[Sticky Fingers rubs Izabel's back in small, slow circles as she settles back against him again.]
Most likely. [Bruno says this with a light smile. He doesn't entirely feel it for the most part, but he does to a small extent. It's hard not to.] He wouldn't want anyone making a fuss. He'd prefer it'd be like the first time.
[She loves them, but... Man, they sure are dumb. Her breathing slows a little -- always a strange tell, because she didn't really need to breath, did she? It was still something so automatic.]
...He might prefer it if we let him go quietly, but I don't think he'd actually like it if I did that. Stopped being stupid. Stopped.
[He knows what she means, surely. Has to know it's not just about her.]
For my sake, I think he'd be angry. I'd like to think that.
[Bruno hums softly in agreement. It's true. Abbacchio ultimately wouldn't want people changing on his behalf. He'd want things to remain the same, or at the very least quickly return that way. In a way, Bruno's trying to give him that. He's trying not to let this affect him. He needs to not just for Abbacchio's sake, but also for the others, including Izabel.]
The first time wasn't really my preference anyway, [Bruno admits.] He's worth more than he ever realized.
[He's worth so much more than a quiet send-off. Abbacchio would struggle to accept it and would likely never believe it, but that doesn't make it less true.]
Had there been time... [He shakes his head a little.] Mourn him the way you feel is right and in your own time, Izabel. It's what he deserves.
[Finally, Izabel shifts so that she can watch Bruno, though she remains in Sticky Fingers's arms. She'd been refused contact the last time she was in this room, so it was almost wrong to want to soak up as much as she could, now. But was horrendous.]
He's so good. So, so good...
[Abbacchio had snapped at her when she told him that.]
What if the way I want to mourn him includes making sure you're okay? Not now -- not when he's just gone, even if i want for you to be okay. But eventually. Would that be alright?
[Izabel is the third person to try and negotiate terms like this with Bruno, but his impulse is the same. He still feels the words that's not necessary and I'm fine on the tip of his tongue, ready to leave the moment he allows for it. He almost does if only because she's the third person and he can likely be more honest in saying that it's not necessary. But he bites down that impulse for a moment. Just long enough to try and consider it because...]
[She closes her eyes, for a moment touching her lips against Sticky Fingers's shoulder in lieu of Bruno's. It wasn't fully giving in, but it was closer than what she'd been able to get the last time she wanted to pry feelings out of him.]
I can't make you happy the way he does. I wouldn't want to try.
[He was too special, and too special to Bruno.]
But he would want you to be okay, too, and that's...kinda why we can't be right now, huh?
[Abbacchio's blood is on Bruno's hands more than anyone else's. Yes, it's true that Diavolo is ultimately the one that should be held responsible for Abbacchio's death since he's the one who took his life. But Abbacchio died for Bruno and Bruno's cause. That puts his death on Bruno's shoulders and it's not something that Bruno can ever truly repay regardless of whether Abbacchio is here or not.]
[But it would be so much better if he was here.]
I'm okay, stellina. [As much as he can be. As much as he needs to be. That's what he really means.] And you will be, too.
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Most likely. [Bruno says this with a light smile. He doesn't entirely feel it for the most part, but he does to a small extent. It's hard not to.] He wouldn't want anyone making a fuss. He'd prefer it'd be like the first time.
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[She loves them, but... Man, they sure are dumb. Her breathing slows a little -- always a strange tell, because she didn't really need to breath, did she? It was still something so automatic.]
...He might prefer it if we let him go quietly, but I don't think he'd actually like it if I did that. Stopped being stupid. Stopped.
[He knows what she means, surely. Has to know it's not just about her.]
For my sake, I think he'd be angry. I'd like to think that.
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The first time wasn't really my preference anyway, [Bruno admits.] He's worth more than he ever realized.
[He's worth so much more than a quiet send-off. Abbacchio would struggle to accept it and would likely never believe it, but that doesn't make it less true.]
Had there been time... [He shakes his head a little.] Mourn him the way you feel is right and in your own time, Izabel. It's what he deserves.
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He's so good. So, so good...
[Abbacchio had snapped at her when she told him that.]
What if the way I want to mourn him includes making sure you're okay? Not now -- not when he's just gone, even if i want for you to be okay. But eventually. Would that be alright?
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[It's what Abbacchio would want, isn't it?]
[Bruno draws a slow breath in and out.]
If it would make you feel better.
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I can't make you happy the way he does. I wouldn't want to try.
[He was too special, and too special to Bruno.]
But he would want you to be okay, too, and that's...kinda why we can't be right now, huh?
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[But it would be so much better if he was here.]
I'm okay, stellina. [As much as he can be. As much as he needs to be. That's what he really means.] And you will be, too.