standless | IC INBOX

[ It's a rather imposing building at first glance, not quite at all what he'd expected – and the inside is even further than what he'd imagined. (Which had been what exactly? Probably an antiquated English tea room…) Garage really isn't far from the truth though, he doesn't want to know how Jonathan was even able to get that thing inside. Whatever Jonathan's plans for it, he's not entirely sure it's roadworthy in its current state. ]

I didn't take you as the engineering sort… No offense.

[ There is something novel about the visual of Jonathan tinkering away with an actual, literal bus. ]

Oh, no it's quite understandable! Truthfully it was a good friend's project, [he explains as they make their way up stairs. They've a few floors to go before they reach the right door after all.] But it felt poor taste to simply abandon it. Quite unfortunately my strengths are rather more literal, beyond the topic of perhaps history and artwork.

Ah, I see. [ that makes much more sense. ] I know what you mean. Being partial to certain types of vehicle doesn't necessarily mean knowing how to fix them.

[ Abbacchio can also relate to strength being literal. Punching a car isn't going to fix it, but it might make you feel better. It sounds a lot like Jonathan is selling himself short, but to acknowledge that would also mean acknowledging he does the same to himself.

Since arriving here he's learned that sometimes people here are prone to vanishing, and he doesn't wish to cause any undue upset about Jonathan's friend. ]

I do hope you're able to finish it at some point, if it's important to you. [ he offers the words with a rare, genuine smile as they head up the stairs. ] It'll probably be something really special.

Particularly when they were beyond one's time to begin with! [he laughs.]

It is a personal hope that it can one day be used for summering in however. Fortunately for myself, the trouble with the rather narrow staircase and low ceiling was one of the first things Speedwagon handled.

[Speedwagon....Foundation???!!]

Right- here we are then, the front door, [he ultimately announces, Queen even stirring upon his shoulder. It does not yet feel like the uppermost floor, but when the door opens to a coat and boot area immediately in front of more well kept stairs, the reason is clear.]

It is quite a unique layout, so I do apologize in advance.

[Ah yes....open concept...]

Oh right, yeah. That must be odd. It's kind of backwards for me? I know what stuff is, it's just old comparatively. [ And in some cases that also means he has no clue how to use it. ] Summering? Is the weather here good enough for that?

[ He sounds a little hopeful at the prospect. So far the weather has been abysmal. Yes, fair it is winter – but compared to the winter at home it's been cold and miserable and he loathes it, it does absolutely nothing for his weak Mediterranean constitution. The idea that summer might be better gives him something to look forward to, though his basis of comparison is Jonathan, an Englishman… So maybe it's not that much better.

Speedwagon…? Why is that name familiar? Nah, couldn't be.]

Low ceilings are not fun, smart of your friend to have tackled those first.

[ Abbacchio follows Jonathan into the space, curious as to why he'd be apologising for the layout… ]

It is, yes! It gets rather comfortably warm, and there are even regular vacationing areas here!

[The layout... ...is not That strange. It's probably a little odd of course- the stairs bring them right into the middle of the apartment almost, and it's all extremely open concept with regard to the living, dining, and kitchen areas.

But it's probably more odd to Jonathan, who is familar with far more walls even now. The stairs seem to have brought them out closer to the overhang they saw earlier- no doubt a few rooms make up the other overhang, behind them- and directly in front of them is a large sunken sofa resembling something of a nest, great windows looking down ove the city street. To their side, can be seen the kitchen and its ammenities. The other side is simply a hall, with doors to more utility focused rooms.]

Speedwagon was very much the more thoughtful between us, yes- though perhaps he would put it differently were he here.

Now- please, make yourself comfortable; I can have tea brewing in just a moment.

[Queen has notably vacated her perch to make herself comfortable on the couch. Also on the couch, what looks almost like a pug- if a pug Weren't squashed together- gives a snort and continues dozing.]

[ Whatever Jonathan thinks is unique about the layout is lost on Abbacchio. It's nice actually, he imagines it would let in a lot of light with how open it all is. The whole thing reminds him of those fancy apartments you sometimes see in American movies. ]

Thanks, [ he nods politely at the invitation ] it's a really great space you have here.

[ Following Jonathan's instruction – and quite literally following Queen the cat – he sits down far enough away from the dog so as not to disturb them.

Abbacchio isn't quite sure what it is about the place – whether it's the openness of it all or what, but it really is a great space; he means that genuinely. Hill House is nice too in its own way, and he's grateful he has somewhere to stay but there's something oddly comforting about this place Jonathan calls home. Maybe it's just down to Jonathan himself, making Abbacchio feel so welcome in his home. ]

D'you have any other animals here?

[ He's sure Jonathan is aware of the animal situation at Hill House if he's been there before. Though he has doubts there's a horse in the apartment. ]

If I could pass your thanks to those who constructed it, I would, [Jonathan chuckles, moving to the kitchen. It does not take long before he's filled a kettle, and started to simply hold it to heat himself.

Life hacks, truly. ~~Take notes Abbacchio.~~]

No more than this, worry not! We lack the space that the hills have for it, I'm afraid.

[ That sure is one way to heat a kettle, he supposes. Convenient. ]

Mm, there is a lot of space there. I have to admit I was worried at first, sharing space with so many other people? Even if I know some of them already.

[ Idly, he scratches behind one of Queen's ears as he speaks. Is he not so subtly trying to get to the bottom of this mystery son situation? Perhaps. ]

But… It's been alright.

It is quite remarkable, yes. I don't believe the former manor was even comprable in size! Considering the hill's purpose however, it makes a good amount of sense, [he determines conversationally, adjusting his hold on the kettle so he can make use of his other hand.] I'm quite glad to hear you're adjusting to the place well.

By the way, how do you take your tea? Have you preference on the variety?

Yeah… The size makes it easy to keep to yourself if you need some space away from everyone else.

[ Which he does. Often. More than he usually did back home, things here have been difficult, and he supposes that's probably the norm with everything that goes on here. Bucciarati is really the only one he feels comfortable around unsurprisingly, even with things as they are. Fugo seems like he's actively avoiding him, and he doesn't know the others well enough. Reira is nice, though. ]

Oh, uh… [ he thinks on it for a moment. ] Unless you have a black tea with lemon, anything is okay really.

Perhaps not a lemon, [Jonathan murmurs, already searching about the fridge as he holds his kettle.] Oh! Or perhaps so! It seems we've still some lemon from a recent dinner! [He cheers, quickly setting about to getting the tea together.

With the kettle already starting to give a low, humming whistle as it prepares to truly boil, it won't take long at all. Tea is quickly being poured into cups, lemon cut, and but moments after Jonathan comes to sit upon the couch himself as he sets the tray of drinks- and some perhaps obligatory biscuits- down.]

There! I should think that the perfect thing after a brisk walk!

[One could almost forget just how awkward a conversation topic it was that brought them to having tea in the first place.]

It's okay if you don't, really– Oh.

[ Abbacchio quietly stirs his tea while Jonathan settles down on the sofa. As nice as this is – and really it is – he still can't shake their earlier conversation from his mind. He doesn't want to just rudely ask "Hey, so who is your kid?" but the topic is still kind of baffling to him. None of the dates add up. ]

So, you know everyone at the hill then?

[ Taking a sip of his tea, he watches Jonathan carefully over the lip of the cup. Could he have been subtler? Maybe.]

I would not say everyone, [he replies easily.] At the very least, while I am somewhat familiar with most of the residents, I would not be so foolish as to assume too much about what they think. Moreover those I knew best have largely left since I've come here, [Jonathan explains, casual and calm.] Truthfully, I should say I am somewhat familiar with Trish, and Fuugo- whom I met through Giorno himself- and from there, much more familiar with Giorno.

[~~Hard to get familiar with the kid, when the player is the same, see.~~

Jonathan sighs, sipping his tea.] I do hope he isn't still upset over our last conversation however- or at the very least, that he realized what I properly meant. We only met here, after all. Circumstances in our own lives made a natural meeting quite impossible after all.

[ He nods idly as Jonathan starts. He knows that several people have been through the hill, so it makes sense he would be more familiar with those who are no longer here. As he continues though, Abbacchio swallows his tea wrong, coughs a little embarrassingly and stares at Jonathan as if he's just said the most offensive thing imaginable.

Giorno? Is that what he's implying? How is that even possible?

His son is Giorno Giovanna??

?????? ]

Oh-

[Not choking!] ...Are you alright? Should I go on? I'm sure it must be quite a shock- we are after all a full century apart, and it would absolutely be impossible under typical circumstance, but I am quite truthful when I say that is how we are related.

[ The whole century between them absolutely pales in comparison to everything else. The fact that Jonathan's son is, apparently, Giorno Giovanna. Ignoring how it shouldn't even be possible, because it really is absurd, and in spite of how impossible it sounds he doesn't get the idea this is the kind of thing Jonathan would lie about. ]

Giorno? Really?

[ He sets the cup down carefully so as not to cause a spill and watches the concern flit across Jonathan's face. The same Giorno who turned up out of nowhere and threw his entire life into chaos for a handful of days before leaving him to die alone on a beach? How much does Jonathan even know? ]

Yes, precisely.

[He has of course misunderstood the source of the confusion, of the shock and alarm- Jonathan simply nods calmly, concern still across his face for his friend.] It is as I said- despite my death in 1890, my son- my second son, if one must focus upon details- was born nearly a full century later.

[ He stares as Jonathan talks, probably rather rudely admittedly but there are other things on his mind. ]

… I don't understand. Giorno is–

[ An awful manipulative brat, is what he wants to say. Instead he just opts to leave it at that. Does Jonathan know about him? Or how horribly he gets along with his actual son? ]

Do you...perhaps need a moment more? [he asks, frowning- and still not understanding of course, what it is that Abbacchio is saying.] I'm certainly not about to shoo you out after a mere few minutes- you have what time you need, I assure you.

N-no, we don't, [ he laughs, though it's not a humorous sound. He sounds more like he's losing his mind, which to be fair, he sort of is. ] Giorno and I don't exactly see eye-to-eye. At all. I'm pretty sure he hates me, actually…

[ He keeps things deliberately vague as he looks back towards Jonathan, though he pales as he does. Saying they don't see eye-to-eye is such a massive understatement considering at one point he swore he'd beat Giorno up. And he's sitting here. Drinking tea with his father. ]

Oh- I'm certain that can't be the case! Truthfully I feel he reserves his hatred for a rather choice few, [Jonathan continues encouragingly.] I highly doubt you've done anything to warrant it.

If he seems closed off, that is simply his nature I fear. He is a very private person- he holds his heart close, hidden, [he emphasizes, the worry of a good father heavy in his tone.] He's more likely to do things quietly in other words- it may well be that he's been trying to show kindness without you even realizing!

[He sips his tea, but worry has set in his face.] ...Still, I cannot help but ask- what makes you so certain that he hates you to begin with?

[ These aren't things he should be hearing about Giorno – even if they're things he's already gleaned pieces of through his own observations, it feels different coming from Jonathan, more personal somehow. But when he talks about kindness, he sits up a little straighter. ]

Giorno has no reason to show me any kindness.

[ It's a statement he makes with conviction. And yet he has – multiple times. ]

I've been… Less than pleasant towards him.

[ Again with the understatements. He looks down at his hands, partly because he does not want to see whatever expression may be on Jonathan's face at his admission. ]

[Jonathan studies the other for a moment, his tea cup resting on the table.

After some silence, he smiles.] ...I feel that many of us can have moments such as that. Truly, even I myself have started encounters with others with so much less than kindness...even within the last month or so, [he confesses as he looks to the side.]

...Abbacchio. Whatever you have said, or done toward him- is it anything you would take back, or change? Was it something that perhaps in the moment made sense to your mind, from where you stood and witnessed him? Giorno is a private person- and even I can see how such privacy could be misread, or interpreted as something else. I imagine that Giorno himself is well aware of that as well, [he laughs, his smile warm as he picks up his tea again.] ...But in cases such as that, is it not our actions afterward that truly say what sort of person we are? Not even our actions toward one individual necessarily, but to those others around us?

[ Would he change it, the way he's behaved towards Giorno? It's hard to say, with how everything happened it's not like he ever got the chance to really get to know him. Though, he supposes that's what this is – what was it Bucciarati had said? Second chances and silver linings… ]

Some actions can't be forgiven.

[ Is he talking about his own actions towards Giorno, or of Giorno's towards him? Has Giorno really done anything so egregious? Abbacchio had only perceived Giorno to be untrustworthy, obfuscating his intentions behind pretty words. Was it really just a desire for privacy and not ill intent? If Abbacchio hadn't been so adamantly stubborn about Giorno… would things have still been the same? ]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, JOJO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 336.66.256.63 * JOJO has joined 336.66.256.63 <JOJO...?>** Technically this message doesn't exist. Jonathan doesn't actually have a laptop. I just needed an Inbox.

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