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starry-blue-echoes · 1 year

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Just wondering, what did happen when gio and Trish ascended the bell tower, in ur son of dio fic (I think that's the one where diavolo knows Gio is dio's kid and plans to kill two birds with one stone?) I remember that's one of my fave of ur fics and was pretty excited to see what happened next :0 no pressure of course!

I unfortunately don't have a fic for that one yet, but I'd be more than happy to share what happens next :)))

so things are...... definitely a bit tense when Bucciarati reads out the Boss's orders. He'd planned on meeting and confronting the Boss, and this was literally the perfect time but..... but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Sure it could just be played off as the Boss thinking someone younger would be easier to defend against, but he also likely had files on every member of the Bucci Gang and the next youngest member would've been Fugo, who amongst their group was honestly among the most dangerous and had been with Passione the second longest

so no, it didn't really sit right with him

but this was a direct order from the Boss, and unless he wanted an early grave he had to follow it. So he gets off the boat, sneaks in a cell phone by turning it into some vines to hide in his sleeve, and watches with Trish as the others ride the boat into the distance

when they head inside...... the feeling doesn't get any better. The air is heavy and neither of them speak but the tension is thick and there's a buzz of anxiousness around them. Trish still has her moment where the mask she's been keeping up cracks, where her anxieties and fears make their way to the forefront and Giorno....... Giorno offers her his hand

"I'll keep you from harm. It's what I've been tasked to do." he tells her. He isn't sure what possessed him to say that, after all in the face of the Boss he really wouldn't be able to do much. It was barely anything more than empty, pretty words or condolence

but at the same time, deep down Giorno realizes he meant it. Realizes that he would risk everything he'd been trying to do if that meant another innocent person wouldn't die because of his choices and decisions. Realizes he wouldn't be able to turn a blind eye should the Boss try to do something to Trish

right now looking at Trish he realizes she's just another 15 year old who doesn't know what's going to happen next. Just like him

if this is what friendship felt like, it was the single most terrifying and best thing he'd ever experienced

they hold hands as they ride the elevator up. A grounding, firm presence they can feel and touch to remind them that they're alive and still here

but then the touch is gone

and Giorno feels pain

Pain, pain, pain extending from his stomach outwards, like his ribs have been broken and ground into powder, he can't feel his legs anymore and above all else he grows cold

they're in the catacombs now, he distantly realizes. Gone is the neat, clean elevator and in its place is dark and damp and dusty stone, barely any light at all and merciless in its presence. Trish is on the ground nearby, a cloudy half lidded gaze meeting his eyes

he can't tell if she's alive or not

but through it all, all the conflicting sensations and emotions and fading pulse of Gold under his skin, Giorno's able to make out red with white crisscross

the Stand stares at him with its acid green eyes, mouth moving and making sounds and asking questions he can hear but not understand. He doesn't know who Brando is or what World he's talking about or why he thinks he was sent by someone, the Boss asked him to be here, none of it makes sense

all he can clearly make out in the arm going straight through his stomach and hoisting him in the air

he needs to move, he realizes. If he doesn't, he's going to die

as quickly as he can, the vines up his arm are thrown toward the Boss. The Stand backhands them easily, inadvertently throwing himself across the room in the process. The arm was more painful being pulled out then being put in, but at least on the floor Giorno can fix himself

everything's a blur after that. Healing Trish, causing a jungle of plants and animals to erupt in their wake as they bolt for the exit, and even as reality blinks before their eyes and the world skips ahead without them, the Boss isn't able to follow them through all the flora and fauna

but as they run, Giorno's mind is racing. The Boss knew who he was, and the Boss wanted something from him. He thought Giorno knew something he needed and was willing to kill him for it, and with a sinking feeling he realizes him being brought down with Trish was intentional

the Boss wanted to knock out two birds with one stone

and as the two of them leave the island clinging to the back of a sailfish, Giorno begins to wonder with an ugly, sickening feeling in his stomach if Bucciarati had been in on it

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rehkkuma · 3 years

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like old times chptr. 3/4 | fugo x reader

PART 5 SPOILERS UNDERNEATH

⇠ Previous chapter

Next chapter ⇢ In progress

words: 1.97k.

disclaimers/tags: fem pronouns, intrusive thoughts based on trauma, angst, language, age gap relationship on fugo's part.

Fugo could recall the night of Bucciarati's betrayal as one of the worst nights of his life. He didn't eat nor sleep. He just laid in bed, cold. Surprisingly, he wasn't sad or angry; he felt nothing.

Not even a week passed and rumours had already gone around about Bucciarati's death. Not just him, but Narancia and Abbacchio as well. Word spread quickly about the traitors within the organization as fast as their deaths. However, there was no talk surrounding Y/n's death— something that Fugo was incredibly relieved about. Maybe he could see her in Venice again— but would she even want to after all he's said?

Maybe Fugo should've joined her. Maybe, just maybe if he did, things would return like old times; his hand clutched in hers, her back against his chest, laying in bed without a single worry in mind.

"Is something the matter?"

Fugo's eyes shot up at the woman sitting across from him, only to disappointedly look down at his dinner plate. For a second, her voice sounded similar to his past lover's. He nearly forgot about the date he agreed to.

"Is the food bad? If it is, you can order anything else." The lady grinned, hand on her chin.

"It's alright. Thank you, though."

Fugo couldn't believe he was doing this. Going from Venice to Naples would be a costly trip. With his near-empty wallet and now-deceased capo, it would be impossible to return home without blowing out every cent in his account. To afford his trip back, he caught an old woman's attention— possibly in her early 40's— to help with his money issues.

"You know..." the lady said, stabbing her fork into a chunk of lettuce. "You're not here just for a free meal. Say something. Entertain me."

Fugo nodded. "You look great today," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

She smiled in satisfaction, taking a bite of the salad on her fork.

Fugo tried to enjoy the expensive appetizer on his plate, but his palate had completely vanished due to the woman across from him. Every word she spat out reminded him of his old professor. He didn't want her, he wanted Y/n. As much as he wanted to leave, he knew this would help him return home.

"When do you think I could go back to Naples, miss?" Fugo asked with a gentle expression on his face.

The lady waved her fork at Fugo. "Hon, we'll talk about that later. Just enjoy the free meal, hm?"

"I understand, but I can't stay in Venice forever."

The lady's face began to shift into anger. "I said later, tesoro."

Fugo closed his eyes and took a breath. 'Tesoro' was something Y/n was only allowed to call him. Hearing those words from anyone else made Fugo want to vomit— especially from this old hag.

"Please don't call me that," he said.

"Huh?" the lady's lip raised. "I'm curious, Pannacotta. Who is the one stuck in Venice? Who is the one paying for your plate? Who is the one desperate for money?"

Fugo put his head down, staring at the white tablecloth. He despised the tone of her voice and the way she was treating him. She clearly thought she had power over him just because of her age and money. Fugo wanted to prove her wrong.

"I'm in a shitty mood, you know." Fugo pushed his chair back and stood up. "My friends are dead and my girlfriend left me. To top it off, I need to see your hideous face just so I can get some cash."

The lady's brows arched, fist clenching on top of the table. "I'll have you know that my husband is part of the mafia, so sit your ass back down on that chair right now or I'll have him blow your head off by tomorrow evening."

Fugo scoffed. "What're you going to tell your husband? You wanted to fuck a 16-year-old?"

Several strangers looked over at the two and watched. Subsequently, a waitress rushed over to the table.

"Is there an issue here?" the waitress asked.

"No, none at all. He's just a bit stressed— maybe a glass of wine will do?" the lady suggested.

"I-I'll be right on my way, ma'am." The waitress nodded and immediately scurried away from the table.

"Are you kidding me?" Fugo spat at the lady. "Wine?"

The lady didn't say a word and continued to eat her salad.

Fugo knew that words wouldn't get through the lady's thick skull. Hastily, he picked up the sharpest fork he could find to pierce her skin. The lady screeched in pain as she stumbled off her chair.

"Jesus Christ," a voice muttered near the table.

"Huh-" Fugo dropped the fork and looked around the restaurant. He heard a voice, one that was too familiar. One that belonged to his old lover.

"Someone, please!" the lady screamed. "Someone call the cops on this child!"

The entire restaurant turned to look at the two. Using this as his opportunity, Fugo looked around the crowd to find Y/n. There were the elderly, young women with their husbands, and several children. None of them were Y/n, until he heard the voice again.

"Fugo? Is that you?"

Fugo turned around to match the voice with the face. There, he saw Y/n. She looked as beautiful as the last time he saw her, just with visible scars this time.

"Why're you still standing there? Let's go!" She took the boy's hand and ran out of the restaurant, pushing through any staff and customers.

Fugo had trouble keeping up with the girl, too lost from the feeling of her soft hands. When she said she wanted to see him in Venice again, this was not what he thought of.

"W-Where are we going?" Fugo stuttered, still running.

"Anywhere where they won't see us!" The girl began to run faster before turning a corner and hiding in a small alleyway. She let go of Fugo's hand and peeked through the side, seeing if anyone followed them. Luckily, none did.

"God, Y/n." Fugo put his hands on his knees and let out heavy breaths. "I didn't want to meet you like this. I'm so sorry. About this, about the boss, about Buccia-"

Y/n took her hand and slapped Fugo's face, slightly leaving a mark on his olive skin. "What the hell were you doing?" she said, voice cracking. "That lady! She looked about 40!"

Fugo wiped his cheek, a guilty look on his eyes. "I was stuck in Venice. Well, I still am, but-" He stopped and bit the inside of his cheek.

"So you hung out with older women? That was your solution?"

"I guess it was."

Y/n put her palm over her eyes, letting out a sigh. "You're so lucky I had a mission in Venice. Jesus, Fugo."

He shamefully looked at the ground. "I'm sorry."

The girl didn't accept his apology, she just looked at him with a disappointed face. "I have a hotel close to here. You can stay with me for now."

Her cold atmosphere stung Fugo. The girl who he believed understood him more than anyone felt so far out of his reach. He knew that her kindness wasn't coming from a place of love but from pity.

"Thank you, Y/n," he said.

No smile, no change in emotion. "Come on, let's go. I'll lead the way," was all she muttered in return.

* * *

The sun was setting; it reminded Fugo of the times he and Y/n would sit on roofs and chat for hours. It gave him a cozy, yet agonizing feeling.

"What exactly are you doing in Venice?" Fugo asked.

"Nothing much. Giorno wants me to get rid of some low-lifers who're spreading harmful rumours."

"Ah, I see."

There was a moment of silence between the two. Fugo tried to avoid the tension by avoiding the girl's gaze, looking over at pedestrians crossing the street instead. Though, Y/n noticed that immediately. If this was in the past, the girl definitely would've teased Fugo about his shyness. Instead, she stayed silent.

By the time they arrived at the hotel, it was dark. After a long day, the two were tired. They could practically go to bed right then and there, but the awkward atmosphere was the only thing holding them back. Though the room was pretty luxurious, it was still a room meant for one person, not two.

"A luxurious hotel like this one shouldn't have rooms so small," Fugo said, a slight chuckle following his words.

"If I expected company, I would've requested a room with two beds... Considering how much room you take up when you sleep."

"Hm?" Fugo interjected. "That's pretty bold coming from you. Would you so kindly remind me who snores like an old man?"

A smile formed on Y/n's face. It was the first time the girl had a genuine moment of happiness since he saw her. Suddenly, Fugo erupted in sadness. Did he still deserve to see her in a happy state? For him to see Y/n happy— just like that— he felt like he didn't earn this privilege.

"Oh, uh-" the girl's smile faded, her face now anxious instead. "You look like you haven't showered in a bit. I can let you borrow some of my clothes while I wash the ones you're wearing right now."

"A-Are you sure? I feel like I'll start owing you a lot of favours then..."

"No, no. It's alright. Here." She tossed a large shirt and shorts that laid on top of the bed. After fumbling a bit, Fugo managed to catch it. He observed the clothes and began to turn red; he'd have to wear Y/n's clothes while also letting her wash his.

"I won't wash your underwear or anything like that. Just your clothes, so don't worry."

Fugo nodded and made his way to the bathroom. As expected, the bathroom was pretty cramped but still gorgeous. He placed Y/n's clothes near the sink and took off the green suit he was wearing. Now bare, he walked into the shower and felt the warm water pleasure his skin.

As he cleaned his body, he felt his mind come to ease; helping him ignore the fact that his ex-lover was just outside the door. The sound of water hitting the shower tiles was loud enough to help clog any intrusive thoughts that dared enter Fugo's mind. But no matter how therapeutic it was, his mind would come crawling back to his betrayal against Bucciarati. He couldn't control his thoughts anymore, all he could imagine was the pure horror his old team would have seen when they found Narancia, Abbacchio, and Bucciarati all dead.

"God," Fugo took a deep breath out. He wanted to cry, he wanted to feel tears roll down his face— but he couldn't. All he felt was anger towards himself. Amidst his internal anger, Fugo remembered Y/n smiling earlier. The girl was still alive and well— at least he could still see her smile.

Suddenly, Fugo felt optimistic. A new opportunity was here, and she was on the other side of the bathroom door. There was no reason to dwell on the past now. He could start a fresh new slate with her. A chance that he thought he'd never have again was only meters away from his grasp, so why not take it?

Fugo quickly grabbed a towel and dried himself off. After changing into Y/n's clothes, he realized what he should do: he'd either redeem himself to the girl or leave the hotel tomorrow morning and never see her again. This time, Fugo was determined to do it right. This was going to be a second chance he was going to mess up.

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shoechoe · 2 years

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I kinda just wanna hear what you think about Fugo & Trish..

I'll go in-depth but the TL;DR of it is pretty much that I just kinda feel bad for them lol

(this ended up being pretty long so I put it under a cut. The word count is 2252.)

Fugo is a pretty interesting character to me. In terms of personality, he sort of alternates from being serious, intelligent, and level-headed to being impulsive and violent when he's upset (which I won't antagonize him for; I'm assuming that's caused by some unspecified mental illness due to childhood stress and trauma that he never got the proper help for?) It’s a real shame to me how Araki doesn’t give us a whole bunch to work off of, but I do like the little that’s shown. I also thought his stand was one of the coolest out of all of Team Bucciarati and it was really disappointing how underused it ended up being.

One thing I liked about him was how he clearly had the closest relationship to Narancia out of all the others. I think their dynamic works really well- it’s pretty clear that Fugo was essentially the one who took care of Narancia up until he left the group. We see him giving him advice, teaching him school subjects that he never learned and being protective over him in general, trying to convince him not to leave with Bruno on the boat. (I also think this dynamic is especially interesting/funny considering Narancia is actually older than Fugo.)

I feel pretty sympathetic for him- instead of getting the proper help he needed to deal with his stress and anger issues, he ended up just joining the mafia instead because his impulsive violence was seen as almost an advantage (Bruno tells him that he could "make use" of his temper if he joined his group). This doesn't excuse some of the conscious decisions he made while in the mafia, but I think in the end he was a dude who could've turned out alright and just needed some more positive influences in his life (and probably some therapy as well, but I could probably say that about over half of all Jojo characters lol).

His disappearance halfway through VA sort of left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, it makes sense to me- Bruno gave everyone the choice to go with him, and it would've been unrealistic if everyone decided to stay, especially the most generally logical and precautious member. I don't have a problem with the concept of Fugo leaving in and of itself (and if you’re wondering, I do disagree with the people who antagonize him for leaving. I think he made a rational decision in fear of his and the rest of his friend's lives, however immoral the Boss ended up being in the end. I don't think he is a maliciously evil character- he was just afraid of actively rebelling against someone who has kept a tyrannical hold on Italy for over a decade now and has one of the most powerful stands in the series. Not to mention, Bruno gave him the choice to leave, after all.)

At the same time, I feel like it was a pretty big disappointment how he didn't get a single scene afterward showing what happened to him and where he went after he left the rest of the group; in fact, the group hardly even mentions him after he leaves. It feels like he was just kicked from the story to be forgotten and never come back. It sort of reminds me of Anne from part 3.

To really understand him, I think you have to acknowledge the fact that he was initially intended to be a twist villain when Araki started writing part 5. He was supposed to be working as a spy for Diavolo and was planned to eventually end up taking the place of Cioccolata, and Giorno was supposed to end up killing him.

This ended up not happening due to Araki's mental health while writing the part and not being able to handle the thought of a friend betraying the group.

I think this explains Fugo's sudden disappearance- the way he was intended to reappear was something Araki couldn't emotionally handle. I respect this decision wholeheartedly, but I do think it caused a weird rift in Fugo's character that ended up making him feel... incomplete, sort of? We never really get an actually satisfying conclusion to his character, and it does kinda hurt.

I feel like this could've been fixed pretty easily, too- like, maybe there could be a scene where the gang finds Fugo after killing Diavolo, and he sees how many of them died and mourns for them (especially Narancia, who was shown to be the one he was overall closest to), or we get a scene showing what Fugo did after he left, or maybe he even rejoins them by the end now that Giorno has defeated the Boss- that would've been satisfying to me. (I also definitely think that there should've been more fights focused on him before he leaves the group. His stand is way too interesting to just leave in the dust like that, Araki...)

Overall, I do like him, though there are some things I would improve about how he was handled. I think Araki should've taken more time to think about what exactly happened to Fugo after he left and shown that (even just as an afterthought would've worked, really).

Meanwhile, Trish plays one of the most interesting roles as the main antagonist's daughter (being the only connection to the Boss that we had for a good amount of the part), in my opinion. She's the only character in part 5 that I felt was genuinely innocent throughout the whole thing; she wasn't involved with the Mafia beforehand, she didn't torture or kill anyone, and she didn't commit any crimes. She was pretty much just a teen who was roped into some shit that she didn't deserve due to her weird paranoid dad. It makes me feel a lot worse for her, all things considered- at the end of part 5, she has no home to go to due to her mother’s death, she probably gained some form of trauma due to having her life in danger and almost being killed multiple times, and we have no idea what’s actually going to happen to her next. (Would she join the mafia?? I hope not...)

I also thought that her character development throughout was fun to watch. She started off as practically standless and defenseless (with only some basic self-defense mechanisms at hand) and puts off the impression of being somewhat entitled at the beginning- she constantly makes petty demands from the other characters, making them see her as weak and in need of sheltering from the violence that's happening around her. Throughout the story, as we watch her life be put into danger multiple times, she slowly unlocks her stand ability and learns how to defend herself instead of being coddled entirely by the rest of Bruno’s gang. That is one thing that I find unique about her- she’s the only one in part 5 who has to actively learn how to defend herself instead of going into it already knowing how.

I also think that her stand talking to her and giving her advice when it first manifested was an interesting way of showing her character. I think it’s a representation of how she was hiding her stronger, more capable self from the others (and probably wasn’t even aware she had the capability herself), and when she finally needed the strength, her stand/stronger self appeared before her. Once she fully accepted who she was and how to use her strength, her stand’s persona kind of ‘merged’ with her, and stops talking for the rest of the part. It’s a really cool visual method of showing how Trish is stronger than she realized (and what she initially let on)- I actually really like it.

I’ve actually heard a semi-theory before regarding Trish’s character, and I thought it was interesting enough to share here. Some people suggest that the reason Trish acted spoiled and asked for extravagant items before the twist with the Boss is because she predicted that her father wasn’t actually interested in protecting her, and was smart enough to see before all the others that she was being led to her death- so, she decided to at least live her life to the fullest before she was killed, and hid that knowledge from the others. I think this actually makes a lot of sense, and would be a cool addition to the narrative/viewing in retrospect. (I also think it would probably say something about her to be able to see through the Boss’s ruse so quickly.)

(Side thought: I also thought it was interesting how similar Spice Girl is visually to King Crimson.

It’s probably just to visualize the fact that Trish and Diavolo are related, but I wonder if it could also mean that Trish shares some character traits with her father.)

Overall, Trish is probably one of my favorite characters in Vento Aureo. She has explicit, strong character development that I feel other characters like Giorno sorely lacked, and I love her stand and personality.

That being said, there are definitely some problems with how Araki handled her. For a start, I definitely feel like she needed some more personality at the beginning of the story- she was clearly just the MacGuffin that the characters needed to protect, and didn’t really feel like her own character until the Notorious B.I.G. fight. I think she should’ve tried to fight off La Squadra a little bit more before she unlocks her stand instead of just staying inside Mr. President all the time; after all, we do see that she has some basic self-defense training, and seeing her be ripped out of her comfort zone more and thrown into the fighting would articulate just how perilous this mission is even more.

I also absolutely hate how criminally underused she is. She barely did anything in the final fight against her father except taunt him, and Spice Girl is only used once after her single fight centered around her. It was a gigantic disappointment to me. She had her big character moment, and then she was just... shelved by the narrative, basically. Should she not have a chance to fight against the person who had been terrorizing her throughout the entire part, despite being her own father? (She deserved to deck Diavolo at least once, come on.) If I had to change Vento Aureo, the first thing I would do would be to immediately give Trish more time in the spotlight. She deserved to have an active role in fights once she unlocked her stand as the group saw she was more than capable of defending herself- I would especially emphasize her importance in the final battle against Diavolo, seeing as she was the one that he was really after.

(Another side note: I also heavily dislike how blatantly oversexualized she is and the jokes that they make about her, with characters much older than her pointing out her body, trying to hit on her, etc. Not only is it just extremely uncomfortable and unfunny to watch considering her being underage and the only female character, it also attracts people in the fanbase to ignore the actual interesting parts of her character and make certain comments and jokes that are just... sort of painful. That would be one of the first aspects of VA I would remove immediately. I get that it’s anime and all, but come on.)

One thing I would also add (or wanted to see, at least) would probably be at least an interaction or two between Trish and Doppio. I’m not sure how it would fit into the narrative, but I feel like it would’ve been interesting considering both of their characters- Doppio being the one closest to Diavolo that he likes and takes care of, with Trish in contrast being neglected and subjected to violence by the Boss. (I wonder if Trish would be in some way jealous of Doppio, honestly.) The fact that Doppio didn’t get to interact with Team Bucciarati at all was pretty disappointing to me, and I think at least some sort of direct contrast between Doppio and Trish would’ve helped it.

Finally, I would also have a similar addition to what I suggested with Fugo where we see what happened to her after the Boss is gone and her life isn’t in direct danger anymore, seeing as she now has no home to go to. (Maybe she goes to live with Fugo? Does she live in Bruno’s old house now that he’s dead?) It would be a solid cap-off to her character and let us know that she’s safe and living decently after the chaos.

Despite my criticisms for both of them, I like both Trish and Fugo. Now that I think about it, they sort of share some writing issues of being underused and shelved when Araki didn’t want to deal with them anymore, but I do think they’re still both good characters. My main problem with them isn’t the characters themselves (in fact, I think they’re both written pretty solidly), but more how the narrative handled them and what they got to actually do throughout the part. They just deserved better, pretty much.

#asks #trish una #pannacotta fugo #fugo jjba #trish jjba #sorry this took a few days to answer. hope anon still sees it #jjba #vento aureo #uhh hope this is good #shoe talks a lot

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deafeninggardenerpanda · 3 years

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Mr. Fugo woke up suddenly at the sound of the alarm. He was tired, but as he listened to the guard’s reports, that tiredness went away. His temples tingled and his mustache swayed. He glared daggers and growed low.

"Thieves ... Unforgivable! I’ll catch you for sure ... You’ll pay for this! Don’t get in my way—I will fix the machine ...! " This wasn’t the face of a gentle millionaire—it was Mr. Fugo’s true face.

He recalled what happened a month ago.

One day, Mr. Fugo received a strange report from the mine manager. A huge cave was discovered while digging in the mines, and in it, was a mysterious machine. He went to the diamond mine and saw the machine with his own eyes, but the machine did not work and its purpose was unknown.

On investigation, there was a silver plate attached to the surface of the machine. Fine ancient characters were inscribed on it. Mr. Fugo searched for a scholar who could decipher the characters, but he knew the citizens would be of no use. He decided to keep the machine secret until he knew more details, as it could be useful for making a profit.

While investigating privately, Mr. Fugo received a visitor. He was a medicine peddler who carried a heavy trunk and wore a large hood.

"Hi! I’m Magolor," the merchant said and waved.

"I have no use for merchants, I'm busy," Mr. Fugo frowned. He tried to turn him away, but Magolor spoke quickly.

"You found an ancient machine, old man! I want to see it."

Fear coursed through his veins. "Why do you know that ...!? "

"Aren't you looking for a scholar who can read ancient characters? I can read them!"

"What ...? You can?" Mr. Fugo couldn’t believe what he was hearing. There was no way a suspicious medicine merchant could read ancient characters ...

But, he took a chance.

He took Magolor to the mine and showed him the ancient machine. Magolor stared, fascinated by it for a while.

"What a funny thing ... It's a machine, but it looks so strange. Sleepy eyes ... a cat-like mouth ... a compass and scissors attached to it ... "

"I don't care what the ancient machine looks like!" Mr. Fugo said, frustrated. "What I want to know is this. What is written here?"

He pointed to the silver plate inlaid at the bottom of the machine. Magolor, then, somehow, began to read what was written.

"Umm ... ‘I will leave this important message for the people of the future’... "

" ... What? You can actually read these characters!?" Mr. Fugo eagerly listened to Magolor's next words.

"Yup, the continuation ... ‘This machine is the worst invention in all of history. Instead of turning stone into priceless material and making tremendous amounts of money, it only scatters misery.’ ... "

"Ah ... Amazing, the machine makes tremendous amounts of money!?" His tone changed.

"Once upon a time, when this machine ran day and night, more money was made than anyone could spend in a thousand years, however, only the aristocrats profited. A terrible stench filled the town as the machine worked. Suffering from such wretched miasma that one couldn't even open the eyes, I sealed the three gears with great magical power and stopped the machine. This saved the town, and the people of the later world!

Never start this machine again! The day that happens, this town will fall to ruin!"

Mr. Fugo turned bright red. His whole body shook and his attitude shifted dramatically.

"Ma- Magolor! No, Professor Magolor!" He knelt down and took Magolor's hand. "You are a wonderful scholar! You deciphered the characters! There was such a secret in the ancient machine!"

"Now that you know how to start it, you can make a lot of money. It’s amazing, huh?"

Mr. Fugo looked up at Magolor's face in distrust. There was a chance he would tell everyone this secret. It would be bad news if that happened. The citizens will surely oppose the starting of the ancient machine. He spoke to Magolor gently.

"Of course, I would like to show my appreciation, Professor Magolor."

"Appreciation? You’ll give me something?"

"That’s right, whatever you want! I’ll give you half my fortune, even. It doesn't matter."

"Really? Wow, I’m rich!" Magolor’s eyes sparkled with great joy. Mr. Fugo laughed darkly in his heart as he watched.

(Good, if you're happy right now.)

Of course, Mr. Fugo wasn’t going to give away any amount of his fortune to Magolor. If the plan was successful, the town would be destroyed. A weak merchant like Magolor wouldn’t be able to stop him. Mr. Fugo continued to laugh without showing any sign of his evil plans.

"Leave the gear finding to me! I have a good idea!" Magolor said.

"A good idea?"

"Put some prize money on the gears, and use anyone who's got the skill to find them. It’ll go well, for sure!"

"Prize money ... huh. I see, that's a good idea," Mr. Fugo smiled and nodded.

Of course, he wasn’t really willing to pay a prize, either. The gear finders would just be thrown out of the town along with Magolor. Thus, Mr. Fugo announced the ancient machine in the newspaper and promised a huge reward. Word of the ancient machine spread throughout town, and the residents began the search for the magical gears.

Magolor, who slept soundly in a hotel bed in the Town of Wind, was alerted by a messenger and brought to Mr. Fugo’s mansion.

"Why did you call me at this time ... I'm sleepy ... " he tiredly complained.

"Look!" Mr. Fugo shouted. He took Magolor to the hidden room. Magolor awoke fully upon seeing the opened safe.

"Wow ... What happened!? It looks as if a thief broke in ... "

"Oh noo~, that’s not what happened at all! I was the one who broke into my own safe!" Mr. Fugo usually spoke very politely to Magolor, but today, he was so angry he could not hide his real personality. "According to the guards, the bandits are a duo. One wore a red, silk top hat and cloak."

"Red, silk top hat and cloak ... Hm, maybe ... "

"Oh, these days the Town of Light is troubled by a great thief. Many mansions have been hit. I hoped this wouldn’t happen ... "

"What was stolen?"

"That's the problem!" Mr. Fugo paced as he spoke. "There are lots of precious treasures in this house. Lots of jewels, fine art, and of course, money, but the thieves didn't touch those at all! They invaded only this hidden room and ... " he continued, "they stole everything regarding the ancient machine. Even the photo I kept in the safe!"

"What photo?"

"A photo of that silver plate," Mr. Fugo said, covering his face. "If that plate is deciphered, it will ruin everything! The citizens will be extremely opposed to the operation of the ancient machine. The plan is ruined!"

"Uh-huh ... " Magolor said in a carefree voice. "Don’t worry, some thieves wouldn't be able to read the ancient characters."

"They must have an interest in ancient technology, though. Because otherwise they wouldn't have been able to take the documents and photograph without getting distracted by the riches throughout the mansion."

"That’s right ... " he thought. Mr. Fugo turned grim.

"Then it’s come to this. There is no choice but to get the three gears as soon as possible. The machine must be started before the thieves have a chance to strike again."

"Uh, uh-huh. All right." Magolor was surprised by Mr. Fugo’s sudden steely determination. He stretched his arms wide. "I’ll hurry and get the gears for you, then."

"Really!? You’ve found them!?"

"That’s right! I know what I’m doing." Magolor waved and left Mr. Fugo’s mansion. He headed back to the hotel in a good mood.

"Meta Knight seems to have been successful in finding the gear. President Dedede retrieved the gear on the clock tower as well, and Kirby found the one in the field ... " Magolor couldn't stop laughing. "The three gears, they’re mine! Fugo doesn’t even notice he’s being deceived! My plan will succeed!"

Meta Knight returned to his mansion and took a closer look at the stolen material from the secret room. The most worrying item was the photo that was stored in the safe.

"These symbols ... I see, they’re characters from an ancient civilization." Meta Knight pulled out a thick book from the bookshelf and enlarged the text with a magnifying glass as he turned the pages. After a while, Daroach came in through the window.

"I'm back! I've returned."

"You’re safe."

"No wonder, they couldn't lay a single finger on me!" Daroach looked at the books spread out over Meta Knight’s desk. "What? What are you doing?" he asked.

"Deciphering ancient characters," Meta Knight answered without looking up from the book. "The photo in the safe has ancient characters on it. They probably have to do with the machine."

Daroach picked up the photo and blinked. "I've never seen characters like these before. You can read something like this?"

"Of course I can't read them. However, I have a research book on ancient characters. I’m looking for clues."

"Really ... " Daroach stared at the detailed symbols written in the book. His expression soured. "I can't. My head hurts."

"You should rest, already."

"Fine, I’ll leave you to that." He laid down on the couch as he said that.

"If you want to sleep, you can use the guest room."

"Goodness, here? I can’t settle down on a bed so gorgeous. Besides, I don’t want to get caught by your butler." He fell asleep quickly.

" ... A good man gets his rest," Meta Knight murmured. He began the process of deciphering the ancient characters. There was a long night to come.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

Daroach was dreaming of delicious sweets when he was roughly awakened.

"Get up! Get up, Daroach!"

"Ah ... huh ... " He rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Hm? Where ...? Oh yeah, I fell asleep in your mansion. Good morning, Meta Knight ... "

"Listen to me! I understand what the ancient characters mean!" Daroach, at last, remembered what happened before he fell asleep.

"You, did you not sleep last night? You've been working hard ... "

"It doesn’t matter, get up!" Meta Knight grabbed Daroach's hand and dragged him to the desk. "It was difficult, but I managed to decipher it. It’s a grave warning an ancient sage left to those of the future."

"Warning ...? " Daroach was still half asleep. Meta Knight pulled his arm sharply. "Please explain."

"I will. There are some parts I couldn't decipher, so I will read only the parts I understand. ‘This machine ... turns stone into priceless material ... makes a lot of money ... instead ... misery ... ‘"

"Hmm? What does that mean?"

"There is a continuation. ‘The aristocrats ... profited ... In the town ... stink ... suffering ............ Three gears ... sealed ... Stop the machine ... When this machine starts again, this town ... ruins ... ‘"

"What ...!? " Daroach’s face was drawn. "It says if the machine moves again the town will fall to ruin!?"

"That would be the case. The ancient machine can be used to turn stone into treasure and money, however, doing so will harm the inhabitants of the town and enrich only the aristocrats. It's a nightmare machine."

"Fugo ... Does he know this!?"

"Probably. Even I was able to decipher it, and he likely had an expert on his side."

"What a mess ... it wasn't an evil wizard who sealed the gears of the machine ... No, it wasn’t like that at all. The truth was Fugo was willing to destroy the Town of Wind for profit!"

"We can't let this happen. We have to stop the plan." At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Butler Vul’s voice was heard from the other side.

"Good morning, sir. That medicine peddler named Magolor has come again."

"Magolor?"

"Yes, it’s rather annoying this early in the morning. Should I turn him away?"

"No, it doesn’t matter. Let me through."

" ... Understood." Then— "Wah! Ma- Magolor!?" Butler Vul’s loud voice echoed. "I told you to wait at the front door! You’re just not going to listen and do whatever you want!?" The door opened and Magolor appeared.

"Good morning, Lord Meta Knight!"

"A good morning, it is not! Rude ...! " Butler Vul was on his way to throw out Magolor when he noticed Daroach. "Daroach!? You bastard, again, you’ve snuck in under my gaze! You’ve ignored me over and over ...! "

"I don't mind," Meta Knight soothed the furious butler swaying with anger. "You’re dismissed. Don't come unless I call you."

"But my Lord! I have a responsibility as a butler! Nevertheless! Nevertheless, when these guys—!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize on their behalf. Get out." Meta Knight pushed Vul out of the room and closed the door, then turned to Magolor.

"You came back, Magolor," he said. Magolor looked curiously at Daroach.

"Eh ... who is this person ...? "

"A friend of mine, Daroach. He’s collaborating with me to help search for the gears."

"Wow! Nice to meet you, Mr. Daroach. I’m Magolor ... "

"Oh, I’ve heard about you, but nevermind that. There are more important matters at hand."

"Did you find the gear?"

"Well, we found out the unexpected truth. We’ll walk you through it, so sit down." Daroach picked up the stolen picture and gave it to Magolor. Magolor shook his head exaggeratedly.

"There’s something like characters written on it ... What is this?"

"It tells the purpose of the ancient machine found in the diamond mine."

"What’s it say? I can't read a single word of it!"

"It’s difficult to decipher ancient characters, but I understand the general meaning," Meta Knight said. He read aloud the parts he could understand.

"In other words," Daroach said, "when the ancient machine works, it turns stone into expensive treasure and makes the aristocrats a lot of money, but in exchange, it stinks up and destroys the town."

"Ehhhhh!? Whaaaa!?" Magolor covered his face and shook. "I didn’t realize the ancient machine was so scary! I didn’t know, not at all, not at all! What!?" Meta Knight turned his sharp gaze toward Magolor.

"Did you really not know? You're very familiar with the gears."

"Of course, but I just wanted to collect them! There’s no reason to think that way!"

"Why did you know where the gears were in the first place?" Meta Knight’s voice became harsher and harsher.

"U-uh ... "

"I doubt a mere medicine peddler could know such valuable information. Are you related to Fugo in any way?"

"Ehhhhh!? N-no wayyyyy!" Magolor waved his hands back and forth in a panic. "I used the Star Compass! That’s why I knew where the gears were!"

"The Star Compass? What is that?"

"It’s a tool used to find magical objects. My friend, Kirby, has it."

"Kirby? Airplane pilot Kirby?" Daroach asked.

"Do you know who that is?" Meta Knight turned to him.

"Mhm. He’s a celebrity in the Town of Wind. An interesting, gluttonous kid who likes to take naps." Daroach turned to Magolor. "This means Kirby also knows where the gears are?"

"Uh-huh ... Not only Kirby, but President Dedede, too ... "

"Let’s hurry to those two, then. We need to stop them before they turn over the gears to Fugo." Meta Knight picked up the gear and the stolen material, and, after a moment, the book on ancient characters as well.

"You want to bring that heavy book with you? For what?" Daroach asked.

"I may be able to decipher more of the ancient text if I have it on me. I want as much information as possible."

"You're right, let's go." The three left the room. They were led by Butler Vul, who muttered under his breath as he took them to the garage behind the mansion. There sat Meta Knight’s seven steam cars.

"Woah, sick!" Magolor squealed. "I’ve never ridden in anything like these!"

"I hope you've got guts, Meta Knight’s driving is something else."

"Wow, sounds exciting!"

Meta Knight opened the door of a bright red sports car. "This car is the fastest. Get in."

He sat in the driver's seat, while Daroach took the passenger side, and Magolor sat in the back. Meta Knight stepped on the pedals suddenly, and the car spewed out smoke and accelerated rapidly. It had ferocious speed. The wind blew in their faces with such force it was difficult to keep their eyes open.

"Waahhhhhhh!" Magolor screamed.

Daroach squeezed his eyes shut. "Hold on tight, Magolor!" he shouted. "If you don’t, you'll be blown out of the car!"

"Waaghhhhhhh! Scaryyyyy! Help, Lord Meta Knight ...! "

"Give up! Meta Knight’s personality changes when he drives!"

The car reached its maximum speed in the blink of an eye. They flew through the wide roads and sped off into the Town of Wind.

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#kirby #meta knight #daroach #magolor #millionaire fugo #captain vul #Kirby: Search for the Dreamy Gears!#kirby light novel #translations #fun fact: this is the longest chapter in the novel!#even a little longer than chapter one :0

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funtimebunnyblog · 4 years

Text

Diamante d’Italia: Chapter 2

(Chapter 2: Strangers like me, part 1)

Abbacchio wasn't quite sure why he let this kid, this almost complete stranger, tag along with him to Lunch.

Hell, he wasn't quite sure why he didn't even snap at him too harshly for prodding him about Gangs and other shit you were supposed to keep your lips closed about.

He thought back to all the times the dark haired man had prevented him from (rightfully) throttling one of the others (he should just outright say 'Narancia' at this point) and encouraging him to take a "gentler" approach and to "put his anger to something positive".

'Maybe all that time around Bruno is making me soft...' he thought to himself as a deep frown pulled on his face.

The man was indeed the very definition of a pushover who just happened to be wearing expensive Mafioso clothing after all.

Every few minutes, he found himself glancing back over his shoulder to ensure Josuke was still with him.

The Highschooler seemed distracted with every single sight there was to see around him which caused him to lag behind for the briefest of seconds to stare in awe at things Abbacchio didn't seem to find too special.

Josuke stopped completely at one point to watch a street performer squeezing away at his accordion, rich music tugging at the teenagers ears and luring him to stay for a while like a siren in open Seas.

Abbacchio was so very tempted to tell him to get his ass in gear but stopped himself upon seeing that bright starry gleam again in the others eyes as he watched the musician in awe.

Eventually however, they arrived.

Maybe he shouldn't be in such a hurry...

He simply settled for grumbling to himself and standing to watch alongside the punk until he'd had his fill of the performance.

"Libbeccio" was not only a place their Gang frequented, it was an inviting Italian ristorante and Bucciarati's most favorite establishment in the entirety of Naples.

"This is it." He said, looking to Josuke.

"Do they have French Vanilla Coffee?" He asked, giving Abbacchio a very doe-like look.

The teenager was looking the building up and down. One thing he found he liked around here already was the overall architecture of Italy, even on simple buildings like this.

Everything just looked so cozy and yet so fancy at the same time somehow. This little building looked more inviting than anything he'd been to back home in Morioh.

The older man started up the steps and opened the door, heavenly food smells of all kinds wafted out into the street and teased at Josukes nose, even from where he stood out on the sidewalk.

The white-haired man let out a noise that was sounded like the briefest half-chuckle he'd ever heard.

"They got every flavor of Coffee and Tea you've ever heard of."

He just hoped Abbacchio couldn't hear the roar of his stomach over the feint chatter of people.

Gripping his leather bag tighter, he jogged to keep up with his companion once he realized he was standing outside and drooling like a hungry stray dog, following him inside.

The walls were painted a warm yellow that felt like sunshine.

Artwork that looked more expensive than this trip itself along with various plants (he was even more delighted to find they were real, not just cheep plastic) hung in every corner and on every wall.

The floors were dark wood, so very polished and pristine Josuke wondered if they could get away with serving food on the floor if they ran out of plates.

Good grief, how on earth did he manage to pick up another Narancia? And off the streets no less.

"This is so nice, Abbacchio!" He beamed, forcing himself to keep his voice down as he suddenly remembered he was in a restaurant after all.

He broke off into an excited babble, "Are all places here this nice? Where should we sit? You mentioned they have cake earlier. Do we order here?"

He almost facepalmed at the very thought of it.

He supposed however that maybe he'd be excited too if traveling to a foreign country, but that didn't stop him from rolling his eyes through the others excitable narrative.

Abbacchio held up a hand, "Don't worry about it." He said simply. Anything he ordered here the bill was immediately footed to Bucciarati as the man arranged with the business long before-hand.

Josuke dug into his coat, opening his wallet and sifting around inside, already doing some head math as he flipped through his money.

"What are you going to get? I can pay for you--"

To the teens surprise, Abbacchio didn't even wait to be seen to by a waiter. He stood there, blinking stupidly as the man just walked through the restaurant, past tables of people talking and dining, all the way to the back to what seemed like a secluded spot for private parties.

Things like food and drink cost nothing but chump change anyways in the eyes of a Mafioso.

Besides, this kid couldn't possibly eat half as much as Narancia and Mista knawed through during the Gangs mealtimes.

Josuke fidgeted awkwardly, feeling much like he had back in that ally when Abbacchio first made motion to leave, before looking around quickly and trailing behind.

The staff members never questioned those who were close to Bucciarati (he was more like Family to the restaurant rather than just a regular) and they knew Leone quite well at this point, as he had come alone with the man on several occasions apart from their group outings.

So the place just let the gang seat themselves in the "reserved" area whenever they saw fit to come in.

By the time he reached the more private room, out of the view of other patrons, his companion was already seated at a large round table.

"Uhh... am I... allowed back here?" He questioned, peering over his shoulder as if a member of the restaurant staff would grab him like an offending drunk and toss him out the door any second now. "I mean, I understand if you are but... I'm just a tourist..."

"Sooo..." he began, surveying his surroundings. "You said you come here often?"

A smirk pulled at the older mans coloured lips as he leaned back in his chair casually, "You're with me, aren't you?"

A nod, in which he returned in motion to another chair somewhat across from him, a gesture for him to sit down. Josuke complied, ensuring he set his suitcase down where he could see it on the chair directly next to him.

Leone nodded. It was much nicer coming here however when it was just him and another person (that most often Bruno), that way he wouldn't have to blare music in his headphones to block out the screaming war happening between Fugo and Narancia, along with Mistas constant whining.

By now Josuke was observing his new companion on a deeper level. It was weird to admit, but he felt a little drawn to the man. There was just something there that he hadn't noticed before (apart from the implications he was in the Mafia of course).

"Yeah, practically every day. We do.... business here."

It was always pleasant to discuss matters back here anyways, the atmosphere was lovely, the chatter of voices not so very loud and always away from prying eyes.

It was... familiar? Something at least resembling familiarity in his opinion. It was strange but it sort of reminded him of his relationship with his best friend Okuyasu back home in Japan...

"Business, huh?" He gave the Goth a small teasing smile, still testing the waters with him. "You're a real mysterious guy, Abbacchio..."

"Trust me, you don't know the half of it..." he replied, his tone holding just a pinch of the playfulness Josuke had questioned him with.

He huffed at that, another smirk appearing on his face. If only this punk knew just how deep those words could run...

Granted, Abbacchio knew he wasn't exactly considered a "powerful" stand user, but Moody Blues did have its usefulness.

At long last, a waiter appeared and approached Abbacchio as easily as someone would an aquaintence, he didn't even offer the man a menu.

Josukes head spun as Leone switched over to Italian when speaking to him, watching blankly as Abbacchio pointed between them as he spoke.

Now he knew how all those tourists in Japan felt.

He listened to him, absolutely clueless but interested all the same.

The strange words seemed to just roll easily off the others tongue and he found himself mouthing out certain words that stuck out to him, struggling to even get the feel of it right.

'Molto bene, signore Koichi!' He remembered the man praising, making Koichis face absolutely light up.

He had once listened to Tonio and Koichi talking back and forth in the language back home. Koichi was taking a language course of choice that term and decided to try his hand at it, once he learned a few basics, with the only Italian in town.

Tonio was very patient with his friend and only corrected him if he asked, his smile so warm it practically radiated off the mans face at the shorter boys efforts.

He nodded, "Yeah, strawberry's fine." He replied, tilting his head curiously. "What'd you get?"

"I hope strawberry's ok with you." Abbacchios gruff voice pulled him out of his thoughts and he realized the waiter had left.

He should probably learn a proper 'thank you' sometime soon if he was going to be frequently eating in restaurants like this. His Mom made sure he was raised with manners so he may as well put them to use...

Abbacchio would never admit this aloud to him, but he was starting to feel more at ease around Josuke. Despite being near strangers, he felt like he had known him for a long time.

"Tea for me. I ordered that coffee you wanted too." He hummed, leaning back in his chair again.

It was a little late for lunch now, he supposed this would be an early snack for them both as they talked and then he'd order them some proper dinner later on. "There's cake for the both of us, that's the strawberry part."

It was like how he felt about Bruno after just meeting him on that rainy night on the streetcorner some time ago.

This however was only convincing him more that there was more to this kid than met the eye. He was practically convinced he was a stand-user, or maybe one that had yet to be awakened, but he had no idea how to act on it.

How does one casually ask another if they have the ability to manifest their soul into a spirit at will to do anything from kick the shit out of someone to anything else under the sun?

"Ah, awesome!" The highschooler beamed enthusiastically, trying to keep the conversation rolling as he felt Abbacchio staring into him again. "Is the cake good?"

That familiarity was there once more and it was only getting stronger. It was like another prescence entirely...

'Could he be like me?' A voice questioned from the furthest corner of his mind.

And this meant Josuke was about to take a BIG risk.

If Okuyasu had taught him one important thing in the time he'd known him (not to mention all the dumb shit they'd done together), it was to never be afraid to take a risk.

You couldn't win the lottery without buying a ticket after all...

The hairs on Josukes neck stood up as he felt Crazy Diamond materialize itself behind him. He waited with baited breath, keeping his expression as cool and composed as possible.

He kept his eyes on Abbacchio, whose gaze had trailed down to his nails, watching the man purse his violet lips as he tried to pinch off a stubborn hangnail as he spoke.

He was way overdue for a manicure. Maybe he could go get one with Bruno sometime when they both got the chance. Maybe he could even be persuaded to let Bruno pick the colours to go on his nails...

He had to be calm in order for this to work.

'If he can see Crazy Diamond reeling their fist, he'll no doubt react and try to catch it.' He thought, feeling a phantom pull in his right arm as his brightly coloured strand cocked its fist. 'If he doesn't react, I'll just play it cool.'

"It's the best damn cake in town." Abbacchio answered, flicking away the offending hangnail at last, his eyes turning back to the teenager across from him. "At least that's what--"

He froze suddenly, the words dying on his tongue, as his duel-coloured eyes widened in surprise then narrowed quickly.

So he was right. This brat was a stand-user.

Just what did he think he was doing anyways? Was he trying to pull a fast one on him? In a restaurant of all places?

Crazy Diamond released its fist and Abbacchio jumped up from his seat, towering over Josuke.

"Moody Blues!" He said sharply, now fully radiating with a bright green aura.

Josuke could only stare in stunned silence as there came the prolonged beep of a disconnected telephone, a tall mauve androgynous figure appearing by Abbacchios side in an instant.

And for one second, Josuke was afraid he wouldn't be around to try that cake after all...

[To be continued...》

#Diamante d’Italia #josuke higashitaka

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