Chapter 55

Author's Note: Sexual references in this chapter (as in it's only talked about), just a warning so yeah. Enjoy Basta's amusing drunkeness! Btw morra is an Italian hand game. You have to guess the sum of fingers you and your competitor put out.

"You've been drinking haven't you," Dafne said after she pushed herself away from Basta's lips. She had mainly broken the kiss because he had started to lean quite heavily on her and she had been afraid of falling backwards.

Basta swayed happily in front of her,

"Drinking? Me? Nah," he said protesting innocence before laughing, unable to keep a straight face, "Yeah, a little bit," he staggered precariously to the left but steadied himself, "Whoa!" he started laughing again.

Dafne shook her head at him. She was slightly disheartened to have him show up in this state. You couldn't have a reasonable conversation with someone who had supposedly only had "a little bit" to drink.

A little bit. Yeah right.

Basta teetered forward to throw his arms around her.

"Aw I missed you little mouse," they were rocking like a boat in danger of capsizing but Basta seemed oblivious to the fact, "I couldn't wait to see you."

Then why did you take so long to get here? Dafne thought. She was about to ask him but Basta had something else on his mind,

"My God," he exclaimed, "This room is so red. Have you noticed that little mouse, this room is so red. So red it's like... too red," he laughed, "Is that possible? Oh look its Pietro and Nico," he spun Dafne around to see the two approaching, "Hey you two, look I found her, I told you she'd be here."

Pietro and Nico's faces were just as flushed as Basta's and they were smiling just as merrily.

"I never said she wouldn't be," Pietro replied, leering over Dafne with a fond expression, "Hello bella."

Nico giggled,

"Hi," he waved and ended up teetering sideways.

Basta ignored Nico's greeting. It was Pietro's that he had a problem with.

"Stop with the stupid bella business!"

Dafne suddenly went flying as Basta pushed her off the side so he could confront Pietro with nothing standing in his way.

"Don't make me get out my knife."

Pietro smiled and reached into his trouser pocket,

"You surely don't mean this knife," he dangled it invitingly in front of Basta's face, "The one you lost to me in morra."

Basta took a swipe at it. Pietro jerked the knife out of the way and Basta ended up bouncing off Pietro's chest and staggering back.

"Give it back!" Basta demanded, balling his hands into fists.

"Sorry it doesn't work like that pumpkin," Pietro mocked him with obvious enjoyment, "It's mine now. I won it fair and square."

"Don't call me pumpkin!" Basta shouted, seeming not notice the number of heads he caused to swerve in their direction, "And you didn't win it fair and square. You cheated. I know you cheated."

"Basta, you can't cheat at morra," Nico said grinning, "Unless you're telepathic. Man wouldn't that be awesome, being telepathic."

Basta stared at him exasperatedly,

"Being what? A telephone? How would being a telephone help you win at morra? Shut up Nico, you're drunk and talking nonsense."

"He didn't say telephone, he said telepathic," Pietro rolled his eyes "If you're telepathic you can read minds. And don't be mean to Nico just because you're sore about losing. It's not his problem you can't count very well."

"I can too count good," Basta snapped.

"Your grammar needs improvement too but I'm digressing," Pietro said smugly, "Tell me how many fingers I'm holding up?"

Basta squinted at the fingers,

"Seven," he said quickly, "No eight! Eight!"

Pietro shook his head,

"Yes eight but you said seven first and you only get one guess when you play morra. Hence the reason you lost so spectacularly at it."

"Oh yeah," Basta said angrily, "Well I can count how many this is," he gave him the middle finger triumphantly "It's one. So screw you Pietro."

Nico cracked up laughing. Pietro glanced over at Dafne who was regarding Basta with embarrassment. He smiled at her sympathetically.

"Yes that's one," he turned back to Basta, "I'm impressed. But I don't think Dafne is."

As soon as he mentioned Dafne's name, Basta began looking around desperately as if he had forgotten where she was.

"What are you doing over there little mouse?"

Dafne rolled her eyes,

"You shoved me over here," she replied, "And Pietro's right, I'm not really that impressed."

Basta pouted,

"Pietro's the one you shouldn't be impressed with. He took my favourite knife and now he's making fun of me. I'm your... what's the term... boyfriend? Yes, boyfriend. I'm your boyfriend so you should be on my side."

Dafne sighed. He had a point.

"Pietro, do you think you can give Basta his knife back," she asked.

Pietro regarded his prize thoughtfully,

"I don't know. It is a nice blade..."

Basta was starring at it achingly. Dafne wished he wouldn't look that way at a weapon.

"But I'm not really a knife person," Pietro went on, "I prefer guns," he smiled, "And I can't say no to such a beautiful lady."

Basta started towards Pietro,

"I told you not to call..."

Pietro held out the blade to Basta amicably,

"Here you go."

Basta stared dumbly at the offering for a moment then snatched it up. He cradled the knife contentedly to his chest before stowing it away.

"What? No thank you?" Pietro said, "I've never returned any of my winnings before. You should be extremely flattered."

"Go to hell," Basta snapped in reply, "And don't expect me to play morra with you ever again."

Pietro smiled,

"Well that's probably for the best. You don't want to lose your knife again," he glanced in Dafne's direction, "or anything else you might want to bet with."

Nico laughed,

"He tried to bet the cat but Pietro said no," he told Dafne.

Dafne's eyes widened in alarm,

"You tried to gamble away Ignazio," she said reproachfully as Basta was taking wobbly steps towards her.

"Yes but only as a last resort," he said, "I couldn't think of anything else to bet with. I'd already lost my cigarettes and lighter."

"Don't forget your chocolate," Nico reminded him brightly, "You lost that to me remember."

Basta's expression turned mournful,

"Oh yeah my chocolate. The stupid guts ate all my chocolate little mouse."

"Not all of it," Nico said, "I still have some left over. I brought it with me."

"You should probably eat it before it melts," Pietro advised him, "Let's go sit down. There are some empty seats next to Dante."

"Oh yeah there are," Nico flew towards Dante happily, "CUGI!"

"Nico, don't sneak up on a guy and hug them," Dante protested as Nico flung his arms around his cousin from behind, "It's gay. Not to mention incestuous."

"Cugi, you want some of my chocolate?"

"Hell yes I want some. Hand it over here."

Pietro rolled his eyes bemusedly as he went to join them.

Dafne joined Basta who was swaying unhappily on the spot.

"My chocolate," he sighed.

Dafne smiled at him sympathetically.

"At least you got your knife back."

Basta's mood immediately lifted,

"Oh yeah," he pulled her in for another ship-heaving embrace, "You're so good to me little mouse."

Dafne extricated herself from Basta's arms and took hold of him to keep him steady. It was hard work. He kept tipping because Basta himself wasn't paying any attention to staying upright. He was just smiling at her affectionately. She couldn't stay mad when he was looking at her that way. She decided to let the business with Ignazio slide.

"Just promise me not to gamble anymore," she said.

"I promise," Basta slurred happily, "Now we kiss."

He tried to lean forward but Dafne held him firmly in place.

"We'll kiss after we sit down," she told him.

"Why?" Basta whined.

"Because I don't want to have to keep holding onto you so you don't fall over."

Basta made a scoffing noise,

"I'm not gonna fall over," he knocked her arms away to stand unaided, "See?" he was still smiling triumphantly as he began to lean more and more dangerously to the left.

Dafne rushed to pull him straight,

"I want to sit anyway," she said before he could object, "There's something I want to talk to you about."

As soon as Dafne said that she realised that she had quite forgotten about the presence of Claudia and Tonio. She reluctantly looked in their direction. The look of confused alarm on their faces was unsurprising, regrettable but unsurprising. She was the woman who was supposed to be helping them and Basta was the scary knife man who had brought them here. How else would they react seeing them together? They probably felt rather betrayed. But there was nothing she could do about it now. She had to concentrate on Basta. He was the one she was going to convince to take them to see their father in the cages.

The problem was whether she could get the idea through to Basta at this point in time. It was definitely going to be a challenge given his inebriated state. But she had to try.

"What kind of somethin'?" Basta said suspiciously, "Good somethin' or bad somethin'?"

"Good something," she reassured him, "Now let's..."

"We should go outside to talk," Basta said, "That way we can be alone," he gave her a very blatant wink.

Dafne sighed inwardly as Basta grinned. Yes this was going to be difficult. But Basta had a point. They were better off discussing it outside where it was more private.

"Where do you think you're going?" Orlanda said forbiddingly as they neared the entrance.

"Outside. Don't try to stop us you ugly cow," Basta said before he burst out laughing at his own insult.

"Basta stop it," Dafne reproached him. He was laughing right in her ear because she was still supporting him as he walked. She shot Orlanda an apologetic look, "Don't mind him. He's just a bit drunk. We'll only be just outside. That's not a problem is it?"

Orlanda shrugged carelessly,

"It'll be a problem for you if Mortola turns up. But what do I care. Go ahead and dig your own graves."

"I'll dig your grave while I'm at it," Basta retorted.

Dafne held back a groan. That wasn't the best comeback.

"Basta come on," Dafne hastened him through the doorway as Orlanda rolled her eyes.

She didn't let go of him until he was propped up against the side of the church.

"Can you try to play nice with Orlanda from now," she said as she went to lean on the wall beside him, "I'm the one who's going to suffer for it if you keep insulting her."

"I was only making an honest observation. She is an ugly cow."

"Be that as it may," Dafne was trying not to smile, "Try to keep your observations to yourself."

"What about the observation that you look really beautiful."

Dafne turned to face him somewhat startled.

"You don't want me to keep that to myself do you?"

"Well no," Dafne said blushing, "You've said it already anyway."

Basta suddenly rolled off the wall to throw himself to top of her. Before she could say anything, he sealed her mouth with a kiss. He tasted sharp instead of sweet because of the wine. But that wasn't such a bad thing. She didn't break away. A while later Basta pulled away with a grin on his face.

"Oh yes," he crooned, "My little mouse is so..." Dafne drew in a sharp breath as his hands moved up waist, "beautiful in the moonlight."

Dafne took hold of his hands to prevent them going any higher. His touch felt good, she didn't deny that, but she had a purpose for coming out here. That had to take priority before anything else, didn't it?

"I'm glad you think so but we came out here to talk..."

"You wanna talk," Basta cut in agreeably, "okay we'll talk. There's somethin' I wanna say anyway. I'll go first 'kay," he didn't give her time to accept this, he just leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I want you."

Dafne's heart kicked into high speed.

"What?" she said in a small tight voice.

Basta's breath tickled her neck,

"You heard me," he had freed his hands in her distraction and he put them on her face, "I want you. I want you very badly right now, my little mouse."

Dafne was too shocked to speak. But her cheeks were burning and her heart was racing. Basta kissed her happily,

"Your turn," he said.

"I... um... well I don't quite know what to say to that," Dafne stammered. How could she start talking about Claudia and Tonio after he had said something like that to her?

Basta caressed her face somewhat roughly,

"Say you feel the same way and we'll do somethin' about it."

"What? Here?" Dafne hissed.

Basta spread his arms in a generous gesture,

"Wherever you want," he said, "Just tell me you want me."

Dafne sighed,

"Look this might not be exactly what you want to hear but here it goes," she cleared her throat, "Yes I do want you..."

"That's essactly what I wanna hear," Basta slurred joyfully, "Hurray."

"Wait, I haven't finished," Dafne said hurriedly before he could act on his jubilation, "I do want you but I'm not about to give myself to you while you're drunk..."

"But I'm not that drunk," Basta insisted cajolingly, "Only a little, it's totally fine."

"It's not fine. You can barely stand up by yourself."

Basta grinned,

"Only one part of me has to stand up little mouse."

"Don't be vulgar."

"Vulgar?" Basta laughed, "Aw come on dear heart don't be so uptight."

"I'm only uptight because you're drunk and acting silly. The answer is no."

"But..."

"No," Dafne repeated firmly, "So just... just forget about it okay."

"How can I just forget about it," he complained, "When you look the way you do, in the moonlight and..." Dafne sucked in a breath as he slid down on her body to collapse on his knees, "Ce n'est pas juste..." he buried his face on her dress.

Dafne stared at him in complete surprise,

"What did you just say?"

Basta lifted his head to look up at her,

"Forget it," he mumbled, his brow furrowed, "Ich fühle mich nicht gut."

"What?"

"Everything's spinnin'," Basta said queasily, "It won't stop."

He let go of her and stretched out on the ground, his hands over his eyes.

"Gott verdammt," he groaned, "Merde."

"Basta," Dafne said worriedly, "I don't understand..."

Why was he suddenly speaking in other languages? How did he even know how to speak other languages?

"Aide moi," he replied weakly.

"What?" Dafne said helplessly.

"Help," Basta said in a language she understood.

"Okay, um, I'll go get Pietro to take you home."

Basta shook his head,

"You take me," he pleaded, "Venez chez moi."

"I can't," Dafne said apologetically, "I'll get in trouble. Let me go get Pietro."

Basta grabbed the hem of her dress,

"Nein. Don't go. Stay with me."

"But I need..." Dafne trailed off as she spotted two of Capricorn's men heading into the church, "Ernesto!" she waved to the one she recognised.

Thankfully he stopped.

"Oh hello. What are you doing over there by yourself?"

"I'm not alone," Dafne said, "Basta's here too. He's on the ground."

Ernesto came closer to see for himself,

"So he is. What's wrong amico? Had too much to drink?"

Basta just groaned.

Ernesto chuckled.

"Halt's Maul!" Basta snapped, "Don't laugh at me dummkopf!"

Ernesto smiled.

"Lost control of your tongue eh?"

"Why is he like this?" Dafne asked.

Ernesto shrugged,

"Beats me, he does this sometimes when he's drunk, loses track of what language he's supposed to be speaking. Pretty funny isn't it."

"Casse-toi!" Basta snarled.

"Repeat that in Italian," Ernesto said.

"Get lost!" Basta obliged.

Ernesto shrugged,

"Okay," he started to leave.

"Wait," Dafne said, "Ernesto can you please send Pietro out here. I need his help."

Ernesto nodded, to her relief.

"Yeah sure."

"Mein Mäuschen?" Basta said, tugging on her dress, "You're too far away. Come closer."

Dafne settled down next to him and stroked his head,

"Poor Basta."

Basta sighed. He had one arm thrown over his eyes and he groped for her with his other hand. She caught it and raised it her lips.

He smiled,

"Your lips are soft," he murmured before frowning, "I'm sorry... 'bout before."

Dafne smiled against his hand,

"Apology accepted."

Basta smiled then grimaced and let out a small moan.

"Don't worry," Dafne said soothingly, "Pietro will be here soon to take you home."

Basta shook his head,

"Don't wanna leave you."

"You have to," Dafne said, "It's not like you can come back to Capricorn's with me."

"I know," Basta said sadly.

"But you'll see me at breakfast tomorrow," Dafne said reassuringly, "That's not so far away."

"I s'pose," Basta said.

"When Pietro comes don't make a fuss Tiger Eyes," Dafne said, "Just go with him okay, for me."

Basta sighed,

"Okay. For you," he smiled, "I really do like it when you call me Tiger Eyes ma petit souris."

"Ma petit souris," Dafne repeated, "Basta, why didn't you ever tell me you can speak different languages?"

"I never got 'round to it. 'Sides I don't even notice I've switched languages 'til someone points it out."

"Why is that?"

"I don't know," Basta replied, "I don't even know why I can speak any of 'em but I've always been able to, ever since arrivin' in this world. So can the others, Capricorn and Cockerell. Darius has a theory it's somethin' do with the book being translated into those languages. I think he's right. That's the only essplanation that makes sense."

"Whatever the reason, it's pretty amazing you know so many languages without having had to learn them," Dafne said.

"I'll say it is," Pietro announced himself, "Do you know how long it took me to learn French?" he leaned over Basta's sprawled form, "Dear dear looks like all that wine's finally caught up with you mon ami."

"Ta gueule!" Basta snapped, heaving himself into a sitting position.

Pietro turned to Dafne,

"Ernesto said you needed my help?"

"Can you please take Basta home for me," Dafne asked as Basta let out a queasy groan and leaned forward with his head down.

Pietro smiled,

"D'accord," he said, reaching for Basta's arm, "Come on, time for bed."

Basta batted his hand away,

"Don't talk to me like I'm a little kid."

"Then don't act so juvenile," Pietro quipped back, "I'm only doing what Dafne's asking me to do."

"Please Tiger Eyes," Dafne said, "You said you wouldn't make a fuss."

Basta sighed,

"Fine," he allowed Pietro to haul him to his feet.

"You're too short to put your arm around me so I'll put my arm around you to hold you up okay," Pietro told Basta cheerfully.

"I am not too short!"

"Basta just let him do it," Dafne said exasperatedly.

Basta scowled but allowed Pietro to loop his arm around his waist.

"Okay ready to go," Pietro said.

"I don't like him holding onto me like this," Basta complained to Dafne, "It feels wrong."

"It's the only way to get you back to the house," Dafne said, moving in to kiss him, "Goodnight Tiger Eyes."

"Goodnight dear heart."

"Very nice," Pietro purred, "And now for our manly exit."

"Shut up Pietro!" Basta snapped as the two headed off.

Dafne watched them go with a smile on her face. They looked like lovers strolling together.

"Why was she calling you Tiger Eyes back there?" she heard Pietro ask.

"It's my nickname stupid. My eyes look like a tiger's."

"Really? Let me see..." they came to a halt, "Oh yes they are like a tiger's. A drunk tiger's."

"Shut up! Just keep movin' will you."

"If I had to compare you to any animal Basta I'd have to choose a fox."

"A fox? Why?"

"You have a foxy face," Pietro laughed.

"Shut up!"

To be continued...

Re Basta being multilingual. I got the idea from a line in Inkheart concerning Farid "so he did understand their language, and why not? His own story was told in every language in the world". I thought that must apply to Basta too because Capricorn says Inkheart was published in different languages. I have an idea in my head that the Folcharts are German and that Cappy and Bastie were read out in Germany first and then migrated to Italy. I don't know why maybe 'cause Funke is a German lass.

I'm sorry if any of these are wrong. I can't speak any language other than English!

Ce n'est pas juste - it's not fair

Ich fühle mich nicht gut - I don't feel well

Gott verdammt - god damnit

Merde - sh*t

Aide moi - help me

Venez chez moi - come home with me

Nein - no

Halt's Maul - shut up

Dummkopf - idiot

Casse-toi - get lost

Mein Mäuschen - my little mouse (AW!)

Ma petit souris - my little mouse (AW!)

Ta gueule - shut up

D'accord – certainly