La Squadra Week 2021

Welcome to the official Tumblr hub for La Squadra Week 2021. Dates for this event are July 31st- August 8th. Our hashtag is #lasquadraweek2021.

[liminal-wandering36]

Hi everyone! Pre-orders for Ephemeral: A La Squadra Ship Zine are open until November 6th! 💕

Ephemeral Zine

This is a digital-only zine that celebrates the romantic relationships between the members of La Squadra di Esecuzione. It features over 10

[lasquadraweek2021]

Thank you all for your fantastic contributions to #lasquadraweek2021 💕

[plagues01]

La Squadra Week 2021 Day 7 Noir

Idk how to color in black and white so I grayscaled a colored picture. Anyway, enjoy.

Colored version undercut

[bovine-providence]

La Squadra Week 2021, Day 7: Noir/Action!

“A Roman Night”

Here’s Illuso in Rome. What’s he investigating? Who’s watching him?

P.S. Noir protagonists smoke, I don’t make the rules. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[bovine-providence]

La Squadra Week 2021, Day 6: Drama/Mystery!*

Sorbet and Gelato with, presumably, the photo of Donatella at Costa Smeralda.

*I’m two days late with this one due to being in a depressive slump, but I’m feeling motivated again! 💖

[lady-wallace]

La Squadra Week Day 8: Mythology

This is my last piece for @lasquadraweek2021​ for the mythology prompt. I just thought it would be really fun to draw Risotto as Hades so…here he is!

This one is done in India ink, which I haven’t used for a while and forgot how much I enjoyed.

[lady-wallace]

La Squadra Week Day 7: Noir

Another pic for @lasquadraweek2021 . I could not resist doing the Noir prompt because…I just love doing noir. Black and white/greyscale pieces are some of my favorite to do and have I mentioned before how much I love suits???

Anyway, have a noir Risotto and Prosciutto in a kind of movie poster. Riz has a pair of scissors in his pocket. I thought that maybe that’s his calling card in this AU

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[plagues01]

La Squadra Week Day 6 Drama

Haha, I actually drew something for this day. I didn't know what to write so have some headcanon content

Headcanon - Sorbet is blind. He was blinded in an accident when he was younger, but due to bad treatment when it happened, Sorbet’s eyes still bleed every now and then. It worries Gelato every time.

CW - Blood undercut

[plagues--writing]

La Squarda Week 2021 Day 5 - Horror

Fandom: Jojo’s Bizzare Adventures

Characters: All of La Squadra

CW: None

(I’m going the easy route and just saying what I feel like their favorite horror movie is because I can’t think of anything else to do-)

Risotto Nero - It is Risotto favorite. He strikes me as a Stephen King enjoyer tbh. It is his favorite though.  

Sorbet and Gelato - Gelato enjoys the Saw movies because of their extra violent nature. Sorbet can’t watch movies due to his blindness, but he knows Gelato enjoys the movies so therefore his favorite movies as well.

Formaggio - A Silence of the Lambs has to be Formaggio’s favorite. There’s just something about the more realistic events that give him a fright. 

Illuso - Illuso enjoys horror but doesn’t enjoy movies that rely on loud noises. Like bangs or something suddenly dropping. A Quiet Place is his favorite movie because of this.  

Prosciutto - Prosciutto definitely likes the classics. Ones that don’t rely on cheap tricks to scare you. He doesn’t exactly have a favorite one though. 

Pesci -  No, just no. The one time he watched a horror movie, he had to sleep on the floor of Prosciutto’s room, not being able to sleep alone.

Melone - Melone enjoys the classics as well. However, unlike Prosciutto, he does have a favorite. That is Halloween. 

Ghiaccio - Ghiaccio isn’t the biggest horror fan, but if he had pick, he likes found film style movies. .

[plagues--writing]

La Squadra Week 2021 Day 4 - RomCom

Fandom: Jojo’s Bizzare Adventures

Characters: All of La Squadra

CW: None

(This is leaning more on the rom side of romcom with a little com sprinkled in-)

Sorbet and Gelato were in love. Everyone knew that. They never tried to hide it. From Gelato’s constant touching, Sorbet’s romantic words, and the fact they were rarely seen without each other.  

Sure, they both had different ways of showing affection towards each other, but they were both over the top. Making for a lot of awkward and uncomfortable situations. Mainly as the team was slowly coming together. 

In the beginning, it was just Risotto, Sorbet, and Gelato. Their relationship was still rather new so their touches were more reserved. A hug, pats on the shoulders, kisses before missions. Small things, nothing major. But Risotto saw from the beginning to what they are today.

Their touches started to get more and more common, and they became more and more showy. From the light touches and kisses to almost never in a room together without touching each other.

Prosciutto and Pesci joined La Squadra together. When they met Sorbet and Gelato, Gelato was leaning against Sorbet’s shoulder with Sorbet’s arm around their shoulders.

Prosciutto is reserved when it comes to affection and wishes that others would be. He isn’t uncomfortable with their affection, but he does wish they would do it more in private.

Pesci, on the other hand, is uncomfortable to begin with. He isn’t used to people being open about their love for each other. It’s a risky game with their line of work. Like Prosciutto, he would prefer them to be more romantic in private than in public. 

As Pesci got more comfortable in the group, he started to care less and was fine with it. To this day, Prosciutto still prefers them to be less touchy around the group but doesn’t care as much as they used to.

Next who joined was Formaggio. He joined through Risotto, who he knew from years ago. Being touchy himself, he never thought much about Gelato and Sorbet. Until they got more verbal with each other. 

Neither were loud with their words, but they got more and more sexual as time went on. This caused Formaggio to start becoming uncomfortable.

When Illuso joined, he was personally warned by Formaggio about the two. Illuso simply raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders, not thinking much of it.

But Formaggio wasn’t kidding about their affection. From Sorbet often reaching out for Gelato(something he does for affection and for help guiding him through a crowded room as he is blind) and Gelato sitting uncomfortably close to Sorbet. Luckily, Illuso was able to block out the comments they made towards each other.

Melone is the least bothered by their affection. He is both touchy and verbal with his lovers, as long as they’re comfortable with it. He would be a hypocrite if he was bothered by Sorbet and Gelato.

However, it can be bad. When Melone isn’t feeling the best or is tired, he gets more annoyed with the two. On those days, he spends more time in his room or will just sleep until he feels better. 

When Ghiaccio joined, it was a little different. He was found and brought in by Sorbet and Gelato. An angry teen that it took a while for them to convince Risotto to let him join the group officially.

Sorbet and Gelato cut down on the affection towards each other and focused more on Ghiaccio. They took on the parent role without realizing it. They showed planatic affection towards Ghiaccio.

As Ghiaccio got older and more comfortable, their affection started up again. Not as bad as before, keeping the more sexual nature of their talks and touches when Ghiacio isn’t around. When Ghiaccio first saw them draped over each other, almost making out, he scrunched up his nose and made a disgusted out.

This makes Sorbet and Gelato both laugh. While they still flirt and touch each other often, they use it more to bother the other members, finding it funny.

However if they ever go too far and it’s mentioned to them, Sorbet and Gelato will ease up for them, caring for their teammates.

[bovine-providence]

La Squadra Week 2021, Day 5: Horror/Suspense!

“Two friends think they’re on the Fiorenze Express to a vacation. Instead, it’s TERROR BOUND.”

I like movie posters, haha, so that was the general theme here.

[bovine-providence]

La Squadra Week 2021, Day 4: Romcom/Comedy!

Formaggio and Melone doing the spaghetti kiss. But just imagine how chaotic their relationship would be!

[jjba-hell]

Repaid

Day 3 and its time for some spaghetti western shenanigans.

Listen... I don’t like Westerns but I did have way too much fun writing this so do with it what you may.

Reader stays gender neutral in this house, no real warnings save for some guns and violence. Enjoy.

The dull ache in your right eye socket is really starting to get you. You’d figured you could sleep it off if not for the scratchy material of the tavern sheets under your skin.

Wait.

How did you get to the tavern again? Last time you checked Miles was a few days behind you and he had the money. The plan was to camp.

Camp... camp... oh right camp! You sat up to look for anyone else awake- someone should be on watch but there’s no dying campfire beside you. There was nothing beside you, not even a horse to say you’d been left behind. All that stretched around you was an infinite amount of desert sand painted pale blue by the full moon above you.

“Shit.” You hiss out between your teeth as you push yourself up on your feet. Not even so much as a sleeping mat was underneath you and god this stupid eye of yours was foggy. Must be some sand caught in your eye- wouldn’t it scratch though?

You didn’t have much time to consider pondering as a shadow- that’s the best you could describe it- pushed its shoulder through you and continued a sluggish walk ahead of you to fuck knows where.

“Where are you going?” You found yourself asking with a voice much too hoarse to be your own. Not only was it hoarse but it brought awareness to just how dry and cracked your mouth and throat were. If you’d been out here since sundown or ever before that your throat was probably bleeding. Might explain the taste.

Without feeling like you had much choice you started walking after the shadow. The longer you walked the worse every annoying itch turned into an ache- the scratchiness in your throat only seemed to get worse the more you huffed a breath to continue walking. If you were following death, honestly you’d just laugh.

After what felt like hours you were no longer alone- a few other figures much like the one you were following seemed to join you in blindly walking after the leader. You couldn’t see much of them either, not that they were close enough to look at anyway. The town’s dull yellow lights seemed to brighten every step you took but it wasn’t enough to convince your body to cooperate. The closer you got, the heavier your limbs, the harder the steps until your knees gave out under you and your face acquainted itself with the dirt.

All you could remember after that was the feeling of hands clasping themselves under your arms and your feet dragging behind you.

“That’s the only memory I have of that night. I had no idea I even spoke to you.” You admitted to the man whose saddle you were slung over. “So unless you plan on selling yourselves out for a little bounty money I don’t see why this is fucking necessary.”

When you’d woken up from that night you found yourself more coddled than you’d ever been in your life- swaddled in soft sheets and even softer pajamas, wrapped up in bandages like you were a porcelain doll.

Didn’t last long and now you owed this gang money for your stay and a doctors visit. You promised you’d pay them back but you didn’t have a fucking penny on you. Their solution? Tying your hands in front of you and slinging you over the saddle of the one with the weird eyes.

“You admitted to being from the McRoys gang- that’s loyalty bonded by blood.” The gruff voice above you commented, not doing anything to qualm the painful pounding your stomach was getting from the horse’s steps.

“My sister married a McRoy for fuck’s sake, those fucks don’t mean shit to me!”

“Swear that on ya daddy’s grave?” Came the question after some audible hooves clambering to get closer to your head.

“I’ll do ya one better- I’ll put ‘em in his grave and THEN swear they ain’t mean shit to me.”

Their boss slowed down to a stop and you’ve never wanted to slide headfirst into the sand more than you did in that moment. “This the place?”

You were hauled off of the horse and onto shakey legs. True as hell you stood at the sign for the McRoy ranch and to even a bigger surprise your goddamn horse stood at the troth drinking water with your saddle on and all.

“Why you fucking- untie me right now.” You held your bound wrists at the giant man that had lifted you off.

He only gave an amused huff of air from his nose as he cut you free so you could stomp through the hot sand on bare feet.

“And you leave me? After hauling you out of your fucking mother all those years ago, I topple off you once and you fucking high-tail it?” You angrily grab the knapsack from its back to rummage through for some clothes- wasting no time to slip over your head and over your ass to replace the pajamas.

“Are you sure you were riding alone?” The brunette with the ponytails asked.

“Yeah. I don’t even remember why I toppled, let alone where or how..” You peered at the team once more. “My boots?”

They all seemed to share a laugh as the blonde coughed it up and you humiliatingly stepped straight in them.

“Right. So now that we’re all on equal footing... what do you really want from me?”

Being an outcast in any group was difficult, LaSquadra was no different. You’d have to risk your skin more than once to finally be able to earn even a bit of trust from their boss specifically and what you’d deem your cut was quickly snatched up by Formaggio for drinks until one day Risotto handed you your cut of coin and instead of quietly handing over the money, pulled a gun at Formaggio’s head- the first right move you’d pulled in weeks.

You’d soon learn each of them held a bounty over their heads- deciding to stick together instead of trying to haul each other’s asses to the nearest sheriff. And with your handiwork all over the McRoy ranch heist (clean as you’d tried to keep it), you’d find yourself with a bounty almost comparable to Risotto’s.

It was only when your place among them was solidified that you found yourself suggesting more and more outlandish schemes for a bigger cash grab.

“But we gotta start thinking logically about this- if we burn down every sheriff’s office there’d be no evidence to incriminate us.” You had jabbed at Illuso as you two ducked under an overturned table. One moment you were offering a stand off in the town square, the next thing you knew the bar was being blown sky high by some awfully desperate lawmen.

Risotto’s bullwhip slid across the shattered glass from the neighboring table and that what all signal you needed. “And all of this because ONE wanted poster showed you having a mole on your upper lip.”

“Did you not see the size of that thing??”

Risotto kicked the overturned table to slide into the crowd- leaving you enough of a gap to between the bullets to crack the whip into a couple hands- those viper venom soaked bone shards woven into the end was doing enough damage to the holder’s hand to knock ‘em out of the game for the count.

You got enough of them down to give Ghiaccio the chance to fire a few shots and Melone to bust open the window where Pesci awaited with your way out.

Risotto slid in behind your table and handed the loaded pistol for your round of shots. Not that you missed half as much as the men your travelled with.

Your right eye never did stop being foggy- Melone suspected cataracts but you saw targets much too easy with your foggy eye to cover it up completely. Maybe you were taking “deadeye” too literally though.

After 5 out of 6 rounds now lodged firmly in some lawmen’s thighs you hopped out the window last and took off after the rest of your team.

“If we have to pay for one more bar’s repairs I swear to god I’ll turn myself in for a hanging.” Formaggio huffed as he dropped onto the dusty floor beside you- fingers outstretched for the bottle of moonshine you were only passing around- that shit was vile.

“They’ve been hot on our trail for a while now- you think the townspeople are sick of us?”

“Somehow I doubt they’re willing to take their chances with Ciocolatta’s cronies, must be something else.” Prosciutto lowered himself to your other side, offering a cigarette which you did accept. “You don’t think it’s the new governor?”

“That little blonde pipsqueak? No, there’s no way- he probably got that job from his daddy and doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing, let alone getting lawmen to run us down this consistently. Illuso, you’re the one making people squeal when we stay in town, no rumors that could have sparked this?”

“Carne’s allegedly dead but he’s not big enough for the people to let their guards down now.”

“Well we might be finding out soon.” All your heads spun to Risotto as he walked back into camp from the first watch. “There’s someone coming this way.”

“I’m guessing you think we can take them?”

“Sick of running. Anyone who’d come this far after us at least deserves an audience.”

You’d packed everything up except the fire in the camp- if it was going to be a shootout, at least you’d be ready to leave. You were about to mount your horse when Risotto stopped you. “I’m gonna let you stand up front-“ he handed you his bullwhip and two more casings of ammo. “If anything goes south, you’re our best shot.”

So you nodded and led your horse to the front, the others waiting behind you as the group- matching your own in numbers- came to a stop.

“You calling the shots?” The one with long white hair cascading under the brim of his hat asked.

“Nah- just the front line. What you come out all this way for? The moonshine’s shit unfortunately.”

“Precaution. We’re not here for any arrests, though.” Mr Black Bob came to his partner’s defense- the rest only seemed to wait.

“No arrests? You say that with a lawman right next to you?” You gave a nod to Mr Moonhair.

The click of a pistol had the hairs on the back of your head stand up. You didn’t know from which side it came from but it was like a cascade of 13 other pistols pulling back their hammers.

“Perhaps we should talk before we jump to conclusions. Name’s Bucciarati.”

“Well Bucciarati it sounded like that pistol cock came from your side first. I don’t know if I can trust a bunch of snakes that lie to my face.”

It was surprisingly not Mr Moonhair that removed his revolver from its holster. It was the one with the bandana over his head.

Another cascade of metal slipping from leather as they all pointed at one another, save for you and Bucciarati. “Got some trigger-happy subordinates there, Bucci. Who do you work for?”

“The governor.” All charm had left his voice and now you were left to the stiff formalities of a man serving.

“Ah. So you ARE lawmen.”

“We have no idea what sinister grip you have over the townspeople but it will not continue like this. We’re here for an ultimatum. Disappear from your business and all bounties will drop- no lawman will arrest you and the warrant for your hangings will be dropped.”

“Mhm and if we’re caught doing our usual business?”

“Then all charges are doubled.”

You couldn’t help but give an earnest laugh as you broke the stare off between you and Bucciarati. You leisurely turned around and mounted your horse. Risotto gave you a knowing look as you did, stealing yourself to look into Bucciarati’s ocean blue eyes.

“Do yourselves a favor- go visit Reaverbrooke. Ask some questions... shit if anyone is still there... and get a feel for the service we provide. Make sure you report all of that to the little blonde boy’s boot you’re lickin’ and maybe then we can talk on ultimatums.”

The barrels lowered as you spoke, watching Bucciarati keep up his attempt at a death stare.

“But since you’re lucky, you’re dealing with the bleeding heart of this gang- we’ll lay low until you come back to us. Same time next week?”

Bucciarati wasn’t given much time to answer as you led your squad out of the camp. Once enough distance was put between you, Risotto came up beside you.

“You’re leading us to their base? What are you mad?”

“Someone’s gotta put that pipsqueak back into his place. Who better than us?”

[bovine-providence]

#lasquadraweek2021 Day 3: Western/Gothic!

Prosciutto is the heir to his ancestral estate, but as he’s been staying there, he can’t help but feel he’s being watched. However, while experiencing this sensation, his company doesn’t seem to have ill intent.

Heir Prosciutto, accompanied by the ghosts Risotto and Illuso!

No, I can’t draw pretty mirror frames. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[plagues--writing]

La Squadra Week 2021 - Day 3 Gothic

Fandom: Jojo’s Bizzare Adventures

Characters: All of La Squadra

CW: None

(I don’t know much about gothic or western stuff so I went safe and did vampires-)

Sorbet and Gelato were two well known vampire lords. Feared by humans and vampires alike. They’re protective of their land and are cruel to people who trespass. 

Risotto was another vampire lord, close to Sorbet and Gelato. Not as cruel as the two, he still isn’t fond of other vampires getting too close to his land.

Prosciutto was almost a vampire. A less weaker vampire, preferring to stay to themselves. Protective of their land, almost as much as Sorbet and Gelato.

Formaggio, Illuso, and Melone were all vampire ‘hunters’. They would lead other hunters into one of their vampire friends’ land for them to have a fresh meal.

Ghiaccio and Pesci were both humans, taken in by the vampires.

Ghiaccio was taken in by Sorbet and Gelato. He stumbled onto their land after running away from home. Gelato found him and brought him to the house. After talking to Sorbet for a while, they decided to take him in.

With Ghiaccio’s anger issues, it took a while for him to settle down and trust the two vampires. When he first slipped up and called Gelato ‘dad’, the couple knew that Ghiaccio was finally comfortable with them.

Pesci was found and taken in by Prosciutto. Pesci was in training to be a vampire hunter and decided to prove himself by taking out a vampire by himself.

When stepping on Prosciutto’s land, Pesci knew something was up. Something didn’t feel right.

Prosciutto simply walked up to the human and asked why he was on the land. And laughed when Pesci told them his plan, offering him a place to stay instead.

A confused Pesci left their land for a while but returned a week later to take Prosciutto’s offer. 

That’s when Formaggio, Illuso, and Melone found out about Prosciutto. Prosciutto only fed when he needed to and was fond of the green haired human.

The three thought they needed to find and save Pesci but were surprised when they saw his life had improved.

By choice, they silently agreed to help Prosciutto stay safe, and later when introduced to Risotto, they helped him as well. In return, the two vampires protected the humans from other vampires and creatures that could harm them.

They met Sorbet, Gelato, and Ghiaccio a few years later. Risotto was trying to deal with some skilled hunters in his land and asked Sorbet and Gelato for help.

The vampire ‘hunters’ told them everything they knew about these hunters, and Sorbet and Gelato agreed to help as long as Ghiaccio stayed out of the vampire and hunter business.

After the hunters were dealt with, the group stayed in contact with each other, and later, started a clan together.

[jjba-hell]

Revoked

Still late for day 2 but I am enjoying the hell out of these prompts. (Today’s prompt was sci-fi)

Trigger warnings for the death of the ice cream gays but lemme know if I missed anything else.

Summary: a weird mismatched team of busted up aliens and half-blood humans just dealing with some shit.

For the lovely: @lasquadraweek2021

“You should really just transfer to a new body Pros. Humans aren’t supposed to live this long, babe.”

You grumble probably more to yourself than to the man whose forearm you were tinkering in. Well... maybe tinkering wasn’t the word either. He needed another repair and honestly you can’t help but feel like Risotto only offered you the air-mattress in the ship because so many of these psychos have bio-tech they can’t afford to upkeep.

“Sure, I can’t afford a rewire but I can surely afford getting my brain transplanted in a new body.”

“Human bodies are so easy to grow though.” You peer up at him over your magnify glasses with a wriggle of eyebrows. “Fully grown in a quarter rotation? Come on I still have to wait another half rotation to buy a swimsuit let alone grow a body.”

Prosciutto flexed the hand you were working on to spite you but all you did was strap the wrist down and switch off the impulse circuit before getting up and walking toward the exit of the ship where the others were sprawled out in the soft baby blue grass of the planet you were hiding out at.

Melone’s gaze shot from laptop up as you kicked your untied boots from your feet and slid into the grass, barely hearing him as he asked “Any luck with Pros’s arm?”

“I can’t keep mending the same two wires that keep popping off. Its best we find a place that can handle Babyface’s software and get a new one.”

“Still not budging for just replacing the whole thing?” Formaggio asked from somewhere across the clearing.

Like he was one to talk- Akils like him grew back heads and limbs, there wasn’t exactly a need to know anything about biotech.

“Nope. Are all humans this stubborn?”

“I think its the half Megnu in him.” Illuso was the one to chirp in this time.

“That’s still not confirmed.” You sat back on your feet to try and spot your teammates.

“Well he won’t let me analyze.” Melone sighed- continuing to worry away at the clear glass screen that held all his designs.

Melone truly was a bit of a madman to you- he designed the entirety of his body on that simple glass tablet and yet couldn’t finish his face in time before the feds were on him for unethical medical practice- ironic considering he was only putting himself through the strain of fitting his brain into a piece of machinery. What his official titles were in his old field were beyond you.

“Pesci’s not all Scud and he’s not half as stubborn.” You commented and with a soft hum the team fell back into silence.

“Where’s Ris?”

“He’s in bed- that last jump took a toll on him.” Illuso finally rose up from the grass himself heading a bit further away from the clearing, probably wandering after Ghiacchio who was asked to take a lap after he froze off Formaggio’s finger.

You clambered up a few steps to find your captain with the old-fashioned two-way radio in his hand as he lay passed out on couch of the shared living room.

Risotto would rather be caught dead than caught like this so, with intent, you stepped up to take the radio out of his hand. He seemed to gently wake at your fingers prying the piece or equipment from his hand.

“Shit.” He grumbled. “How long-?”

“Ghiacchio’s not even back from his lap- don’t worry. Just head off before they catch you.”

And with a slight groan he rolled up and disappeared down the hallways to his bunk which sounded with an ungraceful “clunk” as he fell into the bed.

Your name got hollered with the slightest tone of desperation from Prosciutto and with that you were back doing your part in the team behind the scene.

“You’re a purebred?” Prosciutto had eventually asked after a few minutes of boredom at watching you weld wires back to the motherboard.

You couldn’t help but laugh. “What am I? A dog?”

He seemed to swallow his words.

“Where do you think I’m from?” You tried to smooth it over.

“Caestea- at least your appearance would have you look like that.”

Another laugh. “I’m from Earth, Pros.”

His eyes widened. “Impossible.”

“Oh yeah. My parents weren’t exactly refugees but they are most certainly not human. Fuck knows what my genetic makeup looks like but thankfully I certainly age like a Caestean. You are all human, huh?”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “Not that there are many of us left.”

In a sense you felt bad for him. You’d seen photos of Earth long before it started to mimic its brother planet Mars but you rarely thought of how wickedly the planet must have lost its life before intergalactic intervention. Humans were strangely scared and selfish creatures but no one deserved to die because there was no clean water to drink.

You shook off the macabre though before closing up Pros’s arm and putting away the tools. “That should do for now but we really do need to think of a replacement in the near future.”

“Thanks.”

It was a half-assed thank you but it surely caught your attention. Pros was a little too prideful to give just anyone a thanks but nonetheless you returned the sentiment. “No problem.”

Outside the boys were fighting again- or rather Ghiacchio was arguing as Formaggio was pushing his buttons while Pesci grilled a rather obscenely colorful fish over the fire-in-tin.

“Oh just the person we needed to see.”

Getting clasped with two arms over the neck was bad enough but from Sorbet and Gelato, now that was trouble waiting to start.

“Oh gods, what do I have to offer this time.”

“Don’t be so serious!” Sorbet cooed darkly.

“We were just hoping you could help us out with the next target.” His boyfriend added.

If you could just roll your eyes back far enough.

“Wandering off from our captain’s orders doesn’t sound like something I’d want to get myself involved in.”

“Not even for a bionic manufacturer?”

“Or a healing bay, for the ship? Surely you could install those things no problem.”

Honestly it was hard not to fall for the stereotype that all Makzi’s do is play dirty and haggle like merchants but here you were, stuck between them and being tempted into breaking formation with them.

“And what would I have to lose?”

“Nothing much-“

“Maybe some face with Risotto.”

You couldn’t help but scoff. “You want me to convince him?”

“Exactly- he might actually consider something if it came out of your pretty mouth.”

“Or rather, if he could come in it.”

You took one step back and bowed out of the hold between the two of them. “Fucking sleezes. Your shit’s gonna get you killed, mark my words.”

“So its a no?”

“Its a fuck no, Sorbet. Vile comments aside, that shit is expensive, even dent-jobs sell for millions... that kind of money is too big a job for us to handle right now and stealing one even more. Get your heads out of your asses before you come up to me with more dumb shit, next time.”

And with that you slipped back beside Illuso as Pesci was grilling up the third fish for the night. Looking back at what you had said was not untrue. That night you were restless in your bunker above Formaggio- Illuso peering behind the sliding divider across the little hallway that ran between the bed bunks.

“Something on your conscience?”

“No.”

“You sure?” You nearly leapt out of skin as Formaggio’s forehead popped up just below your chin outside your divider. “You’ve turned and kicked like 10 times, babe.”

“Please don’t babe me.” You frown at him but you answered the gnawing feeling by asking. “Where are Sorbet and Gelato?”

“Probably in their bed.” Illuso answered as if there wasn’t a more logical answer.

“Wanna put money on it?” Your eyebrow raised.

“And catch them in the act? Daaamn you’re dirtier than I thought.”

“Come on then, 10 drinks at the next stop they’re not in their bunk.”

“Shit, I can’t miss on that opportunity.” Formaggio’s divider slid open all the way to allow him to plop with bare feet to the double bunks at the end of the hallway.” You and Illuso watched in trepidation as he knelt down and knocked. There was no answer save for Risotto’s stern frown behind the top divider making an appearance. “What do you want?”

“Are Sorbet and Gelato in there?” You piped up first.

The angry frown turned into concern as he slid out of his bunk to replace where Formaggio was. He slid the door open to reveal one big empty bed.

What you’d have given to be wrong. But instead the panic bit you all and soon you were messily slipping on boots and running around the ship to find the missing lovers.

Pesci checked the engine compartments he might have accidentally left open, Pros checked the storage while Risotto was seeing if he could track them on the radar. It was only when you were hoisted onto the roof by Formaggio that the dread set into your bones.

“Tell Ris to switch on the overhead console lights.”

You called back down below you. Part of you wished you didn’t... since all it did was put them on display.

It was a vile thing that made Risotto’s eyes grow darker than they already were and once dawn broke, you and Melone quietly put the bodies into the best makeshift body bags you could manage. The lake a few paces away was where you last saw those body bags.

After you left that pit stop you sat in silence in the communal meeting area, your legs flung over one of the armrests in your seat- staring blankly at the coffee table you’d nipped from a market not too long ago.

“So... what’s the plan?”

You asked at anyone who would listen.

“Do we go on as usual? Find their families?”

“Revenge?”

Your head turned to Prosciutto as he was enjoying one last drag of his cigarette.

“You’re brave.” You huffed a bit of laughter at the thought. The big boss and his cronies- the only real reason none of you strayed from Risotto’s orders was way up on a station so far up the intergalactic alliance ladder that you’d have a better shot at killing the king of Gnomia B908 and getting away with it.

“Why not?” Illuso was the one to back it. “Surely we could track the sick fucks that did it.”

“You’re thinking too simply.” Risotto grumbled over his fist. “They didn’t get themselves killed by accident. This was deliberate- a display not to challenge the higher ups.”

“Any idea what they were planning?” You sat up, propping your elbows onto your knees.

Risotto kindly pulled up their hidden plans- your name encircled in red a few times. They seemed to have had their eye on a biotech printer and medbay that was once used by the Boss himself.

“What’s the relevance of an old medbay?” Pros posed the question to you- Melone was up front with Formaggio.

“Medbays need to keep track of any irregularities in DNA to avoid any incompatibility issues. Its one of the few things that can’t be wiped because its burned into the drive. They were trying to expose the Boss’s identity.”

“And they were planning on risking us all in the process?”

You pointed at a little arrow shooting off your name once more. “They figured I could remove and replace the hard drive before anyone noticed.”

Your throat felt dry as you realized what that meant. Whoever this person was... if they could follow something as irrelevant as a used medbay to keep their tracks clean... chances are you were all, at best, being watched.

The thought must have been shared as Risotto didn’t breathe a word as he moved to the front of the ship and changed course to an unaffiliated vector you know damn well you’d probably be searched and cleansed for.

To no one’s surprise the pristine white towers blinded and no sooner than two seconds of coming into orbit of one of the bigger planets you were requested to land.

You stood beside you captain as the ship docked and you waited with your hands behind your head to greet the haz-mat team. “You must be pretty serious about this if you’re willing to get sit in their prison.”

He gazed down at you and with a deadpan tone simply said: “You’ve escaped, I’m certain you could do it again.”

[mangaandlivingdolls]

La Squadra week 2021 Gothic

Surreal but familiar.

That was the only way to describe the feeling Risotto was experiencing. But what was so familiar? He’d never visited this beach before— sands as white as meth and the ocean that can only be described as wine red. Nothing about this place was familiar.  

Risotto slowly took a step forward towards the sea. Maybe it was the sunset? How many times had he been watching it set on another long day filled with begrudging acceptance and patience? 

Just waiting for the right moment.

That was some time ago, another lifetime even. Now he was in Passione and the man who killed his cousin had long since passed. Funny how it seemed like a lifetime when it hadn’t even been ten years to the day. 

So what was so familiar?

As if listening, the wind shifted, and suddenly many panicked voices flooded Risotto’s ears from the right. Whipping his head in that direction, he saw his team, his familia, weaving through the waves. 

Drowning.

Logically, Risotto knew this couldn’t actually be happening. All of La Squadra knew how to swim or at least had stands that negated any of them actually needing to know how. And yet, in that moment, it was like watching his cousin die all over again or putting the pieces of Sorbet in order. 

He tried to run— or at least shout to them—, but his body suddenly felt like lead. Every movement was slowed. This wasn’t real. His body’s movement, or lack of it, was proof, yet the cries of his teammates felt so vivid despite it being a sound he’d never heard. The fearful cries of “Risotto! Risotto!” called him to action. Not that his body wanted to listen.

He watched as faces desperately bobbed in the water crying for his aid, faces he could never have pictured being terrified at the prospect of death. In a last bid to help, Risotto called forth Metallica in a blind hope that at least his stand could be of some use. 

And it worked. He watched as for a second he was able to carry their bodies to shore.

A razor slit out of Formaggio’s eye. Next, a small knife from Prosciuttos’ throat and scissors from Melone’s mouth. In muted horror, all the iron from his familias’ bodies spewed out in a barrage of blades, ‘til none remained. By the time Risotto was able to turn off Metallica, it was too late; their blood had already taken on a sickly yellow tinge. 

Now, even if they did keep their heads above water, they wouldn’t be able to use the oxygen they breathed. It would have been better if he hadn’t done anything at all.

With a stand like his, all he’s good for is killing. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t save anyone— his cousin, Sorbet and Gelato, and certainly not the rest of them.

He woke up.