Fon didn't know how the Arcobaleno were introduced to each other. Nothing from before had ever let it slip. He'd always had this odd mental image of them all sitting down at a table with Checkerface at the head, introducing them. This mental image always ends in chaos in disaster, because Fon cannot imagine that many big personalities feeling each other out without conflict.
Of course it doesn't actually happen that way. Kawahira has done this who-knows-how-many times. The alien knows better.
They are introduced to each other in ones and twos, in a professional setting.
Fon meets Lal Mirch first. He plays distraction so she can infiltrate some sort of corrupt businessman's office. He finds the Rain very serious and professional. She reminds him of Mei in some ways. They chat a bit β nothing personal or incriminating β about how they wound up in this life. Fon tells her he was born into the Triads, but gives her no details about what it was like. In return, he learns she was forced out of COMSUBIN when her Flames manifested. Per Omerta as it applies to Flames, no Flame-active can hold a position of leadership in an official military. They part ways with what Fon is choosing to interpret as mutual respect.
Then he played bodyguard for Verde when the scientist was testing a prototype of some sort. Fon's not sure what to think of the Lightning. The man was abrasive, condescending, and downright rude about Fon's rather lacking education. After Fon saved him from some goons sent to kidnap him, the scientist hadn't been any less rude. But he'd been rude in a slightly nicer way, somehow? Asking if he could study Fon's Flames and techniques and the like. They actually wound up discussing tea. Verde likes green tea, though he prefers black. Fon tried not to find it entertaining and failed. Dealing with Verde is⦠interesting.
He meets Viper and Skull at the same time. Fon is tasked with destroying a particularly nasty gang leader's facility while Viper strips it of information. Skull acts as their getaway driver.
Viper is surprisingly straightforward. Give them money, they give you information. Sure they're literally cloaked in Mistery (Fon blames Skull for that pun), but they honestly don't care at all unless something will profit them. After the mission, Skull somehow convinced Fon and Viper to join him for dinner. Turns out, Viper will accept free meals and drinks as 'compensation for their time and presence.' Fon amuses himself by wondering if they're reading his mind.
Skull is unlike anyone Fon has ever met in this life. The Cloud is excitable and attention-seeking, proud and eager to please. Skull is a mess of contradictions covering up insecurity; and he painfully and joyfully reminds Fon of the little brother he left behind before. Fon can't help but smile and follow along to the stuntman's whims. They get to talking about various martial arts the stuntman has learned for roles. Fon offers to teach him a few more, 'assuming they work together again.'
The next Arcobaleno is Renato Sinclair β the man who will one day be known as Reborn. The World's Greatest Hitman lives up to his reputation, and the man knows it. The Sun is an egotistical asshole who delights in causing other people problems. Fon can't help but like the guy; he reminds the martial artist of Kakashi from Naruto. Since they are working together for the mission, Fon is mostly spared from being the target of the hitman's insanity. Future interaction is going to be entertaining.
For months, they work together in various combinations. They don't work together very well at first, but they're professionals and they at least pretend they're adults. Most all of them considers themselves the absolute best of their fields, and that form of attitude doesn't lend itself well to cooperation.
On the bright side, Fon gets to meet Colonello. Lal had brought her former COMSUBIN trainee in as an extra set of hands. The man who will eventually be their last-minute Rain-replacement is absolutely dedicated to his superior officer and an impressive sniper, but he really shines when it comes to traps. Fon likes him, even though the Rain is a bit intense. Though the (very few) people who know Fon well would probably say the same thing about him.
A bit after Fon turns twenty-one, they are all brought together at the same time. It's a rather nice dining room, with enough chairs for seven people. Checkerface stands in the entryway to greet them as they arrive, one by one. Eventually, six of them sit at a table, the alien remaining standing and informing them that he has gathered together the strongest Flame-users of each type. Renato is the one who (very condescendingly) points out the missing Sky. Kawahira (the dramatic asshole) had been waiting for that exact opportunity, and gestured to the door. He presents Luce, Donna of the Giglio-Nero famiglia, and leaves so that I Prescelti Sette could get acquainted.
Luce brought a platter of cookies. Fon ignores his hang-ups about other people's cooking and takes one. His knowledge of who baked it doesn't prevent him from using Poison Disintegration, just in case. It's a good cookie, and Luce seems to be a good woman. Which is most definitely not possible, given she's the head of a mafia family. Luce is a master manipulator, and she knows exactly how to play each of them.
She admires Lal's accomplishments and dedication; bonding over being women in what is primarily the men's world. For Verde, she asks intelligent and complicated questions about his latest inventions. Viper, she bribes; blatantly, making no attempts to disguise it as anything else. Skull, she humors; letting him chatter about his stunts. Reborn, she flatters; complimenting his appearance and his skills. For Fon himself, she plies him with cookies, and talks about various types of tea.
Without her there, having them all in the same room without the structure of a mission would have been a disaster. Lal seems to be offended by the fact Skull is a civilian. Renato is offended by the implication that he would ever need to work with a group for more than one job. Verde considers them lower life-forms in general. Viper wouldn't even show up if they weren't paid for it. Skull is nervous and is trying to hide it by being obnoxious. And Fon is honestly too tired and too amused to be the peacemaker here. It would be exactly as much of a disaster as Fon had always imagined. Luce is a very powerful Sky, to induce such Harmony without even using her Flames on them.
Fon has to admit that he's glad Luce is ultimately on the side of good. Well, as good as the mafia can get.
