Chapter Text
He sat down in a booth of his pizzeria, a man he had only met two times sitting on the other side, he was smiling, his hands clutching a thick stack of paper. His name was Totino Digiorno, he was awfully tall, a great big toothy smile plastered on his face, wearing a bright blue suit with large shoulder pads, a white button up underneath his blazer all tied together by a red tie, a button of his pizza chain brand clipped on the end.
“Again, Peppino, I'm very grateful you're closing our deal for your pizzeria and branding. Now I know, it's very difficult to let go of something you’ve worked so hard on building up but I can assure you, you’re making the right decision!”
The tall pizza headed man started spouting off, peppino couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the man's cheerful demeanor but he assumed he was just annoyed at his circumstances and not the man himself. He looked outside his window, non stop construction, homes and businesses have been sprouting up in his once quiet ‘neighborhood’ over the past couple months, it was discouraging anybody who would’ve come out here to buy from him. his business was bankrupt and it was just moments away from collapsing, he was sure, he didn’t have money to pay the bills let alone actually produce a product to sell, sure he would’ve sold the rights to his likeness and his homemade recipes and his physical restaurant and his apartment above it to a corporation but at least he’d be set moneywise for a long time and besides modeling for photoshoots every now and then didn’t sound absolutely terrible.
“Yeah?”
Like he could trust the regret from this ‘Totino’ as far as peppino knew he didn’t personally operate any of the businesses in his corporation, hadn’t worked a day in any of the hundreds of locations he had across the country so how would he know how it felt to have everything you built up bought and stripped from you. He took a breath, he was getting too heated, he shouldn’t expect real empathy, this was a business transaction, one he really didn’t want to make but one he had little choice in.
“Of course! you’ll be compensated well as we’ve discussed AND! You’ll also have some extra income from those neat little photoshoots and commercials, we’ve already set up your new apartment and we’ll have your check ready for you as soon as you sign these papers!”
Totino slid the papers across the booth and handed a pen to Peppino. Peppino skimmed over the pages, flipping over each one, spacing out a bit as he read, he signed his name at the end of each one, he felt almost dazed as he did, this was the end, there’s nowhere to go from here, at least that’s how he felt, the moment he finished writing his signature on that last page the pen was plucked from his hands and the pages were snatched from him, Totino slid an envelope across the table.
“Great! We’ll give you a week to finish packing, if you need help packing just call”
Totino picked up a napkin from the edge of the table and penned his number, sliding it towards Peppino.
“I’ll have my guys take your things in their truck when you’re done, so don’t you worry about paying for any moving costs, we’ve got you all covered!” he exclaimed, putting his hands together with barely concealed joy, this guy was just too happy about all this. Peppino picked up the napkin, the number, shoving it into his pocket.
“Okay, I’ll call when I'm done.” He flashed a forced smile, trying to seem appreciative before dropping it soon after. Totino smiled back, drumming his fingers on the table.
“Great! It’s so nice doing business with you!”
he sat up and straightened out his blazer before swiftly walking out of the restaurant, a pep in his step, peppino sneered at the man as he walked off, he looked so happy to close this deal. He got up and locked the pizzerias front door, looking out to the construction site, the workers chipping away at the project. He let out a deep breath then kicked the glass door angrily. He made a noise of anger and bit his hand, breathing hard, frustrated. After a little while he cooled down, taking deep breaths to contain himself. He didn’t have time for this, he had to finish packing up and just start moving on, he got his money and his economic strife is over, he should be relieved, after all he hated dealing with the public and the rude customers and being on his feet for most of the day, he’s gotten older since he first started his business, his joints hurt, he couldn't do this by himself forever, well, he didn’t do it by himself… he had gustavo but he had to let him go a little while back, he just couldn’t afford to keep him, he sighed, there’s no use in dwelling on it now, he’s made his decision and now he just has to accept it. He walked upstairs to his apartment, slamming the door behind him.
…
Apartment 406 in a complex called miele porco, odd name for a complex but honestly he can’t be picky, maybe he’ll find a new place later, but probably not. Peppino fidgeted with his keys, he handed them off to Totino’s moving men and just got them today, he inserted the key and turned the knob. He was greeted by his boxes piled in his living room, his sofa pushed against the wall, facing his box tv. He sighed and shut the door behind him, peppino started to move the boxes into their rightful place, he hummed a tune as he started to unpack, putting his things in their rightful place, it wasn’t an awful lot, easy to manage and shouldn’t take long. He filed his things away before he heard his doorbell buzz sharply, he lifted his head, confused, who could be visiting him so soon? He hadn’t been expecting anyone, his stomach sank a little, God could it be that his new… eugh ‘boss’ visiting him? He shuddered at the thought, better not to answer the door. His thoughts were interrupted by his buzzer again, being pressed numerous times, he gripped a piece of clothing tightly, gritting his teeth, the last thing he wanted right now was to see that guy but he had to, he took a breath and sat up, letting go of his shirt. The doorbell still going crazy, he put on a smile to try and seem happy, assuming the person on the other end was Totino, he opened the door.
“Hello-”
“SEE! I TOLD YOU! JUST VISITING MY FRIEND!” a panicked voice interrupted him. A tall skinny man in a tacky orange suit exclaimed, trembling, he was sweating profusely, a large fat pig wearing a beige trench coat standing behind him, a cigar hanging out of his snout, he looked down at peppino. Peppino’s heart sped up a little as he was being stared down, he then glanced at the lanky man, he swallowed thickly, moving his hand to shut the door before his hand was swatted away from the door by the orange clad man.
“Yeah?” The hog said, a smile on his lips, his eyes narrowed. “He doesn’t look like he knows you.” He snorted and pointed at peppino. “You. What's his name?” peppino blinked. The orange suited man looked down at him, in despair.
“Stick” the man mumbled barely audibly.
“Uh- Stick!” peppino parroted, anxiously. The hog let out a soft grunt, shaking his head before he looked over at this ‘stick’. The portly hog took a deep breath of his cigarette and leaned into the skinny man, the smoke blowing into the man's face with basically no effect.
“I’ll let you go this time, Don’t let me catch you on our floor again, next time i’ll throw you off tha roof” he stated, his voice low and gruff, stick nodded before backing into peppino’s apartment.
“Right, right, promise ya won’t see me here again, jus visiting’ my friend” he laughed nervously, the hog snorted and turned away, walking off. Peppino blinked. “Oh, thank god, thought that guy was gonna shake me down” stick leaned against the door frame. “Bastard didn even notice me take from him” he let out a genuine laugh and shook the hogs wallet in his hand. Peppino had a confused look on his face, what just happened?
“Who are you?” peppino asked, pushing him out of his apartment. Stick looked down at him, stumbling a bit when he was pushed.
“I'm just a… a travellin’ salesman” he said, looking away, almost as if he was trying to act kind of mysterious. “I just had some problems with that client is all, wasn’t too happy with his purchase but ya know, no refunds.” Stick laughed and skimmed the bills in the hogs thick wallet, peppino cringed, this guy was kind of corny.
“Yeeeeeah.” Peppino started to close the door but Stick pushed against peppino. “Hmmm your place is huge, whaddya do for work?” Stick asked, taking a closer look inside, things still in boxes… must be new here, makes sense, he hadn’t seen him around and he clearly wasn’t familiar with him either.
Peppino’s face went a little pink at the idea of having to reveal that he was basically a mascot for a product now, how embarrassing.
“It’s none of your business” he grumbled, pushing Stick out of his apartment again, Stick shook his head.
“Well, it’s not important, uhh are ya interested in buyin anything? I’ve got a brand new, one of a kind toaster for you that could double as a space heater!” Stick started, smiling at the shorter man, putting his hands together, the man was living in such a nice apartment complex, there's no way he wasn’t loaded.
“I don’t need a toaster.” peppino replied, crossing his arms, he really wasn’t in the mood for this.
“Are you sure?” Stick asked, putting a hand on his hip. Peppino’s brow furrowed, Stick shook his head. “That’s fine! Hows about a sprayable sponge! Absorbs messes so quickly!” he opened his blazer and showed peppino a spray bottle hung on the inside, he was smiling proudly, set completely on selling something to the man. Peppino groaned, cringing at the man, Stick started to sweat. “Okay, not interested in the sprayable sponge, that's fine… uhh how about-” he gestured at a wrist watch underneath the spray bottle. “This watch! It can record and take photos and it can play soothing music!” he clicked a button on the side, a random tune sounding out, peppino rubbed his face with his hands.
“If I buy the watch will you leave me alone?” he asked. Stick nodded and took the watch out of his blazer.
“Two hundred dollars” he said, smiling brightly, holding one hand out to peppino expectantly. Peppino blinked.
“I am NOT paying two hundred dollars for that.” stick gripped the watch and grumbled.
“Hundred fifty!”
“No.”
“Hundred”
“No.”
“Eighty?”
“No! I'm not paying more than forty!” peppino jabbed a finger in Sticks chest.
Stick gripped the watch tightly, growing frustrated, a sharp sound of the metal shot through the hallway, stick opened his hand, the watch broken into tiny pieces in his palm, he grumbled.
“Fine! Forty dollars… the uhh tha watch isn't ready yet so- so I’ll bring it when I’m done, you can pay me first of course”
Peppino shook his head.
“Absolutely not, how do I know you just won’t run off?” peppino asked, stick huffed.
“Fine! You can pay when I bring it then” stick shoved the bits into his pocket and stormed off. Peppino let out a breath of relief, happy to finally get the man out of his way. He closed the front door and locked it, settling back into his new home and unpacking his things. He lost himself in the task, digging through the boxes until he found a smaller box, set against various documents. He hesitantly picked up the box, he knew what was in it, it was harmless but it just felt heavier in his palms, he took the lid off the box, photos, many, spanning years.
Photos of him and Gustavo, them in the pizzeria as it had just been opened, he put the photo down. He didn’t want to think about that, that phase of his life is over, onto better things! It was long coming, better to let it happen sooner rather than later, no need to let it bother him, he has money now, a better home, a more reasonable schedule, nothing to be sad about, except of course, losing years and years of work and effort… he felt a flare of anger, it wasn’t fair! He shouldn’t have had to do that, much less having to sell it to someone who didn’t actually care about his vision or his business! They were going to bastardize it. He put his head in his hands, whatever. It doesn’t matter anymore. His thoughts were interrupted by a loud ring, he looked up from his hands and looked at the phone, he picked it up and put it up to his ear.
“Hello?” he asked, a slight warble in his voice and he felt a pang of embarrassment at the sound of sorrow in his tone. He cleared his throat.
“Hello peppino!” peppino took a deep breath at the voice on the phone, Totino, awesome. “Sorry to call you so soon but I’ll need you to come in tomorrow to take some promotional photos for the restaurant's relaunch, so come in at nine AM tomorrow, alright?”
“Right, right okay, is that all?” peppino asked, hunched over the phone, he was gripping the thing a little too tightly, full of resentment for that dreaded slice.
“Nope! See ya tomorrow Peppino! Buh bye!” peppino started to say goodbye back before he was cut off by the line going dead, peppino sighed. This guy is just. peachy.