[color=wheat][indent][indent][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wcYEcJ8.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/lvHjJni.gif[/img]
[sub]A [@metanoia] & [@LovelyComplex] Collaboration || [I]featuring[/i] [color=darkgoldenrod]Marco Brady[/color] & [color=9f1b3e]Cat the Cat[/color][/sub][hr][hr]
[/center]

The revved engine of a dark blue pickup came to a steady stop in front of the Godmother’s Sandwich Shop. Marco made sure to park it as close to the entrance as he could. The only downside was that his brother’s truck was lifted up somewhat, so Marco knew as soon as he stepped out, he’d feel that nice [i]crunch[/i] of his limbs. That kind of earth-shattering crunch one always wants to feel after they’ve had an eye awakening experience.

As he watched in a painful limp, Marco found himself taking a seat at the nearest table inside. Surprisingly it wasn’t jam-packed as he assumed it would be. He didn’t know who else was seeing themselves, but Marco shrugged as he put pressure off of his left leg and was left to his own devices for a few minutes. He spent those minutes just thinking about everything his other self said. How that whole ordeal was all about his internal strife (or however the hell he phrased it). Said that he needed to deal with the external.

[color=b8860b]“What the hell does that even mean?”[/color] Marco cursed, slamming the table with his balled fist. [color=b8860b]“And now my hand hurts. [i]Wonderful.[/i]”[/color]

Looking up, Marco saw Cat hovering over him and he started to wonder just how long she’d been standing there. [color=b8860b]“Oh hey! Didn’t see you there.”[/color]

Raising an eyebrow, curious and concerned, Caterina, with painted whiskers on her face and cat ears on her head, gave the boy a quick glance over before smiling, [color=9f1b3e]“Oh hey, it’s a little early…”[/color] Cat looked at her wrist watch, then the door, then back at Marco. She was in her red pea coat jacket, which covered her black long sleeve shirt and pants (a budget cat outfit). She looked like she just arrived into the building, only moments before Marco came trampling in, [color=9f1b3e]“You’re my first customer today seeing how I haven’t opened yet.”[/color] Cat laughed to herself, realizing she must’ve forgotten to lock the door behind her. [color=9f1b3e]“I can fix you up a sandwich real quick. Let me guess, your usual? Irish reuben with extra sauerkraut?”[/color] 

Today started awfully weird, on top of the sky having an odd hue of purple casting over their town, her kids actually sleeping in instead of jumping in excitement for the Belmonte party and trick-or-treating, Edenridge seemed… different. Gentle mist dancing throughout the streets. An unusual quiet. It felt almost magical, in a haunting sort of way, like they were stuck in a dream. She couldn’t tell why nor did she personally have any weird occurrences happen to her, but she could feel it in the air. 

[color=9f1b3e]“Oh, and Happy Halloween!”[/color]

Marco had been lost in his own thoughts even as he sat there. His delayed reaction came in the form in an almost startled jump. [color=b8860b]“And Happy Halloween to you too!”[/color] would be the last thing Marco said as Cat disappeared behind the counter. 

He could smell her make his sandwich, the smell being enough to awaken his stomach and make it almost eat itself. He didn’t know how long it’s been since he ate anything. He didn’t know what time he even woke up. He remembered it being night time when he was having that strange encounter with his other self, but maybe that was him thinking it was night time? Could have been early in the sunrise transition. It definitely felt like it was early, though. Something about the way his body felt whenever he pulled an all-nighter. That bizarre mix of hungry and sleepy lingered like a bad itch.

And smelling the corn beef brisket was more than enough to intensify that feeling.

Taking himself out of his head for a change, Marco looked up. And maybe it was just the first time him noticing, but he realized she had the whiskers and ears of a cat. [color=b8860b]“Say Cat, have you noticed anything...weird going on lately? I mean, like anything out of the norm?”[/color]

Placing his plate in front of him, along with a glass of water, Cat shrugged, [color=9f1b3e]“No, but I do have this weird gut feeling. Then again, I’m kind of on autopilot in the mornings. Why, what’s up?”[/color] Since she hadn’t officially opened her store yet, Cat decided to invite herself at his table, sitting across from the boy her little brother used to hang out with a lot. [color=9f1b3e]“Did you get spooked or something?”[/color] Intertwining her fingers together, she rested her elbows on the table and her chin on the back of her hands. 

There was a vague instance where she saw her father talking to her late great uncle Cosimo in front of Palermo but she didn’t have her morning coffee yet so she didn’t think too deeply into it. 

[color=b8860b]“I don’t know. Maybe?”[/color] Marco said, looking down at his sandwich. He hadn’t touched it yet and his stomach was making him suffer for it. [color=b8860b]“I still don’t know if it was a dream or not. It’s honestly so bizarre now that I’m thinking about it, but I kinda had a conversation with...myself. Minus the limp I’ve been…[i]blessed[/i] with.”[/color] He laughed more at how crazy he probably sounded right now. Thinking about it made him want to tear some hair out and saying it out loud cemented that thought.

[color=9f1b3e]“Is that weird?”[/color] Cat tilted her head, wondering why this kid was beating himself up for his inner thoughts. [color=9f1b3e]“Sounds like you were self reflecting and maybe your subconscious just made it feel like you were talking with yourself?”[/color] Unlocking her fingers, Danny’s eldest sister leaned back and adjusted her ears, [color=9f1b3e]“What did you talk about? With yourself? If you mind me asking.”[/color]

Somehow Marco knew that she wouldn’t understand [i]completely[/i]. Or maybe it wasn’t that and she was right? Could that actually be the case? Marco had no freaking idea which one it was, but that didn’t matter. As he took a bite of his sandwich, savoring both it and the time it allowed him to think on how to phrase what he was about to say, he looked up at Cat the Cat. [color=b8860b]“I don’t mind telling. I mean, okay so I guess it really was just about this...other me making sure I understand what happened to me--”[/color] He made a point to raise his injured leg up which more or less felt like dead weight, [color=b8860b]“--wasn’t my fault. And, I guess that I had to tackle my internal and external crisis, whatever that’s supposed to mean.”[/color] He laughed again and took a bigger bite of his sandwich, chewing as he thought about what the other him emphasized when he said external crisis.  

In sudden passion, Cat slapped the table, [color=9f1b3e]“Why the hell are you blaming yourself for that fucking kid going pyscho?”[/color] Woah, reel it in Cat. Reel it in. [color=9f1b3e]“Did you know my daughter was shot near you, Marco? She’s given up completely on soccer, and you know what? That’s okay. Life doesn’t have a map. We don’t have this predetermined final destination. Things change, people change us. Do you think I always wanted to be a business owner? Fuck no. Originally, my dream was to become an actress. I was in my prime in high school, but shit happens. I lost my best friend and got pregnant, then I decided to use the gifts my parents gave me for a stable life.”[/color] 

Marco knew she was right. His other self said similar things. So why couldn’t he bring himself to follow their line of thinking? On some level, he did blame himself even though Charlie Decker was the one who clearly was in the wrong. But as he sat there, slowly chewing on the last bit of the first half of his sandwich, he didn’t know that about Sofia. Or maybe he forgot when he was deep in his own despair and self-pity. [color=b8860b]“I’m sorry, Cat. I didn’t mean to…”[/color] He choked on his words. Even right now he couldn’t bear to make anymore excuses, not when Cat had proven that they held no merit. 

And in a way, maybe this was what he needed. Not only because of the sandwich that helped satiate a hunger that lingered about, but also a sense of direction. If it wasn’t for Cat, Marco wouldn’t have been able to put the final pieces of this puzzle together. [color=b8860b]“Thank you, Cat. For the sandwich. I’ll probably take the other half to go. I think there’s something I need to do.”[/color] As he got up, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. [color=b8860b]“How much?”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“Free. It’s Halloween, kid, go enjoy yourself.”[/color] Caterina stood up and began to clean up the table. Swiftly, she grabbed him a to-go box, handed it to him, and began cleaning the table, [color=9f1b3e]“Listen, life is short. If I can give you any sound advice, don’t wake up with regrets. It’s exhausting.”[/color] As Marco got up, Cat paused from wiping the table and glanced up at Marco, frowning a bit, [color=9f1b3e]“If you get a chance, check on Danny for me? He’s been out of it since, um... our mother died.”[/color] 

At the moment that Cat had mentioned it, Marco only smiled for the sake of Cat but internally he found himself truly worried about Danny. He couldn’t even begin to understand what that was like, to wake up one day and find that your mother was gone. Just the thought of not ever seeing his ma again terrified him, lord only knew what Danny might be going through right now.

He gave her a nod, holding his smile firm on his face. [color=b8860b]“I will. I’ll swing by later, I promise.”[/color] There was a sort of a conviction in Marco’s voice, the kind that seemed to say more than his words could ever.[/indent][/indent][/color]