009 ★ Video

[unbreaker]

[School has let out for the day by the time this broadcast goes up. You can tell because Josuke hasn't changed out of his uniform. (Never mind Heropa High doesn't require uniforms. Or the fact that Josuke wears his uniform a lot.) He's seated cross-legged on the carpeted floor of his bedroom which, for those of you who know that it's usually overrun with animals, happens to be curiously quiet today.]

So, uh...

[He raises his right hand and scratches lightly at his chin.]

I guess it's been sort of a while since I had anything to say on the Network? Sorry about that.

[It's really weird thinking he hasn't made a post for a couple of months. Not that he hasn't been around on other peoples', driving them nuts by pushing their buttons. In fact, one of those people is even responsible for Josuke feeling the need to make this post!]

Anyway, I actually got a couple of things I wanna talk about today! First up, Veterans Day just passed...we don't celebrate that back home, but we got Self-Defense Force Day and it's pretty much the same thing. You know, for remembering the people we've lost to wars. I figured since we're fightin' a war and we've had casualties, too—lost people either due to the fighting or the Porter—we deserve a way to remember 'em by. So, uh...I set up a message board for doing just that.

[Briefly, Josuke leans forward to take up his comm and tap out a LINK that soon appears onscreen for everybody to access. The comm's set back down again in front of him, then. Probably on a stack of school textbooks and homework he'll forget to do until five minutes before class Monday.]

If you got people you miss who aren't here no more, check it out. You can say something about 'em, or say what you'd have said if you'd been given a chance to say goodbye.

The other thing is, and it's pretty important, too... [Josuke's eyes narrow, his expression becoming serious.] ...even if Halloween did just pass, there's been more talk of fear lately than I think's healthy for anyone. Especially 'cause there hasn't been as much talk in circulation about how to overcome our fears.

I'm not an expert, but I do know the first step to owning your own fears is not running from 'em. It's not supposed to be easy, so don't get discouraged if at first you feel like it's gonna be impossible. I promise, it's not. Take a look around you and see how many people you got supporting you? A whole imPort community, some of 'em probably from your home. You can do this. And this is how.

[This is it, this is what this post has been building up to.

Josuke's gaze flicks to the side, towards something off screen, and while he tries to keep his expression militant, it's obvious in the arch of his brows and the faint grimace curling his lips that he doesn't want to do this. And why? Well, because he's afraid.

Afraid of the turtle he suddenly scoops up and holds out in view of the camera. Its little feet waggle nonthreatening in thin air and, as its tiny head slowly pokes around from left to right, it's clear that it's trying to make sense of what's going on.]

You just gotta...reach out and grab your fears with both hands. L-like so. And tell 'em, "You don't got me! I got you."

[Because he really looks like he's got this, right? But at least he's trying!]

A-and that's how you do it!

[Now, uh...how does he turn off the broadcast without looking like he's in too much of a hurry to set the turtle back down again? Looks like using his toes will have to suffice!]

Comments

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[nagachika]

Hey, sometimes you got things to say over the network, othertimes ya don't. Honestly, if it's 'been a while' and this is the first thing you'll stick up in a long time? I think it was worth the wait.

's a good idea. And I know others'll appreciate it. Runnin' is what I'm good at, I know that for sure--but I ain't the type of guy ta run away when there's something needing facing.

Guess I'll try to be one to say thanks, man. This is a brilliant thing to have stick around.

...And thanks for puttin' Annie up there first.

video;

[unbreaker]

[By the time Josuke replies a few minutes later, the turtle is safely back in its habitat with a strawberry as a reward for a good performance. And for not peeing on him.]

Thanks, Hide.

[Josuke smiles, his back against the side of his bed.]

I think everybody runs sometimes, but when shit's serious, that's when it's important we know how to hold our ground. And shit gets serious a lot for us imPorts, y'know?

[He chuckles a little.]

Ah...yeah, Annie and I were good friends. I got a few more names to put up, myself...but hers was a pretty great start, right? I know there's a lot of people who miss her, so hopefully they add their thoughts.

video;

[oceanthief]

...shouldn't you be showing something scary, though?

[brutal, Lapis. absolutely fucking brutal and she didn't even realize it; that's the true power of an alien far from home.]

video;

[unbreaker]

I was! Turtles are really scary, Lapis! Especially if you've ever been bitten by one!

[Which he hasn't. He has no frickin' excuse except that he's a big baby around reptiles.]

[mightthinkthat]

It was a nice thought. [ He's talking about the link, not the turtle wrestling.


... ] Afraid of turtles, are you?

[unbreaker]

Thanks. I'm hopin' it helps.

[This sort of thing, coupled with that idea of Will Graham's about a support group for the deceased, these are the sorts of things that Josuke feels will build a better, stronger sense of community among imPorts. The sorta thing that'll make this world a satisfactory 'home' in the interim.]

And...I guess, ya. [Can't really go denying it after making this post, can he? Wouldn't be in the spirit of things.] Reptiles, actually. They're kinda creepy and gross.

[He still loves Polnareff, he does. Does all he can to take care of the turtle. But boy is it harder some days than others...especially on days when handling is necessary. Eugh...]

[voice]

[timecapture]

What if you lost someone who was never here?

[It's more likely than not a stupid question, but Max’s recent loss is still raw, and she asks before she can stop herself.]

[voice]

[unbreaker]

[Actually, it's a rather good question. Josuke meant for the message board to be used for imPorts, but imPorts aren't the only people they've all lost in their struggles, just like their struggles aren't all limited to this world.]

Doesn't matter if they've never been here, if you've got something you wanna say to someone, you should go ahead and say it.

[resipiscent]

That's a good idea. The memorial, I mean. But... [He's squinting at the camera.] That guy's cute. He's scary?

[unbreaker]

Thanks!

[ImPorts don't really get burials when they die. They either come back or they don't. Something like this, while simple in its form, still provides everyone with a chance for closure they might otherwise not find on their own. Josuke's glad he can do his part.

He is less glad people don't understand his fear of reptiles, though. But he's also kind of used to it.]

...I mean he's not as scary as the snake. But he still creeps me right out. You ever hold a turtle? They're all cold and wet and...yeah, no.

video

[wayhot]

... is there a limit for how long the stuff about people you miss can be?

video

[unbreaker]

[Fire Princess...]

There's no limit.

[Well, there sort of is. The message board's not set up for long spiels, but...]

Maybe if you had a quote to summarize, though...and I could use it to link to a different page with the rest of your thoughts? That way you can say everything that's on your mind and not have to worry about holding back at all.

video;

[lvless_soul]

[Frisk doesn't have much to add on to Josuke's post. But they like what he had to say, especially about fear, and give him an applause before a thumbs up.

And then they giggle, because he'd looked so silly holding that turtle with a scared look on his face.]

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[unbreaker]

[Frisk! Josuke's really glad to see them and he performs a mock bow from his position on the floor when they applaud him.]

Hey, how've you been?

[Looking mighty fearless to him, he's impressed!]

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[khajidont]

Hey, that's a really nice idea.

[Even with the silliness of the turtle, it's hard not for his smile to be a little subdued, considering the subject matter. He'd talked about doing something like this with Kitty but, of course, he didn't.]

It'll be really weird for them to see if they come back without memories, though, don't you think? It'd feel pretty weird to me to find myself on a memorial site.

video

[unbreaker]

Maybe, but it might help, too. I mean, as awkward as it'd be, it's just as weird arrivin' someplace where you don't know anybody. At least this way people might have an idea who they can talk to, you know?

voice; from Bruce Wayne

[chiroptophobic]

Well, I guess it's that easy if all you're afraid of is turtles.

[ Still, you shouldn't encourage Crane like this. All this talk about fear, it's basically just buttonpushing. ]

voice;

[unbreaker]

I'm not.

[He'd just needed something tangible, something he could show the Network.]

There's plenty of stuff that scares me. Some of it might seem insignificant and small, like holding a turtle when you're afraid of reptiles, but there's other fears I have that keep me awake some nights.

[That's not something Josuke's told anyone, but it's not really something to hide, either. Not if he's to stand by his point, which is...]

I don't have to let fear control my life, because it's my life to live. I wanted everyone to know they can be in control of their fears, too. That no matter how much something scares you, no matter how big or insurmountable your fears may seem, fear is not all there is.

[So is he buttonpushing? Yeah. Because that's his way of saying fuck you to Crane and the doctor's bullshit way of thinking.]

video

[cuff]

Turtles really ain't as bad as you think they are. I mean. Lookit those feet.

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[unbreaker]

They kind of are, though? Those feet are creepy as fuck!

[whitequeens]

...Josuke, are you afraid of turtles?

[unbreaker]

[Josuke makes a face, cheeks coloring a little.]

Reptiles, actually...but yeah, a bit.

Text; ID reads 'Mewtwo'

[thelimitdoesnotexist]

maybe you should demonstrate on something bigger.

[What the heck man, that's just a turtwig.]

Text;

[unbreaker]

[CAN YOU IMAGINE JOSUKE COMING FACE-TO-FACE WITH FUCKING BLASTOISE OR GYARADOS?!]

...bigger? y the hell would i wanna do that?!

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[debauchewy]

You don't think there's ever a time to run?

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[unbreaker]

Come on, Hisoka. You've fought with me a couple times, you gotta know the answer to that by now, yeah?

I don't run.

[He might take a moment to regroup, but he never abandons a fight.]

Even when I'm afraid, I try to face things head on.

video.

[glowsferatu]

[ She'll get to the turtle later.

When Kanaya turns on her camera, it's focused on the floor, a number of metal staves arranged over it, twelve or more. Most of their details aren't exactly clear, but he may be able to read that each of them has the words "WE DO NOT FORGET" engraved across their fronts, if he squints. ]

This is what I do, how I mark an imPort's passing. I can't exactly make one for everyone, just the ones I know, but for every life that has reflected strongly on mine, I forge a stave when they're gone. It's a reminder, that all we really leave behind are the memories, and that those memories must be kept.

But it's insufficient, it's too private and personal. Memories...if they're to last, they should be shared.

I suppose he bulletin board does that, but. Well, it loses the satisfaction one receives by working with her hands.

video. (I'M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG MY NET WAS BEING SHIT)

[unbreaker]

[Too private? Too personal? Josuke doesn't think so. The staves Kanaya's forged (not as numerous as he'd expect for someone who's been here as long as she's been, but perhaps what he can see now isn't her entire collection) are her way of coping with the loss of her friends, of commemorating the time she shared with them in this world. And if it's private or personal at all, well...that's alright. Because...]

Aren't you sharing them now? Doesn't seem insufficient to me.