Omake 26: Tender Love (3)

I wasn’t exactly sure how I was supposed to react to this. On the one hand, I was glad to see that my little organization was prospering and growing into a proper group within London, with the list of members growing and the products exchanged allowing for the first sales to truly begin… yet I was starting to feel like this wasn’t something I shouldn’t be seeing during break time.

It took me one moment away from my burdening paperwork, away from the monstrous entity that was already draining on my life force, and right to the main section of the warehouse to see something unusual unfolding before my very own eyes.

Many individuals, most being workers to my little company while others were either relatives or poor people passing by, were waiting for the turn to be given… food. It was an interesting initiative that easily got many to grow interested about the entire situation here, perhaps boosting the recruitment and… that wasn’t something I had authorized. And I was quite sure we didn’t have the resources to pull something like that.

With the growth of my curiosity, so did my concerns as I delved into the mass of people all around to try and get to the origin of this good but still unplanned predicament. When I finally reached the epicenter of this ordeal, I could only pause and stare in pure perplexity at the sight I was presented with.

Hannah looked incredibly nervous. While she had a minor understanding in cooking, it was clear she was just following all instructions coming from the ‘head chef’ and the possible mastermind behind this entire operation. Mary had a bright smile on her face as she kept on serving plates filled with warm chicken stew and potatoes. The brunette was humming quietly but happily as she worked non-stop in that unexpected visit… which shouldn’t have been possible to begin with since I told no one about this place. I had heard of the woman having been a lot into charity events but… this was actually the first time I saw her at work. And at ‘my workplace’ of all places!

I recognized two other maids from the Joestar Manor helping around, the women being already old and experienced in handling this kind of eccentric event from the looks of it as they didn’t seem fazed by the current circumstance. It didn’t take long for the lady to take notice of my staring, and her smile widened as soon as I was spotted.

“Dio, good morning.”

…

“Morning, mother,” I replied quietly as the woman gestured to me to come closer. I complied to her command, but I was still confused by what was going on in that predicament. “Mother-”

“Dear, can you help us? I believe the line is getting a little too long for just the five of us.”

I really wanted to just ask her questions but… I could tell she was going to speak with me without any worry the moment I accepted that unexpected burden. While I would have wanted to waste my break from work to nap, I guess cooking was still something that could excite and ease me up nonetheless. I had to put down my jacket and put on one of the available aprons so I could avoid getting dirty while at this task.

Sparing a quick look at the area where the pots with the stew were being heated up and stirred, I ultimately started to help a bit here and there since the women had most of the organization done, and I was just aiding them all without any particular preference. Still, I started to speak with Mary and she answered my questions.

“How did I know what you were doing here with so many people in need? I had a guard watching over you ever since you started wandering around London, my dear,” She replied calmly, ignoring the fact she literally confessed to having someone stalk me and see what I was doing around. “Ever since what happened with that uncouth Mr. Ripper, it would be only right that someone still makes sure you’re not followed or ambushed.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

That was… kind of nice to hear. At least there wasn’t anything bad about it-

“And then I learned about lovely Hannah,” She hummed happily, drawing a nervous look out of me and a tense one out of the young woman that was brought in the discussion. “I would like to have her visit the manor. I have a few clothes I’m sure would go better with her than me.”

Is this what I think it is? I really hoped that wasn’t the case. Or things for my plans with Hannah might be twisted in a rather awkward and damning route. For me that is.

“She is such a sweetheart.”

“Hmm,” I merely hummed, adding nothing to the comments as I knew better than to enable the woman to further explore this situation right at that moment.

“B-By the way, I’m… surprised that you’re actually fine with this, mother. Since… you know-”

“It’s quite against some rules. I’m well aware of this, dear,” The brunette interrupted, still keeping a calm and understanding tone. “But I know that you’re doing this for good reasons and I will support this endeavor of yours. Sadly, I doubt your father might approve. He’s rather… traditional when it comes to establishing legitimate businesses.”

“So we’re not going to tell him?”

“Oh, I will tell him,” The woman muttered without hesitation and I felt my heart sinking at that. “But I will omit the reasons it came to be and how extended this little ‘idea’ of yours currently is. Sometimes it’s better to tell most of the truth rather than being a full liar. It’s something you will learn in due time.”

I nodded, finding this advice quite helpful since I really didn’t think of just keeping all damning details out of a possible confession. I’ve been so absorbed in the illegality of it all that I just didn’t consider that route. Things really felt easier whenever Mary was around and… doing stuff. While bizarre at times, and definitely not the classic noblewoman of this age and time, I just couldn’t help but imagine how many good things would have come if this had been the world where the original Dio had lived.

Would he have used the mask on himself? Doubtful. His ambition was driven by rejection of those elements that just felt so belittling to him. The image of a lone father taking care so gently of his son felt like a punch to the gut coming from Dario himself.

But with a kind mother to correlate with his own mother? Dio was a monster, but still human before using the mask. A mother would have shredded a good part of his ambitious personality, with the hatred surrounding it tempered and possibly dulled in a mere dislike than an outright plan of murder.

Of course, this was idle thinking and there were so many variables one had to take into account. Either way, fate was also a big driving force behind Dio becoming what he would then turn into. But was fate as unbreakable and bleak as in canon? Should I worry about a Jorge Joestar’s situation truly preventing my chances?

…

I refuse to submit to a fate that wasn’t mine to begin with. I was bearing Dio’s face, but I refused to take upon myself the burden of his soul. And I would have fought my way out of any circumstance trying to push me in that corner. My hopes were high, and the future seemed nice.

Yet I didn’t feel happy to just have and… I knew I needed to step up my training. My instincts could already tell I had to be ready for something bad to happen and ruin things up. And I needed to be ready for anything thrown at our ways. For me, for my friends, and my families. For I, DIO, demanded such!