a n n i e n t a m e n t o ;

♞ Pietro "Peter" Rinaldi. 30. Bartender. Bodyguard for The Rinaldi Cartel. Lakewood, TX. ♞

[rinxldi]

princessrinaldi‌:

text to 📲 pietro🖤: image attachment

Pietro: wow.

Pietro: and i thought i looked good today.

Pietro: omw

Tucking his phone back into his pocket, he pulled away from the brunette, zipping up his jeans before leaving without another word. He’d busied himself with three girls and one guy since he’d arrived. It was easier to get laid if he was social but he had made some broken promises along the way. Like keeping in contact, for example. He wandered through the mess of people, making a beeline for the entrance, spotting his little sister soon after.

“Aurora!” He called out, lifting his arm in a slight wave. Approaching, he pressed a kiss into the side of her head, arm snaking around her shoulder. “Fashionably late or did you get lost on the way here for the fifth year in a row?”

[rinxldi]

princessrinaldi‌:

text to 📲 pietro🖤: About to walk into the carnival. Meet me at the entrance?

Pietro: for sure

Pietro: what u wearing?

[rinxldi]

princessrinaldi‌:

@rinxldi

text to 📲 pietro🖤:

Are you doing anything right now?

Pietro: wondering around the carnival atm, iso some grub

Pietro: wya?

[rinxldi]

𝓟𝒾ℯ𝓉𝓇ℴ 𝓡𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁𝒹𝒾.    —

                                                         Lakewood Annual Carnival ;

[rinxldi]

valentina-rinaldi‌:

“Fine,” Valentina’s response came. Sure, there was the reappearance of Maverick in her life, the deposition of Camila and the truth of the underworld in which they lived in. “I just… I’m working, I’m keeping busy.” I’m not telling you my ex-boyfriend is home. She finished in thought, keeping mum.

“So when do you go in to see the Doctor?”

“Good, that’s good,” he acknowledged quietly. What he would give to actually be hit with a wave of amnesia right now. Erase both their memories and they could be on their merry ways. “Doctor,” he reiterated slowly as his thoughts caught back up to real-time. Which doctor? “Just got back from my appointment,” he noted, a thin-lipped smile curling against his teeth. “I was gonna call you but--- seemed like you were like really busy.” He was still solidifying plans with Alastair. He couldn’t afford to get Valentina involved too early. “So what did Titan tell you?”

[rinxldi]

valentina-rinaldi‌:

Valentina had to consider her options. Go and check in on Pietro, or finally breathe the tethered yet fraying rope that bound brother and sister and let her free from him. Maybe that was why she was holding onto the imagery of the Rinaldi’s. This unparalleled loyalty that clung her to each of them in ways she didn’t explain. And looking at the finished call from Titan—she knew better. She knew she had to go see him, see onto the progress she hoped was there.

Approaching, Valentina left the singular space between them when she spotted Pietro, falling into the seat and pulling her small side-bag onto her lap. “Hi,” She whispered, tilting her head as she spoke, looking to him. “How’re you feeling?”

Shit. There she was. He offered a polite wave as she neared, letting his hands fall to his lap as he contemplated what to do with them. Should they sit atop the table, folded? Clasped? What about his feet? Did they give off a vulnerable vibe? Too vulnerable? He angled his body away from hers, amber hues shooting anywhere but his sister. He was completely bare. Exposed for her to see. This was so embarrassing.

“Hey,” he replied, giving a reassuring nod. “Oh, yeah--- f’course. Livin’ the dream. How’ve you been?”

[rinxldi]

eli-drake‌:

Narrowed hues, as he settled on his friend, before rolling his eyes. “Well don’t stand there like a prick, come in.” He snipped, moving into the grand living room, as his long frame fell onto the couch, box in hand from being preiously passed his way.

Though he didn’t open it, as he kept quiet. “So… no amnesia?” He quipped after a moment. “I resent the bit about keeping a secret, I do it when there’s a beneficial bit to me, and unfortunately for you, I don’t quite fancy your sister as much as I take to your mother and Aunt—they are where my business wins.”

He was a billionaire—built upon generations of men and women before him—but it wasn’t untrue to suggest the Rinaldi’s favoured his ties to them than most, and Eli obliged the women happily.

Opening the box, brows up. “It’s nice, a good enough apology.” He quipped, as he set the box down on the table. “Now, explain why you’re faking all of this? You said your sister, why would you do it for her?”

Pietro let himself move forward, one foot in front of the other as he listened. He really wasn’t good at this apologizing thing. He apologized like his family did. With money. He shook his head.

“No,” he vocalized the gesture, stopping short of the next room. Should he have turned around right there? Ran back out those doors of this grand house and leave it at that? Eli deserved the truth. Didn’t he? Did he? Tucking his hands into his pockets, he continued on in.

“Like I said--- it’s complicated,” he explained, running his fingers through his hair. A beat. “You remember the night of The Black Rabbit opening? Well, during the chaos I--- saw--- one of our bodyguards abusing Val. I intervened and I ended up killing him. I panicked. Didn’t know what to do with the body so I told her to help me dispose of him. You know how she is--- she wouldn’t do it. She wanted to get the police involved.” He wrung his hands, living out ever sordid detail of that night. 

“I took her home, locked her in her room and went back to take care of it. When I came back---” he trailed off, letting his head fall. “I--- kinda lost it. I was drunk and I did something I didn’t mean to do,” he continued. “I needed a way out. For her to trust me again. This was the first thing I thought of.” He closed the distance between them, kneeling before him. “Promise me you won’t breathe a word, Eli. This has to stay between you and me.”

[rinxldi]

ravennarinaldi‌:

A settled sigh, as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Ravenna was poised, wanting to do as she pleased, but shackled by ruling, position. Power only went so far when people resided above your stature. “Nothing, mi amore, just… stressed. Where have you been hiding?”

“Anything I can do to help?” Pietro was well aware of his position within the Cartel. Couldn’t do as much being only the bodyguard but he had separate agendas to go with that. “Lying low. Taking extra shifts at Kobra to keep myself occupied. Still in the midst of planning.” He couldn’t even begin to explain what the Hell happened the night before. He trusted Ravenna above anyone else, but was this something he could confide in her about? Something as childish as a nightmare? A beat. “Actually,” he continued. Might as well give it a shot. “I---uh--- had this really fucked up dream a couple nights ago. Been hardly getting any sleep since then. Every time I close my eyes--- it’s like it’s happening all over again. I’m running down some alleyway, bleeding out. I get into my car and when I get on the highway, I get hit by--- I don’t know? Another car? Like I was running away from someone. Like I was being targeted.” He swallowed thickly, flitting his gaze towards his shaking hands before quickly grabbing onto the table to still them. “It felt so real.”

[rinxldi]

The heavy stench of copper hung in the air but Pietro held a fast grip the arm that it’d been coming from. Another lash in the endless abyss of self-inflicted wounds but this one was deeper than the others. This one held a terrible promise. He stumbled through the dark, clambering into his vehicle as the blood leaked over the makeshift bandage, dripping onto the pristine white seats below him. Alcohol blurred his vision and the drugs in his system drove his mind in an inescapable carousel from Hell. 

Music blared through the speakers as he shifted into reverse, speeding back as he nearly hit the wall behind him before shifting into drive and pulling to the right. 

He sat there, gaze attempting to sit properly on the road ahead as he drove on. Every fibre in his being told him to continue. To never stop--- and he didn’t. He blazed through red lights, grinding each gear as he reached top speed. The nightlife around him blurred and the laugh sitting at the base of his throat broke free.

Faster.

The impact was unimaginable. 

He woke screaming. As his hands tried to find traction on the bedding, his gaze darted around the room. Eyes quickly filling with tears as his hysterics transitioned to a full-blown panic attack. Titan burst into the room moments later, nearly breaking into hysterics himself as he saw Pietro thrashing about the bed. Bolting over, he held his arms, wrapping him up in his own protectively as he attempted to calm him down. He’d never heard himself cry before. Not even as a child, but he’d been downright sobbing into his roommate’s arm. Frightened. Distraught from the all-too-real nightmare hanging on the edge of his consciousness. 

The following morning, Titan let Pietro take the day off work. Made him breakfast. Even accompanied him to the doctor’s office to go to his appointment. He later called Valentina, essentially pleading with her to see her brother, explaining what happened the previous night. He set up a time for the both of them and left Pietro where he’d brought him. Pietro sat quietly, picking at the food Titan had bought for him. He didn’t want to face Val after this. He was doing so well. One look and it was back to square one. He’d only hoped she wouldn’t show up.

[ @valentina-rinaldi ]

[rinxldi]

ravennarinaldi‌:

Perhaps it was the first time in a long time she hadn’t been hungover, one leg crossed over the other as her foot wiggled impatiently. No, she didn’t need company, but apparently her silent demeanor suggested otherwise, as the scuff of a chair moved before her. “Did something about me suggest you should sit there?” Ravenna asked, looking up.

“Damn, Zia,” he scoffed, taking the seat anyway. “I know you’re mad but you don’t need’ta start treatin’ me like one of your lesser favourites.” He sighed, slinking into his seat, taking his coffee with him as he took a hearty swig. “What’s wrong?”

[rinxldi]

eli-drake‌:

Home sweet home, they said.

Not bloody sure who suggested the shit, but there it was.

Eli had been minding his business when the gate sprung, Pietro’s voice burst forth, and he hesitated, the Brit unsure of the intent as he moved.

Was it a good idea? Possibly not. Who cared?

Feet padded the floor of his home, pristine and extravagant as he, as he opened the front door, hand in his pockets and waiting for Pietro’s arrival. “Well, now,” He clapped his hands together. “What do I owe the pleasure? I’m assuming you now remember who I am…”

Pietro wasn’t used to rolling over in the consideration of other’s feelings. Far from it, in fact. Everything he did was typically for his benefit alone. Should he have felt bad he kept a secret this large from Eli? Perhaps. He was here anyway, wasn’t he? Because he felt bad?

“It wasn’t anything personal,” he sighed, strutting it, closing the door behind him as he rested his back against it. He wouldn’t stray too far into Eli’s home on the off chance he’d be kicked out, but he didn’t need the prying ears of the Carlo’s outside. “I was in some hot water and I needed a way out.” His doe gaze panned up, caught somewhere between tired and apologetic. 

“I should’ve--- told you--- but damn, Eli, you’re not the best at keeping secrets.” He interjected, folding his arms over each other. A beat. “I got you something.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small box, offering it to the taller. “For the trouble. An apology of sorts---” he pulled it away briefly. “But you gotta promise me you’re gonna keep your mouth shut. If this gets out that I don’t actually have amnesia, I’ll lose my sister forever.” He bit his lip, offering it back over. “I’m sorry I lied to you.”

[rinxldi]

Explaining this was going to be a ride of it’s own. He sat in the back of the car, contemplating driving that short five feet to the front gate to let Eli know he was there. It was tricky. Why he’d done it was for an entire different conversation in of it’s own. Had he trusted Eli not to say anything? No. Had he entrusted his bank account to keep the other quiet? Up for debate. 

Still, Eli deserved to know. Pietro was dying to tell someone who wasn’t exactly in the loop and what kind of friend would he be if he kept this big of a secret to himself? The night of the inauguration, Pietro lied to Eli. Made it seem like he’d never met the man in his life. A difficult approach, but he pulled it off. Now he had to tell him. It was only right.

Signalling the driver to pull forward, he let the window slide down uncertainty hanging on his brow.

“E, it’s P. Open up. We need to talk.”

This was not a good idea.

[ @eli-drake ]

[sridevi]

“Hello, Derek? My name’s Mark. I’m a psychologist working with the CDC. Can you hear me? I was just told that you were under a bit of stress right now, so I wanted to check in on you. Can we talk? Can you tell me how you feel?”

MAYHEM (2017), dir. Joe Lynch

[rinxldi]

valentina-rinaldi‌:

It wasn’t like it could’ve been odd to see Pietro argue telling Papa. His relationship with his other three children was a bit healthier than his own with Pietro’s—why, Valentina never understood. Mama might’ve—and she too, being so close in age to her brother. But it was still a rivalry to be discussed. Maybe Papa didn’t want someone so bloodthirsty for a namesake, a throne he didn’t want to pass on. Maybe he liked being on top? Valentina chewed on the inside of her cheek, settling into a soft sigh. “I won’t tell.” She whispered, nodding. Pietro upset her beyond her wildest dreams, but Valentina remained mum. “I’ll keep it to myself.”

“Alastair?” Valentina quipped, a tilted head to the side. “I thought he was a surgeon…” A change of pace, maybe. He’d been very smart, from what she remembered. “Are you sure he’s qualified, though? I—I like him, but his power was cutting people open, and life-saving surgeries, maybe this is a little more personal. A mind is a fickle thing.” She half-laughed, falling into silence—and the sudden ebbing need to worry. But worries silenced when Pietro suggested otherwise, and Valentina licked her lips slowly once more. “Okay,” She murmured. Questions remained, but she wouldn’t continue to ask them. Not now.

“Pietro, don’t be irritable with me, I—I’m trying to help.” That was her truth, as she too followed her gazed into the bustle of the street. Lump formed in her throat, as she sunk her teeth into her bottom lip in thought. “I want to be able to help you, but I don’t know where my line is, and I don’t know how to help, and I don’t like the idea that you’re mismanaging your money, I—“ She’d sat up as she spoke, before slinking back inside her chair. “Just—if—if this is going to work, and I’m going to—to trust you again, I need to know you can be reliable. Everywhere.”

And she held her breath. “I need to know my brother is still in there, because all I can see is someone I’m terrified of at times.” And she paused. “And I’m sorry it’s like this, Pietro, I am.” She wished she could change things. But it was what it was. “I don’t want to be afraid of you, you know.”

“I know--- I know--- I’m sorry,” he scrubbed his hands over his face, taking a moment to let her words sink in. After everything he did to her, she still wanted to help. Was it crazy of him to feel sympathy for her? Was it crazy if he didn’t? He’d been so focused on making Valentina a part of the family, he’d neglected to realize she was, well, literally family. His favourite family member (besides Ravenna, of course). Was it worth it? He kept asking himself that. Perhaps leaving Val alone for a while might aid things, but then again--- he left her alone before and she turned into somebody he no longer recognized. They were adults, of course. No one stayed the same forever--- but it saddened him. Val was fiercely independent. It was revolting.

“It’ll be a journey for the both of us, but we’ll get there,” he acknowledged, giving a reassuring nod in advance. “It’s okay. Things will get better. We’ll get this figured out.” Glancing at his phone, giving no clear indication if it actually went off, he locked it, standing. “I have to get going but we’ll talk later, alright?” Another reaffirming smile. “A--And thank you,” he said suddenly. “For being so patient. I know this has been hard on you--- us--- but I have a good feeling about all of this.” He gave it a moment before checking his phone again and hurriedly pushing the chair back under the table, turning to start a light jog in the direction of Kobra. “I’ll catch you later, sis. Have a good rest of your day.”

[rinxldi]

lakewoodxkeegs‌:

“oh it’s definitely a thing. trust me,” she laughed, shaking her head. “when i get too hungry i totally get way grumpier and have a shorter fuse,” she added with a small smile. “well i mean pasta is an amazing thing so i don’t really think there is a better way to go?”

“That is very interesting. The more you know, huh?” He chuckled, mentally making note for a later time. It was never too early to use offered information. Everything had a time and place. “Enough talking!” He announced decidedly, a hint of exaggeration on the tip of his tongue. He offered his hand to her. “Come, Red Paladin. We feast!”

[rinxldi]

lakewoodxkeegs‌:

“my leg starts bouncing and i get more antsy. also hangry,” she chuckled with a shrug. “uhm duh. i love burgers and shakes. okay but pasta is delicious but i don’t think anyone can have the same thing without a break.”

“Hanger is a thing?” He quipped, eyebrows raising in surprise. “Thought that was just stuff advertising companies made up to sell their food to people with high blood pressure.” He chuckled. “I will probably die eating as much Italian as I do every day but realistically--- is there a better way to go?”

[rinxldi]

valentina-rinaldi‌:

What goes around, comes around… right?

Wasn’t that the saying, as she listened to his proposed living situation, as guilt begun to settle into her frame, frown apparent onto her expression. “I know we did, but things have changed, I just would like if my brothers and sister were being careful, regardless of who they were around.” She was beginning to sound more and more like her family than she liked. Shifted views from personality to right and wrong, and sides taken—it made her shudder slightly at the thought. “I can talk to Papa if you want…” She had a better relationship with the head of their family than Pietro ever had.

Valentina leaned back in her seat, as she listened. “Doctor?” She repeated, brows up slightly. “You’re—you’re seeing a doctor, that’s good.” She commented, a small nod of her head. Come with him—them, together. Dropping her head, she broke eye contact. “Can I have the name of the doctor?” She almost whispered, wondering if giving in too soon would help—or hurt her more. “I’ll want to see who he is… make sure he’s good.” But even with his assurances of love, it only chilled her body more, felt like someone cranked the AC outdoors—she’d seen the price to his unyielding love before.

Did she want to get into it so soon?

A sigh broke, almost scolding in her usual way as she tilted her head to one side. Arms crossed, relaxed—finally—in his presence, as she crossed one leg over the other. “You got it when you were twenty-one—we all get it at twenty-one.” Only a small chunk of the massive inheritance had been used for the Cafe and her home, the rest of it just sat there. “Did you spend it all already?” Lavishness wasn’t something she adhered to, perhaps at a party when the option to dress up was available, but it wasn’t like Valentina needed the necessities. Probably should’ve bought a car with it, she thought it over.

“I can’t believe you spent it all,” Why was it at times she felt like the oldest? Eyes shut, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Will they not hire you full time?” She asked, and shook her head. “You know, you can ask Mama—or Zia. I’m sure they’ve more money than god and nothing to lose if they give you something—it’ll keep you out of anything troubling.” She considered giving her own—but it was too soon to display that sense of trust. Something she wasn’t sure she had fully repaired with her brother yet.

“Don’t—“ She whispered, finally meeting his eyes. “I don’t care what happens between me and my siblings—but don’t tell me not to worry, I—I’m not made like that. I’ll worry, because you’re my brother and clearly you need a little help managing your money because –

honestly

, what the hell did you buy?” She’d slunk momentarily into those mothering, familiar ways she’d treated him before, but habits were hard to kick. Hand coiled a loose strand of blonde behind her ear. “I’ll worry about you because you’re still my big brother. Even with everything going on.” Something about family forever came to mind, a penchant of speech for Ravenna that stuck in Valentina’s mind. “Have you been looking around at second jobs?”

“Please don’t,” he insisted, the tick of his inner eyebrow going up as his usually vacant stare dipped into puppy-eye territory. “He wouldn’t understand and that’s a whole other argument down the road. He doesn’t need to know about this.” Pietro wasn’t afraid of Victor. No, not at the very least--- but he was intent on keeping the peace for as long as possible. Not that the masquerade helped. He practically announced he was in treatment as he yelled after him. He didn’t even turn around. It was less to do with fear and more to do with anger. Ravenna and Mama gave him the attention he needed. The motherly touch he deserved. He had to raise himself when it came to Victor’s intended upbringing. They didn’t care for each other. Pietro grew apart from him and had been a pain in his side since he could decide for himself.

Name of the doctor, he repeated to himself. Name of the--- shit. He wasn’t seeing a doctor. He was almost certain Valentina would turn him down or come up with some excuse as to why she couldn’t go. He was counting on it. 

“Blackshaw,” he blurted. A shot in the dark, but he was aware of the doctor making his rounds a handful of months ago. If he could get his contact information--- perhaps they could come to some sort of agreement. All he had to do was reach out to Roman. They were brothers after all and what was family for if they didn’t assist you in amoral situations like this? He thought back to Valentina for a moment. What was family for if they refused? “He’s a neurologist,” he elaborated. “He’s been helpful.” Even if he couldn’t convince him to come down, a handsomely-paid Skype call would suffice. 

“I didn’t spend it all,” he countered shamefully, crossing his arms across his chest as he sunk into his chair. “No idea what I’d even do with all that money let alone blow it.” True, if he were younger. False now that he found something he actually liked. Being numb was the only way he could function. Being without was like breathing in water. Nothing ever felt the same as he was when he was high. Always chasing that white rabbit--- he wondered what it was like before then. It’d help with his cause. “I just don’t wanna be a scab, y’know?” He grimaced, gazing out down the street. “I must’ve spent it on travelling or something.” Vegas was a popular stop for the eldest Rinaldi. “I’ll apply when I get the time. Still settling in an’ all.”