Richard Pierre

“Aiming for the big guys. I wouldn’t have the balls or the know how to do that so hats off to him. They say if you’re going to have dreams you might as well make them big, right? What’s that saying, shoot for the moon and at least you’ll hit a few stars? My brother says shit like that but I think applies to your kid.” 

“I guess it applies...I think he’s in over his head and is just going to put himself in danger. I know he’s a supe but he’s still my son, I can’t help but worry.” He knew there were younger supes than Shockwave, but to Richard, he’d always be the small sleeping newborn in his arms. 

“That is incredibly admirable.” Alistair nodded, sincerely. Alistair came from privilege himself – the sort of privilege’s being the head of a Church cult granted you. But he did always admire those who could draw themselves out of the darkness. It was an exceptional trait to have. “I’m sure you’d be a great help to us.” Sincerity and a warm smile.

Richard tried to hide a pained expression at the man’s compliment behind a smile and a slight shake of his head. “I was fortunate enough to have a son who wanted to help his old man.” The only reason he was out of debt now was thanks to his son’s superhero career because he agreed to inject him as a baby. There was nothing admirable about that. “I’d be happy to help in any way I can.” He said, mirroring the other’s smile. 

“I’ll have to keep it in mind.” The man chuckled, giving the dog a scratch behind the ears. “Would you be able to give me the name of the place?” He inquires, giving a small smile to the other. “Your son seems like a good kid.” Donovan nodded. “A lot of kids don’t look out for their parents like that.”

When the man asked about the rescue shelter, Richard got out his wallet, where he kept a couple business cards of the place to give out. “They’re called AMA Animal Rescue, they have a lot of information on their website, as well as which animals are up for adoption.” He said with a smile, handing the card to the man. “Well, as my son said when he gave me Bluebell, she’s to replace him while he’s gone. He’s very busy with work.” Not that taking care of a child and a dog were the same, but he loved Bluebell’s company. 

The Costa Family

The Costas consisted of the father Guglielmo (Gulli), the mother Nadia, and their four children, Emilia, Massimo, Montay and Seraphina, in that order. They moved in a few weeks before Ben was born, and became good friend with Richard and Beatrice. 

Bluebell

Richard never had his own pet until he got Bluebell, a rescue puppy gifted to him by his son for his birthday shortly after he moved to New York. As Ben said, ‘to replace me with whenever I’m gone’, something Richard could never do, but he loves having someone to look after. Before being rescued by the shelter and adopted by Richard, she was abandoned and found alone in the streets, barely a week old. 

Richard’s Father

(Mentions of abuse and death)

Bennett Pierre was a shy, meek yet well-meaning man. Despite caring deeply for his one and only child, he never protected or defended him from his demon wife’s mental, verbal and physical abuse, already being a victim of it himself. 

“Is that what he wanted?” Young supers seemed to want that but he couldn’t imagine a life of trying to be in the spotlight and having every move watched and scrutinized. Not a life for him. “Still brave even if it was a bit..” he didn’t want to say stupid, “…a bit misguided.”

“He’s glad he’s gotten that attention, but he honestly wanted to take A-Train’s position in the Seven. Well, wants. He’s set on his goals.” He shrugged and gave the other a slight amused smile. “That’s a nice way of putting it.” he joked a little. 

“He lost but just to get that far was a huge thing. I’m sure he’s doing well from it. At the very least it got him a bit more known and that will increase his following. In his line of work that has to be the best to hope for, surely.” Not that he knew, he worshipped the Seven but he didn’t know the ins and outs of them. “So long as you where there for him that is all that matters. He went up against one of the Seven. Ballsy but brave.”

“Yeah, being in the limelight for a bit gave him a huge boost in popularity.” Richard nodded, only knowing because Ben told him. He didn’t check himself at the time, but he was getting more involved in the supe industry now. “More like young and stupid. Runs in the family, unfortunately, I would know.” 

-

It wasn’t much of a surprise that a young supe is aiming for The Seven. It’s every single one of their dreams – hell, even Jet went through a phase like that. Jet didn’t doubt Shockwave’s capability (as a speedster, Vought could get actual statistical information to kick out A-Train) and he had no problem supporting the younger supe, but hearing his father’s side of the story was completely different. Here, he understood the worries and the effects greed could bring. “Do you think he could make it?”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it. He knows what his strengths are, and he’s a hard worker, especially if he really wants something.” Richard replied, looking very serious. While his son had never stood out when it came to school, he was always passionate about his abilities and worked hard to improve them. “And he knows when to make a move. Like the race with A-Train, despite losing, Ben was set that A-Train was passed his peak and that he’d have a chance.” 

~~~~~~~~~~

Having that strong familial bond was something that Elena understood the value of. While she might not have kids of her own she had a younger sister she had practically raised. Her parents were not all that involved in either of their upbringings. Elena had shouldered the responsibility for a long time in the family. “That kind of bond is something worth cherishing and holding onto. Things don’t ever really go as planned, but finding the happiness in what we have can make things go a lot smoother.” 

Elena sighed a bit embarrassed as she realized what she said. “And I sound like a cheesy Hallmark greeting card now. Wow that is not what I intended.” What came next she didn’t entirely intend to say it came out  before she realized it. Her mouth getting ahead of her mind. “I know that if I ever had children I wouldn’t take them to meet my parents. That is a bridge that was burned a long time ago.”

Yet surprisingly to Elena she wasn’t as embarrassed by letting that remark slip about her family as she had been about her awkward hallmark comment. That was something worth thinking on later. “But that’s family for you not all sunshine and roses.” She joked to try to at least somewhat recover. “Hallmark greeting card sayings and awkward family stories. Really killing it at conversation today.”

Richard smiled fondly at what she said before laughing at her reaction to her own words. “Cheesy or not, you’re right.” he replied, still laughing a little. It wasn’t malicious, he just found her reaction endearing.

At her comment about parents and family, he nodded in understanding. “Absolutely, it comes with the territory. Just part of being human, it’s always a mixed bag.” He leaned his head to the side a little, still smiling. His eyes flickered up as his coworker appeared from the main building, looking for him. Her appointment must of finished. 

“Unfortunately, I have to go. It’s been lovely speaking with you, Elena.” He said as he stood up. He searched for one of his simple business cards and gave it to her. “If you ever need a friend, I’m always available.” 

~~~~~~~~~~

Elena had the feeling that she had made a good friend today in Richard. She certainly hadn’t expected an outcome like that out of a hospital stay. Her earlier encounter with Maeve where she had gotten some since of closeness for the first time in a while was already a surprise as it was. Elena hadn’t expected to have another positive experience much less make a new friend today. It was well worth the discomfort from her injury.

Her smile hadn’t stopped since it had come over her face earlier. “I don’t think we will ever truly discover everything there is to know about human beings. There are far too many mysteries to explore. With every new discovery that comes about a new one takes its place. And I quite like it that way. Keeps things interesting and unpredictable.”

Elena felt a tinge of sorrow upon hearing Richard speak about his family and his son being the only one he had left. She hoped that he had some good friends around him as well because he like everyone else deserved to have a good support network. “Family is an important thing to have in life no matter the size. It can be a strong pillar to lean on alongside friends.”

While Richard was social, he had limited friends. Most of his friends were back in Illinois, who he did keep in touch with, but it wasn’t the same as having friends around you. While he was friendly with his coworkers and the people in his parish, there was only a couple of them he’d consider friends. Not that he minded, he’d rather have few but good friends. Somebody he was happy to consider Elena as. 

Richard nodded in agreement at both of her comments. “Absolutely. While I would’ve loved my son to have siblings, we have a strong relationship, and I’m happy with that.” However, he knew his son had no friends, at least, none outside of Vought that he was aware of, which did worry him. “Honestly, he definitely dodged a bullet by not meeting his grandparents, that would not have been fun.” He said with a genuine chuckle, not bothered by what he was saying. 

He’d long accepted that his wife’s parents would never approve of him and didn’t care to meet their grandson, and while his own father was fine for the most part, his mother had been terrible. If anything, Richard was glad his son never got to meet them. 

“Aside from my church? Not specifically. My sister does more of that stuff, though I wish I had time to help her more. I deal with a lot of the paperwork and meetings and just overall running of the Church.” Alistair sighs, sounding more saddened by the thought than he actually is. “You do a lot of work with the church here, then?”

Richard nodded at the question. “I help where I can, especially at the charity events the church organizes. I used to be really down on my luck back in the day, so I know what it’s like having little to nothing. Now that my life is more stable and I’m able to help, I want to do what I can.” Despite that, he wasn’t able to help the one person in his life. 

POINT CALL FROM 22/11/2020 -  28/11/2020

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