[text]

[giveuponyourself]

It seems we're all stuck here together like one big happy family, aren't we? Since that's the case... how about we play a little game to get to know each other?

What is most important to you in your entire life? What would you be willing to do anything for? And I do mean anything~

And please, nothing like 'friendship' or 'world peace.' Really dig down deep; we should all be honest with each other, don't you think? ❤

[feel free to answer the question or not, Joshua seems to just be very bored. what a chatty nerd!]

Comments

[giveuponyourself]

Can't they all be true, and I simple have multiple reasons behind my motivation? After all, people that think are binary are tiresome and foolish~

[invasif]

Yes, whether they're brash or meek, merely deceitful or ashamed. Though the two so often come as one.

[ Are you casting aspersions, Lady Ilde.... ]

[giveuponyourself]

~~~~

Quite a few good ones, actually. You'd be surprised how many people get offended by the thought that someone might not be all friendship and rainbows.

[giveuponyourself]

Am I? I figured I was being pretty cordial with anyone asking questions. There's not much I can do if all you're doing is throwing out accusations.

But I'm a reasonable guy. You're more than welcome to ask me anything if you really have a bone to pick with me.

[He's probably not going to be 100% truthful depending on the question, but hey.]

[giveuponyourself]

I've only been to one other alternate world myself, so you've already got me beat!

So? What were they like?

[eraserdad]

alright, then answer your own question
and don't say there isn't anything

[giveuponyourself]

Seems like an audacious misinterpretation if they're sacrificing people in the name of justice and order. But Ancient Egypt isn't exactly my strong suit.

[Yeah that's as good as he's got. He's not very good at expressing sympathy. Or feelings?]

Worry not; like I said, I don't have the power to take anything from you anymore and my lips are sealed~

But I will say... the original intent of my work was in the hopes of helping someone grow by the loss. A part of that was hopefully helping people who ended their own lives find new reasons to continue, or reignite something they'd left behind.

...Of course, I suppose your feelings are none of my business. But I hope I could provide some sort of insight.

[giveuponyourself]

Maybe you should! You've certainly got some lofty ideals. If you don't think much of yourself, you can't really expect yourself to get better and achieve those goals now, can you?

[soundsurfing]

[ Beat can agree with that, really, that action spoke a million words. Ugh his head is going to hurt for hours now. Warily watching the phone open and close, Beat gets back to his feet, just in case he does have to dodge.

Deforestation? A pyrowhatnow. God, Beat isn't going to even try to figure that shit out. Too much head pain already. ]

So, what yo, that just means we aint dead, right?

[hauhra]

It's funny that you should say that, because your motivations are remarkably similar to what I was always told were the responsibilities of Anubis in the afterlife.

And you're right, they aren't, but... in a way, I suppose you did.

Thanks, I guess.

[ it's more consolation than anyone else has ever offered him, anyway, and it may not seem like it from his response, but he's still grateful nevertheless, much to his own surprise. ]

[giveuponyourself]

Of course I enjoy the conflict. It's only by being met with opposition, having to defend ourselves and what we know against an outside opinion, that we learn to grow and be ourselves. Perhaps we realize the error in our own thinking, or we can see that we are right. Either way, it's impossible to grow without clashing.

But you're right-- I do have a rather large sample size that informs my opinion. Nothing you say will convince me of your own viewpoint, just as nothing I say will change your mind. It's impossible for us to express ourselves without clashing, and yet we still try.

[giveuponyourself]

Can't argue there. Most people seem more worried with being suspicious of me than deceitful. Unless of course, you're talking about something else...?

[giveuponyourself]

And force myself to lie? That's not very fair of you!

[giveuponyourself]

That's my theory, anyway.

[Josh flips the phone open and closed a few times, before he finally closes it with a bit more finality, and tucks it back into his pocket with a sigh.]

It's impossible to say for sure, but everyone here seems to be alive. This could be some different plane in the afterlife, run by this Astoria woman-- [See, he didn't say witch that time--], but there doesn't seem to be any of the general rules in place here. It's most likely we're just in an alternate world, but alive and well.

[Of course if he knew Beat really had a power and that other people did too his theory would be different, but he's working with what he's got.]

[eraserdad]

nothing about this situation is fair
but digging into others' weaknesses and then claim to have none of your own doesn't really inspire confidence in your intentions

[giveuponyourself]

Who ever said anything about weaknesses? I didn't say I didn't have any. And any answer to the question can be either a boon or a curse.

Not that I really care if you think I'm good or bad, but I'll tell you what I've told others; there's simply nothing in my life that I would go to extremes of saving or preserving. Life is ever fleeting and ever-changing after all.

[soundsurfing]

[ It's strange but in some part of Beat's brain, Beat really had been hoping this had been some sort of Game by Joshua again, because it meant at the end he'd get out and get to see his sister again. Hang out with Neku and Shiki, go about his life.

But it's just now actually really sinking in that Josh is just as much a pawn as he is, and they really did just get kidnapped from their home and plunked down in some new world to be some Warriors of Light or whatever. Joshua had no say in the matter, it was all up to AstroGirl and she didn't seem to be talking much.

It's actually rather disheartening. ]

... You think we ever gonna be able to go home?

[eraserdad]

don't play dumb
something a person would do "anything" for? you know exactly what you were saying

and even if you're entirely self-serving, there's nobody who has nothing they would defend
even if it's just their pride
or their life itself

[giveuponyourself]

I'm not so full of myself as to compare my role to a real god. But I suppose as far as job qualifications are, it's not too far off.

No need to thank me. I'm glad I could still help out a bit.

[It's a wildly different tone than he's taken with most people, but-- but like Bakura, while it may not seem like he's genuinely glad, a part of Joshua does take a bit of pride in a job well done.]

[giveuponyourself]

Hm?

[Beat's not a hard person to read-- and the way his tone seems to change to a bit more... serious does catch Joshua's attention a bit more than before. Back home?]

...Who knows. Travel between ours and other parallel universes is doable, but it's difficult, even for me. In a world of infinite probability, there's always a chance we can get back to our own Shibuya, but the likelihood of it happening... without even knowing where or what this is, it's impossible to say.

[He's not even sure if he has the same attachment to 'home' as Beat did. Sure, he'd softened on Shibuya, been glad to see the group of friends reunite in the RG, but... well, as with most things in Joshua's life, it was bittersweet. He'd like his seat on Shibuya's throne back, of course, but...]

[giveuponyourself]

It's not my fault if all you can see in is the negative side.

Well, I certainly have my pride, which I'm pretty fond of. I think myself is definitely what I would fight for the most... but even I know that has a limit. I've already died and changed my entire life once; so I moved on and clawed my way to the top. I certainly like my position back home, but after awhile one can't help but resent the same old thing. So, I almost gave up all that again too.

See what I mean? Even if I chose myself, I know when it's best to try starting over.

[eraserdad]

[wait, what. rewind on that.]

what do you mean you already died

[giveuponyourself]

[aaw, that's not even the funnest thing he said.]

Umm, I was dead? Deceased? Technically still am, by strict definitions. I'm not really sure how to make that more clear...

[soundsurfing]

[ Whoa big words again. It's not so bad when they're spaced out and surrounded by small normal words but no, Josh has to go and make a big word triple layer cake. Blinking hard, he waits until Josh finishes, then frowns at him. ]

Yes or no, dude, that's all you had to say. Yes or no. Or "I dunno" or "maybe" or somethin'.

[ A big sigh follows the words; it's obvious Beat's not mad. ]

We gotta teach you how to talk like a normal person, yo. You gonna get stuffed in a locker somewhere if you keep up wid the nerdy words.

[ Stretching his arms over his head, Beat settles back to think. ]

Why us three, though? Kinda weird group to bring from home. ... Oh, yeah, you know Sho's here? Tabooty?

[eraserdad]

[gIVE HIM A MINUTE. WITH THIS.]

...are you saying there's a person or force that brings back the dead where you're from

[CAUSE, YANNO, THAT'S SUPER IMPOSSIBLE BACK HOME. HE WAS LITERALLY JUST DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT OF A STUDENT LOSING THEIR MENTOR. IT WAS A BAD TIME.]