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

[buon_giorno]

Giorno grunted as he stumbled forward.

“…How can you be so sure about this?”

[nohardwork]

"GREAT grandson?" Joseph offered cheerily.

[buon_giorno]

"...Well, if that's true, I suppose saving your life is in my best interest, isn't it?" Giorno folded his shirt to set it to the side and began undoing his belt. "If you die I will too...unless you've, ah, already ensured your bloodline."

[nohardwork]

"Yeah." Joseph scratched the side of his face. His expression said it all.

[buon_giorno]

Giorno pulled on a robe after he finished undressing. "...Well. Your love life or lack thereof aside, why don't we just have a nice relaxing soak?"

[nohardwork]

"Yeah," Joseph said, his tone a little more cheery now. And then without a second thought, he raced into the bath and cannonballed in.

[buon_giorno]

~~

When they returned to his room, Giorno was...well, he wouldn't go so far as to say he was relaxed but he did feel a bit more rejuvenated.

There no was no sign of Croccante waiting at his door. It figured. She would only deign to visit if she knew Juli was somewhere close. He couldn't fault her preferences.

"The bath was a good idea," he conceded.

[nohardwork]

"Of course! Granddad knows best!"

[buon_giorno]

It was going to be useless to dissuade him of that title, Giorno could already tell.

“Please, take a seat. We’ll begin the examination.”

[nohardwork]

Joseph sat down obliging, though he was tense and bracing for some sort of pain.

[buon_giorno]

Giorno approached Joseph where he sat on the edge of the bed.

“It might be a little strange but it won’t hurt. I promise.” Gold Experience manifested from his body and began to reach for Joseph’s chest before pausing. “Would you prefer I do this from behind?”

[nohardwork]

Joseph tried, but failed to suppress a snerk. "Sure."

[buon_giorno]

"Very well." It was for the best. Painless or no, it would be disconcerting for anyone to see what he was about to do. Giorno climbed onto the bed to situate himself behind the large man. He put one hand on the back of Joseph's shoulder as his stand's arm phased through his back to reach for his heart.

It always filled him with a quiet sense of confidence when he used his stand--just half a year ago he hadn't known at all what it was capable of. Everything he'd learned, he'd learned by endless trial and error...or matters of life or death. He'd gone from desperately launching an offense against Bucciarati on the train to now--touching someone else's heart without really touching it.

'Stay focused.'

Through Gold Experience's touch, he sensed it clearly--the ring. It was as good as fused with Joseph's aorta. Giorno leaned over to grab a notebook from his nightstand and cracked it open to begin sketching what he felt along with a list of notes that took up three pages within minutes.

When he was done, Gold Experience faded back into himself and he fell to sit on his hip. "...Okay. You're free to move about."

[nohardwork]

Joseph rolled his shoulders, then stretched one arm, then the other. "Didn't hurt at all, but I feel a little stiff."

[buon_giorno]

Giorno didn't respond--he had gone deep into his own head as he stared at Joseph's back.

'If I could isolate it...even a little bit of it...but how...?'

[nohardwork]

"Hello? Grandson...?" Joseph turned around to wave a hand in front of Giorno's face.

[buon_giorno]

"My apologies." Giorno scooted off the edge of the bed and gathered his notebook. "I'll be up late to get my thoughts down while they're fresh...but please, get some rest. I'll conduct another exam in the morning."

[nohardwork]

Tch. Joseph grumpily flopped onto his bed. He wished Caesar were here.

[youre_the_sunflower]

~~

Caesar needed sleep. He had a bath, he had a smoke, he had something to eat, and he'd stared at the ceiling, but sleep wasn't coming. The minutes seemed to grind by torturously slowly. He'd practiced his breathing but his heart rate kept picking back up.

How was Joseph doing? The question echoed over and over again in his mind. Even moreso that they parted on a...complicated...note.

Caesar slapped a hand to his face. The sting of it stuck on his skin and he rolled off the bed. Sleep was off the table for now. There was only one thing left to do--something he hadn't done since their intense training regimen.

It was time for the booze.

Juli had been thorough with her tour, and Caesar was somewhat ashamed to admit to himself that he'd put a pin in the drinking hall. He was dazed as he wandered there. He just stared at the entrance--it was quite cozy looking inside. It was pub-like, even. He took a deep breath and invited himself in.

It smelled like wood inside mixed with cinders, but pleasantly so. The nights here were warm enough and the fireplace inside kept it as cozy as it looked. There were some small groups scattered around with tables to themselves--none of them so much as looked up as he entered, even being a stranger to all of them. It spoke to the safety of this place that no one was on guard even a little.

There was a girl at the far end near the bar--alone. Her long bangs hid her expression. Caesar barely had to think before he was approaching her--calmly, nicely. It was the first time all day he didn't have to think.

"Excuse me. A moment of your time?"

[criff]

"Hm?" Criff regarded Caesar with casual indifference at first, expecting him to be one of the many men at the villa who had expressed interest in her (or at least what she could offer). When she turned, though, her eyes did not light up with recognition -- they lit up with interest.

He was an attractive blonde and one she hadn't seen before. A newcomer? This might be her time to make an impression.

Still, Criff wasn't feeling particularly energized enough to put much of an effort into it. Though she'd still give it the old honest (or dishonest) try.

[youre_the_sunflower]

“I’m new here and in search of a drink. I was hoping to get a recommendation from you.” He leaned his hip against the table. “And your name.”

[criff]

"Not much here to choose from. Not unless someone comes in here bringing some libations of their own."

Criff shifted in her chair. "Criff Kay. And you are?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

"Criff. Molto bella. I'm Caesar Zeppeli." He nodded towards the wine barrels. "A good drink is only part of the story. Company is what takes a drink da buono a ottimo. Allow me the honor of refilling your glass."

[criff]

"Who am I to deny a man what he wants?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar's expression fell apart the moment his back was turned and he was turning the spout of the wine barrel. He couldn't fight the feeling that he was doing something wrong, just a little.

'It's just conversation.' He had spent far more many nights making conversation with a beautiful woman than he had with Joseph.

But...it wouldn't be that way forever, would it? If Joseph recovered.

If Joseph recovered.

"Merda," Caesar swore under his breath as he realized his glass was suddenly overflowing and spilling onto his hand. He quickly sipped the excess and exchanged it for Criff's.

"I'm sorry to make you wait," he said as he returned slid into the seat across from her. "This wine is like a nice Beaujolais Nouveau. It suits you."