Chapter Text
In the lucious yet cozy town of Portorosso, loud music was heard all around the vast old speakers as every household sang in gleeful joy. It was the most exciting day that they've waited all year. The town's festival--or ironically known as the Celebrazione dell'Indipendenza della Libertà. A day where everyone could celebrate the town's rustic history.
In each little lamplight does had a flower wreath hung above the tiny streets, next to the bunch of them that was wildly decorated at the fountain stood upon the piazza. There's even a banner that stood out upon the cinema building, indicating the holiday in both mixed Italian and English.
While all of the children played around the piazza, the adults spent their majority time preparing their feasts to share with everyone. Especially with the seafolk that came from the surface below them, blending in alongside the tourists whom they always visits the town in a daily basis--and currently, they have a plenty to go around.
It was indeed a celebration full of laughter and fun. A festival that unites them all, either a human or a seafolk. A holiday meant to celebrate the legacies of their past, present and future. A day always cherished with love and joy.
In the Marcovaldo apartment, a young woman sat down upon her father's bed as she cradles her newborn child in her arms. So full of life and wonder beneath her scarlet red eyes, just waiting for her to discover the world around her.
"Caro, bambina." the woman whispered softly to her little one. She held out a finger towards her and she laid her baby's finger against it, adorning her with a sense of excitement and joy lingering to her heart.
For almost exactly at the beginning of summer--shortly after she and her husband came to the town--she gave birth to her first child.
Through all the pain that she suffered during pregnancy and labor, she managed to get herself through those months--of course with the help of her newly-wed husband, also known as her childhood sweetheart, who helped her in every step she was taking on.
"Giulia." a young man's voice called her from the kitchen door. His brown eyes staring towards the two, enamored by the sight of them basking upon the little ray of sunshine emitting from the clouds.
"Luca." she replies, a wistful smile formed on her chapped lips as she looks at him with such pride swelled within her heart.
"Everyone's now waiting outside." Luca told her after he gave her a sincere kiss. "Should we head on out?"
"We should." Giulia mumbles. "I don't want to keep everyone waiting."
They soon make way into the garden, as all of Luca and Giulia's families and friends came around to meet and welcome the new baby. There were some several unfamiliar faces walking past by their pescheria, but they've haven't seemed to mind the celebration being on.
However, there were some who came by to witness it--with just a couple of townsfolk and fishermen that they've known, including a few kids. Which they're been bumbling with excitement to see the two former underdogs now finally starting their own little family.
Upon a nudge of her husband's shoulder, Giulia carefully passed her child to him and she went in to stand right infront of everyone.
"Buongiorno, tutti." she spoke, placing her hand against her wrist. "I would like to thank you all for coming to witness our daughter's special christening."
Her father, Massimo, stood behind the chairs next to Daniela--whom she was smiling frantically towards the baby that Luca was carrying as she wails loudly while he gently rocks it.
"Ever since Luca and I got married," she continues. "we've first asked ourselves about how love deeply grows within us and we thought about each other's vows that would never separate us."
She glances at her husband and her child behind her. "Which it led, of course, to an unexpected blessing that Lord gave us. After a year of us praying for a small miracle." she mirthly smiles, a glint smile appearing on her face.
"Through it all, we've never been more grateful to share our extending love to our sweet little Lucinda," she froze, placing her hands onto her chest then her hands slipped back towards her thighs. "and to all of you attending on this joyful event in town."
Everyone claps at them, their faces brightened up with a joyful glee. But her mother, Juliannah--whom she was standing beside Lorenzo, embitterly stares at her daughter with a hard expression spread upon the maiden lady's face, agressively ignoring the sight her husband and her granddaughter standing right just behind her.
"Are you okay?" Luca asked, his face crumpled and his eyes beamed with concern.
"I'm fine." Giulia bluntly replies, feeling her heart drop on the second she sees her disapproving mother's eyes at her.
Despite knowing that she'd never came into the terms of her mother's relationship, she deeply frets about their aggressive argument that happened one night after their wedding--just before they setted off to their honeymoon.
Giulia was packing up her stuff when her mother comes into her room. They had a quite of a timid conversation, but soon turned into serious complaints; each having their own pity thought--with her mom insulting at her own daughter for not being too honest to her, specially when she tells her a thousand lies--all fake reasons why she married her husband at all.
While Juliannah doesn't like the idea of her marrying someone that is a seafolk, she offensively defends her for not respecting her husband and telling her that she loves Luca--no matter what everyone thinks or says about them. She hated the feeling of discrimination, as if she was baffling over the so-called reign of terror that she ridiculed back then.
Ever since that night, she'd never had the courage to talk to her own mother. Even if by a stare or two, Giulia still might felt the grim anger that lingers her now and then. But she doesn't manage to mind having her around, even if she was only visiting to be her paternal grandmother.
Three days after their honeymoon, Giulia had decided to move out of her mother's place and ended up permanently staying at her hometown.
"I just only wished that Alberto was here to meet her." she falters, now clearly thinking about it. "Too bad he's at Rome, though."
"Mmm." Luca hums, now wrapping his arm around her. "He would've been so estatic to know that he'll would become the world's greatest uncle."
Giulia chuckles, using her free hand to slightly push him away. "But I would think he already knew by the time he had seen her--"
"Alright, ragazzis." a voice of an another woman calls, popping her head from behind the harbor walls. "I think it was time for the cermony to start."
"Well, better not start now than later." Giulia remarks, holding her husband's hand and they walked out of the garden.
When the church bells began to rang exactly at noon, the couple soon make their way into the shrine, where a priest was patiently waiting for them. Together, they've christened their daughter upon a special preserved ceremony--with Daniela's conservative observation to keep the water safely away from the baby.
From each passing cherished moment, Luca and Giulia share a loving stare towards their christened daughter as the two whispered some silent prayers, kindly respecting the church's indulgent blessings for their little one while the others held out their small lit candles--indicating her wishes to welcome her into the world.
Once the short ceremony had ended, they've proceeded to start celebrating the festivities by throwing a subtle yet peaceful get-together party with some people that they knew around town. It was usually celebrated by having a nice luncheon feast alongside some wine, which they were served with a simple flourish--perfect for clinking out to the new family.
And as the day soon ushered through night, the celebration keeps going underway through endless conversations as they walked out towards the piazza to watch a special performance that was held by the harbor.
"Scusi." Giulia mutters, ushering some strangers as she moves toward the seat where Luca was. "Mi dispiace, I just gotten lost in the crowd."
Luca patted his hand onto the sand, assiting her to sit. "You're just in time." he whispers, his eyes were captivated by the way the stage was decorated while he cradles the baby to sleep.
"Wow." she grins, unapologetically pointing towards the stage filled with authentic treasures, all glamoured with some touch of glowing stars. "I would never knew that Segnora Marsigliese had stepped up her stage decorating this year."
"I was impressed to finally see the stage looked like the town that we didn't know." she chuckles.
"She is." Luca says, his sight trailed upon Segnora Marsigliese--whom she was assisting a small band that would play behind stage. He points his finger towards them. "She even hired a small band."
"Hmm." Giulia hums. "Sounds like she's finally following my papa's advice from last year."
"For certain that he seems doesn't like the tale to be told without an orchestra." he snickers, just as he began to notice the lights dim out from the stage.
"Even if he was watching from behind us." she chuckles, pointing her finger towards her watchful father behind her.
As the show starts, the audience was dazzled upon the histories of Italy and the story of Portorosso itself, as the children began to rally up stage and they rehearse their roles--indicating as sea monsters and humans, whom they dressed up in the most authentic way possible.
The orchresta soon plays, and the kid--mostly dressed up as an elder fisherman--begins to sing his lines, mostly about how sea monsters were once scary and frightening, and they used to kill everyone with their pointy teeth and claws.
Those apathetic facts does make the couple wince. For now they knew a little about people having to imagine what seafolks are.
One performace soon ends and an another kid--whose she was dressed up as Luca as a young sea monster--began to sang about the dreams he used to tell his nonna Libera. Every word and every line was stood towards the little girl's voice, as if he was singing his life story to them.
Then the other kids--mostly as Giulia and Alberto--stood proudly behind her as they guided her with their cardboard stars, making their way towards a platform where they could stand right infront of the audience and they sang their final lines together, rejoicing their greatest victory for the little girl.
For a moment, Luca could see the little girl shine like the rest of the crowd. He could possibly see the resemblance of his story being unfolded on stage like he was relieving his life before he'd ever stepped on the surface--and into the world beyond him. A pinnacle of his legacy already implented upon the Portorossian roots, and a tale worth retelling for the future.
And just as the show was ending, a sound of a rambunctious thunder occured from the skies above them. The people all looked up in surprise and they quickly ran off as the rain begins to pour along them, leaving Giulia and Luca to immediately shelter back at the pescheria.
"I never expected for a sudden rainstorm to come by." Giulia locks the door behind her and she pulled up a stool for her husband to sit.
"Me neither." he sighs, as he notices his fins and tail were dripped wet from the sudden rainshower. "Just so I thought the rain would come the night after."
"Too bad the show had suddenly ended."
"It might be nice to see that ending." he frets, now alarmed by the sudden cry of his child.
Giulia shook her head with a click of her tongue. "I'll might go get some towels." she murmurs. "You make sure she's alright." she warns him before she walks out of the store, leaving them two alone as the rains continue to pour against the storefront.
"Shh." Luca cooes, struggling to keep his dorsal fins away his child as he gently cradles her. "It's okay. Papa's got you." he whispers, leaning his head towards her.
He always loves how his daughter sleeps among the muttered silence, asides the instruments does bother the little girl's sleep. It barley keeps her awake for most of the show, but she managed to get back on her nap once the noise was subsided.
Just as he thought that the silence was alluring, but he soon noticed a spot of green upon the baby's face. He undoubtedly swore that the rain could have done something to the baby, although he and Giulia had sheltered her against it. Then a minor thought came to him; questioning the fact if she wasn't just a human at all. During his wife's pregnancy, they often joked about having to raise a giant fish. For that could really burst out a laugh or two, but this is something far more serious than that--even more serious than the pain that Giulia brought in.
He dunked his hand onto a open barrel and he sprinkled some water right towards her, revealing more of the green speckles until she turned into a sea monster--just like her father was. With sea blue and green scales, and a deep blue fin--almost replicating her father's nature.
His eyes widened in sudden shock, not believing on what he just saw. He sat down on the stool beside him, his arms still wrapped against his daughter. His eyes welled up with fear and sorrow--his bitter thoughts not willing to give in from the realization of having to raise a sea monster.
"Luca?" Giulia spoke behind him, now carrying a towel on her arm. "Is there a problem?"
"Ma..." Luca looked at his wife, his face suddenly went pale when he couldn't figure out on what to explain to her.
They stood apart for at least a brief second, their eyes soon met from a sudden wave of confusion and terror. He glanced down on the child, his lips nervously trembled upon every shaken breath that he takes. His mind was spiraling with every possible scenario, a trail of minor conflict was laid between them.
"I think you wouldn't like to know this." he whispers, his worried eyes trailed back towards his baby; unable to take this moment in with her.
She walked towards him and he slowly passed the child to her, not committing to speak or blurt out any hurtful word. Holding on breath or two, Giulia's eyes slowly lit up. Somehow she may seemed pissed at the horrendous sight of her child--her face immediately reads out signs of bewilderment and fear, laced between a fine line of insecurity.
Luca tries to comfort his wife by a light embrace, somehow she ends up crying in a verge of tears. She held her child close to her baring arms, gently leaning it's head close to her. A wiff smell of an ocean interferes her nose, making her stare at the child's scaled face with her face still wet from her hurtful tears.
They had never planned for having a kid who has a strained ability to transform, for one reason Giulia did expect the child to be just a human. At first she was strangling all in fate, being in the know when her child had came into the world upon her.
Looking now at her future was seemly to be quite perplexed--with no plans however on how she'll care for her child upon taking on the familiar rules that she'd established from him.
"What are we gonna do about her, Luca?" the woman gazed back at him, her voice sounded anguish in pure sadness. "I cannot bare to see her growing up like this."
Luca leans in to her, for once he had something that he'd wanted to know about his daughter. Thousands of questions came spiraling over his weary head, overturning his perspective for at least a bit. In a skip of his heartbeat or two, he gently wraps his arm around her and she leans her head over his shoulders.
"We'll figure this out." he calmly told her, placing his hand onto her forearm. "I know we would."
Then he softly glides his finger against the baby, feeling her a sign of comfort beneath her tiny scales. He took a second to stare at it, not bothering himself to have an imperfectly perfect bond between him and her.
"She'll be fine." he mutters. "Sea monster or not, she's just as special as the two of us were."
Giulia wistfully smiles, in a way that shows relief and hope. For the one that proves their relationship was intense than any star in the galaxy, and another for their daughter's forsaken future.