[There's one of two ways that Dio could interpret that. The first is that he's beginning to feel condescended to and has taken offense. It's not particularly uncommon in young men his age when they are so eager and desperate to prove themselves as intellectual equals to any other man who happens to be older. The other... The other seems impossible. It should be impossible given how so very few walked away from Dio with their lives. But there's something sharp and distinct about the defensiveness being launched at him in four simple words that it speaks of an old wound reopened. And it would make sense, wouldn't it? The way he's struggling so with concealing himself, to seem smaller and less important, but wanting to be notably clever and thoughtful. And there's also the matter of the nagging sense of familiarity.]
[As he's talking, Dio leans a little closer. His scrutiny of Giorno's features is far more open now than it was the first time as his attention wanes from the words Giorno is using to speak. He could care less about the topic at hand now that he's trying to ascertain the truth. But he hums in light agreement anyway.]
You must be quite adept at lying then to have thought of all that. [One corner of his mouth raises itself into a smile.] You're the sort of person who doesn't just turn falsehood into lies, you can turn the truth into a lie just as easily. And people believe whatever you want them to, don't they? I bet sometimes they believe it simply because it came out of your mouth. Seems odd to me then that you're trying to appear so mild now in front of me while presenting these lofty ideas of deception.
[He pauses, tipping his head a little to one side. He hasn't placed any particular emphasis in his tone in the words in front of me, but their sheer existence in the sentence likely communicates just fine that Dio's aware this is somewhat a unique reaction.]
no subject
[There's one of two ways that Dio could interpret that. The first is that he's beginning to feel condescended to and has taken offense. It's not particularly uncommon in young men his age when they are so eager and desperate to prove themselves as intellectual equals to any other man who happens to be older. The other... The other seems impossible. It should be impossible given how so very few walked away from Dio with their lives. But there's something sharp and distinct about the defensiveness being launched at him in four simple words that it speaks of an old wound reopened. And it would make sense, wouldn't it? The way he's struggling so with concealing himself, to seem smaller and less important, but wanting to be notably clever and thoughtful. And there's also the matter of the nagging sense of familiarity.]
[As he's talking, Dio leans a little closer. His scrutiny of Giorno's features is far more open now than it was the first time as his attention wanes from the words Giorno is using to speak. He could care less about the topic at hand now that he's trying to ascertain the truth. But he hums in light agreement anyway.]
You must be quite adept at lying then to have thought of all that. [One corner of his mouth raises itself into a smile.] You're the sort of person who doesn't just turn falsehood into lies, you can turn the truth into a lie just as easily. And people believe whatever you want them to, don't they? I bet sometimes they believe it simply because it came out of your mouth. Seems odd to me then that you're trying to appear so mild now in front of me while presenting these lofty ideas of deception.
[He pauses, tipping his head a little to one side. He hasn't placed any particular emphasis in his tone in the words in front of me, but their sheer existence in the sentence likely communicates just fine that Dio's aware this is somewhat a unique reaction.]
Unless there's something you're afraid of...