06-24-2021, 09:57 PM
[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; letter-spacing: 2.5px; word-spacing: 0px; line-height: 12px; color: #000"]❝ Oh, I like this one. ❞ Giovanni’s gravelly voice rattled as he spoke, puffing at the end of a cigar whilst he lounged back on his chair. The father and son duo sat at a bistro table on the terrace which looked out across the ocean. Whilst Giovanni twisted the cigar between two pinched fingers, scrutinizing the item for any faults, Teddy sat at the other end of the table compliantly, watching his father with an expectant gaze. Usually, those somewhat narrowed eyes meant that he was searching for something to criticize, as if the pleasure of being able to take full advantage of his sons’ empire would never be enough for him.
Giovanni smacked his lips together, blowing a thick plume of smoke towards his youngest son before he remarked, ❝ Much better than the last one. You should stop manufacturing dem other ones; won’t be good for business ‘round here if we keep selling them off to our guests. ❞ Teddy’s lips parted slightly, nodding his head thoughtfully as he observed his father. We. Our. Words which would send Micah into a frenzy if he ever heard them pass Giovanni’s lips. And so Giovanni would not dare mention his intentions in front of Micah — those were words he’d use to manipulate Teddy instead.
Sometimes, Teddy could see right through his father. He knew that Papa only decided to show up upon hearing about the Knope’s success in this neck of the woods, but Teddy couldn’t help but automatically yield to Papa regardless. He had spent his entire life desperate for just an inkling that Papa was proud of him, but instead he would be met with those cold, indifferent, judging eyes that always brought about a feeling of unease whenever he was around him. Teddy would never admit that his relationship with Papa was fractured in its very own way; Teddy so desperately wanted to hate Papa, but even more so wanted to hate the way that he loved him all the same. Yearned for a connection, one which he had never been fortunate enough to experience in his youth.
Everything felt tangled as Teddy gazed across at Papa. He hated that look on Papa’s face — despised it — and yet his tongue felt as if it were in knots as he fumbled uselessly for the right words he could use to impress him. It was the greatest oxymoron, his love and hate for Papa. But, when Papa sat, live in the flesh, in front of Teddy, he felt nothing but the desire to please and the intense fear of angering the beast in repose. ❝ Yeah, you right. ❞ Teddy chose to agree, even whilst he quite enjoyed the last cigar that Giovanni had tasted. Teddy was intrigued by the types of cigars that they could manufacture right here in The Badlands, but Giovanni had especially taken an interest in the commodity. It was almost as if he knew that it was one way of sneaking into the business. His honest opinion and his own presumed expertise could be enticing for any businessman.
Not Teddy, though. He just feared how Giovanni would respond if he told him no. Would he abandon the brothers again if Teddy were to stand up against his father? Would he break Teddy’s heart all over again, fracture all trust that Teddy already struggled to form with people? He hated the way Papa made him feel, as if nothing he said would ever be enough. As if he was trapped upon a tightrope, balancing between maintaining or destroying this fragile relationship he and Papa had. ❝ Ya like this one though? It’s da smoothness that I like. ❞ ❝ Toasty, almost. ❞ Teddy nodded his head, leaning back in his seat as he looked out across the sea. ❝ Toasty, yeah. ❞ Compliance would hold Papa's attention; it often did in times like these, Teddy had learned through experience.
Giovanni smacked his lips together, blowing a thick plume of smoke towards his youngest son before he remarked, ❝ Much better than the last one. You should stop manufacturing dem other ones; won’t be good for business ‘round here if we keep selling them off to our guests. ❞ Teddy’s lips parted slightly, nodding his head thoughtfully as he observed his father. We. Our. Words which would send Micah into a frenzy if he ever heard them pass Giovanni’s lips. And so Giovanni would not dare mention his intentions in front of Micah — those were words he’d use to manipulate Teddy instead.
Sometimes, Teddy could see right through his father. He knew that Papa only decided to show up upon hearing about the Knope’s success in this neck of the woods, but Teddy couldn’t help but automatically yield to Papa regardless. He had spent his entire life desperate for just an inkling that Papa was proud of him, but instead he would be met with those cold, indifferent, judging eyes that always brought about a feeling of unease whenever he was around him. Teddy would never admit that his relationship with Papa was fractured in its very own way; Teddy so desperately wanted to hate Papa, but even more so wanted to hate the way that he loved him all the same. Yearned for a connection, one which he had never been fortunate enough to experience in his youth.
Everything felt tangled as Teddy gazed across at Papa. He hated that look on Papa’s face — despised it — and yet his tongue felt as if it were in knots as he fumbled uselessly for the right words he could use to impress him. It was the greatest oxymoron, his love and hate for Papa. But, when Papa sat, live in the flesh, in front of Teddy, he felt nothing but the desire to please and the intense fear of angering the beast in repose. ❝ Yeah, you right. ❞ Teddy chose to agree, even whilst he quite enjoyed the last cigar that Giovanni had tasted. Teddy was intrigued by the types of cigars that they could manufacture right here in The Badlands, but Giovanni had especially taken an interest in the commodity. It was almost as if he knew that it was one way of sneaking into the business. His honest opinion and his own presumed expertise could be enticing for any businessman.
Not Teddy, though. He just feared how Giovanni would respond if he told him no. Would he abandon the brothers again if Teddy were to stand up against his father? Would he break Teddy’s heart all over again, fracture all trust that Teddy already struggled to form with people? He hated the way Papa made him feel, as if nothing he said would ever be enough. As if he was trapped upon a tightrope, balancing between maintaining or destroying this fragile relationship he and Papa had. ❝ Ya like this one though? It’s da smoothness that I like. ❞ ❝ Toasty, almost. ❞ Teddy nodded his head, leaning back in his seat as he looked out across the sea. ❝ Toasty, yeah. ❞ Compliance would hold Papa's attention; it often did in times like these, Teddy had learned through experience.
[align=center][div style="width: 400px; font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; font-size: 6pt; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.5px; word-spacing: 2px; margin-bottom: 5px;"]✧･ﾟ: I'VE BEEN IN LIKE A THOUSAND TIMES, DATED EVERY WOMAN IN THE ATMOSPHERE. I'VE BEEN TO EVERY CONTINENT, BROKEN ALL THE HEARTS IN EVERY HEMISPHERE, AND IF I'M NOT THE TYPE OF GUY YOU LIKE TO CIRCUMVENT, JUST REMEMBER NOT TO LOVE ME WHEN I DISAPPEAR. I GRADUATED AT THE TOP, I LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BOURGEOISIE . . .