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[color=gray][sub]Mention:[/sub][/color] 「 [@Everyone] 」[/center]
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[color=gray]The blonde boy was knocked out cold and unlike the other two that had gotten into some dangerous skirmish, this one wasn’t his doing. Even Jules attempt to wake him and impart some sage advice on him was wasted. Joseppi pressed two fingers against the artery in his neck to see if he was still alive at least. Blood was still pumping, hot air was still exhaling from his nose and mouth, and his faculties were still in order. Joseppi knew this precarious position all too well, well on the off chance that he did manage to drink enough to get drunk. This son of a bitch would have one mean hangover by the time he woke up and it was up to JoJo to make sure he could live through it. This wasn’t some altruistic vein that was part of Joseppi’s true character, but instead insurance to allow Joseppi the opportunity to reclaim his wanted poster and put the fear of god into this scoundrel, making it known that Jules was his bounty and his alone to claim. 

And with that Joseppi much like a caring mother or a sociopathic doctor (whichever you decided) he tossed Donny around like a ragdoll visually, however his touch and use of air made his maneuvers delicate and gentle. First his arms draped around his neck for support as Joseppi lifted him from his chair in a traditional bridal carry. Making his way to the exit he suddenly realized that once he left there would be no one in charge of running the bar since he was on his way and he sent the original owner on his way home for the day. With a neck turn so fast the sound of a whip cracking could be heard cutting through the air he glared at every last degenerate in the room (including the only mirror reflecting himself) and warned them if anyone even so much as entertained the idea of stealing a bottle without paying he would know and as soon as they tried he would be back to crush them into ash. 

With his tab paid out and his loose ends cut he was finally able to continue on with the race. Joseppi mounted Donny on his horse before he inevitably slouched over. Unhitching his reigns, he tied them to the back of his own saddle to ensure Donny didn’t get lost, it wouldn’t be too long now before the start of the next leg of the race. Hopefully by that time Donny would be awake otherwise Joseppi would have to force him awake and like the other two before him, no one would want that. 
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The sun was beating down him like a magnifying glass was being pressed over him as if he were some ant waiting to be burnt to a crisp. Luckily, he had his marshals’ hat that blocked out most of the sun and then there was his goggles that fit snuggly on his face to prohibit any sand or other flying debris to catch in his eyes. He removed as much clothing as he could without crossing boundaries which left him with nothing but his button up on with the top two buttons unattached exposing his muscular pectoral muscles and the start of some chest chair. He kept his gun holsters attached to his belt along with his lasso in toe. His slacks stayed on as best they could only be slightly rolled up above the ankle. And lastly his boots with the spurs still spinning with the occasionally dry breeze that made the dessert all the more intense and unsatisfying to be in. It would be too soon for him to be back in the heart of NYC with a cool glass of water by his night stand, the mid-west was no good for him. 

In between the occasional sweat wipe and lap of water from his canteen, Joseppi would forage into his bag and trace his finger along the direction of where his map was taking them. It would be a few more days before they found themselves out of the dessert and taking the shortcut, he suggested they had more than enough time on the other races to place in the top five once more. For now, though, they set up camp as requested by the unruly blonde in the back who just about complained about every god damn thing. The sun was either making him go mad or maybe it was just the numerous amounts of mirages he kept seeing off in the distance produced by the sun and his dehydration. Either way as much as she complained they all deserved reprieve from the sun. 

The sun finally rested on a darkening evening allowing the temperatures to drop well below the average, the exasperated change between night and day was almost inconceivable. Regardless he would have taken cold over heat any day of the week, at least with the cold they could cuddle for warmth…. Joseppi retrieved from his own supply a large black pot to which he threw onto the fireplace and began chopping up vegetables to toss into the pot to start a stew going. If surviving in New York with every kind of immigrant taught him anything, it was how to cook with the bare minimum. Chopping and seasoning he looked around to the quiet crowd, wanting to break the air of uncomfortable silence. [color=black]“I’m not the only one who’s been following this here girl. I saw someone else at the start of the race who had her in her sights.”[/color]
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