Hermes sat alone in a room deep inside Speedwagon Foundation HQ. She sighs before looking down at her official employee badge and taking another scan over her lively surroundings. Her only company was one table she sat at, a couple chairs, two doors, white walls, and one large mirror taking up most of one of the walls. She crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat, hoping she wouldn't fall asleep on the job.
Hermes was only a few weeks removed from Pucci's final move. All she could remember was that she and the others were staring up at the mad priest, all hope looking bleak, and the next thing she knew she was being dragged into a Speedwagon Foundation facility. More importantly, not only were Jolyne and the others okay, but she was the picture of perfect health, and she couldn't even remember a time she felt better. There was no longer any sign of Pucci, and Hermes and the rest of her friends were given jobs in the Speedwagon Foundation. She had no real direction for her life past Green Dolphin, and having a cushy job for the foreseeable future sure beat the hell out of prison.
However, the job they had for her today sounded rather odd. She was told she needed to help escort a man from an Italian Mob to somewhere in the U.S., and help him find someone. After all the help they had been during her and Jolyne's time in prison, their knowledge about Stands, and just about all the other insane pieces of history they've been a part of, having associates in the mob wouldn't be the most bizarre thing about this organization. Once joining the Foundation, Hermes was able to do some digging on some of their prior exploits, and needless to say they had their hands in things she could never imagine.
What she found strange was the fact they asked her of all people to do this. She may be a seasoned stand user at this point, but she was still fresh on the job. According to the report, either Jolyne, Jolyne's dad, or this other guy that works here with a pompadour were supposed to be on this job, but they ended up deciding on her instead, and it didn't really give her much choice in the matter. The rumors circling the facility was that this mysterious mobster was related to Jolyne somehow, which didn't make much sense to Hermes.
"Did she have family in Italy or something?" She thought to herself.
Even if they were related, why would that matter? Wouldn't them being related make the job easier? Regardless, it wasn't Hermes's place to ask questions. Given where she was just a few months prior, she thought she should just be grateful that she doesn't have to stand in a line and bribe people just to make a phone call anymore.
Still, they made it sound like this job was really important. It didn't make sense for someone so inexperienced to have such a-
"Ms. Costello?"
Hermes was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of someone's voice. She spots a fellow Speedwagon Foundation employee standing beside an open door. "Huh? Oh yeah. What is it, Bossman?"
"Mr. Giovanna is here."
"Finally. I thought I was gonna sit here all night." Hermes stretched her arms and got out of her seat.
The employee opened the door completely and walked further into the room. "Right this way, Sir."
In walked a blonde man in a black suit. He wore his hair tied in the back along with three swirls on the top of his head, his hairstyle initially reminding Hermes of Jolyne. His black suit also had a stylized heart shaped opening on his chest, providing a peak to his somewhat good looking pecs. His file said he was 25, but Hermes thought he looked even younger than that. He was also slightly shorter than Hermes by just a bit.
Hermes was surprised, she thought this guy looked relatively unassuming, for a mobster anyways. She was expecting some cigar smoking, beer gut swinging, greasy hair having, sleaze-ball, but maybe she had just seen too many gangster movies as a kid. For a mafia man, she just couldn't see it. "How's it hangi-..." Hermes stops to clear her throat and extends her hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to working with you." Hermes can't help but cringe every time she tries to sound professional. She's doing her best for the job, but just can't stand how unnatural she sounds.
Mr. Giovanna takes a long look at Hermes before shaking her hand. "A pleasure," He says before turning to the other employee. "I was told Dr. Kujo would be assisting me."
Hermes immediately grew annoyed at the instant dismissal.
"I'm sorry, but Dr. Kujo had an urgent matter to attend to and sends his apologies. But we assure you, Sir, Ms. Costello is plenty capable of assisting you with getting around while you're here."
Mr. Giovanna turns back towards Hermes, her face now morphed into a less friendly scowl. "I suppose in the end it's fine. I trust this organization has my best interests in mind."
The more he spoke, the more his attitude got under Herme's skin. She was already not looking forward to this job.
"I'm Giorno Giovanna, but you can just call me Giorno. I hope I don't trouble you too much, Ms. Costello." Giorno spoke with a commanding confidence, one that couldn't help but poke Hermes's buttons.
"Right. Well we have a car waiting out back." Hermes pointed to the door behind her. "Let's get a move on."
"Right." Giorno started walking towards the door before stopping dead in his tracks and turning his head towards the wall-sized mirror.
"Huh? What's the matter?" Hermes asked.
Giorno didn't respond and kept looking at the same spot on the mirror, slowly tilting his head as he glared.
"Uh, Giorno? You comin'?"
"Hm, yeah. Sorry about that, I just had a weird feeling. Maybe it's nothing." Giorno ran his hands through his hair. "Let's get going, Ms. Costello."
"Yeah just call me Hermes, please. If yuh don't mind."
"If you insist," Giorno said before the pair exited the room.
"Did you see that? He was looking right at you!" A Speedwagon Foundation scientist says to his much taller associate.
"I sure did, looks like my hunch was right," Jotaro Kujo replied. He and the scientist stood behind a one way mirror opposite of the room Hermes was waiting in. "It's still way too risky for one of us to interact with him directly. I just hope this request of his isn't too complex for Hermes to handle."
It made Jotaro feel incredibly guilty to send Hermes out with someone as potentially dangerous as Giorno Giovanna. Not only was he the head of the largest organized crime syndicate in Italy, but they still didn't understand the true extent of his Stand ability. What he was able to do for them, they were equally frightened as they were grateful. When Giorno asked for help with this task as payment for his assistance, the Speedwagon Foundation had no choice but to accept.
Even though he was worried, Jotaro felt he had no one else he could send out to help Giorno except for Hermes. If everything they knew about his lineage was true, then he, Jolyne, or Josuke working with him ran the risk of creating a problem none of them would be prepared for. Koichi has already met him, so it wouldn't make for a completely unbiased test of Giorno's character, Jotaro still didn't completely trust Anasui as a colleague, and Okuyasu… Jotaro didn't even want to think about that. They needed a stand user and someone they could trust to work alongside Giorno and see what he's really about. Unfortunately for Hermes, she was their best option.
"Forgive me. Hermes. Jolyne," Jotaro thought to himself. "I hope you make it out of this safe."
Outside of HQ, Hermes and Giorno met with their driver. They both got into the backseat before the driver began heading for the airport. While waiting, Hermes reached into her bag and pulled out a laminated piece of paper with the job details on it. "So, Giorno. Where are we headed?"
"A city in Northern Georgia. Not a huge city but still a generally well populated area," Giorno explained. "Have you been there?"
"To Georgia? Never, but I'm sure I can find my way around," Hermes answered. "You ever been to the U.S. before?"
"Only Florida. I'll be counting on you."
"Yeah yeah," Hermes muttered under her breath. "Is my job really just to babysit this guy around Georgia for a few days? Just who the hell is he looking for anyway?" She thought to herself.
After they arrived at the airport, the pair were escorted to a private Foundation plane, and each brought along small suitcases with a few days change of clothes and enough money to sustain themselves for over a week. Giorno also kept a full looking bag with him that he brought along on the plane. After meeting their pilot, the pair took their seats and the plane took off.
Given this was a private jet, the plane had limited seats and an abundance of lounge space. Getting cozy, Hermes kicks her feet up and releases a loud yawn. "Well the flight isn't too long but we are gonna be in the air for a bit. I'm gonna get some quick shut-eye. Sound like a plan?"
Giorno didn't appear to be listening. He sat blankly looking out the window, legs across, and tightly gripping his arm rest.
"Earth to Giorno," Hermes muttered.
"Hm? Oh right. Go ahead, I'll be here," He dismissed.
"Tsk," Hermes uttered. "I'm riding in a private jet and yet this douche still manages to annoy me. This is gonna be a long job." Hermes's thoughts wandered once more.
Suddenly, the plane hit a little turbulence after reaching its maximum altitude, and the full bag Giorno had with him fell to the side of his seat. The bag fell on its side, and several whole fruits fell out.
"What the?" Hermes said after noticing the fruit. She saw an apple, a banana, an orange, a mango, and even a mini watermelon rolled out.
"Damn. That's not good." Giorno casually got up out of his seat and began collecting his fallen fruit.
Hermes raised an eyebrow. "We have food and snacks on the plane. Why are you lugging around a big bag with all that random fruit?"
"Just in case," Giorno responded with zero hesitation.
"Is this an Italian thing or this guy really just a weirdo?" Hermes's thoughts continued. "Why is the Foundation helping him again?"
After the plane lands, the pair exit into a small private airport in Northern Georgia. Giorno takes several steps away from the plane and kneels down with his bag, meanwhile Hermes turns her back to talk to the pilot.
"Once you're all set and done here, contact Dr. Kujo and I'll be back here to pick you guys up," The pilot explained.
"Can do," She replied.
"You're to assist Mr. Giovanna in any way you can, and to report any and all unnatural activity. Understand?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got my briefing already. I don't need to hear it from our pilot t-" Hermes turned her head and saw Giorno leaning next to a red sedan. "Wha…was that car there a second ago?"
"I wish you luck, Ms. Costello," The pilot finished.
After the pilot returned to the plane, Hermes turned her attention back to her target for the week. "I could have sworn this car wasn't here when we landed, someone must have brought it to us," She thought to herself. "Alright, Giorno. What's the name of the game? Who are we looking for?"
Giorno pulled out and unfolded a photograph from his coat pocket. The picture was of a portly man with a very thick mustache, and a long black ponytail. "This is Wariano Grande. The sooner I make contact with him, the sooner this job will be done and I can return to Italy."
"Do you have any idea where to start?" Hermes asked.
"I have a few. This city for instance, but I know a couple places to look. He's a man that doesn't want to be found."
"And how exactly do you find a man that doesn't want to be found?"
"I have my methods," Giorno answered with a straight face.
"Hmph," Hermes thought again. "Just cause he's in some mob he thinks he's some shot caller. I bet he's just some low rank rookie who thinks he's hot shit."
"If you don't mind," Giorno spoke up again. "I was hoping you'd be able to drive. My license is for Italy and I'd rather we not run into any unnecessary trouble." Giorno flashed the keys to the sedan to Hermes.
"So now I have to be his little chauffeur too!?" Hermes thought again. "This has to have been some joke or something. I'm already tired of this arrogant little prick. Although…" Hermes took a glance down Giorno's waist. "This isn't a situation that a little mysterious flick to the nads won't fix. If I reach for the keys at the same time that Kiss goes in for the strike, he'll know it wasn't me. What this guy and the Foundation don't know won't hurt 'em, I say."
"If you say so," Hermes responded.
Her little plan brought a sly smirk onto her face. Just as she started to reach for the keys, Hermes summoned Kiss's arm to match Giorno's crotch and prepped Kiss's hand for the flick of a lifetime. Right when she grabbed the keys, Giorno's eyes darted down and a golden leg swung by and kicked Kiss right in the exposed wrist.
"YEEOWCH!" Hermes shrieked and grabbed her wrist, dropping the keys in the process. The kick wasn't enough to break anything, but it did hurt like hell.
"Really?" Giorno displayed his first real emotion since meeting Hermes, and it happened to be annoyance. "I'm really grateful that I'm working with another Stand user." Giorno bends down to pick up the keys and holds them up to Hermes. "But now really isn't the time for jokes."
Hermes gave rapid glances to Giorno and back to the keys before quickly grabbing them.
"Would you prefer I ride in the passenger seat or in the back?" Giorno asks.
"E-Either is fine," A stunned Hermes replied.
"Alright," Giorno said before going in the passenger seat.
"What the hell is this!?" Hermes's mind spiraled once more. "This guy's a Stand user!? Why didn't anyone tell me!? There are Stand users in the mob!? Just what the hell did they get me into!?"