Track 03 - Smile Like you Mean It [OPEN]

[princeofjunes]

Characters: Yosuke Hanamura and YOU!
Setting: The Art Gallery (floor 22), The Media Room (floor 14), and The Glass Room (floor 4), after the collar event
Format: Action preferred, but I'll follow you.
Summary: Shit goes awry in the art gallery, and Yosuke is shaken all day long
Warnings: Angst! And Yosuke getting his little mind bent out of shape but I doubt it's anything too terrible.

The Art Gallery - Open

[To call the last few days horrible is understating reality, and on top of that Yosuke has to deal with the fact that a possible romantic interest has disappeared from the tower - as well as the fact that he was even considering romance in a tower like this. He's not much for fine art - music is more his thing after all - but for some reason he finds the paintings almost soothing to look at as he contemplates the deep thoughts of the universe.]

[Why him? Why his friends? Why are they even there? What if their worlds really are destroyed? He's been coasting by on a near blind optimism, but now he's forcing himself to face the facts as they stand. And on top of that, why's he even considering getting attached to anyone? What's the best case scenario there? That their worlds really are destroyed and they have to live out the rest of their lives there in the tower? That their worlds are still safe, and when the dust settles and they're free to go, they both have to go back to separate lives, never to meet again? And besides, it's not like one kiss really meant anything anyways. Maybe it's for the best that she's gone]

[It's lovely thoughts like these he's lost in, and Yosuke doesn't even notice when a familiar fog begins rolling in across the floor, slowly rising and eventually blanketing the area. It's only when his vision is suddenly cut that he's turning around quickly, heart sinking with dread as he realizes the familiarity of the situation he's in. Panic turns to a tense calm as he collects himself enough to slip on his glasses, rendering the fog a mere nuisance - but just as soon as he does, he wishes he hadn't]

[The pictures have changed, and certainly not for the better. On one, the ruins of what he can barely recognize as Inaba, buildings crumbling, plants dead, the vibrant life that the small town had going for it snuffed out like a candle. On another, he recognizes himself and the tower - and at his feet, the bodies of each and every friend he has there, mangled beyond belief. In yet another he recognizes his shadow self, holding him by the throat and pinning him to the ground as the bloody body of his best friend lies nearby. And more. Countless more, all filled with the worst horrors he can imagine]

[A short while later, anyone who finds him here will find no trace of the fog, and Yosuke himself curled into the fetal position, back to a wall as he quietly sobs into his knees]

The Media Room - Open

[Later that day, Yosuke's trying to shake off the effects of the art gallery by blasting music while playing some generic fighting video game where the women and men are both unrealistically proportioned. It doesn't seem to be working though - he hardly seems to be into it, and he doesn't even care when he's brutally beaten. He's certainly focused on something though, and doesn't notice anyone approach until they interact with him]

The Glass Room - Open

[Even later, Yosuke seems to have given up on escapism and is sitting on the floor quietly, staring out and seemingly lost in thought. He will hear someone approach though, and will even go so far as to look up at them and offer the a painfully fake smile at whoever approaches]

Comments

the glass room!

[knifehands]

[ she walks into the room pretty quickly until she see yosuke in the room, which somehow startles her enough to let out a gasp.

she wasn't expecting anyone to be in this room, and she wasn't expecting this room to actually look like this. this place was just full of surprises ]

Shit!

[princeofjunes]

[Between the footsteps and the gasp, she wasn't exactly easy to miss - but it's what she says that catches him off guard and turns a fake smile into genuine surprise]

Is everything alright?

[knifehands]

[ she calms down to see it's just another person, which she's really happy to see. this place was weird, and belarus didn't trust anything about it ]

You startled me. Who are you?

[princeofjunes]

Oh, sorry about that. I'm Yosuke Hanamura. And yourself?

[Normally he'd offer a smile or at least a friendly wave, but a neutral expression is the best he can muster in his current state]

[knifehands]

Belarus.

[ something about being around yosuke feels more at ease than the other people she has met, her cold expression softening ]

Which room is this?

[princeofjunes]

[Whether he'd admit it or not, Yosuke's grateful for the company - it keeps him out of his head, and right now being stuck in his head is the last thing he needs]

I'm not really sure, I've always passed it by before. [He gestures to the couches and chairs scattered about] I think it's supposed to be some kind of lounge? It's actually not too bad, as far as floors in this damn tower go.

[knifehands]

[ Belarus was never grateful for company, but this kept her mind distracted from thinking of her brother... sort of

flopping down on the couch she sighed ] I hate this place.

Art Gallery.

[ocariness]

[ ... This Tower was cruel.

Link had learned that forcibly, even though they hadn't wanted to. Dying twice in the last month alone, the games they'd had played with them... people disappearing, it all took its toll in its own way.

Link had really liked that tunic, but they'd had to compromise and make a new blue one. At least then it'd be easier for others to tell which one they were.

It's the sound of crying Link picks up on, thanks to Hylian hearing. They hated this floor, and it gave them the creeps. When they finally find Yosuke, as broken as they had been not a week or so earlier, they can't help but stop and offer a concerned look, crouching in silence. ]

... Yosuke.

[ It's said quietly, so as not to startle him. Link needs to get him out of this floor; they know for a fact the only thing here is trauma and torment. At least this answered one question. He was alive. He wasn't in that game. Link only hoped the recent collar problems hadn't affected him, too. ]

[princeofjunes]

[On any other day, in any other situation, Yosuke would try to put on a brave face. He'd smile up at Link, try to make small talk, and hide his weakness behind a laugh. He'd deflect questions and try to seem unflappable, even if the opposite is completely true]

[Today? There's nothing he can do to hide his weakness as he looks up at Link, tears still streaming down his face. He can't manage a response, a wave, not a thing - he just raises his eyes to the Hylian, feeling as pathetic as he's certain he looks]

[ocariness]

[ Link wasn't about to judge him. Not when they'd been in the same position for different reasons not even a week or so ago earlier.

So instead, Link just pauses before... sitting down across from him.

He needed time, they were sure. There would be time to ask or urge later, for now, at least, they can offer company and an ear if he needed it. That's all.

Actions always spoke louder than any amount of words, from Link's point of view, anyway. ]

[princeofjunes]

[He's not sure how long it takes, but slowly, the sobs start to dwindle. Link's presence, even without the boy saying a word, has a comforting effect on Yosuke. Eventually crying turns to sniffles, and sniffles turn to Yosuke rubbing at his face and eyes, trying in vain to collect himself]

[Eventually, he manages to at least look up at Link, taking even more comfort in the sight of the Hylian. His voice - when he manages to speak - is shaky at best, but he manages to get through a sentence or two alright]

Thanks Link, I just... I...

[He shakes his head, hoping at least one coherent thought will result]

I'm not doing so great.

[ocariness]

[ They can tell. Link is patient, though, and when Yosuke finally does speak, there is a brief pause as they mull over what to say. ]

... This floor is not good for anyone's mind.

[ They know. But Link refused to believe it was anything more than another attempt at slowly breaking them. Psychological warfare, perhaps; who knew?

This Tower was evil. That much was certain. ]

I would like to meet the person that spent enough time in here that was doing 'great'. They might deserve a trophy. ... Or they might be insane.

[ A small attempt at humor, even though Link isn't one much for trying to cheer others up. ]

[princeofjunes]

[Yosuke can't help but laugh at Link's stupid joke - not so much at Link's expert humor and sense of style, but because it seems like all he can do in the face of such overwhelming sadness. Crying his eyes out, then laughing at a stupid joke. It only seems right]

[The laughter almost becomes another round of sobs, but he manages to compose himself, and after a few moments he looks back at Link full of what determination he's able to muster. It's not much, but for now, it's enough]

Give me a hand? I think you're right, and I wouldn't mind getting out of here.

Media Level!

[fracta_anima]

[Minami was still in a daze from what had happened over the last few days. The last she could clearly remember had been voices in her head pressing to get out, the feeling of pressing the evoker to her head, and then a feeling as if floating in her own body. Like someone else had taken the front seat and she'd simply been along for the ride. It made no sense to her.

Even more frightening had been the snatches of memory she did have of that period of time before waking in her bed, unable to move for a solid ten minutes just like when she first arrived here. Her collar was blue again instead of orange and now....

Death. Lots of death. And her hands the ones that dealt it. It made no sense, but then again what about this prison did? That's what this is as far as Minami is concerned: a prison. Nothing more and nothing less. Why else would the people here be tortured so regularly?

Minami, in a bid to distract herself before she faced anyone, made her way down to the media level and was surprised to hear that someone else was blasting music just as loud as she tended to when alone down here. another music lover, perhaps? That was always a good distraction when things got tough for her.

The guy playing the game is a year older than she is and he's playing a video game. Something cheesecake-ish with too much gore just like Junpei likes it. Minami manages a wan smile as she thinks of it. A smile that disappears as she thinks about how much she misses her team. Since this guy, even vaguely, reminds her of Junpei, she approaches, and plops down onto a seat near him.]

Hey. You new here or do we just keep missing each other?

[princeofjunes]

[Yosuke jumps slightly at the stranger he didn't even notice approaching, turning to look at her -

- ... and his brain stops.

He had heard of this sort of thing, thanks to Dr. Stein. People in the tower who looked like other people. Hell, if what he heard was to be believed, they were the same person, just different. Not that it made any sense in the slightest. Still, hearing about it is one thing, and experiencing it is another beast altogether. So Minami, please don't think badly of Yosuke for taking a minute to stare and gape. He just can't help it, honest.

But finally he does collect his thoughts, and he manages a sheepish answer]

I, uh... think we just keep missing each other. I'd remember seeing you around - you look just like someone I met my first day.

[fracta_anima]

Oh.

[She scratches the back of her head, giving a sheepish laugh. She'd heard about the alternates and all that. Heck, she was friends with a much nicer version of Minato, but it's nice to know that staring had been because of that. Not, well, because he had known what she'd done.]

I've heard about that. Alternate universes can be kinda confusing, huh?

[princeofjunes]

Yeah, no kidding. Hard to think that somewhere, there's ten different versions of me running around.

[Though if that were true, they at least weren't stuck in the stupid tower. Good for them - but then he tries his best to turn his thoughts away from that morbid path]

Anyway, I'm Yosuke Hanamura. Nice to meet you for the first time again.

[There's a lack of enthusiasm in his voice, but he at least tries to smile for her]

[fracta_anima]

I prefer to think of them as distant cousins who happen to lead similar lives. It keeps my brain from melting just thinking of the logistics of it!

[Or thinking too hard about what it means if she'd made a slightly different decision or her circumstances were slightly different.]

I'm Minami. Minami Arisato. It's nice to meet you for the first time--period!

[Somehow, she manages a laugh and leans toward the TV. Senseless fantasy violence seems like the best way to distract herself.]

You mind if I take player two?

[princeofjunes]

[Arisato? Like Minato? He's curious, but now doesn't seem like the time to ask with the wealth of other things on his mind. Besides, it could be another weird 'parallel universe' thing and he's had his fill of those for the moment. There is one thing he knows for certain - her laugh is infectious, and his lips begin to threaten to curl into an actual smile]

Go for it - some actual competition might be just what the doctor ordered.

I should warn you though - I'm terrible at this one.

[And with that he lets random choose his fate - of course he'd wind up with the most unrealistic, scantily clad woman of the bunch. Way to make him look like a perv, random]

Media Room

[evokingfool]

[Minato's mostly recovered from...whatever happened to him. He remember voices (that's normal), as well as a powerful, familiar presence.

But right now, he wish to distract himself and walk into the media room. The loud music catch his attention easily, with how loud they are. Curious about it, he follows the sounds until he find Yosuke playing a game.]

...Hanamura-san?

[princeofjunes]

[Despite the combined din of the music and crappy fighting game, he manages to hear his name called. When he sees who it is he tries to manage a smile, though it doesn't work quite well - if anything, it probably looks like a grimace. His voice at least is friendly enough]

Hey, Arisato. Want to join me? I know we could hook in another controller or something.

[evokingfool]

Sure thing. [He's not quite convinced by Yosuke's smile, but he walks over. He looks at the screen, checking the game out.]

What kind of fighting game is this?

Media room.

[pitiedthefool]

[He too had come to the media room to escape for now, unable to really make much sense of anything else and after the week prior... What had happened, anyway? Most of it was a blur, and yet he distinctly recalls the feeling lightheaded, of helping someone else in an attack by the monsters before he was lost in a fog until he awoke sometime later. Though he did recall one other thing... Something he'd rather not right now.

So when he does arrive and hears the music, he can't help but think of who he knows who always does this when upset and how they were the second person he'd come across upon awakening here. It's almost subconscious, the action he takes then in following the sounds and watching his friend play silently. Something about how he's behaving is making him wonder what happened, concerned.]

...Are you alright? [Stupid question, but... it at least lets his best friend know that he's there.]

[princeofjunes]

[That familiar voice is all he needs to hear - turning and confirming who it is is just a formality at this point. And all at once, his body visibly relaxes for the first time that day, even getting close to a genuine smile. The tower is still horrible, his day has still been a waking nightmare, and he's still a wreck. But with Yu there? He can at least drop his guard and stop pretending he can hold it together on his own]

[He leans back a bit on the couch, tossing the controller aside. He wasn't really invested in the game anyway]

Not even close to alright, or near the same planet as alright.

[pitiedthefool]

[He recognizes the look in Yosuke's eyes, immediately moving to join him on the couch. While he knew the look, that feeling, he had no idea what it had been to cause such a state today. Before he'd left, there had been plenty of genuine smiles, maybe even laced with sadness. But this...? Yu can't help but let the worry shine in his eyes. After all, all they really had in this place was each other to lean on...

There's a faint nod of understanding. He's all ears, if he wants to talk about it. If not? He can offer silent support.]