"Quando l'amico chiede, non v'è domani."

[sharktrash]

Who: Dino & Squalo. And possibly you!
What: IT'S A DATE!! meeting between fellow countrymen to appreciate traditional food. Move along, no risotto for you.
When: early noon, January 25th-ish? (after song rewrite, before ghost hauntings)
Where: some nice park within Vista City roughly halfway between Pride and Virgo HQs
Warnings: language? Squalo? should be relatively safe, will update if necessary

(( prompts in comments! ))

Comments

Spectating...

[dishevelment]

[The sounds of a foreign language always struck a strange chord within him whenever he heard a snatch of conversation on his walks. The chord felt almost unreal, like what he was hearing was a figment of a half forgotten dream, but it enticed his curiosity no less.

Don't mind Koumei plopping himself down near by to ostensibly take a nap in the grass. His long hair was astonishingly neat and braided for once, and his face was obscured by a pair of wide sunglasses that reflected the world around him. His hoodie, with a wild tribal design on the fabric and an unflatteringly shapeless cut, was perhaps the only real tell that it was him hiding behind that tree over there....

He didn't understand a word of what was being said, but it was pleasant to listen to.]

[sharktrash]

[ It'll take a while for Squalo to notice him. It's not exactly shocking for someone to go to a park and sit down nearby or anything. But that bit of red hair he'd managed to spot, and that hobo hoodie eventually start sinking in, and at some point he'll be giving that tree a suspicious look. ]

Heeey!

[dishevelment]

[Koumei jerked upright at the familiar outcry, and made a big show of comically looking around the park as if to see who was being yelled at.

Finally accepting that he ha been spotted, he tipped his glasses down and looked at the pair with lost, dumbfounded eyes.]

Me?

[alleato]

I...don't know him. Do you know him?

[Dino squints. And then waves. Like a dork.]

[sharktrash]

Yeah, he's -- [ a fuckbuddy? ] -- one of the keenest minds around.

[ He explains quickly, and turns back to Mei again. ]

Were you following me?

[dishevelment]

[Fuckbuddy indeed. Koumei chuckles, embarrassed, and starts fussing with his braid underneath their scrutiny.]

Please. Why would I do something like that?

...I was just wanted to listen-- I've only heard you and one other person in town speak that language before.

[sharktrash]

Well I don't know!

[ But, oh. That's interesting. ]

Italian. Not a lot of us around here, I guess. [ He looks back at Dino, clearly pleased. ] All the more reason to band together, yeah?

[alleato]

Er. Okay.

[Looking at the new person.]

He's the only person here I know that speaks it, so I guess it's like... instant kinship?

[dishevelment]

Yeah, that would be a special bond to share with someone.

[sharktrash]

[ Sighs. He doesn't have the heart to shoo Mei off, even if this is a little awkward. ]

Hey, you wanna try risotto? We don't have any more plates, but there's still some left.

[ He wiggles the plastic heat-preserving box at him. ]

[alleato]

[More than a little, but as Dino is the gentlemanly sort, and a totally nice person, he nods.]

Yeah, if you want some, there's plenty! I don't mind.

[He wasn't asked...]

[dishevelment]

[Ah. He had suddenly become the third wheel-- and he only wanted to listen to that lovely language, even if he didn't understand a thing that was being said.]

Only if it's not a problem. I wouldn't want to impose upon anything between two countrymen.

[sharktrash]

[ Squalo isn't. ]

How about you take the food and get out of my sight, then?

[ A++ bedmate manners ]

[alleato]

[Oh good lord. Dino looks between the two of them, then leans in toward Squalo.]

He's looking kind of harmless. Am I wrong? I'm not a good judge of this.

[Obviously.]

[dishevelment]

[Deaf to the conversation happening in the other language, Mei merely took an awkward step back and fumbled for his customary fan. Unfurling it, he lifted it just enough for him to hide behind it while he formed a responce.]

...I had no idea it was something like that, Squalo. Not that I care, but manners would dictate that you wait for something a little more secluded.

Excuse me. I didn't mean to disturb you.

[sharktrash]

As far as I know, yeah. Why? You didn't look like you *wanted* him to join us.

[ asjhdkjashd ]

-- IT'S NOT "SOMETHING LIKE THAT!!" Actually, it's quite the opposite! [ One doesn't simply bring a dance partner over to a business dinner unless they also happen to be your boss, right? ]

[ don't you dare go all upset and hiding behind the fan on him!! ]

[alleato]

You're yelling, Squalo.

[Dino sounds amused, like he knows this is how it's supposed to be. Whatever the reason, Squalo feels familiar and richly alive to him. Like there's a story he isn't telling.]

Sorry--we're just eating. It's not that you're not welcome, right? It's that we're enjoying talking, and I'm not inclined to stop speaking Italian.

[What the hell did they do with Dino?]

[dishevelment]

[Oh, he'll hide behind his fan. It makes people stand on their toes, and wonder what he's thinking.]

I see. I don't understand a word of it, but I was content to listen to it and nap before our friend decided to call me over.

[sharktrash]

Yeah, NO SHIT??

[ So much Deja Vu here. As if he's been told this very same thing by this very same guy before, except that's impossible since they've only just met. And yet, it feels so natural on his tongue; ]

-- Shut up, Dino.

[ It sure does. Now he almost feels bad. Keyword: almost. ]

Fine. Do whatever you want. Just don't go all awkward silence on me.

[alleato]

[Dino shrugs, scooting closer to Squalo, technically making more room on the blanket. Not much, but some. He warms to a welcoming smile and puts a hand on his countryman's shoulder like it's going to make a point that they won't be bothered.]

Yeah, I know, you're bite and bark at the same time. How scary.

[Laughing quietly at the joke he doesn't even get, like it's a big secret, he sets his food aside and clasps his hands on his lap.]

Do you care if I finish the wine, though?

[dishevelment]

[Nope. Squalo's barking had made the point amply clear.]

Enjoy your wine as much as you like, [he said, backing away another step.] I'll be taking my leave-- apologies for disturbing you.

[sharktrash]

[ Ugh, fine. He'll be nice. He does sort of swat at Dino's hand on his shoulder, though. At the same time... he can make it up to Mei another time. He'd really rather not be trying to charm two guys at once. ]

Hey, it's no big deal.

[alleato]

[Awkward. So awkward.]

It's fine. Please don't think I meant to be rude--I really didn't.

[dishevelment]

I didn't think you had intended to.

[Blame Squalo. He started it.

With a short, polite bob of his head, Koumei turned around to find a different tree to nap under...]

[sharktrash]

[ ALRIGHT THEN... ]

I'll see you later!

[ sighs. ]

This is sure a popular spot today.