forum what're you in for, love? (closed, o/o with @Dances_with_Shadows)

Started June 28, 2019 by Deleted user

tune

Edit topic

he slid in across from her, glancing around as he did so. it was certainly interesting eating at a new restaurant, if not slightly anxiety inducing.

"nice place. how'd you find out about it?"

"Do you want the bullshit answer or the truth?" Tessa said, raising a brow and looking around the restaurant. It was a quaint place with a surprisingly cozy feel to it, despite the kind of people that came here to eat. Luckily for them, the regulars were alright kind of people, if only towards their friends. "I'll give you a hint—what's notoriously dangerous and Italian?"

nik automatically answered. "the italian mafia."

after a second of processing, he gave tess a mildly surprised expression. "you're with the mafia? that's pretty neat, but i'll let you know i'm significantly more terrified of you now."

She held up a finger. "I was taken in by the mafia, I'm not a part of the mafia. They have standards, and one of those is being Italian. I am not, but the family that took me in said 'fuck it' to the rules concerning me and let me build a reputation to make people not question their favoritism." After a moment, she said, "I'm officially with the Rawling family, but I take contracts from other families as well."

"ah, that's fair. sounds like you still have pretty serious connections. and even though you weren't born into it, i'm still sure you could kick my ass faster than i could blink. my previous comments still stand."

he leaned back against the seat, crossing his arms low over his waist.

She shrugged and leaned back as well, keeping an eye on the people coming in out of habit. Most were just normal people, but she caught a few familiar faces and Italian accents here and there. She might catch Diego here, and, if so, tell him what they were planning.

"Connections are plentiful, but I rely on relationships more often than not. I trust the people I know to give me good information without an asking price. I might know many of the men in the business, but there are only a few that I actually consider family."

"makes sense." he commented, before falling quiet.

after a short while, a waiter approached their table.

Tessa switched to Italian and put on a fake smile that was surprisingly real-looking if you didn't look close enough. She ordered a simple fettuccini alfredo and an entire bottle of wine. The waiter looked to Nik, asking what he'd want in English.

((im not gonna look up italian foods right now so,,, imagine whatever, have fun))

he raised an eyebrow, but ordered in english. after the waiter left, he propped his head on one hand.

"do i really look american? cause fuck, i've never been profiled like that" he joked.

((spaghetti is typical Italian food, i think))

Tessa chuckled, her small smile real this time as she leaned on the table, head in her hands. "The staff talks to customers in English unless the customer is either known to be able to speak Italian or reveals their proficiency in the language. Say, if you knew how to speak it, you could've answered him in Italian even though he addressed you in English."

"yeah, i figured. i know like… two words in italian because my sister wanted to speak it. my things are french and german. which," he winked as tess as he spoke.

"sometime i'll have to bring you to a french place. impress you with my knowledge of the second easiest love language."

Her smile grew as she laced her fingers and rested her chin on them. "I look forward to it," she said, then cocked her head to the side. "Second easiest? What's the first, if you don't mind me asking?"

"spanish. every time. the accent is the easiest thing i've ever encountered." he shrugged, looking off to the side.

"just learn the alphabet, and you're good. for french? just add flair and hope you get it right." he smiled vaguely, remembering his mother trying to teach him french when he was young. inexperienced vocal chords slurred and stuttered, but she patiently repeated the words to him when he didn't understand. his dad was more straightforward with german, just. talking to him in german until he got it. he got it both ways, though.

She chuckled. "Lucky you, I only know Italian. But I'm used to different languages because of Cinthia and Wulfric. Those two are obsessed with being fluent in a bunch of languages." She paused and perked her head up, remembering something. "Oh, and I know some Hawaiian, but only certain words."

"i'll have to have a chat with them, then. languages are fun. and.. hawaiian, did you say? how the hell did you end up learning hawaiian?"
he briefly took his head off his hand, raising his eyebrows.

"My half-brother and his father live in Hawaii. My brother usually calls me Pupule, and Kaikuahine when he wants something from me." She smiled softly. "I also know 'pakalolo', 'ohana', 'mahalo nui loa,' and 'a`ole pilikia'. That's about the extent of my knowledge."

"just hearing those words makes me fear for him. i would try to say one but i'd end up stuttering for an hour and embarrassing both of us." he chuckled softly, making sure to take a deep breath afterwards.

"you've got quite the family. adoptive italian mafia and hawaiian half brother."

She chuckled as well. "Ronan's not Hawaiian, but he's lived there long enough that people assume he is. He's a New Yorker at heart." She dropped her arms, folding them over the table. "And ohana isn't very hard. You could probably get away with that."

She fell silent, thinking over his last statement. Ronan was the only biological family that she really interacted with, and her little sister was the only other one that genuinely liked spending time with Tessa. As for her mafia family… they were the closest family she could claim.

"a new yorker, you say? i figured he wasn't natively hawaiian, but didn't think he'd be a city slicker like us." he brought his other hand up, using both hands to support his face.

"Well, considering that he's my brother, it's not that surprising." She shrugged and waved lazily. "We share the same mom, and she lives in good 'ol NYC. He's in med school, getting a medical degree to be a doctor like his father." She didn't mention her two other siblings.

((when nik gets wine drunk he flirts like literally no other so pls beware))

"oh, fun! we stan the legal child. but between us, i like to think you're my favorite." he looked up as a waiter approached them again, holding a wine bottle and two glasses.

nik watched as the waiter set it down, and thanked them after they did.

((lmao, Tess will likely humor him, either drunk or sober))

She chuckled, then looked up at the waiter and thanked them as well. Once the waiter was gone, she immediately opened the bottle and poured herself a glass. She tipped it towards Nik with a raised brow. "You want some?"

"i'm fucking french, of course i do." he slid the second glass towards her, now propped on his elbows.

"what kind did you get?"

"I just went with simple red wine, nothing too fancy." She poured him a glass, then slid it back over to him and set the bottle off to the side. She then smiled and held up her glass. "Salute."

he picked his up, clinking it lightly against hers. "à votre santé."

he raised an eyebrow as he took the first sip. "pretty good, if i remember correctly. haven't had wine in ages. to getting out of two adventures alive, i suppose."

Tessa drank some, shrugging. "I usually just go for the alcohol. I might be clean, but there's no way they can take away my precious alcohol." She flashed a grin from above the rim of her glass, then took another sip and set it off to the side. "Anyway, I'm flattered you're already picking me as your favorite, even though you've never met him—or the two youngins, for that matter."

"well, you did basically cover my ass when we busted out of jail. that earns you serious points." he leaned back with his glass, crossing one arm over the one that was holding the glass.

"and you came back for me. even if it was to help with something, i don't get a second call unless it's a fuckbuddy who wants more." he looked deadpan as he spoke, taking another sip.

"Huh," Tessa mused, thinking that over as she reached for her glass again, taking a drink. "Well, it would seem we're not very different, in that regard," she finally said, then offered a small smile, "Well, I can honestly say that I enjoy your company. You're fun."

"it has been a long time since i've heard that phrase outside of a bedroom. shows a lot, doesn't it." he laughed briefly, almost a bark. the only other laugh tess had heard from him so far was a low chuckle, and the roughness of this was much different.

"thank you, though. i think you're fun as well. up to fuck a bitch up, y'know?"

Tessa snorted, choosing to ignore the strange laugh. Everyone had their things, and she was no different, so she had no room to judge. She opted for a smirk as she took a sip. "I say that a lot outside of the bedroom, though it's not always intended to be a good thing. My 'fun' has been known to be not so fun for others."