Mr. President
Master's Academy
Early Morning
? ﾝﾅﾥ? - No Music
"So, Viale,"
"So, Polnareff,"
The two were sitting opposite each-other. They had been going back and forth like this for around ten minutes. 'Honestly,' thought Coco Jumbo, 'it's getting annoying.' Not that anyone would ever hear her. Yeah, Coco Jumbo was female. Yeah, she was sentient. She'd taken refuge in Mr. President when that scary black guy with that funky arrow was returning everyone's souls. Polnareff was nice to her. Nicer than the pink-haired goth guy, her last owner. To her, Polnareff was more of a business partner. 'Anyway, back to the conversation.'
"So, Viale,"
"So, Polnareff,"
'Yeah, they're gonna be here a while…'
"Why haven't you answered any of your father's calls?"
'Ohh, the knockout blow!'
"I haven't seen a need to."
'Great return! Let's see how our resident frenchie responds…'
"That's not why he's calling you, Viale."
"Oh really? I thought he only ever did things out of necessity?"
'Dayumn, boy–'
"Coco, please, we are having a serious conversation here."
'Sorry, Pol…'
"Anyway," Polnareff shifted in his seat, "You misunderstand your father, Viale,"
"What is there to misunderstand?" Viale spat back, "Misunderstand that he's not who he says he is? That he and his friends have basically had superpowers since before I was born? That my godfather is a tortoise? Should I misunderstand that–"
"I get it, Viale," Polnareff sighed, holding the bridge of his nose in his fingers, "You should understand why he took this approach. While I can't talk about it too much, your father's work is very dangerous."
"And obviously more important than me."
"…but – you didn't let me finish – he cares very very much about you. More than you could possibly imagine. If you just talked to him–"
"I'm good, thank you," Polnareff lay silent, desperately attempting to convince Viale otherwise. Viale checked his watch, "I gotta get ready for school."
He raised his hand, and with a forceful pull, he was ejected from the tortoise.
…
'That was awkward…'
"Shut up, Jumbo."
Master's Academy
Hallway
Mid-Morning
Vuoto was still stewing on yesterday's events. Stands? He didn't get it. He did a little bit of research this morning before school (on incognito mode, of course), and found a few old online forums confirming Mr. Zeppeli's claims. But nothing with evidence, pictures, or video. Ramblings and online ravings, half of which would probably be attention-seeking or accounts from people who'd been too high or drunk to know what they'd seen. However, the name of "Stands" was one constant. It was quite interesting, seeing people describe these fantastic abilities; a guy that could reverse any wound, an invisible girl, and even some gambler saying he fought a teenager that could stop time.
He'd discovered that there was more to Stands than he initially thought. Different types (he seemed to have what was called a Bound Stand), the diversity of the names of the Stands, and even Stands that evolved.
Vuoto decided to name his Stand: ｢Coldplay｣.
As he stood up from his typical seating position - against the wall - and organised his papers in his arms for the day. He began down the bustling hallway. Due to his Stand, Vuoto discovered, people would subconsciously see him, and avoid him when walking towards him. They wouldn't know that they're doing it, but they wouldn't care anyway. He was still getting used to the fact that, barring other Stand users, he would never know human connection. He had gotten Fragi's phone number, and talking to him helped, but despite this, the cold harsh reality of his own Stand was both daunting and disheartening.
Still stuck in his own head, when he rounded the corner, he neglected to see the facefull of Viale Giovanna he was about to receive.
Viale, the tall and built man that he is, easily knocked over the frail Vuoto. The papers flew everywhere, but…
'｢Mr. Blue Sky｣!'
The Stand's arms flew out of Viale at super speed, bringing Vuoto upright, quickly re-organising the still-airborne papers, and placing them back safely in Vuoto's arms.
"Huh?"
"Sorry 'bout that, pal," Viale apologised, "Didn't see you there,"
"It's no problem– hey!" Vuoto exclaimed in surprise, "You can see me!"
"Uhh, yeah, I can. Should I… not?"
In a whisper, Vuoto leaned in close, "I know you're a Stand user; only Stand users can see me!"
…
"Oh…" Viale scratched his head, "this is awkward…"
"So?"
"So what?"
"So, how did you get your Stand?"
"Oh right, I was stabbed by this one ornate arrow."
"An arrow?"
"Yeah, it was this weird gold one with a beetle design."
"Woah."
"Why are you surprised by this? Is that not how you got your Stand?"
"I don't think so."
"Hey, let's go somewhere quieter, I can barely hear myself think."
"Sure."
Unused Classroom
Master's Academy
? ﾝﾅﾥ? - Tensione
"So,"
"So,"
Viale had obviously mistaken a table for a chair and went and sat on it. Vuoto had taken up the teacher's seat. After a beat, Vuoto finally declared, "Mr. Zeppeli is a Stand user,"
Viale responded, "Yeah, I suspected that one of the teachers had a Stand," He thought back to Amicio and how he'd reacted to Viale insinuating that he was working for a teacher, "I fought a guy that was working for him."
"Fought?"
"Yeah, with my Stand," To display, he summoned Mr. Blue Sky, its imposing frame taking Vuoto's breath. He'd never seen anything like it.
"Wow, so that's a humanoid Stand…"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, there are apparently many forms Stands can take. For example, my Stand doesn't have a physical form. It's called a bound Stand."
"Huh, interesting," Viale pondered, dismissing Mr. Blue Sky, "Where'd you get this information from?"
"There's a bunch of forums online if you dig deep enough–"
DING! DING! DING!
Viale stood up and picked up his book, "Shit, there's the bell. We'd better get going."
"Yeah, nice meeting you."
Just as Viale was about to leave the room, Vuoto almost-yelled, "I'm Vuoto, by the way,"
"Giovanna. Viale Giovanna,"
The two parted ways.
They did not notice the slight shimmer in the air as a thin thread retracted out of the room.
Master's Academy
Business Class
Afternoon
It was around three o'clock in the afternoon when an announcement came over the speaker. Viale was in Business class, the teacher rambling on about some manipulative marketing strategy. Little did he know that danger was waiting for him on the other side of the school.
"Gioviale Giovanna to the front office. I repeat, Gioviale Giovanna to the front office."
? ﾝﾅﾥ? - Misterioso
A cold chill washed over Viale, as a slight panging began in the back of his head. From across the class, Matito, the guy Viale had sat with on his first day, glanced over to him in mild concern. What he saw was someone who knew his fate, and was going to actively try and reject it. He saw it in his eyes.
Viale got up.
Viale walked out the door.
Viale went down the hall.
Viale went down the stairs.
Viale turned right around the corner.
Viale entered the front office.
Viale approached the front desk.
Viale locked eyes with the receptionist.
Viale said, "I'm here from the announcement,"
She responded, "Yes, of course. Let me just call Mr. Zeppeli,"
Viale had expected this. This was it. He had no idea what Zeppeli's Stand was going to be – he'd forgotten to ask Vuoto if he'd seen the Stand in action. The receptionist was ringing Zeppeli; she was the herald of Death. He considered taking out his phone and calling his father, or even Polnareff, just to say goodbye, in case he lost this ineluctable fight.
But he didn't. Instead, he counted the seconds.
Zeppeli entered on the twenty-fifth second, bearing a saccharine smile that Viale wouldn't have trusted even if he hadn't bumped into Vuoto and discovered the truth.
"Viale," The teacher placed his hand on his shoulder, and Viale held the slight urge to bristle at the contact. "How are you? Doing alright?"
"Fine. Doing fine," he said. Zeppeli nodded at him, still smiling that same fake smile.
"That's good, that's good. Do you mind taking a short walk with me? Just to my office."
And there it was. If he'd had any doubts remaining, those were reduced to dust the moment he heard those words. Viale still had no idea how dangerous this man was – Polnareff had told him that all Stands were dangerous in some way (he'd cited an old lady that had almost killed him in his youth).
"Sure," Viale said. "Yeah, sure."
Zeppeli's smile thinned a little as he gave him another pat on the shoulder. As his hand hovered there, Viale turned his head upwards, looking him in the eyes. Briefly, almost imperceptibly, something flickered in the air about Zeppeli, a flash of blue fire that sent shivers dancing up Viale's back.
He knew he was in for it.
Zeppeli turned away from him, leading the way towards his office. Viale paused for a second, regathering himself after Zeppeli's display, then following after him, the first two steps jittery from the nerves and tension.
The receptionist hadn't reacted to the burst of flame surrounding him, the blue aura that had enwreathed him for but a moment. But why would she have? She couldn't see, couldn't know. It must be Stand-related.
This was the Fear of the Unknown.
Polnareff wasn't around the corner this time.
His hands clenched into fists.
? ﾝﾅﾥ? - Male [this means 'bad' in Italian]
He was going to forge his own blue skies.
'Shit shit shit!'
Vuoto was texting Fragi when he heard the announcement that drove him into a minor crisis. No doubt that Viale would be fighting a tough fight soon, and Vuoto could do nothing about it.
Behind him, Sana was seated. She, too, was concerned about Viale's situation. She noticed that the person in front of her was similarly panicking.
"Hey, guy," Sana whispered, trying to not draw the attention of the teacher, "What's happening to GioGio?"
"H-huh? Rossi?"
"Shh!"
In a quieter voice, he responded, "Oh, sorry. Who's GioGio?"
"Giovanna,"
"Oh, okay. I think he's in trouble,"
"What do you mean?"
"One of the teachers is dangerous,"
"Huh?"
"Sorry, I can't say more,"
He decided to ignore the flurry of questions that followed, and went back to texting his hospitalised friend.
"I assume you know why we are here, Gioviale." God, he hated it when people called him that. It made them sound like his father.
"Yeah," Viale stood resolute, "because I know you're a Stand User,"
Zeppeli quirked an eyebrow. "Actually, that's only one reason. If that were the case, then wouldn't I have called Mr. Vuoto in, too? I would've assumed you know the relationship between our families?"
"What, are we related? Maybe some long-lost uncle?"
"No, no, I'm not a blood relative. But it's your father's family that I'm talking about," Zeppeli rounded his desk and sat down to an open laptop. "Here. Read this."
As he turned the laptop around, Viale saw his father's portrait, amongst others he didn't recognise. It was a family tree. A very weird-looking family tree. Tonnes of branches reaching across the screen.
"What I want you to see here is…" He pointed to one 'Joseph Joestar, 1920-2013'. "This man,"
"I've never heard about anyone from my father's side of the family," Viale declared. "I know that they exist – they have to, but father has never let me meet them."
"Let me finish." Zeppeli took a deep breath. "This man, Joseph Joestar, recently died. Before I could get to him."
"Get to him? Oh, you mean kill him."
"Correct," Zeppeli stood up tall from the seat and approached Viale, who was inching closer to the door. "You see, this man drove my great-grand-uncle, Caesar, to death back in 1939, and forgot about the four other brothers and sisters – one of which being my mother – and left them to suffer without an older brother. You, Giovanna, and your family, must pay for his death."
Without time to process all of this information, the blue glow that had stunned Viale briefly earlier returned in full force. Alongside it, Viale felt something pierce his upper left leg. He cried out in anguish, falling to the floor.
? ﾝﾅﾥ? - Squadra
"You, Giovanna! You shall pay for your family's crimes! You shall die at the hands of my Stand,｢Broken Strings｣!"
Viale looked up at Zeppeli, just in time for him to disappear into thin air. Viale felt more piercings open up in his body, as Zeppeli's head appeared floating near the roof. Viale was going to try reason with him, but he figured he was too far gone to listen to reason. 'I don't even know my father's side of the family! I told him that, didn't I!?'
"My Stand, Broken Strings, allows me to thin my body parts to microscopic levels and elongate them."
'Oh, I see,' Viale thought as he effortlessly sank into the floor from his already compromising position on the smooth-tiled floor.
"You can't run, Giovanna! I know your Stand's weakness!"
Zeppeli pierced the floor, inside of which Viale yelped in surprise.
'Damaging the surface damages me?'
Without thinking, Viale popped up for a bit of air, instantly feeling the damage Zeppeli had done to the tile he was in. With a newfound vigour, he yelled, "｢Mr. Blue Sky｣!"
Mr. Blue Sky flew out of Viale's body with a flash, its retro body gunning straight for Zeppeli's still-floating head.
"Not so fast, Giovanna," Zeppeli yelled as his head yet again disappeared just before Mr. Blue Sky could land a clean hit, "I can move faster than you'll ever dream of, and you can't see me while I'm doing it!"
Viale did not notice the head appearing behind him.
To Be Continued ===