maskormenace | Block 001 [Text]

[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?]

[Perhaps as a pleasant change of pace, Josuke is entirely too focused on his own screen and footing to try and sabotage Genda's playing. As the arrows scroll rapidly up the screen, his familiarity with the song and step arrangement allows him to nail surprisingly more patterns than the last round. Of course his timing is a little off, his speed not quite up to par with the more rapid sequences, and his score suffers for it...but he's certainly not trailing as far behind Genda as he was before.

A fact that might cause him to misstep were he aware of it, but being so intensely concentrated on his own playing this time prevents that. For now.

And he seems to be enjoying himself quite a bit, too. Unlike Genda who struggles with the concept of finding entertainment in this kind of activity, Josuke thrills in the challenge, the attention they've begun to draw to themselves, and in his improved success. It's also nice having someone else to play with...which is a thought that does eventually cause him to steal a look towards Genda. Somehow, that kid's still not smiling, and that's what confuses him.

How could anyone not enjoy a great song like this and be able to cut loose?]

...this part coming up, let's try switching pads! Think you can manage?

[It seemed getting the higher score was less important than trying to see some flicker of enjoyment on Genda's face now.]

[There's a flicker of something, but it certainly isn't anything you could call amusement or enjoyment. It's more a shifting into confusion before it registers on what exactly it is that Josuke means with that comment. Then it's more of a wary contemplation. Such a move would be as easy as breathing...if this was being done with another member of Teikoku. He knew their patterns and rhythms that they wouldn't even need to signal the other for a seamless transition. However, he hardly knew Josuke and his capabilities. Let alone his pace and what would be done during said switch. Would it have the small flourishes that Narukami would have to his movements due to his music listening, or would it be quick and precise like when Jimon or Sakuma would cross paths on the field?

The attention they are garnering is also not helping as his shoulders unconsciously fold in as if that would make him less noticeable. It was easy to tune out the spectators during a soccer match because he had to devote everything he had to said match. Here though, he barely needed to do more then keep enough attention to the tempo and patterns, which hardly kept him not realizing a crowd was forming. Attempting such would likely draw more attention and thus more eyes to make the itching feeling up his spine grow even more.

He wasn't supposed to draw attention to himself. That had been drummed into him it was second nature. Don't be an individual, be part of a whole. Yet, he had promised to make an honest attempt at this and he wasn't certain just how much that meant in regards to following what was being suggested.

He can't make himself draw more attention by following that suggestion and he quickly shakes his head. He's going to need to hide in a corner after this, just to not feel exposed once this song is over.]

[That's...certainly not the reaction that Josuke had been hoping for, but he supposes it's the one he should have expected. Hazel would have leaped at the opportunity and while it might have taken Tetsuo some arm twisting, Josuke didn't know him to refuse a challenge. Even Kaneki could probably have been convinced to attempt the trick. But Genda...well, he and Josuke didn't know each other very well. Not yet.]

Ah...okay! Don't worry about it!

[He flaps his hand as if to dismiss the idea, quickly turning his full attention back to the steps, though he doesn't miss the audible (and disappointed) awww from the crowd when both he and Genda don't up the ante of their playing.

Whatever, as cool as all that attention is (and nerve-racking) having spectators doesn't matter half as much as making sure Genda's having a good time. In fact, his score matters less in comparison to that, and when the song finally ends, although it takes some doing not to look at if he'd managed to close in on Genda's own score, Josuke's quick to grab his jacket and hop off the dance pad.]

Alright...uh. You're way better than most beginners at that, but you didn't really look like you were enjoying it. Wanna try something else or maybe take a break? We can get something to drink, my treat.

[The score hasn't even really started to tally before he's off the dance pad and he barely registers Josukes's comments before he's weaving his way through the now much larger crowd surrounding the machine. How he managed to get out of that crush of bodies without actually touching anyone is a mystery, but he does and he doesn't stop or realize he practically abandoned Josuke until he's found a piece of wall not occupied by a machine and with little foot traffic, compared to the rest of arcade, and his back is against said wall.

Genda's shoulders only start to relax from their tense hunch by the time Josuke likely finds him again.]

[It's really awkward when you find you've been talking to no one because the person you thought you were babbling at has run off somewhere, a fact which Josuke realizes only after Genda doesn't answer his question. He looks around for a few moments, confused, until one of the arcade goers taps his shoulder and points in the direction Genda disappeared in.

"He's that way, man. Woulda thought someone who could play like that would stick around for the praise, but I guess—"

"Not all imPorts lust after the limelight," someone else chimes in as they hop on the now empty dance pads and smirk at Josuke. A smirk that goes unseen and is followed by a disgruntled huff when, ignoring them, Josuke weaves away through the little crowd and, after a few moments, manages to find Genda off in a corner somewhere.]

Hey.

[He'd ask if the kid was alright, but the answer to that question is obvious.]

Sorry about that. I guess it was a little much, huh?

My apologies.

[Josuke's appearance settles him back into neutral, and by settle you can see as the unease and nerves are promptly and swiftly repressed back behind his normal, overly stoic look. Even the slight bit of wariness his tone had at first is once more back to the calm tone Josuke is likely used to.

At least you know he's not actually an emotionless drone right?]

I did not expect a crowd to form.

[A crowd that was literally within touching distance of him and directly behind him at that.]

You don't gotta apologize, it's fine. Sometimes you just gotta have your space.

[Something Josuke understands a lot more than most people would believe.]

I wouldn't worry too much about them, though. They were just really into the performance. And now it looks like they're really into trying to beat your score.

[He shrugs and grins, deliberately aiming for a more casual sort of consolation. If Genda doesn't like crowds, having someone who's still a virtual stranger be all up in his business being friendly probably isn't something he's too fond of, either. And yet...the kid still agreed to come along. That counts for something, right?]

Wanna take a break?

[There's a moment where he actually turns to stare back towards the DDR machines and gives a confused look over that statement. He didn't think he did anything that impressive. Then again he didn't actually stop to look at said score before leaving.

Two emotions in five minutes, that's a record. Though that also doesn't last long before he's back to neutral expression and standing as if nothing happened.]

I'm fine. I made a promise.

[And come mental breakdown or not he's going to see it through so he can truthfully say he didn't care for this sort of activity.]

A promise you realize I'm not gonna hold you to if it means you wind up having a bad time, right?

[That's like, the opposite of what Josuke was trying to accomplish by inviting Genda here in the first place. Because it's one thing to not have fun...but another to be driven to some corner because you're that uncomfortable.]

If you're really not digging the scene, we can stop if you wanna. But if you really don't mind continuing...how about you pick the next game? Whatever looks interesting.

[Maybe control over that much will relieve Genda of some of his discomfort? Josuke can only hope.]

(no subject)

beastfang - 2017-03-04 07:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

unbreaker - 2017-03-08 00:36 (UTC) - Expand