23 ⚜ Voice

[restingstitchface]

Friday the 13th. The most feared day and date in human history. Staying at home is recommended.

[His voice is a merry tone.]

Quite a date, isn't it? Triskaidekaphobia. Paraskevidekatriaphobia. Thirteen guests at a table. The 13th Baktun. The thirteenth floor being omitted in hotels where the number is considered unlucky.

But is today truly bad for your health? Let us examine the relationship between health, behaviour, and superstition.

[He pauses, purposefully. There's a gentle drop in the lightness of his tone.]

Tell me what you are doing today. Are you outside? Commuting to work? Shopping? Visiting friends? The risk of hospital admission may be increased by as much as 52%, you know.

[Said with a twist of sarcasm; but it ends with him speaking calmly.]

Now. Our time's up, but I'll leave you with advice. Think logically. Act rationally. And don't let the date control you.

Comments

[unbreaker]

Ahhhh...

[Josuke wonders if that's meant to sound as regurgitated as it does.]

Doesn't sound like such a bad deal for them, but what about you? Do you like it?

[restingstitchface]

[His hand drops from his chin. There is so much hidden under the surface in this question that he hesitates to answer. Years ago he would have affected shy awkwardness. Now he meets Josuke's eyes, unafraid of whatever will emerge.]

That's not how life works. It doesn't matter whether we like our work or hate it. We have to do it, don't we? [He is very much controlled in his anger.] You all have problems accepting my methods. This seems the best way for everybody.

[unbreaker]

[Right. Because they're the ones with the problems.]

Huh. Maybe.

[He shrugs his shoulders, lips puckered in thought. He has a job he likes. Two, in a manner of speaking.]

I dunno, I still think it's important to like what you're doing. If you don't, then it's just labor and there's not much incentive to keep at it, right? I mean, besides the money.

[restingstitchface]

[He scoffs.]

Josuke, money can be a motivating factor for those who think everything and nothing of it. Don't believe money and contentment are mutually exclusive.

[unbreaker]

Whoa, whoa!

[He waves his hands at the camera.]

I don't think that at all! Sure, I like being able to buy fancy new shoes and nice clothes, and it's fun being able to go places on my days off...but I know money's not everything. It just helps. Um...but the point I was trying to make is that it's important to enjoy your job...because even good pay isn't worth doing something you hate.

So...y'know. It kind of does matter if you like what you're doing now. It matters to you. Right?

[restingstitchface]

[That wild body language prompts him into leaning back. His fingers link together over his chest, whilst his thumbs beat out some catharsis by tapping gently.]

Well, I wouldn't be offering my time if it didn't. But where are you today? What are you doing?

[unbreaker]

Oh, uh...

[Suddenly Josuke remembers where he is: the Police Academy in Heropa. They've taken a bit of an impromptu recess, so he's not being a delinquent by skipping out of class or anything, but his break won't last forever, either.]

...class. Well, the academy. For about another hour or so. Hour and a half. Got plans to go out a bit later, but um, nothing for later tonight.

What about you, Dr Crane? Plans for after work?

[restingstitchface]

[It wouldn't be helpful to his image to point out work and leisure had become the same thing. Or rather he hadn't thought about the latter for so long.]

I suppose I'll pick up a book.

[If that sounds generic it's because it is. Yet, he loves literature. There's a bit of disconnect from what he's supposed to be feeling, so he's quiet for a moment.]

Do you enjoy literature, Josuke?

[unbreaker]

Enjoy it?

[That's a loaded question.]

I guess...it depends on the material.

[He's not averse to reading at all, but if he's being honest, what he reads consists primarily of gaming and fashion magazines more than it does textbooks or works of nonfiction.]

I'm not really a heavy reading kind of guy, Dr Crane. But um...let's not pretend you didn't know that already, okay? 'Cause I like to think I've been an open book with you.

[restingstitchface]

[No prompting had made this child pick up a decent book? He looks a little less interested in him, now. And it breaks what interest he had in holding his question back.]

You're alleging I've been less than honest with you in return?

[unbreaker]

[Sure, he's read a few 'decent' books at the prompting (read: arm twisting) of his great grandfather, and there was the time he'd flipped through Brave New World because of Crane, but Josuke has always had difficulty sitting still for any length of time. He gets restless easily. Feels like he ought to be doing more. If that makes him less interesting to Crane, well...it only goes one way. Josuke remains as interested as ever in the doctor, and seems to take no offense at being regarded with waning enthusiasm in return.]

I'm not alleging anything.

[They both know Crane hasn't been straight. Whatever truths he's told have been labyrinthine in nature, keeping Josuke guessing or deliberately leading him astray.]

All I'm saying is you're sharp and I'm not that complicated, so you oughtta know what I like and what I don't by now.

[restingstitchface]

[A nod to his intelligence? Respect he can handle. Because it's right that respect is given when it's due. He stops inspecting his nails and gives their conversation a little more focus - as little as he can.]

I wouldn't say I don't. But it's nice to see you think so highly of me.

[unbreaker]

Yeah...

[Josuke's smile is weak.

A few months ago, the only thing he'd thought of Crane was that the man was equal parts smart and dangerous. They weren't enemies or even well acquainted with each other—they weren't anything at all. A hunch and one ill-advised encounter at a cafe had changed all that...and changed what Josuke perceived as real, too.

Josuke believed in Crane after that. He'd trusted him. And while he'd been cautious to begin with, he'd eventually grown to like Crane enough that, by the time the veil was finally lifted and doctor was revealed to be the same scheming son-of-a-bitch he'd always been, Josuke had felt real hurt. He'd felt...betrayed.

It's a feeling that lingers even now, though he tries to hide it. And it is, perhaps, the only thing he seems to try and hide from Crane at all.]

Maybe...no, never mind. [He shakes his head, scratching his fingers through the sides of his hair.] I'll talk to you later.