interstellar5555 | "Senza tentazioni, senza onore."

Entry tags:

"Senza tentazioni, senza onore."

Who: Squalo and -- you?
What: Squalo decided not to let his bandmates one-up him and went to have his own "seasonal" performance. For fun. Or so they say. He's got Empathic Influence now, so... have fun getting just a little bit too into those songs and enjoy all those new, excellent and healthy emotions that you're suddenly feeling!
When: Feb 13th
Where: "The Variable", alternative music club in Vista City
Warnings: ...Squalo. Aka: profanity, violence, public indecency, drug use, will add as necessary.

(( See comments for prompts! ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ HOW DID A FROG GET INTO THE CLUB. IS THE FROG OF LEGAL AGE? ]

[ ...isn't it funny how the club's name contains the word "Varia", though. ]

[SHE IS OLDER THAN YOU, SIR]

[It's hilarious, in fact, and Fantasma certainly appreciates it. At least, that's probably appreciation in her little red eyes as she stares at him from the top of the hooded head of... someone who's actually pretty tall. Huh.]

[...But it's definitely the same frog in the audience, if Squalo can even tell that sort of thing at this distance.]

[ ...he can't, not really. But he does eventually spot a frog, and, well. There's only one frog that's been stalking him until now, so whether or not it's the same one, it clearly calls for investigation. ]

[ He finishes up with the autographs, excuses himself (probably rather crudely, like "I gotta take a piss" or "that line ain't gonna do itself"), and, pushing people out of the way if he needs to, heads toward the hooded figure. ...The tall hooded figure. ]

[ It feels... wrong. ]

Voooi. That your pet?

[Jeez, Squalo, she ran into you once at a park!! Don't make this weird.]

[As Squalo approaches, the figure beneath the frog gives a wide and easy smile that probably seems a bit off to Squalo. And then there's the laugh and answering voice.]

Ha ha, yep! I'd have brought my dog, but turns out they don't let those in clubs.

[One knuckles nudges up the hood a bit, revealing the rest of the face. Is Mammon using a Yamamoto Takeshi illusion this time? YUP.]

[ WHO'S MAKING THIS WEIRD HE'S NOT ASKING YOU OUT, FROG ]

[ ...yeah, it's setting off all kinds of "off" feelings for him until he actually sees who it is -- and then all those mannerisms snap right back into place like an umbrella getting opened. ]

[ He stares for a few moments, then takes a step back. ]

[ One of his first... hallucinations. A boy with a sword, defeating him, and him kicking him off as a giant shark approaches. The emotions surrounding it are a mess. Hatred, disappointment, outrage, wounded pride, but also... some kind of appreciation, pride, almost curiosity. ]

Who are you?

[ It's quick, harsh, and sounds much like a demand. ]

[Well, he should, Fantasma is prime frog real estate here. No fucking taste, Squalo, no fucking taste.]

[What an interesting reaction. Times like this are why Mammon so appreciates their flame. It keeps them hidden, a non-entity no one can identify and thus come after, but allows them to use the faces of others instead to see if they can hammer at this clearly fragile brainwashing.]

[Yamamoto's face grins some more, another laugh bubbling out.]

I'm not gonna bite, you know! I'm Takeshi.

[ Uh okay listen if he was into frogs he would most definitely go for Fantasma. She's a great frog, true. Too bad he's not asking out any frogs, so go squint at someone else. ]

[ He'll just squint at the fake Yamamoto. More like glare, actually. He doesn't know what's his supposed relationship to that guy, but the one thing he knows, or thinks he knows -- ]

I was undefeated until you came along!

[Another bright laugh, because that seems to be the pet swordsman's thing.]

In, uh, what, exactly?

[A probing question, for all its lightness, to see if he can remember that so vital skill.]

[ Wait whose pet is he because Squalo would like to renounce any ownership. ]

[ ...there's a pause. He just keeps staring at him, clearly suspiciously, though now there's a hint of confusion to his expression. What indeed? ]

...I'm not sure. [ His left hand clenches instinctively. He had a sword, he's pretty sure he had a sword even though he doesn't recall actually holding it. He remembers the weight, though. Greater than the prosthetic alone. A weight that easily sliced through a human torso -- ] We fought. [ He says pointedly instead, as if this whole thing is the boy's fault. Just for a moment, the dream feels clear like a memory, and he talks about it as such. ] With blades. There was a shark.

[If he's not your pet, Squalo, then stop giving a shit about him.]

[Mammon keeps their illusion with a perfectly at ease smile, waiting patiently for Squalo to recall his own memories. So he can remember the Rain Battle this well. That's fitting, they suppose, and works out well enough for them.]

Oh, do you do kendo? We should meet up sometime to try a match! I've never sparred against a rockstar before, ha ha.

Or a rematch, if you think that's what it is, heh.

[Come on, Squalo, you vain "literally a proud shark" asshole, take the chum bait.]

[ "Apprentice" sounds a little less gay don't you think? Also wow don't tell him what to do. :U ]

[ Three, two, one. ]

I don't do fucking kendo! Do I look like a Japanese highschooler to you?!

[ He does something else, but he can't for the hell of him tell what it is -- ]

[ Oh, yeah. He's a twiggy musician with an attitude. ]

[ Still, it's a challenge. He doesn't just walk away from those. He takes a breath and adds a bit more calmly; ]

How the hell do you expect me to -- okay, fuck that. Do you play anything?

[ Yeah he's thinking of a music battle now, sorry. ]

[It being a little less gay is exactly why it doesn't suit you, Squalo.]

[Another laugh.]

So fencing then? For the pretty hair!

[Is it a compliment? Lowkey trolling? Is it that different from what the actual Yamamoto Takeshi would do anyway?]

[It doesn't matter, because the illusion rubs the back of his neck.]

I'm not really cellist material, I think...

[Like that's specifically what Squalo was asking about. Mostly it's just because Mammon doesn't actually know and is trying to figure out if it's believable or not, or if they can still make this work for them.]

[ W O W he's only gay toward Xanxus not in general?? ]

Fen...cing...

[ Congratulations, Mammon-Yamamoto, it seems that you've stirred something in him. Something like a memory. A brief flash of himself as a child in fencing getup, mocking and laughing over a pile of classmates he'd just beaten up. ]

[ He blinks and shakes his head as if trying to get it off, scowling again a moment later. This kid... ]

How unfortunate for you.

[ Normally he'd refuse a fight that might land him with a hand injury, but... He grins. He has a secret weapon now. A fucking fake-ass hand that can't get injured. He can trash this asshole and be on his merry way. ]

Fine. If it's a fight you want --

[ Lmao were you hoping for something civil because there's a fist coming into your face? ]

[ok sure Squalo]

[And it's Squalo, Mammon would be amazed if he was completely civil. Fortunately, there's no real need to worry.]

[Reason #1: have you seen how damn tall Yamamoto is. Even if Squalo did connect, well, Mammon's nowhere near that height.]

[Reason #2: they have no intent in being hit, so the illusionary figure dodges, still laughing but in a softer more disbelieving kind of way.]

Wow, you're really feisty!

[ IT'S THE TRUTH?!! ]

[ Damn it. Mist trash, always cheating. (He still likes you the best, though, obviously.) To be fair, though, Mammon will probably notice that his movements seem a bit lacking. Something you'd expect from a rowdy guy that's been in a few fights, sure, but definitely not a world class assassin. ]

[ He still looks pissed as if that punch was supposed to be Completely Unavoidable, though. Guess they at least kept that pride intact. ]

Shut up and take it like a man!

[SURE SQUALO]

[And Mist trash always cheats, it's their M.O. And it's Mammon's M.O. to figure out how to make a buck, which is why they're wondering if they should see him in another barfight and tape that when, you know, they're not being attacked themself. Maybe that will be a dose of shame, seeing what a shitty fighter he is this way.]

[The illusion gives another laugh and slips out a piece of paper to scribble something on real quick.]

Sure, but only if you buy me dinner!

[And then- in a bit of footwork that might jog his memory, when Yamamoto slipped behind Hibari Kyoya to stop his attack, when he showed maybe there was a bit of talent somewhere behind that smiling face- they slip behind him and drop the paper down his shirt.]

[Hopping back, the illusion of him gives a grin and two thumbs up. Because he seems like the type to, really.]

[ ...that might actually work. ]

[ What the fuck. That guy is hitting on him. (Is he normal or older, by the way, I guess that's important.) Actually hitting on him shamelessly and he thought he had the fucking monopoly on that. Like hell he's gonna take out any trash who asks him to. ]

Vooooiii, you're really pissing me off!

[ Still, he'll stick his good hand in his shirt and retrieve that paper before it makes it to his asscrack or other undesirable places. And squint at it. Is that a number or? ]

[Good news for Squalo- Mammon has in fact seen the Yamamoto of ten years into the future. So it's not a fourteen year old hitting on him, but someone who is actually an adult of some sort. Small blessings.]

[Also of course it's not a number. That would require Mammon to have a phone- which isn't bad enough, except then they'd have to pay to unlock it, and pay for the bill... No, it's an email address. balldog80 is a fantastic username, thank you.]

["Yamamoto" is still grinning.]

What, because you didn't hit me? Ha ha, it's not like I'd want to get hit!

[ Well that makes things significantly less awkward. Too bad, though, as it looks like "Yamamoto" underestimated Squalo's feistiness. He grins in that unfriendly way of his, rips the piece of paper in several pieces, and shoves them into the guy's face before turning and swanning away (or trying to). ]

[ (Part of him wonders where he went wrong. Wasn't masochism supposed to rub off on his apprentice? -- Wait what.) ]

['Wait what' indeed, Squalo. It's not like you're his parent, the masochism genes don't pass down like that.]

[Also, he's still being bothered and followed.]

What, do you only do dates if you're fighting during them?

Why --

[ SURE THEY DO it's part of the sword training. :0 Also shut up he's still technically his ~legacy~ or some shit even if Bel is more of a literal kid to him. ]

[ DAMMIT FAKE YAMAMOTO why you gotta be just as annoying and friendly as the original. ]

[ The suddenly thoughtful look is gone again. ]

-- you know, that's actually a great idea.

[Because Mammon is a great illusionist is why fake Yamamoto is so annoying and friendly. No one can't say they're not Varia Quality here.]

Does that mean we can meet up again sometime, or are you thinking about someone special?

[While the tone keeps its teasing air, Mammon is interested in either turn.]

[ Obviously. ]

[ ...that is a good question. Is there someone special? He's not sure. He's not sure of anything anymore. He thought he hated Xanxus' guts, and yet... ]

[ To hell if he's going to start confiding in a fucking stranger, though. ]

You want to get beat up that badly?

Well, if it's with swords, I don't think I'd mind.

[A pause, and they make their illusion laugh into one hand like he's in on a private joke.]

I could teach you how, since you don't know.

/omg Fantasma calm

/it is scientifically proven that frogs have no calm

/omfg

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