![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
NOCTIUM INBOX
« zeppeli » TEXT ✧ AUDIO ✧ VIDEO ✧ ACTIONCaesar Zeppeli ✦ jjba RESIDENCE ✦ EMERALD DISTRICT with Joseph Joestar
GEMBOND ✦ amethyst INFO ✧ PERMISSIONS ✧ KINKLIST
« zeppeli » TEXT ✧ AUDIO ✧ VIDEO ✧ ACTIONCaesar Zeppeli ✦ jjba RESIDENCE ✦ EMERALD DISTRICT with Joseph Joestar
GEMBOND ✦ amethyst INFO ✧ PERMISSIONS ✧ KINKLIST
GOBLINA
The man's whims and flights of fancy are as erratic as they are mind-boggling. Moments of sincerity are wrapped around exhausting ventures that remind Caesar why he's friends with JoJo to begin with-that there's a great benefit and meaning behind his ploys, but-
It doesn't make it less taxing. Any less of a risk to his, so far, peaceful day.]
And if it's not? That's five minutes you'll owe me, you know. Are you willing to take that risk?
[His tone is far from annoyed-they've already gone through their morning routine, their typical spat, that lasted less than normal. What can he say-he's in a good mood.
His palm rests against the splayed fingers over his eyes-not pulling them or moving them away. He's morbidly curious about what's about to happen and-
If it's a pie in the face or some other shenanigan, he can grab his hand before he runs off to give him the pounding he deserves.]
no subject
[ It's likely that Caesar can hear the grin in his voice. Maybe with some surprises, Caesar would easily be able to ignore him and wave it off like he didn't actually like it, but in this case, he's convinced that he's got a winning hand and he'll be taking home the jackpot.
Very gently, he weaves them through a small wooded area until they come across a field. His hands slowly drop from Caesar's eyes and rest on his shoulders. The sight before them is a field that's covered in flowers that look akin to sunflowers. They're slightly off in shape, color, and size, but they're close enough to give off the important sentiment. Right in the middle is a large cooler that's locked up. (To keep any wildlife from cracking it open before they arrived, that is.) ]
Happy Birthday, Caesar Zeppeli.
no subject
It's that sincerity. That candor. That bizarre Joestar trait that surprises him with its frankness and stirs that something like-
Well, he doesn't want to touch that thought. He ties it up and lets it sink to the bottom of the metaphorical emotional ocean.
That doesn't stop his chest from swelling with warmth, as if hamon itself is bubbling in his soul at the sight.
And then he speaks-says Happy Birthday like it's only natural he knows what day it is, when Caesar knows the date has never passed his lips. It's never been a topic. Only Lisa Lisa and Suzi knew-a testament to his Father's time there, he imagines.]
What a gamble.
[There's an airy, relaxed exhale that follows-his hand pressing into the sloppy mess of brunet hair behind him to ruffle.]
Is there ever a time you don't have a trick up your sleeve?
no subject
[ There's a laugh to his voice now and he's so glad by the positive response. He knew it'd be good, but not quite to this degree. Or that Caesar would let himself show it this much. It warms his heart and the soft affection can be felt through their points of contact with their bond. It's almost a soft electric happiness that's akin to their hamon being traded.
His lips pressed softly against Caesar's ear as he nuzzles lightly. His voice quiets even more with the proximity. ]
You know, we could buy it. I was thinking of doing that to surprise you, but I wanted to make sure this would be a place you'd love. We could build a house here. Any design we want...
[ Of course, they'd have to clear out some of the flowers from their natural habitat, but most of them would be preserved if they bought this piece of land out in the middle of nowhere. It would make things a little more bothersome to get stuff from the town, but they could stock up. This would also allow Caesar to leave his shitty job and do something he'd enjoy more. He could have his own garden and raise the land as he wanted. It would be a home. ]
no subject
The implication behind the true nature of this gift isn't subtle and-
It's at that moment Caesar realizes what they've gotten themselves into. An understanding that hits him like punch shared between bitter rivals on a stony seaside cliff. JoJo's talking about a house of their own, as if they're a couple. Like this is the next step in their relationship-
One that doesn't exist. It never has. There's no deep meaning behind their living arrangements-they were together in Air Supplena and it was only natural to follow suit here. To keep JoJo out of all the trouble he was prone to getting involved in. Everything else that followed-
Was a product of stress and an unfocused passion-it's something he can't describe because it's impossible to put any sort of name to what they're doing. He doesn't know either and that ignorance is blossoming to a head now. The consequences of all their afternoons together twisting their relationship into an amalgamation of something real.
But those lips against his ear remind him why this escalated from day one and his fingers grip the locks-an unintentional, automatic reaction. It's a gentle tug that pulls him away and gives him the room to stare at JoJo's expression.
This isn't a trick. It's not a ploy. It's an earnest, genuine request and it makes sense, in the grand scheme of things.
Makes sense to live alone instead of bothering their neighbors. JoJo's stream room could be bigger and further away from their sleeping quarters. The fresh air and silence in this section of land more enticing than the loud roads outside the free apartments. It's the fact he wants to be somewhere else, but-
Not alone. He wants to be somewhere else with him.
Another realization he shoves into the emotional suitcase to deal with another day.]
JoJo-
You know what that means, don't you? You aren't as ignorant as you appear-building a house together implies more than you might intend.
[He's earnest at times and while Caesar once thought him a complete moron in any area of romance, he's finding that to be a skill JoJo has excelled at in rapid time.
His lips brush the side of his cheek and in a dry, almost teasing tone, he adds-]
Even if I'm sure the neighbors would enjoy not hearing you through the walls anymore.
no subject
[ Joseph might be caught doing foolish things, ofttimes on purpose, but this is not one of those moments where he's playing any part of the oblivious fool. This is real and while he isn't asking for any solidification of their relationship by any means, he also knows that the implications would be there. It would most certainly bring about some type of change in the dynamic and he's more than fine with this.
His head leans to kiss at Caesar's shoulder and closes his eyes as he makes a soft humming sound. He's thinking about his next words and how to craft them. ]
But does that really matter? Doesn't that all sound right?
[ It felt like it was appropriate to cultivate things here. He knows it is something he cannot have at home and it won't change the future he'll have there. He won't let it and his arms tighten just a bit more around Caesar. ]
None of this has been a regret for me.
no subject
In the shaking fingers attached to a man's outstretched arm, in the faces of crying children being pulled from their childhood home, in the eye of a friend bleeding in his arms and-
It's not here. It's not in the face of an all too irritating man pressing a kiss into his shoulder-an action that feels too natural.
Regret's not in the bright, bright eyes of someone with a quick enough wit to parse out his favorite sight from nothing. Words were never exchanged, no note ever made. He should have never found this place because it should mean nothing to both of them.
JoJo's too bright for his own good and he's suddenly all too reminded of that pointed birthmark against his shoulder blade-a sign of fate's influence, maybe. Of a destiny that goes beyond this plot of land.
But this implication is more than a secret whispered in an empty field. JoJo has family here-people who know the world that awaits him. Know who he should be sharing a home with.
It's temporary and-
It's a problem and-
What they're doing is a mockery of what a family should be, of what a home should be filled with and-
He presses his fingertips into the hands wrapped around his body, rubbing the the smooth skin on the back of his hand with his thumb.]
Of course there's nothing you regret.
[There's a taunt ready to fall from his lips-a simple retort about what would JoJo have to lament about. Homecooked meals? A warm bed? Clean clothes? But the yellow field shows more sincerity than he ever expected, more effort than he ever thought the man capable of.
And he doesn't regret any surprise that's come with whatever this is. Whatever they're doing, for however long they're able to play this game. One of them will call chicken someday-he's sure of it.
His words are slow. Cautious. As if they're treading thin ice that's cracking below their feet with every step.]
You have better taste than I thought. A house here would be picturesque.
[A home.]
It would be easier to grow our own food. We wouldn't need to eat that trash in the store.
no subject
[ Of course, he'd complain and whine and try to get out of chores, but eventually he'd relent to it. Honestly, he could imagine the soft mornings of them waking up together and sharing a few kisses, crawling out of bed together to enjoy an early breakfast, then working on the land. He knows Caesar would insist on him working on his breathing technique as they farmed.
He moves one of his hands to point to an area in particular. Somewhere closer to the wooded area. ]
We could clear those trees and make a sparring area, since I know you'd insist on training. That way we wouldn't have to ruin the flowers or the garden.
[ He even ignores the fact that Caesar gave a dig on his tastes. Of course he has great taste. Not that he'd tell Caesar that he was included in his good taste.
But for Joseph, this isn't a game. This is real. This is as real as the life he's going to have back home. If Caesar was around... was able to live... things would have been different at home. Would he have ended up with his wife and kids? Probably. But that wouldn't erase the feelings that were budding between him and the friend he made. Someone that etched himself so deeply on Joseph's soul that he knows there wouldn't be a day that went by where he didn't think of him. ]
So, should we?