It gets harder to believe, but be honest

I don't know much about radios, so I can't help there. But I did hear about the book club. I'm still a little busy, though. I'll come as soon as I can, however.

[[Massimo's voice is more serious and determined than Crowe has probably ever heard from him. It seems like Massimo's taken to the call for action.]]

...I still need time to recover from my run-in with Sho Minamimoto's things.

From:

"Recover"? Did you get hurt?! Do you need help?

From:

A-ah, don't worry, just a few scratches, that's all.

[[and a burn or two, but he's not going to tell him that.]]

But thanks for the offer.

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...alright. But let me know if you need anything. I want to help after all. I wish... I wish I knew anything about... well anything, really. I... there's so many people here, they're smart or have amazing powers and abilties or... w-whatever. I just... have ideas I can't follow up on. I tried looking for another road, but... what can I do? This is... [He sighs.]

S-sorry. I don't mean to...

From:

...Crowe.

[[Obviously, he can't see it, but Massimo's smiling.]]

The most important part is that you're trying to help other people. You're doing your best to work to a goal. You're doing what you can, and still trying what you can't.

You've got more strength than you think. Strength doesn't come from how big you are, or how hard you can hit. Strength comes from the heart.

[[he sighs, and sounds a little distant. it seems he's reminiscing about his past]]

...I'm not the real Steel Massimo. The original Steel Massimo died when he stood up to horrible people who oppressed others, when nobody else would stand up.

He was my idol. Everything I wanted to be. He was... he was so cool.

But before he was captured, he gave me his armour, his weapons, and his title. At first, I couldn't carry on his name. I was terrified. I had always been terrified.

...Later on, I found him half-dead in the prison camp that he was held in. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was certain that I couldn't ever be half the hero he was.

He wouldn't have any of that. He taught me that true strength isn't from how powerful, big, or loud you are. True strength comes from the heart. True strength is courage and determination.

My friends, X and Spider helped me defeat the man who stole my hero. Once we did, I told them the truth. And you know what?

[[a small, gentle laugh]]

They didn't care that I wasn't the real deal. They insisted that I was strong, because I put my heart into what I was doing.

[[and now it's an awkward laugh]]

S-sorry, I'm rambling.

The point is, Crowe? You're much stronger than you think you are. Give yourself some credit.

Edited Date: 2010-05-06 05:27 pm (UTC)

From:

[There was a pause when Massimo finished. The people of Mayfield were incredible, weren't they? Then there was Crowe. Just a kid. A kid good with a set of lock picks, but just a kid.

He did try, try and try again, but evrything he did just fell through. Mayfield succeeded in pulling his confidence out from under him completely. Still, there's a soft chuckle on the other end of the phone.]

...thanks, Massimo. I... I figure I owe it to those trapped there to do whatever I can from this end. They're stuck there, being attacked, without food or water, and... it's not fair to let them suffer like that. It could have just as easily been us there...

From:

[[UNBEKNOWNST TO CROWE, MASSIMO MIGHT ACTUALLY BE YOUNGER THAN HIM but whatever it's all good.]]

...Truthfully, you don't owe anything to anyone. You're fully entitled to sitting back, eating a hot meal, and having a nice drink.

But you aren't. You're trying your best to get everyone home. That shows how big your heart is. And like I said, strength comes from the heart.

There are always ifs, ands, could haves, buts, and lots of other things. But when you look at what has happened and then react to it, the kind of person you are becomes clear, depending on how you act.

You're a strong and good person, as far as I can see.

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[Another pause. He doesn't think anyone's ever said anything so nice to him before.]

....thanks, Massimo. Y-you are too. I'm glad there's people in this town like you.

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[[Massimo laughs a little.]]

I'm glad there are people like you, too. We've got to work together. Then we'll solve this mess.

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Book club? I- I did get the invitation, but I guess I was a litte distracted at the time.

I wouldn't mind going though. Mr. Crane seems like a very clever person. I'd like to talk to him again.

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I'm not exactly sure what he's planning, but... it should be good, whatever it is.

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The school I went to was a bit restrictive regarding reading materials. So I'm looking forward to branching out a little.

[He's actually trying to avoid the subject of Westport as best he can. It's only causing arguments everywhere else.]

From:

_{[[GOOD IDEA as Crowe is a bit broken with his conversation with Denmark at the moment]]}

Yeah, it's frustrating, isn't it? Do they do the same thing to you there? How it's all Hardy Boys novels and the like?

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Well, the teachers at my school are very careful to regulate anything that might.....umm...how to put this...

[a thoughtful pause]

Contaminate their experiments, I suppose. So all of the clones are actually given different class schedules and reading material.

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...Ah. Too bad you're free to read whatever you want here, but Mayfield still censors what you can get at the library... personally, I'd kill to get my hands on a Sherlock Holmes book. [He chuckles.]

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But why would they censor Sherlock Holmes? It's not like that would be disruptive to their experiment.

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The town library here filters to your age stereotype. It's... bothersome.

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I wish I could, radio's aren't my forte tho.

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... it's alright. Keep your ear to the ground, and let me know if you find someone who does. O-or even maybe if some books or something turn up. I can try, I guess, but I need some direction here...

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I can do that. Are you ok kid? You sound really run down.

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Um. I, um... this whole Westport situation has been pretty trying, I guess.

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Yeah, it is, I completely agree with you there. Just don't let it wear you out completely or you'll be no help there. Get some sleep, and some good food into you.

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I-I will, thanks. You're right.

[There's a pause. He keeps doing this to himself since he's gotten to Mayfield. By now he should have learned, but...]

It's just hard to rest knowing what's going on over there. They're suffering a lot worse than we are...

Ah. I-I don't think I know your name, sir? I'm Calleo Crowe.

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I know, and we keep finding out more and more awful things the more they come back. Dying's kinda traumatic.

Hey there. I'm Ken. Its nice to meet you.

From:

bustydefense.livejournal.com

Leona - er, Liechtenstein - asked a similar question. Perhaps you might ask her what she found out? I offered my assistance, as much as I could, and she mentioned that Japan might have some ideas.

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Oh, really? Perhaps I should give them a call. I wonder if they've had any luck. Thanks.

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bustydefense.livejournal.com

I'm sure we would have heard by now if they'd been successful...

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notnicesiblings.livejournal.com

I have offered my assistance once, and will gladly do so again.

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