[ It is still touching, to have someone go to that extent for him, but it also makes him feel a bit bad that he couldn't stop it. Well, at least Joseph and Caesar are friends, it's really just their business. ]
Well, you know, I introduced myself first of all, but then he mentioned a "Jojo", so I got curious. Guess I didn't tell you, but that's sorta my nickname too...
Anyway, he asked me if I had any English relatives despite my family name, so your name just came out. I think that's about it?
—Seriously, Jotaro-san too?! Man, he was really wild in his youth, who would have thought...
[ Joseph is right, all of this has nothing to do with him and all to do with punishment for his father's mistakes, but it's a little difficult not to feel responsible when all of this came to light because he got taken to Haven too -- and of course because he's the direct result of those mistakes. ]
Look, the way I see it, all this shit is between you, your wife, mom and I. I get why everyone else's upset but it's kind of a delicate situation... if you throw more people into the mix it's just gonna be a goddamn mess. Either way I'm already involved, so don't just cut me out and just tell me where the hell you are, I've seen what Star Platinum can do.
[ it's been pretty quiet and uneventful lately, so -- it's probably a decent time to address something that he's been wondering for a while now. ring, ring. ]
Higashikata.
[ pause. on second thought, josuke seems to go mostly by his given name, doesn't he. but then again, of course the joestars would refer to him by given name, since he's a family member. kakyoin's so used to referring to most people by surname that he's defaulted to it without thinking.
... well, he can't take it back now. ]
Could I borrow a few minutes of your time? I wanted to ask you something. Not anything to do with here, with Haven.
Well, yeah, that's what I heard -- I didn't really know until Jotaro-san told me, though. All I know is that when I was a child I was on the verge of death with a high fever for about 50 days, and then it suddenly was over and I had Crazy Diamond.
[ he can't help smirking just a little bit at 'jotaro-san.' strange to hear someone actually referring to jotaro with that honorific. ]
A fever for fifty days. I see. That does sound like what Miss Holly -- Jotaro's mother was going through. It must have been quite an ordeal. Not to mention the shock of suddenly finding yourself with a Stand.
Then, the other people with Stands that you spoke of. The ones from Morioh. Are they natural Stand users?
[ Actually has to give it some thought, because he isn't entirely sure for some of them. He knows Okuyasu and Koichi definitely got pierced by the arrow, as well as a lot of other guys in his school, but there are some instances where that's probably not the case -- Rohan, Tonio, probably even that asshole Kira Yoshikage. ]
I think I know some guy who might be a natural user, but he's not from my High School anyway ... Tonio's probably like that too, and he's an adult too. But far as I know everyone in my school who's also a Stand user got pierced by a golden arrow -- you know, the ones that DIO guy used?
[ that -- went in a direction he wasn't expecting. he'd mostly been curious about the possible existence of other natural stand users in japan, so it's a little jarring to hear dio being brought into this conversation. ]
I ... don't think I'm familiar with any arrow. But you're saying DIO has some connection to the presence of Stand users in your hometown?
[ The reaction surprises him, and it shows in his tone of voice ]
Well, not directly ... You really never heard about 'em -- the arrows? I don't mind explaining but I'm just warning you now, that ain't my strong suit.
Okay, well, all I know is that this DIO guy got a couple of 'em from some kinda old sorceress, got hit with one and got his Stand -- which is why we all got one too -- and I guess then probably hit a buncha other people with them too?
[ It doesn't sound very confident -- Josuke really isn't sure on the details, after all. ]
My best bud, Okuyasu — his old man was working for DIO, and he left a bow and a arrow with him ... and when he and his brother found out about 'em they started looking for people they could turn into Stand users, that's how we ended up with so many in Morioh.
[ 'old sorceress' must be referring to enya, which would explain why she knew the details of dio's stand. ]
I see ... I'd never thought about it much before, but it makes sense that there was some sort trigger that awakened DIO's Stand and caused the chain reaction in your family.
But this arrow -- can just turn normal people into Stand users? Discounting the risks of someone being unable to contain their newfound Stand ... recklessly giving people Stand abilities sounds like an incredibly dangerous thing to do. Especially if all of those people are contained within a specific area.
[ He brings a hand to the back of his neck, rubbing at it nervously for a second. ]
Well, not exactly, they gotta still have the potential for it. Okuyasu's brother targeted criminals, 'cuz they were more likely to have it ... and far as I know anyone who didn't get a Stand died instead.
... of course. That does sound like the sort of aftermath DIO would leave behind.
[ a city in japan populated with multiple stand-user criminals. he still can't quite wrap his head around the concept. ]
I take it those criminals are the reason why you sounded so accustomed to dealing with dangerous Stand users? I can't imagine your Stand saw too much combat use before those events.
Not unless you count the occasional asshole with a funny comment about my hair, yeah. But you know, now that you mention it, all things considered I didn't even deal with all that many criminals -- just two serial killers, I'm pretty sure. Everyone else's been a student from my school ... not that they didn't try to kill me anyway.
Man, talk about a rough school life.
[ he tries to sound casual about it, though of course his encounters with both those serial killers haven't been pleasant and they still weight on his mind some, but he tries to focus with the much more easy to deal with issue of his schoolmates being after his life. ]
... right, by the way, about DIO's legacy ... Okuyasu's brother was an asshole, and they both did shitty things, but it ain't like they were doing it for shit and giggles. DIO put something inside their dad's brain -- what was it, a fleshbud? And things just kinda went to shit after that asshole died, so they were just looking for a way to fix it. Okuyasu's a real good guy.
[ he can't help letting out a brief, disbelieving laugh at that. knowing how dangerous stand users can be, the ease with which josuke says it is a little impressive.
but it tapers off quickly enough, and kakyoin gives a thoughtful sigh. ]
Well, it certainly sounds like you've been through a lot. It's respectable, though, that you were still willing to befriend someone who'd previously been an enemy. Even considering those extenuating circumstances, I imagine it couldn't have been easy.
voice, after all the bullshit that was caesar and jotaro
Hey, Josuke...?
voice;
He-- hey. What's up, did something happen?
voice;
[ He knows that Josuke had met Jotaro, but now he was wondering whether the young man had met his best friend. ]
voice;
[ There's worry in his voice, and given the first reaction Caesar had, it's not unreasonable. ]
I mean -- yeah, I've met your buddy.
voice;
[ By that he meant, a whole lot. ]
What'd you say to him? Just so I can figure out how he got so mad.
voice;
[ It is still touching, to have someone go to that extent for him, but it also makes him feel a bit bad that he couldn't stop it. Well, at least Joseph and Caesar are friends, it's really just their business. ]
Well, you know, I introduced myself first of all, but then he mentioned a "Jojo", so I got curious. Guess I didn't tell you, but that's sorta my nickname too...
Anyway, he asked me if I had any English relatives despite my family name, so your name just came out. I think that's about it?
voice;
[ Joseph gives a pained laugh, that actually pained him. Man, getting beat up by two people one after the other was pretty rough. ]
But yeah, that answers all my questions. You should have a good day, Josuke.
Re: voice;
... you wanna tell me what happened or are you just gonna freak out on your own?
no subject
[ It hurt, but this is problem with them both, and Josuke doesn't have to get involved. ]
Though it's regarding what I did, I've given you enough grief, haven't I? I don't want to add to that here.
no subject
[ Joseph is right, all of this has nothing to do with him and all to do with punishment for his father's mistakes, but it's a little difficult not to feel responsible when all of this came to light because he got taken to Haven too -- and of course because he's the direct result of those mistakes. ]
Look, the way I see it, all this shit is between you, your wife, mom and I. I get why everyone else's upset but it's kind of a delicate situation... if you throw more people into the mix it's just gonna be a goddamn mess. Either way I'm already involved, so don't just cut me out and just tell me where the hell you are, I've seen what Star Platinum can do.
voice.
Higashikata.
[ pause. on second thought, josuke seems to go mostly by his given name, doesn't he. but then again, of course the joestars would refer to him by given name, since he's a family member. kakyoin's so used to referring to most people by surname that he's defaulted to it without thinking.
... well, he can't take it back now. ]
Could I borrow a few minutes of your time? I wanted to ask you something. Not anything to do with here, with Haven.
voice.
Hey. What's up, something wrong?
voice.
I've been told that Jotaro and Mister Joestar's Stands are an indirect result of their bloodline. Yours is the same, isn't it?
voice.
no subject
A fever for fifty days. I see. That does sound like what Miss Holly -- Jotaro's mother was going through. It must have been quite an ordeal. Not to mention the shock of suddenly finding yourself with a Stand.
Then, the other people with Stands that you spoke of. The ones from Morioh. Are they natural Stand users?
no subject
I think I know some guy who might be a natural user, but he's not from my High School anyway ... Tonio's probably like that too, and he's an adult too. But far as I know everyone in my school who's also a Stand user got pierced by a golden arrow -- you know, the ones that DIO guy used?
no subject
[ that -- went in a direction he wasn't expecting. he'd mostly been curious about the possible existence of other natural stand users in japan, so it's a little jarring to hear dio being brought into this conversation. ]
I ... don't think I'm familiar with any arrow. But you're saying DIO has some connection to the presence of Stand users in your hometown?
no subject
Well, not directly ... You really never heard about 'em -- the arrows? I don't mind explaining but I'm just warning you now, that ain't my strong suit.
no subject
No, this is the first time I've learned anything about any 'arrows'. I'd like to hear what you know about them, if you wouldn't mind.
no subject
[ It doesn't sound very confident -- Josuke really isn't sure on the details, after all. ]
My best bud, Okuyasu — his old man was working for DIO, and he left a bow and a arrow with him ... and when he and his brother found out about 'em they started looking for people they could turn into Stand users, that's how we ended up with so many in Morioh.
no subject
I see ... I'd never thought about it much before, but it makes sense that there was some sort trigger that awakened DIO's Stand and caused the chain reaction in your family.
But this arrow -- can just turn normal people into Stand users? Discounting the risks of someone being unable to contain their newfound Stand ... recklessly giving people Stand abilities sounds like an incredibly dangerous thing to do. Especially if all of those people are contained within a specific area.
no subject
Well, not exactly, they gotta still have the potential for it. Okuyasu's brother targeted criminals, 'cuz they were more likely to have it ... and far as I know anyone who didn't get a Stand died instead.
So yeah, pretty dangerous and fucked up.
no subject
[ a city in japan populated with multiple stand-user criminals. he still can't quite wrap his head around the concept. ]
I take it those criminals are the reason why you sounded so accustomed to dealing with dangerous Stand users? I can't imagine your Stand saw too much combat use before those events.
no subject
Man, talk about a rough school life.
[ he tries to sound casual about it, though of course his encounters with both those serial killers haven't been pleasant and they still weight on his mind some, but he tries to focus with the much more easy to deal with issue of his schoolmates being after his life. ]
... right, by the way, about DIO's legacy ... Okuyasu's brother was an asshole, and they both did shitty things, but it ain't like they were doing it for shit and giggles. DIO put something inside their dad's brain -- what was it, a fleshbud? And things just kinda went to shit after that asshole died, so they were just looking for a way to fix it. Okuyasu's a real good guy.
no subject
[ he can't help letting out a brief, disbelieving laugh at that. knowing how dangerous stand users can be, the ease with which josuke says it is a little impressive.
but it tapers off quickly enough, and kakyoin gives a thoughtful sigh. ]
Well, it certainly sounds like you've been through a lot. It's respectable, though, that you were still willing to befriend someone who'd previously been an enemy. Even considering those extenuating circumstances, I imagine it couldn't have been easy.
I'm starting to see the family resemblance.
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