[But I'm not your family, and the words are on the tip of his tongue. Certainly the confusion registers on his face. It isn't a rejection, not on his end-- but how can Bruno say something like that when they barely know each other? This isn't Giorno, who knows him so well in the future-- from what Bruno's told him, they only exchanged a handful of words.]
[Bruno turns to face Polnareff better as he explains.]
Giorno considers you a part of Passione and that's enough for me. Giorno thinks highly of you and cares for you, and my loyalty to him will always guarantee you my loyalty as well. That's all it should take from anyone in Passione provided you meet and protect his interests. But your place with Passione, from your perspective, is still the future. Giorno wouldn't have held it against you if you had chosen to keep your distance and I think you've always known that, but that's not what you chose. You've chosen to stay and keep a close eye on him as best you can.
[Bruno folds his arms loosely in front of himself.]
Maybe you're not exactly the same man Giorno remembers in Napoli, [he says, shaking his head a little,] I'm not the right person to make that call, anyway. But I can at least see the beginnings of the man who will look after Giorno, Mista, Trish, and perhaps even Fugo when he's ready, when I will no longer be able to. You protect the future I died for in choosing to look after Giorno now, even when you have no obligation.
That means something to me, Polnareff.
[Bruno places a hand on the center of his chest, over his heart, but doesn't let himself become distracted by its steady beat as he so often does. He doesn't need that right now.]
La mia famiglia è tutto e tutto è per la mia famiglia.
[Sometimes he's a little stunned by all this. It isn't that he and Jotaro and Kakyoin don't have the same bonds of camaraderie and loyalty; it isn't that those feelings run any shallower or less intensely. The things that Bruno says-- famiglia, and all the sacrifices and love that the word contains-- he can easily apply to the other crusaders.
But maybe it's different because he's gone through all that with them. Those feelings came from things he can recall; Giorno's-- and by extension Bruno's-- loyalty is still something touched with mystery. You protect the future I died for, and god, but thinking of it like that is terrifying.
All of this means that Polnareff exhales unsteadily, glancing away, unsure how to respond in a way that won't offend or sound false.]
Bruno--
[He meets his gaze again.]
Well. That answers my question, I guess. On-boat and off.
[It's a weak answer, and he scowls, annoyed at himself for it. Christ.]
Look, I just mean-- I appreciate it. Is all. And return it. You're one of Giorno's closest friends, and Jotaro and Kakyoin think you're great, and I mean, you seem it, so--
[Bruno is patient as Polnareff scrapes to find the right words and how he wants to say it exactly, saying nothing and his expression still as he watches him. It seems as though he's managed to catch Polnareff completely off-guard. How Polnareff chooses to respond, however, doesn't matter nearly as much as he understands what Bruno's told him. And he seems to even if the words in return aren't coming as clearly or easily.]
[Bruno isn't the type to self-deprecate, but he does think the opinions other hold of him are somewhat inflated at times. Bruno wouldn't deny that he does as much as he can as best as he can, but he doesn't see anything particularly extraordinary about any of it. Bruno ducks his head a little in a small nod and gentle smile.]
Grazie. [Bruno turns away again to look over the work of their Stands.] Mm, one or two more should do it and give us a little extra just in case.
[Emotional moment: semi-successfully navigated. Not only that, but he's going to walk away with even more things to think about-- because it was one thing to go through all this with Giorno in mind, and quite another to include Bruno in that thought process.
But! That's for far later in the evening. For now, Polnareff offers a grin-- not his brightest or his most enthusiastic, but vibrant and genuine enough.]
Please. Chariot is built for speed.
[The Stand in question straightens up, back arching, presenting himself a little. But if it's to be a race-- and it is, because he loves a challenge-- he's going to press every advantage. With a little hiss Chariot's armor falls away, disappearing into nothingness.]
[Bruno's surprised to see a change in Chariot's form since it's not often a Stand changes its form in a way that doesn't impact the user, but he puts two and two together as to the purpose of ditching the armor almost immediately. He chuckles softly.]
You're free to think what you want, but I'd advise against counting Sticky Fingers out like that.
[Five bucks to the winner, that's his usual bet, because it's cheap but worth winning-- but of course they don't have that here, do they. And you can't say, oh, a moose carcass to the winner, that's stupid, so--]
Six pack of beer to the winner, yeah? I can't just do this for bragging right.
[Suddenly the air before them blurs-- quite literally blurs, because without his armor Chariot is impossible to track. A streak of silver, that's all he is, blade flashing as he tears into the tree. His precision is a little off, he can't be nearly so exact when he's moving so fast-- but nor is it a sloppy effort. Polnareff watches, a flush on his cheeks-- it's hard, exerting Chariot like this, he doesn't usually make him move so fast because it's tiring-- but he's beyond pleased.
But if Chariot is a force of speed-- and he is, undoubtedly so-- so is Sticky Fingers. When Polnareff manages to tear his gaze away from his Stand, he notes in surprise he's not that much in the lead. Bruno's Stand is more than just quick; he's nearly as fast as Chariot, and suddenly Polnareff wonders if he's going to win at all.
--no, he's definitely going to. It's Silver Chariot-- his claim to fame is speed, and he's not about to be ousted by some Italian punk who thinks too highly of his user. Polnareff grins as his tree falls-- it's just a few seconds ahead of Sticky Fingers, but a few seconds are all he needs.]
[Bruno expected that Chariot would be fast. The Stand was already quite impressive in its speed with its armor still on, but with it off and Polnareff looking to win, Silver Chariot managed to go far beyond Bruno's expectations. He's almost shell-shocked. Sticky Fingers was among the faster Stands in Passione. There really weren't any that could match him even among his team. And yet, here is Chariot...]
[Bruno's attention moves from the Stands to Polnareff again.]
I never had a chance to see what Silver Chariot could do before. He's impressive, Polnareff. [Maybe a comment like that from anybody else might seem underwhelming, but he's impressive encompasses much more than it would appear on the surface when Bruno says it. Bruno's expression is far too open and genuine in his delighted surprise to make a comment like that as a hollow acknowledgement.] He's the first Stand I've ever seen outpace Sticky Fingers.
[He huffs a little laugh, his gaze as proud as any parent's, and tears his gaze away from Chariot long enough to flash Bruno a grin. He's terribly pleased, both by Chariot's performance and Bruno's admiration. Incredible, and it's a good thing Chariot's so busy with his felled tree, because he'd be preening under the admiration otherwise.]
Sticky Fingers is the first I've seen keep up.
[That's not strictly true-- Star is built for speed, and Polnareff hasn't forgotten the Anubis fight, where Star's fists repelled nearly all his thrusts-- but he wants to return the sentiment. Besides, Sticky Fingers is quick-- Polnareff sneaks a glance back over at the Stand, watching as he moves.]
I could have made it a little more difficult for you, but I felt I should play fair.
[Because really, all it would have taken is popping off a fist after getting within a certain distance and that tree would have been history in an instant. But it really would have been cheating and Polnareff would have been uncomfortable with it. So, it's for the best that Bruno held back.]
[Don't ask about the time he unzipped his own heart, Polanreff. You won't sleep for a week. Bruno shakes his head a little.]
You're probably better off asking someone like Kakyoin or even Giorno. Sticky Fingers doesn't have any other abilities than what you've seen, [he says with a small gesture to his Stand, which is in the process of unzipping the tree into even cuts of board,] which means I've had to get creative in using it for fights. You wouldn't like it.
Well, fuck that,, then. I wanted to spar with them, I'd've asked them.
[Meaning: the point is to spend time with Bruno, not necessarily to fight. Still! He appreciates the honesty, and so adds:]
Creative like how?
[Asked as he heads toward Chariot. Grabbing the sheets of wood already trimmed, he begins stacking them, organizing each into easily carried piles. Maybe they'll just store them in the backyard; that seems as good a place as any.]
Well, that depends on whether or not I'm trying to kill them. [That's said about as nonchalantly as one would anticipate the former head of a team of assassins would say it.] That makes a difference as to whether or not I'm trying to completely separate them into pieces or trying to immobilize them, but generally speaking once I know the person's style, I know where to go from there.
So someone like you... [Bruno looks at Chariot briefly with a small hum before he gestures to Polanreff's legs, his gaze moving back to the Stand's user.] I'd go for the legs first. Most of your offense is in your arms, but so is your defense. I take away one of your legs, then it's just a matter of getting to your arms before you can react, but failing that I'd take your head. Provided I didn't want to kill or torture you, once your arms were taken care of, I could reattach it immediately after and you'd be fine, but that would be more than enough to disorient you to make taking your arms easy enough.
Though if I didn't want to go through the trouble of disassembling you, I could just as easily open and close plenty of holes for you to get stuck in regardless of our environment until you couldn't move. I use holes like that to get around faster, too, or even to create an escape if the fight's not going in my favor, or hide when necessary. Of course, I can't stay in the spaces I create forever since I need to breathe, but I can last quite a while so it's still something I can use to my advantage.
[Being a fisherman's son has its advantages, tell you what.]
And I've unzipped parts of my body to avoid hits as well, [he says, gesturing with a small up and down motion in front of his fact to indicate that he's most certainly split his head into two pieces to dodge in the past.]
[Well, he had asked. And while it's initially somewhat disturbing to hear himself so neatly analyzed, it's not as if he hasn't gone through the same thought process with Bruno. He suspects they all of them do it, he and Jotaro and Giorno and Kakyoin-- it's reflex, at this point. They've faced too many enemies-- hell, they've fought one another often enough-- not to.
So Polnareff's expression is thoughtful as he hears all that. It's an intriguing Stand, no doubt about it, and he glances up at Sticky Fingers.]
Huh. Is there any limit to how long one bit of somebody can be detached, or's there a time limit?
The body still needs blood and oxygen to survive, so it's about the same as a limb that's been severed through more traditional means. [So, there's definitely a time limit before whatever's been detached will simply die or be impossible to reattach.] Granted, a head doesn't need to be attached to a neck talk or anything like that. The brain will just eventually shut down and die if it's left unattached for too long.
That's a hell of an ability for someone in your position to have.
[He can well imagine, even outside of a fight, how useful that might be. Bruno had teased about knowing how to get information out of him, but suddenly Polnareff wonders how much of a joke that really was.]
Hey. Can you zip a space for us to carry all this back home?
[. . . oh. Oh. He actually pulls a face, because he really doesn't like that thought, but at the same time, he doesn't want to lug it all back in multiple trips . . .]
What-- what exactly happens if it goes in me? Do I feel it?
[Bruno's eyebrows raise in surprise. He'd have thought Polnareff would have backed off it immediately regardless of who it'd be suggested carry the wood.]
I don't exactly make it a habit to store things inside people, but you wouldn't feel a difference.
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[His grin fades a little, now, as he studies Bruno's posture, trying to read his meaning.]
But not the rest.
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"Family is everything."
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Is that what we are?
[Quietly, and he rubs the back of his neck.]
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Giorno considers you a part of Passione and that's enough for me. Giorno thinks highly of you and cares for you, and my loyalty to him will always guarantee you my loyalty as well. That's all it should take from anyone in Passione provided you meet and protect his interests. But your place with Passione, from your perspective, is still the future. Giorno wouldn't have held it against you if you had chosen to keep your distance and I think you've always known that, but that's not what you chose. You've chosen to stay and keep a close eye on him as best you can.
[Bruno folds his arms loosely in front of himself.]
Maybe you're not exactly the same man Giorno remembers in Napoli, [he says, shaking his head a little,] I'm not the right person to make that call, anyway. But I can at least see the beginnings of the man who will look after Giorno, Mista, Trish, and perhaps even Fugo when he's ready, when I will no longer be able to. You protect the future I died for in choosing to look after Giorno now, even when you have no obligation.
That means something to me, Polnareff.
[Bruno places a hand on the center of his chest, over his heart, but doesn't let himself become distracted by its steady beat as he so often does. He doesn't need that right now.]
La mia famiglia è tutto e tutto è per la mia famiglia.
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But maybe it's different because he's gone through all that with them. Those feelings came from things he can recall; Giorno's-- and by extension Bruno's-- loyalty is still something touched with mystery. You protect the future I died for, and god, but thinking of it like that is terrifying.
All of this means that Polnareff exhales unsteadily, glancing away, unsure how to respond in a way that won't offend or sound false.]
Bruno--
[He meets his gaze again.]
Well. That answers my question, I guess. On-boat and off.
[It's a weak answer, and he scowls, annoyed at himself for it. Christ.]
Look, I just mean-- I appreciate it. Is all. And return it. You're one of Giorno's closest friends, and Jotaro and Kakyoin think you're great, and I mean, you seem it, so--
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[Bruno isn't the type to self-deprecate, but he does think the opinions other hold of him are somewhat inflated at times. Bruno wouldn't deny that he does as much as he can as best as he can, but he doesn't see anything particularly extraordinary about any of it. Bruno ducks his head a little in a small nod and gentle smile.]
Grazie. [Bruno turns away again to look over the work of their Stands.] Mm, one or two more should do it and give us a little extra just in case.
[He looks back at Polnareff again.]
What do you say we see who's faster?
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But! That's for far later in the evening. For now, Polnareff offers a grin-- not his brightest or his most enthusiastic, but vibrant and genuine enough.]
Please. Chariot is built for speed.
[The Stand in question straightens up, back arching, presenting himself a little. But if it's to be a race-- and it is, because he loves a challenge-- he's going to press every advantage. With a little hiss Chariot's armor falls away, disappearing into nothingness.]
I mean, if you want to lose, by all means . . .
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You're free to think what you want, but I'd advise against counting Sticky Fingers out like that.
[He tips his head a little to one side.]
The count of three then?
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[Five bucks to the winner, that's his usual bet, because it's cheap but worth winning-- but of course they don't have that here, do they. And you can't say, oh, a moose carcass to the winner, that's stupid, so--]
Six pack of beer to the winner, yeah? I can't just do this for bragging right.
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Alright, six pack to the winner. Ready?
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One-- two-- three!
[Suddenly the air before them blurs-- quite literally blurs, because without his armor Chariot is impossible to track. A streak of silver, that's all he is, blade flashing as he tears into the tree. His precision is a little off, he can't be nearly so exact when he's moving so fast-- but nor is it a sloppy effort. Polnareff watches, a flush on his cheeks-- it's hard, exerting Chariot like this, he doesn't usually make him move so fast because it's tiring-- but he's beyond pleased.
But if Chariot is a force of speed-- and he is, undoubtedly so-- so is Sticky Fingers. When Polnareff manages to tear his gaze away from his Stand, he notes in surprise he's not that much in the lead. Bruno's Stand is more than just quick; he's nearly as fast as Chariot, and suddenly Polnareff wonders if he's going to win at all.
--no, he's definitely going to. It's Silver Chariot-- his claim to fame is speed, and he's not about to be ousted by some Italian punk who thinks too highly of his user. Polnareff grins as his tree falls-- it's just a few seconds ahead of Sticky Fingers, but a few seconds are all he needs.]
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[Bruno expected that Chariot would be fast. The Stand was already quite impressive in its speed with its armor still on, but with it off and Polnareff looking to win, Silver Chariot managed to go far beyond Bruno's expectations. He's almost shell-shocked. Sticky Fingers was among the faster Stands in Passione. There really weren't any that could match him even among his team. And yet, here is Chariot...]
[Bruno's attention moves from the Stands to Polnareff again.]
I never had a chance to see what Silver Chariot could do before. He's impressive, Polnareff. [Maybe a comment like that from anybody else might seem underwhelming, but he's impressive encompasses much more than it would appear on the surface when Bruno says it. Bruno's expression is far too open and genuine in his delighted surprise to make a comment like that as a hollow acknowledgement.] He's the first Stand I've ever seen outpace Sticky Fingers.
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Sticky Fingers is the first I've seen keep up.
[That's not strictly true-- Star is built for speed, and Polnareff hasn't forgotten the Anubis fight, where Star's fists repelled nearly all his thrusts-- but he wants to return the sentiment. Besides, Sticky Fingers is quick-- Polnareff sneaks a glance back over at the Stand, watching as he moves.]
I thought it'd be an easy win.
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I could have made it a little more difficult for you, but I felt I should play fair.
[Because really, all it would have taken is popping off a fist after getting within a certain distance and that tree would have been history in an instant. But it really would have been cheating and Polnareff would have been uncomfortable with it. So, it's for the best that Bruno held back.]
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[Because while he loves fighting, he'll forgo a match in favor of keeping himself together.]
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Or myself, depending on the circumstance.
[Don't ask about the time he unzipped his own heart, Polanreff. You won't sleep for a week. Bruno shakes his head a little.]
You're probably better off asking someone like Kakyoin or even Giorno. Sticky Fingers doesn't have any other abilities than what you've seen, [he says with a small gesture to his Stand, which is in the process of unzipping the tree into even cuts of board,] which means I've had to get creative in using it for fights. You wouldn't like it.
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Well, fuck that,, then. I wanted to spar with them, I'd've asked them.
[Meaning: the point is to spend time with Bruno, not necessarily to fight. Still! He appreciates the honesty, and so adds:]
Creative like how?
[Asked as he heads toward Chariot. Grabbing the sheets of wood already trimmed, he begins stacking them, organizing each into easily carried piles. Maybe they'll just store them in the backyard; that seems as good a place as any.]
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So someone like you... [Bruno looks at Chariot briefly with a small hum before he gestures to Polanreff's legs, his gaze moving back to the Stand's user.] I'd go for the legs first. Most of your offense is in your arms, but so is your defense. I take away one of your legs, then it's just a matter of getting to your arms before you can react, but failing that I'd take your head. Provided I didn't want to kill or torture you, once your arms were taken care of, I could reattach it immediately after and you'd be fine, but that would be more than enough to disorient you to make taking your arms easy enough.
Though if I didn't want to go through the trouble of disassembling you, I could just as easily open and close plenty of holes for you to get stuck in regardless of our environment until you couldn't move. I use holes like that to get around faster, too, or even to create an escape if the fight's not going in my favor, or hide when necessary. Of course, I can't stay in the spaces I create forever since I need to breathe, but I can last quite a while so it's still something I can use to my advantage.
[Being a fisherman's son has its advantages, tell you what.]
And I've unzipped parts of my body to avoid hits as well, [he says, gesturing with a small up and down motion in front of his fact to indicate that he's most certainly split his head into two pieces to dodge in the past.]
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So Polnareff's expression is thoughtful as he hears all that. It's an intriguing Stand, no doubt about it, and he glances up at Sticky Fingers.]
Huh. Is there any limit to how long one bit of somebody can be detached, or's there a time limit?
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That's a hell of an ability for someone in your position to have.
[He can well imagine, even outside of a fight, how useful that might be. Bruno had teased about knowing how to get information out of him, but suddenly Polnareff wonders how much of a joke that really was.]
Hey. Can you zip a space for us to carry all this back home?
[Hopefully not in him.]
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Polnareff, of the two of us, who do you think I could fit more into?
[Sorry, buddy. There's no avoiding lugging the wood back otherwise.]
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What-- what exactly happens if it goes in me? Do I feel it?
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I don't exactly make it a habit to store things inside people, but you wouldn't feel a difference.
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