[Well, here we are. Is it even a grail war? Who knows. What is he doing in France if it isn't? Who cares.
Wherever it is, he's decided to find a place he can isolate himself. After all, the common folk react poorly to his presence, and why shouldn't they? He's the son of a queen. It's only natural they'd become agitated at the sight of him, considering his royal blood makes him so special. Special enough that they flee at the sight of him, yell obscenities and even toss the odd projectile his way.
He'll isolate himself for the sake of their nerves. It's a kindness everyone should expect from royalty, after all. They're good people like that.
So he finds himself a nice little idyllic spot in a forest, full of flora and lacking in people. The animals seem far less wary of him - after a while at least - and eventually he's sat surrounded by flowers and trees, several birds resting in his hair and some deer wandering in his general presence. He may also have a rabbit on his knee.
Animals are super great. And people who love animals are also great! Marie has come for some nature appreciation herself, because France is beautiful, the best, just sit and enjoy the scenery!! But she stops when she sees something so huge and...is it human? Or animal?]
[Generally, the presence of another servant meant danger, so when he detects her coming he becomes just that bit on edge. When she comes into view he's more on alert, the madness afflicting him from his class almost pushing him to get up and attack, but he isn't like that. He's more in control than any of the others of his kind.
So rather than respond with aggression, Asterios gets up - in the process, and maybe in part due to sensing his agitation, many of the animals flee, and the birds fly away - and assumes a closed stance, hunched. He's not unlike a startled animal himself right now, really, wary of a stranger.
And for her question, all she gets is a growl. It's not especially loud, but enough to be heard and more of a rumble that comes from beneath his helmet.]
[Oh- well that explains things a bit. He must be a Berserker, but if he hasn't attacked yet, that's a good sign already. Very much like approaching a frightened animal, she steps slowly.]
-It's okay! I don't want to fight! I'm sorry for scaring your friends off.
[There's no immediate response, and he remains entirely still like a statue, watching her.
...but although he can't just trust her on her word, he doesn't sense any killing intent, or hostility. No, she seems...okay.
So he relaxes, straightens his posture and sits back down where he had been. He expects her to just keep going on her way, so doesn't acknowledge her further.]
[Oh no, that's not about to happen. He must be nice after all. Anyone who loves animals is a good person. And if he's here in France, then he's either one of her citizens, or a guest - either of which should be treated with nothing but the best appreciation and hospitality! Rider smiles and goes right ahead, inviting herself to take a seat beside him. Maybe if she's quiet the animals will come back. She sits quietly for a while, picking at wildflowers within armsreach until there's a few piled up in her lap.
Finally she turns to him, stands up, and fixes a flower into his mane. She still doesn't say anything though, so the animals won't be scared.]
[It's unexpected, but he's hardly going to stop her; ain't his forest. Berserker is more than happy enough to sit quietly even with her there, especially because she doesn't disturb the peace. Of course it means the animals do return as well now that the atmosphere has calmed down, but slowly; a single deer returns, but as it does his attention is taken by the feeling of something disturbing his mane. And when he turns around to see her putting flowers into it.
Well.
The holes on the front of his helmet light up gently accompanied by a softer growl than before, once again more of a rumble.]
...pretty.
[His voice is somewhat strained, but most berserkers would love to have even that amount of clarity, lbr.]
[Oh. He's cute. Especially how his helmet lights up. She grins, combing his hair with her fingers as she scatters more about. He will be a lovely flower bush by the time she's done.]
[What a small, affectionate friend. It's something he's entirely unused to; during his time spent in the labyrinth Asterios himself was his sole company, aside the day he was killed. And heroic spirits are basically summoned to kill. Stuff like this doesn't happen.
Very good, as do I! I think everyone must love nature. Lilies are my favourite, as flowers go, they're the flower of my country and state, and lovely besides. And robins! Especially the ones with the orange bellies, they're smaller and extra cute. And you?
[Oof...what a talker. He has no problem listening at least; it's when she asks he's at a loss. Names? Birds, flowers...he doesn't know.
How little he really knows.
So rather than try to force himself to give an answer, he shifts in his spot and stands up - almost double her height, and definitely many times her size - and reaches down to just...pick her up with both hands. He is careful with her however, like she's as delicate as she appears (not that servants were) and starts walking through the forest.
Eventually he stops, looking up to a taller tree at...something. Apparently sure of whatever it is he sees, he lifts her up over his head. If she looks at the tree he was focusing on, she'll see a bird perched on a tree branch.
And he calls up, after a second:]
There.
[...............that's his favorite bird, apparently.]
[There's a small bit of a startled yelp, but it's only for the surprise of being up so high, so suddenly. No matter what he is, if skittish animals trust him, he must be gentle, and he's very quickly proven that, so Marie is sure she doesn't have anything to fear.
But she's a Rider so it's definitely not so bad to ride...in his hands. She can just dangle there like a rag doll no problem. La reine, elle est très petite et mignonne!
When she spots the bird, she almost claps her hands together in excitement of it all - but remembers just in time that it will only make the bird fly off, and panic. So instead she admires it for a moment before beaming down at Aster.]
It's lovely! Look how very bold he is, what a fine colour! You have great taste, monsieur- ah, what's your name? I'm Marie.
[Monsieur...? That's a word he's never heard. He looks up at Marie and tilts his head, staring for a moment, then decides first thing's first: if she's seen the bird already, then he ought to put her down, which...he does. But he remains hunched over briefly, staring again, to make sure she's okay. It's not like anything happened, but this is a guy one use of monstrous strength away from EX rank strength and the limited mental faculties that might cause him to be careless. Ever since he got out of the labyrinth he's learned to be careful when handling anyone.
But she seems okay, so he stands back up straight.]
[Yes she heard the 'ios' after, but she is deciding right here and now that's his nickname and that's what she's going to call him.]
It's perfect for you, did you know that's a kind of flower? A very beautiful one, if I find any, I'll make a crown of them for you, how does that sound?
[Caesar Antonio Zeppeli had quite enough of enemy Stand users. It had been his distinct hope that they would no longer prove a problem upon returning from Egypt, but god forbid things ever be that easy. Sure enough, they'd been confronted by one barely a matter of weeks after landing in Tokyo--and Caesar found himself on the wrong end of it, transported what seemed to be halfway across the city.]
[Shit. I'm going to catch hell from Noriaki later. he thought, bitterly noting that a lot of things he started seemed to end up being his grandson's problem. But in the process of making his way back to where the Stand user had crossed their path, Caesar had passed a clear impossibility that damn near made him swallow his cigarette in shock.]
[Jotaro Kujo had just walked past him on the sidewalk, and without the slightest trace of recognition at that. But that couldn't be the case, Jotaro Kujo was-...]
[...never mind. The point was that it didn't take long at all for Caesar to very quickly conclude that something was very wrong in a way that was more than mere teleportation. As soon as the student in black was out of sight, he turned on his heel and sprinted off at top speed--he desperately needed to find a camera.]
[About half an hour and some creative application of an otherwise useless Stand later, Caesar stood down the street from a house he was certain was the Kakyoin estate this morning, and yet was clearly the Kujo estate right now.]
[...He couldn't conclude just yet if this was catastrophically bad, or if this might just end in a positive note before he got the hell out of here.]
[Hmm, how strange, Kakyoin should have recognised him, and he isn't the kind of boy to walk right on by, or at least, never seemed that way. It seems certain he'd stop and say hello, especially when he's waved to?
There can be only one explanation. Caesar has ruined him, he is a bad grandfather, this is his fault, ruining such a nice young man.
He spots someone standing outside from the window, and initially opens the front door to tell them to get lost - but, ah, just the man he wanted to see. Joseph marches right on up to him, takes off a glove, and slaps him in the face with it.]
[Maybe Joseph should have gone back to New York by now, but with Holly still on the mend, what kind of father would he be if he just left? Besides, every time he starts talking about heading back, she starts coughing or coming down with something else...which is clearly a ploy to keep him around longer, but it works, dammit.
So this little Jojo stayed home and fumbled his way through helping her with chores. He is not much of a help. It's the thought that counts. For now, though, he sits in the front room with the door open, taking in the fresh air as he reads the paper. The paper flown in from America.]
[There really was no way this was going to be easy, and Caesar half wanted to just turn around and walk away until the situation resolved itself. The Stand user back at home would be defeated, and he'd be back in the right place before long.]
[...But he just couldn't leave well enough alone. Call it curiosity, or just his own legendary stubbornness--he approached and knocked on the frame of the open door with a leather-gloved hand, taking a deep breath.]
Sorry to intrude, but...I'm looking for Joseph Joestar.
[He looks up from his seat, craning his neck to see who's there before getting up. Weird, someone he doesn't recognise? Maybe they're from the Speedwagon Foundation, if they've come calling on him here?]
Yes? You've found him.
[But there's something familiar about him, that Joseph can't quite place.]
[He looked like hell. Well, okay, maybe not that bad. But of the two of them, Caesar knew he looked younger--had Joseph seriously just dropped his training? Typical.]
[It was better to focus on that for a minute and resist the urge to scream and punch him directly in the face.]
Jojo. That's really you, isn't it...?
[...ah. He really didn't plan on what to do or say past this.]
Listen--mannaggia, I don't know how much time I'll have and I don't know how to explain. There was an enemy Stand user, I think I must have gotten pushed into some world I shouldn't be in.
[Excuse you. Okay, yes, he dropped his training, but he's just fine thanks?!
All he can do is stare. Yes, there is something Caesar-like about this person, but that's ridiculous, he may look young for his supposed age, but Caesar died far younger than that. His eyes narrow as he frowns, pointedly scrutinising.]
Oh yeah? Well gee, that sure is something, raised from the dead, look at you!
[Of course he says it in the most sarcastic manner possible. Because frankly it's offensive that someone would even try to fool him like this, bringing up a dead friend.]
For god's sake, Jojo--obviously I knew it wasn't going to be that easy to convince you, but do you have to be so goddamned irritating about it? Sarcastic bastard...
[Caesar rolled his eyes, unimpressed by the response but secretly glad this hadn't instantly turned into a fight. Still, wasn't much left to be done.]
Guess I'll just have to prove it. [He brought hands in black gloves together sharply, taking a deep breath as he pulled them apart in a cloud of iridescent bubbles crackling with the power of sunlight. Shooting Joseph an arrogant smirk, he tilted his head enough to make the birthmarks under his eyes a little more visible in the light of the flickering energy.]
I'm not playing around, no matter how unbelievable this is. Now shut up and don't argue for once in your life; I didn't have anywhere else to go in this weird backwards world of yours.
[It isn't so much the bubbles that start to sway him as that goddamn smirk. Where does he even get off... What a piece of shit. Someone could imitate his powers, but no one could manage to piss Joseph off this easily quite the way Caesar can.
So although he spends a few moments longer looking for some tell of a lie, eventually, and all at once, he takes Caesar by the shoulders, and laughs.]
Look at you, you old fart! You call that a hairstyle?
Don't you start that shit with me, Jojo. [He answered in mock annoyance, the words colored with a relieved and honest laugh.] You look absolutely horrible--you haven't trained a day in fifty years, have you?
[Screw acting cool; he threw his arms around Joseph's shoulders and hugged him tightly.]
You complete imbecile. I can't believe it's been that long already.
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idk
Wherever it is, he's decided to find a place he can isolate himself. After all, the common folk react poorly to his presence, and why shouldn't they? He's the son of a queen. It's only natural they'd become agitated at the sight of him, considering his royal blood makes him so special. Special enough that they flee at the sight of him, yell obscenities and even toss the odd projectile his way.
He'll isolate himself for the sake of their nerves. It's a kindness everyone should expect from royalty, after all. They're good people like that.
So he finds himself a nice little idyllic spot in a forest, full of flora and lacking in people. The animals seem far less wary of him - after a while at least - and eventually he's sat surrounded by flowers and trees, several birds resting in his hair and some deer wandering in his general presence. He may also have a rabbit on his knee.
Animals are pretty great.]
no subject
Animals are super great. And people who love animals are also great! Marie has come for some nature appreciation herself, because France is beautiful, the best, just sit and enjoy the scenery!! But she stops when she sees something so huge and...is it human? Or animal?]
Hello...?
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So rather than respond with aggression, Asterios gets up - in the process, and maybe in part due to sensing his agitation, many of the animals flee, and the birds fly away - and assumes a closed stance, hunched. He's not unlike a startled animal himself right now, really, wary of a stranger.
And for her question, all she gets is a growl. It's not especially loud, but enough to be heard and more of a rumble that comes from beneath his helmet.]
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-It's okay! I don't want to fight! I'm sorry for scaring your friends off.
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...but although he can't just trust her on her word, he doesn't sense any killing intent, or hostility. No, she seems...okay.
So he relaxes, straightens his posture and sits back down where he had been. He expects her to just keep going on her way, so doesn't acknowledge her further.]
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Finally she turns to him, stands up, and fixes a flower into his mane. She still doesn't say anything though, so the animals won't be scared.]
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Well.
The holes on the front of his helmet light up gently accompanied by a softer growl than before, once again more of a rumble.]
...pretty.
[His voice is somewhat strained, but most berserkers would love to have even that amount of clarity, lbr.]
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Do you like flowers? It looks very handsome!
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But it's nice.]
I- [Words are hard.] I-...like.
[He nods once or twice, slowly.]
Flowers...trees...animals...
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How little he really knows.
So rather than try to force himself to give an answer, he shifts in his spot and stands up - almost double her height, and definitely many times her size - and reaches down to just...pick her up with both hands. He is careful with her however, like she's as delicate as she appears (not that servants were) and starts walking through the forest.
Eventually he stops, looking up to a taller tree at...something. Apparently sure of whatever it is he sees, he lifts her up over his head. If she looks at the tree he was focusing on, she'll see a bird perched on a tree branch.
And he calls up, after a second:]
There.
[...............that's his favorite bird, apparently.]
no subject
But she's a Rider so it's definitely not so bad to ride...in his hands. She can just dangle there like a rag doll no problem. La reine, elle est très petite et mignonne!
When she spots the bird, she almost claps her hands together in excitement of it all - but remembers just in time that it will only make the bird fly off, and panic. So instead she admires it for a moment before beaming down at Aster.]
It's lovely! Look how very bold he is, what a fine colour! You have great taste, monsieur- ah, what's your name? I'm Marie.
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But she seems okay, so he stands back up straight.]
Marie...Ast...Aster...ios.
[Or the Minotaur, depending on who you ask.
Not that you can.
Cause they're probably dead.]
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[Yes she heard the 'ios' after, but she is deciding right here and now that's his nickname and that's what she's going to call him.]
It's perfect for you, did you know that's a kind of flower? A very beautiful one, if I find any, I'll make a crown of them for you, how does that sound?
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Where? Where??
[HE'S VERY CURIOUS PLEASE SHOW HIM HIS FLOWER NEW FRIEND.]
toss me grandpa planecrasher for my gratuitous dumb roleswap
[Shit. I'm going to catch hell from Noriaki later. he thought, bitterly noting that a lot of things he started seemed to end up being his grandson's problem. But in the process of making his way back to where the Stand user had crossed their path, Caesar had passed a clear impossibility that damn near made him swallow his cigarette in shock.]
[Jotaro Kujo had just walked past him on the sidewalk, and without the slightest trace of recognition at that. But that couldn't be the case, Jotaro Kujo was-...]
[...never mind. The point was that it didn't take long at all for Caesar to very quickly conclude that something was very wrong in a way that was more than mere teleportation. As soon as the student in black was out of sight, he turned on his heel and sprinted off at top speed--he desperately needed to find a camera.]
[About half an hour and some creative application of an otherwise useless Stand later, Caesar stood down the street from a house he was certain was the Kakyoin estate this morning, and yet was clearly the Kujo estate right now.]
[...He couldn't conclude just yet if this was catastrophically bad, or if this might just end in a positive note before he got the hell out of here.]
the man of the hour
There can be only one explanation. Caesar has ruined him, he is a bad grandfather, this is his fault, ruining such a nice young man.
He spots someone standing outside from the window, and initially opens the front door to tell them to get lost - but, ah, just the man he wanted to see. Joseph marches right on up to him, takes off a glove, and slaps him in the face with it.]
As you Italians say, vendetta!
okay but here's the right one
So this little Jojo stayed home and fumbled his way through helping her with chores. He is not much of a help. It's the thought that counts. For now, though, he sits in the front room with the door open, taking in the fresh air as he reads the paper. The paper flown in from America.]
oh you
[There really was no way this was going to be easy, and Caesar half wanted to just turn around and walk away until the situation resolved itself. The Stand user back at home would be defeated, and he'd be back in the right place before long.]
[...But he just couldn't leave well enough alone. Call it curiosity, or just his own legendary stubbornness--he approached and knocked on the frame of the open door with a leather-gloved hand, taking a deep breath.]
Sorry to intrude, but...I'm looking for Joseph Joestar.
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Yes? You've found him.
[But there's something familiar about him, that Joseph can't quite place.]
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[He looked like hell. Well, okay, maybe not that bad. But of the two of them, Caesar knew he looked younger--had Joseph seriously just dropped his training? Typical.]
[It was better to focus on that for a minute and resist the urge to scream and punch him directly in the face.]
Jojo. That's really you, isn't it...?
[...ah. He really didn't plan on what to do or say past this.]
Listen--mannaggia, I don't know how much time I'll have and I don't know how to explain. There was an enemy Stand user, I think I must have gotten pushed into some world I shouldn't be in.
It's...me, Caesar.
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All he can do is stare. Yes, there is something Caesar-like about this person, but that's ridiculous, he may look young for his supposed age, but Caesar died far younger than that. His eyes narrow as he frowns, pointedly scrutinising.]
Oh yeah? Well gee, that sure is something, raised from the dead, look at you!
[Of course he says it in the most sarcastic manner possible. Because frankly it's offensive that someone would even try to fool him like this, bringing up a dead friend.]
no subject
[Caesar rolled his eyes, unimpressed by the response but secretly glad this hadn't instantly turned into a fight. Still, wasn't much left to be done.]
Guess I'll just have to prove it. [He brought hands in black gloves together sharply, taking a deep breath as he pulled them apart in a cloud of iridescent bubbles crackling with the power of sunlight. Shooting Joseph an arrogant smirk, he tilted his head enough to make the birthmarks under his eyes a little more visible in the light of the flickering energy.]
I'm not playing around, no matter how unbelievable this is. Now shut up and don't argue for once in your life; I didn't have anywhere else to go in this weird backwards world of yours.
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So although he spends a few moments longer looking for some tell of a lie, eventually, and all at once, he takes Caesar by the shoulders, and laughs.]
Look at you, you old fart! You call that a hairstyle?
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[Screw acting cool; he threw his arms around Joseph's shoulders and hugged him tightly.]
You complete imbecile. I can't believe it's been that long already.