01; Video... sort of.

[trickstar]

[The video feed starts with the face of a young man looking... very confused at the phone in front of him. Squinting, almost. Soon followed by a...]

HELLO?

[...He is literally yelling into the communicator, and pressing it to his cheek. Entirely unnecessary, since this is a video post... But whatever. Say hello to Joseph's cheek, fellow users of the Network. This is all you get for the rest of the video.]

There's no receiver end on this thing, how am I supposed to know where to talk into! Or who I'm talking to?

[Yeah. You're getting one of these guys again. Sorry. He's from 1938. This has been a rough journey for the technologically inept.]

Whatever! I have to go back- it's really important. I'm going to be done for in six days if I don't get to Switzerland! It's a really long story but I don't have time for another adventure, I'm already in the middle of one right now. I don't want to hear any of those excuses I've already been told! I'm being really serious here! I should have memorized Lisa Lisa's phone number...

Comments

permavideo on his end!

[trickstar]

Like a radio...

[Give him a few more seconds, taking it away from his face and looking at it. Tilting it, because that changes how the video is displayed. Ah, words.]

Your name is Gilbert Nightray, then?

fffine switching to video!

[corviform]

[ There seems to be some distance between himself and the communicator, judging by how small he appears in the feed. It's only after he concludes the other guy isn't going to yell anymore into his device that he drags it back closer. ]

That's right.

And you're... Joseph Joestar?

don't worry gil you're pretty enough for video

[trickstar]

It knows my name already?

[To which he's pretty upset. Not like he's not upset by most things here. This is an upsetting day.]

What if I had to conceal my identity! Not that I have to right now, but you never know...

I guess there's no real point in an introduction since you know it anyway, but you're right. I'm Joseph Joestar! Nice to meet you! Or it would be if I wasn't in a rush.

bats bishounen lashes at

[corviform]

I'm not very good at explaining technology, but it's... noted in the device when it's handed out to us. If that makes sense.

[ Two years later and he's still trying to get the hang of modern technology. ]

It's nice to meet you as well. [ But, er... ] Did the escorts not explain the situation?

t-too pretty for video. in fact, turn it off. no one can look directly at you.

[trickstar]

...

I wasn't listening.

[more like he PICKED A FIGHT WITH THE SOLDIER, TOOK THE COMMUNICATOR AND FILE, AND JUST LEFT THE CAR WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING but you know whatever same thing right]

no. TELL ME I'M PRETTY.

[corviform]

[ His mouth hangs open slightly.

He resists the urge to roll his eyes, but he does drag a hand down his face. ]

You aren't permitted to leave the country. I'm sorry, but you can't leave this place.

you're pretty, gil-chan!!!!

[trickstar]

Visiting the Switzerland here wouldn't help me, anyway. I'm not going to just visit the alps or anything like that. There's someone there I have to defeat. If this is the future, then they're not here nor there.

... I really am screwed, this time!!

kyaaaa

[corviform]

You should be fine. I know this will sound strange, but time will be as it is when you left your world whenever you are sent back.

[trickstar]

No, it's still not fine! There's a poison in me that can only be cured by defeating a certain man in battle! And he's not here, but I'm still poisoned!!

[corviform]

What?

[ He's not sure he understands the "defeating" someone part, but being poisoned is never good. ]

Are you alright? You need to get to a doctor here as soon as possible.

[trickstar]

A regular doctor won't work! I need a pharmacist or something! But I don't even know if a cure can be made, since they won't have access to the original poison...

[corviform]

There must be an imPort you can ask on the network.

[ He wonders if Loki can cure poisons. ]

Are you feeling ill? How long has it been?

[trickstar]

I feel fine, but it's been twenty-eight days...

[...]

OHHHH NOOOOO!!

I ONLY HAVE FIVE DAYS, NOT SIX!!!!!

[corviform]

You need to find a doctor! Don't waste time on the network!

[trickstar]

Tch, I really don't want to go to a doctor... But I guess that at this point, I really have to. Alright. How do I get to one?

[corviform]

There are various clinics around the town.

Where are you right now?

[trickstar]

The corner of Kent and McLin. Suburban neighborhood. I see some houses number #31 and #32.

[corviform]

Alright, the clinic's a little further into the town, but you can call a taxi to drive you here.

I think I may still have the number... [ And after a minute, indeed, a number shows up on the screen. ] I don't remember the addresses offhand since I haven't been there in some time, but if you tell them you need to see a doctor, they'll know where to go.

[trickstar]

...

[All helpful information, but Joseph is also lazy as fuck. Even when it comes to saving his own life.]

That sounds like a lot of work of talking on the phone.

1/2

[corviform]

[ Are you kidding him? ]

2/2

[corviform]

It's hardly! Don't joke around at a time like this!

[trickstar]

Alright, alright! Jeez... I'll give them a call.

...So do you know what happens if someone loses the keys to the place they're supposed to live in?

[corviform]

[ He practically gapes in return. ]

Did you lose your keys...?

[trickstar]

I just didn't take them. But I figured that the more common situation is for someone to lose their keys instead of what happened to me, so that's why I asked.

[corviform]

You didn't take...

[ Maybe the poison is affecting logical reasoning? ]

You can probably ring the doorbell and see if there's someone inside who can let you in...