--New Career--

[ripetuto]

[Three years. Leone Abbacchio has been on the force for three years. He's pretty sure he's been dead the last two and a half, though. After taking that bribe from the pimp six months into his time on the force, he just...he isn't who he was, but he doesn't care anymore. He can't, not really. Not when everyone is fucking Napoli is taking the same bribes and doing the same shit.

So Abbacchio takes the bribes and uses them to get better quality cosmetics and goes down to the club he's pretty sure is owned by the mafia and loses himself for a few hours a week before it's back to the grind.

He kind of hates it.

Today might actually be good, though. They brought in one of Passione's capos, though at the time they didn't realize it. They just thought he was some dumbass getting into a brawl with some daytime drunks in the middle of the park, and they don't even have to let him go. He's wanted for questioning for some reason, so they might actually have time to find something that'll stick to this cazzo and get some criminal off the streets for now.

It's not likely but hey. It could happen.

Abbacchio finishes getting Bucciarati's prints.]

Detective Bianchi will be in soon to question you. Cause any trouble, and they'll call me back in to handle it. Got it?

Comments

[nellacerniera]

Of course, of course.

[Bruno Bucciarati knows discontent when he sees it, though, and he sees so much of it in Abbacchio.]

... But say, officer, I have a question for you.

[ripetuto]

[A Look.]

I don't think your questions matter, Bucciarati.

[nellacerniera]

Hmm, perhaps not.

[Like that's going to stop him.]

Tell me, do you like your job?

[ripetuto]

[Abbacchio's grip on the pen tightens almost imperceptibly.]

What kind of question is that?

[nellacerniera]

["Almost" being the keyword there.]

Just something I'm wondering. You're quite intriguing, you know.

[ripetuto]

Yeah well, keep wondering.

[Fucking weirdo. Where the hell is Bianchi?]

[nellacerniera]

[He leans back in his seat, apparently unconcerned.]

Very intriguing. How would you like to come work for me?

[Something unspoken hangs in the air here--"You'd be doing more good there than you are here."]

[ripetuto]

[He can hear Bianchi's footsteps, finally. It means he can turn away so hopefully Bucciarati doesn't see the hesitation in his eyes as he says:]

Being a cop gives me better health insurance. Don't cause any trouble.

[And he's out as soon as Bianchi comes in. He's off as soon as this questioning is over, and then he's off for a few days. He needs a drink. Several drinks. And a night at that club.]

[nellacerniera]

[... Honestly, Bucciarati genuinely feels kind of bad for the guy.

Fortunately for Bucciarati, the cops can't stick anything to him and he's out. Thank god for that.

Maybe it's a coincidence Bucciarati's at the club the same night Abbacchio is, but... well. Bucciarati's not about to complain about that. He really does find himself intrigued by Abbacchio (and it doesn't hurt that he's quite handsome, too).

But when Abbacchio orders a drink that night, he may hear a familiar voice behind him--]

It's on me, Valenti. And my usual, too, while you're at it?

[ripetuto]

[Abbacchio sighs but he's not going to turn down a free drink as the bartender nods and gets to mixing.]

Is this one of your places, Bucciarati?

[nellacerniera]

It is, yes.

[Sliding in next to Abbacchio.]

It's good to see you again, Abbacchio.

[ripetuto]

[This might as well happen.]

Do I even want to know how you got my name?

[nellacerniera]

One of the club employees, actually. Pavesi knows the names of most of the regulars.

[ripetuto]

Of course he does.

[Whatever.]

Guess they couldn't make anything stick.

[nellacerniera]

Not for lack of trying. I'm not very well-liked by the cops around here as I'm sure you've gathered by now.

[ripetuto]

Never would've guessed. Is that why you're here? To mock me?

[nellacerniera]

No. When I said you were intriguing, I wasn't just trying to get under your skin.

[Okay so maybe he was a little but that part came from actually saying it out loud.]

[ripetuto]

[A Look.]

You expect me to believe that?

[nellacerniera]

Oh, most certainly not. But... I'm not in the habit of lying to the people I've taken a liking to.

[He hums his thanks to the bartender when he gets his drink.]

But you know, Abbacchio... I've been in Passione a long time. Learned a lot about people, about what makes them tick. And there's one thing I've gotten really good at.

[ripetuto]

[Abbacchio takes a sip of his drink, waiting for Bucciarati to continue.]

[nellacerniera]

[All at once, the smirk drops and Bucciarati falls quiet, looking down at his drink before glancing back to Abbacchio.]

I know a discontent man when I see one.

[ripetuto]

Do you now.

[That his voice is flat and emotionless should tell Bucciarati all he needs to know.

Leone Abbacchio hates his life right now.]

[nellacerniera]

I do. In your eyes and how you carry yourself...

[It's honestly kind of heartbreaking--especially with his voice.]

My offer to you the other day was a legitimate one, for what it's worth. You deserve better than a life you despise.

[ripetuto]

And you think a life with the mafia'd suit me better? Why, because you know about the damn bribes?

[nellacerniera]

You're clearly miserable being a cop.

[Sipping his drink.]

And you have to know it barely does any good, anyway.