[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure] Standstill Bonds

Chapter 35 ~ Soul Bonding

Back in the endless void that entrapped them, Josephine and Jolyne continued to watch the events unfold before them. As they observed Hiroshi's unexpected sincerity, Josephine couldn't help but comment on it.

"I didn't see that coming..."

Jolyne, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, responded, "Well, you know what they say. It takes a near-death experience to bring out the best in some people."

Josephine chuckled, "Do they? Well, I guess better late than never, huh?"

The two souls shared a moment of laughter, their voices echoing in the emptiness around them. After a brief pause, Josephine reflected on Hiroshi's character.

"You know, deep down, he's not a bad kid. Just caught up hanging around the wrong people and easily influenced I guess, didn't think for himself."

Josephine and Jolyne continued their otherworldly conversation, like they were best friends catching up in the park. Josephine, with a thoughtful expression, turned to Jolyne and asked, "So, if its okay for me to ask, what were your interests when you were alive? Any hobbies or passions?"

Jolyne grinned, "Oh, you know, the usual stuff. I loved music, especially rock."

"Really? I've been into a bit of rock too lately. Any favourite bands?"

Jolyne's eyes sparkled as she reminisced about her life. "Yeah, I was a huge fan of Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy and Green Day. Couldn't get enough of their music. Heh, it's funny, one of my friends turned out to be called Foo Fighter, she was...weird, but man she was awesome." Her eyes filled with sorrow as she thought of her lost friend, one of the souls she yearned to be reunited with. 

Jolyne quickly redirected the chat, replacing her frown with a smile, "You know, since I've been watching you and dad there's something I've noticed; you have a knack for biology just like him, especially birds. Always been interested in that?"

Josephine chuckled, if she could blush in her soulful state she knew she would be, "Yeah, I think I always loved birds. It started when I was little with birdwatching, now, I'm obsessed with studying them and want it as a focus for my future career."

Jolyne nodded in understanding. "To be fair, birdwatching sounds like a serene way to spend your time. Maybe I should have given it a shot."

Josephine grinned, "What about you? Any other hobbies or interests that you loved?"

"Well, aside from music, I loved drawing, helped me escape, you know?" With a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes again, Jolyne leaned closer, whispering even though there was no one else to hear them, "Did you know I went to prison?"

"Woah what?! You went to prison? What on earth for?" Josephine's eyes widened in disbelief.

Jolyne grinned, stifling a cheeky chuckle behind her hand, "Yep, I got set up by one of my dad's enemies who worked for Pucci. They accused me of a crime I didn't commit, everything from my lawyer to the judge, it was all a ruse to lure my dad there to come help me. I was fucking pissed let me tell you. I had some fun while I was there though. Picture this; I once managed to fill my cellmate's pillow with pudding. The look on her face when she discovered it was priceless, Gwess deserved it though for all the shit she started with me."

Josephine burst into laughter but simmered down, "So... how did you get out of there in the end?"

Jolyne's eyes softened, "Well first, in the early days of my incarceration my old man came to the rescue. He busted me out of there, and that's when we first encountered White Snake." She continued, narrating the escape, the sudden appearance of the Stand, and Jotaro's sacrifice to save her from another stand user's attack. "He took my dad's Stand and memories, just like he did to you."

"He... he lost his Stand and memories too?" Josephine's voice echoed with a mix of disbelief and shock. "How did he get them back?"

Jolyne's expression turned serious, "It wasn't easy. I went back into prison to find Pucci and my friends and I had to retrieve his Stand disc and memories before we busted out. It was a hell of a long battle, but we managed to pull it off... just a shame that... it was all in vain in the end."

Josephine found herself dissatisfied with Jolyne's last comment, not for any reason against her, but because she knew she would not stand for all the hell Pucci and those before him had put Jotaro, Jolyne and the whole Joestar family through for so long.

"While Pucci is alive, there is a chance to defeat him. Nothing is in vain yet, and it won't be Jolyne, I swear to you."