young, drunk & alone

[romeoxcaravelli]

SPOTTED: ROMEO CARAVELLI in new york city! heard the THIRTY-THREE year old belongs to THE MOB as a CAPO. word on the streets is that they can be GENEROUS & ENGAGING but they can also be COMPULSIVE & FLIPPANT.

FULL NAME: Romeo Giuseppe Caravelli NICKNAME(S): Rome, he will answer to literally anything tbh PREFERRED NAME(S): Romeo BIRTH DATE: 8th December, 1992 ZODIAC:  Sagittarius ☀, Leo ☽ , Sagittarius ↑ AGE: 33 HEIGHT: 6'3 SEXUALITY: pansexual, demiromantic OCCUPATION: works on Wall Street & owner of Giulietta's LANGUAGES SPOKEN: english, italian FATHER: Enzo Caravelli MOTHER: Nicoletta Caravelli SIBLING(S): Nico Caravelli, Cami Caravelli PET(S): a great dane puppy called Scooby (x) PINTEREST: x

tl;dr tw child abuse

From a young age he chose to see the world as something he could poke fun at and if not the world itself he was only too happy to volunteer himself to be the butt of the joke. He clung to humour as a way to cope but also as a way to ensure he became nothing like his father.

When he was six Enzo hit him hard enough to send him tumbling down the stairs, fracturing his spine in several places. He went through several operations and extensive rehabilitation.

For the longest time he only dreamed about putting as much space between himself and New York as he possibly could, wanting very little to do with The Mob.

He took a place at Stanford just to appease his father enough to let him fly across the country. His plan from there had been to go pro, make his own money so he didn't need to ask anything of Enzo Caravelli again.

The injury that he'd sustained as a child seemed healed until he took a particularly nasty tackle within his first year playing at college. The damage Enzo had done all those years ago leading to him being even more vulnerable to a repeat injury.

After his pipe dream of playing pro came crashing down and being subjected to months of gruelling recovery for the second time in his life, Romeo couldn't bring himself to head home. Instead he went travelling for a few years, not caring if it drove the rift further.

But the distance brought with it some kind of perspective and he returned home, figuring that everything he went through as a child had to mean something. So he joined The Mob, starting low but asking his brother to help him work his way up.

The decision was made to attend Columbia, just as his siblings had, to get his degree before heading to Wall Street, Nico's guidance and a relatively natural aptitude meaning he was good at his job.

His rise to Capo might be fresh, stepping up after his brother' rose to Don, but the change hasn't brought a struggle with it. His brother taught him too well for that. There's no mourning for his father, only resolve to do what's best for his siblings.

Personality

For most of his life Romeo has played the clown, turning any situation into a joke wherever he can. Despite attempting to move through life with a little more gravitas, so he can be taken more seriously within his role in The Mob, years of this still linger. Whenever things get a little too emotionally charged he will resort to humour, unable to deal with things any other way. He's generally easy going and affable, happy to make friends or at least play nice with whoever he comes into contact with. There's still a deep need for attention and recognition from others, which lead to him doing outlandish things when he was younger but now he's trying a different tact of trying to be what people want him to be.

Headcanons

After his traveling he has vague approximate knowledge of a lot of things but somehow always manages to relay the facts just slightly wrong.

His back still pains him more often than not, with him self medicating with alcohol to manage the pain. He's happy to play the role of someone who doesn't take life too seriously if it allows him to keep up this ruse.

Is predictably a lover of action films but as a lover of love, he's also a sucker for a good romcom, regularly watching the Hallmark channels on nights he hasn't got any better offers.

He lives up to his name - Romeo by name, Romeo by nature - and is guaranteed to be infatuated with someone at all times. The feeling never lasts though, usually burning so fast it burns out within a few weeks.

Lost almost all interest in football after he withdrew from college, not even paying attention to the professional game anymore. He follows basketball instead now.

[kennedycamara]

who: @romeoxcaravelli where: hospital soz for my lack of originality

𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 the one to talk to romeo caravelli. but she hadn’t not volunteered, either. her history with francis was ancient, and though her feelings about francis were complicated, romeo had always been decent to her in the few times their paths had crossed. although that was another life; before the badge, before she was the mom of a tween, before her younger brother was even born. she had been a different person, then. she was mindful of the situation she was walking into. romeo had lost his bar and nearly his life. he’d have a long recovery ahead of him. “romeo?” she began softly, stepping into the room. “sorry, mr. caravelli,” she corrected, not wanting to be too familiar. after all, it’d been years. “kennedy camara, nypd. not sure if you remember me but, uh, we’ve met before.” a faint smile tugged at her mouth. “it’s been a long time. i wish i was here for a better reason. i can come back, if this is a bad time.” though would there ever be a good time, after what he’d gone through?

[romeoxcaravelli]

After so long in one room he was grateful for any kind of intrusion. So at the sound of his name he turned, easy smile on his face like a reflex, only to see someone who he definitely should have known. "Romeo's fine." Shit, what was her name again? He'd never been great with them when he'd been the one dating the person, let alone when it when it had been one of his friends. Something beginning with K - Kara? No, he was sure there was a Y in there somewhere too. Kylie maybe but she didn't really look like a Kylie. So busy trying to remember he almost missed her save him the trouble of putting his brain into gear. Kennedy. Of course. "Yeah, I remember. Been a while." Smile flashing again, knowing he'd have to play a game of 'guess who I saw' the next time he saw Francis. "As good as any. Feel like I should warn you that I don't remember that much." Already preparing the groundwork in case she started asking questions he wasn't prepared to answer. Though it also wasn't far from the truth, adrenaline taking over enough that he hadn't focused on anything but acting.

[champagnehcney]

⸻ 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓.

𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓 ⸺ @romeoxcaravelli 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 ⸺  carbone restaurant.

A few days later and Lana still looked like she belonged anywhere but out in public, which was exactly why she'd shown up anyway — perched behind the biggest Prada sunglasses she could find. She was thankful Carbone wasn't too busy this time of week, so their little lunch meeting wouldn't be too noticeable to prying eyes. She slipped into the place like she hadn't spent the last few days smelling faintly of smoke no matter how many times she showered. The limp, unfortunately, ruined the illusion.. it was near impossible to walk in heels, the hitch in her step obvious as she crossed the floor, but she'd be damned if anyone found her walking around in anything flatter than four inches. "I can't believe this," Lana began, the complaints having been constant since that fateful evening. She dropped into the seat across from Romeo, refusing to take those damn sunglasses off. Nobody needed to see the state of her eyes. "You have no idea what I went through that night. I was basically trampled on and almost died." It was the greatest inconvenience to her, but truth be told, she was actually grieving the loss of Lorelai.. it was just easier to focus on complaining rather than just how painful it was losing a member of her crew. She adjusted her sunglasses, and then properly clocked Romeo. She took in the bandaging and the severity of it in a quick, assessing glance. "Not gonna lie, you look rough," she decided.

[romeoxcaravelli]

It was maybe too soon for him to be out in public knowing that there was an argument made for him to stay in hospital a few days more. An argument that he hadn't even humoured, wanting out and in his own space as soon as possible before all he saw when he closed his eyes were those bright white walls. Despite his usual confidence and social nature there was still a slight reluctance to be out in public when his hands and arms were still so heavily bandaged and had it been anyone but someone he knew as well as Solana the answer likely would have been no. Still, he made sure they got a quiet, more private table when he figured the both of them would likely want to be away from prying eyes.

Brow arched at the words that came from her mouth, wondering if she remembered that they'd both been in the same building. There was no true judgement when he knew that everyone dealt with things differently. He might downplay things but that didn't mean that she couldn't have her assessment of it all. They had come closer to death than he would have liked. "Not thinking about going for compensation are you?" Grin tugged at his features as he teased, knowing he'd give her whatever she wanted if it helped her deal with the experience. "Don't think I look too bad for a guy who made it out of a burning building." Light words showing how he was doing his best to cling to the bright side when pessimism would only drag him down. "I'm glad you're alright. I know a pretty good physical therapist if you need one for that ankle."

[criminaltypes]

CASH: that bad, eh? CASH: fuck. both hands? CASH: how're those lungs feeling? they still got you on oxygen?

[romeoxcaravelli]

ROMEO: the fucking worst ROMEO: yeah 😭 ROMEO: nah came off it after a couple of days. other than them telling me I can't smoke they're the least of my worries. ROMEO: how about you?

[nicocaravelli]

His own chuckle came suppressed, amusement failing to overcome the neutrality that permanently held his expressions. He could appreciate the humour, specifically because that was his brother to his core. The one Caravelli that always fell back into it as if it was a comfort that consumed the pain. His follow on was one that did bring a faint nod, knowing that he would live. It was the entire ideology of the way their family worked. They got back up again. It came down to the fact etched into their lives that they had to. The only time they wouldn't would be when they were dead. It was one thing Nico thought - in some twisted viewpoint, they could thank their father for.

The shift in his brother's priority was not one that came as a surprise to him, not when Nico's own focus would always turn to places other than himself. While he did not hold attachment to objects, or places, or buildings, he could understand the way in which other people could. Especially Romeo and the way Giulietta's had always been his and separate from Enzo's control. "Still standing, barely, but you can build it up again." if anything it gave him a point of focus whilst he was laid up for the duration it took to heal. "It was arson, probably connected to the other fires. Looked through the footage - there's a guy with an accelerant, surprised security's not patting down every fucker that walks through that door." his tone calm, a contrast to his actual views, but he wasn't here to give his brother high blood pressure and so, "Don't mention the club to Nic she'll fucking lose it."

[romeoxcaravelli]

There was gratitude that went unsaid but lingered in his smile as his brother gave him the news about Giulietta's and seemingly his blessing for him to rebuild it like he wanted. As much as he was prepared to devote himself entirely to the Mob, to supporting Nico as the Don, the club had been the one thing that he had for himself. The sole indulgence. He'd had his moment of selfishness, that youth fuelled rebellion that was his trip to Europe as though that would be far enough to put his childhood behind him. But it hadn't been and the pull back to New York, to his siblings, had been strong and inevitable. For the last decade the majority of his life had been lived for whatever the organisation and his brother needed for him while Giulietta's served as an outlet for it all. Losing it was almost unthinkable even if he knew feeling so sentimental about a building would be considered wasted energy by some.

Thoughtful frown settled onto his brow, following along with the simple facts his brother lay out. "They should've been." Frown deepening as he wondered who'd let it lax when he'd always wanted the club to feel safe. "Could have been the new guy but Rick said he came highly recommended." Something to look into but if his brother was right and it was connected he wasn't sure anything would come back. "I won't." For all his impression of being carefree he'd learned to be careful with their mother. "Someone's filled her in on the recovery, right? At least told her that it's not all as bad as it looks." And he knew it looked bad but he was determined to downplay it. There was a certain resignation that came along with the knowledge that there was likely endless rehab in his future, all too familiar with the process when he'd been doing it for years for his back. Still, the resignation didn't dampen his resolve. He'd be back to as close to normal as he could be as quickly as possible.

[dxncingonmyown]

That's the thing about trust - it needs to be given, often without proof or merit. The sort of thing Amelia's struggled with since, well, Omar Saab. Another way of saying she's struggled with it her whole life. Yet she puts her entire personal safety in the hands of Romeo Caravelli. Forget being a neutral bystander, she's sure he dislikes her, hearing and seeing only the worst as it relates to Lottie. But he's intervened, put himself between them, and even shown a flicker of empathy... And, frankly, beggars can't be choosers. "Alright." She agrees as they step into her flat.

Amelia watches the two men through blurred vision, like she's not on the verge of a concussion risk and a nose job. Omar moves around the apartment like it's his own home, running his fingers through everything; papers on the table, frames on the wall... Even so much as chuckling at her Ikea chic table and calling it "tasteless" under his breath. As far as behaviors go, she'll take it. "Much too long. I'm back in the country on some business." Omar says, as if that business isn't just wreaking havoc on his daughters.

"Got anything worth drinking, Amy? Some scotch?" Omar asks, poking around her fridge as if it's his own home. She winces at the nickname - there's a reason she only goes by Amelia. She glances at Romeo, who gives nothing away. A picture of composure as they all stand about, acting like any of this is normal. And though she's in a full spiral, Amelia was raised a journalist. Going into unsavory situations and danger? That's part of it. So she buckles down, tries her best to manage his storm; "No, nothing. Sorry." She stammers, praying between the lack of liquor and Romeo's presence he'll leave.

[romeoxcaravelli]

There was a crawling sensation over his skin as he watched the man not only invade his daughter's space but inflict his touch upon what should have been sacred to just her. He swallowed the bile that was rising in the back of his throat, bitterness coming unbidden when he knew what he'd have felt like were it his father invading the sanctity of his home in such a way. Then a touch more guilt seeped in, knowing it was his suggestion that had Omar in there in the first place, convincing himself that it was the only way to rid her of the problem altogether.

That same easy smile was back on his face, nodding at the response as though he shouldn't have expected anything else. "Business? You'll have to tell me what you've got cooking at the moment." Though he had no intention of the other man living long enough to have to listen to such a thing. "In fact, I've got some new ventures brewing and I'd love your insight of them. It'd be invaluable." Appealing to the other man's ego when he knew how hard it was for abusers to resist flattery.

"What d'you say we get out of here and find a drink elsewhere?" The key to his plan but he was hoping that between the apparent lack of alcohol and maybe himself seeming like a shinier option for the evening. Omar would agree. "I know a place with a great scotch selection. Exclusive. My driver's never far, can have him in her less than five minutes." Only then did his gaze flick back to Amelia, just briefly, in silent assurance that he wouldn't be subjecting her to this much longer.

[criminaltypes]

💬  romeo  caravelli

CASH:  hey,  how's  them  lungs,  bro? CASH:  are  you  still  at  the  hospital  btw? CASH:  i'm  bored  af.  get  on  playstation.

[romeoxcaravelli]

ROMEO: still breathing pro ROMEO: no, bro ROMEO: voice to text is killing me ROMEO: you'll have to do it for the both of us, my hands aren't great

[dadivosos]

luna had been called to the hospital to fill in and help where needed. the hospital was very obviously overwhelmed with the influx of patients and while she was a surgeon she could still help soften the load -- especially for the pulmonologist. she first did her due diligence and checked in with selin who thankfully was okay , mainly okay but she knew it was probably her beta blockers doing the majority of the work. once she heard that romeo was the main reason she was out okay.

she'd asked specifically for the chart and the nurses handed it over immediately. she knocked on the door -- thankfully he was off oxygen for the time being and looked a lot better. she couldn't help but sigh as soon as she looked at the state he was in. " im going to be looking over some of your care now , " she said eyes darting back to the chart then back at the various monitors. " thank you -- you did a very stupid thing but thank you. "

@romeoxcaravelli

[romeoxcaravelli]

It felt like there'd been an endless stream of doctors in and out of his room. All of them looking him over, making their notes, providing pain relief but none of them able to give him a solid answer about how bad it really was. He couldn't tell whether they were just trying to spare his feelings or they really didn't know. Maybe he was in that stage where they simply had to wait and see how his body responded but he'd never been all that good at waiting. Expression brightened slightly as he recognised the doctor that walked in. She'd always been a straight talker, maybe he'd have more luck getting some answers from her. "Looks like I'm in good hands then."

Head shook, quick to dismiss what he'd done as far from special. "Don't need to thank me, could hardly leave her there." There was no modesty in his tone when he'd only done what he'd thought was right at the time. As stupid as others had deemed it he knew he didn't have any regrets. But his attention was on his recovery rather than what got him there, figuring he might as well come out and ask her. "Alright Doc, hit me with it. How bad is it really?"

[lottiesaab]

CLOSED FOR: @romeoxcaravelli

LOCATION: romeo's home

It all had happened so quickly. One day they were talking about Lottie's situation with her father, the next Romeo was in a hospital bed with serious injuries from a fire at his own establishment. Lottie, somehow, had remained strong through it all. She had processed it all, but had yet to truly react to anything - there was just too much for her even begin to wrap her head around. And now, with two major losses for The Reserve, injuries and Romeo amongst them, her brain had automatically moved into finding whatever she could find. It was easy for her to forget to be there for others when this happened, but she still made an effort - showing up to Romeo's place after he was allowed to go home.

"Rough couple of weeks, huh?" She teased lightly as they sat in his living room, her eyes moving from whatever sport event he had on back to his face as if checking for more than just physical injuries. Despite how close they were nowadays, their homes weren't usual meeting spots, so it felt almost different. "How long do you think you'll have to stay home?"

[romeoxcaravelli]

He'd never been someone who'd be happy being still, always feeling most himself when he was busy with something. So when Lottie had mentioned coming over he'd been quick to take her up on it. Well, as quick as fighting with voice control on his phone had allowed him. The volume on the game he'd been engrossed in had been lowered as soon as she'd walked in, attention switching to her over it. Her words had a grin spreading over his features, unable to stop himself from downplaying it all when it felt easier than dealing with what they'd both had to go through. "What's life without a little excitement?" An understatement when the excitement had entailed ending her father's life and earned him a hospital stay.

"Could leave whenever I wanted but I'm waiting on these - " His bandaged hands were held up. "- to heal up a little bit first." The idea of being a burden or the weak link within the Mob families meant that there was an easiness that came with the idea of needing someone else to do basic tasks for him. While he didn't mind people he trusted seeing him the way that he wasn't sure he was ready for the whole city to see him rendered incapable. But he didn't voice that, resorting to humour the way he always did when he felt like the both of them could use a little light now more than ever. "Unless I just hire a guy to fill in for them in the meantime." Chuckle following his words as he imagined the scenario. "You got somewhere you're wanting to go? Or just missing me?" Easy grin as he teased, the stuff with her dad aside she'd been checking in on him since the fires. Always a welcome distraction.

[dadivosos]

santiago being the youngest out of both families had some perks , he had been surrounded by people pretty much all his life. while his life had always been a bit more reserved , having to toughen quickly despite his lack of ' affiliation '. romeo had been a constant in his life since he could remember , the friendship was more akin to a brotherly bond the older of the two always attempting to look out for him , even if santiago might not have been the most open. there had been a panic within him when he heard about the fires , immediately texting his siblings who in their usual fashions answered with a nonchalance that he was used to. however , he knew someone who would have unfortunately had been hit --- he just didn't imagine how bad it could have been.

the lack of confirmation from the other was all he needed to immediately make his way to the hospital. the traffic was unmanageable and the tightness in his chest did nothing to help. as expected the room was surrounded by security , but he was eventually let in. an audible sigh escaping his lips , removing his glasses to clean them before putting them back on. " you're such an idiot , " he shook his head.

@romeoxcaravelli

[romeoxcaravelli]

Perhaps the most unwelcome part of the whole thing was how much time being confined to a hospital bed gave him to think. There was a knowledge he was trying to ignore that he had been lucky. That him making it out alive and breathing ( well, just about ) had been nothing to do with what he'd done and instead had just been a fortunate twist of fate. But it's not something he wants to acknowledge when it upset his world view. Hard not to take life too seriously when he'd been forced to reckon with his own mortality.

So despite knowing that there was truth to Santiago's words - that no matter how noble his actions might have been they were also foolish - he was quick to dismiss them with a disapproving shake of his head. "Is that any way to speak to a hero?" Tutting afterwards even though he didn't feel like it was a descriptor he really deserved. Just wanting to do anything to lighten the mood when he couldn't bear the heaviness he kept seeing in everyone's expressions. "I'm gonna be fine. Pretty sure it looks worse than it is and they've got me on the good stuff so I'm barely feeling a thing."

[camillacaravelli]

@romeoxcaravelli Location: not burning man

The hospital coffee was shit, so hers had gone cold where it sat on the little table beside the stiff backed chair she was sitting in. In the corner, the television droned on with some home renovation show, but despite her eyes watching the screen, her attention was fixed somewhere else entirely. It wasn’t until the nurse finally left that she turned back to Romeo, reaching for the cup as though it might taste better cold. It didn’t. The second sip had been just as bad as the first, and Cami couldn’t help the look of disgust that faintly pulled across her face as she sat it back down. When her gaze found him once more, it lingered, and with it came a sudden sadness she couldn’t push down. The sight of his burned body lying there slipped past the sharp edges she wore so easily, leaving behind only a quiet ache that she would never give voice to.

“Next time just walk out with everyone else.” Her tone was light, easy enough to pass for teasing. “Fucking revolutionary concept, i know.” The words carried no real bite behind them, despite meaning each one. The only person inside that building when the fire broke out who she cared about was her brother, and instead of saving himself, he chose to run back into the flames to save others. That was where the two of them differed. Romeo’s actions were honorable, sure. However, Cami would’ve let every one of them burn without a second thought if it meant Romeo wouldn’t.

[romeoxcaravelli]

The pain had subsided to a dull ache, the relief they'd given him taking enough of an edge off that he'd reached something approaching comfortable. Or at least as comfortable as anyone could get in a hospital. His sister seemed to be proving that even those that weren't a patient were denied that ease too, catching sight of her grimace at the coffee before she spoke. "I did. Technically." Initially at least but they both knew he'd gone back in more than once. "Never been that great with concepts, Cami." Still light but tinged with an unspoken apology when it hadn't been his goal to give his family cause for concern. It was hard to regret his actions when he felt certain that he'd done the right thing but there was a tinge of guilt that prickled at him every time he saw their expressions.

"You spoken to the doctors yet?" Not because he needed an update himself but he thought hearing the assertion that he was going to be fine would be more believable from a professional than from him. He didn't make a habit of lying but he wouldn't deny that he'd be quick to downplay whatever he was feeling in an effort to reassure someone. "Think we can get something better delivered?" It went unspoken that she'd confined herself to his bedside enough that she'd been reduced to hospital coffee but nonetheless saw it as a sign of her caring. But his sister had never been as forthcoming in her feelings, them showing in her actions rather than her words but he'd had almost a whole lifetime to get used to reading between the lines. "If not I'll share my jello cup with you, best I can do."

[dadivosos]

after he had finished checking in on nan , he immediately made his way over to where staff had informed him romeo was staying. romeo had invited francis to stop by guilettas but francis had told him he would stop by the following night. unfortunately city hall was still a mess with what happened with the masquerade ball but now ---- he knew he would be in for something greater. the guilt immediately seeped into his chest , he'd never seen romeo in this state. he had imagined what it would be like to live with enzo , romeo never going into full detail --- maybe to spear francis of the details or maybe for his own sake. regardless , francis couldn't help but wonder if he was there -- maybe he wouldn't have gotten this hurt.

after a bit of back and forth , romeo allowed the security outside to let him in the room. the usual nature between the two was gone , softness in his gaze as he surveyed the other's injuries. " i should've been there , " he said shaking his head with a sigh. " you think the catholic church will make you a saint ? "

@romeoxcaravelli

[romeoxcaravelli]

If he'd been in any doubt about how he'd looked the reactions that he seemed to get from the people that cared about him would have cleared it up immediately. He didn't miss the look in his best friend's eyes, wondering if the tightness he felt in his chest was just the smoke or emotion he didn't know how to deal with. "I'm glad you weren't." He couldn't imagine how he'd feel if Francis had ended up hurt because he'd asked him to be there that night too.

Grin spread over his features at the next comment though he did his best to supress a laugh. No easy feat when he'd spent most of his life ensuring that they came easily despite his upbringing. But he'd learned the hard way that it wasn't currently a comfortable experience. "Think you gotta die for that." Or maybe that was a martyr. But he didn't want to talk about the church, mind instead on another distraction when he remembered the last conversation they'd had. "So, you got a ring yet?"

[nicocaravelli]

with: @romeoxcaravelli / location: disneyland

The chair beside his brother's hospital bed had been Nico's home for the past several hours, his macbook resting on his lap as his feet remained propped up at the corner of the bed, touching the metal frame more than the mattress itself. Over twenty-four hours had passed since Romeo had been taken off of oxygen therapy, and so once his mom and sister had gone home, he stayed for the duration. His attention immersing itself within the distractor that was business. It was Nico getting ahead of anything that warranted his focus, as well as anything Romeo oversaw in a way that would ensure any external weight that was on his brother's shoulders was lifted. His concern here was wanting to make sure the only thing Romeo needed to do was look after himself.

The knowledge that he had repeatedly tried to save patrons during the fire had originally produced an absolute godforsaken need to bang his head against a wall, one that was suppressed, but not one that understood why he had been stood on a hero complex. Though his lack of comprehension there had easily been resolved, it was as simple as Romeo showing humanity. The good in his brother pulling through and again, giving Enzo Caravelli a fuck you to the grave. There was no one better than the male currently stirring from sleep - try and tell Nico otherwise right now and he'd happily and openly raise his gun and pull the trigger.

His gaze pulled away from the screen before him, blue eyes landing on his brother. Choosing to give him a moment before he opened his mouth. "You look like shit." despite the lack of waver to his tone, a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. A genuine look before his focus drifted back, right hand lowering the screen of the macbook before his prior slouched position became straighter - his feet now firmly on the ground as opposed to resting on the bed. "How'd you feel?"

[romeoxcaravelli]

Sleep had been devoid of dreams until he began to slip closer to consciousness. Then he could have sworn he could still feel immense heat against his face, feel smoke clogging up his lungs. All in vivid detail. As he stirred he groggily realised that it wasn't just a dream it was his reality. But before any kind of panic could rise he was greeted by his brother's voice, grounding him with the knowledge that the older Caravelli would likely have it all under control. "Like I inhaled a building full of smoke." The chuckle that attempted to follow his words quickly morphed into a cough, as though life was cautioning him not to take it all so lightly for once.

The haze of sleep wore off and he was left with a sensation of pain. Groan left him as he shifted in the bed as though a simple position change would make it all better. For a moment he just let it all wash over himself, figuring out what exactly hurt. His hands and arms, though that was to be expected when he remembered how the flames that should have deterred him from hurting didn't. An uncomfortable tightness in his chest when he breathed and an annoying instinct to cough. And an all too familiar but still unwelcome ache in his back that told him he'd pushed himself too hard while digging through the debris. Even from the grave Enzo Caravelli somehow still found a way to punish him for what he would have deemed weakness. After his assessment he reported back to his brother, shoulders rolling into a loose approximation of his usual easy shrug. "I'll live."

Thoughts cleared further and he knew all he had were a lot of blank spaces where he wanted answers. "They know what happened yet?" He thought he remembered some talk of fires earlier in the day. A beat and then he asked the question that he knew might be the cause of more upset than his injuries for him. The thing he'd worked so hard for potentially lost to him. "Giulietta's?" Last he'd seen it before being hauled into an ambulance it had still been ablaze but the fire department had at least arrived on the scene. Still as much as he hoped it'd still be in one piece it felt as though that might be pushing his luck a little too far, it enough of a miracle that he'd made it out alive.

[nicocaravelli]

As his brother proceeded to respond Nico reached for his glass, taking a sip before lowering the tumbler back onto the countertop. A sheer contrast to the manner Romeo had knocked his own back. He remained quiet as he gave space for him to say what he needed to, knowing that he'd rather pull the honesty out of his brother, if only to see where he could help. His confession that followed, and the one that lead onto Enzo had a sigh emit from Nico, one that was faint yet visible enough to see the way his shoulders lowered a fraction. A minor detail but one that understood exactly where Romeo was at. Their father had a knack for not just bringing them down and peg or two with a fist, but with words. Ones that did evidently cut their way underneath skin and stay there. They were engraved for life, no matter the will it might have took to ignore them. It was a torment that seeped into adulthood, comments that did not stop even for Romeo when he came back from Europe over a decade ago. Ones that Nico shouldered and put himself in a position to teach his brother the inner runnings of their business, if only so Enzo Caravelli did not continue to completely drag Romeo's character through the mud. There had never been anything Nico as a child could have done for his siblings, but as a man he would ultimately create a shield around them each and every time. "If this is gonna make you spin I'd rather you do that here, whenever, last thing I need is to pick you up wasted in some fucking shithole." while it did not seem like much, it was his way of trying to show care. It came from his own experience if he got too lost inside his own mind, the times when he'd proceed to get blackout drunk to numb the fuck out of his mind. "You said Lottie's dealing with it, how'd she take it when you told her?" sure, he knew of Celestina's PI gig in regards to the outcome of the woman's mother, but that wasn't his business, his business was how his brother would remain untouched.

[romeoxcaravelli]

It wasn't until Nico's next words that he realised he did feel unbalanced. Untethered and yet somehow still in control. Or maybe the second part was just delusion, convincing himself that he had to have it together to do what he did. That he hadn't just been acting on the years of trauma that had been brought back to the surface after years of repression. He'd distanced himself from his father as much as he could while he was alive, ensuring there was no trace of him in the way he acted or spoke to others. Nico bearing the brunt of it for him as adults, allowing him to adjust to life within the mob with little contact with the then Don. He'd distanced himself from the memories too, dismissing them with dark humour - some kind of final revenge to reduce the great Enzo Caravelli to a punchline. But now it felt like in doing that he'd somehow managed to convince himself it wasn't as bad as it had been or maybe just that he had moved past it all. Except he should have known better. A man like his father had a lasting impact, a legacy that still marred him and his siblings no matter how much he tried to pretend otherwise. "See how I feel at the bottom of this bottle." Because it seemed like the only solution to him - something familiar, the buzz it brough maybe loud enough to dull the long ignored feelings that were now demanding to be acknowledged.

Another drink was taken before he answered about Lottie. "We'd talked about it already." Perhaps one of the few things he would have felt guilty about might have been how she felt about it all. But in their conversations about Omar she'd made her stance clear enough that he absolved himself of any thought he might have indirectly caused her pain. As it was, he saw no reason for guilt or regret. If anything a little too righteous about the decision he'd made. "She wanted him gone. Think she might have liked a little more of a heads up but -" He shrugged, not needing to fill in the fact again that he'd acted impulsively. Feeling compelled by the moment rather than planning out the perfect way to do it. "Pretty sure she's gonna make it seem like he wasn't in the country at all. Gone on the run from the authorities and that's why he's disappeared." It made enough sense to him and there was no way anyone would find the body.

[criminaltypes]

       time  was  such  a  funny  thing  —  sometimes  going  by  too  quickly,  and  others  not  moving  fast  enough.  this  familiar  face  came  with  a  shot  of  nostalgia  that  made  her  chest  ache  a  bit.  when  they'd  known  each  other  fidan  had  still  been  a  chef  and  her  family  was  still  slightly  talking  to  her.  now  she  was  better  or  worse  for  the  wear,  it  was  difficult  to  tell.  not  that  she  wanted  to  dwell  on  that  now.  a  smile  easily  stretch  and  her  dark  eyes  took  in  the  man  who'd  seemingly  grown  into  his  stature  in  the  years  since.  "oh,  you're  too  kind."  hand  briefly  touching  over  her  heart  at  the  compliment,  she  then  chuckled  and  nodded  in  agreement.  "hey,  to  my  memory  you  were  fun  company.  so,  yes,  their  loss."  it'd  been  a  good  time  but  fidan  wondered  if  time  had  forced  him  to  grow  up  as  well.  without  pause  she  took  the  offered  arm  and  let  romeo  guide  her  to  his  table  with  him.  "hey,  i  may  no  longer  be  a  chef  myself,"  that  was  painful  to  admit,  though  she  didn't  let  her  expression  shift,  "but  i  still  know  everyone."  given  her  two  michelin  star  status  and  the  actual  reputation  her  talent  had,  thankfully  no  one  forgot  that.  "so,  this  little  reunion  will  be  a  nice  treat."

[romeoxcaravelli]

"And my gain." Grin flashed as they arrived at the table, pulling out the chair for her before taking a seat of his own. "No?" Brow rose in quick curiosity, wondering what might have made her stop pursuing something she'd seemed so passionate about. "All the kitchens in the city too intimidated by your brilliance?" As though that was the only reason he could think of that she wasn't in a restaurant earning more stars. "Always looking for new investments." The offer presented with a kind of nonchalance that made it sound like more of a statement, removing any pressure from it when he didn't know why she'd stopped. But it was one of the many advantages to the money he and his family possessed, being able to back other people's passions and dreams without even having to consider whether or not it was a risk. "A treat for us both." Already enjoying the ease that had been quickly re-established between them. "Alright, what's good here?" Finger held up playfully to halt anything she might say before he added a caveat. "And don't say everything, I know everyone's got their specialities."

[criminaltypes]

       "i  hope  that's  not  you  implying  i'm  trying  to  cause  a  scene."  hands  still  up,  still  demonstrating  his  innocence  in  the  matter,  cash  glanced  down  toward  the  individual  who'd  started  it  all  and  then  back  to  romeo.  usually  cash  could  let  things  slide,  roll  right  off  his  back,  in  fact  it  was  difficult  to  get  him  riled  up  to  an  angry  state.  hence  why  he  still  seemed  to  be  in  a  state  of  amusement  with  a  grin  present  and  making  jokes.  but  being  a  fighter  often  meant  people  testing  him  and  trying  to  challenge  him.  "i'm  good  with  a  shot.  on  your  tab  of  course."  another  grin  but  he'd  looked  one  last  time  at  the  talker  that  had  started  this  little  mess.  "you  and  your  guys  might  wanna  keep  an  eye  on  that  one  though,"  he  tipped  his  head  in  their  direction,  "he's  looking  to  pick  a  fight.  but  anyway...  how  the  hell  are  ya,  rome?"

[romeoxcaravelli]

"Course not." Shrugging off the accusation with ease, knowing he was too late on the scene to have a clear idea. But if he was going to choose to trust anyone over the other it'd be the man in front of him. Familiarity bringing the benefit of the doubt with ease. "Whose else would it be on?" The question mostly rhetorical when he'd always been rich enough that generosity came easily. He'd let all his friends drink for free if it wouldn't leave the place bankrupt within weeks. "I'll let them know." Nod of acknowledgement given to the warning as he sized the man up for himself, he did seem on edge. Definitely one to watch. "Can't complain, still alive and all that." Grin pulled wider across his features, knowing that he perhaps shouldn't be making light of a very real bomb threat. And yet it was the way he always handled things, using humour to take the sting out of whatever negative feelings might try to take root within him. "You fighting any time soon? Been a while since I saw you in the ring."

[nicocaravelli]

Romeo's returning joke had been ignored, the more pressing matter clearly overriding any thought to bat back and forth. Stood in the kitchen he found his focus on his brother, rather than on his actions. It was the reveal of the cause that had every single piece slot together in his mind. Was he missing one? Who knew. But his brother to fly off of the rails due to an abusive parent was justified on every corner that was mapped. Though the justification came met with concern, for it was Nico being able to assume that somewhere underneath the reasoning came a trigger from his own past experience. The one where violence had been the only upbringing the Caravellis knew. One that had Nico wonder if Romeo wasn't at all put together as he made out. Prior restlessness aside. The confirmation that Omar Saab's daughter in question was Amelia Dreyer, and not Lottie was new information to him but one he did not need to acknowledge. That wasn't important to him. "Level with me here, you good?" he had his questions - ones that would have been obvious and eventually be voiced, yet this one was the only one that mattered in the moment.

[romeoxcaravelli]

He'd come with the expectations and understandings that there'd be questions. It only made sense when he'd gone off book. But the one his brother levelled at him wasn't the one he'd prepared an answer for. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Shrugging off the concern by reaching for the same easy grin he always did before he took a sip of the drink he'd poured. The alcohol hit his tongue and he knew a sip wasn't going to be enough, a larger gulp taken when it dawned on him that the usual carefree approach he took was deserting him now. "Shit, I don't know." Confession slipping out before he really knew what to do with it. He'd convinced himself it was all fine. That the fact that he'd had it together enough to plan things well enough to leave no trace, emotions kept in check enough that he'd not risked everything in the heat of the moment, had meant that it hadn't impacted him. That if he was being truthful with himself the conversations he'd had with Lottie and her desire to dispatch the man had played a smaller part in his decision than how he'd felt in that moment. That he'd be able to shake it off like he hadn't just ended the life of a man who'd reminded him a little too much of his own father. "He looked just like him." Enzo. "Not in his features but in his expression. The way he'd spoken to her, about her." Far too reminiscent for him to stay objective. Drink was finished off, reaching to fill it once more.