"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

[sharktrash]

[ Whoa, calm down there, new friend. Squalo is ready to point and laugh, just it case, but it seems it's not necessary just yet. He considers. ]

Half and half? So we can move easily.

[ He sets off toward the junction between the shade and the sunny area, and holds a hand out for the blanket. ]

[alleato]

Good plan.

[With a brilliant smile, Dino follows, feeling vaguely unsettled and comforted by this guy at the very same time. Something's just right about someone getting the home cooking, honestly. Once they arrive, he takes it upon himself to wave off the gesture and begins to unfold the blanket himself. It's... apparently rather difficult for him...]

Really?

[sharktrash]

[ Likewise. Squalo can't find it in himself to be surprised by that apparent trouble, though he lowers his hand and just watches Dino struggle by himself with a flat expression. ]

Voooooiiii, there's no need to be so fucking nervous. I ain't gonna eat you.

[ BLESS he thinks it's nerves... ]

[alleato]

I'm not nervous.>

[The blanket is just a piece of junk and he's trying to fling it out a bit and it's not working. It actually manages to smack Squalo a bit.]

[sharktrash]

So what, you've never made your own bed, then?

[ Whoa now that's talent. He doesn't get too mad, though. Just sort of steps closer, rips the blanket out of Dino's hands and flings it out properly, then leans down to fix a corner and sits down. ]

[alleato]

I make my own bed!

[Sometimes. After he falls out of it and knocks all the blankets and pillows on the floor. Still, relenting, the blanket is handed to Squalo and Dino steps back a couple of feet while taking a look around.]

It really is a nice day.

[A nice day to step forward to sit down, somehow catch his foot under the blanket, fall face first mere inches from damaging any of their food, and groan.]

New shoes...

[sharktrash]

[ Alright, maybe meeting this guy wasn't his best decision today. ]

[ Squalo gives him another blank look, probably not quite buying that excuse but deciding to just in case it's the truth, carefully pulls his bag further away from him, and starts unloading. ]

[ There's a warm box of risotto, a thermos, a bottle of wine, two mugs, two glasses, and two plates with forks. ]

Life's too short to eat out of paper dishes.

[ Well, that or he makes enough money to just toss decent dishes once they're done, but details. He sets everything down between them and starts piling the risotto into the plates. ]

[alleato]

[It was the best decision, because Dino's life is vibrant and his presence is enriching and fulfilling! And he's cute. And handsome. And useful.

Flat on his face for a moment, anyway.

He watches with head turned aside as Squalo gets everything up, then tenses and pulls himself upright with a sigh.]

You brought the good stuff! I can't believe it... it's like being home or something. I'm half expecting some sharks to show up.

[........What.]

[sharktrash]

[ ...can't argue about the cute tbh. The rest, eh. Okay, maybe handsome too when his Shrodinger's Balls are existent. When he's crying or tripping over his own feet, not so much. ]

One has. [ He grins, pointing at himself with a thumb. ] "Squalo".

[ Once there's a decent amount of risotto on each plate, he'll be pouring the wine because that's basically Italian juice or something. ]

[alleato]

[The smile that infuriates the weak and ornery settles on Dino's face, and he facepalms.]

That explains it. I didn't even think about it. I was too busy denying that I'm "Valentino". Which I'm not. They called me that, sometimes, but I don't know why.

[And now he carefully reaches for the plate, pulling it near his face so he can inhale the food's smell deeply.]

Where have you been all my famous life? It's funny how we really can get anything we want, isn't it?

[sharktrash]

[ Pats him on the shoulder. Hey, he did mention he wasn't speaking much Italian lately. ]

Uh, if they called you that, I'm pretty sure that's your bloody name. It's fine to pick what you wanna be called.

[ He looks pleased by Dino's apparent infatuation with the food. ]

Waiting for the perfect moment.

[ Puts one of the glasses next to him. ]

[alleato]

[Shaking his head, Dino shuffles the plate to rest on his leg and takes up the glass.]

Good call. I'm glad you did. Honestly, I was feeling kind of homesick.

[sharktrash]

Ha, no kidding. Don't you have family you could visit there?

[ Holds up his. ]

Cheers.

[alleato]

No, they're all dead.

[What? No, they're not. Are they? He's not sure... But he raises his glass and smiles ever so kindly.]

Here's to countrymen. All that.

[sharktrash]

[ Wow just toss a wet blanket on everything, Dino. ]

Oh. Sorry about that.

[ Moving on; ]

Yeah!

[ And so they start eating! He's definitely expecting compliments for his cooking, but he's not in a hurry with it or anything. A good risotto speaks for itself. ]

[alleato]

[All's forgotten the moment it's said, and he takes a good drink of the wine before digging in and making a lovely mess as he eats. It's within reasonable boundaries of human behavior, but there's a decent few bits of food that he keeps having to brush off his shirt.]

I can't handle how good this is. Do you cook a lot?

[sharktrash]

[ Squalo might still judge a little, but hey, messy eating means it really is good. So he just proceeds to look more and more smug. ]

Yeah. I cook breakfast and occasionally dinner for my band. Want to keep my skills sharp.

[alleato]

[If someone's not judging Dino, it's not a day ending in y. Still, that smug look is pretty contagious, and the blonde gets more and more pleased.]

Switch labels! [GRIN.] Obviously I'm kidding, but if someone in my band was cooking like this all the time, I think I'd never leave the comfort of our humble home.

[sharktrash]

[ PRETTY MUCH Dino what is your life and what are your choices you need to find better friends. ]

[ He snorts. ]

Hell nah! I'd never fit in there. I ain't gonna stop you from running over though.

[alleato]

[FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC.]

What's it like over there, anyway? I hear things... rumors. But there's always going to be stuff like that.

[sharktrash]

[ OH NO A PONY AU INCOMING ]

About what you'd expect of a big corporation. [ shrugs a bit. ] Bit more on the wild side. Believes in "all publicity is good publicity" kind of deal and doesn't get on our balls about being bad rolemodels.

[alleato]

[NEIGH.]

Oh. Wow. I guess I'm the only one worrying about stuff like that. I want to do good things for good people, be all I can be, that kind of thing. [Dino laughs, because he's being overly honest, yet it seems like something Squalo should know... or perhaps somehow does already.] It's pretty easy to get by, though.

[sharktrash]

[ ngl i just fucking lost it ]

Heh. That's sweet. [ He's not necessarily mocking, though. Those aren't bad goals. Pretty admirable, really, even if his own priorities are elsewhere. ] I just want to make an impact. It doesn't have to be "good". As long as I get to write music. If I stopped I would die. And I'll be the best of the best. I want to be so brilliant that nobody could ever top it after me.

[ Reasonable, achievable dreams, right? Except... it definitely sounds that way when he's talking. As if he's certain of his success. ]

[alleato]

[Everything in Squalo's countenance speaks to the truth of that, that he is formidable, unstoppable if he fights for something. He doesn't have to know the man well to see the candor. It's nigh impossible, but part of him is rooting for Squalo, even if the goal is questionable.]

You'll go after anything and everything that'll get you there, right?

[Dino pauses, looking at the ground, then the sky, then Squalo himself.]

Honestly, I'm a little scared. I don't know how to handle being "famous". I kind of want to keep to myself, blend in a little. I mean, what would it be like to be normal? I don't even remember anymore.

[sharktrash]

[ Good. Guess some things just can't be erased with this world's technology, huh? Squalo himself is rather surprised by just how comfortable he feels sharing something like this with... a stranger, for all he knows. He hasn't actually told this to anyone he considers a friend, even if his behavior probably allows everyone to get an approximate idea. ]

Yes.

[ No delay, no hesitation. He'd go through anything -- or anyone, if it furthered his goals. But he trusts those he cares about not to get in his way. He looks back with a slight frown. ]

Oh don't give me the pussy talk now. You don't need to "be" any different than usual. Just say fuck it and have a good time, yeah? Millions of people get to be mediocrities. You've got the chance to be something more. Don't question it, savor it. Make the most of it. In whatever way YOU want to.