Under the Mask [Meloghia]

Chapter 6: Truth or Dare

Melone stuck particularly close to Gelato that night, despite the fact that the latter spent most of the evening in Sorbet's lap. Sorbet seemed surprisingly okay with Melone hovering next to them on the couch; he must have been made aware of the situation beforehand. Ghiaccio was completely smashed; if Melone didn't feel like such shit, he would have been laughing at the spectacle. He thought Ghiaccio was glancing over to see his reaction every now and then, but Melone kept quiet and continued  to drink more wine. He was really beginning to feel it now. It rushed hard and fast into his bloodstream and, before he knew it, he was overcome with a sudden uncontrollable fit of giggles that caused everyone to turn their attention to him.

"What the fuck has you in stitches all of a sudden?" Formaggio laughed from the couch next to Ghiaccio.

"Seriously, what is so funny?" Illuso asked through his own giggles. He was sitting in an armchair to the right of Gelato and Sorbet. Even Pesci and Risotto started laughing. Melone's laughter was contagious.

"I don't—" Melone managed through giggles.

"I told you that wine would hit you hard," Gelato smirked. "Shoulda eaten something like I told you, bello." Melone caught Ghiaccio's gaze from the couch across from him. Ghiaccio was looking at him, smiling, and Melone burst into a new fit of giggles.

"What?" Pesci whimpered. He was sitting to the right of Ghiaccio on the couch and feared the worst.

"N—" Melone couldn't breathe and just shook his head. He took a deep breath and laughed through a cough, "Ghia..."

"Blue, what are you doing?" Formaggio chuckled as he swatted at Ghiaccio's arm.

"I haven't done anything! Aaah!" Ghiaccio shouted exasperatedly as he tumbled to the ground. Melone laughed even harder. Ghiaccio continued to lay there next to the coffee table, accepting his fate of life on the floor as Formaggio kicked his shoe. Gelato leaned over Sorbet and began to whisper something to Illuso.

"Yo, you good down there?" Formaggio laughed.

"If you die of alcohol poisoning, I'm not taking your ass to the hospital," Prosciutto said, smoking a cigarette on the loveseat next to Risotto.

"Riz would make you," Formaggio countered.

"No, and he wouldn't take your ass either. We could do with a stupidity purge on this team," Prosciutto snapped.

"Hey, bitch," Ghiaccio sat up with a struggle, holding onto the coffee table for support. "I am not stupid! I am one of the smartest people on this team!"

"That's highly debatable," Prosciutto shot back.

"Aw, don't get him riled up, Pro. He's actually fun when he's drunk!" Formaggio pointed out.

"Are you calling me boring?" Ghiaccio attempted to stand up but wobbled and fell onto Formaggio. Ghiaccio then tried to wrestle Formaggio off the couch. Melone was in pain by now from all the laughing. His lungs burned.

"Stop... I can't..." he cried.

"Hell yeah! That's great! Let's do it!" Illuso suddenly cried out. Gelato leaned back again and cradled Sorbet with a wicked smirk on his face.

"What are you two up to?" Risotto said, eyeing them suspiciously.

"Nothing, don't worry. Trust me Riz, this is the best idea ever," Illuso assured. He stood and kicked at Ghiaccio and Formaggio's drunken squabble. He shouted, "Hey! Quit fighting and listen to my genius!" The two struggled to separate themselves as neither wanted to admit defeat. Illuso pulled Formaggio away and Ghiaccio scrabbled back, adjusting his glasses.