“Well arent you intiminading and dashing looking man darling ! To what do I owe pleasure of your attention ? “
“I’m just doing some investigating around town. Have you noticed anything odd happening around here? I’m not talking novelty animals or regular old criminal activity,” Jotaro explains, opting to ignore her comments to get right to the point. She appeared to be a local, so he figured it was best he asked her instead of searching blindly.
“Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Most of the time, people just sell me whatever items they have in their attic. They’re genuine, but nothing is really specific.”
She was surprised by his answer. He wanted a gift for his daughter, but didn’t even know what she liked? That certainly was… interesting. Hopefully, there’d be something in her shop that could help the stranger. She didn’t really enjoy watching family members floundering for a gift…
“Is there anything your daughter like? Something she always likes wearing?”
“It’s an interesting assortment you’ve collected,” he nods slightly. It’s not much but it’s about as best of a compliment as Jotaro’s likely to give. He only says it because he does genuinely think some of the merchandise on display is rather interesting. Nothing he’d buy for himself since he isn’t one for decorating, but he could see the appeal.
“That’s where I’m at a loss. She’ll be turning 7 soon,” he begins, wracking his brain for anything Jolyne or her mother might’ve told him in the few calls home he made. “I think she has an interest in cars. Like toy cars. Maybe remote-controlled cars. Do you have anything like that?”
“Oh crap ya are a tall one ? Did ya parents put ya in some sort of growth serum when ya ware a kid ? “
“This sort of height runs in my family from what I’ve discerned. Is stating the obvious all that you needed?” Not that Jotaro was in a rush to be anywhere–he just wasn’t interested in idle chatter.
“If this is another one of your NYSNC dance off’s it’s not gonna be me.”
“…– all my love is for you.”
“What’s a girl/guy gotta do to get some chili cheese nachos over here?”
“Hands off. The boy is /mine/.”
“If you love her/him so much why don’t you marry her/him?”
“That’s my girl/boy!”
“Am I really good enough for you?”
“Oh! Look at that hottie over there, they’re totally checking you out!”
“Drinks on me tonight.”
“We’ll always be friends…no matter what.”
“Please don’t leave me.”
“Don’t you dare run away from this! Everything was just starting to get good for us and now you wanna turn your back?!”
“I’ll eat you up.”
“I think I’m in love.”
“So fess up, who’s the girl/guy you’ve been crushing on, and don’t even try and tell me you’re not.”
“Can’t get enough.”
“Sharing equals caring.”
“If this ringtone of a drunk squirrel laughing doesn’t make you either smile or start laughing you have no sense of humor and we’re not friends anymore.”
“I guess this is goodbye then…”
“You’re not even going to try and make this work?”
“Hey it’s morning already? I couldn’t sleep at all.”
“You’re blushing – how adorable.”
“You look so cute when you’re sleeping.”
“I have no intention of giving you to others.”
“Hey I’m getting hungry, feed me.”
“Hmph, don’t fool around, it’s early in the morning – I’m not awake yet.”
“Promise me okay?”
“No – I’ve just got more things on my mind.”
“Hey, not ‘there’, I told you not to touch /it/.”
“No, it has nothing to do with you.”
“Hmm…what’s this? It feels nice, don’t stop.”
“Okay I’ll get up. Just don’t shake me anymore.”
“Do you really want to touch me?”
“You know I won’t be responsible for anything that happens.”
“W-woah, don’t just touch me out of nowhere!”
“My you’re a bold one aren’t you?”
“Are you lonely perhaps?”
“You want to sleep some more? Come here.”
“Ah that expression of yours, don’t show it to others.”
“My my, you’re the one who told me we can’t do it in the morning.”
“I wanna break your heart.”
“When I’m done with you you’ll be begging for mercy.”
“If only someone loved you.”
“You’ll never be good enough.”
“Fuck you.”
“Oh yeah well you can just kiss my ass then.”
“On a scale of one to ten how cool would it be to do a flash mob?”
“Where’s my goodnight kiss.”
“I love you.”
“You shouldn’t love me.”
“I’m worthless.”
“I’m not worth it.”
“I’ll rip your heart out – don’t even think about it.”
“Such a rare beauty, I’d love to have you for the night.”
“What’s your name? Wanna hear me moan it?”
“What do you mean I can’t be a pretty pretty Princess!?”
“Rawr in dinosaur means I love you.”
“Oh wow you really are a girl/boy – coulda fooled me.”
“Ew. Couples.”
“I’m gonna marry you one day.”
“Sing for me please?”
“You have such a pretty voice.”
“That boy/girl has danger written all over him/her.”
“Fear is healthy in relationships…and sexually enticing.”
“ – and then he bent me over his knee and smacked my ass. I’d say it was an ideal night.”
“If you call me your super hella gay bff ever again I’m going to kill you.”
She was surprised, to say the least, when she heard a voice cut through the silence. Tonight had been exceeding slow, and she’d looked up from the magazine she’d been reading, surprised that someone had come in this late. Nonetheless, he was still a customer, so he’d be treated just the same as all the others.
“Well, it all depends on what your daughter likes. I’m sure we have a few ceramic figurines somewhere around here.”
“I don’t have the slightest clue about any of her interests,” he admits, glancing around at the merchandise once again. He finds it a bit odd to only have one person in, but then again it is pretty late and he’s sure it doesn’t draw large crowds like some massive department store.
“What exactly is the theme of what you’re selling here?” he asks, eyeing a case with some pricey-looking items. It’s a bit of a unique little hole in the wall, he thinks. Definitely not his taste, though. Perhaps the young lady can tell him more about it (and perhaps give him some advice on what kind of gifts other young women look forward to).
The topic of his school work honestly hadn’t been something he’d expected Mr Kujo to bring up. Though. The guy was kinda hard to read in the first place. He didn’t really know what his nterests were so the issue of conversation when they were on their own was always sort of a weird one. He always relied on Josuke or Koichi to fill the silence more than anything. The only conversation point he could think of really was sea life maybe. That’s what he got his degree in right? Who’d o’ thought…Might weird him out to suddenly bring up dolphins or somethin’ though, so the topic of school work was kind of a relief. At least he could chat about that even if it was kind of a sore point of interest. “Eh. I guess ya could say that. But where the hell do I start dude? Maths the worst, fer sure. But then I don’t really get science neither…or history, I always fall asleep in that. I’m kinda good in literature class..? But my spellin’ sucks. If ya wanna help me with any o’ those that’d be sweet though, man!”
The shocked expression he receives comes at no surprise to Jotaro. He’s not close with Okuyasu the way he is with Koichi and Josuke. He still feels a similar sense mentorship over the teen, though, so he figures he should make more of an effort no matter how small it is. This is something he’d appreciate, he hopes. He’s never been good in dealing with other people, after all, but he is trying.
“I can assist you with science and math. For the rest I suggest a study group with you, Koichi, and Josuke. I think it’d do the three of you well. Perhaps including Yukako as well since she seems like an intelligent girl,” Jotaro says. While he could personally help with the spelling he vaguely recalls Koichi sharing that it was one of his strong suits. History, however, is a subject Jotaro hasn’t touched much on since his own years in high school. “So how are… things?” Did he mention small talk wasn’t much of a strong suit? Regardless, getting Okuyasu to fill the silence more would do them both some good, especially since he’s sure the younger doesn’t want to dwell on academic talk.
“You just look at them. I mean, people don’t like when you get handsy with them. Most of them are old vintage or retro cars that have been refurbished and even upgraded. “
A grin tugs at her lips as she sits down in the drivers seat. The (metaphorical) power already swelling her ego. Purse set in the gap between, and she digs a moment before pulling out a pair of aviator sunglasses and putting them on. Of course, a cigarette would be the cherry ontop, but she doubts he’ll let her cross the line that much. So she settles for this. “Me? Wreck your car? Nahh. I wouldn’t think of destroying a beautiful vehicle like this.”
Once she’s settled and buckled in, Jolyne takes off. To be honest, she’s always wanted to drive his car, though; she’s not sure why. Maybe because it wasn’t hers to play with. “So, you said something about spending a few days in jail. You serious? Personally, I’m calling bullshit on that.”
Her father in jail? Yeah right. He always seem to have this attitude like he was on some fucking high horse- at least to her.
“You getting into that kind of trouble is like me suddenly becoming a saint like Mother Teresa.”
Jotaro’s had his qualms about actually letting Jolyne drive gnaw at him ever since he considered letting her but he figured it was the least he could do, and given the smile on her face he feels like he’s finally done something right, even if this is considerably small compared to the years she’s built up a resentment since he’s done nothing but constantly disappoint her as a parent. He wants to apologize, really. Every time he sees her he does, but he doesn’t know how or if she’d even appreciate the sentiment. Sorry won’t fix his failures as her father, after all.
Still, he can’t help but think that this almost feels normal. It gives him hope that maybe he can make it up to her after all these years. He’s never been the best at expressing feelings but maybe, just maybe, things will all work out. It feels like a step in the right direction, even if he’s going against a few of his own rules to work things out. It makes him feel uneasy, but it’s a work in progress. Like sharing little things with Jolyne. She’d like that, right? It’s why he’s opening up a little.
“I was quite the delinquent. I don’t know how my mother put up with me, honestly. Thinking back on how edgy I was back then is kind of embarrassing,” Jotaro looks ahead as he speaks, the smallest ghost of a smile on his lips as he recalls the fond moments of his journey to Egypt—the friends he made. “I matured a lot after a trip I went on. But whether you believe it or not I was in jail for beating some guys up. I did that a lot back then.” Jotaro pauses, furrowing his brows as he turns to face Jolyne, “You really don’t believe me, do you?”
‘Well this is awkward,’ Jotaro thinks as he’s been left alone with Iggy. It’s not like the two of them were very close to begin with (he was actually pretty sure Iggy hated him for that whole throwing business from years ago), so he couldn’t really pinpoint why his old man thought it best to leave the small dog in his “care”.
“Are you hungry or something? Do you even eat dog food like regular dogs?” he knows he won’t get an answer from the pup, but he figures some sort of bark in affirmation will do.
Given that Jotaro’s had a relatively normal week (or in his case it’s unusual since nothing bizarre has happened), he’s on edge more than normal. Every little move behind him makes him inconspicuously turn his head, silently watching anyone that seems the slightest bit suspicious. He isn’t sure why, but today his attention’s been caught by an average-sized young woman working the counter at a small store. Opting to investigate his nagging feelings Jotaro pretends he’s entered the shop looking to buy something.
“Hello,” Jotaro steps up to the counter and clears his throat, looking around briefly at all the items on display near him. “I’m looking to buy a gift for my daughter but I’m not sure what she might enjoy. Do you have any merchandise you recommend?”
“Josuke tells me you’re struggling a little with school work. Depending on the subject I could offer you some assistance, Okuyasu,” Jotaro says, turning slightly to face the teen. It’s an afternoon and since Josuke recently got himself in trouble with his mother he’s paired up with Okuyasu to search for any leads on Kira. Jotaro wasn’t one for idle chatter and he was fine with silences (awkward or otherwise), but he figured this was a mildly concerning issue.
