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

[youre_the_sunflower]

'A ship in space.' Even if he'd heard it before from Juli, Caesar still had a hard time wrapping his head around it.

"That's right. I was born in Genoa. I've spent my entire life in Italy...well. Almost." He took a more generous sip of his wine than before. "How does one end up on a, ah, space ship?"

[criff]

"Not without doing a few favors," Criff said, with uncharacteristic honesty. The implication was clear: something that wasn't spoken about in polite company. "My sister and I weren't well-off or gifted like some of the others." Like Juli. "The only way we were going to get out of the slums was with a good job. And good jobs are in space. So space training academy it was."

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar listened--and his smile faded slightly to become more of a wry grimace.

"I understand." The poverty. The desperation. Everything--it was something he hadn't even told Joseph about. "Your sister...is she here as well?"

[criff]

"No." Criff held back a sigh. "I want to find her but the way things are right now..."

[youre_the_sunflower]

"I'm sorry." He was. "I can tell how much you love her just from the way you speak."

[criff]

Criff didn't want to linger onnl the topic for long. "Do you have a sibling?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

"I'm the oldest of five." Caesar had stopped touching his wine. "I haven't seen them in a long time...even before all this."

[criff]

"Being the oldest is tough." Kriff sympathized.

[youre_the_sunflower]

"It's tough...but you've done a better job than me. Trust me on that one."

[criff]

"Somehow I doubt that."

[youre_the_sunflower]

"You've been there for her. You've survived. That's the most important thing." Caesar finished off his wine and raised the handkerchief. "May I wash this and give it back to you?"

[criff]

"I would appreciate that."