interstellar5555 | "In cento anni o cento mesi, l'acqua torna a' suoi paesi."

Stay down? Why? So you can kick me around? I grew out of that! I'm not--

[He holds his head, suddenly aching inexplicably. A hospital bed. A question. Concern. Gratitude. Fear.

Why?

Go with it, Cavallone.]

I paid you back. I'll never understand you at all.

[Hell, it's like someone else is speaking. He feels like someone else. Someone who broke.

Dino leans on the table.] Don't be someone's puppet. Don't.

[Right. He is getting the fuck out of there, fumbling with his wallet so he can pay and fucking flee.]

[ You've changed. What did you see in him? And all he can think of is, maybe you didn't know me as well as you thought you have -- ]

[ You should've left me there. That would have been better for everyone, right? ]

[ He fights the urge to pull on his own hair, but keeps upright, facing Dino, as more and more little pieces flood in. Of course. That's why he thought he knew him -- he did, and -- ]

Paid me back for what? I never did anything for you out of kindness, you know.

[ But that last bit stirs anger inside him, both past and present, and he grits his teeth, reaching out to grip Dino's arm with his metal hand, hard. You're not going anywhere. ]

I'M NOT ANYONE'S PAWN!!

[ Ah, if only you knew. ]

I'e always tried to give you the benefit of the doubt when it comes to him, but I don't want you to die!

[Dino is as confused as Squalo, perhaps more so, and he stops to look at him with all the hurt and bafflement of a lost child. Paid him back for what? He doesn't know. At all. It's confusing and he wants it to stop. His head hurts. His everything hurts, like he's been kicked, and punched, and beaten.

He turns to leave again, but he's stopped by the grip of that too-familiar hand, the one he remembers feeling sick to his stomach about all those years ago. It wasn't very long, he tells himself, but where that voice comes from is unclear.

Instead, he slams his wallet on the table and grabs Squalo by the lapels, hand grasping so hard his knuckles turn white. There's a comeback ready on his tongue, he's prepared to poison this whole thing, but he doesn't. He smiles. It's full of sadness and regret already.]

Then why did you always help me, if not for kindness?

[He shakes him, and pulls him closer.]

Answer that one.

Edited 2016-04-03 12:58 (UTC)

If he'll be the end of me, that's how I want to go.

[ What the fuck. What the fuck, it's like they're both in a play. He's saying things so naturally, even if at least half of them are still foggy as shit and he's not sure where it's coming from. But he knows it's true. ]

[ But he's actually taken aback some when Dino grabs him. He would have been surprised then, and he's surprised now. (Wait, what? What the hell's "then"?!) He just stares back at him for a moment. ]

[ Because he was the first one to look beyond his reputation and his background. Because they actually had fun, because they were friends, because despite all that patheticness, Dino might've been a little cute, and then he'd actually grow into someone worth of respect, someone he wouldn't be ashamed to call an ally, someone inspiring... ]

[ He never said it then, and he doesn't say it now. ]

For fun. Always thought it'd be hilarious to have a pet don. And I was right, wasn't I? You'd wag your tail as soon as I threw you a bone.

Edited 2016-04-04 10:09 (UTC)

He doesn't need you!

[God damn, he really doesn't know what he's saying anymore, it's not his words, it's not like he needs anyone--it's not like he has anyone but his band, anyway--and he certainly doesn't need a near-stranger.

This isn't the Dino he knows here, to be certain. This is an angry, desperate, lonely man with everything falling apart because he can't remember what the hell he's doing or saying or supposed to be. Part of him cares for Squalo more than he understands, and that part is scaring him. This is just some guy from another band. They had lunch. They're going to have a competition. They're not even friends or anything.

Squalo fought for him. Squalo almost killed for him. He never knew why and he still doesn't know. Except he speaks, and it's like the whole world shuts down.

He doesn't understand the last part at all. The hell was a "don" anyway? He doesn't even know. There's so much about this that's confusing. He turns his back on it, proverbially. On the whole thing. Actually, he hauls back and punches Squalo in the goddamn face like he's not a wimp before he actually turns his back on it.

When he finally speaks, hopefully while Squalo is still in shock, it's cold, dead, and distant.]

Forget it. I thought you were--[A friend? Dino's head hurts. It hurts a lot. And he's drunk and while he didn't feel it for a minute there, he does now. Wavering, he collapses back into a chair. It's like his head is made of bright white lights and he can't get through it.]

Edited 2016-04-04 11:55 (UTC)

He needs me more than you ever would!

[ ...he can feel a headache setting in. Before he can properly register what the fuck he's just said and why, though, he's FUCKING PUNCHED IN THE FACE and that, for once, does leave him speechless. ]

[ 1) Dino is a hippie pussy and he doesn't punch people. 2) Weird Vision Dino is also a hippie pussy and doesn't punch people... most of the time. 3) What the FUCK. ]

[ He actually falls back from the impact, crashing partly into a table and partly into someone's chair, and just stays there for a moment, half-sitting, eyes trained on Dino almost as if trying to see right through him, something dark in them. Slowly, he raises his good hand to touch his face and make sure everything's still in place, then just bares teeth at him as always. ]

How embarrassing for you.

I needed you and you were there until he came along.

[Dino gets to his feet rather more quickly than he ever has (here), eyes only glancing down to check for cuts before he advances on Squalo again. It's with a calm, cool demeanor now, but there's still deadly intent very barely veiled. Like someone you don't want to mess with. Someone with everything to lose.

He knows that look in Squalo's eyes, too, and maybe there's a flicker of hurt as he prepares himself for retaliation. Leaning in, he gets within mere inches of the birthday boy. Yeah, by the way? Happy birthday.

His head hurts. He feels sick. He can barely see for the anger and pain and sadness(?). It's like he's been hollowed out.

They've just caused a scene but there's an undeniable and inexplicable urge to do something so counter to the violence. He reaches out to touch Squalo's cheek, wondering if he'll be rebuffed.]

I'm sorry. That was stupid of me.

He was better!!

[ He watches Dino approach like a cat eyeing a dove. And then he makes the mistake of leaning in too close -- ]

[ HAVE A HEADBUTT. ]

[ And more bared teeth, except now he seems to be mostly back into his half-brainwashed self. And he's sitting up and cracking his knuckles. ]

Is that my type, then? Assholes who punch me in the face?

[ Yeah haha have we mentioned that his first returning memory of Xanxus included being bashed into a table by him. Except right now he's starting to wonder if maybe the wifebeater was this guy and he's just projected it on the one that looked the part. ]

Edited 2016-04-05 11:11 (UTC)

[Dino looks stunned, and takes the blow poorly, falling backwards onto the floor and hitting his head on another chair.

He stays down this time.

He wants to leave. He wants to be sober. He wants his family.

His arm hurts. His left arm feels like it's burning from the inside out and he doesn't really get it, but he's too stunned to really think about it. Maybe this'll just stop because it's a bad dream. It's just like in school. He can't defend himself for five seconds. He shouldn't.]

[ ...nah, no way. This guy's a fucking puppy after all. As it looks like he's down for the count, Squalo's just gonna swan over, plant a foot on his chest and laugh. ]

Not so tough now, huh? Should I pay you back?

[ But there's something, something else he's forgetting. This time he can't stop himself from gripping his head with one hand, his focus thwarted. No. This guy... ]

[ He's just going to sit on him and grin down at his face looking like he's ready to rip his throat out with his teeth. ]

What... is it about you? What did I see that made me bother with you in the first place?

[Dino stares at him blankly, about to grab Squalo's ankle when he sits instead. So he settles his arms down to the sides and stares up, blank-eyed and confused. Maybe he feels a little like... disappearing?]

I don't know. I never figured it out.

[The only friend he ever had. The only person who cared about him just because. It didn't make sense then, and it doesn't make sense now.]

Chi cerca un amico senza difetti resta senza amici.

Edited 2016-04-05 17:22 (UTC)

[ Just... stares back at him. ]

[ Are we having a wisdom-off now? It's annoying. It's annoying because he knows this guy isn't just quoting a proverb, he genuinely lives by it. He really is that accepting, quite possibly that kind, and it pisses him off to no end. ]

Amicizia de' grandi vicinanza di leoni. You should expect to get bruised.

[As much as he can, Dino sits up and stares Squalo down. He can't just take this. It's not a wisdom-off. It's all he can remember. It's all he can think about. It hurts his head unlike anything he's ever felt before. But there are words that come out, words he shouldn't know, a motto, a philosophy, something about family, and he grips the back of Squalo's neck as it floods the air between them. Then he breathes, gently trying to get to his feet.]

Better from you than the rest of them. Family is bond, not blood.

[A deep breath.]

Can we take this outside? People are staring.

Fucking hell, how much of a masochist are you?

[ It's confusing, everything is confusing and -- ah. There's a hand on his neck. ]

[ Almost on reflex, he leans down to bite him on the mouth. ]

[Apparently a pretty big one. Somehow, Dino feels like he kind of massively screwed up somewhere and owes the universe and everyone around him every possible thing he can do. Even if that's... something really weird. Like taking a bite to the mouth with nothing more than closing his eyes. flinching, and making a surprised sound. He doesn't back away.

It's totally a kiss, right? Well, he's making it one, dammit.]

[ Whoa, way to act like a moe girl getting deflowered, Cavallone. Squalo just might bite hard enough to draw blood just for that pathetic reaction. ]

[ But yes, this vicious thing is what he usually calls kissing, so it's not all that different this time -- ]

[ Except he pulls away after a few more seconds and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. ]

Well? You've always wanted this, haven't you. We're even now, right?

[He laughs quietly when Squalo draws back, wiping the blood from his lip and looking at his hand like something finally makes sense. It doesn't, but he wishes this insanity would keep going. It feels more real than everything else, and it hits him in the gut the way Finnick's revelations had.

The smile he offers is warm, but there's some kind of dull deadly intent that's awfully out of place.]

We're not even, but I don't really care. I'm fine. Get off of me.

[ That's nice and all, but Squalo's not moving his butt. Dino could probably throw him off if he really wants to, but. ]

Oh? I thought you wanted me to pay you back for ~saving~ me, you thirsty fuck. 'Fraid that's not enough to go down my pants. Or should I deck you again?

[That was a little too far. Dino looks mildly offended, and steels himself.]

I didn't give you any kind of reason to hit me again. I don't want to fuck you, for the love of--

[ He stares down at him for a moment. ]

Well that's a first.

[ He sticks his tongue out at him and gets up. All is well? Except that's totally Dino's wallet he's flipping through as he's walking away? Doesn't that bring you back to school lunchtimes... ]

I don't need to fuck people to have value.

[It's basically spoken to his knees as he curls them up for a moment like a child and watches Squalo take his money.

He'll just wait until the fucker leaves.

All is very far from well.]

[ Aaand a 180. He'll return the (slightly emptier) wallet by dropping it on Dino's head. ]

You trying to say something, trash?

[ DO YOU THINK HE FUCKS AROUND FOR "VALUE" WOW THIS IS SO PATHETIC AND OFFENSIVE. ]

I'm saying...

[Dino stands, slowly, and is his hand glowing slightly because it looks vaguely like it... yeah he's just shoving it in his pocket.]

I don't need you anymore.

[ Well, on the bright side, this doesn't make him as mad as something else might have. ]

[ But this bit of news nearly floor him. For all of his smugness and mocking the guy and pushing him away, he never actually considered he might stop pursuing him and frankly, he has no idea what to do with that. ]

[ He scowls and folds his arms. ]

Oh? Finally figured out how to grow your own spine?

Why would I try to talk to someone who's hell bent on disrespecting me and everything I stand for?

[Something feels really weird about what he's saying, like someone else is saying it, so he quickly scoops up his wallet and heads for the door.]

Have a nice life.

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sharktrash - 2016-04-05 22:11 (UTC) - Expand

"In cento anni o cento mesi, l'acqua torna a' suoi paesi."

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ow i hurt myself

hurts u more

iyan

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