ROCK + THE + CASBAH

           Not stressing the idea the other played evasive over his prior inquiry, he turns on the dial to the gas stove——blue embers springing to life over the top.  Setting the pot of water on top, he attends his gaze back onto the younger, inwardly wondering ( for times he’s long lost track of counting ): 「 Why is he like this ? 」 Never in his life did he believe a single person could stress him out so badly until he met him.  And yet, here he was … tolerating it.  Frown pressing to his lips, he perks a brow at the other.

❛ Is that an American thing ?  We don’t eat those two things together in Italy; it’s a completely different dish. ❜ he explains to the other clearly——just in case the other needed some elaboration.  Perhaps he were being a little closed minded ( or the fact the other been trolling him from the start ).  Caesar delivers a sigh.  ❛ If you want … we can try it your way, just this once. ❜  And he will be the judge of its symphony.  If it wasn’t to his liking, the other could expect a plethora of insults coming alongside the apologies of shaming his ancestors. However his words waned, his gaze remained on the younger——as if hanging on a thought.  A frown purchased his expression, sensible regret in things he probably shouldn’t think about.  There wasn’t anything to linger on ( damnable bouquet ), nothing to give him a benefit of doubt.  ❛ Did you want to make the meatballs, then ? ❜ So, he pushes back his mind onto the topic; too afraid to even explore——at least cooking together was enough to delude him on what may have been.

“Oh, hell yeah! Thanks, Caesarino!”

A wide beaming smile crossed his lips as he spoke, hopping over to stand at the other’s side. Joseph even leaned over to give the other a good look at his smile, hair trailing down his face. “Hehen~,” Joseph hummed, returning to a normal stance.

Do I want to make the meatballs? He was from America, he didn’t know how to do that.

“Make...the meatballs?” Joseph repeats for clarification, tilting his head one way. Eyes blink, then settle on the other’s hands. “Uh, I don’t do that,” he said with a finality, blinking a few times.

He couldn’t help the slight smirk that twitched up on his face. “You have ice cream on your cheeks. And it’s Dio. Dio Brando. You may have heard the name.” He sits down across from him, arms crossed with a smirk. That ought to set off some alarms in his head.

“Dio... Dio Brando...” Joseph thought on this for a bit, his eyes narrowing in their sockets as he continued to think. A lot had been on his mind lately; therefore, the answer didn’t come easy.

so you wish to die 8T

“I’m not gonna do anything, so I’m fine!”

Dio stares at him.. and then sighs. “Hold on.” He walks past him, going into an ice cream shop. He refused to spend money on this brat, so he chose to freeze time and steal one. He walks to the door, unfreezing time before walking out, and he walks back to Joseph, holding the new sundae out to him, with a new plastic spoon as well.

“You’re lucky I’m bored, or I would have let you sit there to mope.” He raises an eyebrow. “Are you done being depressed over your ice cream incident now? Are you ready to talk now?? I’ll let you finish this up because I’m so kind, and I have nothing better to do.” He was visibly annoyed, internally desperate for some kind of attention from the other. All of his minions were off on their own time, so he didn’t have many to talk to. It did get lonely in that mansion, and going out to talk to other people, maybe even the ones that annoyed him the most, was a must. There wasn’t a moment this man wasn’t desperate for some kind of attention.

“As amusing as your pouty face is, I came for a chat, boy. I expect one. And no, I didn’t do anything to this ice cream.” His tone was softer, less angry. Either he was putting on an act.. no, definitely an act, there’s no way this man would be nice to him. He just wanted to talk. It was almost cute how needy this grown ass man was.

“Heeheen~. Thanks, uh, whoever you are.”

Joseph isn’t one to complain about free food...even if it was a replacement to food he’s lost. Taking the spoon, he began to eat once more, ravenously destroying the ice cream.

“The Joestars used to be rich.. I suppose you wasted all that though..” He smirked, turning his face away, a shadow falling over his face. “I’m sure you want to know why I know, don’t you? It has to do with your grandfather.. aren’t you curious about him?”

He sighs with a chuckle. “Maybe not.. you don’t seem like the type to think much.”

Was he...being baited? Joseph thinks for a moment before shaking his head. “Uhh, I don’t know much about my family, ‘cept what my grandma told me, so... Sorry! Go annoy some other person with ice cream.”

the one with something to hide

society shunned you and you retreated into scuffed docs and a warm, too-big hoodie. society hurt you and you covered your ears in headphones to drown out the unending sound of your agony. we have secrets and secrets, and you have more than most. hide your hurt or they will hunt you and find you because they need a scapegoat and they need you to bleed. put on a fake scowl or smile whatever suits you best and do what you do best and hide. you might be a monster, a murderer, but your walls are up and they are never ever coming down.

Dio lets out a loud, hearty laugh at the others shock, simply batting the spoon away, clattering loudly to the ground. “Aw, I’m sorry, I didn’t think you’d react so strongly!” His voice was laced with amused giggling.

“Oh, quit complaining over spilled ice cream, you can just buy another. Aren’t you Joestars rich? I should know..” He reached back to softly touch the star just below his own neck. “Anyways. Would you mind answering me? If you must, we can sit and have a sweet little chat. Although the amusing look on your face tells me that this may not be possible now.” He grins.

“Stop talkin’ about me like you know me --- I’m poor!” Being a delinquent did not help the money situation, and Caesar’s master had only given him fifty cents to spend -- which had all gone to the ice cream, it’s folds previously laden with sweets before DIO had so casually thrown it away.

           Motioning for the kitchen with box in hand, the blond glanced back at the opposite——pout presented over his lips; if the other chose to follow him ( considering he had no choice at this point ), that was all on him.  Tapping the box over his shoulder, the Zeppeli male spoke softly to the other.  ❛ What ever you are mumbling over there, how about you share ? ❜ Though his voice cold, he gestures for the other to come over so he can at least teach him how to go about making this pasta properly.  Making it over to the one kitchen, he goes to open one the cabinets, extracting one of the tall pots.  Filling it with water from the faucet, he calls to the younger.    ❛ I have some fresh tomatoes and basil on the counter by the window, can you fetch those for me ? ❜ His request held to a slight halt when he heard the other question him with something rather perverse.  Unlike the latter statement about their supposed date——Caesar caught on.

❛ W…what ? ❜ He plays the ruse of a disgruntled expression ( blush blending a touch to the birthmarks on his cheeks )——how was he going to even dignify that with a response ? Turning on the stove, he clears his throat.  ❛ S… shut it ! ❜ Frankly, the idea of it ( thinking about particular regions of Joestar anatomy ) would leave him too tense to function——especially since the house seemed like no one home aside from the two of them.

“Uh -- no,” was the response to Caesar’s first question. Folding his arms behind his head, Joseph followed, tilting his head slowly to one side. For something so simple, Caesar had to make it extremely complicated - like he did with most things in life.

“Huh?” Whipping his head around and dropping his arms, he noticed that the other did indeed have those things. Was he just prepared at the drop of a hat to make spaghetti...? Wondered the New-Yorker, grabbing the items requested with ease.

It was then that his words registered with the other, a smug smile crossing Joseph’s lips as they did.