ic inbox ( ruby city ) Ⅲ

[digiorno]

buongiorno! sorry i missed you; i'll happily get back to you as soon as i'm done with whatever business i'm on. leave a message!

( text | voice | video | action )

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[digiorno]

That's exactly right, well done.

[He taps Jean's nose. And Gold Experience taps the . . . general nose-region of Chariot's face plate.]

That's why Gold Experience made that flower in particular for you and Chariot. Because the two of you are very chivalrous.

[silvercrusader]

Oh.

[Oh, and he seems a little stunned by that for a long moment. Chariot reaches for the flower, tugging it free so he can wave it toward Jean. Look, and he glances at it. And then:]

How do you know?

[digiorno]

I know because I read some books about it. Flowers--what they mean, it's called floriography.

[He tugs Jean a little closer, tipping his head curiously.]

Or do you mean how do I know you're chivalrous?

[silvercrusader]

[Oh, well, that's nice. He'd liked that when Bruno had done it too, and Jean sighs, snuggling in closer.]

Yeah. Not about flowers, about chi-- the being good part.

[digiorno]

Chi-val-ry.

[He pronounces it slowly, tapping the tip of Jean's nose with every syllable. And then he drags him in for a tight hug, kissing him on the top of his head.]

Because you remind me very much of my father, who is the bravest and most chivalrous man in the entire world. He'd do anything for someone in need, and I can tell you're exactly like him. A real hero in the making.

[silvercrusader]

[He blinks at each tap, then promptly wrinkles his nose. He has a few things to say about that word, and most of them are indignantly insisting he knows how to pronounce it, thanks. But then that outpouring of affection distract him entirely, and Jean sighs again, perfectly content to be loved.]

Okay.

[Okay, that's a reasonable explanation. Jean worms his way forward, squirming just to feel Giorno's arms tighten. It's nice, feeling secure like that.]

Mama says that's the most important thing to be. To be-- [He screws up his face.] Chi-vil-rous.

[digiorno]

[His arms do tighten. He doesn't want to let go of his mini-papa even for a moment, even though he's so wiggly; a part of him is deeply concerned that he'll run off and explore somewhere he shouldn't and get hurt, and he wonders if all parents feel that all the time.]

Your mama is very clever and very right. And you're very lucky to have such a clever mama. You're going to make her so proud, you know.

[silvercrusader]

Yes.

[He says that with relish, drawing out the word. Yes-s-s-s, because there's nothing better than the smile she gives him when she's truly proud of him.]

She's very clever and very right and-- [He leans in, taking both of Giorno's cheeks. Very seriously:] --very pretty.

[digiorno]

Oh? Is she?

[Giorno makes as big of a surprised face as he can, given that his cheeks are entrapped at the moment.]

How pretty is she, Jean?

[silvercrusader]

She's--

[What's a metaphor? He glances away for a long moment, Giorno's face still held firmly between two chubby hands, his own expression drawn. Finally:]

Prettier than anyone, ever ever.

[There. That about sums it up.]

She looks a little like Sherry! [Y'know, because Giorno knows what Sherry looks like. Why wouldn't he?] She says Sherry will look like her when she gets older, but I don't think so. She was all ugly as a baby, and then it took her forever to get hair, and she doesn't even know how to walk that good yet, so how's she gonna be pretty?

[digiorno]

Because all girls are pretty.

[Sorry, Jean. This is just a fact. Girls are Beautiful.]

[silvercrusader]

[He gives him a rather disbelieving little look.]

No.

[A helpful little correction.]

[digiorno]

Hmm . . .

[HMM.]

. . . yes.

[silvercrusader]

No--

[He wiggles again, scowling.]

No, they're not, they can't all be, that doesn't make sense.

[digiorno]

Yes, it does.

[Whoops, are you wiggling, Jean? Now you're getting flipped over Giorno's shoulder. What are you gonna do about it.]

Girls are all very pretty. Some prettier than others, but all pretty, and all perfect. Those are the rules.

[silvercrusader]

Let go!

[No, no, this isn't fair, and he wiggles all the harder, legs kicking, trying like hell to get out of this.]

That's a stupid rule!

[digiorno]

Don't kick me! If you kiss me you have to tell girls they're pretty twice as much.

[THE HORROR.]

[silvercrusader]

You're bullying me! You can't tell me what to do anyway, you're not my Mama, I'm not going to tell any girl she's pretty ever!

[Kick kick kick, but given the way he's thrown over Giorno's shoulder, all he really manages to do is wiggle ineffectively.]

[digiorno]

Yes you will. You'll realize I'm right and say, oh wow, Giorno was almost as smart as my mama!

[Don't make him tickle you, punk.]

But you're right. I am bullying you.

[silvercrusader]

I won't say that.

[But he's very small, and this is getting tiring. Jean slumps down, grumbling that quietly against Giorno's back.]