maskormenace | Block 001 [Text]

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.]

[There's a very slow and deliberate blink at that question. How to answer that in a way that was truth without actually being as horribly honest as he would normally be? Because stating it was loud, crowded, and overstimulating; while true also gave the impression he had already decided not to give this place a chance and thus break his promise.]

It looks well established...?

[He wasn't told how to handle this sort of situation back home. No one did casual arcade trips, what do?]

[Josuke's cheery smile flatlines for a brief second before he recalls he no longer has the shield of a text communication to hide behind. And then it's a mad dash to attempt to look less taken aback by Genda's absolutely deadpan assessment of their surroundings.]

Uh...yeah, I guess it does, doesn't it? And that's part of what I like so much about this place!

[He gives a jerk of his thumb towards the rest of the games further inside, many of which are occupied, some of which are free, but all of which are lit up and making some kind of racket or another.]

There's something for everyone here. Fighting games, sidescrolling adventures, racers, first person shooters, even stuff that takes a lot of coordination like DDR! [Not to mention the skee ball, basketball, and soccer shootout games.] Let's take a look around, I guarantee we'll find something you like!

[He's hardly offended by that momentary look of incredulity. He's used to such for those that don't know him or are from Teikoku. Instead he turns his attention to the direction the other has pointed in. Face just getting slightly more stoic as he realizes what this means. If the sound was loud and invasive here from the entrance area, just how bombarded is he going to be deeper into this place?

What has he done? Is it too late to be one without any honor and back away from this?

There's only a stiff nod as he just slowly moves his way further into this cacophony hell. Somewhere Sakuma is likely laughing at his predicament right now.]

Is there anything particular you wish to try first?

Hmm...maybe...

[This little excursion isn't for his sake, but Josuke can't resist being able to usher someone else towards one of his favorite games in the arcade: Dance Dance Revolution Extreme. He may not be exceptionally good at it, but he's not bad, and it is without a doubt the one game he spends more time at in this place than any other.]

Alright, this way. I know just the one.

[Who could resist the siren call of heavy hitting dance beats, anyway? Certainly not this guy! And they're in luck as they weave through a crowd oscillating between games and vending machines. DDR is free!

As Josuke peels off his jacket and hangs it on the railing, he grins at Genda. He may look his eighteen years, but he sure as shit doesn't act it in this place.]

Think you can beat me?

[What fresh hell is this thing you brought him to? Genda only needs to take one quick look at the machine Josuke has lead him to and he already knows his ears are going to be abused even more. It has speakers built into its very frame and most of these machines were already pretty loud as is. Just how loud was this going to get when it was actually not in idle mode?

The random mentions of this game overheard at times did not prepare him for this reality, even as he actually circles the dance pads for a moment as if expecting some hidden trap.]

The chance and probabilities are too unknown to say either way.

[Translation: He didn't even realize there actually was a goal to this thing.]

Alright, we'll play a couple practice rounds first and—what are you doing?

[Hopping up onto the dance platform, Josuke gestures for Genda to follow suit. Honestly, he's beginning to think the games in this arcade, actual literal machines, are somehow more relaxed and loose than this kid! The school he comes from really did a number on him...]

You're on the right, I'll be on the left. That bar's there if you need it for support, and you gotta step on the pads on the floor...but don't take your eyes off the screen, got it?

[Popping quarters into both sides of the machine, it comes to life before them with a cacophony of sound. And, as Josuke navigates the menus and brings them to the song select screen, he gestures for Genda to take a look at their options.]

You probably don't know half of these, but pick one that sounds interesting. We'll go with that.

[Have you ever seen a cat arch their back because they were startled Josuke? Because for brief second Genda flinches in surprise when that wall of noise hits, it's quick and he hardly pauses in moving into position on the actual pad as directed. He ignores the entire selection process for a moment as he tests to see and feel the boundaries and dimensions of the pads in regards to his normal feet placement before looking over at the other blandly.]

I was studying the machine.

[He's slowly starting to acclimate to the volume forced on him even as still gives slight twitches when particular song samples reach a new volume or certain pitch. He's actually not really giving any thought or actual attention outside of vague interest to the beat and cadence of the sample as he scrolls through. It was mostly for show since he didn't particularly care for most of these types of songs to begin with. He randomly stops on a song that he briefly saw the word "Jet" in the title before there's suddenly a lot of colors and just a few seconds before arrows start to scroll up the screen.

What. The. Hell.]

[Studying it? Studying it?? If the game wasn't so quick to start, the arrows already scrolling up the screen after Genda made his selection, Josuke would have a few words about that! Namely, the hell do you need to study DDR for? It's music, that's the sort of thing you gotta feel!]

Oi, give a little more warning next time!

[As if that's not his own fault for letting the newbie push buttons.

But whatever, here they go now! While the song's not one he would have chosen first, Josuke nevertheless appreciates the excited flow. And besides, for a practice round, it makes for a great place to start, its steps not too demanding, allowing them to get warmed up without becoming discouraged.

Not that Josuke is taking it easy on the dance pad at all, large feet thumping down just as heavily as the beat of the song...

Sorry not sorry about your ears, Genda.]

[One of the great benefits of soccer is that you pretty much need to learn how to pay attention to about twenty other things all at the same time at very fast paces. So it's hardly a challenge for him to side eye you a lot there Josuke, even as he actually studies what the hell you are doing for a few moments. He almost feels sorry for these dance pads if that is what they go through on a daily basis.

A few misses have already passed before he finally resigns himself to move just so you can't say anything about him not trying. He's a lot lighter on his feet then you would expect for someone who's never done this before and once the cadence of the actual beat is found his score starts to rise. It likely will never reach the perfect levels of those who actually devote themselves to these sort of things, but it's oddly impressive as he does a sweeping motion with his left foot across the pad to hit three arrows in quick succession.

That, and how economized his motions are really show how little he actually feels in regards to this entire thing. No motion is wasted energy and even when he starts to get the hang of the more complicated moves it's done as if just a passing thought and not in any actual motion that he actually hears the music. So focused on the baseline beat and tempo in regards to the speed of the arrows.

Back home they could tell ones personality in how they played soccer, but right here and now it's amply clear just how little emotion Genda actually allows himself to show or feel. There isn't even any pride or accomplishment in his body language over how quickly he's catching on. Instead there's just intense focus.]

[Josuke is great at dividing his attention...when the stakes are high. Clearly not evidenced by the way he's performing now which is, while not especially clumsy, certainly lacking in efficiency. The amount of energy he's wasting is considerable, far more than one might want to expend if they planned on competing versus another player for any length of time. Some steps are too wide, others too hard, although it does seem he's doing well enough to pass for now. With a few more misses than he would like...

That quickly begins to change when Genda's score is on the rise, however. And the number of times he stumbles or stops only increases when the younger boy's playing begins to draw a couple of spectators.

Maybe it's the hilarity of a first time player beating a regular on a practice round, or maybe the sheer focus of Genda's steps is the real lure. Josuke can't be sure, and thinking about it too much is hurting his own playing. But it's hard not to consider when he's already seen just how seriously the other boy takes literally everything else he does.

And that gives him an idea, maybe even one that'll get some kind of a reaction! Or so he hopes.

There's no warning when it comes...his longer leg allowing him to quickly reach over and slam a foot down on the nearest pad of Genda's side to interrupt his rhythm.]

[Most people have very standard reactions to suddenly there being a foot suddenly in their path. Mostly in regards to avoiding it so as not to trip over it. For someone that has played a game where the ball, other people sliding in to get the ball away from you, and your own feet because you attempted to change direction within half a second are all factors that can trip you up well the reaction to the sudden awareness of Josuke's foot there on his pad triggers a default reaction in him that other's don't have.

The foot that had been on the move to that particular pad, the one that is now suddenly occupied, veers back to lay flat on the inner side of the bar behind them before kicking off into a jump and half turn to land with both feet on the opposite pad. It was a move he had used many times to change his momentum on the goal post when he needed to get from one side of the goal box to the other to block a shot. It was also a move used when a player in a slide tackle had too much momentum and he was trying to avoid stepping on them if they slid into his area by accident.

The move costs him several misses as he calmly slides back into position again. The fact such a move Josuke just pulled was not part of this game doesn't actually register. Or that his score took a hit. He's just mostly just following along until it's over.

Sorry Josuke, if you were expecting him to freeze up or trip over himself you shouldn't have challenged a sports player from a military school.]

[That...is not the sort reaction Josuke was expecting, but it is the sort to draw a few more spectators and a raucous round of applause. Sure, Genda's score may have taken a hit for performing that kind of trick, but it's pretty obvious to those looking on that the fault isn't his: it's Josuke's.]

Where'd you even learn to do that!

[Because, while Josuke knows that Genda plays soccer, he's never seen a player move quite like that in such an enclosed space before. Not that he knows of, at least. It feels almost like cheating! Even if it's not. And he knows better than to even attempt to call foul after the stunt he'd pulled just a few seconds ago. In fact, all he can really do is scramble now to get his head back in the game before the song's over, which doesn't give him very much time...

They're already on the last stretch, with the drums and guitars picking up, the step sequences getting a little bit more complicated.

And Josuke? Is still very much torn between focusing on the screen and the younger teen next to him. In all honesty, he's more impressed than put out by the other's ability, but it does bring questions to mind. Was he enjoying himself? Did he even know how? And, more importantly, what kind of school would impress upon kids the need to be so emotionally detached in all things that they were so difficult to faze? That's the sort of militant behavior Josuke's seen kids exhibit when they come from more primitive worlds, not modern ones. So what does that say about the world that Genda comes from?]

I'm a goalkeeper.

[It hasn't really fully settled in that the way he plays soccer back home is so fundamentally different in regards to performance, that he really believes that explains everything.

Instead he gives Josuke a brief glance before blue eyes flicker once more to the screen. His inexperience shows in the last rush as he hesitates briefly in how best to move during certain sequences that don't fully follow the actual cadence of the song. Genda and chaos had never really seen eye to eye so the off beat of certain arrows trips him up more then it should considering his ability until now. It shows when the final score starts to tally on the screen and Genda's usual frown deepens a little at what he considers a poor score. Even as he stands perfectly calm and still in the middle of the dance pad as if he hadn't just did any of that song just now.]

[Yeah, no...that doesn't really explain anything. Josuke can see how those kinds of moves would be useful as a goalkeeper, he knows enough about the sport to determine that, but how did Genda learn something like that, and why? Do all players from his world tackle sports in the same fashion?

Just what the hell kind of soccer does this kid play???]

Alright...

[As he looks over his own score and attempts not to frown too hard at it, Josuke smooths back his hair with his hands.]

You warmed up enough, or do you want another practice round before I decide to actually try?

[Please. As if he wasn't already trying after he saw how quickly Genda picked up the various step sequences. He's just trying to save face now in front of their little crowd and, judging by a couple of the giggles coming from behind them, there's more than one spectator who seems to realize that.]

Edited (dw please cooperate) 2017-02-14 22:32 (UTC)

I believe I've figured out the method well enough to not hold you back in performing.

[He kinda took you at face value there Josuke, because he sucks at reading a lot of social cues, so the crowds reaction? Right over his head. He's now going to be expecting you to school him in this since you were clearly testing him and all.]

That's what you think!

[He's all talk as he scrolls through the list of songs for their next challenge, settling on an appropriately titled track and selecting it before the music has too long to preview.

He's familiar with this song. Surely that'll give him some kind of an advantage?

Whatever. The screen loads, and after the ready prompt flashes, they've got just a few quick seconds to go before the arrows start to roll up the screen again.]

There's only a slight eyebrow raised as any sign of Genda's slight surprise at the quickness of the response and the influx of arrows suddenly scrolling upwards.

There are fewer misses then the last song, but the score still suffers a bit as he finds the new tempo and beat. The alternation between the arrows following the bass line to the melody takes time for him to fully grasp and be able to shift from one to the other in a smoother fashion then the slightly 'strings being pulled' movements in order to keep from missing a sequence when such happens.

He could attempt to calculate his expected score based on what he'd seen regarding the math from the last song, but he's not really interested in knowing the final outcome of such. He's keeping a decent pace and thus there is an effort in regards to this even as his head is tilted a bit to the left in confusion as he tries to find why this is considered entertainment. He could see how it would aide in coordination and balance, along with teaching how to follow patterns. Yet, why is this something people do with no intention of learning those skills from this?]

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