quarantasei || video

[betrayedblade]

[The video only shows a pair of kunai being held within a set of calloused hands. The fingers and thumbs trace over the blades carefully, respectfully...and eventually what turns into a noticeable pattern. An invisible pattern. A missing pattern.

Giovanni moves the camera and it sets down to show a whole lot of nothing.]...You'd think a person

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[Video]

[silent_feathers]

[Maria watched her husband's broadcast and made a move to speak out to him when his feed suddenly turned off. She forced herself to wait for about a half an hour or so before picking up her communicator and speaking to the channel set to Giovanni's frequency.]

Amore... Where are you?

[betrayedblade]

Out. [Where you cannot follow. Or anyone else if they tried.]

Do you need anything?

[silent_feathers]

["Yes. I need my husband."]

No... I... [There was a pause and a sharp intake of breath.]

I wished to speak with you. That is all...

[betrayedblade]

Then speak. Say what you mean.

[silent_feathers]

We need to talk to, Giovanni.

And not like this. Not with our devices sitting between us.

I want to speak with my husband, face-to-face.

[betrayedblade]

Very well.

[silent_feathers]

Bene.

[She turns her head towards the far wall before facing him again.]

Should I leave the window unlatched and open for you?

[betrayedblade]

[The barest of smirks.] Do as you wish, love. I can walk in the front door here for a change if it so please you.

[silent_feathers]

[A spark of hope! She returns that subtle gesture with a gentle smile.]

Then the window shall remain open... [Maria laughs under her breath as she bows her head in thought.]

I remember a time when you would visit me during the late hours... tapping at the glass ever so softly.

[betrayedblade]

[He doesn't answer the post. Instead, he enters silently and closes the space between them without wasting time. He speaks softly.]

It is never too late to revisit past endeavors.

[silent_feathers]

[She barely had time to register his presence and let out a small gasp before spinning around to meet her husband. Her surprise faded as the worried lines etched across her face smoothed and relaxed.]

I hope not... [Maria leaned in and pressed her forehead against his shoulder, closing her eyes in the process. It looked as if she was lightly resting against him for support.]

Thank you.

[betrayedblade]

[He let her, and he held her up for as long as she needed, quiet and supporting. He waited for her to bring up any conversation she might have wanted to broach--his own agenda preferred not to discuss the matter at hand at all and he wouldn't make the first move to start one now, but he would not deny her one if and when it came to it either. That was not his nature. He loved her too much to alienate her on purpose.]

[silent_feathers]

[She was thankful he did not say anything at first. Maria need to gather her thoughts before speaking out her concerns.]

Giovanni... I know you do not wish to speak on the matters that weigh heavily on your mind. And I will not force you to but I do ask that you listen...

[With a sharp intake of breath, she pulled away to look directly into his eyes.]

I will not pretend that I understand how you feel. To go through such trials... to see that last moment and suddenly come back to life here. It is pure madness.

A man can only take so much. [Her hand rose up to touch his cheek and felt the cold from the winter wind that howled outside.]

But you do not have to shoulder such burdens all by yourself.