Blood Ties

[buon_giorno]

Giorno had saved his business for the council meeting that evening for last. Everything had gone more or less now he’d expected after that.

Chilchuck had questions. While he didn’t raise an objection of any kind, he had spent the rest of the meeting watching Giorno’s face.

Zelda had questions but they were all centered around the technicalities and how she could assist.

Evandor kept it simple, as always. “Giorno has never lead anyone astray.” He said nothing more.

And Juli…she was supportive but he knew she had questions of her own. He offered to walk the scenic route with her back to her room.

“We may not see each other much over the next week.” There was an apology and a lament in there.

Comments

[julibahana]

"We should be able to take care of things in your absence. But..." Juli fooled with her bangs. "...I have to admit, I'm worried."

[buon_giorno]

“Worried?”

[julibahana]

"Well... you don't usually warm up to newcomers enough to make an immediate offer like this." Juli suddenly wished she had something to carry in her hands so she could more easily resist touching her bangs again. "I know that we have had all kinds of people arrive here with powers and we don't always find out immediately. I just thought maybe he had some sort of influencing power." Like mind control. Or mind manipulation.

[buon_giorno]

Giorno’s lips tightened. He had made her worry more than he realized.

“I see. …To be honest, I can’t give you a good reason of why I insisted. But I’m certain it wasn’t because he was manipulating me somehow. I knew it after he came clean about why he was snooping—he said he felt a pull. I felt the same thing.”

[julibahana]

"Do you know what that pull might be?"

[buon_giorno]

“I suppose…” The pause hung in the air as Giorno meditated on the right word. “…familiarity? It’s the first time I’ve felt anything like that. It must mean something. I truly believe that. And if I can find answers…”

Giorno was grateful they were taking a quiet route. He didn’t want to be seen like this by anyone…well. Almost anyone.

“To be honest, it frightened me. If it was me on my own in my room I might not have kept my composure.”

[julibahana]

"But you're sure this is something you want, right? The real you?"

[buon_giorno]

“I’m certain.”

Giorno slowed to a stop as they passed one of the broad open balconies. It offered a view of the lake through the trees that marked the beginning of the valley. The sunlight caught her brown hair, but it wasn’t the only thing. Giorno gestured for her to hold still.

[julibahana]

Juli stopped.

[buon_giorno]

Giorno approached her calmly—stopping just within arm’s reach. He lifted his hand to hover near her ear, coaxing a swallowtail butterfly from the pink clasp that bound her hair. It fluttered towards his finger and he reached high to transfer it to a hanging pot of fuchsias. It must have been attached to her ever since he transformed his tea cup into a swarm of them.

“My apologies. It must have mistaken it for a flower.”

[julibahana]

"You're really good with animals," Juli observed. "They all seem to be attracted to you. I guess that's why I can see Joseph being drawn to you."

A beat.

"Not that I'm saying he's an animal," she said quickly, shaking her hands in front of her to signal he should perish the thought. "It's just easier for me to believe someone might be drawn to you than the other way around. That's all."

[buon_giorno]

Giorno laughed—it was clear and from the bottom of his stomach.

“Those are kind words, but…that butterfly chose you. Croccante too. She only comes to visit when you’re there.”

[julibahana]

"Really? I guess I thought you were the reason they were around. I just happen to be there. And a convenient place to land." Juli smiled.

[buon_giorno]

“You’re far more than that.”

[julibahana]

"This isn't going to be one of those things where we argue who is better, are we?" There was genuine mirth in Juli's voice. When Giorno was happy, she found it hard not to feel happy herself.

[buon_giorno]

Juli was finally smiling again and Giorno felt like he could breathe again.

He felt like he was always taking from her, somehow. Even as he professed that her being there kept him calm, he’d plagued her with worry in return. The old him would have found it a foolish thing to feel bad about—he had never felt bad about taking before. The old him had only one thing on his mind. Now…

Before he could think of how to reply, the butterfly returned to land on her cheek.

“…Shall we call that a point in your favor?”

[julibahana]

Juli laughed, sending the butterfly back on its way. "Okay, okay. I give up."

[buon_giorno]

Satisfied, Giorno wandered to the edge of the balcony to watch the courtyard below. Things had transformed rapidly since they discovered the abyss, and all for the better—but the simple beauty of nature had remained preserved.

“…A lot of good things have happened, haven’t they? But it’s as if we’ve been in a dead sprint lately.” He looked back at her. “After I’ve cured Mister Joestar…let’s slow down a little. Just for a few days. We should hold a celebration.”

[julibahana]

Juli's gaze met his own. "Sure. I should be able to arrange that."

[buon_giorno]

“You have enough to do,” Giorno said quickly in a tone that broached no argument. “There are plenty of others down there that would leap to take the reins on this.”

[julibahana]

"You think?" Juli frowned. "I'm sure everyone else has a lot to do, too."

[buon_giorno]

"Trust. I have a few people in mind. Not every request must be a burden." He approached Juli once again to put a hand on her shoulder. "So...I hope not to hear about how you piled more onto your plate while I was occupied."

[julibahana]

"I promise I won't give you anything else to worry about." A smile.

[buon_giorno]

Giorno felt a pang of guilt when he realized he couldn't say the same thing back, but...

"Good. Now, let's go. I'll walk you back."

[youre_the_sunflower]

~~

"...What were you talking about earlier?"

Caesar looked to Joseph who had made himself comfortable on what was to be his bed. Caesar didn't care about the other man making use of his things like he once did--he was too busy pacing the length of the room. And it was a lovely enough room. Though, even if there were familiar elements mixed in with the unfamiliar--Roman architecture blended with strange technology that lit the room that produced no heat--it only made things more surreal.

He desperately needed another cigarette.

"The 'pull.'"