InsaneJournal

11 children is a lot for any family to have and can mean a number of things. When Samuele Giuliano was little, it ultimately meant that in spite of him being the third oldest, he was condemned to a life of sharing rooms and waiting for his younger siblings to be done with the bathroom so that he would have a chance to get showered and ready for school. It was all part of the package, and for the most part, it was tolerable. He was a content little boy who was only happy to do whatever he could to help his parents and little brothers and sisters. If somebody needed a sandwich, he'd make it. If somebody was getting picked on in the playground, he'd sort it in a heartbeat.

Outside of the family, however, Sam didn't quite fit into the angelic picture he had created of himself. In fact, he was quite the terror and when his siblings were being picked on wasn't the only time he turned his attention to an unfortunate kid or two. He had always been bigger than the others and his size was useful. Other useful tools were his big eyes. Teachers and parents alike were easily duped into thinking the boy was a perfect companion for the other youngsters. It wasn't very hard to make them think that the other kids had been the ones trying to pick fights.

Like most youngsters, Sam began to change as soon as he hit puberty. This change wasn't for the best by any means. The siblings closest to his own age were no longer immune to his wrath, as Rosco found out when Sam took it upon himself to inform his little brother that they were both adopted. While it wasn't the biggest mystery on earth (most could tell by looking at them) Sam had done it out of momentary contempt. Upsetting Rosco had been his aim, and he had certainly achieved it. What was worse was that Sam didn't feel immediate remorse. It took the bigger half of a decade for that to happen.

Sam was definitely well known in high school. He was respected more than he was liked, but the select few he considered friends definitely benefited from it. As for those who openly disliked him, well, he didn't hesitate to knock them down a peg or twenty. There was no denying his skill in that department. His words were cutting, and found it easy to rip even the most confident of students to shreds within minutes. Sarcastic and callous, he wasn't the person to bother. Despite of this, or maybe because of this, there wasn't a single person in the school who didn't know his name for the four years he attended it, and he wasn't always hardheaded. He was charming when he wanted to be, which explained how he didn't spend those years single.

Graduation came and went, and after spending another summer at home, he made the decision to put some space between himself and Longport. Italy, the country he had been adopted in and the country where a large portion of his extended family lived, seemed to be the best destination for him. Within days of making that decision he booked the flight and found himself out there. The independence was just what he needed to turn himself around, and even within that first year he began to rethink his attitude and disrespect towards other human beings.

It was safe to say that Sam changed a lot over those next few years in ways he never would have had he not left his family home. Naturally talented at art, it wasn't long before he started working at a tattoo parlor. It hadn't initially been the path in life he had wanted to take but he was surprised to find that he loved that job. Going to work didn't feel like a chore at all, but instead a hobby. A well paying one, of course.

By the time Sam decided that it was time to go home permanently, he had turned into an almost completely different person. Yes, he had his moments but the unnecessary callous nature had faded considerably. He was far nicer to be around. Those whose company he shared weren't constantly waiting for the snide remark he was bound to make anymore, because those snide remarks had disappeared. He had grown considerate. Of course, people don't change on their own. Some of his progression was definitely down to his grandmother, who he had been staying with. She didn't point out his flaws and tell him to change or anything of the sort, but she was a very different person from him, and her nature had been influential enough.

In late 2007 at 25 years of age, the prodigal Giuliano returned to Longport at last and one thing was for sure -- he had a lot of making up to do to a lot of different people. Various family members who had been at the receiving end of his insults, friends he had turned against and people he had never even taken the time to get to know were all on his list of people he needed to make amends to. It was hard to figure out where to start, but he had all the time in the world so there was no need to rush.

What he did acknowledge was that he had missed a number of his siblings growing up. He hadn't been the best brother to some of them, nameably rosco, and his New Year resolution was to start where he should have years ago. There was no making up for breaking the harsh news to Ros, but he could look out for him. His little brother was always going to be a child in his eyes anyway, somebody who needed to be watched as much as possible.

A better person than he was before, Sam still works as a tattoo artist - this time in Longport of course. He moved into an apartment on his own shortly after coming back and decided against finding a roommate. Not that he was as irritable as before, but everybody needs some alone time.

▪ 26 years of age.
▪ Third oldest in a family of 11. Most of them are adopted, but Sam doesn't treat them as such.
▪ He's a tattoo artist.
▪ He was the biggest prick in high school, but after his reign of terror he spent some time with family in Venice and came back a changed man.
▪ He coaches a high school basketball team in his free time and he is very much the slave driver. For their own good, of course. And he does like to see success.
▪ In spite of what people may think, he really is a loyal friend.
▪ He isn't good with advice, but if it's money you need, he would give his last dollar if he thought it'd make a difference.
▪ Facebook.