--Switched--

[andnextyoullsay]

[Joseph Joestar was four years old when he was lured away from his nanny by some people who, decades earlier, had been extremely keen on worshipping Dio Brando as a god and were not especially pleased that Jonathan Joestar had killed him. They weren't ever able to do anything to him, thankfully, but the damage was already done. Joseph was far too young; by the time he was picked up by someone not a crazy vampire cultist wannabe, all he could really tell them was that he was called Jojo and he had a grandmother and an uncle.

They tried to send him to an orphanage, but even at a young age he was getting into fights with the older boys and winning, so when he was six they turned him out. Jojo fell in with some London troublemakers; his smarts and charm (and the weird light shit) would see him in charge of the London troublemakers and eventually his own little gang by the time he was thirteen. They're violent, naturally, but they do a lot more scamming and tricking than mugging. It's a lot easier to avoid trouble if there's not blood on your shirt.

Jojo's been in charge of his little gang for about two years at this point. One of the boys runs up to him, grinning.]

There's a pretty'un comin' this way, Jojo, absolutely reeks of old money!

Man or woman? You know I won't hurt a lady unless she throws the first punch.

C'mon, like I'd tell ya about a girl! S'a boy, dumbass!

[Jojo laughs and brushes off his trousers. This one must have the others a bit spooked for some reason, so he'll handle it. Shouldn't be too hard, the pretty boys are always easy pickings. Usually scholar types if they're anything, so they can't throw a punch or keep track of his chattering.

He slips out of the abandoned old house they're using for a base right now, looking for the mark.]

Comments

[bolledivita]

[He's not a difficult mark to find at all.

When Mario Zeppeli disappeared, Caesar almost fell into fighting his way right into all sorts of trouble, had it not been for one thing--he was found by a man by the name of Robert Speedwagon, and had been taken to England, then taken in by an old friend of his, a wonderful, kind woman by the name of Erina. He still got into fights sometimes, sure, and he was pretty damn good at it, but that's where a fiery temper gets you.

He's on an errand right now, which led him to London, and he's certainly more than aware that his outfit--all of it gifts from Nonna Erina--make him stand out. He does seem relaxed as he walks along, looking like a very easy mark.]

[andnextyoullsay]

[Oh, a mark that easy is either so easy as to be a waste of time or about to kick his ass. Given the guy's build, it's almost absolutely the latter.

But also he's fucking loaded. Jojo needs to eat, and so do the rest of his boys. He can probably take him. He can use his weird light stuff to make his wallet or that showy pocket watch slide right out of his pockets.

Jojo pulls the brim of his hat down and hunches his shoulders, looking every inch the guy who just doesn't want trouble so please no one notice him as he brushes up against the mark, going for literally anything he can maybe sell.]

[bolledivita]

[... Yeah, that brush doesn't go unnoticed at all. It's why Jojo will suddenly feel a pins and needles sensation the moment he touches that pocket watch of Caesar's.]

[andnextyoullsay]

[That's fine, he was expecting this to go poorly.

Which is why as he pulls his hand away from the watch with a muttered "excuse me" as he shakes out his hand, he sends a small spark at the man's wallet in hopes of causing it to just fall out.]

[bolledivita]

[Which it does, yes.

But Caesar catches it before it hits the ground.]

My. Clumsy, are we?

[andnextyoullsay]

[Dammit. Maybe he can still make this work. He just smiles at the stranger.]

It seems you are. Sure you're not a little day drunk?

[bolledivita]

If I was day drunk, you'd know from being this close.

[He smiles as he puts away the wallet. Now, what to do with this pick-pocket to run him off...]

[andnextyoullsay]

Not always. A good cologne or few dozen breath mints can do wonders!

[Watch is a no-go, wallet's probably a bust...dammit, this guy doesn't have anything else obvious to go for...so he'll go for the wallet again, because no one predicts that.]

But next you'll say "British cologne has nothing on Italian scents, and I can't stand to wear them", right?

[bolledivita]

British cologne has nothing on Italian scents, and I can't stand to wear them--

[... hm.

But, still, as he's saying that, he's sending a spark of hamon through that wallet.

Surprise, Jojo, someone else has your weird light trick.]

... Fascinating.

[andnextyoullsay]

[Fuck. Someone else can do the light thing? Fuck. Fuck.

Whatever, he has to commit. He just laughs.]

People are terribly predictable, you know.

[bolledivita]

And you pride yourself on being able to read them like open books.

[He laughs and holds up his wallet.]

Though, I think that's far from the most fascinating thing about you. Where did you pick up hamon, stranger?

[andnextyoullsay]

[--Fuck it. Joseph lunges for the wallet, grabbing it and booking it down the street.]

Not sure what you mean, but when did you lose your wallet?

[bolledivita]

When did I, indeed...

[Well, whatever. A wallet and some cash are replaceable, and the pick-pocket clearly needs the money more than he does. He'll just go on his way.]

[andnextyoullsay]

[Not nearly as clean as he'd like, but a win is a win! That's dinner at the very least!

The next evening is...not good for poor Jojo. One of the rival gangs, mostly older than him, decide tonight's a good night to fuck up the upstart. This happens often enough that Jojo's used to it, but it still sucks to be trying to fight four older men by yourself with nothing but your weird light tricks and your fists.]

[bolledivita]

[It does--and, well.

It sure is helpful that he's suddenly not by himself, isn't it? Caesar had to check out the commotion when he heard it, and that sure is the pick-pocket from the day before in a tight spot.

One of those older men is taking a fist with sparks coming off of it right to the jaw, just as he's about to take a swing at Jojo.]

Four grown men, fighting a single kid? Honestly, how about you pick on someone your own size?!

[andnextyoullsay]

Huh?

[The men look over at Caesar and scoff, one of them saying something about how a rich boy like him should stay out of business that isn't his. The other three go back to kicking and beating up on Jojo, who's swiftly flagging.]

[bolledivita]

... Well. Let it be known I did warn you.

[And unfortunately for those four men, they find out that while Caesar may not be good at a lot of things.

He is very, very good at fighting.

Once the four men are knocked out (a combination of brute force and a few of Caesar's own little hamon tricks), he goes over to Jojo, checking him over.]

Those brutes certainly did a number on you, didn't they...

[andnextyoullsay]

[Jojo is only barely conscious, bruised and bleeding a fair bit and all of his injuries more or less on display as the fight ripped his shirt and ruined his trousers.]

They--shit--they do that. Don't like...a guy my age being better than them.

[bolledivita]

[Oh, this looks very bad.]

And in their minds, numbers make up for a lack of skill.

[Okay, well. He knows he can use hamon to heal a little bit, he knows that's possible, so he's going to... do that for some of this kid's injuries. It's not going to take care of everything, but it'll at least help a little.]

[andnextyoullsay]

[It's enough to at least keep him from passing out, and since he absolutely has a concussion...]

What're you doing...?

[bolledivita]

Treating your injuries with hamon. I'm not very good at this, and it's not going to be perfect, but it should at least take a few days off your recovery.

[andnextyoullsay]

With what now?

[bolledivita]

You know those sparks that we both use? That's hamon. There's a whole explanation I could give you, but that's probably best saved for when you're not in this state.

... Since I'm not going to be able to treat you completely like this, do you mind if I take you somewhere where I can?

[andnextyoullsay]

...alright.

[He hurts too much to protest, really, and anything to not have to suffer alone for a few days.

Jojo tries to get to his feet, wincing and gasping the entire time.]

[bolledivita]

Here, let me--

[And immediately, Caesar moves to support Jojo ... and after a few moments of consideration, he'll just carefully scoop Jojo into his arms.]

I've got you, okay?