quarantacinque || video

[betrayedblade]

[The video is dark when the device turns on. Giovanni removes his hand a moment later but the device isn't entirely facing him and the picture is skewed at an odd angle. There is the usual rubble of the worse parts of the town in the background

Comments

/arrives on the late bus

[silent_feathers]

... Giovanni!

[The sound that emitted from her love was so foreign to her ears that it causes her heart to skip a beat and threaten to cease beating all together. Her eyes scan over his entire body to be sure that he had no bodily injures... that is until she saw the distinct red mark that bruised against his neck. The air was literally knocked right out of her and it took her a moment to recover before speaking again.]

I... I will call on your sons to find you. Just stay where you are...

[betrayedblade]

M-Maria...

[He looks at the communicator and takes another moment to lock his slipping sanity away before replying. He has to keep reminding himself that this isn't a dream...or hell...or... maybe it is but he can't let it matter. He has to be strong.]

Maria... mia amore...

[silent_feathers]

[His voice causes her to pause a moment and look back at the screen of the communicator, her face etched with an mix of many emotions. Her loving gaze caught every nuance in his features as he tried to regain his composure. Maria did not speak for a while nor did she move away this time. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and soft.]

I am here, Giovanni. I promise you that I am here...

[She couldn't help the tears that fell down her cheeks. He needed her. He needed his family.]

Qualunque cosa accada io ti amerò per sempre... Noi tutti ti amo tanto.

((Translation|No matter what happens, I will always love you... We all love you so much.))

[betrayedblade]

[He closes his eyes and then, after a composing moment, he slips on a smile that only just barely looks forced. He reopens his eyes as he speaks softly to his wife.]

...I am glad. One way or another...I am glad to see you again.

This place...I suppose I cannot escape it.

[silent_feathers]

[Her own small smile appeared before she bowed her head to hide the tears. She did not wish to cry in front of him but she couldn't stop herself. He had experienced the moment when their family was torn apart and the memory was suddenly fresh in the back of her mind.]

I know... that you see this place as a hell and you are right. It is. But...

[She couldn't believe what she was about to say to Giovanni.]

It is a blessing, in some small way.