Track 02 - Here Comes the Sun [OPEN]

[princeofjunes]

Characters: Yosuke Hanamura and YOU!
Setting: Floor 25
Format: I'll follow, but action is far faster for me
Summary: Yosuke's in a half-thinking, half-escapist mood. What better place to do both?
Warnings: None!

[In the middle of this springtime meadow is one high school student, sprawled out on the grass with his headphones on and blasting music. He switches every few minutes between nodding his head to the beat and looking oddly contemplative. But he's aware of his surroundings, and as people pass he'll do one of two things]

[If Yosuke doesn't know you, he'll simply smile and offer a friendly wave]

[If he does, he'll slip the headphones off his hears and give a greeting] Hey!

Comments

[windykind]

[MANDSHAKE.]

Oh, I'm from Washington! You know, in America?

...I guess you're from Japan, with a name like that. [He laughs.]

[princeofjunes]

[And he grins. For all the weirdness in the tower, this is refreshing]

Good call! After everything else I've seen here, it's kind of cool to meet someone from somewhere as normal as America. I'd almost forgotten what 'normal' feels like.

[windykind]

Yeah, a lot of these people come from really weird places! And I know there are some trolls, too.

How long have you been here?

[princeofjunes]

Oh, you've met the trolls too? I've only met Aradia, but she's not a bad one to start with.

[He takes a moment to think]

A month or so, I think? I'm not sure if it feels like more or less.

[windykind]

Oh, I knew them before I came here! ...This is the first time we've talked in person, but yeah, I did.

Time gets weird in here, doesn't it? [John nods in agreement, trying to recall when he came into the tower.] I've been here for like... two months? Three? Maybe?

[princeofjunes]

Wait wait wait, back up. You knew the trolls? Aren't you from America? And aren't they from some weird planet? Planet... troll...ia... okay I forget the name, but still!

[windykind]

I talked to them on the Internet! They're trolls, after all. [BIGGEST GRIN]

[princeofjunes]

... you did not just seriously say that.

[windykind]

I sure did.

[princeofjunes]

Alright, alright.

But seriously, how could you know the trolls?

[windykind]

Because I talked to them on the Internet. That's what happened, I swear.

[princeofjunes]

So the internet connects planets now? And... and that's just totally normal?

[windykind]

Well, no, it's not... normal. But one of them told me that they found a way to get into our Internet. I don't get it either.

[princeofjunes]

Okay.

Alright. As long as we're on the same page about that not being normal at all, I can let it go. So, what's Washington like? I've never been.

[windykind]

Well, it was pretty suburban and boring most of the time! I kind of miss it, though. We did a lot of things there, me and my--

...

[He pauses, stopping right short of the word 'dad' and looking like someone just killed his goldfish. A beat, and then:]

...Um, sorry... what's Japan like? Got any rubber-suit monsters?

[princeofjunes]

[Well, that's impossible to miss. But Yosuke knows a thing or two about people bottling things up and decides now isn't the time to press the issue, so he'll let it slide]

No, but Godzilla's nice enough when you get to know him!

But really, it's like anywhere else I guess. There's the big cities jam packed full of people, and the rural middle of nowhere. I moved from the former to the latter a little over a year and a half ago.

[windykind]

...Sorry. I... lost my dad a little while ago, and I'm still not used to it. [Sad John is sad.]

Rural middle of nowhere, huh... I guess my neighborhood was like a combination of those.

[princeofjunes]

[Dammit John, he wasn't going to ask! And now it's just awkward because he has no idea what to say. So he sits there awkwardly for a moment because he feels like anything's going to come off as insincere, but then he says it anyway]

Hey, I'm sorry. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.

[windykind]

[Socially clueless turtle is socially clueless.]

No, it's fine!

...So... how's the Tower treating you?

[princeofjunes]

Well, the food's barely edible and the monsters are a pain, but at least there's a handful of things to do.

And some cute girls to boot.

[windykind]

Heh, I guess there are! Anyone in particular?

[For the moment John has taken something of a Chaste Hero viewpoint on things, but then again, he is walking through the years where boys are horribly aware of the feminine energies in their life.]

[princeofjunes]

Well, it's probably too soon to say, but I'll let you know if that changes.

What about you? Got a sweetheart back home?

[windykind]

Uh, me? Um... not really. I mean, I have friends that are girls, and I like them a lot! But they're not girlfriends, I don't think. [This kid is so pathetic, Yosuke. I am sorry. I am really sorry.]

[princeofjunes]

[Don't be sorry - tease mode is engaging]

Oh yeah? So none of them give you those funny feelings inside? No hands you want to hold? [nudge nudge]

[windykind]

Uh, no! [What's going on, WHY ARE YOU NUDGING HIM] No, seriously, I don't! I promise.

[Pause, in which his Shame Meter drops to zero percent.]

...What about you?