we are both part of the same great game, dear brother, we just find ourselves on opposite sides of the board. (dante)
SOURCE : prompted / STATUS : accepting .
dante’s presence in his study mirrors that of a HAUNTING SPECTRE at times ━━━━ inspiring feelings of GREAT CONDOLENCE for the ghost that does not understand that she is trapped between two worlds . ’TIS NOT PITY HE FEELS FOR HIS DEAR SISTER , giorno holds too much respect for dante to regard her with such benevolent condescension , but it is UNREQUITED COMPASSION in that dante would likely misconstrue his view of her as that of apollo gazing softly upon his subjects instead of EYE - TO - EYE with the iron - willed artemis .
he remains mute for quite a stretch of time , the only sound emitting from his DECEPTIVELY DAINTY FRAME the soft scrawl of his ink pen threading elegant script into his diary .
OCTOBER 6 , 20XX : I THOUGHT OF YOU AS THE LAST OF SUMMER’S GOLDEN LUSTER FADED BEHIND AUTUMN’S DREARY GRAY .
giorno understands dante’s attachment to her mother . NOT EXPERIENTIALLY ; he hasn’t thought of his own mother since he’d left her in the dust of a past he no longer acknowledges , & it isn’t likely that she has spared much of a thought toward him , either ━━━━ but the principle is nonetheless familiar . the closest thing he’d had to a mother had been A MAN HE KNEW FOR LESS THAN A WEEK , & years after watching him ascend to a realm he may never be able to touch , the mourning only grows HEAVIER & HEAVIER like the cement block that sinks a lifeless husk to its watery resting place . the loss of that bond remains the greatest pain giorno has ever endured . HE WOULD NEVER WISH THAT ON DANTE , even if it was for the greater good ( & it would be ) . thus , her mother still breathes .
he’s decided that she will have to save herself . it isn’t that he won’t be there for her , for he ALWAYS WILL , whether she wants it or not . but he has no place between dante & the BLACK HOLE from whence she came ━━━━ no one has any place there , not even their father . were he to try to intervene , it would only cause more harm than good . & he will not harm his sister .
“ that may be your point of view , ” he utters at last , manicured fingers gliding over the gilded cover of the diary as he folds it closed , “ but i am not playing against you , dany . i’m not confined to any one side of any board . that’s how i’ve gotten as far as i have . ”
giorno rises from his seat , momentarily turning his back to dante to slide his diary in its designated place amid the shelf all but OVERFLOWING with books . when he turns back to her , the jade of his eyes has taken on a soft , but stern glimmer , the way gemstones shine in a single beam of light amid a SOMBER OVERCAST .
“ i think it would serve you to broaden your perspective . ”