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[starmark]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, THIS IS JOTARO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.20.118.16 *** THIS IS JOTARO has joined 019.20.118.16 <THIS IS JOTARO> okay i'm typing now what <THIS IS JOTARO> delete what i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> delete what i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> delete everything i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> make this an automated messa <AUTOMATED REPLY, DO NOT RETURN> This is Jotaro. Whatever you want, hurry up and tell me already.

Comments

[manuscripture]

No. I did it for myself too. I started for myself. I was the only one who made any decisions because I needed help with something. I had a dry-spell with inspiration and wanted a new experience I could witness from the ground up. [ He gives a little shake of his head. It was a large deciding factor to stay in what's BASICALLY A BLOOD CULT. ][ It's embarrassing in its own way to admit something so uncomfortably out of his scope of practice. There is no denying that Jotaro is the most important thing to him. The taste of a personal desire to do ANYTHING for ANYONE is bitter and unpleasant to somebody who lets his life revolve around himself. ]

It's a weird feeling.

[starmark]

...Yeah. Okay, all right. I just...

[He idles a second, looking for words; Star Platinum, who until now has been hanging back like he'd been told to, quietly gravitates forward and hovers near Jotaro's shoulder in a way that almost reads as protective — as though he'd been cued to do so by some unexpected whim conveyed along their link by Jotaro's subconscious.]

...I'd be sort of mad at you, I guess. If you were throwing yourself into things like that just for my sake. Maybe that sounds strange, to say...that I'm glad part of it was a selfish motivation, too. But I am. I wouldn't have wanted it, if you'd done it for no one but me.

[manuscripture]

[ It's not strange. Rohan is thankful that it worked out this way. His selfishness led itself into something better and he isn't responsible for looking desperate or clingy. ]

I don't do things solely for other people. I never have. If people can't take care of things on their own, they aren't deserving of the effort from anyone else. [ He finally stops fiddling with the key and his tail swishes along the floor. ] You aren't a baby, Jotaro. The fallback is nice but it is something I have to work toward in the first place. It may not even happen. Getting to that point involves a huge commitment and things I don't want to have to think about doing. I can't just say I want something from Her and call it a day.

[starmark]

So, don't just run out and get myself killed? It wouldn't be the first time I've been told not to be reckless.

[He reaches out, though, and moves to catch the hand that Rohan had been using to fiddle with his key before it can lower completely, lightly curling his own fingers around Rohan's in a loose hold.]

Whatever choices you make with this...they're you're own choices. I understand that. But take care of yourself, okay? I'm not saying tell me everything. Or to make me a part of it, really. Just...

[manuscripture]

You really don't need to tell me that. [ It isn't flat or biting in any way. Clear if nothing else. His hand drifts outward from his chest so that Jotaro doesn't have to reach too far. ]

Just...?

[starmark]

Just...

[He's quiet, just for a second.]

I'm all right with not knowing for sure, whether or not I could take one of those gods in a fight.

Whatever deals and arrangements you make with them...I hope those gods never give me the reason to have to find out.

[did he just imply that he would fight the literal gods of this universe over rohan BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S WHAT JUST HAPPENED]

[manuscripture]

[ you can't punch a god jotaro ]

I can't tell if that's the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me or the most bizarre one.

[ DO WE??? KNOW???? ]

[starmark]

It's probably the latter. I wouldn't say I'm exactly a "romantic" type of person.

[ARE YOU ACTUALLY SERIOUS WITH THIS SHIT RIGHT NOW]

[manuscripture]

You just said you would fight a God for me.

[ THAT'S PRETTY ROMANTIC AND GOOFY ]

[starmark]

I probably would. That's romantic?

[He shrugs a little.]

I thought you were more of a jewelry and fine dining kind of person.

[manuscripture]

You'll punch anything if given the opportunity. I am sure of that at this point.

[ He flicks his hand gently and squeezes Jotaro's fingers. He turns his nose up. ]

I don't see you taking me to dinner or buying me jewelry. I'm going to take what hamfisted attempts I can get. [ Oooooo that's a low blow. ]

Are you saying you like me, Jotaro?

[ fourth grade here we come ]

[starmark]

...

[TSUN MODE: ENGAGING]

I thought it was pretty obvious, what I was saying.

[Punching gods, liking it here in this castle, you're cute, etc.]

I can't really meet expectations if I don't know what they are, can I?

[manuscripture]

Well, now you know the preferred expectations.

[ all this serious bullshit over the past week makes rohan ENTITLED to this teasing thing. ]

I was only curious. I feel like the only thing we haven't done-- [ And this is gonna sound bonkers. ] --is gone on a proper date.

[ Ah, fuck. Now he's back in weird territory. ]

Which is up to you. If you don't want to, I don't care. [ He cares. Tsun Mode has activated. ]

[starmark]

So dinner, jewelry, and as little hamfisting as possible.

[Good luck on that last one. Have you seen Star Platinum's fists? They're not just ham, they're the whole pig.]

...Hold on. Are you asking me out?

[manuscripture]

[ HhnnGHghh ]

It was a suggestion. We don't have to. I had an idea but we don't have to if that's weird for you.

[ This is stUPID. Time to awkwardly try to cross his arms. ]

[starmark]

You're asking me out.

[OH BOY, LET THE HHNNNGHGHH FLOW, THIS IS GOING TO GET STUPIDER BEFORE IT GETS BETTER]

No, what's the idea? I want to hear it, hurry up and tell me. Where are you asking me out to?

[manuscripture]

[ When does it not get stupider before it gets better??? ]

Remember... Remember the beach we washed up on? I was thinking there without all the locals trying to kill us.

[starmark]

Back in Vandare?

[On one hand, Vandare is Vandare. On the other hand: BEACH.]

So it'd be an overnight trip, or something. Not just a date, but a vacation.

[manuscripture]

Yeah. I know Vandare isn't our favorite place to go but it beats Bug Town or Rota. [ Where they will be killed on-sight. ]

If you count a day as a vacation, sure. I can afford a nicer hotel now.

[starmark]

That's charming. You're going to take me to the least shitty of the shitty places on a date. With a hotel and everything.

[He pauses a minute, mulling it over.]

...It'd have to be at night, wouldn't it? For me. Because of the sun.

[manuscripture]

[ The goddamn sun ruining Day Trips and shit. ]

Yes. You can fly there in no time, we can sleep all day or whatever and come back home. It's simple, isn't it?

[starmark]

I was just thinking, it's a shame a beach umbrella and really powerful sunscreen wouldn't make any difference.

[Is that a joke? It might be halfway to one. Possibly. Probably.]

...Yeah. Okay. Let's do it. I accept.

[manuscripture]

If you find a sunscreen strong enough to keep you from turning into a handsome paperweight, run it by me.

[ Rohan rolls his eyes and shakes his head. ]

I have things to do with Lorna this week but... Sunday might work...?

I'm sure the beach is full of gross things for you to roll in.

[starmark]

...Sea glass. I want to look for sea glass.

[He says almost absently, like it's the natural correction to make when it comes to Things To Do At A Beach.]

Oh. I talked to her, did I tell you? Lorna. She's okay. Kind of fussy, but all right, I guess. And I guess I should probably...figure out what to do with the dog, so. Sunday would be good. Yeah.

[manuscripture]

I'd rather you hoard sea glass than roll in anything. I'll take it.

[ The mention of Lorna has him perk up. ]

She's fussy because she's been a shut-in for her entire life. Whoever she lived with never let her leave her house. All she knows how to do is sew and garden. A place like this is very dangerous for her. She lives all the way in Sanctuary so I have been taking her there before you pick me up.

[ Ffffff he's gotten all soft again. Awful. ]

She is good material for what I was looking for.