victory_road | THICK AS THIEVULS

If you're acting daft, I'm afraid I have little choice but to call you daft.

[ Goodness, that did hit a nerve didn't it? Diego pursed his lips slightly, hand coming down to rest on his hip as he shifted his weight from one side to the other. Unfamiliar as he was with this place, at least one thing remained constant and he could take solace in getting underneath Johnny's skin. ]

And to answer your question, how am I meant to remember a place that I've never seen before in my life? What could I possibly have to gain by lying about it?

[[ ooooh diego, you better be happy that johnny's trying to figure this out or he wouldn't have let that little comment slide.

not like he would have done much, but still. you wouldn't have heard the end of it. his glare narrows. ]] I don't really know what you stand to gain from most of the shit you do, Brando. [[ that's a lie, but he's being particularly bitter right now. ]] But, I guess that answer is as good as any I'm going to get from you.

... I'm just gonna cut to the chase: You aren't the first Diego that's been here. But, I've seen another 'you', and he wasn't that one either. [[ he shakes his head, but only slightly as to never lose sight on the ~~jackass~~ man in front of him. ]] I don't know what to make of this.

[ Hearing that an alternate version of himself had been here was not all that confusing for him, Johnny had already confirmed that he didn't need to be worried about getting obliterated...

The rest of that statement, though, that was rather curious and he found himself tilting his head as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned forward. ]

What do you mean 'that one'?

What'dya mean, "what do I mean"? [[ he scowls a bit. ]] The other 'you' that Valentine brought over to take me out. After you had...

[[ he trails off. wait. he was too caught up with diego's general amnesia to really focus on it when it was said, but he did mention something about being 'victorious after all'... ]] Don't tell me, you don't remember dying?

[ Diego felt his lips pursing at that, a snort slipping out as he brought a hand up to wave it dismissively. He was doing it again, being daft. ]

Of course I remember meeting my untimely demise, I'm not likely to forget it any time soon!

[ He paused for a moment, frowning to himself as he brought a finger up to tap on his chin thoughtfully. Was Johnny really telling him what he thought he was or was he misunderstanding? ]

...are you telling me that another version of me was brought from one of the neighbouring worlds? That Valentine survived?

[ The very thought was enough to make his blood boil, that now familiar crack forming at the corner of his mouth as he bared his teeth. It had been a false victory? ]

[[ rude! it's been a minute since he's had to think about valentine's shit and the corpse, cut him some slack. not that johnny would if the roles were reversed...

speaking of, there's a hint of an assholish smirk on johnny's face as he sees diego's reaction. neener neener you died and didn't even take valentine with you, way 2 lose brando. ]] He did. What a way to die in vain, huh?

He sure did bring another one of you over, that one was a piece of work. Way more of a threat than you, honestly. [[ he's just... rubbing it in, now... ]] Different stand ability and everything.

[ It really was enough to make him seethe, the look on face something between confusion and absolute fury. ]

What do you mean more of a threat? More of a threat to whom? To you? Or to him?

[ It shouldn't matter, none of it should matter and especially not coming from someone like Johnny Joestar.

Johnny Joestar.

Wait...

The anger took a backseat for a moment, Diego staring at Johnny right in the eye before shifting his gaze to stare at his legs and then back up again. ]

...since when do you walk?

[[ ah. right. that probably would be new to him. regardless, such a question manages to wipe the smirk right off johnny's face. another scowl takes its place. ]] It's the Spin. [[ well, it would be the spin in their world... in this world, who knows what's keeping him standing? he doesn't question it, and neither should you. ]] I learned... more about it. How to use it like this. What do you care?

Anyway. [[ he waves a hand, glaring at him and sighing. so annoying, having to get back to the real topic at hand aka why The World diego is far superior to dino diego. even if he did light johnny on fire... ]] To me. Well, both, really. But I had taken care of Valentine myself. He brought that other 'you' in as a last resort. If he couldn't have the corpse, he wasn't going to let me take it.

[ Diego couldn't help that irritable click of his tongue, lips pulling into a thin line. ]

I don't care, it was merely a curiosity and nothing more. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before they fail you again...

[ It wasn't as biting as he wanted it to be, still dwelling on the fact that he'd been replaced. His pride wouldn't allow him to accept the fact that anyone would be able to take his place, setting aside his bitterness to ask something more important. ]

I trust you eliminated this poor imitation he brought to you as well?

[ Nothing was as good as the real thing, right? Never mind that he'd insulted him just a moment before, give him answers. ]

[[ johnny might just aim that empty pokeball at diego's head for the leg comment. a pointless gesture towards scary monsters, but it's supposed to be a statement before anything else. s-so there!

johnny recoils from his throw immediately, straightening up and trying to collect himself. leave it to diego to throw him off his bullying... there's a deep breath, and he looks pretty annoyed to admit: ]] No. I didn't.

She didn't really go into detail, but... Lucy was the one that finished him. She used your body, somehow. That's all I know. [[ well, about the alternate diego's demise, anyway. there are a few details he knows about the corpse that he isn't sharing, but diego didn't ask about that. not like it does them much good here, anyway. ]] He almost killed me. If Steven hadn't come and found me when he did, I'd be in the same position as you.

[ He should give credit where credit is due, but there was something about that ending that was almost poetic. Irritated as he was that he'd died for nothing, that revelation that Johnny had just given him was practically music to his ears.

Lucy Steel finishing him off? That was laughable. The fact that she'd needed his own body to do it? Well, that was simply delightful; useful even after his demise. He found a rather pleased smirk passing over his lips, throwing his hands up as he shrugged and let out a genuinely pleased laugh. ]

So really, none of it could have been done without me after all, I was still the one that was victorious!

[ No, Diego. ]

[[ ugh no no NO this isn't the reaction he wanted! not at all! johnny's glare turns into daggers and he clenched his jaw.

absolutely ridiculous, this man! victorious in his death? he wishes. ]] Would have saved some grief and pain if you had finished him off on the fuckin' train, Brando.

But, whatever helps you sleep at night. [[ uuughhhh johnny couldn't fathom hating diego even more but, somehow, it just keeps ramping up. ]]

[ That was almost enough to wipe away every bit of that smug look from Diego's face, lip curling up at the corner as he nearly ground his teeth together. ]

What in the hell do you think I was trying to do? You truly are daft, aren't you?

[ God, Diego, stop. ]

What helps you sleep at night, then? The satisfaction that you didn't have to dirty your hands to finish the other me off? That you passed it on to a child rather than handle it yourself?

[ He's got hurt feelings. ]

[[ oh they both got hurt feelings now. satisfaction? satisfaction. johnny is almost gobsmacked at the questions. almost. this is diego, after all, and nothing is truly below him. ]] You have a lot of fuckin' nerve, implyin' I would ever want to pass the opportunity to beat your face into the ground.

If that psychopath didn't send me to the death's door, it'd be a different story. [[ his forces himself to exhale sharply, his nostrils flaring. how is it that every single version of diego managed to one-up him in some way? ]] You and I both know God plays cruel jokes, and giving him the ability he had was one of the biggest.

THICK AS THIEVULS

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