Baccarat was filled with weird events over the course of the week. The casino indeed opened back to the public, due to the fact he couldn't spend anymore Argonian funds. But the prince remained in Baccarat and even got a room away from Marcello, to Marcello's and Charmles' request alike. The oddest thing Marcello noted was his frequent thoughts of Carrie, it was unnatural for him to think of anything but himself and how he'd gain the fame he so richly deserved. Whenever he found himself thinking of her, he dashed his thoughts. Then there was Alistair, Jessica's "brother," he remembered that he'd asked for Marcello to deliver the message to Jessica and everyone who had defeated Rhapthorne, and his brother was in Baccarat as well, gambling away, but he couldn't bring himself to talk to the man that ruined his life. Marcello sat in his room for hours, wishing he'd died in Neos just like all those unfortunate people that heard his—to himself—wonderful speech. Since Angelo saved him, his life has fallen into a deeper rut. He was haunted by the thoughts of his dead mother and all that was taken from him, it was horrible.
The hotel was losing business as well, what with that "moleman" hogging the stage every night. The caretaker inquired where he'd come from and the mole simply replied, in song, "I come from a dark hole in Ascantha, now listen on to my witty banta." The way the moleman answered annoyed the caretaker and ended the conversation right there. What's worse was that the moleman had no intention of leaving anytime soon, so they were stuck with his limelight hogging, which ended up moving the bunny girl show to the afternoon slots. Patrons also noted that the man's posse was that of smaller people also dressed as moles, making people think the gimmick was getting out of hand.
Angelo was the only one to note the very odd things in Baccarat. He noticed Marcello around, since he continually dropped by the casino then left after about an hour, not playing a single game. Angelo dubbed it as weird, but never confronted his half brother over the matter. What caught Angelo's attention was the Empychuu tribesmen. Empychuu was a village in a "mountain" in the middle of the ocean, how did they get to Baccarat? He tried to converse with the large muscular one, but the others wouldn't allow him to get close. The people just thought they were traveling performers, but they didn't pay attention too much to them. Angelo also noted that they always stayed in the casino until closing hours, then they'd leave the casino and the town altogether, but he didn't know why. He decided to head to the restaurant and check the talk of the town.
"Brother!" he shouted seeing Marcello sitting at a table. Marcello diverted his attention to a wall away from Angelo. Angelo sat in the chair across from him and propped his feet onto the table.
"What did I tell you about calling me that!" Marcello said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, lighten up, Captain of the Templar's," Angelo responded, picking up a menu. "Your always so mad, I'd think you'd be more appreciative towards the man who saved your life."
"Saved my life!" Marcello finally looked at Angelo. "If it weren't for you and your idiot friends I'd own this world!" He jumped to his feet, slamming his hands into the table. "You didn't save my life! You damn near ended it!"
"Yeah, I'll have your finest wine," Angelo said to the waitress, then he looked at Marcello. "Quiet down, Marcello, maybe you haven't noticed this but no one knows what happened on Neos was your fault."
"My fault--" Marcello said, beginning to chuckle. "It wasn't my fault 'brother,' it was all YOUR fault! It's your fault I ended up getting kid out of the house and becoming a Templar, it's your fault and your father's fault!" A vein bulged from his forehead. "I think it was all part of your plan when you were nothing more than a 'seed'! I caught on, Angelo, you waited, bided your time until I was born and led a nice life with MY family! Then when your father decided to get intimate with his wife, YOU had to show up then!"
"Marcello..."
"What's worse is you live your life all carefree, with no regret of a life you stole from me!" Marcello sat silent looking at the wall again, fighting back tears of anger and the urge to attack his half-brother. Angelo watched him for awhile.
"Marcello," he began, "I hope you don't really think this was all a clever plan I devised when I wasn't even old enough to think." Angelo switched his voice to sound like Marcello to give himself a snide remark, "You're barely old enough to think now." Angelo sipped the wine. "But to think that I've no regrets of what my coming to life has done to yours is absolutely appalling. I've thought of what life would be like from your end, and I can tell it isn't glamorous, having to jump hurdles and disprove the low standards everyone sets for you."
Marcello scoffed as Angelo continued. "But, have you ever thought of how my life is like? Constant hatred from your older half-brother. Having to live up to high standards. I envy you though. No one compares you to father. We share common blood, Marcello, we both lost our parents, we're all that's left. We're family, whether you like it or not." Marcello got to his feet. "A man once told me 'the things you may hate of someone reflects on something about yourself'. I just hope one day you'll realize how alike we are, and come to call me 'brother' and join me in my life. You know, what Abbot Francisco did for us both." He put down a pouch of gold, "thats for the wine. Au revoir." Angelo left his brother at the table.
"Angelo!" a voice called. Angelo looked around and saw Medea waving to him. "Angelo!" She called running toward him. "Good day, Angelo."
"Hey, erm...should I call you Queen?"
"Medea will do," she answered with a smile. "I am not as much like my father that you must always be formal. Outside Trodain, even Argonia, I am Medea, normal woman."
"Not many women have been cursed and turned into a horse, Medea," Angelo said. "Or journeyed across the world, defeating a great evil AND marry the boy that's not even fully human."
"Always the details with you, Angelo," she said. "Ooooh, you know my husband and I've taken enough gold for some gambling, are you game?"
"You had me at 'enough gold'." They walked to the casino together. "What're you doing in Baccarat?"
"Charmless is here, and he wants to speak with his cousin over the matter of the Kingdom selection. You coming to the ceremony? It's been moved to Savella Cathedral."
Angelo looked at her, she was being oddly informal. "Yeah, matter of fact, I'm waiting for Jessica to here. Yangus and Red are in Arcadia, they should be back soon."
They walked into the casino, Angelo wasn't surprised to see the Empychuu tribesmen, but he was surprised to see them leaving. Medea questioned their presence and Angelo told the very little he knew. He also informed her that Marcello was in town, she wasn't thrilled about this information, she just couldn't stand Marcello's attitude.
"Please, cousin," Charmles said to King Eight as he sat on the bed. His cousin looked at him with a slight smile on his face as Charmles paced around. "I'm begging you, being King of Argonia is all I have."
"Cousin, cousin, cousin," Eight said shaking his head. "The fact of the matter is, I'm more worthy of the Argonian throne, even my companions are. I was born first, I finished the test for the Argon heart—YOU bought yours—plus, you're afraid of lizards. I don't see how far Argonia can get with a leader that's afraid of lizards."
"Take that back, cousin!" Charmles shouted. "I've lived in Argonia longer, people know me."
"They can grow accustomed to me."
"Your friends are in Trodain!"
"I can make new friends, I found out through my travels that its easy for me."
"No! The throne is my royal birthright!"
"Ok, ok, since you put it that way, I will definitely take it under consideration." Eight got to his feet, Charmles was almost in tears. "I'm only kidding, cousin, I had every intention of remaining in Trodain, it's my home. Sure I'm entitled to Argonia, but I presently have no idea how you guys govern things, I will make my announcement next week at Savella." He walked to the door. "I have to find my wife now, see you later cousin."
Charmles slumped into his bed as the Empychuu tribesmen walked in.
"Was that the King of Trodain-Argonia?" the muscular leader inquired.
"Who are you?" Charmles demanded. "Get out of my room!"
"Remember, the R's always sound like W's," the leader said, as one of the tribesmen approached the prince.
