So just how close are you to my son, Giorno? His most faithful subordinate perhaps?

_{———HE FAILED TO SMILE DESPITE THE DESIRE TO FORCE IT. to his own knowledge, the man before him was no giovanna. buccellati hadn’t exactly delved deep into the profile of his family, bits and pieces of a puzzle that never truly made a difference. his step father was italian, that he knew. really, it was unnecessary to the equation now that giorno was his ally.}

_{❝ who are you really? ❞
face as stoic as marble, he readied himself in the event of an attack. to be approached like this by a man who held no notable relationship to his comrade… it reeked of suspicion.}

❝ What if when you kissed someone, you were able to suck the fillings out of their teeth? WOULDN’T THAT BE JUST SUPER GROSS? ❞

_{———IT’S THE KIND OF WORDING THAT MAKES HIS EYE TWITCH. not in the way its imagery danced in the mind — disgusting, revolting, as though it were made to have the skin crawl — but rather how such a tactic ought to be employed. was this kid trying to intimidate him? he rubbed a circle into his palm, thumb then lifting to brush his own lip.}

_{❝ i don’t get it… wouldn’t you be more concerned about why someone is sucking your fillings out? ❞
he smiled, biting down on the nail bed softly as though it bothered him. brows knit together in an inquisitive look, he laughed as he stared the other down from where he stood.}

❝ is it everyday you approach with that kind of ice breaker? ❞

_{———❝ I’VE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS CAFE. let me see what i like on the menu? ❞
a curl of the lip which ebbed into a faint smile. he’d come near to closing, the space devoid of patrons and floor wet with dilute cleaner. hand exiting his pocket, buccellati waved a finger around the large display above, reading over the items below his breath.}

_{❝ sorry, were you planning on leaving anytime soon? ❞}

_{@nebula-horizon sc}

_{———❝ YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL ALONE. not anymore, at the very least. ❞
it’s an assurance he has trouble making. the path they chose had sentenced their party to a world of hurt worse than the one they had already escaped from. though not the best at words of comfort, buccellati could understand the girl’s feelings. they were fighting a battle on two fronts.}

_{@fatenegato sc}

_{———❝ YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING FACE! are you one of those cosplayers i hear about? ❞}

_{@magellaniic sc}

_{———❝ STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE. someone told it to me the other day. ❞
creasing the end of his lapel, the man leaned forward, hands folded together between his legs. gaze on the woman, he managed to keep his attention sharp as they continued this little charade. he knew better than to let his guard down with her in close proximity. he’d been approached alone, a sign of confidence at the very least.}

_{❝ a roman guy walks into a bar, holds up two fingers. five, please, he says. ❞}

_{@deabaciata sc}

_{tag dump!}