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

[sharktrash]

Who: Squalo and YOU!
What: birthday catch-all! Squalo's turning 23 on the 13th. Yes he is Pisces because his character wasn't fish-related enough yet.
When: 12th-14th
Where: All around Vista city, the mall, the bars, Pride HQ, MANTICORE penthouse, Junkyard Carnival penthouse, etc.
Warnings: Squalo language, violence, substance abuse, (mentions of) banging, will update as necessary


[ prompts in comments! ]

Comments

All Warnings apply all the time

[variaboss]

[Somehow, Xanxus shows up around bar number 3. It should be number ten because irony, but nope. It's three. Because he's sort of been hunting the birthday boy down. He's got presents to give the asshole plus there's like some sort of special birthday toast he's supposed to make. Hell if he remembers what it was. It's probably too sentimental and cheesy for him anyway.

But holy hell is this hard to do. Go into a bar and NOT DRINK. But he's got a promise to keep. So he's going to stay clean if it kills him. ]

Oi. Hey. If it isn't the birthday boy.

smfh

[sharktrash]

[ How cute. Squalo's reaction to him seems relatively neutral, though no doubt he remembers their last duet and subsequent meetings oh so very well. ]

[ Still, Xanxus isn't mocking or hitting him, so he greets him with a grin and a raise of his glass. He's still relatively sober. ]

Hell yeah. If I can make it through all twenty-three, it's gonna be a good year.

[ It's most likely Varia tradition, but he doesn't remember that part. Just that it's... tradition. Somehow. ]

[variaboss]

[ Especially that flushing his heroin. I'm sure that went really really well tbh. But he's still here with the swearword coloring book and some shark bullshit and a sword letter opener that should look super familiar because it's a mini version of Squalo's sword. ]

That sounds like a plan. I think I'll join y...fuck. I can't drink anymore either, can I? Well, I'll keep the birthday boy company anyway.

[ Because this thing sees so familiar. Though when he did it himself, he did eight more than he was probably supposed to ]

[sharktrash]

[ Ah yes, that had to be fucking brilliant. Thought you'd get to go at it at your own pace? Nah. ]

[ He'll gladly stuff it all into his pockets. And apparently lose it by morning. Or maybe his coat will just be buried in Xanxus' room somewhere and he'll have an excuse to go back there again a couple days later, who knows. ]

[ He snorts. ]

Drinking doesn't count. [ What a supportive friend. ] You missed the dinner, you know. There was steak.

[ He might've put some of it aside in a frying pan but like all food, it's best fresh. ]

[variaboss]

[ Punching happened, swearing happened. Death threats probably happened too. But in the end, Squalo had won because it had to happen. Now he just had to keep from falling off the wagon. It all depends on his manager. She was his supplier because it made him a lot easier to handle when he was high. ]

Drinking doesn't count? [ A huge happy smile. Thank you for enabling him like you always do, Squalo. You're such a bad influence. ] Oh thank god. And steak? You cook it? Because if you did, I'm damn disappointed I missed that shit.

[ And don't mind him while he orders something very large and very alcoholic. Wagon? What wagon?]

So, which bar number is this and how many did you have? I need to catch up.

[sharktrash]

Of course it doesn't. Everyone always says "drugs and alcohol", it's not the same fucking thing. [ YOU'RE WELCOME. ] Of course I did. I thought you'd follow the scent in. Or did you only manage to get my presents an hour ago?

[ YEEEEEAAAAH alcohol ]

Third bar, didn't count drinks. Fifth in this one? [ He shrugs a bit, looking pleased. ] Hey, it's not your birthday.

[variaboss]

[ He could kiss you for that. Probably will, later. After they're both reasonably drunk. ]

I'm not a bloodhound. It's not like smells travel from penthouse floor to penthouse floor, else we'd be smelling some boy band's Axe Body spray all the time. And shut it. I got you presents a while back. For that, I should just take it all back and keep it for myself.

And I know it's not my birthday. You weren't even here for that. I turned 25 [ Or was it 17... lord knows. It's all a bit complicated. ] So shut up and let me catch up so we can celebrate this shit properly.

[sharktrash]

[ Sounds like a plan. ]

[ He shudders a little at the thought. ] Thank fuck it doesn't then. Still, there'll probably be some left over. Come by tomorrow -- vooooiii, no way! [ He tucks his gifts closer to himself protectively. His now. Buzz off. ]

Not shutting up, but the rest I can do. [ Grins at him. ] So what, you're gonna join me for the long haul?

[ He does vaguely remember them working together by now, but nothing to the kind of detail that would make him think they're supposed to team up for such things. Nonetheless, it feels right. ]

[variaboss]

Sure, I'll come by. Like I'd turn down some amazing steak.

[ A laugh because that's cute. The shark protecting the gifts his king so generously bestowed on him, That is good. That is how it should be. ]

You bet your ass I am. Someone has to celebrate it with you the way it should be. I bet I'll still be more sober than you when we get to the last bar.

[ And there it is, the first of many drinks to come and he downs it like water. ]

[sharktrash]

The best fucking steak.

[ Whoa whoa who died and crowned him his king -- okay, no. He can't even deny it anymore. It's getting more and more fucking obvious. ]

Voooi, like hell! [ Buuuut he's smelling a challenge right there, and his grin's definitely shifting into that more menacing version that's been cropping up more and more often. ] What are you betting?

[variaboss]

[ His so called dad, if things go the way he wants. He has the Mosca at home and everything for that. Because he remembers his cool robot, sort of. So yeah, he's totally going to be the king one day soon. ]

Don't even doubt me for a moment. I'll drink you under the table. As for what I'm betting. I lose and I will tell the world that MANTICORE is the best Metal band in the world."

[sharktrash]

[ Uh-huh. Yeah. About that... ]

You can say it now and it'll still be true. [ He almost sounds a little bored, though he does smirk a moment later, raising his glass at the other man. ] You will also address me as "Your highness" for three days straight and carry my stuff.

[variaboss]

[ He flips Squalo off a little. ] You still aren't as good as my old band. [ Though the old band has been pretty much replaced by Squalo and two kids and some weird relatives.. ]

Fine. If I lose, and I won't, I'll do that. And when I win... Shit, I don't know. You'll have to cook me dinner for three days. And don't worry, I don't weasel out of a bet. A promise is a promise.

[sharktrash]

[ Have it right back. ] I alone am better than your old band.

[ Hey. Heeey. An idea. Maybe the tranny is the actual mother of the baby? Ever considered that? ]

Deal. [ Squalo is glad that Xanxus seems to take promises seriously, even if he's not sure why he seems to feel so strongly about it. Like that time he blew off at a pirate cosplayer upon hearing a story of being betrayed by his first mate. You don't do that shit. He grins, amusement with a hint of mockery. ] Hell, I'll suck your dick, too. But you're not gonna win.

[variaboss]

Fuck you. [ Not an offer, not yet. ]

[ Lussuria would really like that, I'd bet. So, sure, why not. A nice kickass mom. His wife and his other wife, the Italian Mafia dream. ]

I'm totally going to win. No way I'm ever going to lose. Not to you or anyone else. [ There's that annoying certainty. He never did know how to admit when he might actually lose, even when he's losing at that moment. ] See, I'm already catching up.

[sharktrash]

Yeah, I already know you really want to. Gotta work for it first, sweets.

[ A++ excellent. To be fair, Squalo would rather share him with Lussuria than with Levi, so everybody wins here. ]

[ Squalo goes still for a moment, halfway to raising a finger to point out that actually, he's pretty sure he's seen you losing in those weird dreams of his. Several times. But is this a good time? Maybe it'd ruin the mood. ]

We'll see about that.

[ Nice and neutral. ]