[The dog speaking would be a little more jarring if it didn't already have curly ram horns on its head. (And if he didn't recognize her voice right away.) He takes a moment to take in the unusual appearance. Bruno stays standing and where he is, but Sticky Fingers moves forward and down into a crouch between them.]
[The dog wiggles in place before rolling over onto its back like it's begging to be pet. Which...is Izabel's goal, so yeah. All the while its tail never stops.]
The ones from Wreath, sure. Lots of things have horns there.
[She digs at the air around Sticky Fingers from where she lies, paws getting more transparent the closer they get to the Stand. As similar as she could be to Stands, it would still seem that work had to be done to make the connection.]
[...Okay, that's weird. But you know, at this point in his life, Bruno just rolls with weird and accepts it without fuss. Instead, he shifts his focus to what they were out here to do in the first place and nods to Sticky Fingers.]
I'm not super sure what it is you guys do. [The dog flips over again, and this time props its chin on its palm in a way no dog should be able to do.] It's making the Stand more like me and less solid. Once it matches up, then we won't go through each other.
[...Izabel, that's weird. Please stop. Bruno is staring a little now. The guy who can unzip parts of his body is staring. But he comes back out of it slowly once he just...tries to dismiss how weird and unnatural it looks.]
That's simple enough. I do that with Sticky Fingers anyway sometimes to use his ability. [How else are you going to subtly stuff fingers inside someone's mouth with a zipper if you don't let your Stand be transparent enough not to be noticed.] Maintaining it for extended periods of time might take a little more practice, however.
[But letting Sticky Fingers fade into something a little more transparent isn't that difficult. It's keeping him there beyond thirty seconds or so that takes a little more concentration from Bruno to hold it steady and not slip too far in either direction. But once he does have it stabilized, Sticky Fingers holds out a hand to her. Don't worry. No unzipping will occur.]
[The dog does indeed stop, switching to a more appropriate paws-on-ground way of resting its chin and going back to an expectant wag in its tail. Even without this particular illusion, the look she's giving Bruno could only be described as puppy dog eyes.
When the hand is offered, the dog lifts its head and shifts forward. Instead of melting into nothingness like before, the illusion melts into Izabel, who tentatively, gently slides her fingers between those of Sticky Fingers before a bright, happy smile appears. She moves even closer, curling her fingers to give the Stand a squeeze, like reassuring herself that he was there and real, then she's closing her eyes and resting her cheek against him.]
[The feel of Izabel's hand in Sticky Fingers' hand is an unusual sensation. The can feel the light pressure from her hand and that small squeeze before her eyes close and she's resting her cheek against Sticky Fingers. All of this is so unusual because most touches through Sticky Fingers are violent ones and the rest are typically neutral. Bruno's own fingers at his side instinctively curl.]
I assume you've done this with Gold Experience already. Anyone else?
[She nods, still against Sticky Fingers's hand, then opens her eyes and pulls away (more than a little reluctantly, even if it was only a little bit) so she can get a better look at Bruno.]
I met the Pistols, too, and Kakyoin introduced me to Hierophant. Woulda asked you sooner, but I took opportunities as they came, you know?
[Bruno nods a little. It makes sense. Giorno would be the first to try and Mista would follow suit. As for Kakyoin, well, Hierophant is almost always around in some form or another.]
I take it I don't need to tell you not to bother with asking Abbacchio?
[It wouldn't be impossible for her to see Moody Blues herself some day, but touching? Bruno can't think of a single circumstance in which Abbacchio would ever allow for that.]
Everyone in my team had a Stand. [So yeah, a little bit obvious.] I'm only telling this because you're one of ours as far as I'm concerned, but I won't talk about their abilities or what their Stands are even called.
[Hmn. Izabel looks down to back down to the hand in hers, and with her free one starts tracing along Sticky Fingers's arm.]
...Yeah. I guess I'd want it that way, too. [Someone's will, their spirit... It was intimate, getting to know them.] Hey. I have another question, if that's okay.
[Her fingers pause then, because she's suddenly trying to explain to herself why she's been doing that. Bruno was always so calm and collected... Maybe in a way she was still testing the waters, waiting for the storm. Still uncertain, she returns the squeeze and exhales slowly.]
Right. Yeah, sorry. [She shakes her head, chuckling a little.] Anyway, when I was talking to Abbacchio, he asked and I...was kind of wondering myself, so... Why am I one of yours? That... It's really important, so why some ghost chick you just met?
[A slow smile begins crossing his face as she speaks. Abbacchio probably knows by now on his own why Bruno would be keen on taking her in as family so quickly and so readily. Bruno has his habits.]
Some ghost chick I just met? We must remember it differently then. I remember meeting a bright, inquisitive young woman who proved herself to be not only enjoyable company, but compassionate and warm. She was just without her family.
[He cants his head slightly to one side.]
Don't misunderstand, I didn't pity you and I'd never claim that Passione could replace what you have back home. I just don't believe that good people are meant to be alone. [Hence why he's with Abbacchio instead of with Giorno and Mista if there was ever a question about that.] That's why, stellina.
[Can ghosts blush? If they're already so pink, could you tell? Izabel ducks her head, resting her smile against the Stand's thumb so science can avoid having to answer these questions today.]
Well shit, man. Glad to be here. [...] I dunno if I could ever explain that to someone without getting embarrassed, but... Cool.
[She allows herself to sink closer and fully against him, a happy sigh escaping. How strange that when she was getting close to Hierophant like this, it felt like she was the big sister all over again, but with Bruno and Sticky Fingers... While she would protect him just as fiercely, he made her feel smaller, safer.]
[Good, she thinks but doesn't say, content to stay as they are for a little longer. Finally, though, she shifts again, pulling back so she can examine Sticky Fingers. She gives the gold slider around his neck a gentle poke.]
[It helps that she's breached the subject with the others a little -- Gold Experience's ladybugs to match Giorno's like of them, Hierophant's color because it was Kakyoin's favorite.]
[Okay... Izabel pulls away from the Stand completely then, giving him space to work. Even if something like Emerald Splash was specific to Hierophant, it seemed better to not be all up in their business while they demonstrated. She gives a nod, still looking confused but eager as well, now.]
[It's not a bad idea to give space around Stands. At least she's learned that much. But fortunately, there's not much space needed for Sticky Fingers to do its thing. With a single ari, Sticky Fingers strikes the ground beneath it and a large zipper appears, sliding open to reveal space that shouldn't and couldn't possibly exist. Bruno steps over and into the opening, Sticky Fingers diving in after. As soon as Sticky Fingers disappear, the zipper closes and disappears. If Izabel takes the time to inspect the sand, she'll see it's more or less like nothing even happened.]
[It's only a few seconds, but another zipper appears and opens behind Izabel a couple of feet away. Bruno's hands appear first as he hoists himself up, Sticky Fingers floating behind him. Of course, normally he'd keep Sticky Fingers in front of him as a defensive measure, but there's no need for this demonstration.]
That's just one example, but I think that gives you a pretty good idea.
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[late night action] you stop that
Do most dogs look like that where you're from?
[late night action]
The ones from Wreath, sure. Lots of things have horns there.
[She digs at the air around Sticky Fingers from where she lies, paws getting more transparent the closer they get to the Stand. As similar as she could be to Stands, it would still seem that work had to be done to make the connection.]
[late night action]
So how does this work exactly?
[late night action]
I'm not super sure what it is you guys do. [The dog flips over again, and this time props its chin on its palm in a way no dog should be able to do.] It's making the Stand more like me and less solid. Once it matches up, then we won't go through each other.
[late night action]
That's simple enough. I do that with Sticky Fingers anyway sometimes to use his ability. [How else are you going to subtly stuff fingers inside someone's mouth with a zipper if you don't let your Stand be transparent enough not to be noticed.] Maintaining it for extended periods of time might take a little more practice, however.
[But letting Sticky Fingers fade into something a little more transparent isn't that difficult. It's keeping him there beyond thirty seconds or so that takes a little more concentration from Bruno to hold it steady and not slip too far in either direction. But once he does have it stabilized, Sticky Fingers holds out a hand to her. Don't worry. No unzipping will occur.]
[late night action]
When the hand is offered, the dog lifts its head and shifts forward. Instead of melting into nothingness like before, the illusion melts into Izabel, who tentatively, gently slides her fingers between those of Sticky Fingers before a bright, happy smile appears. She moves even closer, curling her fingers to give the Stand a squeeze, like reassuring herself that he was there and real, then she's closing her eyes and resting her cheek against him.]
Yeah. Yeah, like that.
[late night action]
I assume you've done this with Gold Experience already. Anyone else?
[late night action]
I met the Pistols, too, and Kakyoin introduced me to Hierophant. Woulda asked you sooner, but I took opportunities as they came, you know?
[late night action]
I take it I don't need to tell you not to bother with asking Abbacchio?
[It wouldn't be impossible for her to see Moody Blues herself some day, but touching? Bruno can't think of a single circumstance in which Abbacchio would ever allow for that.]
[late night action]
[oh you hecked up]
...You know what, in retrospect that's kind of obvious, isn't it?
[late night action]
That's up for them to decide individually.
[Even the ones not here.]
[late night action]
...Yeah. I guess I'd want it that way, too. [Someone's will, their spirit... It was intimate, getting to know them.] Hey. I have another question, if that's okay.
[late night action]
You can ask me anything, stellina. You don't need to ask before you do every time.
[late night action]
Right. Yeah, sorry. [She shakes her head, chuckling a little.] Anyway, when I was talking to Abbacchio, he asked and I...was kind of wondering myself, so... Why am I one of yours? That... It's really important, so why some ghost chick you just met?
[late night action]
Some ghost chick I just met? We must remember it differently then. I remember meeting a bright, inquisitive young woman who proved herself to be not only enjoyable company, but compassionate and warm. She was just without her family.
[He cants his head slightly to one side.]
Don't misunderstand, I didn't pity you and I'd never claim that Passione could replace what you have back home. I just don't believe that good people are meant to be alone. [Hence why he's with Abbacchio instead of with Giorno and Mista if there was ever a question about that.] That's why, stellina.
I chose you simply because of you.
[late night action]
[Can ghosts blush? If they're already so pink, could you tell? Izabel ducks her head, resting her smile against the Stand's thumb so science can avoid having to answer these questions today.]
Well shit, man. Glad to be here. [...] I dunno if I could ever explain that to someone without getting embarrassed, but... Cool.
[Cool.]
[late night action]
Fortunately, you won't often find yourself in the position to have to explain to anyone. Hopefully never to yourself.
[late night action]
You're pretty fucking kickass too, you know.
[late night action]
I've been told that once or twice.
[late night action]
You're really into your zippers.
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What you can d -- zippers? Really?
[h...ow...]
[late night action]
[Because "how?" seems like the next natural question.]
[late night action]
[late night action]
[It's only a few seconds, but another zipper appears and opens behind Izabel a couple of feet away. Bruno's hands appear first as he hoists himself up, Sticky Fingers floating behind him. Of course, normally he'd keep Sticky Fingers in front of him as a defensive measure, but there's no need for this demonstration.]
That's just one example, but I think that gives you a pretty good idea.
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