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

[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."

[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."