And I would support you in that any time.
[Is that true, Polnareff?]
[Is that true, Polnareff?]
[HIS SON VERSUS HIS BEST FRIEND . . . god, talk about Sophie's choice. But one's here and one isn't, so:]
And I will support you during that time of rabid animal attack.
And I will support you during that time of rabid animal attack.
Why are you punishing me for supporting you!
It's not antagonizing. It's getting him used to the cold. It's practically a kindness, Kakyoin. Just be happy I'm not doing it to you.
[Are you having a good night, Kakyoin? A decent night? Restful? Calm? That's good. It's a night that's about to be disrupted, but it's good it started out well, at least.
From the kitchen, at about one in the morning, there's shouting. French shouting. High-pitched French shouting, loud and angry and not ending anytime soon. Dare you investigate? You'd better soon, because soon after that there's a crash and the tell-tale sound of glass shattering.]
From the kitchen, at about one in the morning, there's shouting. French shouting. High-pitched French shouting, loud and angry and not ending anytime soon. Dare you investigate? You'd better soon, because soon after that there's a crash and the tell-tale sound of glass shattering.]
Jean yourself! Don't call me Jean, I'm not your friend!
[--shouts the child in French. Standing on the floor in a ridiculously oversized t-shirt, the child balls his fists, shattered glass all around him. There's something about this tall man (teenager, but everyone looks old when you're eight) that seems familiar, but still, he's on edge. Polnraeff hesitates, glances around uncertainly, and then adds:]
Are you going to answer me or not! [You didn't ask him anything, kid.] What's your name! You're . . . I've seen you before, I know I have.
[--shouts the child in French. Standing on the floor in a ridiculously oversized t-shirt, the child balls his fists, shattered glass all around him. There's something about this tall man (teenager, but everyone looks old when you're eight) that seems familiar, but still, he's on edge. Polnraeff hesitates, glances around uncertainly, and then adds:]
Are you going to answer me or not! [You didn't ask him anything, kid.] What's your name! You're . . . I've seen you before, I know I have.
Yes you do, you just answered me in it. Stupid.
[But that was said more distractedly than aggressively. Belatedly, his eyes darted from Kakyoin to Hierophant. What the hell was that? Not a Stand, surely. Stands looked like his Chariot, knightly and fierce, a sleek perfect fighting machine. They didn't look like bug-eyed melon-y creeps.
Then again, though. The green-melon-thing did have silver armor along his arms and chest. That's . . . well. It's not as good as his Chariot, but it's certainly in the same classification. Polnareff wrinkles his nose, eyes darting between the two figures for a long few seconds.]
What's that? Is that--
[He took a few steps forward, reaching for Hierophant fearlessly. Come here, melon pope.]
[But that was said more distractedly than aggressively. Belatedly, his eyes darted from Kakyoin to Hierophant. What the hell was that? Not a Stand, surely. Stands looked like his Chariot, knightly and fierce, a sleek perfect fighting machine. They didn't look like bug-eyed melon-y creeps.
Then again, though. The green-melon-thing did have silver armor along his arms and chest. That's . . . well. It's not as good as his Chariot, but it's certainly in the same classification. Polnareff wrinkles his nose, eyes darting between the two figures for a long few seconds.]
What's that? Is that--
[He took a few steps forward, reaching for Hierophant fearlessly. Come here, melon pope.]
Hierophant . . .
[Yeah. Yeah, that seemed about right. Hierophant, who was a good Stand, albeit not as superior as his own. Polnareff nodded and took Hierophant's hand, fingers interlacing with green ones. Polnareff studied their joined hands, mouth pursed, before glancing up with a grin.
Behind him, Chariot sprung out. Chariot, who was short and skinny, just like his user; who squeaked out a worried noise and hovered close to Polnareff, just in case. Hierophant and his semi-familiar user weren't so dangerous, it seemed, but one never really knew.]
[Yeah. Yeah, that seemed about right. Hierophant, who was a good Stand, albeit not as superior as his own. Polnareff nodded and took Hierophant's hand, fingers interlacing with green ones. Polnareff studied their joined hands, mouth pursed, before glancing up with a grin.
Behind him, Chariot sprung out. Chariot, who was short and skinny, just like his user; who squeaked out a worried noise and hovered close to Polnareff, just in case. Hierophant and his semi-familiar user weren't so dangerous, it seemed, but one never really knew.]
Chariot?
[Look, he didn't properly name his Stand until he was eighteen, all right? That's the bad news. The good news is that when Polnareff speaks in French, Chariot echoes it, translating it into something far more understandable. Not English, but whatever middle-easily-translated equivalent they all usually use.]
No, he's . . . he's just him. Me. Whatever. He doesn't have a name. Why does yours have a name? When did you name yours? What can he do, that armor doesn't look like it covers much-- does it work at all, or's it for show? What's a Hierophant, anyway? And--
[This, all in one breath, questioned fired one after another with no sign of ever stopping.]
[Look, he didn't properly name his Stand until he was eighteen, all right? That's the bad news. The good news is that when Polnareff speaks in French, Chariot echoes it, translating it into something far more understandable. Not English, but whatever middle-easily-translated equivalent they all usually use.]
No, he's . . . he's just him. Me. Whatever. He doesn't have a name. Why does yours have a name? When did you name yours? What can he do, that armor doesn't look like it covers much-- does it work at all, or's it for show? What's a Hierophant, anyway? And--
[This, all in one breath, questioned fired one after another with no sign of ever stopping.]
You should. I could stab you right now, cuz you don't have any armor on.
[With Chariot's toothpick of a rapier, yeah. Chariot lifted it, though the action was more displaying than threatening. As he did, Polnareff grinned again, buckteeth and all, terribly proud of his Stand.]
Are you a priest or something?
[With Chariot's toothpick of a rapier, yeah. Chariot lifted it, though the action was more displaying than threatening. As he did, Polnareff grinned again, buckteeth and all, terribly proud of his Stand.]
Are you a priest or something?
[He gave him a little Look. He and Chariot most definitely would be able to hit them that easily, thanks, because he's magnificent. But if this tall ginger wants to think otherwise, let him. More fool him.]
And what's your name?
[No, wait. He knew this. He knew it in that same intuitive way he knew Hierophant's name: the knowledge was there, just . . . buried. Polnareff tipped his head, squinted up at him, and added:]
Nor . . .
[Yeah!]
Norbert?
[No!]
And what's your name?
[No, wait. He knew this. He knew it in that same intuitive way he knew Hierophant's name: the knowledge was there, just . . . buried. Polnareff tipped his head, squinted up at him, and added:]
Nor . . .
[Yeah!]
Norbert?
[No!]
Yeah!
[Practically the same thing!]
That's what I said!
[Practically the same thing!]
That's what I said!
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