Oh boo-hoo I could totally not care, and that would sure show you. It's cute how you keep... what is this actually, threatening me somehow? If you wanna say something, say it.
[ Old. Totally old. He's Old Xanxus -old, and that has proven to be useless-old, except Squalo never actually had much expectations for Dino so it's not as jarring. ]
[ --Okay, scratch that. Once the smell from the kitchen tickles his nostrils and it actually seems acceptable, Squalo decides that maybe Cavallone deserves a few more chances after all. He sits up properly, then stands up to head to the kitchen, actually curious. ]
I'll be damned, I didn't think you'd make it out alive.
[ He peers at the pot/pan/plate wherever the results are currently residing, laughs, and gives Dino an encouraging slap on the shoulder. ]
See? You can actually accomplish basic daily tasks when you put your mind to it. I'm almost proud.
[ it's just a simple fish puttanesca. not even he could mess that up.
...also, rude.
...he leans against the counter, tapping the tip of the knife to his bottom lip when he finally comes to investigate. He offers the dog a look and finally just sets the knife onto the drying mat with the rest of the dishes he'd cleaned.
His eyes roll at the pat and he huffs indignantly. ]
Do what, this? [ He gives him another hearty shoulder-pat. ] It's how men show affection. [ Or it might just be Squalo, but he just shrugs. ] Suppose you wouldn't know, huh.
[ THE COMPLIMENTS JUST WON'T STOP TODAY. ]
[ Nonetheless, he's walking over to the cabinets and returning with some nice-looking fish-adjacent wine and two (!) glasses, which he then sets on the kitchen table and pours. Hopefully Dino is getting some plates, because they're totally eating together. ]
[ he glances at the second shoulder pat and arches a brow. ] ...nevermind.
[ he watches Squalo move away and does in fact grab two plates, with matching silverware. admittedly, he does adjust the amount he grabs after noting the two glasses...
he knows this doesn't mean anything and he's not putting any weight to it, but he does think it's nice. sharing a meal. doing something like this for someone else.
the next part comes out of nowhere and he worries the inside of his cheek.]
[ it's lucky that the glasses are already set down and full, because Squalo flinches and drops the remaining bottle on the floor. it shatters, leaving a blotch of wine spreading across the tiles, but rather than do anything about it, Squalo just pulls back a chair and sits down, now all tense. ]
...don't.
[ don't do this to him. he can't even begin to describe in words what he feels right now. and that's exactly why he was hoping to just sort of... ignore it. pretend it's not there. have a nice meal with his friend without screaming his throat out in grief. don't take it away from him. ]
[ the shattered wine bottle surprises him and Dino looks from it, Cazzo deciding he wants to lick it up, and Squalo who moves over to sit in the chair. ]
Kyouya.
[ he corrects, but...he gets it. This hadn't been his intention. he hadn't connected those dots. he just...needed to say it. outloud. ]
[ Squalo gives him a look of disbelief, because he totally did not see it coming -- well, of course, he's obsessed with himself after all -- and he's not sure what the hell he's supposed to say. ]
[ Then he realizes the little hell creature is waddling right into the middle of glass shards while slurping tile wine up with its weirdly long tongue. It may be difficult to hurt Hell creatures, but that goldfish totally died from tequila, so -- ]
No -- fuck! --
[ he grabs Cazzo out of the mess and plonks him into his lap. the puppy shoots its tongue out like a goddamn chameleon to give him a cheek lick before it disappears in its weird maw again. ]
[...well. That’s a sight that causes Dino to smirk faintly.
It finally happened. That sealed the puppy deal. Cazzo really does belong to Squalo now (part time :| ).
Dino quietly turns to plate the dish on two plates, and gives Cazzo some in a bowl. All three are brought over to the table but he sets Cazzo’s on the floor beside Squalo. ]
[ Squalo has a long suffering expression on his face, a little exaggerated, which suggests his mood has at least lifted a little bit from where it was a moment ago. He still holds onto the puppy, though, not going to let it go until the glass is gone from the floor. ]
[ He gives a nod with a grunt of acknowledgement, his version of "thanks" for the moment, and keeps one hand on Cazzo to stop him from climbing into the plate. He runs the other through his bangs and sighs. ]
...do you think that's why they brought them in to begin with? So they'd have a better way to torture us?
[ Because he's certainly hurting more now than from any of Lucifer's games ever did over the course of two years. ]
[ Dino busies himself with scooping up the broken glass shards that he can get easily and then carefully sops up the spilled wine. he would probably always be here to clean up Squalo's messes... ]
I...don't know, honestly.
[ the rest of the wine is cleaned up with a wet cloth, and Dino moves over to grab a new bottle; inspecting them before finding one that's close enough before he brings it over with the glasses. ]
[ as the glass is gone, Squalo lets Cazzo down, and the creature merrily plops on the floor to devour his portion. Possibly swallow it along with the bowl, as Hell creatures do. ]
[ Squalo leans forward, his elbows on the table, head in hands. ]
I thought I had a deal with Lucifer. I did everything he asked of me. [ That included fucking over a bunch of his fellow sinners. Not that he really regrets it, but still. ] I don't understand why this happened.
[ the wine and glasses were set aside and he sank down into a nearby chair. some of his attention is on the dog and his horrible manners, the other on his friend barely keeping it together, and whatever is left is on other things... ]
Lucifer is not in control here. He's never been in control. You could do everything he ever asks of you and it still won't matter because he answers ultimately to someone else.
[ his brow furrows. ]
I never understood why you follow the power and don't just own it yourself. You could. You just give it up and that's why this is happening.
[ this is dumb and he's not drunk enough for this sort of conversation. ]
You invest in other people more than you invest in yourself and then when it's ripped from you, you don't know how to handle it.
[ ....welp.... ]
But you have it in you to get your arrogant, stubborn head out of your hands and help yourself. It breaks my heart to see how miserable you've allowed yourself to be.
[ Squalo leans back in his chair, running a hand through his hair in frustration again. Yeah, he knew Lucifer was pretty much trapped here along with them, but all the same... ]
But he managed to get him in, so I thought... [ he sighs. Little does he know that Lucifer had merely not corrected his misunderstanding on the situation. He had never actually brought Xanxus in... probably. ] Doesn't matter now.
[ He shakes his head, laughing mirthlessly. ]
Are you saying I should be the boss? I made up my mind about that when I won the Varia. I'm not somebody who can sit around safely and be important all day, you know that.
[ Bosses were too valuable to throw into the fray unless absolutely necessary, and Squalo lived for his battles. He had made the best decision he could with what he had. ]
[ Of course, now... ]
[ Shit, Dino's right. He doesn't know how to handle this. He has no coping mechanisms besides drinking and violence, and that's pretty much his regular day. ]
I'm saying you're perfectly capable of doing everything on your own. You don't actually need anyone. You know how to lead, you know how to fight, you know how to figure shit out. So with all of that under your belt, with more ego than any man actually needs--why are you sitting here like your entire world has blown to shit?
[ he took the bottle up and filled the two glasses, sank back into the chair with his own and rolled his eyes. ]
So, see that and really take it in that you're better than this, eat your food, drink your wine, love the new puppy and get on with it.
[ He pauses and looks up, hands dropping down to the table, looking actually a bit shaken. This is... harsher than Dino usually speaks, but it's also true. It's true, as well as the fact that he's really let himself go in more ways than one recently. As much as it sickens him to be lectured by Dino Cavallone of all people and to agree he actually has a point this time, it's just facts. ]
...
[ He folds his arms defiantly and scowls. ]
Sure, I'm capable. I don't want to.
[ His cheek twitches a little as he bares his teeth in distaste, glaring at the table. ]
I was on my own for eight years. I don't want to do it again. It's -- too soon.
[ His world has been blown to shit, than you very much. What if he decides to just be stubborn about his wallowing in misery? What then? Okay, that's nowhere glorious enough for him to actually do it long term, but he's feeling rather pissed off at the moment so he's willing to go against just about any good suggestion there can be. ]
[ There is a moment where Dino nods in agreement—yes, Squalo, you are capable—but then that is shot to hell with what follows.
He blinks in surprise and then scowls; holding the glass of wine in one hand, idly swirling the contents as his expression morphs from surprise, to confusion, a touch a scorn and then just annoyance. ]
What are you going to do, then? Hm? Cry some more? Drink yourself stupid? Become the exact kind of weakness you give other people shit for?
[ he snorts softly and shakes his head. ]
I don’t believe you will. Your ego couldn’t take it. And for the record you’re not alone. I may not be someone you enjoy having around but someone who looks up to you is here now and he deserves better than this. So knock the shit off and stand up. You’re better than this. It’s the whole reason I continue to bail your ass out when I can. I need you to be what I can’t.
[ He doesn't like this. He doesn't like the words coming out of Dino's mouth or the look on his face -- that scorn, especially. How dares he. This was the way Squalo looked at lesser men. ]
[ As soon as the word "cry" has left Dino's lips, Squalo's standing up suddenly in a fit of rage, slamming his hands down on the table with a loud thud, looking like he's about to start screaming at him -- but instead he just glares. ]
[ He can't exactly deny those things, them being exactly what he's been doing for the last couple of months, but he didn't have to actually say them, and Squalo didn't have to like it. It's probably a good sign that this has made him mad to such an extent -- there's still stubbornness, and there's still pride, underneath the whole pity party. He's not completely broken yet. He's still himself, just buried under resentment and sadness, but those can be torn away still. ]
[ He growls, loud, offended, teeth bared, and then slowly sits back down as Dino calmly continues speaking as if Squalo didn't look ready to tear his throat out a second ago. Well, maybe he wasn't a Boss for nothing after all, not that he'd ever admit it. Instead, he angrily shoves some food into his mouth. ]
[ That last bit makes him pause mid-chew again, though not in a bad way. He likes being needed. He regards Dino with some amount of curiosity. Be what he can't, huh? ]
[ It isn’t like Dino is unfazed by that reaction. In fact, it sends the same sort of thrill through him that it always has. But now isn’t the time to turn into pudding over it. Not when Squalo has turned soggy.
He watches him with those shit-brown eyes (as he calls them, Asshole) and waits for him to calm and sit once more.
The glass tips back and he takes a drink from the wine before he chews the inside of his cheek. ]
Savage. Strong. Brave. I can pull it out of my ass when the time calls for it but you are everything, all the time. I was forced into this position but we all know it’s not what I would have chosen for myself. For you it was right there. Waiting for you. In your blood. We all have our roles and I do what I can, and support those who can do more. But that doesn’t make me weak. It makes me stronger than you Varia give me credit for.
[ He sets the glass down. ]
If it were true you wouldn’t call on me as often as you do. Now are you going to listen to me now that I’ve polished your ego or do I need clean you up myself?
Edited (Autocorrect is a bitch. ) 2021-01-10 01:11 (UTC)
[ At least Squalo's bristling seems to simmer down somewhat with each compliment, though he's undoubtedly still annoyed and offended at the end. But yes. He's all of those things. How could he let himself forget that? He'd gotten too accustomed to building his entire identity around Xanxus, but maybe he didn't have to. He didn't need to, that's for sure. It was just difficult to accept, but... ]
[ Hell, if Xanxus ever found his way back to Hell -- in his right state of mind, that is -- surely he would prefer to find Squalo in his wild, smug, unapologetic glory, rather than... this. ]
[ Something shifts in his expression, barely noticeably -- something almost like resolve finding its way back into him. As if his extinguished Flames were sparking to life once again. ]
[ He takes a breath. ]
No. [ He takes a drink from his glass and sticks more food into his mouth. There's more purpose to his movements now, whereas before he was clearly just going through the motions. ] I will do it.
Moments like these, Dino finds a bit more patience than usual. He is careful to watch Squalo, and by now he knows when the other is giving in to something or at least taking it to heart.
A wave of relief washes over him as he watches everything click back into place until he sees more of the real Squalo and less of the mess Xanxus left.
Dino finally gives the food some attention and he leans a little on the table as he pokes at it and takes a bite. ]
[ It's a bit weird, to be honest. He's done it before so many times, it's almost easy... certainly comfortable. But also lonely, and heavy. But he's resilient. He can get back on track and stay on it, and it will get easier. The pain will get lighter. At least, he will choose to believe so. There's still so much to be done. ]
[ he can, but who will crawl around, whine and force him into his big boy pants then? ]
[ Squalo shrugs, because evidently normalcy comes with absolute refusal to talk about feelings. ]
[ It is, of course, not as flip-a-switch as it looks from the outside. He still doesn't understand why Xanxus did this to him. It hurts. But as with most things, he's starting to compartmentalize. Yeah, he wants to know. But if he never sees him again, it doesn't matter... and if he does, he will fucking ask. Right in his face. There, all settled. So there's no use agonizing over it now. ]
[ He gives a skew smirk and drains half his glass in one go. ]
He'd probably appreciate toenail clippings if you gave him a bag.
[ Dino scoffs and throws his napkin in Squalos face before he goes back to eating.
He knows it’ll take time. He knows. But he’s glad that some action at least has been kickstarted. Squalo was strong long before Xanxus and he’ll stay that way so long as people don’t let him drown in messes like this.
Yamamoto can keep him moving. The dog will keep him yelling. Gokudera will inevitably pick fights and...he will be there as he always has. (Save for those months or year or whatever it was that Squalo was here without him. Shut up he knows.) ]
At least you’ve got a little of that fire back in your eyes.
[ Squalo snorts and pins the napkin to the ceiling with his knife and a swift wrist flick. Fucking show off. ]
[ It's true, he had been strong before the Varia ever sniffed him out. But he'd also been directionless. Wild. A loose cannon. It took him a while to shake that off even once he'd already joined them. It was fine for him, sure, but to everyone around him, Squalo unbound by any loyalty or morals would be terrifying. ]
[ He glances at Dino thoughtfully and doesn't say anything. Did he now? A moment later, his ring gleams blue. It's still weaker than usual, but it's there, and contented, he snuffs it out again before continuing with his dinner. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Old. Totally old. He's Old Xanxus -old, and that has proven to be useless-old, except Squalo never actually had much expectations for Dino so it's not as jarring. ]
[ --Okay, scratch that. Once the smell from the kitchen tickles his nostrils and it actually seems acceptable, Squalo decides that maybe Cavallone deserves a few more chances after all. He sits up properly, then stands up to head to the kitchen, actually curious. ]
I'll be damned, I didn't think you'd make it out alive.
[ He peers at the pot/pan/plate wherever the results are currently residing, laughs, and gives Dino an encouraging slap on the shoulder. ]
See? You can actually accomplish basic daily tasks when you put your mind to it. I'm almost proud.
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...also, rude.
...he leans against the counter, tapping the tip of the knife to his bottom lip when he finally comes to investigate. He offers the dog a look and finally just sets the knife onto the drying mat with the rest of the dishes he'd cleaned.
His eyes roll at the pat and he huffs indignantly. ]
Why do you do that?
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[ THE COMPLIMENTS JUST WON'T STOP TODAY. ]
[ Nonetheless, he's walking over to the cabinets and returning with some nice-looking fish-adjacent wine and two (!) glasses, which he then sets on the kitchen table and pours. Hopefully Dino is getting some plates, because they're totally eating together. ]
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[ he watches Squalo move away and does in fact grab two plates, with matching silverware. admittedly, he does adjust the amount he grabs after noting the two glasses...
he knows this doesn't mean anything and he's not putting any weight to it, but he does think it's nice. sharing a meal. doing something like this for someone else.
the next part comes out of nowhere and he worries the inside of his cheek.]
I miss him.
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[ things have been going so well. ]
[ it's lucky that the glasses are already set down and full, because Squalo flinches and drops the remaining bottle on the floor. it shatters, leaving a blotch of wine spreading across the tiles, but rather than do anything about it, Squalo just pulls back a chair and sits down, now all tense. ]
...don't.
[ don't do this to him. he can't even begin to describe in words what he feels right now. and that's exactly why he was hoping to just sort of... ignore it. pretend it's not there. have a nice meal with his friend without screaming his throat out in grief. don't take it away from him. ]
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Kyouya.
[ he corrects, but...he gets it. This hadn't been his intention. he hadn't connected those dots. he just...needed to say it. outloud. ]
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[ Then he realizes the little hell creature is waddling right into the middle of glass shards while slurping tile wine up with its weirdly long tongue. It may be difficult to hurt Hell creatures, but that goldfish totally died from tequila, so -- ]
No -- fuck! --
[ he grabs Cazzo out of the mess and plonks him into his lap. the puppy shoots its tongue out like a goddamn chameleon to give him a cheek lick before it disappears in its weird maw again. ]
[ damn. he's been dad-trapped. ]
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It finally happened. That sealed the puppy deal. Cazzo really does belong to Squalo now (part time :| ).
Dino quietly turns to plate the dish on two plates, and gives Cazzo some in a bowl. All three are brought over to the table but he sets Cazzo’s on the floor beside Squalo. ]
I’ll clean it up.
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[ He gives a nod with a grunt of acknowledgement, his version of "thanks" for the moment, and keeps one hand on Cazzo to stop him from climbing into the plate. He runs the other through his bangs and sighs. ]
...do you think that's why they brought them in to begin with? So they'd have a better way to torture us?
[ Because he's certainly hurting more now than from any of Lucifer's games ever did over the course of two years. ]
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I...don't know, honestly.
[ the rest of the wine is cleaned up with a wet cloth, and Dino moves over to grab a new bottle; inspecting them before finding one that's close enough before he brings it over with the glasses. ]
Whether that was the intention or not, it worked.
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[ and all he'll get for it is a lousy t-shirt. ]
[ as the glass is gone, Squalo lets Cazzo down, and the creature merrily plops on the floor to devour his portion. Possibly swallow it along with the bowl, as Hell creatures do. ]
[ Squalo leans forward, his elbows on the table, head in hands. ]
I thought I had a deal with Lucifer. I did everything he asked of me. [ That included fucking over a bunch of his fellow sinners. Not that he really regrets it, but still. ] I don't understand why this happened.
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[ the wine and glasses were set aside and he sank down into a nearby chair. some of his attention is on the dog and his horrible manners, the other on his friend barely keeping it together, and whatever is left is on other things... ]
Lucifer is not in control here. He's never been in control. You could do everything he ever asks of you and it still won't matter because he answers ultimately to someone else.
[ his brow furrows. ]
I never understood why you follow the power and don't just own it yourself. You could. You just give it up and that's why this is happening.
[ this is dumb and he's not drunk enough for this sort of conversation. ]
You invest in other people more than you invest in yourself and then when it's ripped from you, you don't know how to handle it.
[ ....welp.... ]
But you have it in you to get your arrogant, stubborn head out of your hands and help yourself. It breaks my heart to see how miserable you've allowed yourself to be.
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[ Squalo leans back in his chair, running a hand through his hair in frustration again. Yeah, he knew Lucifer was pretty much trapped here along with them, but all the same... ]
But he managed to get him in, so I thought... [ he sighs. Little does he know that Lucifer had merely not corrected his misunderstanding on the situation. He had never actually brought Xanxus in... probably. ] Doesn't matter now.
[ He shakes his head, laughing mirthlessly. ]
Are you saying I should be the boss? I made up my mind about that when I won the Varia. I'm not somebody who can sit around safely and be important all day, you know that.
[ Bosses were too valuable to throw into the fray unless absolutely necessary, and Squalo lived for his battles. He had made the best decision he could with what he had. ]
[ Of course, now... ]
[ Shit, Dino's right. He doesn't know how to handle this. He has no coping mechanisms besides drinking and violence, and that's pretty much his regular day. ]
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I'm saying you're perfectly capable of doing everything on your own. You don't actually need anyone. You know how to lead, you know how to fight, you know how to figure shit out. So with all of that under your belt, with more ego than any man actually needs--why are you sitting here like your entire world has blown to shit?
[ he took the bottle up and filled the two glasses, sank back into the chair with his own and rolled his eyes. ]
So, see that and really take it in that you're better than this, eat your food, drink your wine, love the new puppy and get on with it.
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...
[ He folds his arms defiantly and scowls. ]
Sure, I'm capable. I don't want to.
[ His cheek twitches a little as he bares his teeth in distaste, glaring at the table. ]
I was on my own for eight years. I don't want to do it again. It's -- too soon.
[ His world has been blown to shit, than you very much. What if he decides to just be stubborn about his wallowing in misery? What then? Okay, that's nowhere glorious enough for him to actually do it long term, but he's feeling rather pissed off at the moment so he's willing to go against just about any good suggestion there can be. ]
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He blinks in surprise and then scowls; holding the glass of wine in one hand, idly swirling the contents as his expression morphs from surprise, to confusion, a touch a scorn and then just annoyance. ]
What are you going to do, then? Hm? Cry some more? Drink yourself stupid? Become the exact kind of weakness you give other people shit for?
[ he snorts softly and shakes his head. ]
I don’t believe you will. Your ego couldn’t take it. And for the record you’re not alone. I may not be someone you enjoy having around but someone who looks up to you is here now and he deserves better than this. So knock the shit off and stand up. You’re better than this. It’s the whole reason I continue to bail your ass out when I can. I need you to be what I can’t.
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[ As soon as the word "cry" has left Dino's lips, Squalo's standing up suddenly in a fit of rage, slamming his hands down on the table with a loud thud, looking like he's about to start screaming at him -- but instead he just glares. ]
[ He can't exactly deny those things, them being exactly what he's been doing for the last couple of months, but he didn't have to actually say them, and Squalo didn't have to like it. It's probably a good sign that this has made him mad to such an extent -- there's still stubbornness, and there's still pride, underneath the whole pity party. He's not completely broken yet. He's still himself, just buried under resentment and sadness, but those can be torn away still. ]
[ He growls, loud, offended, teeth bared, and then slowly sits back down as Dino calmly continues speaking as if Squalo didn't look ready to tear his throat out a second ago. Well, maybe he wasn't a Boss for nothing after all, not that he'd ever admit it. Instead, he angrily shoves some food into his mouth. ]
[ That last bit makes him pause mid-chew again, though not in a bad way. He likes being needed. He regards Dino with some amount of curiosity. Be what he can't, huh? ]
...And what exactly is that?
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He watches him with those shit-brown eyes (as he calls them, Asshole) and waits for him to calm and sit once more.
The glass tips back and he takes a drink from the wine before he chews the inside of his cheek. ]
Savage. Strong. Brave. I can pull it out of my ass when the time calls for it but you are everything, all the time. I was forced into this position but we all know it’s not what I would have chosen for myself. For you it was right there. Waiting for you. In your blood. We all have our roles and I do what I can, and support those who can do more. But that doesn’t make me weak. It makes me stronger than you Varia give me credit for.
[ He sets the glass down. ]
If it were true you wouldn’t call on me as often as you do. Now are you going to listen to me now that I’ve polished your ego or do I need clean you up myself?
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[ At least Squalo's bristling seems to simmer down somewhat with each compliment, though he's undoubtedly still annoyed and offended at the end. But yes. He's all of those things. How could he let himself forget that? He'd gotten too accustomed to building his entire identity around Xanxus, but maybe he didn't have to. He didn't need to, that's for sure. It was just difficult to accept, but... ]
[ Hell, if Xanxus ever found his way back to Hell -- in his right state of mind, that is -- surely he would prefer to find Squalo in his wild, smug, unapologetic glory, rather than... this. ]
[ Something shifts in his expression, barely noticeably -- something almost like resolve finding its way back into him. As if his extinguished Flames were sparking to life once again. ]
[ He takes a breath. ]
No. [ He takes a drink from his glass and sticks more food into his mouth. There's more purpose to his movements now, whereas before he was clearly just going through the motions. ] I will do it.
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Moments like these, Dino finds a bit more patience than usual. He is careful to watch Squalo, and by now he knows when the other is giving in to something or at least taking it to heart.
A wave of relief washes over him as he watches everything click back into place until he sees more of the real Squalo and less of the mess Xanxus left.
Dino finally gives the food some attention and he leans a little on the table as he pokes at it and takes a bite. ]
I trust you will.
[ he chews thoughtfully and then hums. ]
How does it feel?
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[ It's a bit weird, to be honest. He's done it before so many times, it's almost easy... certainly comfortable. But also lonely, and heavy. But he's resilient. He can get back on track and stay on it, and it will get easier. The pain will get lighter. At least, he will choose to believe so. There's still so much to be done. ]
[ He gives Dino a flat look as he chews. ]
Bit overcooked, but I'll finish it.
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He meets that flat look with a knowing smile. ]
Not what I meant, but I’ll take it. The wine helps.
[ He chuckles and pours some more wine into the others glass.
And then he shoots a look to Cazzo and arches a brow. ]
At least he appreciates it.
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[ Squalo shrugs, because evidently normalcy comes with absolute refusal to talk about feelings. ]
[ It is, of course, not as flip-a-switch as it looks from the outside. He still doesn't understand why Xanxus did this to him. It hurts. But as with most things, he's starting to compartmentalize. Yeah, he wants to know. But if he never sees him again, it doesn't matter... and if he does, he will fucking ask. Right in his face. There, all settled. So there's no use agonizing over it now. ]
[ He gives a skew smirk and drains half his glass in one go. ]
He'd probably appreciate toenail clippings if you gave him a bag.
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[ Dino scoffs and throws his napkin in Squalos face before he goes back to eating.
He knows it’ll take time. He knows. But he’s glad that some action at least has been kickstarted. Squalo was strong long before Xanxus and he’ll stay that way so long as people don’t let him drown in messes like this.
Yamamoto can keep him moving. The dog will keep him yelling. Gokudera will inevitably pick fights and...he will be there as he always has. (Save for those months or year or whatever it was that Squalo was here without him. Shut up he knows.) ]
At least you’ve got a little of that fire back in your eyes.
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[ It's true, he had been strong before the Varia ever sniffed him out. But he'd also been directionless. Wild. A loose cannon. It took him a while to shake that off even once he'd already joined them. It was fine for him, sure, but to everyone around him, Squalo unbound by any loyalty or morals would be terrifying. ]
[ He glances at Dino thoughtfully and doesn't say anything. Did he now? A moment later, his ring gleams blue. It's still weaker than usual, but it's there, and contented, he snuffs it out again before continuing with his dinner. ]
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