Phantoms on the Moon

“Albert?”

Albert’s lips twitched, and he tried his hardest not to smile.

“Still leading a life of crime I see.”

“One does what one can to get by.”

The two looked at each other a moment longer before bursting out laughing.

“You have no idea how good it is to see you again,” Albert said through a smile.

Beppo grinned back and nodded. “I’m surprised to see you too. Who thought we’d meet again on Luna?”

They both quieted down as each became absorbed in thoughts of the past.

Beppo sighed. “Let’s not think about such depressing stuff. I’ll be nice and treat you to a drink.”

Albert raised his eyebrows and Beppo smiled wryly. “I have little enough friends here, it’s good to find even one as stupid as you.”

Albert’s eyes darkened slightly and Beppo was startled. This wasn’t the Albert he was familiar with.

“Albert...”

Albert sighed and the shadow passed to leave the simple, well-known Albert behind. “It’s nothing, Beppo, don’t worry.” The wry, sad, smile on Albert’s lips told Beppo otherwise, but he wasn’t dumb enough to press for an answer.

“I see you’re in the army. And no-one knows you for who you really are?”

“They know me for who I am. They just don’t know the name attached to the face. After all, I’ve changed.”

Beppo stopped and looked at Albert harder. “Yes...yes, you have changed.”

“So have you.”

“Age is not kind to the beautiful.”

Albert chuckled and Beppo was glad he could get something other than angst out of the man.

“So if they don’t know you as the former Count de Morcef’s son, who do they know you as?”

Albert blushed crimson, which perked Beppo’s interest even further.

“C’mon, you can tell me! We’ve known each other before the shit hit the fan.”

Albert looked away.

Beppo sighed.

“Please?”

Albert looked back at him and gave a heavy sigh. “Promise you won’t tell anyone?”

“Yes, yes, of course, sure.”

“No. PROMISE me.”

Beppo was startled at the vehemence, but nodded and held up one hand.

“I promise on my life I won’t tell anyone. Though why is it so important to you?”

Albert shook his head and then sighed. “I left both surnames Mondango and Morcef behind me, and though my mother wanted me to take her maiden name, I declined. I decided to take another’s...someone who was important to me.”

Beppo knew he was stalling, but was quite capable of waiting him out.

Albert, if possible, blushed even harder. “I decided to take the surname of Dantes.”

Beppo stared. “You can’t be serious.”

“For once, I am.”

“Do you know how cheesy that is?”

“Why should you care?”

Beppo snickered and sighed. “You’re still a sentimental sop even as a soldier.” He looked away and paused thoughtfully. “Was he really that important to you?”

“More than anyone else.”

“That’s why you got so pissy when I stole the watch.”

“You knew that was me?!”

“I had a guess...”

Albert gave an exasperated growl and muttered darkly.

Beppo gave a small laugh and took Albert’s arm in his.

“C’mon, Albert. You need to unwind, and that’s what the Carnival is for.”

The two walked off, each doing their best to ignore the past and concentrate on the present.