Chapter Text
Upon reaching the young lad's destination, Jonathan felt relieved. The house was just as ran down as every other one in this district, it was truly tragic, an elderly woman in an exquisitely knitted scarf, wearing egg shell colored scraps beneath, swung her door open for her grandson, taking that boy in with open arms.
"Nan! This sir was kind enough to escort me to your door step!" Marcus cheered, it was surprising to say the least how this child could still stay so positive despite his circumstances. Jonathan was in true awe, almost forgetting why he had come here until he noticed the old woman's blank, cold stare...
"Men like you shan't step a foot on these streets, you'll come home with empty pockets and a beat up mug if you're lucky" Her voice was coarse like newly purchased sandpaper dragging across a fresh piece of oak wood, it took JoJo some time to understand that the warning was her way of showing gratitude.
However on top of that sickly pale, age spotted face, rested no grateful expression. It was laced with venom and life long misery. For what reason, the young nobleman didn't yet know, but slowly things started sinking in for the Joestar boy the longer he stared at his surroundings.
These folks who passed by, were giving him the same look, people don't like nobles around these parts all that much.
"I am aware, however I have come here for a reason, may I ask you if you know of any exotic herb shops nearby? My father has been poisoned and I need an antidote as quick as possible. If it won't bother you too much, could you at least point me in the right direction?"
Her caramel eyes softened a little, with a heavy sigh that smelled of bile and stale bread, she shook her head and said...
"I wouldn't know of such things"
Jonathan could feel his determination fade. Piece by piece, his hope crumbled, this evening has been nothing but a waste of much needed time which he did not possess.
"That is a shame, however, perhaps you have seen a blonde man roaming around these parts?"
She scoffed
"A blonde man, ey? You'll have to be a bit more specific, lad"
"He is of similar build to me, same height, light hair, cunning eyes, three birthmarks on his left ear."
Jonathan described Dio with desperation, to his surprise and delight, the old woman's eyes lit up like Christmas candles upon a luscious tree.
"Oh my, you two should be around the same age. Dear, you should have told me you're a friend of Dio's! He grew up in this very neighborhood, Oh his mother was such a sweetheart, poor lad. How is he?"
Hearing someone speak of the blonde devil's incarnate would have angered JoJo only minutes ago until her words rung out in his mind once again he grew up in this very neighborhood...
"He lives with us now, my father adopted him."
All these years I have shared with Dio, I knew next to nothing about him, father did mention of his past in poverty, I never knew it was this bad.
Joestar's eyes darted from building to building, pictures of Dio living this place started entertaining his imagination and with all his distaste for the younger Brando, he couldn't help but feel remorse.
"Oh praise the Lord, I'm relieved. That boy didn't have the greatest father and after his mother's death it got worse, I'm glad he got taken care of properly, such potential shan't be wasted."
The woman seemed sincere, her features morphed into a sad little smile, portraying a feeling akin to hearing about a distant relative.
"Were you and his family close?" JoJo asked, fully aware that time is of essence, yet curiosity was flowing out of him stronger than ever before, as Dio is the most secretive man he has ever come across...
Which is rather peculiar as his brother also seems to be surrounded by friends, out in the open, the blonde is rather outgoing, a leader with a smile that even Jonathan is affected by from time to time. Yet when they are alone and father isn't home, Dio is as grumpy as one can get. Duality of a man at it's best.
"They were my neighbors, a loud bunch was what I thought at the beginning, the talk of our entire neighborhood. Dario, frankly was a pig I tell ya, drank day and night, drove his wife to death. Dio was the only thing keeping him alive. A smart little thing he was, could whip up money out of thin air, though most of it fed Dario's alcohol addiction. Me and my daughter wished to help him but we had nothing of our own to give"
"This is news to me, he never tells me anything about his past."
"Some things ya can't just casually talk about over a cup of tea lad, Dio carried himself with grace despite the bruises under his shirt, I doubt that much has changed"
Bruises under his shirt, what on earth is this woman talki- Oh....oh dear, not good, this is not good at all.
"You said a loud bunch...." JoJo was now even afraid to ask, but he needed to know the truth
"Aye, Dario was sloshed more often than not, he yelled at his wife, beat her when he ran out of whiskey, she died when Dio was 8, God rest her soul. No wonder though, such a frail woman she was. After that he took his wrath out on his son. Most of the folks here said it's a tragedy that the boy lost both of his parents at such a young age. Screw them I say, it was clearly a blessing."
The old lady sounded proud of her opinion, her crossed arms and furious expression was a testament to that. In the end she let out a long, tired sigh and looked back up at Jonathan's face. The lad seemed lost.
"Thank you..." he said quietly, his cheeks turned paler and his eyes were on the verge of tears
"What ever for?"
"For telling me this, this is of importance" JoJo took out his walled and handed all the money he has on him to the kind woman as a sign of gratitude,
where most people would be confused about the money or insist on not taking it, she happily snatched the papers from his hands and shook her head approvingly. Jonathan had a suspicion that many other nobles like himself have probably given money to the poor out of pity before, this lady is happy to take money no matter how it comes her way, no unnecessary small talk, you offer, I take
"Eh, I love a little gossip, ya have been a good sport so far young man, be careful when ya leave."
"Have a good night Mrs....?"
"Oh no need for such formalities, call me Linda"
"Alright Linda, have a good night then"
"You too young man"