Journey Of A Golden Spirit: Rossi Di Napoli (Mass Effect/JoJo)

Finagle007 said:

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WHAT ARE CONSEQUENCES TO A PISSED OFF NERD WITH ADMIN PRIVILEGES?

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Your new employer, who can't be more than maybe five years older than you, is waiting for an answer.

She needs... some kind of encouragement. You see that much- she's obviously stressed out over the idea that she's going to end up like the other shopkeepers- either extorted for exorbitant amounts of money, or beaten half to death.

Yesterday happens all over again in your mind, this time with her as the focus of the beating, and an almighty rage fills you. In that moment, you decide more than anything else, you are going to protect this damn shop if it costs you- who the fuck are you kidding with this chivalry bullshit, you're gonna beat these chihuahua squirts like redheaded stepchildren.

A raised eyebrow breaks you out of your sudden inner debate on whether that counts as a self-burn or if you're disqualified by way of being an orphan- wow that got dark quickly- focus.

You take a deep breath, and... then the plunge. You grasp her forearms firmly and look her in the eyes as she freezes up.

"Look. I get it. These people scare you. I would be too. But, I promise you, as long as I'm here, nothing bad will happen to you. No matter what happens, you are safe."

Unknown to you, Pearly Gates has manifested behind you, triggering that tiny shift in attitude you haven't noticed yet, adding its sheer force of presence to your own. For a moment, you seem something more than human, the purest kind of guardian against those who would hurt and extort for their own gain.

"That's bullshit, but I believe it." DC 18, Roll: 20. Critical Success!
Her expression holds for another moment, your eyes boring into her for a second more before it shifts.

Sniffle. Sniffle sniffle.

... Ah. That... may have worked too well. You pull your boss in for a hug which she returns without thinking, leaving you to awkwardly pat her on the back while she whimpers about how she never expected running the shop to be this hard or having to deal with banana coloured morons who hospitalised three of the people she grew up knowing around here, who she treated like family, how they told her she was next and she'd better have the money... you just hold her, somewhat awkwardly patting her as she continues crying into your shoulder.

By the end of her minor breakdown, your hoodie is... not ruined, exactly, but certainly a bit wetter than it was. She pulls away, still snuffling a little, but she still wipes her eyes and tries to compose herself.

"... Thank you." She manages after a moment. "I, don't think I properly introduced myself. Ariana Rubinnaci."

Finally, a name. Which means you can give yours.

"Gioia Josephina Anasui Brando-Shepard." As she blinks, you just about remember that your name is something of a mouthful, and you have no idea why you gave your full name. "C-call me Jojo."

"Well... Jojo, to... come back to my original point, you... clash. I'm not saying you'll scare off customers, no, but you'll... leave a certain impression if you're just left to loiter about." Ariana says somewhat awkwardly, gently poking two fingers together in the most adorable way-

Good God Gioia quit being such a fucking lesbian for five seconds and focus-

"Er..."

Help her out. Yourself out. Your... selves, out- I dunno, man, pronouns are whack whenever you people are involved like this.

[] "Er... I could, man the welcome desk? Just, show me what to do first?" This seems alright- some basic bookkeeping shouldn't be beyond your... admittedly tenuous grasp of arithmetic. Still, it seems useful, if she's working the front by herself. Might even get you a bonus! (Read: will get you a bonus, assuming you don't fuck up. Read: there is a non zero chance you will fuck up.)

[] "I could work in the back. Stack boxes, move cloth, stuff like that?" Brute force, that's your kind of job. Might not give off the impression of brains, but really, brawn's where it's at anyway. Might even get you a bonus! (Read: will get you less of a bonus, but less chance you'll fuck up. Read: you dun look like you got any smorts up in that thar skull o' yew-ers. Maybe not the biggest problem, but still, a problem.)

[] "I can just get onto the roof if you want. Keep watch?" Sounds good- you'll be able to keep a lookout for the Banana Band and possibly nip that problem in the bud before it even becomes a problem. (Read: No bonus, but you can use Pearly Gates to your heart's content without Ariana seeing if that's a dealbreaker. She'll barely even know she was about to be attacked.)

[] (Write-in) (Choose either a possible vantage point or a job to do that you would expect in high-end retail. If you need details, feel free to ask.)

Nilay said:

Or Bi.

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She is confused. If you go back and read stuff, you might see where I hinted here and there to what she's got going there. Or you can just read this.

Your choice.

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An idea occurs. You admit more than anything else you'd love to stay down here, but between working in the back, or working the welcome desk, you... don't really have the skills to work in here. And you're not gonna loiter about, this is a respectable shop, and you are not a respectable person, you'll tell everyone that for free, so...

Out of sight, out of mind, up on a vantage point.

Roof sounds ok to you.

"... I guess I could just hang out on the roof or something. You know, keep watch?"

Ariana blinks, before giggling.

"As much as I like that idea, I don't know if there's a way onto the roof." She says, frowning slightly.

"You like the idea? What, trying to get rid of me already?"

Ariana sputters, trying frantically to tell you that that's not what she meant, she just thinks it's a good idea for keeping watch and has nothing to do with her opinion of you, but before she gets too far into it, she sees the little grin forming on your face, and glares at you. A quick smack to the forearm is your punishment, but you're too busy giggling to really find it painful.

"Am... I interrupting something?" You hear from the door. The two of you whirl around, gently blushing like you were just caught with your hands in the cookie jar, and before you can get your Stand out, you realise it's a middle-aged man, watching you two curiously.

"A-ah, Mr Franzese! I apologise, I was... er." Your boss trails off, freezing up as she tries and fails to come up with a suitable lie.

Franzese just chuckles lightly, and you see her blush deepen as she realises where his thoughts are going.

"I won't pry. I will say, though, I didn't know that about you, Ariana. And so... young, too. You really do take after your father-"

"O-k, stepping away from that train of thought, please and thank you!" She squeaks out.

... God this woman is adorable.

"I'm here to guard the shop, sir." You say, trying to save your boss's hide.

He raises one of the grey caterpillars that seem to have taken up residence where his eyebrows should be. "You? Just you? Against-" He asks incredulously before you cut him off.

"I'm very good at my job. If I have my way, Miss Rubinacci won't even know they're here." You answer coolly, getting rather tired of having your shit-kicking-in abilities constantly questioned, before turning back to Ariana. "Anyway, if you need me, you know where to find me."

She gives you a look of confusion, and you just nod up.

"... Oh! Well, er... Do I just, lean out and yell your name or something, or...?"

"... Do you want my number?" You ask, garnering a meek nod from the woman.

After giving her the number, you turn to Franzense. "Well, I'll get out of your hair." You announce as you walk past him, before finding yourself arrested by a hand around your forearm.

"... These people are monsters. I don't approve of the gangs, no offence, but these people are... barbarians. I've known Ariana most of her life- I look at her, I feel like I'm looking at my own daughter." He says, looking down his nose at you and grabbing your attention before you can summon your Stand to get his hand off you. The person who was formerly a normal middle-aged man suddenly seems a lot more threatening- he seems taller, bulkier, there's a certain... aura, around him, that just screams menace. "She gets hurt, I'll come after you myself, you hear?"

... That sounds more like a promise than a threat, you find. And at the same time, thoughts of what happens if you do fail float unbidden through your mind.

"... If you do, you'll have to wait until I'm done beating myself up."

That gets a laugh from him, a short, barking thing.

"Heh. Give 'em hell." He finishes, patting you on the forearm. And like that, the intimidation is gone, replaced by an old man cheering you on.

... It makes you feel pretty good about yourself.

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One portal later, and you're on the roof.

Man, your Stand is bullshit.

You lean out on the slate parapet, looking out on the city skyline, the coast in the distance, the sound of wind and waves and seagulls in your ears, the smell of salt in your nose...

You could get used to this.

... A minute passes.

You stay there. The gulls caw. The waves splash. The wind tussles your hair like a long-lost father.

A few more minutes pass. You find yourself patting your thighs, fidgeting in boredom.

... You can tough this out.

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In absolute fairness, it takes you about ten minutes before you cave and take your phone out your pocket to message Cesare.


Hold on, let me just- here's your complimentary pinch of salt, to help deal with that, yes, you, the one in front of the screen, and kayfabe... is...

Back.

You put your phone away, thinking a little about the conversation you just had.

... Are you bi? It's not that you're bothered by the thought of not only being attracted to a man who wants to have sex with you for the sole purpose of procreation, it's just... weird.

It feels like something you should have noticed a lot sooner, honestly, but no, this bitch outta nowhere makes you realise you want clam chowder with your bratwurst and wow you could not have found a more disgusting way to summarise that.

You decide to break the question down.

Are you actually bisexual, or is this a one-time thing? You don't know. Simple as that, you don't know, and you're not comfortable thinking about Daria or Tori in that way to test.

... Maybe Tori.

Does the idea of being bisexual bother you? Not... really? You're more just unsure about why you never noticed it before. Or...

You always thought Vittoria was hot. Not like that, but, you were kind of... jealous, almost? But the more you think about it...

A blush rises on your face as you realise you would, in fact, bang the hell out of one of your best friends. O-kay wow that's weird to think about.

Before you can follow that train of thought down lines you didn't even know existed, the sound of chatter draws you out of yourself for a moment.

"Oh man I've been waiting to get at this place, they make stupid bank dude-"

"And the owner's smoking hot, like Christ the things I would do to get in bed with her-"

"Ugh. Pig."

"Shut the fuck up, Sera, you know you'd want in on that shit!"

You look over the parapet, and see, one, two, three, four...

Seven, people in hoodies that are various shades of yellow, just coming up to the turn in the ramp. You see bats, wrenches, large knives, and at least two guns from what you've seen.

Oh boy. The Banana Bandits are in town.

... Pfft. You don't know why you find that funny. But you do.

Welp. Sexual awakening's over. Time for job. How are you dealing with this?

[] Thou Art Michael- Portal down there, in full view, and play up the whole immovable object routine. They try to move past you, they get a face full of spectral fist. Or regular fist. You're not picky.
-[] Thou Art Tim- but... fuck with them a little, you know?

[] Fear Is The Mindkiller- Just punch them through the portals. Drag them up here one by one, depositing their broken bodies back where you put them. Just have her drag them through portals to a completely random street. Scare the shit out of them, and make them regret coming here.
-[] Any suggestions? (FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T KILL THEM)

[] TERMINATED- Go down, beat the shit out of them, come back up. No words, no giving them a chance to talk, just go and end their shit rightly, and leave them wondering what kind of hell-beast protects this place.

[] Write-in