mylegacy | ic inbox / drift fleet

[He looks worried for a second, unsure if he's done something wrong again, if Joseph is changing his mind. He opens his mouth to ask are you angry?, but - Joseph says he's going to catch up, and Caesar has to trust him.]

[So he nods, and goes on ahead, not looking back.]

[Joseph catches that worried look and thinks maybe he needs to reassure Caesar, which seems like such a weird thing to have to do. Caesar just isn't the type who needs a whole lot of reassuring in general, but definitely not over something like this. But he nods and continues on towards the kitchen, so Joseph just chalks it up to still maybe being a little raw from their fight. He watches Caesar go for a few seconds before disappearing into the quarters. It's only a minute or two before Joseph joins him in the kitchen, but he turns up with essentially a large shoebox.]

[Whereas with most things Joseph is not the least bit delicate with, he's actually careful in setting this box down on the kitchen table instead of just tossing it down.]

You know, when I was talking with Ino, she said you mentioned Superman to her and tried explaining comic books. I knew you didn't know what you were talking about, but I didn't think you were that off the mark.

[Caesar's settled himself at the kitchen table by the time Joseph shows up again, perched on the edge of the table rather than in one of the chairs, braced against the floor on the balls of his feet. He looks up maybe a little too quickly when Joseph comes into the room; then his eyes settle on the shoebox that's set down next to him, and he looks briefly puzzled until Joseph says Superman.]

. . . You were talking to Ino? [A beat, and then he remembers what started this whole stupid argument in the first place.] About the little faces.

[Joseph heads over the freezer, grabbing a towel. He starts scooping out some ice and puts it in the center of the towel, tying it off after a few handfuls.]

They're called emotes, Caesar. [Jeez.] And we talked about more than just emotes.

[He returns next to Caesar's side and puts the makeshift icepack to his face. Gently. He doesn't feel like getting punched again, thanks.]

Anyway, [he pops off the top to the shoebox with his free hand and, sure enough, it's filled nearly to the brim with comic books. Not all of them are in plastic, but quite a number of them are. And Joseph's actually organized them alphabetically by series.] Some of these aren't as good as the ones back home, but they're not bad. I've read a couple five or six times already.

[He winces a little at the ice on his face, but presses his lips together and doesn't say anything. He's a little too busy staring at Joseph, anyway. Like this is all very exciting for you, he's sure, but what is the point.]

. . . Good for you? [DO YOU WANT A MEDAL.]

[BITCH, HE MIGHT.]

[Joseph rolls his eyes like friendship with Caesar is the realest struggle.]

That means I can make good recommendations. Unless you'd rather take your chances and hope you don't find one with bugs in it.

[Caesar pauses for a second, takes the ice to hold it himself. Then, very slowly, he starts to grin.]

Oh, you think I'm reading those, do you?

[Joseph's expression turns immediately suspicious at that grin on Caesar's face. He lets go of the ice and lets Caesar hold it for himself.]

I don't think, [HA] I know.

[No, buddy. You super don't.]

How do you know that?

Because you'll either read it yourself or I'll read it to you.

[So. There.]

For fuck's sake, Jojo.

[He is never going to win, ever.]

Fine. Tell me, then.

[Joseph grins because that's right. You super are never going to win against him. Better to accept the defeat and try to enjoy it than struggle.]

Alright, well. [He flips quickly through the stack and pulls three out.] You should probably start here. It's got next to no punching in it, I promise.

[He . . . takes them . . . dubiously. Between two fingers. Like they're a dead spider.]

You're recommending them based on a lack of punching? And that's all.

[If they were a dead spider, there would be a lot more shrieking involved.]

That's just one reason since you clearly don't understand how exciting action is. But it's about a family caught in the middle of a war and they're trying to find each other again. It's not always as serious as that sounds, but you're the one always talking about how important family is so you'll like that.

[. . . Fuck you so much and forever for being thoughtful, you absolute asshole. He looks at Joseph. Looks at the top comic. Opens . . . it . . .]

This art is really strange.

But it's neat, right?

[Joseph is giving Caesar a look equivalent to a child expecting a parent to at least pantomime eating the mud sandwich they've spent all day making for them.]

[He looks at Joseph and just - feels absolutely flattened by the reality that ten minutes ago he was angry enough with this man to hurt him, and now all that he wants is to agree with everything Joseph says in order to keep that look on his face.]

It's not so bad. I'll read it, if it's that important to you, Jojo.

[That is, more or less, the exact answer that Joseph wanted to hear, so his face lights up with unfiltered joy and a clear sense of accomplishment.]

I promise if you don't like it, I'll never bug you about reading comics ever again. [...Or, well, he'd at least try not to.] But I know you're going to love it, so it's not an issue.

[Everyone is so sad that Caesar doesn't get this pun.]

You know that, do you?

[You better stop being cute right this second.]

[The narration is certainly mourning it. What a waste of an excellent pun!]

Of course I do. When have I ever been wrong about my predictions?

Mm.

[He turns a page, looking down at the comic book like he's mostly ignoring Joseph.]

I can't think of anything offhand.

[Normally being ignored would drive him insane and he'd start almost immediately trying to get Caesar's attention back. But if he's already getting hooked on the comic book, Joseph isn't going to fight it.]

Because I'm never wrong.

ic inbox / drift fleet

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