Chapter Text
Dio desperately needed to furnish his mansion. Though his own bedroom had been filled to the brim with lavish furnishings, the other rooms were either empty or full of rotting furniture. Considering how many people he’d have staying over soon, it was only fair he bought something for them.
And that’s why he ended up in an Ikea.
Though getting there was a nightmare as the sun was in full force, Dio eventually found himself walking past the entrance with a small crowd. Perhaps it was the heart headband, the crotchless pants, or just his overall stature, but everyone was staring him down as he made his way into the store. In an instant, Dio was bombarded with the sight of couches all around, and he blinked. A part of him wished he’d brought one of the D’arby brothers along to guide him around, though there was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, he began to walk around, looking over each piece of tasteful furniture. There was no time for shopping carts; carrying everything back himself was an easy feat.
Alas, that was where his confidence ended. For the first time in literal decades, a feeling of confusion soon made its way into Dio’s mind.
Dio swore he knew where he was going while perusing the store, even knew what he wanted as he walked around, but soon found himself distracted by random accessories strewn about the store: plants, lamps, pillows. It took him a moment to realize he’d completely separated himself from the living room section, surprised to find himself looking through towels hanging on the wall. As he caressed a baby pink one he took from the shelves, he looked around, blinking.
“Furniture,” he reminded himself. “I’m getting furniture. Beds.”
So, where the hell were the beds?
Keeping the towel he took close, Dio began walking around once again. His curious eyes kept bouncing around, distracting himself with the oddly named items in the store. He found himself engrossed by a few chairs he’d walked past, a table he accidentally kicked over, a wardrobe that was more spacious than it seemed. Though unlike before, he wasn’t trying to wander off with all the small accoutrements sitting atop the bigger pieces, sure he’d get lost again if that happened. Beds were his focus, he reminded himself.
Continuing walking around, Dio met eyes with a few employees he could ask for some directions from. Some even approached him and asked if he needed help, and he shook his head. “I’ll be fine. I am not lost at all,” he reassured to all that approached him. Although the comment began as one that lacked confidence—albeit uttered with a painful amount of conviction—Dio had his hopes up as he found a small space he could enter into. Surely that lead to somewhere fruitful.
Soon, he found himself in a showroom meant to show off a quaint dining room. Though he appreciated the simplicity of it all, especially with the Djungelskog on one of the chairs, it wasn’t quite what he needed. Goddamnit. Did he really have to suffer just to please his goons? Pulling out one chair, sitting down upon it and ignoring how it creaked slightly with his weight, trying to rack his brain as to where he’d just come from. He began with the living room sections, got distracted by small trinkets, found himself in the dining room area… and Dio still couldn’t quite put his finger on where a goddamn bedroom could be.
With annoyance, Dio stood from the chair, not bothering to put it back where it belonged. He should have considered ordering something from one of those catalogues instead, sure that he wouldn’t have had to awkwardly avoid the sun on the way there. Alas, he thought it would be wise to continue his trek, although pushing the thoughts of beds to the back of his mind, just hoping to come out of there with something that wasn’t just a towel, just wanting to find an exit.
Though the situation grew bleaker with every moment.
It was as if every twist and turn Dio took, he’d end up in an entirely different place filled with various items. Hell, by that point, there were times that he’d see larger, intriguing showrooms full of exquisite furniture in the distance, and the urge to approach them came strong. But after walking to approach them, other things inevitably caught his eye, and these rooms that interested him were out of sight. Though his frustration the first time wasn’t all too bad, the fifth time had him ready to burst out of a wall to run back home. Alas, doing so would make him meet the sun and shriveled up into a raisin. Staring defeated at the towel still in his hands, Dio—for the first time in a long time—felt down on his luck. At least until he raised his head, realizing what lay just ahead.
A food court?
Dio was sure Hol Horse told him all about their meatballs and how they were divine. Though he didn’t really need to eat food to live, his taste buds still worked, at least. Although hesitant, he walked inside, thinking he might as well take his time.
He doubted he’d get out of that store until evening, anyway.