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[risorto]

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[silvercrusader]

Oh, well--

[His smile refocuses. It's not sharper, exactly, but it's most definitely for Bruno instead of Annette. Polnareff falls back on the bed, one hand rising up to gesture towards the ceiling as he speaks. It's a ridiculously relaxed pose-- something he might adopt around Jotaro or Kakyoin-- and it doesn't occur to him that he's starting to put Bruno in the same category.]

High praise! I'd be okay-- don't flatter me more, Bruno, my heart can't take it. Is okay better or worse than the rest of your gang?

[risorto]

[Bruno laughs low and quietly, rolling his eyes almost fondly as he looks away for a brief moment.]

Mm, well, you actually managed to get a girlfriend, didn't you? So, I'd say you're coming out ahead of them.

[silvercrusader]

Actually managed, he says, like it's some big surprise . . .

[So rude.]

But right, good to know. Next time I try and pick somebody up, I'll add all that. Bruno Buccellati thinks I'd be okay and that I'm a step ahead of a bunch of sixteen year olds.

[God, but he loves making Bruno laugh. He loves it not only because it's not always easy, but because it comes from Polnareff simply being who he is-- teasing and joking the way he always does. It's always great to be able to make people laugh-- he's still reeling in triumph over getting Fugo to do it-- but there's an extra kick to it when it comes to Bruno.]

At least I'm never gonna sink so low that I give somebody a fish to confess my love.

[risorto]

[Bruno purses his lips to stifle his smile and another laugh. Of course, the truly sad part is that Bruno didn't know about the love confession fish prior to right now, but he knows enough that he doesn't need to ask for the specifics to figure it out. God help those children. They need an adult. Bruno lightly swats Polnareff's leg with the back of a hand.]

You ever do something even remotely like that and you're not allowed to use my name in testimonials like that anymore.

[silvercrusader]

I'll use your name if I want to, don't order me around--

[He squirms, shifting so he can return that swat with a light nudge of his foot.]

How'm I supposed to get with somebody if I can't use you as a reference!

[risorto]

[Bruno doesn't retaliate for the nudge, but he smiles a little wider as he shrugs.]

I don't know, Jean, but that doesn't sound like my problem.

[silvercrusader]

I'm going to use it anyway.

[Hah, he won, and so he settles down again, arms behind his head.]

You won't hurt me. You're my co-parent, and what's more, you're a nice person, you definitely won't unzip me.

[Which is just asking for it, really, and so, without missing a beat:]

And if you do now, I'm going to name our second child something really stupid, and then for the rest of the time you'll always have to say, Oh, Jean, do you want to go sailing on the FIS Seaduction?

[risorto]

[Bruno hums thoughtfully.]

I could just zip your mouth shut instead.

[silvercrusader]

And never hear a joke from me again? Never laugh or smile again, ever, in your life?

[He rises up to his elbows, leveling Bruno with a particularly incredulous stare.]

You'd do that to yourself?

[risorto]

I'm fairly ruthless when it comes to protecting my reputation, Jean. [No. No, he's really not.] It seems a small price to pay. For me, at least.

[silvercrusader]

All right, look at it another way: you really wanna hurt me?

[The stare melts into something heartfelt. Imploring. Desperate. Don't do this to your new bro, Bruno.]

You know how I feel about zippers.

[risorto]

I led a team of assassins. [Bruno says this while lazily leveling a finger in Polnareff's direction.] You're going to have to do better than that.

[silvercrusader]

[He wrinkles his nose at that pointed finger. Rude.]

I'll never stop whining about it afterwards.

[risorto]

[Bruno's smile turns mildly impish at that.]

Assassins, Jean.

[silvercrusader]

Oh, like Giorno is going to kill his papa! And Fugo likes me already, I won him over by not shutting up around him.

[Actually--]

'S how I won you over, too. Is that an Italian thing or a mafia thing?

[risorto]

I think it's a you thing, [he says, giving Polnareff a small nudge.]

[silvercrusader]

Aha--

[He snaps his fingers and points towards Bruno, as if he'd just made a particularly successful point.]

So you admit I've won you over.

[risorto]

[Bruno raises an eyebrow.]

Was that ever actually in question or a secret?

[silvercrusader]

I just like hearing it said, that's all.

[Which is true, albeit something that holds a little more weight now with Bruno.]

I gotta fight to hear that Kakyoin likes me, so it's kind of a triumph when anyone</> says it.

[risorto]

Maybe that's why he does it. It keeps you from taking it for granted.

[silvercrusader]

He could risk a little more of me taking it for granted.

[Just saying. But he's not actually all that sore over it, so instead:]

Oye. What's your favorite color?

[risorto]

My favorite color? [Because what a sudden change in topic.] Blue. Why do you ask?

[silvercrusader]

I'm gonna go get paint tomorrow. Gold, for me, and now blue, for you.

[A beat, and then:]

That, and . . . I was talking to Kakyoin a while ago about getting to know people. When I first got here, I could tell you a ton about how he fought, but I didn't even know the guy's favorite food. So I like asking about stupid stuff like that.

[risorto]

Pasta al nero di seppia, porcini mushrooms, and baked scallops. [A beat before he adds with a small smile,] Before you ask.

[So Bruno doesn't think it's all that stupid.]

[silvercrusader]

[Another good thing to remember. Miles Davis, baked scallops, mushrooms and a kind of pasta he's definitely going to have to look up.]

I dunno if you're allowed to have three favorites, Bruno, that's kind of cheating.

[But if they're going to play that game:]

Pot au fe, for me, if we're talking supper-- I've made it here before, it's that one that's kind of like carrots and potatoes and beef. Or profiteroles, if we're talking dessert.