maskormenace | ★ 007 | Video (Backdated to June 30th)

[The camera is flicked on, already expertly focused. Josuke's doing, in case you wondered. But then, he's a teenager. He ought to be experienced if only for all the selfies he's taken!

Sitting next to him at a table outside an ice cream shop called What's the Scoop? is Hisoka. Unlike Josuke, the magician is busy with a gumball popsicle and doesn't appear to be paying any attention to the camera at the moment. The teenager, on the other hand, is already ready and eager to talk a little 'business' with the network...]

Okay, my friend and I had this amazing idea a while back! [Josuke throws an arm around Hisoka's neck and tugs him closer in a headlock. This involves you, buddy! Let the people see how amped you are!] See, we've been wanting to play some paintball, but then we got to thinking...why not make it an open invite? For imPorts, I mean.

[There's no jump at Josuke's sudden headlock but Hisoka definitely stops eating his ice cream to almost uncomfortably stare at the foreign limb slung over him. Only to then look down to see half of the popsicle he was eating now on the ground. Thanks Josuke.]

Mm... [A pause before he glances up to put in his two cents, just dropping the rest of his popsicle and the stick on the ground.]

An open invitation, yes, and we've already chosen the location. All you have to do is pick your own partner... or partners. It really doesn't matter how many of you there are. Though, to have the most fun? The more the merrier.

Yeah, and like, how many of you can resist an opportunity to pelt this guy in the face with paintballs, am I right? [Josuke nods in Hisoka's direction before sliding his arm off the other man's shoulders, though of course his smirk remains in place.] I'll be honest, though, 'cause I feel like it wouldn't be fair if I didn't warn you guys... Hisoka and I? We're gonna be on a team, so if you think we're gonna make it easy for ya, think again.

[Leaning forward to pick up the camera, Josuke cocks his head to the side, eyes bright with unbridled fun and mischief.]

If you're interested and you think you can keep up, then be ready for the 18th. Hisoka or I will text you the location the day before the game's on.

Oh...and one final thing. [Are you guys still listening? If you plan to play, you should be!] It's anything goes as long as it ain't lethal!

[And that's, as they say, that. Josuke hangs up, though not before a horrified yelp from the teenager can be heard...]

Fuck! Hisoka, I think you got ice cream on my new shoes!

[OOC: Quick edit! The post has been backdated to June 30th for scheduling reasons, and the date of the game itself has been moved to July 18th.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I didn't know you two knew each other!

[Not that Josuke's truly surprised. Hisoka is, like himself, the sort of person who easily becomes acquainted with many people, and very quickly at that.]

Well, if you wanna come, I'm not gonna say no. It'd be nice to have another set of hands around to help make sure people aren't getting too banged up during this.

He volunteered to help me train, actually-- [ Yes, with this girl. ]

But I'd be happy to assist! I think I'd just worry, otherwise.

[Oh? Now he's just curious...]

Train how?

[It's not like he's actually spoken with Reika at great length yet, he doesn't know anything really about her capabilities.]

[ There's a good reason for that, and Reika actually fidgets. ]

Just... improving my physical capabilities.

[A lot of girls are self-conscious, so Reika's fidgeting? Not something Josuke thinks is strange. It is, however, something he's careful not to make her feel even more awkward about.]

Hisoka's kinda helped me out before, too! Hope you can take from the experience as much as I did, Reika.

Do you fight often, Higashikata-san? [ Come to think of it, they really haven't talked about such things before... ]

Just call me Josuke.

[That, at least, is a little easier to address than her question. Reika doesn't appear to be the kind of girl who likes violence, and neither does Josuke, but he does actually wind up in fights a lot more often than he intends. That's part of what it means to be a Stand user. If other Stand users aren't inexplicably drawn to you, trouble in some other form sure is.

A bit awkwardly, Josuke rubs the back of his neck.]

I guess...I fight when there's a need to.

Josuke-san, then. [ Okay, Reika. But she tilts her head ever so slightly, wondering. He's right, in that she doesn't like violence, but-- ]

... But I'm the same. I may not enjoy fighting, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Especially if there is something you wish to protect.

[Josuke can't help it, he chuckles a little at her formality. In all honesty, though...if he were back home in Morioh (or anywhere in Japan) he might feel more inclined to be the same way. But he's not. He's here and in a very multicultural country. It's just easier to be polite but casual at the same time. Certainly makes for a lot less explaining.]

I think...that's something we can agree on. Protecting people is really important to me, too. Especially because what you said's true: sometimes fighting is unavoidable.

[A pause, and then...]

You know, if you ever want more help...

Eh? You mean with training?

[ Perhaps any normal teenage girl would be a little daunted at the prospect of someone who came from a family line bearing muscles the size of her head, but Reika seems to be seriously considering it. ]

Yeah! If you're up for it.

[He doesn't actually have a mapped out fitness routine of his own—mall trawling, DDR at the arcade, and rock climbing with Annie aside—but he stays active enough to maintain his build.]

We could go to a gym or go running uh...in the evenings? Or whatever you want.

[Just don't make him get up at the crack of dawn, rofl...]

I usually run in the morning, but I suppose moving it to later in the day wouldn't hurt. I'd be happy to train with you, Josuke-san!

[ She doesn't have much of a training partner, and they share the same house, so it shouldn't be an inconvenience for him... hopefully. ]

What about if we switch it up? Some mornings and some evenings?

[He can do that. It won't be too brutal.]

Four evenings and three mornings?

[ SHE'S GUESSING HE LIKES HIS SLEEP. ]

[What teenage boy doesn't?! ...not including a relative of his that was ported out recently: Giorno. For a fifteen year old, he was more of an adult than most adults Josuke knows.]

Sounds good! ...wait, you don't take rest days?

[He arches a brow.]

You're gonna wear yourself out real fast or get hurt if you don't give your body a chance to recuperate and relax every now and again.

There are days when it's just a run around the block, so I wouldn't be pushing myself.

[ SHE KNOWS BETTER. ]

Oh! That's not so bad, then.

So I guess...before breakfast tomorrow? Or do you wanna run after dinner tonight?

Let's do tomorrow, to guarantee that you've had a full night's rest.

[ Boys need their sleep. Really. She does understand. ]

I always get my beauty sleep, you don't need to worry about that! But tomorrow, then. We're on!

Would you prefer me to wake you up, or will you be ready?

Don't come into my room in the morning!

[People aren't allowed to see his hair before it's all fixed up, okay?]

I'll be ready, I'll be ready!

I would have knocked first...

[ ??????? ]

Ah...it's okay, I'll be up.

★ 007 | Video (Backdated to June 30th)

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