001 ♡ video (CALL)

[malignans]

[Frankly, Dio's not in the mood. Not that he's exactly a paragon of patience most days, but right here and now he doesn't have much patience to offer anyone or anything. Someone else might try to look at this on the bright side, of course. He's clearly not dead here, and there's nothing that absolutely rules out the possibility of him returning to right where he left off. Maybe some other time, when he's had time to put a little more distance between himself and where he left off, he'll think of that. But for right now? Right now, the bitter taste of defeat still lingers on the back of his tongue. Compounding his sour mood even further on that little fact is that he can't do anything about it right now.]

[But Dio is a skilled liar, if nothing else, and he does still possess a modicum of control over his temper that he doesn't throw a tantrum. To do so now would be far, far too costly now that he's found himself thrust into an unfamiliar situation. And he refuses to be caught off-guard right here and now, which means figuring out this...device. There really isn't anything exactly comparable in his world, but Dio's not an idiot. He can figure it out with little trial and error.]

Interesting. [He looks and sounds more pleased than he actually feels when the video feed begins, but it's unlikely anyone would be able to really question how genuine it is.] The technology here is impressive. In my day, there weren't many who would believe something like this is possible. I can only guess as to how clever the minds who dreamed this device in reality truly were and I'm sure this will prove useful moving forward.

[His smile increases only by a fraction, but it carries with it an enormous amount of warmth. Dio is here to play nice.]

For all of us.

[For now.]

Comments

[digiorno]

[The logic of this argument is troubling, but not surprising. He knows he takes after his father. Polnareff has told him as much more than once. He, too, has the ability to charm those he wants something from.]

[What's actually startling is that it appears Dio does want something from him after all. That doesn't make sense to him. Someone in Dio's position, with Dio's ambition, taking time out of his life to persuade his previously-unknown offspring not to judge him too quickly or too harshly. That's a moot point, of course. Giorno has already long judged him. But that judgment doesn't negate the wanting he's felt all his life, the need to connect with the family of his blood, just in case, just on the off chance that that would change anything.]

[It won't. He knows it won't. But Dio seems to think that it might. Whether that impression is genuine or not, it's hard to say. He wishes they were in the same space, in a way, so he could get a better idea of his father's tells, test him more subtly. This device is in some ways more of a handicap than anything.]

[He looks at Dio levelly for a moment, his gaze even, a little troubled. Then, after that pause, he tugs his braid over his shoulder and fiddles with the end of it, glancing off to the side.]

We don't squander opportunities that present themselves, do we.

[Not the two of them. Not people like them. They are both monsters in their own ways, he knows. If only for that reason, he should make use of this opportunity, to learn more about his own worst-case scenario.]

[A slender golden hand slips over Giorno's shoulder and gently pulls his braid back into place. There's a quick glance from unblinking eyes, and Gold Experience is gone. But he was there.]

I think continuing this conversation in public is unwise. Where are you?

[malignans]

[Dio interprets that as a victory. Perhaps he shouldn't. Perhaps he should be more conservative in his perceptions and see it as one step on that road toward victory. But when someone like Giorno, someone who could very easily defy and oppose him concedes to the degree to which he has—and it is a form of concession allowing his Stand to be seen even momentarily—it's nigh impossible for Dio to see it any other way. Dio manages, at least, to keep his delight somewhat contained and regulated insomuch that he does not appear to gloat, but there is no mistaking that he is pleased.]

I'm not far from the McAran Tower, but I won't be here for long given my particular..."allergy." I'm better suited for other places within this city.

[And neither his weakness to sunlight nor where he intends to sleep for the day is something he intends to share explicitly and publicly. What he withholds more specifically from Giorno is that he would also not particularly mind having a chance to feed before he sleeps. It became immediately apparent to him that either the effect of Joseph's blood wore off after death or it had been somehow removed from his body before it was destroyed, but whichever the case may be, he hasn't fed all night with the exception of a saleswoman. That's enough perhaps to tide him over, but he spent more than enough of his fair share of time not eating to his fill throughout his lifetime.]