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

[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.]

[sharktrash]

Sounds like something I'd do.

[ Squalo will just keep staring at him with a bored expression until he talks, thanks, but he takes the drink with a smirk. ]

[ ...it gradually fades, and he barks a laugh before continuing seriously; ]

You almost did well, then you flubbed it right there at the end. [ Sighs. ] The "I've never met anyone like you" part's decent, the rest... you've gotta look confident when you say something like that. Not like you're watching your hamster get tortured.

[ Annnd smirking again. ]

You might do better if you go for the "adorable" angle, though.

[alleato]

Adorable, huh...

[Okay, Dino can take the helpful criticism in stride, and he thinks carefully for a few moments. How can he wrench a good reaction out of Squalo? Out of anyone, really. So now... now he looks away shyly and smiles.]

I guess you're right. But then again, what am I going to do when there's somebody like you looking at me? [A little laugh, and there's a pretty convincing light in his eyes when he continues this attempt.] It makes me feel... well, special. [IS THIS CUTE ENOUGH? His smile is warm, genuine, charming.] Ahh, I guess I'm pretty shy about this. When you like somebody, it's hard to talk to them sometimes. [Rubbing at the back of his head now, he turns the adorable into overdrive.] I guess I'm trying to say that I like talking to you, and I'd really like to get to know you better.

[sharktrash]

[ Annnd Squalo swats him over the back of head. Not hard, though. Progress? ]

Too fucking moe.

[ He looks like he's barely keeping from laughing, but -- ]

Still much better.

[ That much's true, at least. To be fair, somehow... the guy's the most attractive when he's not really trying. Maybe that whole "just be yourself" drivel did have something to it. ]

[ But hey, ain't nobody got time to shape this duckling into the perfect man. Since Squalo's never been the type to hold back in this or another life, he's just gonna lean in and give Dino a bite-kiss on the corner of his mouth. ]