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

[nohardwork]

Joseph was on-edge. He didn't like it. But most of all, he didn't like showing that he was on-edge.

"Yeah," he said, in the most casual tone he could manage. "That's a question I should be asking you. If you had been at dinner, you wouldn't need to ask!"

[buon_giorno]

“I’ll eat later, so please don’t worry needlessly on my behalf.” Giorno grabbed a neatly folded towel off his desk and extended it to Joseph. “Since you’ve already eaten, you should have a bath before settling in. It was a long trek in the desert, after all.”

[nohardwork]

"Yeah. You're coming too."

[buon_giorno]

“Oh, no, I’m fine.”

[nohardwork]

This kid really didn't have a relaxed bone in his body.

A devious grin pulled itself across Joseph's face. "Do you want to be carried out?"

[buon_giorno]

Giorno was already returning to his desk, thinking little of the threat. “The quickest way to the baths are out of the south entrance. Follow the stone lanterns.”

[nohardwork]

Before Giorno could register what was happening, Joseph scooped the young blonde into his arms with as much ease as a parent might their baby.

"Ohh! South entrance, right?"

Joseph began sprinting in that direction.

[buon_giorno]

Giorno yelped rather inelegantly when his feet weren't on the floor anymore. "Wha--!?"

[nohardwork]

"Let me see... should I throw you in because you didn't come willingly?"

[buon_giorno]

Giorno was too polite to say what he wanted to in that moment--though they were mostly self-admonishments for letting his guard down.

"Put me down." His voice was on the edge of being fully raised. "I understand. I'll go with you willingly."

[nohardwork]

"Good, good!" Joseph said in perfect English. He gently set Giorno done as if he were a child placing their favorite doll on a shelf.

[buon_giorno]

Giorno quickly went about readjusting his clothes. Even if it was a simple linen tunic and dark pants—not the finest clothes he had lying around—he took great care of them.

The only one nearby to witness the manhandling by the time Joseph had whisked him outside was an old men who watched over the horse pen. He was busy packing his smoke pipe and hadn’t even looked up. Giorno could count that as a small blessing. The entrance to the apodyterum was just about a hundred feet away.

“If you wanted company you could have simply said so.”

[nohardwork]

Joseph snorted dismissively. It wasn't like he wanted company or anything. "If I said that, would you have wanted to come?"

[buon_giorno]

"Ah, I see. So you find asking for things more intimidating than abduction."

[nohardwork]

"Who said that?!"

[buon_giorno]

"Ah, so I was right. How cute."

[nohardwork]

Tch. "What's so cute about it?!"

[buon_giorno]

"It's not a bad thing." The entrance to the men's apodyterum was separate from the women's--and a young women left as they entered, giggling and waving at the two of them. Giorno politely waved back.

[nohardwork]

"Those girls couldn't keep their eyes off you." Joseph hadn't missed it and it reminded him of Caesar. It made him jealous when it was Caesar, but right now, it didn't hurt his ego at all.

[buon_giorno]

Giorno hummed in acknowledgement but his disinterest was clear. He opened the door to the changing area for Joseph. “After you.”

[nohardwork]

Joseph entered the changing area and immediately peeled off his shirt. He folded his arm over his shoulder to give his birthmark a scratch, then began to unbutton his pants.

[buon_giorno]

The changing area was made of smooth rock and it held the warm and humid air from the baths up ahead. It was another thing about the villa that seemed ancient and eternal and every time Giorno stepped foot inside he promised himself he’d making visiting more of a habit.

While Joseph was undressing, Giorno was preoccupied with filling one of the empty wicker baskets arranged on a shelf to decide on which infused oil he preferred that evening—likely something that would keep him perked up. As much as he craved a tall glass of wine, he had a long night ahead.

When he finished his selection, he set it to the side and turned to prompt Joseph to do the same—but the words quickly left his head when he got a look at him.

[nohardwork]

"This is some place you have here," Joseph remarked, oblivious to Giorno's reaction. He plucked up one of the infused oils, uncapped it, and gave it a sniff.

[buon_giorno]

“Your shoulder.”

[nohardwork]

"Oh yeah?" Joseph rubbed his shoulder. "I've had this since I was born."