opens the door, cigarette hanging on his mouth, wearing loose pants and no shirt. "Lovino?" He raises one eyebrow, ushering him inside.

's gaze drops to his chest for a moment, and he fights down the blush, grumbling about topless nations. First Alfred, now Gabriel. "Happy Birthday, idiota..."

smiles a bit. "Come on in, Lovino." He leaves the door open, putting out his cigarette. "Thank you for the gift, and thank you for coming. Say, coffee?"

perks up a little at that. "Si, grazie." He liked Gabriel's coffee... "I brought a few things." He set the package on the table. "Pasta, wine, and I figured a nice Dolce suit with your new haircut."

blinks. "That's... a lot." He blushes a bit, taking the suit gently because it's costly and well tailored, better than the stuff he usually wears. "You didn't have to, Lovino." He smiles softly at the wine too_

shaking his head to walk off to the kitchen, leaving the presents open because he fears they'll disappear if he keeps touching them. "Come on, I'll make us both coffee, then."

shrugs, following him into the kitchen. "It's no problem. Can't have you walking around with nice hair and beard, and rags. I've seen what you wear to conferences."

winces. "Ah." He merely comments, embarrassed now, as he boils the water and fetches the coffee powder. "There's cake at the table, if you want."

doesn't mean it badly. He just talks...harshly. Unless there are ladies present. "Ah..." He shakes his head. "I'm trying to watch my sweets. Grazie, though."

hums. "Then, there's cheese and ham at the fridge I stole from Toninho's." He smiles, pouring them both some coffee once it's done. "Later, I'll try on the suit.. You should see your own gift, so wait for it."

smiles at that, trying not to laugh. "Well. If you've stolen it from that idiota..." He can't find fault to helping himself. "I will. I'm sure it'll fit fine, I have a good eye for measurements."

grins. "You mean if it was Portuguese ham you wouldn't have it?" He feigns a pout, trying not to laugh. "It's a beautifil suit, very well-thought of yours, and in very good taste."

rolls his eyes. "No. I feel no guilt over eating Antonio's stolen food, that's all." He shrugs. "Grazie. If you ever need another, Milan is wonderful for fashion."

rests his chin on his hand. "Would you make me company, if I do?" He asks simply, the food all on the table for the to eat.

shrugs. "Si, of course. We could make a day out of it if you wish."

nods. "Then it's a date." He reaches for the bread, cutting his sandwich. "When are you free?"

flusters a little at the wording, but is sure that Gabriel doesn't mean it that way. "Uh...whenever. This weekend."

hums. "So am I. I meet you at the train station? Or near the Duomo?"

nods. "Si, si, the duomo sounds good."

smiles. "I'll be there." He assures the other, then stands up. "Now let me try the suit."

rolls his eyes a little, going to fetch the suit. "I don't know how picky you are about colours. But those aren't so bad with your skin tone.."

goes to fetch himself a shirt. "Not picky... And I'll trust you, Lovino." He takes it from the others' hand, walking to his room to try it on."

turns around, walking aimlessly around the room. "Si..." Right. Not looking...

puts on the shirt, buttoning it and then adding the jacket. Next he removes his pants, changing for the suit's one instead, and he struggles a bit before finding a matching tie, which he ties simply. "Here you_

go." He announces once he's done, surprised Lovino followed him.

hadn't really been thinking when he followed him. He turns when Gabriel finishes, and tries not to flush. He looks really...really good. "Your tie is crooked, dumbass." >//>

notices a small blush, smiling as he remembers Shaliza's words. He steps forward, placing a hand softly on his forearm. "Can you fix it for me?"

jumps a little at the touch, brushing him off. But he does lean close, straightening his tie for him. The blush is only growing, and he hates it. "I have to do everything.." He starts to grumble, but his_

_hands are already smoothing along Gabriel's shoulders, fussing over the details of the suit.

watches him with an amused smile. "You do have a better fashion sense than I but..." he reaches over, placing his hands on top of Romano's. "I'm only trying it out, no need to fuss."

goes dark red at that, frozen for a whole moment, before snatching his hands back, and trying to formulate actual words. "I-I'm not fussing, you damn...bastardo! Why..why would I fuss? It's only you!" >/////>

nods. "Exactly... But I'm very glad for the present, anyway." He looks at himself in the mirror, smiling. "So, now that the tie is fixed, how is it?"

folds his arms across his chest, huffing softly. "I picked it out, so it obviously looks good..." Extremely good. Embarrassingly good.

rolls his eyes with a grin. "Then, excuse me so I can take it off. Does it needs washing?" It smelled good, like wood and-- Gabriel, stop sniffing the sleeve.

raises an eyebrow when Gabriel...sniffs the sleeve. "No, it doesn't. You can hang it up." He turns and leaves the room, figuring he'd go annoy the pet rooster.

it just smells like Roman- shit. He shakes his head and undresses, hanging it neatly with his other suits. He puts on some cotton pants and a shirt, fixing his ponytail. While that, the rooster is outside,_

eating corn viciously.

watching the rooster boredly, whistling softly as if that will get it's attention.

walks back to it, and smiles a bit. He whistles at the rooster, motioning at Romano, and Eustáquio goes, nesting himself on the other's foot.

blinks a little at that, but hides a smile. "Cute." He glances back, seeing that the other's changed. "Well, I'm happy you enjoy your gift, at least."

smiles. "It's great, and the wine is very tasteful.. The pasta, I have yet to cook it." He teases, looking down at him. "I'm starting to think this rooster only picks on blondes...."

tilts his head a little. "Blondes?" Who was... "Does he pick on that potato bastard? Or that.." Ugh. "England?"

nods. "Both. Mostly on England... Sometimes Netherlands, and Gilbert too." He smiles a bit. "Don't tell anyone Gilbert got scared of him, yes?" He winks.

snorts at that, trying to hide his laughter. "That Prussian ass is scared of a damn rooster?" Oh, that was fucking priceless.

grins. "You'd think not, hm?" He waves a hand. "It's alright to laugh, I loved... You should've seen his face." And maybe he's carrying the subject on because the other smiling is the cutest thing ever.

snickers at the thought. "That doesn't even make fucking sense. He carries around..." He motions to the top of his head. "That little chick. Why would he..?" He snickers again, thinking Prussia such a dumbass.

crosses his arms, laughing. "Don't I know? Go figure... Ah, you can pick him in your arms if you want but, mind the claws.. and he's smelly." Gabriel twitches his nose, at which Eustáquio crows a bit.

like he's immune to that. After Maddy went through her 'chewing on everything including him' phase, a few scratches won't bother him. He carefully picks up the rooster, giving Gabriel a look. "If he's smelly,_

_why don't you bathe him?"

pouts heavily. "Today is my birthday..."

certainly isn't going to bathe him. "Then do it tomorrow." He smiles at the pout though, he looks just like Antonio when he does that.

would suppose, as they're brothers, but he doesn't like being compared. "Tomorrow I'll certainly do it. C'mon, take a seat at the couch if you wish.." He pauses, thinking. "If you want to stay for dinner, I'll_

cook the pasta.. Do you mind if it is with shrimps?"

sets down the rooster, heading for the couch. "Of course not. I'll stay, but you're brave. I have very high standards for pasta, you know..."

shrugs. "I happen to like challenges, and if you can't go out sailing..." He shrugs, narrowing his eyes. "I'll try my best to impress you, then."

's mouth tilts a little, hiding a smile. "Si? Then do your best. We'll see how good you are."

grins a bit, sitting on the couch. "It is still early, I'll start sometime later... Meanwhile, how have you been?"

rolls his eyes at that. "I refuse to talk about work, or the economy, or my idiota boss...so other than that. Alright...I've been visiting Alfred a lot. Got to see Elizaveta again..." Which reminded him. He_

_should tell her that his thing with that human girl hadn't worked out. At all. "I've mostly been looking after Maddy. Veneciano seems to be doing well on his own." Which made him a little upset. His younger_

_brother should still need him, if only a little.

laughs. "Sorry about that... The other day. I had no idea how to pull a subject." He listens, then, nodding at the news and smiling a little at the pout. "Ah, little brothers... I'm sure Veneciano can hold_

his ground... Most of the times. " He shrugs. "Elizaveta visited me too, the other day. She seems fine."

hums. "I owe her a bit of news. Veneciano..." He grumbles a little, when all he really wants to do is sigh. "I don't know what to do about him. I don't know how he's been holding up."

smiles a bit. "Hey, I'm sure he's tougher than what you give him credit for..." He reaches over to lightly pat his shoulder, looking down. "They all are holding up fine, I'm sure, but if you aren't, too, I_

think..." he pauses, licks his lips and curls his hand back. "Well, I'll listen."

glances over at him for a moment. "I'm...fine, I suppose. But grazie, I'll keep that in mind. You too, si?"

nods at that. "Obrigado, I'll too keep it in mind..." He sighs, closing his eyes and gently leaning against the other, testing the waters.

blushes when Gabriel leans into him like that, but makes no move to shove the other off. "Buono..." He tries not to fidget, glancing over at him discreetly.

chuckles. "Tell me whenever you're feeling hungry, by the way." He adds, not opening his eyes as he snakes one arm around the other, resting his head on the other's shoulder. "Oddly cold today, isn't it?"

freezes, going beet red at that. "O-oi, che cosa..." It's more of a mumble than an offence, and he still makes no move to shove the other off.

blinks. "Oh, I'm sorry." He quickly deattaches himself from the other, scratching the back of his neck. Right, he had even promised to ask first, oh my.

huffs, mumbling under his breath. He stands, heading for the kitchen. He needs to collect himself, mio dio... "Water?"

blinks. "Water is good, but sit down, I'll fetch it." He huffs, passing by him and heading to the kitchen. "You're a guest."

pauses, rolling his eyes. "Fine, fine..." He heads back, settling on the couch and trying not to blush at the fact that Gabriel was just...snuggling him.

tries not to think about what he just did, just placing the pasta ungredients on the table as he goes.

peeks into the kitchen. "Tell me when you start cooking. I'll help if you want it."

hums. "Nah, you're my guest. Do make ypurself at home and worry not at the food." He waves a hand, setting the water to boil and fetching the cheese.

him a look but shrugs. "Okay. But if you do need help..." He starts to poke around a little, figuring that someone's home can tell a lot about them. Things he probably didn't realise about Gabriel before.

's home isn't big, with just one room he still keeps for his brother and one for himself. There's his bathroom, one for guests, and a third room with the door locked shut. In the hall, there are some family_

portraits, drawings from when his children were little and s couple books. His smoking pipe is in the corner, over a notebook that looks very old. There are quite a handful of books and a few arabian trinkets_

as well from Al-Andalus days, some from when he belonged to Rome. "Okay!" He shouts.

tries the locked door, but quickly he moves on. He does however find himself in Antonio's room. He knows it's his, he can see the leftover trickets, and the sweater he'd taken a whole decade to return to_

_the other. He frowns, walking over and picking up a scarf slung over the bed railing. That idiota had accused him of stealing his scarf, and it was here the whole time!

had wandered off to call him once the pasta was ready, lips thinning once he finds Romano. "Ah, there you are,.." he adds with a minimal smile.

doesn't know why, but he feels guilty. As if he's been caught cheating. But there's no reason for it, and so he brushes the feeling off quickly. "Does he come here often?"

shrugs. "Sometimes... It's been a long time since he last did it, anyway. If you want to sleep here tonight, you can take his room." he waves a hand. "Pasta is ready."

didn't even know he was crashing the night, but he guess he is now. "What kind of pasta?" This whole...Antonio-Gabriel thing is putting him on edge, and he walks out of the room hurriedly.

had just offered. He follows after him, smiling once they're out. "You'll see!" He laughs, the dinner table set. It's spagetthi with oil and garlic sauce, and shrimps, the wine on the table to be opened.

immediately starts to peer and poke around. "Shrimps.." People never really cooked them right, and he pops one into his mouth to test. It's...delicious, actually...and he gives Gabriel an approving look. +

_ "Delicious."

grins at that. "So is my pasta approved?" He sits down to eat, not daring to cut the spaguetti, eating it easily.

flushes lightly, but he swipes a finger through the sauce coating the edge and tastes it. Oh hell. That was pretty fucking good. "Si...Si, it's actually." He wasn't good at giving compliments, but.. "I'd serve_

_it in my bistro...if I had one." That was the best compliment that anyone would ever get out of him.

raises both eyebrows. "That's... A lot, thanks." He hums, nodding as he sips the wine. "But your pasta helped, and do does the wine."

hums softly. "I suppose wine helps most things."

continues to eat. "We should do this more often, not only when it's my birthday or yours..."

glances up at him. "We should." They didn't see each other all that often he supposed. "Are you busy next week?"

shakes his head. "No at all... I could go pick you up if you wish, and then we could go for something fun, maybe,"

smiles a bit.

flushes lightly. "Ah, si...I'd like that." It sounded like damn date...was it a date?

licks his lips. "Then it's a date." He nods, finishing his pasta and serving himself again. "Alright?"

blinks. Oh hell...then it was a date. He blushes dark, but nods. "Si. Alright."

smiles at the blush. "More wine? Maybe more pasta?" He offers, smiling a bit.

scratches at his cheek absently. "Si. Both, per favore."

stands up to serve him properly, pouring more wine and serving him another handful of pasta, nevermind that it's his birthday. Lovino had been sweet enough.

might have...forgotten that. Momentarily. What? He was still reeling from...from having a date with the other. "Grazie. Are you having any?"

shakes his head. "I just served myself, thank you... You can end the wine, it's yours." He leaves the bottle nearby, sitting down again. "There's cake my daughter sent me for later, if you want it."

why he didn't see that? He's such a mess. "Which daughter? You and Antonio have so many children..."

hums. "Moçambique." He explains, shaking his head. "And it's not so many... Only nine in my case." He grins. "Well, alright, it's quite a handful."

snorts a little at that. "Si, nine is quite a bit. I think Antonio still has you beat, though." Antonio had...countless children. "How is she, anyways?"

shrugs. "He certainly does... oh, she? Quite alright, as all of them are... Not many news from them, however, I guess." He pouts sadly, going back to eating.

shrugs a little at that. "They must be busy. They aren't colonies anymore, they have their own shit to deal with, hm?"

huffs. "They're children... Well, I guess, but look at their baby faces, Romano! I changed their diapers..." He pouts, gloomy that they grew up so fast.

laughs quietly. "And Antonio changed mine. Do I still have a baby face?"

blinks and looks at him. "Not really... you're different, but I think it's mostly because I remember your grandfather. Nah, you can't pass as a child to me."

attempts to hide a smile at that. That he was similar to his Nonno...well, that was a compliment on a whole other level. Lovino clears his throat, averting his eyes for a moment. "Well..buono. I'm quite_

_far from being a child."

smiles a bit at that. "You're too old for it, only Antonio doesn't buy it..." He sighs, shaking his head. "You might grow wrinkles and that one will still offer you warm milk..."

snorts. "Antonio will offer anyone and everyone warm milk."

chuckles. "True... But you are a special case." He shakes his head, hopping to sit up on the counter. "But... really, thanks for showing up today. It was sweet of yours."

flushes a little, scratching the back of his head. "Ah, it was nothing. Birthdays are birthdays, si? Besides. Me, you, Antonio, and fratello...and both your brats. We all have to look out for each other." _

_Famiglia was Famiglia, no matter what.

smiles widely at him. "That's sweet..." he adds, sighs and stares a bit before jumping out of the counter to hug him. "Obrigado, Lovino..."

startles a little at the sudden hug, flushing darkly. "O-oi..." He pats the other on the back, too embarrassed to do much else. "You're welcome..."

pulls back, shaking his head. "Ah, sorry for being so sudden." He chuckles softly, stepping away even though he's smiling quite happily.

scratches at his cheek absently, trying to fight off his blush. "It's okay..it's true, anyhow. Isn't it?"

sighs. "It'.. It is but, it's a nice thing to hear. The world seems to be slowly forgetting the concept of family..." he bites his lower lip, thinking seriously now.

hums. "I think...the world is redefining it. Less blood, more friendships I suppose." He suddenly crinkles his nose, thinking of a saying he heard somewhere. So..dirty.

laugh a bit at his reaction, shrugging. "Who knows... Well, at least my kids, I hope I raised them well." he smiles without noticing it, thinking.

shrugs. "Times have changed. We've changed. A firm hand was normal back then, and in any case. You couldn't have been worse than Antonio." Antonio was good to him, but cruel to his colonies.

a strange weight on his shoulders, falling into silence as he thinks. He decides not to answer, cleaning the table from the dinner instead and leaving the dishes in the washing machine. "Anything else_

you want?" God, he was being an awful host.

...that maybe the past is something he should stop bringing up. "Ah..maybe a little more wine, grazie." Or the bottle. It felt like he needed it.

nods, serving him the final bit of the wine. "Ther's only Portuguese wine now.." He smiles sadly.

pauses. He fidgets a little before deciding to just....go for it. "I...I own a vineyard, and make my own wine, and...if you wanted to..I mean." Shit. "I wouldn't mind company."

raises one eyebrow, before he smiles softly. "I'd decidedly would love to help you make wine... bUt not today, I'm afraid I'm a bit busy with some friends..." he pauses, then crosses his arms. "We can_

set it for... next week? It's not much in the right season but july will do..." he hums. "What do you say?"

flushes. "Ah, well I mean. I didn't mean today, just...si, next week would be...good."

smiles. "Good... I only have to meet those friends at night, so you still have time to stay." he offers, tapping his lips. "I know a couple good vineyards, but owe none.. if you still want to check them..."

doesn't want to impose or anything. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to keep you."

checks his watch. "We have time to check one, if you want... there are none close, so the trip would be time consuming, but if you want it." He shrugs, offering.

hums. "Next time? I don't like to be rushed when I'm in a vineyard." They could just spend the day that way.

nods. "Next time it is, then." He smiles warmly. "It'll be better anyway, since I have to leave soon..."

figured as much. "Alright. Well maybe I might walk around before heading to the airport. I'll see you around."

ruffles his hair, leaning in to peck his cheek. "Thank you, Lovino, for celebrating my birthday with me... Cm'on, I'll open the door for you." He hums, walking to the living room.

blushes at that, but quickly brushes it off as just being friendly. "It's not a problem, really." He follows the other out, taking one last look around.

opens the door for him and holds it, smiling a bit.

slips out, and turns to glance at him. "Well...grazie, for entertaining me this long."

shrugs. "Anytime!" He waves, then, once he's off, he closes the door.

heads off towards the airport. He feels like he has a lot to think about now...