Paths Taken

Angelo really didn't mind how long it took for his father to respond. It wasn't an easy question. There was no quick and simple right answer. It was a big one, and when his father finally did hand the phone over--right as Angelo was kicking off his shoes--he took his own time with his answer, reading the message over twice (even though he really didn't need to) before handing it back.

What kind of change did he want to make? To help people, yes, but that seemed so general. There were a million and one ways to help people. His father had been helping people, and yet Angelo knew he'd never walk down a path like his father. He was many things, but intimidating crime lord was not one of them.

"I want..." Angelo said, perhaps a shade too soft before his father signaled, "I want to help people. I don't want to right wrongs for individuals--I mean I do, but not like that--I want to... to help everyone. Manta Carlos is like a paradise in a lot of ways, but there's still things wrong with it. There's second chances, but people abuse them. There are... There aren't enough protections. There aren't enough resources. The island has so many opportunities, but it can be overwhelming."

He was thinking, at least for the moment, of the NEK0. Of the fact that they were now having to adjust. Of the fact that they were adrift in a strange new place. They had resources available in a lot of cases, but they didn't know they were there. Someone should have been... been what, walking them through life?

Maybe.

He really, really wished he could just talk. It would be nice to hear his father say these things, only he wasn't willing to hold off either. He didn't want to sit around and wait and think things through. He wanted to... to know. To know what his father suggested.

Politics. Politics had been an obvious answer more or less from the start, but Angelo had never quite let it sit in his head. It was an elephant in the room that he'd somehow... what, missed? More like ignored. In Halcyon it had never even been an option. It hadn't even been a hypothetical. There was simply no chance, ever, that Angelo Genovese could have been involved in politics. Not with his father being who he was.

But things were different in Manta Carlos. In Manta Carlos, families mattered far less. Who you were didn't matter much at all, only who you were right then.

It was an option.

"I can do... both those things. All those things," Angelo said after a moment. "The library is easy. I can read... well, everything. Everything in the library and just know it all. But you're right that I need goals. That I need... plans and changes. That's why I'm supposed to be doing on the student council to begin with."

Things that needed changing. It wasn't as easy as just pointing to a monster and saying that probably shouldn't be stomping around the city, was it?

"Disaster preparedness," Angelo said with a small groan. "That's what we need. People don't know how to react when something bad happens. When someone's powers go out of control. When something goes wrong."

Angelo was of the opinion that the Basilio of a year ago would have burst into flames when exposed to the Basilio of today. Freed of his obligations, his reputation, and the control of Adraxis, Basilio was a far kinder person. He was more... relaxed. He wore slippers.

It was homey.

"I don't think I'll need anyone intimidating, hopefully," Angelo said as he read over the note, responding almost immediately. He was hoping that, no matter what he did, his father wouldn't have to do the intimidating mafioso thing. That was... well. It was the last thing he wanted. Angelo would have done everything in his power to make sure that his father never slipped back into that life, if only because it meant he'd probably live to retirement.

That was a funny idea: His dad retiring. Getting a hobby, rather than having Angelo visiting him in jail.

"I'll talk to Alma about it," Angelo said before cringing. "When I can talk, anyway." He couldn't exactly have a phone conversation with her, could he? "And see if I can... kick off my student council stuff with it. I can start reading through the library's collection in my free time, and..."

One last thing that made him pause.

"Do you..." He started, before faltering and trying to start over. It still felt weird talking without being able to hear himself. It made him second guess himself more than he would have otherwise.

"I tried to stay in school to be with my peers, but in college that's less of an issue. I was thinking that... maybe I should do something extra. Graduate early. Or do a double major."

Or both, considering that he didn't sleep.

He would try. The idea of it had resolved in his head, solidifying. He would push on ahead. He'd burn through school, graduate with... one degree? Two degrees? He'd have to look into that. He'd dig through the library. And then... politics.

However that worked on Manta Carlos.

Angelo didn't say anything right away, stepping over to pull his dad into a hug. It felt nice to be able to talk to him about things. To bounce ideas without worrying that his dad was going to catch him in the act.

"Thanks," Angelo said, more quiet than he might have otherwise been. "I'm happy I can talk to you about stuff like this."

He didn't linger too long, pulling back after a moment.

"I'm going to sleep tonight and see if that helps with things. I'll see you in the morning."