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.
[ 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. ]
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.
You'd have a better reason to yell at me to get outside. Help you with keeping this land growing.
[ 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. ]
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?