Under the Mask [Meloghia]

Chapter 5: Poker Night

Ghiaccio didn't see Melone for the rest of the day. He refused to come out of his room. Ghiaccio hadn't seen Gelato or Sorbet either for that matter. Maybe they were actually working. Shocker. It was evening by the time Formaggio, Illuso and Pesci returned home to find Ghiaccio reading on the couch. Formaggio was never good at letting sleeping dogs lie and immediately engaged Ghiaccio.

"Hey, Blue. What's happening?" Formaggio jumped over the couch to land on his back next to Ghiaccio.

"Reading." Ghiaccio barely glanced at him.

"We took Pesci to the mall. Illuso wanted to get him new clothes so he wouldn't look so much like a mammoni. What do you think?" Ghiaccio reluctantly turned to look behind the couch at Illuso and Pesci. Pesci had on jeans, a fashionable shirt, and a tan sleeveless cardigan over it. On his head sat an all black fedora. He did look a lot better but...

"You can take the boy out of his momma but not the mammoni out of the boy." Ghiaccio turned back around and looked back at his book again.

"Fuck, that's disgusting, Ghi," Illuso said.

"Oh my god, that man had a family! Absolutely savage!" Formaggio laughed as he wrinkled up his nose.

"But true."

"Did you even look at him? He looks like a fashionable man now, thanks to my expert eye," Illuso argued.

"Good. You're all back," he heard Risotto's deep voice speak. He shut the book and put it aside as he turned around. Formaggio sat up at the sound.

"Riz! Check 'im out! He's a whole new man." He threw his arms up to gesture at Pesci. Pesci looked sheepishly at Risotto who silently looked back.

"What are you wearing?" Prosciutto came in between them and tapped the brim of Pesci's hat.

"It's a fedora. Formaggio said all gangsters wear them..." Pesci trembled under his mentor's gaze.

"Do Riz or I wear one?" Prosciutto asked.

"...No," Pesci said slowly.

"Then I think you're fine without it," Prosciutto said. Prosciutto snatched it off his head and threw it, smacking Formaggio in the face. He walked over to the other couch and flopped down on it. "God, that was boring."

"Has anyone seen Gelato or Sorbet? I want to get their updates," Risotto asked as his eyes scanned the room.

"They've been in the den all day, at least that's what Melone said. I never actually saw them today," Ghiaccio replied. Risotto nodded and left for the den.

"Hey, where is Mel?" Formaggio sat back down with the hat on his head.

"Still in his room," Ghiaccio said evenly.

"Probably watching porn," Illuso chortled.

"Or maybe he's actually working, unlike you stooges." Prosciutto pulled out a cigar and put it to his lips. He dug through his pockets for his lighter.

"Why is everyone overlooking the hard work I did today? Pesci is a new man, dammit! Take notice, you plebeians!" Illuso demanded to no avail. Prosciutto found his lighter and flipped it open.

"Oh, hell no! Do not smoke that shit in here!" Ghiaccio yelled.

"I'll smoke it wherever I damn well please!" Prosciutto snapped.

"It smells like ass!" Ghiaccio barked.

"So does your weed," Prosciutto said.

"Hey! We smoke outside!" Formaggio interjected.