maskormenace | Block 001 [Text]

I'm not certain by what you mean in regards to being casual. This is how we were ordered to conduct ourselves even when not within Teikoku, since we students are the face of Teikoku and its reputation.

[Glad for once he opted to respond in the same written format, Josuke frowns at the text on his screen unbeknownst to anyone but him.

A single word stands out among the rest: ordered.

For a middle schooler to say something like that...maybe it's nothing. But then again, maybe it's something, too. After all, even stricter schools allow students to be themselves off campus, right? This business of being the face of an educational institute is a little on the worrying side.]

right, no, of course. that makes sense.

but...

you know teikoku doesn't exist here, right?

[It's all worrying if Josuke ever realizes that it's actually much worse then just a school being strict with its students. Though Genda doesn't realize how much he's giving away on that since he's not certain what has or hasn't been said about his world by the others that are here. Especially Kidou.]

Teikoku is in everything a student does. Such training can't be thrown away just because the school itself is not there. More so, for those of us who represent it through its soccer club.

whoa, nobody said anything about throwing anything away.

just...you know. relaxing a little. cutting loose? you've heard of that, right?

[He gets the feeling that even if the answer is a yes, it's not a concept this kid is familiar with. Still, it can't hurt to ask. Especially if he can use it as a way to lead into suggesting the perfect places for fun and relaxation. Which Genda sounds like he can use. A lot.]

you into games at all? i know this great place in nonah...

I've heard of the concept.

[And doesn't that say so much about his social life.]

I know strategy games as they were a basic aspect during time between practices and actual matches. As well as fundamental education tool in regards to tactical awareness in regards to positioning of players on a field for various formations.

[It's a fortunate thing this is text, because Josuke's groan upon reading that last message was that of someone in pure (exaggerated) agony.]

uh huh

that sounds good. i guess.

what about ddr, you play at all? air hockey? nonah's arcade is great, and even if you haven't tried out half of what they got i bet you'd love it

[He sees these words, but he's not exactly figuring out what they really mean stringed together like that. What is this concept of going somewhere not part of daily living that has no bearing on soccer, school, or missions?]

I know of them, and seen them when passing local arcades on the way to school or grocery shopping. I've never entered one before it would deviate from the set routine.

gfhghv

[Half a second later, once Josuke recovers from smacking his phone against his forehead, the following message is sent...]

okay, here's what we're gonna do. since you're super new and i'm super not, i'm gonna show you the ropes. and by ropes i mean the way to the arcade from the porter. unless you're already in nonah and then i'll just show you how to get to the arcade. great deal, right?

this is where you say 'thanks, josuke!'
and i say 'you're welcome...'

uh, what's your name?

Genda Koujirou

[He doesn't care this device is making him use English, he's going to introduce himself the way he was taught.]

Why would you want to take me to an arcade? Is there something there I should know about regarding this place?

koujirou! got it.

[Albeit being Japanese born and raised, Josuke has always been rather familiar with his friends and just about everyone else not his senior.]

and i thought the reason was kinda obvious but i don't mind explaining i guess. you see it's for this little thing called

fun

I would prefer Genda if you don't mind.

[Not seen: the violent twitch over someone using his first name. Not even Sakuma has ever used his first name in any form, and they shared a hospital room for weeks alongside two years of being on the same soccer team.]

But, why would you extend such an invitation to me?

[He's pretty sure this is something other people with normal friendships do. Not random strangers.]

genda! right, sorry about that.

[Josuke isn't accustomed to calling people by their surname at all, but it's not a custom he's unfamiliar with, either. He's happy to respect Genda's preference.]

but you know, i don't got a special reason for inviting you along. didn't really think i needed one.

[Beyond the obvious, that is; while not all imPorts take it upon themselves to show the newbies the ropes, some of those who've been here longer will choose to acknowledge their responsibility. Especially in this case, where the new arrival really seems like he could benefit from some less strict activities. Stuff kids his age should at least try if not actively be interested in...]

Thank you

[He can at least be polite since the other seems sincere in all of this.]

Most don't offer such things without an ulterior motive or because of some other implication. It's not something one expects to be freely given.

[Just what kind of institution does this kid come from, Josuke wonders? Not only does it seem strict, but it also appears to have instilled a serious lack of trust in its students.

He's all for being cautious. Coming from Morioh where an enemy Stand user could be just about anyone, even your classmate, he's learned to be careful. But without trust, he never would have made the friends he did, friends which guaranteed his survival the summer of '99. He knows...you can't survive in the world on your own, cut off from everyone. It's impossible, and it's sad when people try.]

i'm not offering to buy you a new wardrobe or anything wild like that, it's just going to the arcade. you know, as a friendly gesture.

...gonna go out on a limb here and assume you know what that is, right?

[Even if Genda doesn't have an excess of friends, he has to have had some positive social interaction. He can't be that socially inept. Can he?]

I'm aware, yes.

[Even though he loves his soccer team to death he also knows they pretty much only got to such a state because of other reasons then friendly overtures. So he forgive him for assuming everything nice has some horrible price attached.]

You're adamant about this outing, aren't you?

you haven't said no, so what reason have i got to give up?

[Is it really that simple with him?

...the answer is yes.

Although, even if Josuke let's it slide this time (providing Genda refuses the invitation) it doesn't mean he won't try again another day. Josuke is nothing if not determined. And apparently drawn to complicated people, to boot.]

If there is agreement that leads to such an outing, and if a sincere effort to try these activities still result in my not actually liking such will that be the end of such?

[Because he's not agreeing to anything unless he's certain that when he ultimately goes "I tried, didn't like it." that he won't suddenly have to dodge Josuke for however long it takes the other to stop. Especially considering he's planning to go to school in that city.]

if you give an honest go of it and don't enjoy yourself, i won't have any reason to suggest doing it again, right? so yeah, you got my word. that'll be the end of it.

[The end of his suggesting that particular activity, in any case.]

I'll concede on this matter then.

great!

here, i made a little map showing how to get to the arcade from the porter in nonah.

[Josuke sends the image on over. It is indeed a map, a very neat one. Except for the ugly red line drawn through it and several buildings, connecting what can only be Nonah's Porter (lazily marked P on the map) to the arcade (very excitedly marked GAMES HERE!!!! and circled three times). It's not very useful.]

i'll see you there in a bit! i'll be the guy sporting the regent.

[True to his word, Josuke will arrive first at the arcade, though whether that's due to the excitement of meeting a new person or being able to play at his favorite gaming center is anyone's guess. After all, he doesn't exactly wait to get started, making a beeline for a haunted house shooter nearby the entrance where, hopefully, he'll remain the only person sporting a neatly styled pompadour.

Because, let's face it. He didn't exactly remember to get Genda's description...so he has no idea who he's on the lookout for.]

[Yeah, there's a bit of a delay in this meet up. Mostly, because Genda had to stop and compute all of everything in that text, because really Josuke? Not even a moment to coordinate this meet up just so they actually know who they are meeting outside of 'I'm sporting a regent'?

Despite that mental stall it doesn't really take him long to figure out his way through Heropa to these porters and through the streets of Nonah. Navigating Tokyo makes this pretty much child's play in terms of orienting himself. Though part of him now wishes he was not so good at such when the wall of sound hits him. If he had been a cat his ears would have flatten to his skull and his tail fluffed out just within moments of walking into this place. This was A Mistake, but he committed himself to this and if there is one thing Genda is it's reliable. He gave his word so he's going try.

Have you ever seen a lanky 5'5 teenager attempting to meld awkwardly with a wall before Josuke, because that's what Genda is going to do for at least three minutes as he acclimates to all of this noise and people in a confine space. Blue eyes darting about to find every exit and route within his general vicinity. Finally he starts to edge his way towards the most likely candidate for who he had been texting with before hand.]

Josuke?

[And my doesn't he sound completely and utterly uncomfortable using what is likely your first name there, since you didn't give out your full name and thus the permission to use it.]

[Josuke doesn't look up from the game as Genda approaches, and when his name is called, his only response is to flap a hand quickly at the younger boy before quickly slapping it back around the gun attached to the console.]

H-hold on! This stupid—cheap ass piece of—trigger button sticking—hey, you, is she looking?

[Without skipping a beat, a booming woman's voice can be heard well above the ringing sounds of Player Select. "I know you're thinking about it and you better stop if you don't want your punk-ass shut down again!" Vanessa McInnis has had just about enough of Josuke Higashikata this week. He's by far one of the least problematic people she's ever had to deal with working at the arcade, but he is persistent and she's got her hands too full for this shit today!

Fortunately, the sound of her voice is a swift deterrent, and whatever Josuke was planning to do seems to be promptly abandoned. Not that it would do him a lot of good if he'd tried to do anything now, anyway. He was distracted by her threat for maybe a second, but between Vanessa and Genda, it was enough for him to lose his last life to a surprise attack from a zombie.

With a groan and the accompaniment of a flashing GAME OVER across the screen, Josuke slams the game's gun back into the console holster and finally turns his attention to the much shorter boy at his side.]

You want something? [And then a flicker of realization can be seen in his eyes and he brightens.] Oi, you Genda?

[Aside from the fact he's now assured someone in this place likely knows how to run roughshod over anyone causing problems, it's still not enough to make him stop and wonder if this truly was such a good idea. Even though part of him knew capitulating to this was the lesser of the two evils. It had been easy to tell this person would likely be persistent once an idea enter his head.

None of this though shows as his face is as blank as an unpainted wall, and his stance is pretty much military parade rest. The only sign of anything is a slight downturn of one eyebrow. Luckily or unluckily few people speak 'Genda' so the silent riot act over the disorganization regarding this first meeting is easy to overlook by the vast majority of people.]

That's correct.

[Sorry, Josuke. He's even less talkative in person then over text.]

[Not to worry. If there's one thing you can count on Josuke to do, it's to talk enough to carry the entirety of a conversation. Sometimes even when he'd be better off shutting his mouth.]

Sorry 'bout that, I kinda get wrapped up when I'm in the middle of a game. Thanks for coming, though!

[Just as cheery in person as he was over text, Josuke greets Genda with a million watt smile, the sort someone could only wear if they hadn't yet realized how poor their directions had been, much less how poorly planned this whole meeting was. But it's the thought that counts, right? And there isn't anything about Josuke's enthusiasm that lacks in good intentions or sincerity.]

So, this is Player Select. Pretty nice, don'tcha think?

[Says someone who is definitely more dog and less cat, excited by the loud noises and flashing lights and flying balls.]

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1/2

Action! (2/2)

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