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[callmekacchan]

Katsuki Bakugou

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text; un: signorvespa

[prontissimo]

[ Okay, three weeks' pouting is enough... The gig is up and he knows it. It's time to bury the hatchet. Katsuki's already met Luca and it went astronomically better, and there's really no point in hiding their secret now that he's already figured it out... But his silence hasn't been a continued effort to distance himself from the explosive sea monster reveal. No, no, in fact, Alberto's just been too proud and guilty and awkward to reach out to apologize. He knows he was in the wrong — m-maybe the only one in the wrong...? He goes back and forth about it in his mind still. Dueling first instincts to either project his anger or blame himself. But thankfully, for better or worse, the latter seems to have won out at last... He's not good at apologizing; it's hard to be good at apologies when they're not met with forgiveness most his life. But ever since, you know, joining society about six months ago, he's created many opportunities for practice... Now's time to put it to good use. ]

ciao

[ Nailed it. ]

Text, un: Dynamight

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki is surprised to see a text from Alberto after the better part of a month has passed. He'd basically put the ball in Alberto's court with a text about infection symptoms and just. Kind of accepted it as a burnt bridge when he never got a response. He knows he handled that whole situation poorly. He has no tact and his temper is a whole Thing. And emotions are hard.

But he's far from opposed to trying to mend things. If that's what Alberto is looking for anyway. He's honestly not sure. Only one way to find out.]

What's up?

[prontissimo]

[ He's rehearsed many different ways to break this ice, but now finds himself just... winging it with a new impromptu approach. Great. Love that for them. ]

Heard you met Luca

[callmekacchan]

Yeah.
We talked for a while.

[Not really sure where this is going. He felt like the whole thing with Luca went pretty well?

He'd handled the whole reveal thing pretty calmly. All things considered. But for all he knows Alberto is texting him to tell him to leave them both alone now.]

[prontissimo]

yeah... because of the rain he said. good.

[ Alberto also isn't really sure where this is going. But he's trying. ]

you were right by the way.

[ L-Like Katsuki didn't already know that but. Yes: Nailed it... ]

[callmekacchan]

[Well.

That.

Sure wasn't what Katsuki was expecting. At all. He just kind of stares at that for a few moments kind of trying to figure out how to respond. These things are decidedly outside the realm of things he's good at. And like anyone who is used to being good at most things, he is exceedingly uncomfortable when he has to do things he's Bad at. But eventually he does carefully type up a response.]

Yeah, well.
Right or wrong, I probably could have done it better.
Wasn't trying to scare you or whatever.

[prontissimo]

[ And that is what it came down to, truly. Alberto was scared. For all his airs... he's still just a kid, and very literally a fish out of water. But they're both floundering with this equally now. That was the ice breaker. Now he has to... apologize, too...? He's no good with words. He's an action guy. Which is exactly what he falls back on with this now... ]

You wanna come over for coffee ?

[ TF, kid... Every text more out of the blue than the last. He knows he can't do this in text, though. He's better off the page. ]

[callmekacchan]

[To be fair Katsuki is also more actions than words. And he distinctly understands how difficult just reaching out and admitting fault was, given he'd had to do it himself recently.

He can read that feeling of regret into Alberto doing that and honestly he's fine accepting this much as an apology. Mostly because he's bad at them.

Off the wall invite is unexpected but so is everything with Alberto honestly.]

Sure.
Now?

[prontissimo]

[ The utter wave of relief he feels... This is going better than expected. He didn't really have any expectations, to start with, so... by default it's going better than expected. ]

sure. if you want. I'm just at home.
since you know. The Rain...

[ It's been on and off, not the bad storms just yet. But grey and drizzly enough that he'd rather just stay in than deal with it. ]

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki resists the urge to respond that at least one of them was staying out of the rain. Instead he texts back that he's on his way and gets ready to go over.

Luca had said Alberto already replaced the jars that exploded. Which means he can't replace them as an act of apology... looks like he'll be winging it too.

Great.

Just like last month he turns up at Alberto's door and knocks. Hopefully this visit goes better.]

[prontissimo]

[ When Alberto answers the door, the house looks much the same as it did the last time Katsuki'd been here... Some furniture has been rearranged, but it's just the same amount of clutter as before — just that many items have been swapped out, but, really... who can tell. Indeed, though, as Luca had mentioned, the jars that had exploded have been replaced, hanging from the ceiling by duct tape now (a new discovery they're very thrilled about), refilled with all their previous trinkets and then some. The air is filled with the smell of coffee already put on.

The only really noticeable new developments in the past three weeks are Alberto's continued experimentation with human fashion, today wearing some thrifted embroidered jean capris that were quite obviously (to anyone else) designed for little girls, paired with a timeworn yellow T-shirt slightly too big for him, barefoot as usual. The other recent development being the music, coming not from their record player, but from a modern stereo system this time — the newest, nicest thing in here; he's delved deeper into modern pop music ever since Katsuki introduced it him so long ago, Madonna's Ray of Light album playing on shuffle on the new stereo. He'd still fight Katsuki over his grandpa music, but clearly... Katsuki's suggestions opened a door. That might lend some extra comfort that things here are still salvageable.

Alberto's not necessarily his usual smiley self, nor his usual sassy self; despite his affected nonchalant airs, there's something more neutral about him than their past interactions... Because he's nervous, however he tries to hide it. He doesn't know what he's doing but he's doing it anyway — whiiiich is totally his usual spontaneous self, at least. He waves Katsuki in with a couple little twirls of his hand. ]

Ciaooo... C'min. Espresso's almost done.

[ Déjà vu. Almost verbatim how Katsuki's first visit started. Here we go... ]

[callmekacchan]

[Déjà vu indeed. But the music that's playing is definitely more modern than the opera that was blaring last time. And Katsuki can't really pin down how that makes him feel. But it's not a bad feeling at least.

He's been giving some thought as to what he's supposed to do now. But honestly he hasn't got a clue where to start untangling this whole mess. What would make it better isn't even his biggest concern. More than that if he could evade making it worse?

He walks a few feet in, turns around and stands there listening to the music for a few seconds.]

This sounds better than what you had going last time.

[...okay well. It's something.]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto narrows his eyes at that remark. His tone is taut with skepticism, but there's still a subtle good humor beneath it. ]

I don't know if Madonna is better than Rossini... But yeah. She's fantastic.

[ Madonna is no stranger in this house. The birth of a monster... no pun intended. He moseys over to the cushions and flops backwards, spread out with an open frame. Confident body language — it's a good trick. Tricks even one's own mind. ]

Sooo... I talked to Luuuca...

[ Well, it's. an opener. ]

I, uh— ...I heard a human phrase once back home. From this old fisherman guy I knew in Portorosso — Tomasso. "One hand washes the other, and both hands wash the face." ...Heh. Y'know?

[ ...That's it. That's what he has to say. Apology finished. Is he even using this idiom right? Probably not. Who knows. But he knows what he's trying to say. ]

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki gives him a bewildered look. What...? I mean. He's heard the idiom before but...

Did he really get called over here just for Alberto to basically say you keep my secret and I'll keep yours?

That could have been said over text.

...ah. Alberto has no more idea than he does how to do this. Okay. Well. They're in the same boat anyway.]

Right. For the record, I wasn't worried you'd tell anyone. I wouldn't have told you if I was.

[He sure did admit indirectly that he trusts Alberto. But that's... more because he already knew something about him in turn? He's basically only told people who he already learned something major about first.

And Izuku.

But Alberto didn't have that same safety net. All he had was some guy he barely knew accusing him of being a sea monster and intentions didn't really matter?]

I handled the whole thing in a pretty shitty way. Can't deny that part. Your reaction... wasn't wrong or whatever. It didn't help your case. But it's not wrong that you got pissed at me. I was an asshole.

[It's not really an "I'm sorry". But at least he isn't really expecting anything else in the way of apologies from Alberto?]

Are we good?

1/2

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto listens to all that quietly, letting his gaze drift to Katsuki and then aside in thought, drawing his arms in on himself, losing some of that confident body language. He's focused on some random spot on the floor when Katsuki asks if they're good, still chewing Katsuki's other words over. It gives him pause, throwing a surprised look up at the other — there's a hint of guilt in his eyes, though. He knows he was a jerk, too; more than anything, he feels dumb. That's a rough feeling for Alberto. He'd considered so many different ways to apologize, and now Katsuki just... beat him to the punch. All out the window. He just offers an awkward grimace and gives a little nod at first. ]

...Yeah.

2/2

[prontissimo]

[ He shifts his eyes away uncomfortably, but looks back to Katsuki with a second thought, raising his brow slightly. ]

Um— ...I'm not mad. Not at you. I mean— Anymore. Just so you know. Kinda— shouldn't've been, in the first place...

[ Mumbled the last bit slightly, of course. But by which he means to say: he's just been silent so long because he's been embarrassed... And that's written all over his face and slowly shrinking body language, far from the loosey-goosey over-the-top animations Katsuki'd encountered their other two meetings. Luca's clearly knocked some good sense into Alberto's head over all this. After all, Alberto texted Katsuki to apologize the very next day after he met Luca; that's very telling about the boys' dynamic together, judging by how awkward but earnest Alberto is being. Luca's clearly not twisting his arm to do this. And truly, after meeting Luca, it's probably hard to imagine him twisting anyone's arm... That's more Alberto's territory anyway. ]

[callmekacchan]

[Sorry, Alberto, he's not great at beating around the bush. It's not even a proper apology really. He's not sorry for bringing it up. Just. Feeling guilty about how he handled it? But he's feeling on more solid ground now.]

I'm not mad either. Honestly... probably stopped being mad about it a couple of hours after.

[He sits down, cross-legged on the floor. Getting more comfortable.]

We'll probably fight again. Maybe not that bad. But it'll almost definitely happen. And that's fine? People fight. And sometimes it's for stupid reasons. Doesn't have to be the end of the world.

[prontissimo]

[ That, too, catches Alberto off guard. He's fought plenty in his life — mooostly with his dad — and it's an amazing feeling being given permission to... mess up. Even if it's from just a friend — if that's what they are now... He's not sure; it seems like that's the direction it's headed, if they're planning on fighting again already. But it makes him think of Massimo telling him how he once made his own father so angry as a young man, that his dad punched a hole in a brick wall... Then they fixed it. And then they fixed the boat Alberto had caught on fire... ...That was probably worse than things with Katsuki, in fact. And he in Massimo resolved things in far fewer words than this. The reminder puts things into better perspective.

He stares at Katsuki with another odd, ruminative look, skipping a beat, but then gives a single little nod in understanding. He rubs his knees with both palms awkwardly, strums his fingers a couple times, then stands up abruptly. ]

...Right. Okay.

[ He gestures toward the kitchen door with a backwards nod. ]

Espresso's probably ready. Aspetta.

[ He holds a hand up indicating for Katsuki to wait here, then climbs up and over the tall nest of cushions, standing on them to get past instead of just... walking around them... like a normal person... ...Kids.

After he disappears into the kitchen, though, he walks backwards suddenly to pop back in, leaning back over-animatedly with one leg still raised comically in the air, half-unseen in the kitchen, and points at Katsuki with a knowing look. ]

Next time we fight, though? I won't try to make you think you're crazy.

[ A-And then immediately disappears into the kitchen again to go fetch the coffee as a very clumsy segue. They're both creating their own comfort making up here... ]

[callmekacchan]

[This is going miles ahead better than his attempts to make up with Izuku. He fumbled that twice before getting it right. So. Clumsy and awkward and kind of baffling as it is, if they get it resolved in the first go, that's a win.

As Alberto heads for the kitchen, Katsuki leans back, arms bracing behind himself as he starts to take in the chaotic mess of the room around him in more detail. He pauses when Alberto backtracks, surprised. He calls out at Alberto's retreating back, without missing a beat.]

Can't make me think I'm crazy if I already know I am.

[Dry. Maybe too dry to even register as the attempt at a joke it is? Oh well. How much that's a joke probably depends on who you ask anyway... Alberto is not the first to accuse him of being crazy and he won't be the last in any case...]

[prontissimo]

Hah!

[ Alberto barks a loud laugh at that. Katsuki's joke hit his mark. Alberto is on Team Crazy (might even be the captain...?), but so is pretty much... everyone he associates with...? Luca: definitely crazy. Giulia: also crazy. Massimo: his own brand of crazy. Bruno? We don't even need to talk about it. Katsuki seems a sensible addition to the list...

And really, now that he's alone in the kitchen for a moment of reprieve by himself to process — because being alone is still a comfort zone for him — it's actually a huge relief, having gotten this apology out of the way. That they're even joking already. Alberto really did like Katsuki, so it bothered him that he'd pushed away (literally) someone he liked... who clearly can understand, and be trusted. He still feels like a dumb jerk. Luca knocked sense into him. But he's glad for now to be able to clear the air.

He walks out with two cups of espresso with cream already stirred in, carrying them in each hand by the saucers with a bag of typical almond biscotti cookies tucked beneath his arm carefully. He lets it drop inelegantly onto the coffee table, then sets each cup down, and joins Katsuki on the floor. Time for another ice-breaker: which feels now much, much easier... ]

Sooo. You got the gist of it, right? Luca told you about how we make the Change? Or— did you just figure it out...?

[ Since apparently Katsuki's so good at just figuring stuff out... Oof. ]

[callmekacchan]

[Crazy attracts crazy. It's just a rule of thumb.

Katsuki sits forward a little to reach for his espresso, eying the cookies. Attention soon pulled by the questioning.]

He got wet. Saw the scales on his cheek. Kind of put two and two together from there and figured he might be the friend you mentioned.

[He's clever when it comes to things like this at least. Things he can logically put together. Luca's age, the scales, Alberto's weird behavior at the mention of cleaning his wound... he could connect that to the getting wet showing scales. How many seamonster kids could there be in Kaisou, right?]

So you can't control it. Just a matter of wet vs dry? Kind of like in some of those old mermaid movies. But you get the scales all over, right? You guys sprout tails too?

[He's curious. And now it feels okay to ask?]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto nods sagely at everything Katsuki says, point after point after point, sipping his espresso gingerly. He smirks slightly at the question about their tails, setting the cup down to reach for the cookies. He dumps a few on the tabletop next to his coffee cup casually as he speaks... doesn't bother to use the saucer, no, just— right on the table. As one does. ]

Yup. I alter all our pants — y'know, in case we go swimming or something. My dad taught me how to sew the tail-hole.

[ He dips his biscuit into the espresso, leaning backwards comfortably into the cushions with one leg propped up and one folded under himself; his body language is now much more relaxed and comfortable, munching and talking with his mouth full. With the air cleared, it's like now he's an open book... Almost infuriating how stark the contrast is, all things considered. There's definitely a boastful air about him brewing, too... ]

My tail is super long — and spiky, heh. Veeery spiny caudal fins...~

[ When talking about his caudal fins, too, like dumping the cookies on the table and talking with his mouth full, he seems as natural and in his element as can be now... For real, almost infuriatingly so. All this drama, and now he's ready to brag about his damn tail? ]

[callmekacchan]

[Definitely a big change. Relaxed. At ease. Alberto's personality is big and he's an open book about it no matter which part of his personality is showing. It's... useful, actually? Because Katsuki isn't always great at reading how people are feeling. Emotions are kind of... more complicated for him than things he can logically piece together.]

What's the point of the spikes? Something to fight with?

[Katsuki doesn't have a problem with Alberto getting boastful. This just means he can ask his questions. He hides it better than Izuku, who would probably be taking notes right about now and rapid firing questions. But Katsuki is a nerd too. He can't just know seamonsters exist and not try to learn more about them.

He props an elbow on the table, reaching for a cookie. His own body language not nearly as open, but the way he leans forward on the table a bit conveys his interest. Curiosity. This is why he knows so much. That hunger to learn.]

[prontissimo]

Hah! No. To swim faster. I'm basically the fastest swimmer ever...? At least in our ocean. I mean— ...N-Not that I really knew anyone in our ocean. But! I beat Luca every time we race. Heh.

[ Because of course they race. Even here. Really, it feels nice to talk so openly and honestly about it now. To present his normal as normal. It is an odd note, however, that he says he doesn't know any other sea monsters in their ocean back home...? But he smooths over it right away, dipping his cookie into his coffee again and noshing idly. ]

[callmekacchan]

[Normally a boast like that would push on Katsuki's competitive nature. He'd want to test that claim himself. But swimming is a no-go for him. He doesn't even like being too close to large bodies of water if he can help it. But that doesn't stop him from wanting to see this fast swimming in action. From a safe distance anyway.]

Oh yeah? Maybe you can show me sometime. If we can find a place where it'd be safe to do without risking being seen.

[He'll just file away that line about not knowing other seamonsters for later. Although he at least gathered from their argument that Alberto is probably used to being pretty independent. Raised to take care of himself...

And he seemed to be managing here on his own to some degree? Didn't seem concerned about not having parents around in any case. But he's learned from last time that maybe those kinds of things need to be handled a little less ham-fisted.]

If you wanna, anyway.

[Pops a cookie into his mouth whole and finally picks up his espresso.]