fatealteration | (no subject)

(no subject)

"...and the newcomers are settling in pretty well. One of them is even a teacher, so we might be able to begin dividing classes further," Juli said. She turned the page over in her notes. She didn't need them; virtually everything she had to say was committed to memory, but she felt more secure having them anyway. She looked up from the notebook. "I think it'll be a good move. There's been some behavioral issues among some of the students and the extra challenge might settle them."

That wasn't all that Juli had to report to Giorno Giovanna, but she thought she pause for comment while they were still on a high note.

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"Yeah. That'd be nice." She hadn't had anyone to drink with since before she got here. "Still can't believe the people running this place aren't even old enough to drink here."

“You mean Giorno?” Chilchuck barked in laughter before sighing. “Oh, that doesn’t stop him.”

"What's he like?" Shepard didn't exactly get a chance to get a great read on him earlier. And what she saw was the professional Giorno. Was he like that underneath? Shepard wasn't sure.

‘Hm…’

That was a question he had gotten a few times now. After all, Chilchuck was one of the few people there that predated Giorno at the villa.

“…You know, the reason he got propped up as a leader was because he made this place into what it is. Almost everyone here has lost all their prior connections. Cities and countries got torn apart. But here in this sprawling complex by valley on the edge of nowhere we’ve got plentiful food and resources. It’s like a little paradise.” Chilchuck stood and went to refill his mug. “It’s been six months now, though, and I can’t say I feel like I know him well. But I don’t distrust him either. He keeps people at an arm’s length…can’t say I fault him.”

Shepard nodded as Chilchuck went on, absorbing his words into her mental rolodex of people.

"So you'd say he's a good guy." That's what she seemed to get out of it. "You're lucky. A lot of people out there are taking advantage of the chaos."

There was no arguing with that - they were lucky. That’s why Chilchuck hadn’t packed up and shipped out yet. It was still chaos as far as the eye could see. The most he could hope for was staying alive so he could see his friends again.

“His heart is in the right place. And he’s got his head screwed on straight…for the most part.” He couldn’t say the same about his party lead where he was from.

“That said, he’s still a kid. Whether we live or die isn’t all on him. I just want to make sure he feels that…argh. Same with all these damn kids.” Chilchuck took another big swig of his refilled drink even though it was making him too honest. “Juli and Zelda too. They’re all too damn responsible! I want to talk to their parents!”

"Kids really ought to be kids," Shepard agreed. "Isn't easy when your world's been turned upside down like this, though."

“I know.” Chilchuck plopped down into the seat across from her. “…Could I ask a favor?”

Shepard raised a brow. "Sure." She was used to doing favors. It felt like every day back home she was doing some sort of quest for someone.

“It’s not a big ask, and you’re free to turn it down.” Chilchuck felt the need to say it. “But…as safe as this place is, there’s been something setting me ill at ease. It happens whenever there’s a new moon. I’d like some help investigating…preferably with someone who knows how to handle themselves.”

That caught Shepard-off guard. "Sure. What kind of something are we looking at?"

“There’ll be a new moon in 3 days. I’d like to scout the outer boundaries when night falls a little…you know. See if there are any red flags. I know how vague this sounds…which is why I didn’t want to trouble anyone else with this yet. Maybe it’s nothing, and I’ll be glad if it is…but I’ve only gotten this old by listening to my instincts, you know?”

"Just tell me when and where to be and I'll be there."

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