's something you do not wish to hear. The Abbot was a good man, too kind when it came to shattering the misinformation inside your head. I will not be put off so easily. Your mother was not a saint.

[beauchevalier]

[He still continues sounding angry when he talks. He won't let his brother get away with saying these horrible things about his mother.]

My mother cared about the people of Simpleton and helped them when she could. She also believed me to be a miracle child from the Goddess and that I was meant to do better things than father. To be a better person than he ever was. Also you never saw it, but she was always heartbroken to see poor families within our town and not allowing me to play with the other children in the town because of my status. She wanted equality and fair treatment for everyone while praying to the Goddess that one day this would happen.

[powerandstatus]

[Since Angelo seemed to be in his own delusional world entirely, Marcello was just about ready to pull him out of it. He would do it with Angelo screaming and kicking, if needs be.]

Yes, yes. I most certainly saw nothing of her in the short time we spent together. The idea that I could have seen a different side to her nature before you were born is an incorrect one. Perhaps her ignoring my very existence when it suited her was actually for the betterment of my health!

[beauchevalier]

[He put his hands to his ears, touching the very earrings on his ears that belonged to his mother before she departed from this world. He didn't want to hear anymore.]

She probably tried to love you like her son. But with father having a mistress on the side during their marriage, can you blame her for how she was? She was mothering a child that wasn't truly hers and I bet you never even tried to love my mother either.

[powerandstatus]

[While Angelo was touching his earrings, it wasn't something Marcello could notice - he would have if he had the use of his eyes. He was entirely occupied with listening to Angelo's voice; he heard the love in it, and the accusation made him snap back at once.]

I did try, for all the time I lived there. After all, it was never like I was allowed to see my own mother. I suppose her attitude explains my own more than I care to admit. Perhaps I was responsible for being chucked out of my home at such a young age.

[Marcello turned his back on his brother, and clasped his hands behind him.]

Yes. And now you chide me for my insensitivity. Though I suppose I take after her, in a regretful way. I tried to raise you like a brother after you forced yourself into my home, but in the end I never could tolerate your presence, either.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo heads for the door, he's fed up with Marcello. However, that doesn't stop him from saying more before standing in the doorway.]

How could I care about you after being told to leave and never come back?! You never tried to raise me, only shunned me! So don't try and act like you ever did anything for me. I'm done with you, brother. You can stay in this clinic to rot by yourself.

[And with that, he begins walking out.]

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello turned to walk out himself, and found he could not balance. He had no intention of allowing his brother to see him in such a state. He could not stand the shame. He stood in the middle of the room and said nothing - his feet against the floor and his coat strewn nearby. And he could not see it.

He shut his eyes. He looked entirely disgusted at the way this blindness stripped away his independence. Since he simply could not imagine himself ever being inferior, and did not want to be thought of as a man who couldn't solve his own problems.

He was speechless about it. And desperate.]

I... need your help. I cannot see myself handling this problem alone.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo stops walking when he hears his brother's words, completely speechless for a long while. He says not a word until he slowly turns around to look at his brother.]

After everything you said, why should I help you? Tell me and maybe I'll consider.

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello had no wish to lose any more of his dignity. Did his brother want him to beg? That was too much for him.]

You ask for a reason? Very well. I suppose I could have escaped with my life. I did not. I believe that you realise the cause of this?

[He waved a hand at the front of his face.]

It is not for me I expect you to do it, I hardly expect the favour. A favour I will repay by keeping you out of prison; it would save your reputation, which you seem so determined to ruin. To the extent it can be, anyway.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo hated to admit it, but Marcello was right in some way. After thinking for awhile and sighing, he answers.]

Fine I'll help you, but on one condition. You don't cause trouble or get in my way at my apartment.

[powerandstatus]

[He did not relish the chance to live with his brother, but saw no option. He had endured him at the abbey. He would endure him now. He pushed his hair back, and turned back around to imagine what the clinic looked like.]

Yes, I suppose I can agree to that. But at the rate I am going to mend, I doubt I shall need you for long.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo walks over and goes to help his brother. He didn't want them living together, but it seems there was no other choice.]

Let's be on our way already. It's not as if continuing to talk will do us any good, especially in this place.

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello took a moment to compose himself, then - unlike that time the jester had violated the abbey - accepted the help and did not push it away.

One arm was around his brother to balance himself, with the other holding his things in a bundle. He had the memory of them being passed to him. His brother had picked them up off the floor.]

Wait. I have lost my sight; I do not believe I have forgot my manners.

[He took the time to balance himself, then stepped back and felt around for the chair to put it upright. Not an apology for his brother, but it would do.]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo would drop his brother, but instead he keeps holding onto him while helping him to balance himself by finding a chair.

At least you still have something nice about yourself. Even if it is only matters.

[He knew he wouldn't get an apology out of his brother. Though as for not making comments? Yeah, he can still do that.]

[powerandstatus]

[There was a brief period of time where Marcello was so tempted to say something back, but he uttered not a word and stayed hanging onto his brother as he found his footing.

He instead raised a hand. And he made a noise. His face was lined with the struggle of accepting his brother's help. He wasn't, however, turning it away.]

[beauchevalier]

[Hearing his brother making noise in a way amused him. He knew this was difficult for Marcello, yet it was also difficult for him. Though he makes sure that they're able to leave as he heads out the door with his brother back to his apartment.]