[It's strange to see Jesper in pain and not be able to do anything about it. He hides his face behind his hands, and Giorno's fingers twitch, instinctively seeking to fix what aches, to press circles against the tension between Jesper's shoulders until they relax.]
[He can't, though. And he could suggest it, that it might be easier to speak in person, but he's worried that'll break this spell of honesty, which is the last thing he wants. So he just listens instead, quiet and attentive, as Jesper comes out from behind his hands and confesses.]
Kaz is right.
[That first. It is a gift. Giorno doesn't know how to reconcile a mother's statement with kindness, but he supposes she was right, too.]
But you were right too. At least from what you tell me, that's how it seems. You wanted to be safe and free and yourself. I've told lies for years so I could be safe and free and myself. It's hard to stop. Impossible to stop all at once.
[The corners of his mouth lift a little, quietly encouraging.]
You started, though. Just now. My friend told me he was a Grisha, and he's still my friend. Just like if I told him something he didn't know about me, I would still be his friend.
[ Jesper actually blushes. 'Kaz is right,' he says. Kaz is always right, that's one of the things Jesper likes about him, but those, too, are feelings for another time. Giorno's words make him smile and that's what's important here. He'll take what he can get. ]
Yeah, I just wonder sometimes... my life would be a lot different if I'd, I don't know, embraced my abilities, or something like that. I sure wouldn't have ended up in the Barrel, working for Kaz, that's for sure.
[ And in debt. Deeply in debt. But Giorno doesn't need to know about that. Jesper doesn't regret ending up with Kaz, of course, but a life of crime isn't exactly the kind of life you write home about. ]
You're too damn sweet, you know that, Giorno? [ HE'S!! BLUSHING A LOT!! ] But I'm really glad we're friends.
[Oh, no. This is very, very adorable. Giorno manages not to laugh out loud by immediately biting his lip, but he can't not grin, that would be impossible.]
I've never seen you embarrassed before, Jesper. It's a good look.
[It's such a good look. Why can't he frame it.]
I'm glad we're friends, too. I like all the parts of being your friend. The fun parts and the serious parts and the parts we haven't gotten to yet. I like you whether you're a Grisha or not or one in secret, or if you're smiling or sad or embarrassed or anything at all. So there.
[ Jesper half-heartedly covers his face with his hand. ]
Don't be so smug. I'm not used to this many honest compliments, that's all.
[ He is definitely. Still blushing. So much. He likes the smugness, don't let his words fool you. ]
But I like all those things, too. And I may be good at a lot of things, but talking about my feelings isn't one of them, so... thank you. It felt good getting that off my chest.
[ Gosh, who'd have thought he'd be the one who ends up blushing? Normally Wylan is supposed to be That Guy. ]
[Half promise, half threat. Promise because Jesper deserves to hear it, threat because a lot of Giorno's motivation will be this unexpected blushing thing. A boy who gets easily overwhelmed by compliments is a powerful motivator.]
I have a lot of nice things to say about you. You're being very cute, so I'll say them even more, probably.
[Hm. But his expression softens a bit.]
And you're welcome, of course. But you know I'll keep asking, don't you? You can tell me as much or as little as you want. But I'll keep asking until you're good at it. And then when you tell me things I'll tell you how cute you are. The deal is the deal.
[ Ah, threats. Now those are very familiar to him. Jesper chuckles, trying to play it cool but still very visibly flustered. ]
That's usually my line, you know?
[ Jesper's supposed to be the flirty one, the one who gets people (mainly Wylan) to fluster and blush. Don't tell Kaz you got him like this (not that Kaz would care...) ]
The deal is the deal, huh? [ He grins, still looking away. Look at you, Giorno, talking like a proper Kerch gangster. Jesper's almost a little proud. ] Guess so. The deal is the deal then.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[He can't, though. And he could suggest it, that it might be easier to speak in person, but he's worried that'll break this spell of honesty, which is the last thing he wants. So he just listens instead, quiet and attentive, as Jesper comes out from behind his hands and confesses.]
Kaz is right.
[That first. It is a gift. Giorno doesn't know how to reconcile a mother's statement with kindness, but he supposes she was right, too.]
But you were right too. At least from what you tell me, that's how it seems. You wanted to be safe and free and yourself. I've told lies for years so I could be safe and free and myself. It's hard to stop. Impossible to stop all at once.
[The corners of his mouth lift a little, quietly encouraging.]
You started, though. Just now. My friend told me he was a Grisha, and he's still my friend. Just like if I told him something he didn't know about me, I would still be his friend.
no subject
Yeah, I just wonder sometimes... my life would be a lot different if I'd, I don't know, embraced my abilities, or something like that. I sure wouldn't have ended up in the Barrel, working for Kaz, that's for sure.
[ And in debt. Deeply in debt. But Giorno doesn't need to know about that. Jesper doesn't regret ending up with Kaz, of course, but a life of crime isn't exactly the kind of life you write home about. ]
You're too damn sweet, you know that, Giorno? [ HE'S!! BLUSHING A LOT!! ] But I'm really glad we're friends.
no subject
I've never seen you embarrassed before, Jesper. It's a good look.
[It's such a good look. Why can't he frame it.]
I'm glad we're friends, too. I like all the parts of being your friend. The fun parts and the serious parts and the parts we haven't gotten to yet. I like you whether you're a Grisha or not or one in secret, or if you're smiling or sad or embarrassed or anything at all. So there.
no subject
Don't be so smug. I'm not used to this many honest compliments, that's all.
[ He is definitely. Still blushing. So much. He likes the smugness, don't let his words fool you. ]
But I like all those things, too. And I may be good at a lot of things, but talking about my feelings isn't one of them, so... thank you. It felt good getting that off my chest.
[ Gosh, who'd have thought he'd be the one who ends up blushing? Normally Wylan is supposed to be That Guy. ]
no subject
[Half promise, half threat. Promise because Jesper deserves to hear it, threat because a lot of Giorno's motivation will be this unexpected blushing thing. A boy who gets easily overwhelmed by compliments is a powerful motivator.]
I have a lot of nice things to say about you. You're being very cute, so I'll say them even more, probably.
[Hm. But his expression softens a bit.]
And you're welcome, of course. But you know I'll keep asking, don't you? You can tell me as much or as little as you want. But I'll keep asking until you're good at it. And then when you tell me things I'll tell you how cute you are. The deal is the deal.
no subject
That's usually my line, you know?
[ Jesper's supposed to be the flirty one, the one who gets people (mainly Wylan) to fluster and blush. Don't tell Kaz you got him like this (not that Kaz would care...) ]
The deal is the deal, huh? [ He grins, still looking away. Look at you, Giorno, talking like a proper Kerch gangster. Jesper's almost a little proud. ] Guess so. The deal is the deal then.