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Post by Carlos Castro on Jan 27, 2009 16:57:12 GMT -5
Carlos had no time to answer--he was going to assure Simon that most likely he had not slipped, that knowing Erik Taylor was a musician was little enough to go on--when Addams inserted himself like a viper underfoot, unseen until it's too late. His expression closed, when Maleo moved past Carlos grasped his wrist tightly, stopping him in his tracks. They were very close, Carlos' lips pursing once before he spoke, either in thought or to allow him a moment to control himself.
"There's no call to say such things to the boy," he said. "If you've something to say to me--or to his father--I'm certain even you can think of a more appropriate time."
The insinuation was obvious, and not worth the bother--Maleo had had Erik, after all, and Carlos was not going to let that happen again. But that wasn't all that bothered him. He knew where Simon had come from, the sort of home his mother had kept. And if Erik was going to be Simon's father, Carlos thought it just as well he had one parent he could respect.
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Post by Maleo Basilio Addams on Jan 27, 2009 19:00:48 GMT -5
"Awfully protective of someone who isn't yourself, aren't you Señor? I mean, the child isn't even yours..." he replied, looking down at the boy. Simon, as expected, backed up with a tiny gasp, as if Maleo's gaze could turn him to stone. "Or is he really a plaything to you, Carlos? If you treat him well, Papa will reward you both?" Addams' free hand slipped up to squeeze Castro's shoulder, putting them both in close quarters.
Simon sniffled and shook his head. As much as it seemed plausible, Addams was a little backwards on what was really going on. He was struggling, himself, to be a good child to Carlos - so that he could live with them both, even if their family was strange.
"That's not true! Señor Castro is a good man! Leave him alone!" barked the young man, pushing on Maleo's side with all his little body's weight. It seemed like enough to dislodge Addam's from Castro's grip, and the sopranist backed up with another oily grin.
"Seems like he admires you already, Carlos. How touching. You'd do best to not lose that fire, boy," advised Addams, folding his arms over his chest.
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Post by Carlos Castro on Jan 27, 2009 19:18:23 GMT -5
They were causing a scene. Normally, that did not concern Carlos--or rather, it did, if it meant he was at the center of it and could control it. But this was different.
The fact that Simon had managed to dislodge Addams from his grip meant that he'd have to step forward to punch him. Carlos was not certain he'd ever punched anyone, and wondered idly if he would look silly doing it. Was there a trick to it, or was it just something men were born knowing?
"Perhaps that's your understanding of the world, Señor," Carlos growled through clenched teeth. "But you know me not at all if you think I am capable of what you suggest, whatever my... perversions. He is my lover's son. As such, he is my responsibility--and none of your business. From now on I will perform with you on stage. In character. And not off."
It had been a good enough game, while it had lasted. But Maleo had pushed it too far, in this case.
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Jan 27, 2009 20:05:39 GMT -5
Addams' smile made Simon's anger rise, and he looked flushed in the face, almost feverish.
"I will play with you still, Carlos," he taunted, turning about slowly. He knew one thing - Marlow's take on the tenor's scent was certainly different - wild and stronger. Now that he knew what he was dealing with, he would have to watch out for real claws from the tenor... not that he'd minded being torn up before.
When the sopranist had slipped out of sight, Simon was still standing there, trembling and angry, hands clenched in tiny fists. The boy looked ready to explode, but something had been set off inside him. Perhaps it was a combination of all things, what Alex said, what Addams said...
"I hate him."
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Post by Carlos Castro on Jan 28, 2009 10:29:07 GMT -5
Carlos moved his startled gaze down to Simon, drawn out of his own preoccupation by the venomous words. The timing was, in fact, fortunate; Carlos hadn't realized how close he'd been to giving in and giving himself away. In front of Maleo, Simon, and the entire cast. Seeing Simon's own trembling moved him, recalled him back to himself, and he laid a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Simon," he said quietly. "You're quite entitled to hate him. I hate him, too."
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Jan 28, 2009 19:11:12 GMT -5
Simon's gaze was still on the empty space where Addams had been, but his hand came up and rested on the stronger hand on his shoulder. When his eyes finally moved up to the more familiar form of Castro, the boy sighed and squeezed Carlos' hand.
"I don't care what Father's done before. I know he's not... normal... but I don't care. He doesn't look at me as a filthy rat..." Which he wasn't sure of, but Simon had reason to believe that slowly, the two of them were growing to care for each other.
"So what gives that bastard the right to say anything?"
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Post by Carlos Castro on Jan 28, 2009 19:16:26 GMT -5
"He hasn't--but you don't need to listen." It was difficult to explain. Carlos did not mind Maleo in the same way, not usually, because he was used to such games and it was a game, to him. It was not to Simon. And Addams had become vicious enough that it wasn't for Carlos anymore, either. Oh, he'd done his share of dirty deeds as well, but he drew the line somewhere.
"He can't do anything to you. Or to me, or to your father. He's... an annoyance. Nothing more. Hate him all you like, but don't let him get under your skin. And if he does, don't let him see it. It's exactly what he wants. It's what he thrives on."
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Jan 28, 2009 21:04:15 GMT -5
"Then he needs to change his diet," grumbled the boy, pushing the hand off his shoulder to stride toward the exit, hands stuffed into his pockets. He felt terrible now, still unable to defuse his anger at Addams. It seemed to boil quietly under the surface, however, and Simon said little else to the transaction backstage.
Maybe he would take Alex up on her offer, if only to have a third-party outside his family to talk to.
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Post by Carlos Castro on Jan 29, 2009 21:29:48 GMT -5
Carlos strolled after him, giving him space.
"Let's go home," he said quietly. He did not notice, but Alex gazed after them, a quizzical look on her face, though she said nothing. "Unless," he continued, taking up his coat, "you'd like something to eat first?"
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Feb 3, 2009 16:39:50 GMT -5
"I think I'd like..." He paused and thought about it, but shook his head. "I want to go home," he said, his usually warm face looking a little pale, as though he'd been drained from his momentary rage.
"Can you take me?"
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Post by Carlos Castro on Feb 3, 2009 16:57:06 GMT -5
Carlos smiled, his expression unusually gentle.
"Of course," he said. "I am done here."
It had been a trying day for the boy, he could tell. And his own reaction, confusing as it had been, required some recuperation and thought. He led the way back down.
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Feb 3, 2009 18:33:33 GMT -5
Simon kept his hands in his pockets and his head down as they walked, side by side, into the underground domain. He was still quiet, with a tired anger showing on his face. One trip to the surface in the Opera house and he already had someone he despised... ((Shall we go see daddy? ))
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Post by Carlos Castro on Feb 3, 2009 18:45:30 GMT -5
((Indeed!))
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