(no subject)

[julibahana]

"How do you feel?"

Juli felt anxious for Giorno, though she tried her best not to let it show. And true enough, her words came out sounding unworried and confident. Because even though she was concerned for Giorno, she knew that if there were anyone in this world who could help Jojo, it was him.

Comments

[takeba]

"What, so he's haunted or something?"

[alteredfates_npc]

“That’s what I thought, too! It sounds like that when you try and explain it, right!? I can’t see it or anything, but…it’s more like…a super power or something that he can summon at will.”

[takeba]

"Huh." Maybe it was something like a Persona? Yukari set that aside for later. "Well, if it's not bothering people..."

[alteredfates_npc]

“Whatever it is I’m sure it’s totally beautiful too, but…word to the wise, don’t bother trying your luck with him.”

[takeba]

"Why?"

[alteredfates_npc]

“Well…let’s just say that there’s two categories of women where he’s concerned…one girl and everyone else.” Iris signed as she watched Caesar gently play with all the kids she’d grown to know so well from outside. It was almost better than intruding. “Looks like they just got up from nap time…fair warning, once we go inside it might be awhile til we make it back out.”

[takeba]

"I'm not worried about it," she reassured Iris. "Let's go."

[youre_the_sunflower]

"Iris!" A small girl with braided hair ran up to her as soon as she entered the school house and wrapped her arms around her legs.

"Don't run too fast, piccola!" Caesar called after her, having finally managed to get most of the kids back on solid ground.

"...Hey! You're new." The girl blinked at Yukari as she peered from behind the folds of Iris' skirt. "You're pretty."

[takeba]

A light brush formed on Yukari's cheeks.

"You're pretty pretty yourself!" she told the girl with a smile.

[youre_the_sunflower]

“Are you getting the tour, Signorina?”

[takeba]

"Oh, yeah," Yukari said, brushing her hair behind her ears. "I'm Yukari Takeba."

[youre_the_sunflower]

“Caesar Zeppeli. Piacere, Bella. Please have a seat somewhere. I’ll get you something to drink.”

[takeba]

"Sure." Yukari glanced over at Iris, gauging a reaction.

[youre_the_sunflower]

Iris merely sighed dreamily, unbothered by the attention Yukari was getting.

“I’ll help!” The small girl announced, her braids whipping as she turned to rush for the pitcher of water at the front of the room on the desk. She only got halfway before tripping over her own feet in her rush to get there and slamming face-first into the floor.

“Ah! Oh, Ari…” Iris snapped out of her daze and rushed over, kneeling to help her up. Ari sniffed, putting on a brave face despite the giant scrape on her forehead.

[takeba]

Yukari wished she could summon her Persona and do something about it. Sure, it was just a scrape, but scrapes were a very big deal when you were young.

"You sure you're okay?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

“Y-yeah.” Ari was clearly trying to put on a brave face but her lip wibbling gave her away. “Sorry…I’ll get your water r-really soon…”

“No tears, no tears. Remember what we practiced earlier?” Caesar approached her and knelt in front of her. He touched her forehead lightly. “Nice even breaths. Four counts in, four counts out.”

Ari sniffed—hard. It was hard at first but she eventually managed to time her breathing with Caesar’s gentle coaching. When he took his hand away, the pain—and the mark—was gone. She wiped her eyes and touched her head. “…Wow!”

[takeba]

Had he just done what she thought he'd done? Yukari filed that away for the future because it was something she wanted to ask about.

"Wow, looks like it's better already! You feeling better too?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

Ari nodded vigorously and resumed her mission. Caesar got up after her and poured the cup—she wasn’t tall enough to reach it after all—before handing it to her. Ari carried it in both hands and walked back to Yukari with great focus.

“Here, Miss Yukari!” It swished in the cup as Ari raised it for the young woman to take.

[takeba]

"Thanks," Yukari said appreciatively, taking the cup in hand. She looked around for a place to sit before settling down.

[alteredfates_npc]

Ari followed her, her brown eyes sparkling in keen interest. “Where did you get your clothes? Where are you from? How many boyfriends do you have?”

[takeba]

"This?" Yukari looked down at herself. "Well, this is just my school uniform." Yukari never thought she would be wearing it outside of school, but it was what she was wearing when she wound up here. "I have other stuff, but somehow I feel most comfortable wearing this."

Yukari sidestepped the boyfriend question. It wasn't like she had any to begin with.

[youre_the_sunflower]

“What do you enjoy studying the most, bella?” Caesar began pouring several glasses for a few of the kids who were getting fidgety.

[takeba]

"It's not anything you learn at school. Well... I guess sort of, you do. I'm part of the archery club at my high school. Really, that's what interests me the most." It wasn't that her classes disinterested her -- they just didn't interest her in the same way archery did.

[alteredfates_npc]

“Archery?” Iris seemed surprised, trying to picture someone like Yukari holding a bow. “Wow! We should visit the training grounds next. Maybe you can show everyone a thing or two.”

[takeba]

"I'm not really sure how practical it would be, but it's not like it's practical at home, either."

At least not if you were fighting Shadows by night.