★ 001 | Video

[unbreaker]

[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!]

Comments

[trickstar]

You're...

You're sure about this? You're definitely sure I'm your...

[unbreaker]

[Taking a page from your book, old man...]

You think I'd lie about something like that?

[trickstar]

...

No. I don't think you would.

I ... It's a lot to take in, you know?

[unbreaker]

Yeah, I know. This is the second time for me.

[trickstar]

Well, it's my first! It's... it's different than when I found out about Jotaro! You're saying I cheat on a wife I haven't even married or- or liked really- for another woman I don't even know yet!

And you... still meant it when you said you didn't hate me, didn't you?

[unbreaker]

[He groans and mutters something.

It sounds a little like Don't make me say it again.

As in, yeah. It's true. SOMEHOW he doesn't hate you, Joseph.

Probably because you're still pretty cool despite being an ass.

You came through in the end.]

[trickstar]

[He didn't mean for Josuke to need to say it again, he more or less said it to confirm it to himself. That even though he's apparently a huge asshole in the future, Josuke still doesn't hate him. ...He has a son.

He doesn't have a whole lot of things to say, and instead just rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.]

How am I supposed to deal with this...?

[unbreaker]

You're asking me?

[asdkhasg why]

I don't know! I mean...it's up to you! You're only two years older than I am here...which means...

[Well, you're not married, so you haven't had an affair, which means you haven't had a son..........you put it together. You decide. He's going to tug his comb out of his pocket now. Give his hands something to do besides rattle around his phone and fidget.]

[trickstar]

...

[NO! DETERMINATION! IT STARTS NOW! HE'S A FATHER! HE HAS A SON HERE! He needs to get over himself, here. If he's going to bother taking patriarch position for all JoJos you know, even though that position really belongs to Jonathan, that includes Josuke.]

It doesn't matter how old I am! Or how old you are! That doesn't matter anymore! You're my responsibility, now. I might not be a good parent in the future, and I might not be a good one now, but... I can't just act like you don't exist.

[unbreaker]

[Can't you just...not? Do that? This is going to be more awkward than before, isn't it? ISN'T IT?!]

I'm not your responsibility.

[And man, why CAN'T you, Joseph? You did it for 16 years before!

...no, that's not what he really thinks. There's definitely a part of him that's glad to hear that Joseph's committed to his family one way or another. Reminds him of the older Joseph that he knows from home.]

I mean, I'm not expecting you to drop everything, you know? I can look after myself. Mom did a pretty good job raising me alongside grandpa.

[trickstar]

[But he is Joseph's responsibility now. He owes it to him, as apparently, his father. Although he'd love more than anything to just continue to ditch responsibility, can he even do that? It wouldn't settle on his conscious right at all, along with the fact his family wouldn't ever forgive him if he did something like that. And it's not like he could keep it a secret, given his very... public reaction. Even Dio knows this shit now.

Oh god, what would Caesar think?

What would Jonathan think?

Joseph groans, and covers his face with both hands.]

I'm totally going to get my ass handed to me when everyone finds out... Even if you're saying you're not my responsibility, I am still responsible for you! Jonathan's going to hate me...

[unbreaker]

Yeeeaaah...about that.

Jonathan already knows. Pretty sure he doesn't hate you, though.

[Josuke's pretty sure Jonathan doesn't have a solid hate bone in his body, come to think of it.]

[trickstar]

HE KNOWS?!

[PULLING AT HIS OWN FACE.]

[unbreaker]

I might have let it slip when I spoke with him...

[Because Jonathan's easy to talk with, you know? Stuff just spills out.]

[trickstar]

Holy shit! If this was supposed to be a secret, you're the worst secret keeper ever!

[unbreaker]

The only person I didn't want to know about it right away was you, though!

[And that was going pretty great, too. Until he stuck his foot in his mouth.]

I mean, Jonathan and Jotaro said they'd wait to talk to you about it until I filled you in! So I can't be that bad if you didn't find out until just now! And if you hadn't gotten me flustered...!

[It'd probably still be a secret. Which maybe isn't something he should be boasting?]

[trickstar]

Why didn't you want me to know!

[It's... it's pretty obvious why, Joseph...]

And they promised not to tell me?! What the fuck!!

[dont swear in front of your son, joseph.]

[unbreaker]

Uh, this? This right here is why!

And it's not like they were gonna hold off forever, just until...you know. We talked. About it. Which is fair because of the...the stuff. With you and my mom!

I really didn't want it to turn out like this!

[trickstar]

...

[That's fair. He'd probably do the same. He's, uh... lying to Jonathan, after all. And making everyone else lie.]

This isn't really... I didn't want it to be like this either.

[unbreaker]

[Way to be a hypocrite, Joseph.]

Maybe we should...do that then. You know, talk about this?

Someplace where that douche isn't gonna butt his ugly head in.

[He's referring to Dio. Obviously.]

[trickstar]

[Story of his life, to be honest??]

... You want to talk in person. Uh- alright. Yeah. Good idea. Want me to meet you or ... ?

[unbreaker]

Only if you do.

[He's not gonna twist your arm into meeting up with him. He just figures...well, he should offer.]

And uh, maybe your place? I mean I don't really know much about my roomies yet, so I don't wanna say too much around 'em. But if your place isn't any better, I'm sure we can just meet somewhere else. No big deal.

There's parks around. And a donut shop I wanna go check out.

[trickstar]

I don't live in Heropa anymore, so uh, maybe let's just go to the donut shop.

[unbreaker]

Well, the donut shop is in Heropa...

[Whatever, not gonna argue. He takes a minute to text the address before he responds again.]

So, like...it's got this cute mascot thing? I guess? That's how Hazel described it to me, anyway. How soon you wanna meet?

[trickstar]

I don't mind going to Heropa.

[He has enough practice so he probably won't barf when he shows up in Heropa after using the Porter.]

Whenever you want. I don't have a lot going on right now, so...