[It's actually lost on Jin because he's a loyal fucking idiot somehow you roadrollered yourself into being his friend, Giorno. All he really picks up on is Giorno's worry-- and the fact that Fugo is, apparently, ill.]
That's a relief. In spite of the circumstances, I guess. [distantly, he wonders how he'd feel with one of his own, here-- his cousin, battling with his newfound free will, one of his friends, torn from their own missions into this new and foreign one. He wouldn't wish being consigned into this upon them on principle, no matter how much good it's brought him.]
[His brows knit. That isn't what he meant at all, but now he's worried. Maybe he's said something wrong; maybe he's overstepped--and even if he hasn't, he isn't at all sure how to explain.]
It's neither. It's--
[A sharp frown.]
I don't know that he'd want me to say. It isn't . . . mine to share.
[But he seems torn. Would Fugo share with anyone on his own? It's so unlikely.]
As long as he's safe. You don't need to say it to help him with whatever burden he's got.
[He pauses to take a thoughtful sip from his cup of tea.]
I've been meaning to tell you for a while, Giorno. When you first told me about him, I really... felt it. How much you cared about him. [The weight of responsibility he's certain Giorno feels heavy upon his shoulders, but bears anyway, out of love.] He's really lucky to have you.
[The respect--the kindness--leaves him off-balance. The surprise of it shows him on his face, even if only for a moment, the set of his mouth looser and less controlled.]
[It's because he's so confused that he answers the way he does: honestly.]
Somebody should.
[Care about him, he means. And he's immediately upset with himself for saying it. Why is Jin suddenly good at getting him to talk about his feelings? It's terrible.]
[He opens his mouth to say Fugo doesn't think he's lucky, but ends up just shaking his head. He shouldn't say . . . any of that. He doesn't want Fugo to feel any more vulnerable than he already does. He wants so badly to protect him, more than anything else in the world (other than the world itself).]
[When the posturing falls away from Kung Jin, this is what the bluntness becomes: plain, unvarnished truth. He thinks nothing of it, because what else would he do, other than to speak his mind?]
You want to protect him, don't you. [Jin states simply, catching that nuance left unsaid. It doesn't take a lot to gather that much, though.] I know how that feels. It's like you know you can't keep anything bad from happening to him, but you wish th--
[For a second it looks like he's going to just . . . uncross his legs and kick Jin right in his big stupid face. For which he'd be justified! But then.]
[A look of comprehension dawns. He's still a little pink, but also: he sees your game, Kung Jin.]
If you're trying to even the playing field, you're going to have to try a lot harder than that. Don't think I've forgotten the original topic of this conversation.
[Right, this is Giorno? Giorno doesn't always take the teasing well. Take the direct route.]
It really does feel good, having that person by your side... being able to see them and actually make sure they're fine. We aren't even from the same world, and I know I'd probably freak if Asher were transferred to another team, even if I knew he was all right.
Hm. Commonplace? No. Not in general. With people in my particular circle, though, it's quite common.
[Near-ubiquitous, actually. Thanks, Diavolo. Giorno fixes Jin with a Look.]
I won't have you pester Fugo about it. If he chooses to talk about his ability or lack thereof, that's what it will be: his choice.
[At least Giorno leaves it at that. There's no threat; he trusts, as much as he ever can, that Jin will at least try to leave well enough alone.]
My home is Napoli, in Italia. It is a very beautiful city with very ugly spaces, full of very good and very terrible people. And the space between is where I live, I suppose.
[He smiles a little, nostalgic. Homesick.]
It's on the ocean. We have a little section of beach that belongs to our palazzo; Trish makes me take walks on Sundays so I'll stop working. [A beat.] Trish is my friend. She's very beautiful and stubborn and ruthless and the smartest person I know.
Mista is my bodyguard. He's the one I thought of, before--when I was talking to Asher. He is very loyal. Sometimes too loyal. He used to put himself in harm's way too much, but . . . then I realized that was--no good. He is too important for that. So we work differently now. Or did, when he was still with me.
[For a moment, he's distant, looking elsewhere. Even after all this time, it's hard to count his friends and stop at three. It's hard to let your heart live for a while and then cut half of it away.]
. . . Fugo you know of. Fugo is Fugo. His business is his business. I suppose you could just ask him. I told him that I trust you, so he might even answer.
The rest of my team--the people I trust most are Polnareff, Sheila, and Murolo. Polnareff is my advisor. Sheila is Mista's second. [He grins sharply for a moment.] She'd destroy you, so lucky break she's not here. And Murolo is an asshole. But he's good at what he does.
[Jin listens intently, taking in those names and committing them to memory. Giorno speaks of them with the sort of sincerity that can't be faked; these are not the names of simple acquaintances. These are his people. Truly.]
A city by the sea sounds really beautiful, Giorno. I've never been to Italy, actually. I've been around Asia-- I spent a lot of time traveling when I was around your age [and he'll leave it at that, unless Giorno asks]-- but never Italy. And your team sound like they're good people, though: the kind you can really rely on no matter where you are.
[A grin.] Don't sell me short, by the way. I might still cut it with this Sheila, if she works with Mista. Especially if you're comparing me to him.
[The name 'Polnareff' rings familiar, but he'd only ever spoken to him once or twice: warming their hands around a campfire in ALASTAIR'S snowy campsite back in Perdition's Rest. Or, wait, hadn't that same man spoken to Giorno on the--]
Polnareff was here too, wasn't he? Really tall and broad [just say 'big titty' jin we all know], used a wheelchair? Was he transferred to another team?
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That's a relief. In spite of the circumstances, I guess. [distantly, he wonders how he'd feel with one of his own, here-- his cousin, battling with his newfound free will, one of his friends, torn from their own missions into this new and foreign one. He wouldn't wish being consigned into this upon them on principle, no matter how much good it's brought him.]
Is it an injury? Or some sort of illness.
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It's neither. It's--
[A sharp frown.]
I don't know that he'd want me to say. It isn't . . . mine to share.
[But he seems torn. Would Fugo share with anyone on his own? It's so unlikely.]
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As long as he's safe. You don't need to say it to help him with whatever burden he's got.
[He pauses to take a thoughtful sip from his cup of tea.]
I've been meaning to tell you for a while, Giorno. When you first told me about him, I really... felt it. How much you cared about him. [The weight of responsibility he's certain Giorno feels heavy upon his shoulders, but bears anyway, out of love.] He's really lucky to have you.
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[It's because he's so confused that he answers the way he does: honestly.]
Somebody should.
[Care about him, he means. And he's immediately upset with himself for saying it. Why is Jin suddenly good at getting him to talk about his feelings? It's terrible.]
[He opens his mouth to say Fugo doesn't think he's lucky, but ends up just shaking his head. He shouldn't say . . . any of that. He doesn't want Fugo to feel any more vulnerable than he already does. He wants so badly to protect him, more than anything else in the world (other than the world itself).]
1/3 im sorry giorno.
You want to protect him, don't you. [Jin states simply, catching that nuance left unsaid. It doesn't take a lot to gather that much, though.] I know how that feels. It's like you know you can't keep anything bad from happening to him, but you wish th--
2/3
3/3 whens my 7 pages of muda
[JUST MAKES THIS GODDAMN FACE AT GIORNO]
Interesting.
soon icly 5 sure
What . . .
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[here it comes]
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[SOMETHING IS ROTTEN HERE]
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[THERE IT IS]
1/??????????????? ? ? ? ? ?
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whoops that's done
[A look of comprehension dawns. He's still a little pink, but also: he sees your game, Kung Jin.]
If you're trying to even the playing field, you're going to have to try a lot harder than that. Don't think I've forgotten the original topic of this conversation.
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You didn't deny it, though.
[TOO LATE]
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[? is confuse.]
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Good point. All that talk about a 'warm' feeling? That had to have come from experience.
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[Giorno Giovanna do you think he doesn't remember what it feels like to be sixteen and Wanting To Kiss Every Boy.]
It sounded fresher. Like it was something recent moreso than a fond memory. Either way, I'm happy for you.
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You're happy you have something to make fun of me for.
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[Right, this is Giorno? Giorno doesn't always take the teasing well. Take the direct route.]
It really does feel good, having that person by your side... being able to see them and actually make sure they're fine. We aren't even from the same world, and I know I'd probably freak if Asher were transferred to another team, even if I knew he was all right.
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. . . Yes.
[SO SUSPICIOUS. But.]
I missed him. I missed all of them, but. I worried about him most.
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And now you don't have to worry. [...] Well, you can worry about him less. We're still here to get to work at the end of the day.
What's the rest of your team like, back home? Actually... I don't really know what your 'home' is like. Is having 'abilities' like yours commonplace?
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Hm. Commonplace? No. Not in general. With people in my particular circle, though, it's quite common.
[Near-ubiquitous, actually. Thanks, Diavolo. Giorno fixes Jin with a Look.]
I won't have you pester Fugo about it. If he chooses to talk about his ability or lack thereof, that's what it will be: his choice.
[At least Giorno leaves it at that. There's no threat; he trusts, as much as he ever can, that Jin will at least try to leave well enough alone.]
My home is Napoli, in Italia. It is a very beautiful city with very ugly spaces, full of very good and very terrible people. And the space between is where I live, I suppose.
[He smiles a little, nostalgic. Homesick.]
It's on the ocean. We have a little section of beach that belongs to our palazzo; Trish makes me take walks on Sundays so I'll stop working. [A beat.] Trish is my friend. She's very beautiful and stubborn and ruthless and the smartest person I know.
Mista is my bodyguard. He's the one I thought of, before--when I was talking to Asher. He is very loyal. Sometimes too loyal. He used to put himself in harm's way too much, but . . . then I realized that was--no good. He is too important for that. So we work differently now. Or did, when he was still with me.
[For a moment, he's distant, looking elsewhere. Even after all this time, it's hard to count his friends and stop at three. It's hard to let your heart live for a while and then cut half of it away.]
. . . Fugo you know of. Fugo is Fugo. His business is his business. I suppose you could just ask him. I told him that I trust you, so he might even answer.
The rest of my team--the people I trust most are Polnareff, Sheila, and Murolo. Polnareff is my advisor. Sheila is Mista's second. [He grins sharply for a moment.] She'd destroy you, so lucky break she's not here. And Murolo is an asshole. But he's good at what he does.
im a nerd i kno leave me be
A city by the sea sounds really beautiful, Giorno. I've never been to Italy, actually. I've been around Asia-- I spent a lot of time traveling when I was around your age [and he'll leave it at that, unless Giorno asks]-- but never Italy. And your team sound like they're good people, though: the kind you can really rely on no matter where you are.
[A grin.] Don't sell me short, by the way. I might still cut it with this Sheila, if she works with Mista. Especially if you're comparing me to him.
[The name 'Polnareff' rings familiar, but he'd only ever spoken to him once or twice: warming their hands around a campfire in ALASTAIR'S snowy campsite back in Perdition's Rest. Or, wait, hadn't that same man spoken to Giorno on the--]
Polnareff was here too, wasn't he? Really tall and broad [just say 'big titty' jin we all know], used a wheelchair? Was he transferred to another team?
never
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