Chapter 5: 1885, New Discoveries
Three years passed within the blink of an eye. At least they did for Dio, who spent most of his time antagonizing and one-upping Jonathan in every way possible.
Rainy, on the other hand, continued learning about this new world they had found themselves in and making friends within it. Which led them to their current situation.
"This is Erina Pendleton," Jonathan said as he introduced his friend.
"It's nice to meet you," Erina spoke, brightly.
"You as well," replied the hobbit, "I am Rainy Baggins, at your service," they fell into a dramatic bow which was not at all appropriate but delightful nonetheless.
"His actual name is Randal," Jonathan supplied quickly, "He just goes by Rainy how I go by JoJo. He's Dio's cousin."
"Oh, really?" asked Erina, politely interested, "Are you and your cousin close? He doesn't seem very sociable to me."
"The closest!" Rainy agreed, "I'm basically his favourite person in the world."
"Then it must have been hard for him to separate from you after his father's death," Erina remarked sadly.
"It's why I make a point of visiting."
"He doesn't visit you himself?"
Jonathan laughed, "Dio is always busy studying and learning new things. I doubt he'd even remember to eat if we didn't have strict schedules."
"Oh, my," Erina giggled, "I've never seen that side of him."
"Few do," Jonathan admitted.
Rainy quietly thought that even fewer actually saw what an asshole Dio was–Jonathan excluded, of course.
"Well then, how about we go for a stroll?" Jonathan suggested. "I would very much like to show you the new frog I have added to my pond–if that, uh, is something that interests you."
"Of course, JoJo," Erina agreed immediately.
"Yes!" Rainy agreed as well.
But before they could depart, Lord Joestar's voice rang through the courtyard.
"JoJo! How many times have I told you to clean up after Danny?!"
Jonathan blushed as he turned around, "I'll do it later, Father!"
"No, JoJo, you shall do it now!"
Jonathan looked back at his friends in embarrassment.
"You could show us the frog another day," Erina offered.
"I suppose," Jonathan sighed before turning to Rainy, "Would you escort Erina home?" he asked, almost hesitatingly.
"Of course, she'll be in excellent hands," Rainy nodded.
"Ah, yes, of course," Jonathan still seemed hesitant as he left to follow his father's orders.
"Well then, will you escort me home, my new friend?"
Rainy offered her arm with a dramatic flourish and Erina giggled again as she linked their arms.
"So, are you planning on letting JoJo know about the fact that you're not a lad?" Erina asked casually as they walked.
"I never said I was a man," Rainy defended themselves, "Most people just assume. Some of my friends only recently figured it out themselves."
"Well, I don't think they will be making that mistake for much longer," Erina mused.
Rainy frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Oh, it's just, your, well, your chest."
"My chest?"
"Well, I assume the boys have just known you for so long that they didn't realize any changes or they were not interested enough to look…"
Rainy grinned and rose a brow, "But you were."
"No! I just-," Erina blushed, "I mean, I-I'm just observant is all."
"Right. Of course."
"All I meant is that it will be hard for you to conceal your more… womanly aspects as we grow older."
Rainy made a face at the wording before shrugging, "I can always just tie them off with some cloth? I'm not really able to afford fitting corsets."
Erina brightened up, "Oh! Well, I still have my old corsets. I was keeping them for eventual cousins but you could have them if you want to. You're, uh, I mean no offence but you're quite small so they should fit you."
"Are they… form fitted?"
"Oh, no, I'm talking about my childhood corsets, they have no boning but should be able to support you while simultaneously flattening your chest," she lifted a finger as she lectured.
"Then I would love to at least try them on," Rainy nodded enthusiastically.
"Come along then," Erina excitedly pulled her new friend along. She had very little contact with people outside of her father's social circle and was glad to have a friend that wasn't of the opposite sex.
The two blondes arrived at the Pendleton mansion and Erina led them inside towards her chambers.
"I have two of them," she explained as she searched through her linen chest. "Ah, here they are. Do you need any help with them?"
Rainy studied the fabric and was delighted to find that they were not too dissimilar to what they were used to.
"I don't think so," they concluded.
Erina politely turned around as Rainy disappeared behind a partition.
When they reappeared, their chest was noticeably flatter.
"Huh."
"What do you think?" Erina asked.
"Very gender."
"Pardon?"
"It's great."
"Oh, alright then," Erina nodded, still slightly confused before switching subjects. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
"I'd love to!"
—
"Are you still carrying that old thing around with you?" Dio asked exasperatedly when he spotted the book in Rainy's hand.
"So, what, you're the only one allowed to have grand plans now?"
Dio looked affronted–not an unusual occurrence, mind you. "What sort of plans could you possibly have concocted from that? The entire point of the novel is to warn against such foolish plans."
"That's where you're wrong! The novel is about an egotistical asshole who doesn't take responsibility for his creation and tries to avoid all consequences of his actions," Rainy corrected, "Reminds me of you actually, at least the first part," they ducked a swing with practised ease before continuing, "Anyways, I am not going to fail as Viktor did. I'm just better than him."
Dio's face was a mask of doubt. "What do you think makes you better qualified for overcoming human limits?"
"Well, first of all, I'm not human. Second-"
"What do you mean by that?" Dio rudely interrupted, suddenly giving her his full attention.
Rainy looked at him as if he was daft (ironic) and motioned at their feet, "Have you seen these fellows? I know I have beautiful eyes but really, Dio, we've known each other for-"
"Yes," he ground out, "I've seen them. So what? A deformed limb or two don't make you less human."
"Well, I'm glad you think so," they patted his arm, "but I'm really not human. Completely different species, actually. I'll probably outlive you by at least thirty years, too. Maybe more."
"How's that possible? I've never heard of such a thing."
"What's that? The great Dio Brando doesn't know something?"
Dio rolled his eyes as Rainy went on, "Well I shall mark this day in my calendar. It should become a national holiday. Wait until JoJo hears about-"
Dio pushed them off the wall they had been sitting on.
End Note: Rainy definitely brought some of the rich people food from the Pendleton's home for the boys. Also, I am aware that Viktor Frankenstein is spelled Victor but I disagree with that and this is my fanfiction so it's Viktor now.