driftfleet | one ○ video / action

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caesar anthonio zeppeli

one ○ video / action

Who: Caesar Zeppeli and your face
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Friday and Saturday before the shuffle!

[All things told, Caesar does not spend a lot of time on introspection when he arrives on the Marsiva. He takes a few moments to look at the stars - astonishingly bright and close, almost frighteningly so, when you're used to cities, or being too busy to look up and see the space that God made - and then looks away. For fear of being overwhelmed, maybe, or because he has other things to do.]

[Though he can't begin to imagine what they are. What do you do after you've died?]

[When he figures out how to access the network, he doesn't hesitate at all. Hesitating means thinking, and if he thinks too much about this his voice will come out weak, lost, confused. He is a Zeppeli; that would be unforgivable.]

[So it comes out strong, full, his syllables well-rounded and imbued with good humor.]

Buongiorno, all, I - seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere around Mars. I don't suppose anyone has a map?

[He chuckles briefly, then sombers. There's information in his head that he doesn't know the source of, but he can guess.]

There are many people trapped here. I know that much already. I know what is happening. What I don't understand is why.

[Or what is to be done about it. (Although where would he go, if he wasn't here?)]

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[Good, Joseph thinks, on all accounts. Caesar isolates himself enough as it is. And no doubt that his siblings worry about him even if he doesn't tell them what it is he's up to. A letter here and there without disclosing everything must put their minds at ease. It's only after the thoughts pass through his mind that Joseph remembers all of that is past tense now. He pushes it aside.]

Why not?

[Joseph doesn't ask this question because he finds it inconceivable that Caesar would keep something like this from his siblings. The opposite would have taken him by surprise. But he's curious about Caesar's specific reasons for not telling them.]

[His lips press together, a touch of anxiety sparking through him. Is Joseph going to judge him for this? A moment later, his pride overtakes it. So what if he does? It was his decision to make, not Joseph's, who has never been in anything like his situation before.]

They don't know what our father did. I never told them.

I didn't want them to have to know.

[About the Pillar Men. About Hamon. About any of it. It makes the world a more frightening place, and he wanted to spare them that.]

[The shift from anxious to proud is swift and plain for Joseph to see. It was that same stubborn pride that sent Caesar off on his own. He chooses to ignore it this time instead of trying to fight it. Partly because he doesn't want to fight again right now, but mostly because he agrees with Caesar's decision.]

I wouldn't let Speedwagon tell Granny Erina anything. [Although Joseph's reasons for concealing the truth from his grandmother were different than Caesar's for hiding it from his siblings, one thing remained true in both situations.] It's better that way.

If I had a younger brother or sister, I wouldn't tell them anything either.

[Glancing up at Joseph when he speaks, Caesar watches him carefully for any signs of - not lying, because Joseph doesn't lie, but of gilding the truth. There's nothing in his expression or his words to indicate anything but perfect truth, however, and Caesar relaxes, some of the rigidity going out of his posture. He doesn't look away, either, just watches Joseph in the brief lull of silence before he speaks again.]

[It seems like every other minute, they're fighting, and in the off minutes, Joseph is saying things that make Caesar respect him more and more.]

Maybe someday, if everything had worked out, I could have told them that he didn't leave us, or that he saved my life. But not before.

[For a few moments, Joseph is filled with indecision. He naturally wants to promise Caesar that they'll know. Because the fight between Lisa Lisa and Cars can only go one way and it will fall in their favor rather than his. He knows it with every fiber of his being that this danger will be put to rest and the world can go back exactly as it was. But saying something like that means acknowledging once again that Caesar is gone.]

[More than that, if either one of them manage to find a way back home from here, Caesar isn't likely going to be able to make the journey. That just strikes Joseph as far too much to hope for even as much as he wants to believe now that nothing is impossible. Trying to put Caesar's mind at ease runs the risk of putting the both of them at unease instead.]

[So, he just makes the promise silently. Caesar's brothers and sisters will know the truth when everything's resolved. They'll know how brave and strong their brother had been through everything. And that he succeeded. Even though he was gone, he didn't fail and leave things unfinished. He could be at peace. Even if Joseph can't tell them these things himself, he'll make sure they can hear it from someone.]

[He nudges Caesar a little by shrugging his shoulder.]

Who would have thought you could be so generous and selfless?

[Says the guy who already knew. He never exactly noticed before he got the truth, but once he managed to get past his initial impression of Caesar, he knew.]

[He snorts softly, to cover up his surprise. Compliments aren't exactly Joseph's way. He teases and jokes and bullshits around and trips over his own words, but something this overt is unusual.]

[Caesar nudges him back, shakes his head.]

It's not generosity or selflessness if it's family, Jojo.

[It's love. That's something different entirely.]

[He smiles up at Joseph. There's a certain calmness about him now. Maybe sharing the truth, or part of it, was a good idea after all. Not just a mark of their truce, but an indication of their bond: that he trusts enough to let Joseph know of his weaknesses.]

Putting up with you, on the other hand, is an unparalleled act of generosity.

[Joseph frowns, seemingly taking a great deal of offense at what Caesar just said. But Joseph knows he doesn't mean it. At least not completely. Much in the same way his offense is not all that genuine in return. Still, he gives Caesar a shove.]

There you go again, being such a snob. [He levels a finger at Caesar.] You. [That finger is now wagging back and forth.] You just lost flying privileges. I find those controls and you're not allowed to touch them.

[He purses his lips, still not quite hiding a grin, and shakes his finger right back in Joseph's face.]

Then maybe I won't help you look.

[Of course he'll help Joseph look. If it's that important to him, he'll find the controls, Joseph's utter incapability of flying a plane without crashing it notwithstanding. But it's the appearance of the thing. You never want to give in to easily.]

What else do you have to do around here?

[He won't say he doesn't need help because there's so much ground to cover, but take that.]

[A fraction of a second of quiet, while Caesar thinks: nothing. He has nothing to do around here. It's almost like how he imagined being dead would be, spacious and empty. It makes him uncomfortable.]

I think things will start happening soon, Jojo. We're not the kind of people who get quiet.

[That brief second lasts just a moment too short for Joseph to notice on a conscious level. Never mind that he has already pushed all thoughts regarding Caesar's death as far out of his mind as possible as well, making it next to impossible for him to connect those same dots as Caesar. Instead, Joseph grins. It's that crooked, know-it-all grin of his that sometimes signals he's cooking up mischief or, at the very least, he's willing to start.]

Not if I can't help it, we sure don't.

[It's that stupid grin. Caesar sighs internally. Something terrible and Joseph-related is probably going to happen soon, and it's probably going to crash into something.]

You're a danger to yourself and others.

Well, that's what you're for, right? Damage control?

[Possibly a scapegoat if Caesar doesn't have the common sense to run the fuck away, but Joseph will keep that trump card to himself.]

[Joseph no . . .]

Is that all you like me for? [He's actually pouting a little right now, sorry about it.]

[Joseph, yes.]

You just threatened to shave my head. [He touches his hair for a moment as though to make sure it hasn't somehow disappeared on him, but then covers that up by just, you know, adjusting it. Or something. Shut up. He lowers his hand.] For that alone, I shouldn't like you at all.

[He arches a brow at the adjustment - Joseph, that is not a toupee - and then smirks his smuggest smirk.]

But you do.

[...What?]

[...Wait a sec--Hey!]

Not like you at all? That's right.

[What a smooth save that just was. He didn't have to think about it or anything.]

[Such smooth very Joseph much Joestar, wow. Caesar rolls his eyes.]

Of course not. A Joestar and a Zeppeli could never get along. [He tugs Joseph's arm over his shoulder more securely to punctuate his point.]

[Joseph lets Caesar put his arm back over his shoulder.]

Well, if you were a little less of a snob, I might like you better. [Joseph pinches Caesar's cheek roughly.] Us Joestars aren't fooled by nice appearances like everyone else.

[Caesar's eyebrows shoot up. His smirk is so sharp he could probably cut somebody with it.]

Nice appearances?

[Joseph. Look what you did.]

[Joseph frowns as Caesar starts to look like the cat that got the cream.]

What's with that look? [Joseph takes his arm back again to cover Caesar's face with his hand and give him a small shove.] I didn't mean anything by it. You put on this image of being such a perfect gentleman, but I know it's bullshit even if everyone else doesn't.

You don't have any more class than I do.

[Laughing, Caesar doesn't bother to dodge - just lets Joseph push him away, then gravitates back and pokes him in the chest.]

You meant something by it. Just because you run your mouth without thinking doesn't mean you can take everything back.

[It's out, buddy, you said it, and Caesar finds it hilarious.]

[He admits to nothing. You hear me? Nothing. In a sulky and petulant move, Joseph folds his arms with a huff.]

Believe what you want. I know what I meant and it wasn't whatever you think it was.

If you'd just admit that you said I was handsome, I'd leave you alone.

[No he wouldn't. That's a bullshit lie. He can't even keep a straight face when he says it.]

[Joseph scoffs as if this is the most preposterous thing Caesar could have ever said.]

I've seen dog assholes that were better looking than you, you arrogant prick. And those were mid-pooping.

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