[Erina is a fretter, a habit she did not intend to replace her childhood habit of crying with, but it has become something she leans back on soothingly like a favorite blanket. The recent news Jonathan himself imparted - that their marriage, a true and happy start for the both of them, the brightest of futures would be cut terribly short - hung on her like a funeral shroud. But what if...
What if she said "I do not" instead of "I do"? Would that save him? Keep him from boarding a doomed ship? To deal with a doomed fight? Clearly, she somehow survived as there were other Joestars. At least two, from some far-flung decade. Would this affect them, her saying no?
Erina was sure she kept her feelings about the thoughts that plagued her under a veneer of pleased contentment. At least until night fell and she rested her head against Jonthan's chest.]
[ Jonathan knows this has been hard on her. How could it not be? Having only five days of marriage was unthinkable at best, but here they both were, dealing with the consequences.
And as relieved as he is, to see her again, to have a second chance at their marriage… there was no way he could have kept this from her. He simply can’t start things off with a lie. It would be better, in the long run, for her to hear it from him, rather than finding out from someone else. But in the short term…
[She takes a little breath, pressing her face into his side for a moment before continuing her train of thought. As much as she dislikes it greatly.]
Everything that happened, after, too. Perhaps... Do you think perhaps if we do not marry... do you think that you'll survive then? I would like to marry you, of course, raise our family. Together. But I would like you to live, too.
[She sighs softly, reluctant to look up for a few moments. She knows how slow to anger Jonathan is, so there's no fear of it here, but there is fear and concern in his voice that is too much to bear.
But as she brought it up, she will not cry. Instead, she cups his cheek in her hand.]
Everything I was told. About what you said, things that Jolyne has said... The thread that connects you and I is cut so short. But if you get to live, then I can rest easy that you are safe, that you will know that you'll be able to defend yourself from whatever machinations Dio has in the future.
We do not get on the steamship, which means he does not either. You... you would defeat him, then. Perhaps. And the only thing I must say is that "I do not" at the end of your vows.
[Considering how quickly they were wed that was sure to raise eyebrows, and absolutely destroy her reputation, but that was fine. There things far worse than a tattered reputation. Widowhood at nineteen, for one.]
[ Jonathan places his hand over Erina’s. He doesn’t have to think things through too hard before he’s shaking his head. ]
Dearest… none of this was your fault. It was not our marriage that swayed Dio’s decision. Even before our vows, he held a grudge against me. [ For whatever reason, Jonathan isn’t sure. Maybe if he had understood Dio better, none of this would have happened. But it did. ]
There is no doubt in my mind that he won’t rest until he gets what he wants. Whether we are wed or not.
[ At least this way, he knows Erina is safe. While he might not have made it off the steamboat -- but Erina did. She lived out the rest of her life. And if death is the price he has pay in order to ensure Erina’s safety, then so be it. ]
[She's not going to weep, she is not, she is not, she--
She is, a fat tear making its way down her cheek dropping off her chin. Ah, bollocks.]
I know, I know he's always treated you abominably. I just... I don't want you to die if we go back, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to bear such a thing.
[If it was difficult to think of one's mortality, it was even harder to think of Jonathan's kindness and gentle demeanor being snuffed out for no reason she could fathom. Was that why the thought seemed so dark? Because it was all so senseless? She swallowed around the lump that had formed in her throat and pressed her lips to his briefly.]
Why not run away to Scotland and India if we ever leave here? You would love India, Jonathan. And I would get even more time with you.
[It's said in half-jest, because if she thinks much more on his death she might faint and that would be too unladylike.]
[ His smile turns incredibly sad, and he wipes the tears from her eyes. He’s already come to terms with his death -- he’s had to. He knows that doesn’t make it okay, for him or for her. He knows he’s still leaving Erina to survive all by herself, to raise their child and grandchild on her own.
And he wishes he could do it differently. He wants to be by her side, he wants to visit India with her. He wants to see their child take his first steps. He wants to continue doing archeology, he wants to provide for his family.
He wants to have a family again.
But, unfortunately, he’s already dead. When everyone else returns home, he will be returning to nothing. Even if Erina does return home, even if she were to remember everything that took place here… it wouldn’t do anything for him.
Perhaps there is another version of himself, out there. One that Erina can save, one that she can live happily together with. He certainly hopes so, for her sake.
He kisses her back, and allows her change in conversation. ] I would be delighted to go to India with you. You know I’ve never been.
Good, I'll show you to all my favorite places there. We'll eat so much spicy curry that you will never feel your tastebuds again.
[Her laugh is a little thicker than usual, thanks no doubt to the tears.]
Ah, look at me. I tried very hard to stop crying about things, and yet at the drop of a hat... I am sorry for distressing you, my love. I just... I just wanted to keep you safe.
You have nothing to be sorry for. I confess -- my feelings are the same. This way, I know you are safe.
[ And not just Erina, but their unborn child as well. The one who truly begins the whole Jostar family, who is the reason they are able to meet Jolyne and Jotaro here, in this crazy place. ]
Well, I'd resolved in that situation to beat him to death with the next nearest thing to me, in that instance.
[It is said in half-jest, half seriousness. Erina knows certain things about herself and turning into Ann Radcliffe in La Ville Vampire was most assuredly not in the stars for her.]
[ Jonathan laughs, not because he can’t see Erina doing that -- but because he can. He can only imagine the look on Dio’s face. ]
I suppose I have nothing to fear after all, with you looking out for me.
[ It’s moments like this that remind him just how much he loves her, and how truly happy he is to have her in his life. ]
What a turn this conversation has taken. [ Started with a rejection at the altar, now they’ve ended at eloping. He takes her hand and intertwines their fingers, kissing the back of it. ] Whatever decision you wish to make, I am behind you fully.
I believe that is supposed to be one of my wifely duties, yes.
[She squeezes his hand and presses a kiss to his cheek.]
I want to be with you, Jonathan. Even if we have a proper wedding with dresses and wedding breakfasts and vicars, or if it just you and I and a quiet priest. So I will... try to keep the now in the forefront of my mind, and the what-ifs to the far back of it.
At the very least, I will just ground myself with you.
do you think maybe we could meet in person or something i know this is out of nowhere and you don't really have any reason to believe me but you're really important i mean i think you know that you're really important but you're really important to someone i know kind of i guess anyway yeah, what do you think?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sunlight_overdrive
[Action]
Date: 2020-08-30 04:29 am (UTC)What if she said "I do not" instead of "I do"? Would that save him? Keep him from boarding a doomed ship? To deal with a doomed fight? Clearly, she somehow survived as there were other Joestars. At least two, from some far-flung decade. Would this affect them, her saying no?
Erina was sure she kept her feelings about the thoughts that plagued her under a veneer of pleased contentment. At least until night fell and she rested her head against Jonthan's chest.]
Dearest? Is it all right if we discuss something?
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-18 02:38 am (UTC)And as relieved as he is, to see her again, to have a second chance at their marriage… there was no way he could have kept this from her. He simply can’t start things off with a lie. It would be better, in the long run, for her to hear it from him, rather than finding out from someone else. But in the short term…
He blinks, looking down at her. ]
Yes, of course. Is something on your mind?
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-18 02:53 am (UTC)[She takes a little breath, pressing her face into his side for a moment before continuing her train of thought. As much as she dislikes it greatly.]
Everything that happened, after, too. Perhaps... Do you think perhaps if we do not marry... do you think that you'll survive then? I would like to marry you, of course, raise our family. Together. But I would like you to live, too.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-20 02:18 am (UTC)Erina…
[ Because Jonathan loves her. He loves her more than he thought he was capable of. And it hurts, to know that she’s hurting this much for him.
He sits up, slowly enough so as to not dislodge her. This is a hard enough conversation, he doesn’t blame her for wanting to hide her face. ]
What brought this on?
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-20 02:42 am (UTC)But as she brought it up, she will not cry. Instead, she cups his cheek in her hand.]
Everything I was told. About what you said, things that Jolyne has said... The thread that connects you and I is cut so short. But if you get to live, then I can rest easy that you are safe, that you will know that you'll be able to defend yourself from whatever machinations Dio has in the future.
We do not get on the steamship, which means he does not either. You... you would defeat him, then. Perhaps. And the only thing I must say is that "I do not" at the end of your vows.
[Considering how quickly they were wed that was sure to raise eyebrows, and absolutely destroy her reputation, but that was fine. There things far worse than a tattered reputation. Widowhood at nineteen, for one.]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-30 02:52 am (UTC)Dearest… none of this was your fault. It was not our marriage that swayed Dio’s decision. Even before our vows, he held a grudge against me. [ For whatever reason, Jonathan isn’t sure. Maybe if he had understood Dio better, none of this would have happened. But it did. ]
There is no doubt in my mind that he won’t rest until he gets what he wants. Whether we are wed or not.
[ At least this way, he knows Erina is safe. While he might not have made it off the steamboat -- but Erina did. She lived out the rest of her life. And if death is the price he has pay in order to ensure Erina’s safety, then so be it. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-30 03:18 am (UTC)She is, a fat tear making its way down her cheek dropping off her chin. Ah, bollocks.]
I know, I know he's always treated you abominably. I just... I don't want you to die if we go back, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to bear such a thing.
[If it was difficult to think of one's mortality, it was even harder to think of Jonathan's kindness and gentle demeanor being snuffed out for no reason she could fathom. Was that why the thought seemed so dark? Because it was all so senseless? She swallowed around the lump that had formed in her throat and pressed her lips to his briefly.]
Why not run away to Scotland and India if we ever leave here? You would love India, Jonathan. And I would get even more time with you.
[It's said in half-jest, because if she thinks much more on his death she might faint and that would be too unladylike.]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-10-01 02:37 am (UTC)And he wishes he could do it differently. He wants to be by her side, he wants to visit India with her. He wants to see their child take his first steps. He wants to continue doing archeology, he wants to provide for his family.
He wants to have a family again.
But, unfortunately, he’s already dead. When everyone else returns home, he will be returning to nothing. Even if Erina does return home, even if she were to remember everything that took place here… it wouldn’t do anything for him.
Perhaps there is another version of himself, out there. One that Erina can save, one that she can live happily together with. He certainly hopes so, for her sake.
He kisses her back, and allows her change in conversation. ] I would be delighted to go to India with you. You know I’ve never been.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-10-01 02:20 pm (UTC)[Her laugh is a little thicker than usual, thanks no doubt to the tears.]
Ah, look at me. I tried very hard to stop crying about things, and yet at the drop of a hat... I am sorry for distressing you, my love. I just... I just wanted to keep you safe.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-10-06 04:45 pm (UTC)You have nothing to be sorry for. I confess -- my feelings are the same. This way, I know you are safe.
[ And not just Erina, but their unborn child as well. The one who truly begins the whole Jostar family, who is the reason they are able to meet Jolyne and Jotaro here, in this crazy place. ]
If Dio were to go after you, instead…
(no subject)
Date: 2020-10-07 12:55 am (UTC)[It is said in half-jest, half seriousness. Erina knows certain things about herself and turning into Ann Radcliffe in La Ville Vampire was most assuredly not in the stars for her.]
We could still elope.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-10-07 03:43 am (UTC)I suppose I have nothing to fear after all, with you looking out for me.
[ It’s moments like this that remind him just how much he loves her, and how truly happy he is to have her in his life. ]
What a turn this conversation has taken. [ Started with a rejection at the altar, now they’ve ended at eloping. He takes her hand and intertwines their fingers, kissing the back of it. ] Whatever decision you wish to make, I am behind you fully.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-10-07 05:43 am (UTC)[She squeezes his hand and presses a kiss to his cheek.]
I want to be with you, Jonathan. Even if we have a proper wedding with dresses and wedding breakfasts and vicars, or if it just you and I and a quiet priest. So I will... try to keep the now in the forefront of my mind, and the what-ifs to the far back of it.
At the very least, I will just ground myself with you.
text; un: pewpewsp;
Date: 2020-10-02 06:56 am (UTC)but this is jonathan, right?
jolyne's...uhhhh...great-great-great-a lot of greats grandfather?
text; un: joestars
Date: 2020-10-06 01:08 am (UTC)good lord, sorry jonathan
Date: 2020-10-09 05:59 am (UTC)in person or something
i know this is out of nowhere
and you don't really have any reason to believe me
but you're really important
i mean i think you know that you're really important
but you're really important to someone i know
kind of i guess
anyway yeah, what do you think?