Track 04: Nobody Told Me

[princeofjunes]

ACTION: The Record Store - Morning/Afternoon - Open

[All things considered, Yosuke is enjoying his new job at the record store, familiarizing himself with the music and keeping the records spinning. If you're in the market for some music, come on in and shop!]

ACTION: John Doe Park - Evening - Open

[Yosuke is sitting on a park bench, headphones on as he looks at the ground, despondant. He'd been wondering why he hadn't heard from Chie lately and wanted to make sure she was going to his (late) Birthday Party, so he'd gone after work in search of her.

He hadn't been prepared to see his friend all dressed up and flirting with the drone boys. No training, no kung fu, no arguing - done through and through.

He's not sure how to cope with that. He doesn't even know how long she's been this way. So he's simply sitting there, drowning his sorrows in the music and trying to cope with everything.]

Comments

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"Its one of the ways the town messes with us."

[princeofjunes]

Yeah? Well, it's working.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"Anything I can do to help?"

[princeofjunes]

[He sighs, looking down at the ground]

I... don't know.

How did you deal with this?

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"Its why I keep a certain distance from people. The first time I lost a close friend was droned I took it very hard. She was only a lab mate too, not a girlfriend."

[princeofjunes]

... suddenly it's hard to blame you for being distant.

[He doesn't know what else to say. Or to feel or even to think. This is all too much for him and he just holds his heads in his hands]

This sucks.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

[She pats his shoulder]

"Yes, it does suck."

[princeofjunes]

[He's trying so very hard not to cry - he really is. But a few tears still manage to slip through his defenses]

This is the first time I think I really get it. Why this place is so terrible.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

[She moves a little closer and lightly rubs his back]

"That's one of the reasons yes."

[princeofjunes]

[Her touch feels nice and it's a bit of a comfort - after a few moments he leans against her slightly]

It's scary. To think we could end up like that.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"Actually, its common belief that when people leave they are droned. There has been some scientific data to support this as well so...."

[princeofjunes]

But how can anyone leave?! I thought there wasn't a way out!

[Sorry Ruri, he doesn't mean to be snappy]

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"I have a theory, that the bodies we are in here have been created by the town. That's why people are human when they come here without powers. It takes time to synthesize data on how to simulate us properly. When the body is droned, the consciousness is somewhere else, perhaps back home."

[princeofjunes]

[He knows she's just trying to comfort him but he''s just getting angrier. He starts to say something back but stops himself short of any actual words, desperately trying to calm himself down]

... how can you be sure that it's home?

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"Certainty is impossible, I am only hypothesizing based on data that I have available."

[princeofjunes]

... I really, really hope you're right.

[Stupid conflicting impulses. He wants to cry and wants to hold it in and dammit why is life so terrible.]

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"So do I."

[She looks down and sighs]

[princeofjunes]

[After a few moments he turns to her and wraps her into a hug, unsure of what else to do. He holds her there for a while, holding back tears while holding her]

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

[She returns the hug and closes her eyes]

"You know... Looking at your eyes, if you want to cry... It won't bother me."

[princeofjunes]

She'd never let me live it down, crying over this.

[He does give Ruri a squeeze, still not willing to let her go. They've already zombified one person important to him, he refuses to let them make it two]

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"Who would tell her?"

[She's not letting him go or pushing away, she seems to have no problem with the hug]

[princeofjunes]

[Stupid Ruri and her stupid hugs and her stupid understanding.

And with that, Yosuke buries his stupid face into her shoulder and lets himself cry.]

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

[She pats his head a bit and sighs]

"Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help Yosuke."

[princeofjunes]

[After a few minutes he's cried himself out. His sobs turn into deep breaths, and he un-buries his head from her shoulder]

... you're already helping so much. How much more could I ask for?

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"We're friends right. Friends help each other out."

[She nods a little, still patting his back]