maskormenace | 009 ★ Video

[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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's no one thing Josuke misses more. The people, the town they all lived in together, the experiences they shared, it fills his heart with a sharp ache to know it's all so far away...but it's an ache that's dulled by his experiences here. He's made a home for himself in this world, and though it's temporary, he doesn't live his life thinking of it like that. He just lives each day here the way he would if he were still back in Morioh.

...except he works a lot more, but you know, mom's not around to give him an allowance anymore!]

I'm trying. I mean...this might not be the world I'm from, but it's not any different than if I was visiting a city I wasn't born in, either. Just a lot farther away. Point is, I really like this place. Even if I don't like that we all got pulled here without much warning.

[He shrugs, but smiles at Max just the same.]

I'd tell you it gets easier—and it does—but I can't really say when that is. Everyone kind of goes it at their own speeds. But if I can do anything to help, just lemme know, okay?

[Max knows the feeling. Her mom and dad gave her a credit card in case she needed something, but she rarely used it, if ever, and besides, it's back at her dorm in Blackwell.

She doesn't miss it, even though it's been a little difficult here.]

That's a really good way of looking at it. I'm not really sure if it will get better for me, but staying busy sounds better than hanging out and moping.

[Which she's been doing a lot more than she would like to admit.]

Thanks. That means a lot.

[Oh, Josuke had a credit card, too. And he DOES miss that damn thing sometimes. But a job? Pfffft...no way. And even if he'd had one at some point, the chances of him being able to both hold it down and run around saving the town wouldn't have been too good.]

Anytime.

[A beat, and then he adds...]

Y'know, a great place for hanging out and not moping is the arcade. Maybe I'll see you there sometime.

Holy shit, there's actually an arcade around here? I thought they'd died out years ago.

[In her world, maybe, but not here.]

What sort of games do they have?

Whoa, how far in the future are you from, exactly?

...I mean! They got all the classics and a ton of games I've never played before. But there's pretty much something for everyone there. Even crane games if you're into that.

My personal favorites' air hockey, but the racing games are really something, too!

I'm from the year 2013. It's not really as "future" as this place, but arcades have kind of fallen by the wayside.

[Truth be told, she kind of misses them. She remembers the days when she'd play skee ball with Chloe, even though she generally sucked at it.]

Air hockey is fun! I haven't played that in forever.

Really? They're still really popular where I'm from...

[Of course, it's still 1999 where he's from, not to mention Japan.]

But hey, if you like air hockey, we should play a game or two sometime.

Arcadia Bay doesn't really have an arcade. It's too bad; they really were fun.

I'd like that. I gotta say, though... I'm pretty terrible at it.

It's weird that they'd have phased out...but at least you can enjoy 'em here.

And don't worry about it if you're not a pro like me.

[Cheating doesn't make you a pro, Josuke.]

I'll go easy on you. Give you a few pointers too, if you want.

That's true. Being here so far isn't all bad.

[Especially considering the state she'd been in when she'd left. It's nice to have a distractions.]

That sounds like fun! I'll still probably lose, though.

Well, what games are you good at? We should play those, too.

[He likes winning, but it's more fun if it's a challenge. Besides, if it means making a new friend, he can tone down his competitiveness a little bit.]

I make a decent caster in MMOs. Other than that... I'm not really good at anything.

Oh, uh...I've never really played one of those before.

[Closest he's gotten is a FPS game, to be honest.]

They much fun?

Yeah! I like online play more often than not, mostly because it's easier for me to socialize online.

[This is Max. Max is a dork. Any questions?]

[Easier to socialize online...?

Huh.

Josuke never really considered that. Not much takes place 'online' in the time he's from. Cell phones are still bricks, and the computers aren't much better. When people wanna socialize, it's usually done face-to-face.]

Well, how about suggestions, then? I could grab a game and we could play together sometime.

[Just don't laugh at him when he slaps together the beefcakiest looking paladin, Max. He'll be so proud of himself.]

I haven't really gotten a chance to check out the mMOs here, yet, but a few of them look promising. I'll let you know.

[Hella yes, geek buds.]

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