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

[oceanthief]

[her shoulders fall at that, all the metaphorical wind going out of her sails. Steven does miss her, she knows him, knows that he's probably missing her right now even as she fights an unwinnable battle at the bottom of the sea. the idea of anyone else feeling the same way is just unfathomable.

Lapis' voice is quiet, almost defeated, when she speaks again. it doesn't take much to knock her down on this subject it seems.]

Steven doesn't understand everything either.

[unbreaker]

To be fair, Lapis, I don't think you do, either...

[And Josuke means that with the utmost respect. He does. But it needs to be said.]

[oceanthief]

I know what they did to me, and what they'll do here. That's all that matters.

[she doesn't contest the statement, although Lapis has other things in mind when she lets it go.]

[unbreaker]

What can they possibly do to you here with so many people who'll move mountains to protect you?

[...she's gotta have more friends than him who'll do that, right? She's sweet and kind and as far as Josuke can tell, despite being a bit rough around her edges, she means well by her actions. Who wouldn't want to protect that?]

[oceanthief]

No one's going to help me. It's my problem.

[there's something in her tone, in the way she seems to pull into herself without really moving, that makes it clear it's not a matter of people who are willing.

Lapis can think of a few - maybe - who might do something like that, people who seem to have that same strange stubborn kindness as Steven. it's baffling, but more importantly it's something that she refused to allow to come to pass. she wouldn't let Steven come to harm, and she wasn't going to stoop that low for anyone here either. it was the least she could do.]

[unbreaker]

...if we're being honest here, I think the only problem you actually have is not being willing to let people lend assistance. I'm not gonna pretend to know why, and I won't ask if you don't wanna tell me, but I will say...you're really great, Lapis. And you can't be great and not expect people to wanna be there for you, to make you as happy as you make them. And taking that opportunity away from them, the chance for them to really show how valuable your friendship is to them, is kind of...well, it's unfair.

[oceanthief]

[her face scrunches, and cracks, and when she speaks again she's shouting with the sort of emotion that Josuke has probably never seen on her face before. looks like blue doesn't conjure forth thoughts of coldness all the time.]

I'm not going to lose anything again! Why can't anyone understand that!? Why can't you all just let me do this and keep everyone safe?

[unbreaker]

The honest answer?

Because you're not the only one who's lost things that are important to them, Lapis. And there's probably a lot of people who feel the same way you do. It's natural to wanna protect the things that matter to us, human or gem or some other species, and I'm willing to bet there's a fair number of people who feel that way about you.

I'd be sorry that upsets you, but...I'd rather you be angry at me than be hurt or alone or something else.

[oceanthief]

I can survive all of that again if I have to. There isn't anything else for me to protect.

[unbreaker]

Then why get so bent outta shape when someone wants to protect you?

[oceanthief]

I'd rather get hurt again than put someone who matters in danger.

[unbreaker]

You're one stubborn girl. Probably a good thing there's a lot of other equally stubborn people around.

[oceanthief]

I can outlast you all.

[unbreaker]

You know I can't resist a challenge, right?

[oceanthief]

There's no way you could win.

[unbreaker]

Them's fighting words, Lapis! And I'm no loser!

[...actually, it's more that some battles, win or lose, are worth fighting. But he's not going to say that, not when the spirit of their conversation seems to be taking a lighter turn at last.]

[oceanthief]

There's a first time for everything, I think.

[or...whatever that thing humans keep saying to her is. this feels close enough, at least.]

[unbreaker]

Maybe, but that means you could just as easily wind up eating your words if you're not careful.

[oceanthief]

I've been wrong before, so this time it'll be fine.

[Lapis that's not...how it works.....]

[unbreaker]

It's not exactly a take turns kinda thing...

[oceanthief]

I don't mind if you go twice in a row.

[unbreaker]

But what if you're the one who goes twice?

[oceanthief]

I'm always losing on this planet. It's definitely someone else's turn.

[which, apparently, is Josuke. that's just the way things go sometimes, amigo.]

[unbreaker]

Sorry, but I'm genetically wired to win.

[Which is just another way of saying he'll fucking cheat to make sure he doesn't lose. Not that he's exactly sure how cheating in this situation would ensure victory, but...he'll figure that out when the time comes. What's important here is teaching Lapis the important lesson that friendship works both ways.]

[oceanthief]

[Lapis' expression changes, to something more like mild surprise. too bad it's borne of her completely misunderstanding playful banter again.]

Oh! I didn't know that humans were cultivating new ones like that too. Are you supposed to be a solider or something else?