#giorno be like ''I CAN STILL HAVE CHOCCY PUDDING LET'S GOOOO''

[sunshine-and-ladybugs]

"I'm glad you enjoy visiting Italy. You and your family are always welcome back here. If you ever drop by again... ah-" an awkward beat, as the don was reminded that Rowan was only here right now because he'd been brought against his will. "Willingly, of course - give me a call, and you won't ever have to worry about room and board. Viridian has my phone number."

Giorno really did not like the way Rowan was looking at him. He still did not understand why. He did not sense any red flags, at least any that spelt out threats to his life, but he knew something was terribly off.

(Perhaps it was, in part, denial, that prevented the usually sharp-witted young don from piecing all the clues he had together, to form the upsetting full picture.)

"Right. I apologise. One thing at a time." He had wished to get all his questions out before he forgot them, but he realised it could be overwhelming and feel like an interrogation.

He listened intently as Rowan began explaining his own experience dealing with both sides of his conflicting nature as part human and vampire, and his desire for human blood.

He nodded wordlessly, meeting his gaze firmly (and getting an odd nostalgic feeling...). When he was younger, his immune system was below average. He'd visited hospitals more than most kids his age should have, so he was quite familiar with NPOs (thankfully, his health improved as he grew older). The way Rowan used it to describe the craving for blood was not as bad as Giorno had imagined.

"That is somewhat of a relief to hear..." He knew he had better things to feel relieved for, but at the back of his mind, all he could think of was that, by any chance, if he did start to show vampiric tendencies, he would not have to give up chocolate pudding.

He wisely chose not to mention that aloud. Rowan looked like he had expensive taste, and probably would not be impressed to learn that the Don of Passione, the most powerful man in all of Italy, occasionally indulged in those cheap, artificially flavoured chocolate puddings that came in 4-packs anyone could get from the nearest supermarket... it even sounded stupid thinking about it, but it was a guilty comfort food for him growing up.

"...have you met other dhampirs?" He decided to move on to the next question. "I am somewhat aware of the hostility most vampires feel towards our existence, but I do not know why."

[ ✞ ] - ❝ Thank you. Not as frequently as I wish, but the culture has always captivated me. ❞ How could he not learn? The artistic history, the music, and the food had always been so appealing to him. One particular memory came to his mind when he had visited a particular outdoors restaurant after visiting an ossuary. A cat had kept coming beside their table, likely expecting to be fed by any of the quaint restaurant's patrons, and Rowan remembered the challenging but amusing time he had when speaking with the owners. It wasn’t a tourist trap-like area, and neither he nor the restaurant owners knew how to speak each other's respective languages.

That was enough for the stubborn man to make a resolve in himself to not struggle so much next time he came to this particular country. Come to think it, Viridian and Nik had joined him on that trip, and he could remember the look of embarrassment on his sister's face and the booming laughter coming from Nik as they tried to order food from that restaurant. It was a fond memory, one that he would make sure to cherish, especially now.

When Giorno had spoken of her in the present tense, his lips twitched.

❛ He doesn’t know…. ❜ Rowan realized. He opened his mouth to say something when the Don had spoken aloud, and quickly shut it again to listen to what Giorno had to say. 

❝ It sounds to be quite rewarding, indeed. ❞ He said simply, not sure of when and how he should tell him. He wasn’t going to not tell Giorno. The man deserved to know, especially after the way he had referred to her as one of his good friends. He could tell that much. He just wasn’t sure if when he should say it.

To be frank, Rowan would have never come in the first place if he hadn’t known what relations Giorno had to his late sister. He was quite aware of it all, from their various misadventures, to how he helped her with her own issues, and to that cat of hers. If he hadn't known? Mista and Fugo would simply just have to deal with it and come back home empty handed. He wasn’t one to help dangerous people that he wasn’t sure that he could trust.

Rowan didn’t have any chance to speak further, as Giorno proceeded to ask him a slew of questions, ones that were far too loaded for him to answer simply and quickly. 

❝ Giovanna… Signor. ❞ He spoke up after a bit. ❝ I beg your pardon, but please. I’m willing to answer each and every one of your inquiries, but I implore you to allow us to take one step at a time. ❞

It would be better that way for them both. From the way the young Don was acting, Rowan could tell that Giorno would need to take things slowly to process everything he intended on saying during this conversation. 

When he felt he had a moment to finally pause, Rowan took the opportunity to take another sip of tea. Now he really was considering growing his own tea plants, for this was by far one of the most decadent brews for him to have tasted. ❝  — To answer your first question, I’d say we truly are in between. Now, how to put it….? Sometimes, I’m inclined to feel that I lean to one side more than the other, but I am certain that it is because of how my emotions influence my ability to think at those times. It really does vary. I am pleased to say that I am not bound to the consumption of human blood in order to function, and that I can function on a normal human’s diet. However… ❞

Rowan lifted his face, keeping his expression neutral, almost unreadable if it weren’t for that hint of firm resolve if Giorno were to look closely. ❝ That craving is still there... Have you ever been in a hospital, Don Giovanna? Do you know what NPO means? ❞

His ruby red eyes made purposeful eye contact with the Don for the first time. ❝ When they have you waiting for whatever procedure, telling you that you’re not allowed to have anything by mouth, not even ice chips, you feel parched, like you’re going to die from dehydration. You get someone to sneak in that glass of water for you. Even though you don’t need it because they have you hooked up to intravenous fluids regardless, you still drink it, even though it’s forbidden. All you could think about was feeding your desire. ❞