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 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."

[criff]

"That's kind of you," Criff purred. She pulled a handkerchief from her bra and offered it to Caesar. "You seem distracted."

She had noticed his little spill a minute ago. She had been watching him the whole time.

[youre_the_sunflower]

"Ah, you got me, I'm afraid." Caesar accepted the handkerchief to pat his hand dry. "I'm a bit off-balance from the day's events. I thank you for your graciousness."

[criff]

"What? The arriving? Or something else?" Criff took a sip of her drink.

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar took another sip. "My--" Friend? Lover? "--teammate came here with me. He has a complicated condition. He's being helped by one of the leaders here, but it will likely take days. I confess I'm unused to things being so...quiet."

[criff]

"Oh? Giorno?" The piqued Criff's interest. "Well, he's in good hands at least. He's very... responsible."

[youre_the_sunflower]

The way she said it prompted a brow raise. “Is he? You seem like you know him well, signorina.”

[criff]

"Well, I don't think he's particularly fond of me," Criff pouted. "Still, he's the most popular man at the villa. Though..." She smiled. "...with enough time, you might be able to seize the title."

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar just laughed. “Titles are meaningless next to the kind words of one as lovely as yourself.”

[criff]

Criff chuckled quietly. "You're quite a charmer, aren't you? You really will have the girls calling."

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar tipped his glass towards her. "Grazie...but enough about me. Where might you be from?"

[criff]

"Earth, though I suppose that might be a little too generic for you." That was true. Earth was a little too generic for most people. "I'm originally from New York City, but most recently I was living on a ship in space."

Another smile. "What about you? I'm guessing... Italy?"

Criff couldn't say she was fluent, but New York had only grown into more of a melting pot than it had in the centuries preceding it. English was its primary language, yes, but it was pretty rare that someone only knew one language.

[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."