maskormenace | ★ 001

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★ 001 | Video

[When the broadcast begins, the young man onscreen (sporting a perfect pompadour with not a single strand of hair out of place) tucks away a comb and reclines upon the front step of one of the government houses, presumably the one he's been assigned. He seems to consider for half a second more what he's going to say, one eyebrow cocking upwards, a strong indication that there's a question brewing, while his lips pucker in a vague showing of frustration.]

Alright...

[Here we go.]

So, I'm digging all the free stuff that people seem to wanna hand out in exchange for photographs with us and whatever, and the hoverboards are really, really awesome. That said, I might actually like these new phones even better, though? They're pretty great! Slim, stylish, lightweight...pocket size. Anyway, all that's nice, but something's been bothering me and I've gotta ask...

What the actual fuck is up with these glow-in-the-dark tattoos?

[His jaw sets stubbornly, blue eyes fixating on something that lies out of view of the camera. Probably the tattoo in question.]

I mean I know what they're for, or what we're being told they're for, but like...

Shit, is this even legal?

[Actually, he's a hell of a lot more concerned with the fact that he wasn't even asked if something could be done to his body, especially as he can't fix it. Talk about invasive. Makes a guy wonder what else was done without his knowing.]

And on that note...I'm kind of curious about this whole registration deal! Anyone got a solid argument for it or against it? 'Cause right now I'm right in the middle and uh...from what I hear, that means my roommates can put me out?

What kind of asshole would do that, though?

Anyway, that's it. That's all I gotta say!

[He reaches forward as if to turn the device off but stops.]

Oh, and the name's Josuke! [Best to get it out now so he's not repeating it a hundred times later.] Josuke Higashikata!

[Click!]

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[...Weird. He was about to wonder why he looked so familiar...but then he read through/watched everything else. Goddammit, Joseph.

Interesting that his surname is Higashikata, though. That's another link to his world, then. Brando, Joestar, Zeppeli...Higashikata. Strange.]

I doubt it would be legal if we were considered actual citizens, but since we're outsiders... [Fair game. Like a lot of other things that the government here seems to foist onto the imPorts, but anyway.]

I haven't registered yet myself and while I'm not having any real problems, the unregistered tend to get the short end of the stick more often. They want to make you think you have a choice in the matter, but then try to strong arm you into it.

[But hey, that's none of his business.]

Do what you like, though. I might not register at this point out of spite, but I can handle myself.

[...your face.

Josuke doesn't like it.

Probably because it reminds him of Dio's, but that must mean...there's someone else from their world he doesn't know about? There's no other explanation. Because he doubts this person is that elusive Zeppeli he heard about but has yet to meet.]

Yeah, it looks like more people than not have got something bad to say about registering. I'm starting to think I'd be better off taking my chances as one of the 'unsettled'.

[Diego's not the only one who can handle himself.]

Anyway...more I hear, less I'm worried about not signing up.

[Mmmn, not quite, kid.]

Well, you can do what you like. I don't think there's any shame to signing up, but I couldn't be asked to do it at this point.

...By the way, [Because at this point, especially with that look, he knows to nip this issue in the bud early.] I'm not affiliated with Dio.

[COVERS ASS LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.]

I didn't say there was shame in it.

[...]

...and I didn't say anything about Dio, so why're you bringing him up if you've got no connection! I mean, you look a lot like the guy! How can you say you've got no affiliation, huh?

[It's gotta be the timing. If you'd come along a little earlier, you know, before Dio did, he probably wouldn't be so suspicious.]

[Yeah, it's the timing. Sorry about that.]

Because I've had to say so after a number of people brought it up. We've met, but only after I arrived here. The only thing this is is beating you to the inevitable question.

Quit saying that like I was gonna ask! I wasn't!

[He was.]

...so why d'you look like him?

[Of course he was.]

It's a long story but the short version is that I'm from a different world that's a little too similar to yours.

[If you uhh catch his drift.]

Too similar?

[Man, he's been doing okay dealing with this different world BS since he got here, but this is the first he's heard about worlds being so similar as to produce people who look...practically mirrored. Well, maybe this guy looks a little younger than Dio...but that doesn't mean the resemblance otherwise isn't striking. Unnervingly so.]

I'm tempted to ask what else you got in common with that guy...but on second thought, I don't wanna know. You say you're not affiliated? Fine. How about telling me who you are, though?

[Good because honestly, he's not too sure what all there is in common either.]

Diego Brando. Pleasure to meet you. ...It's funny, I did run into a Higashikata once. It would have been before your time either way, but that's another similar link. [Four families...]

...you did? I mean-- it's nice to meet you, too! Wait...Brando? SO YOU ARE-- oh right, different worlds, so...who was the Higashikata you met?

Some old man named Norisuke. I didn't get to know him that well, but he apparently has two navels, so he must be a riot at parties.

[The name doesn't ring a bell.]

Get out. Two...?

Mmn. He had this article in the papers about it with him and everything. Not that I could read Japanese, but it's still interesting. Probably a chimera, now that I'm thinking on it.

Anyway, he must have had a lot of guts to enter a cross-country race at that age, so there's that too.

A chimewha--?

[Please let that not be some kind of weird joke. Please don't tell him the guy actually has extra guts like he has an extra belly button. There's a limit to how much he actually wants to know about somebody who shares the same surname as him!]

That kinda thing common where you're from?

[It wasn't, but that would have made a pretty good joke, wouldn't it?]

You know, something about fusing with your twin in the womb. I don't know if it's common, but how else would you explain an extra navel?

Wouldn't know, never met anyone with an extra anything, to be honest.

[But he suspects that's about as much sense as it's gonna make, so he shrugs.]

You meet any others with the same surnames as people here?

Oh, sure. Not that they're anything alike-[Well, he's not that for sure when it comes to the Zeppelis, but anyway]-but I've met my share of Joestars and Zeppelis, yes.

Am I the only one who's never met a Zeppeli?!

Why, do you want to? You're not exactly missing out, but maybe the one here isn't an asshole. That'd make for a splendid change of pace.

[He's not bitter, he says to himself bitterly with a bitter expression of bitterness.]

Huh? I don't know! I keep hearing about this Zeppeli or that Zeppli and apparently there's a Zeppeli here and I'm running into everyone but that guy!

[He throws up his hands before...pausing. Dropping them back to his lap and puckering his lips a little in thought.]

Gotta say...I usually hear the reverse about them. Like, I hear they're dear friends of the family and stuff. Nobody's ever said they're assholes before. What's your beef?

Well...I don't want to sound petty or anything. [Yes he does.]

But...he cheats.

[He...says...as if that's relevant to anything.]

[......really.]

That's it? Have you actually caught the guy cheating, though?

[Because unless you're caught...]

[Yes, really.]

Yes. When someone makes a horse run faster through artificial means, you tend to notice. I don't accuse people of that for fun, you know.

Hey, for all I know you're just a sore loser! How do you make a horse run faster through artificial means, anyway?

[Wow!! He is not!!! Just because he's never lost a race before doesn't mean he's a sore loser!! Gosh.]

Bullshit spin magic or something, I've had the specifics explained to me, but... [Ehh, what's a nice way of saying "The person telling me about it had a voice that sounded like a cross between a cat in heat and a dying whale so I kind of wasn't listening to him half the time"? Or something like that...]

...Well anyway, I'm not saying he's a bad person necessarily. There's a difference between an asshole and a genuine bad egg, you know. Gyro's annoying at best.

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unbreaker - 2015-01-19 08:46 (UTC) - Expand

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