Feasting at the Fest

There was an intonation in the way he said Family that made it very clear to Jude what kind of family Basilio was talking about.

"I'm looking forward to that," Jude admitted. "To having it be just the two of us. I like staying with Officer Genovese, and he's really nice, but... At times it's a bit too busy? It reminds me of being in the tower."

Of being surrounded by people. Of not really being at home.

"I think Roa'll be happy to have his space back."

"It took some adjusting to get used to it," Jude admitted, "and even more to get used to the whole... dad thing."

Had anyone even told his dad about that? Jude abruptly had no idea, and happily latched onto the new change of conversation.

"I think like back home might be good. I haven't really seen any authentic northern Italian places. Honestly, most of the Italian places I've seen are more along the lines of like... bad American-Italian stuff. Italian dressing and marinara sauce and garlic bread."

He grinned a bit at that.

"Oh, and I know people have this whole idea about vampires being weak to garlic, but honestly? It's pretty rare. I'd say treat it as an allergy but otherwise don't worry about it."

Jude was absolutely fucking delighted at the idea, and if he'd had a tail, it would have been wagging.

"I think mine's already spoiled," he confessed. "But I'd love to see both. Just to... to get an idea of what they're like. So I can work out the fastest way to and from and all that."

He considered for a moment, and then decided to just ask.

"I'll be helping, right?"

"It's not like I was exactly open and honest," Jude admitted, cleaning up his own hands. He'd picked up less food, and there was relatively little left to go in the trash. Really just the plate and a little fork he'd grabbed for one particularly messy bit of food.

"I kept a lot of things from you, after all. And you've done a good job of being open with me, and I'm still... adjusting to that, I guess."

"And I'm going to try and return the favor."

But he didn't do it. Not right then, anyway. Not in the middle of the fest. But he wanted to, and the anxiety was there, bubbling over and souring the taste in his mouth.

"Let's go."

The walk wasn't terribly far, and there was little doubt Basilio would notice Jude's increasing nerves as he walked.

"There was one thing I didn't really want to tell you about when I got here," Jude admitted. "I was worried you'd be... overwhelmed by it. Agitated? I don't know. That it'd rub you the wrong way." Like running your hand up a snake's back.