TWENTY-TWO :: [video]

[superspeeds]

[The feed clicks on to show a postcard, held in Pietro's hand. He's obviously displaying it purposefully for the network to see, and just barely visible, half-hidden by his thumb is the Cancun, Mexico text.]

After some minor confusion, I have been informed that my wife, Angelica, simply decided to take an unscheduled holiday. One about which she declined to tell anyone, apparently. Even myself.

[He flips the postcard around, revealing a typical note (wish you were here, the sun is amaaaazing, etc) and a few hearts scrawled lazily toward the end).]

I would retrieve her myself, but as I do not know exactly where in the Cancun she might be, and wish to avoid our son feeling any further parental abandonment... [Pietro clenches his jaw, the tenseness and resentment pretty palpable.] I will merely have to await her return.

I'm sorry to have concerned anyone over her absence. In the future, I will make sure Angelica and I discuss any future travel plans prior to gallivanting off.

[With that, Pietro folds the postcard with a huff and kills the feed.]

Comments

[radiantly]

I don't have to report everything I do to you! I can make my own decisions!

[superspeeds]

Certainly! But perhaps your husband should at least be informed when you decide to leave the country!

I was worried for you, Angie. Calvin was worried.

[radiantly]

You leave all the time! You leave whenever you like! I don't keep you on a leash and you can't keep me on one either!

[superspeeds]

I leave because I know I can return at a reasonable time! You have been missing for six days. In that time, do you have any idea what's been happening in the City? Any concept at all of the situation in which you left your child?

[radiantly]

Are you done trying to shame me?

[superspeeds]

I am trying to make you consider your actions and how they effect the people you claim to love. How dare you try to cast this in any other light.

[radiantly]

How dare I? No, Pietro. How dare you.

Don't bother waiting for me to come back, because I'm not.

[superspeeds]

... You're joking.

[superspeeds]

You cannot stay there forever, Angie. You will come back home or so help me--

[radiantly]

Why should I? What's waiting there for me?

[superspeeds]

Your family!

Do we mean so little to you? Do I?

[radiantly]

You're already ashamed of me. You're already disappointed in me. I feel like garbage. Please, rub it in some more.

[superspeeds]

I don't understand. You run away from me and you feel like garbage? Angelica, all I want is for you to come home.

[radiantly]

So you can yell at me again, right? So you can tell me what a terrible wife and mother I am. So you can repeat everything you've just publicly said to me.

[superspeeds]

So that we can discuss this like reasonable people. So that we can get you whatever hope it is that you need.

[radiantly]

I don't need anything. I want to be alone.

[superspeeds]

I disagree.

[radiantly]

That's great.

[superspeeds]

Why must you be so frustrating?

[radiantly]

Knock it off. I'm done.

[superspeeds]

That's fine. I believe we've given voice to everything that needed to be said.

[radiantly]

No we haven't. But you've hurt my feelings. And I can't deal with you right now.

Goodbye, Pietro.

[superspeeds]

I'll see you soon, Angelica.

[radiantly]

Whatever.