006 ┼ I'm Finding Me Out, I'm Having My Doubts, I'm Losing the Best of Me

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Who: Luci & YOU
What: You know what sucks? Everything about the last festival-- especially all the chaos and running. You know what's probably a good idea? Ignoring all of that and having a party. On a yacht.
When: May 20th
Where: The bay outside Vista City
Warnings: IT'S A CARNIVAL CRUISE...!

((Luci just got a strange pay bump and she's using it to regroup after the intense clusterfuck at the last festival-- she's still not sure exactly what happened there, but even though it's probably significant, she'd rather celebrate like one usually does after a lot of work. By renting a yacht for a night. Like people usually do.))





((It's a nice boat. Plenty of food, a couple of bartenders, fire pits, couches, swimsuits for those who need, and music of course. The party is, of course, invite only to keep the paparazzi and gatecrashers and people looking to turn this into a work-venture out, but Luci's given the bouncer clearance to let friends of guests and anybody who seems interesting in-- she knows Luci's type.))

((Try not to get too blitzed and fall overboard!))

Comments

[alleato]

[Life has been confusing and pointless and Dino is more reckless than he ever thought he could be. He doesn't bother with another drink yet--he's already tipsy--but he does make a nice grab for Squalo in kind.]

Turnabout's fair play. Let's see it.

[sharktrash]

[ Live and learn, son, live and learn. The Dino Squalo knows can be pretty damn reckless. Still a loser, though, but evidently he's not particularly concerned about that part right now. ]

[ He leans back again, grinning shamelessly and even moving one knee to the side to give the other a better view. His whole posture is pretty much "Like what you see?" at this rate. ]

No dick tats, sorry.

[alleato]

You've got enough else going for you.

[He's not compensating, but Dino isn't either. Just a little ornamentation. He might be looking at Squalo with poorly executed disinterest. Slowly, he releases the waistbandand settles it back. His fingers might give Squalo a subtle little touch through the suit though.]

[sharktrash]

Ha, true.

[ He agrees easily. He definitely notices that little touch but he's not commenting on it, at least not yet. Actually, he's looking at that tray again. Unfortunately, it's empty, so he gives the bartender a meaningful look and focuses on his bathmate. ]

You're friendlier than usual.

[ ...look at who's talking. ]

[alleato]

[Dino shrugs, looking Squalo over with a gentle smile. He moves to sit beside him like they're friends or something.]

What's wrong with being friendly? I had a couple of drinks and an existential crisis. Let me live a little.

[sharktrash]

[ Oh no. What's going on. Squalo just rolls with it and makes himself comfortable, maybe leaning just a little bit against the other guy as he snorts. ]

I've been telling you to live a little since we first met. Finally it sank in.

[alleato]

Yeah, I know. I'm listening for once. I've done some really dumb shit.

[A laugh. Oh, Squalo has no idea. So very fucking much useless dumb shit. Bad decisions every day.

The lean? He responds with a hand on Swualo's knee.]

It's like throw a dart and I'll hit a party.

[sharktrash]

Vooi, Pipsqueak Dino is growing up!

[ He's not even sure where that name came from, but it feels weirdly appropriate. ]

What kind of "dumb shit"?

[alleato]

[Dino clears his throat.]

Partying a lot. Not really rehearsing. Um... substances? [He looks away. Yeah he's a little annoyed with himself.] I almost hooked up with a guy but I chickened out. Go ahead and make fun of me.

[sharktrash]

You're a clucking bag of hoes. [ He says it a bit half-heartedly, but like hell he's passing an opportunity to make fun of Dino when he actually requests it. The mention of substances gets him a slight narrowing of eyes, but it's gone a moment later, with Squalo leaning back comfortably and barking a laugh. ] Sounds like a schedule of a rockstar, at least.

[alleato]

Yeah...

[Dino laughs a bit, and shrugs.]

I'm not sure why I'm doing it but it's not as bad as the magazines make it out to be. Not as good, either. There's some weird people out there.

[sharktrash]

Weird people? [ He snorts and his good hand almost reflexively moves to look for another drink. Luckily his earlier request has landed them with another tray of vodka and martinis. "Weird" makes him think about a very specific group of people and he doesn't want to think about it right now. Everything had gotten... complicated. And the best way to deal with complicated shit was to get pickled off your ass. ] We're the weird ones here. [ With erased memories and shit. Apparently. ] More importantly, gotten laid yet?

[alleato]

[Dino's only complication is that he's pretty sure he's going insane or being lied to by someone. Maybe everyone. Still, he's trying to forget that right now.

He sputters, losing a bit of his drink as he chokes.]

No! What's that got to do with anything?

[sharktrash]

[ He's really got to get out more. Or, you know, get friends and talk to them. Never fear, Squalo is here to fix it with his usual finesse of an elephant in the china shop. ]

[ He grins and pats Dino's thigh non-comittaly. ]

Just wondering. Partying and drinking does have the tendency to make you wake up at someone else's place.

[alleato]

No!

[Still coughing! He flails a hand while he tries to calm the cough, and finally succeeds. Dammit Squalo.]

I've never done that.

[He says it like he wonders if he's doing something wrong by being so tame.]

[sharktrash]

[ Squalo looks at him with emphasized pity. ]

Then you still haven't lived. Well, now's as good a time to start as any, right?

[ Actually offers him another drink. ]

[alleato]

What, to get drunk and wake up at someone else's place?

[Like. What. But he takes the drink with a raised eyebrow and slight tilt of his head.]

[sharktrash]

Considering this ain't your boat, that part's gonna be easy.

[ He's not really sure where he's going with this himself. There's a bit of rebound, a bit of genuine interest, all wrapped in the inescapeable need to poke fun at this guy, but at the same time, he feels strangely comfortable next to him. And, well. They knew each other and Xanxus seemed to have a problem with it, so, haha, fuck him. ]

Just gotta pick your company. Saw anyone interesting yet?

[alleato]

You're right. I'll end up on somebody else's boat. As for any prospects, if I... wanted to? Not really.

[Just that guy he had eyes on the other night, but he's going to forget him. He'll never see him again, anyway. He hasn't seen him since, at least. Dino can't help smiling at the shark...shark? Surely he has some kind of good intentions. Or at least not horrible. Or the good kind of horrible.

Dino distinctly feels "good kind of horrible" is the most accurate.]

[sharktrash]

[ He groans. ]

Oh come on. What is wrong with you? This is where I'd ask if you've got a fucking dick but I've just seen the evidence.

[ He's got some very good intentions, actually, but then, Dino's opinion on it might differ. ]

[alleato]

What? I'm not popular! I think I might come off kind of weird. I'm not too forward. It's...

[He's pretty shy about it. Lately he tries but backs out. Probably needs a little more guts.]

Who am I kidding? I'm a wimp. I don't know why I'm not going after people even when they're interested. Maybe I'll try?

[sharktrash]

[ He gets a hearty pat on the shoulder that's really more of a slap, and then Squalo's taking him into something between a huddle and a chokehold by putting an arm around his shoulders. ]

That's fucking right. You're a wimp. A crybaby. A pussy. A little green pea right out of its shell. And you know what? Admitting the problem is the first step. Now you know what to work on.

[ He gets a punch to the ribs that's probably meant as encouragement. ]

Come on. Say it with me, "I'll quit being a limpdick and take initiative."

[alleato]

[Dino ducks a bit in the hold and laughs.]

I'm not saying that, but fine. I'll try. I will make an effort to screw somebody today.

[Wait.]

Maybe. That sounds terrible. And what if I don't find--

[Wait.]

You know, I might just suck at picking people up. I couldn't pick you up... you're hot. Not available, though. What am I doing wrong?

[Teach him, Squalo-sensei.]

[sharktrash]

Vooi, how do you expect to build up confidence --

[ You know what, nevermind. Things just took an interesting turn here. His smile fades a bit and he gives Dino a long, thorough look. ]

Shit, you were trying to pick me up? [ SORRY HE DIDN'T NOTICE LMAO. That's just sad. But okay, okay, he can try tutoring this helpless munchkin. Hopefully get a lay out of it but, you know, all in due time. ] Let's say I'm available. Come on, show me what you've got.

[alleato]

Not today! It was another time! And I think you punched me... I don't remember everything.

[Dino takes a breath though, trying to figure out just what the actual hell picking someone up looks like. It's like cold reading a piece of music and praying your fingers go to the right place, only... Squalo isn't a cello, and he knows this game better than Dino does, apparently.

There's a very long silence...]

I can't buy you a drink... [How does he do this... He'll grab two drinks instead and offer one.] I've gotta say, you're... [THIS SUCKS.] ...pretty interesting. I don't think I've ever met anyone like you. [THIS TACTIC CAN'T POSSIBLY WORK ON SQUALO.] I'd say we should go get to know each other better, but the tub's kind of nice, isn't it? [GOD WHY.]