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Of the assassins, Risotto had only met Melone before their being assigned to him.
He was eating outside a restaurant with Prosciutto when a man carrying a lit lighter passed by. He recognized the lighter and the careful way the man was walking so as not to disturb the flame: Polpo’s initiation trial. He’d gone through it himself.
“You’re carrying a lighter, but no cigarette?” he asked.
The man turned slowly. “It’s for a friend.” The classic ‘don’t ask any further’ excuse.
Risotto might have left it at that, had a cop not taken notice and come over. “Don’t you know there’s a no smoking sign?” he asked, pointing to the sign with one hand with the other already out below for a bribe.
The initiate visibly hesitated. Pulling out a bribe now might disturb the flame too much…
“I’m sorry, officer. He was just about to light one for me: I must have forgotten.” Risotto slipped the cop a small stack of bills under the table.
As the initiate and Prosciutto both stared, the cop counted the money discreetly, before saying, “Well, I’ll let it slide this once,” and hurrying off to hassle other people.
“Shouldn’t you be heading off?” Risotto asked the stranger, who stammered a ‘thank you’ before heading on his way.
“...Why?” Prosciutto asked.
“No one joins Passione because it looks fun. Only because they need to in some way. Consider it part of the tip.”
It came as very little surprise to him when, a few months later, Melone was assigned to his squad. He swore eternal loyalty, and so far Risotto hadn’t seen any reason to doubt.
It was during times like this that Risotto really wished he kept more weapons hidden on him, or that his weapons were better hidden.
Normally, he wouldn’t have to worry about regular weapons. Metallica could handle almost any job on its own.
Risotto looked into the snarling face of Deaf Leopard and tried to summon Metallica again. The Stand’s harsh presence amplified to a crushing amount, and the target named Carbonara smirked.
“You know that’s not going to work. You’d be better off trying to escape your bonds the regular way - of course, without anything on you, that’s going to be a challenge, is it? I wonder if you can last that long…”
Melone cleared his throat. “I notice you haven’t tied me up. I can’t help but find that interesting.”
Carbonara only glanced at him. “Why should I? I disarmed you, and you can’t use your Stand even without Deaf Leopard’s power shutting down Stands in a four meter radius. You’re not a threat. You can go if you want and tell everyone how your boss will be next.”
Melone pouted, backing up. “That’s no fair. You’re not supposed to know I can’t use my Stand.”
Shrug from Carbonara. “I’ve got informants on the inside of Passione. Lots of them.”
Melone kept backing up, stopping just outside of four meters. “That’s very interesting. I’ll be sure to tell my boss that, too.”
Carbonara’s back was still turned to him, which meant he didn’t see a thrown computer coming until it clobbered him in the back of the head at the right angle and force to knock him out. With its user unconscious, Deaf Leopard just disappeared.
Melone hurried to uncuff Risotto. “How are you?”
“Fine.” Risotto rubbed his wrists. “How did you know that Deaf Leopard only stops Stands from being materialized, not from entering its range?”
“I didn’t, that was a guess. It worked out well, very good! Besides, was I going to just leave you?” Melone asked. “I want to interrogate him more, but it’s too dangerous. Let’s finish him before he wakes up.”
“Well,” said Buccellati, looking over the reports. “I suppose being used as a blunt object doesn’t count as use of your Stand. You pass this time.”
Melone relaxed visibly. “I’m glad~ And how was last night’s date?”
“None of your business.”
“I’m just going to ask Pesci about it if you don’t say, you know.” Melone drummed his fingers on the desk. “We~ll?”
Buccellati cleared his throat, looking to one side. “It went well.”
“Very good! Have you two finally slept with each other, because I can’t tell whether you have or not-”
“Get out of my office.”
“Yes sir.”