Like a heartbeat drives you mad. [open]

[johnnyjoestar]

Who: johnnyjoestar & You
When: Throughout Event 30
Where: Various places around town.
What: Johnny's not handling these hallucinations so well.
Rating/Warning: none, will update if needed



Act I - Marketplace
[Adjusting to life in Cerealia had been... frustrating. Not only was he behind the times, but there were so few people here who knew anything about those times. Worse, each day was a gut-wrenching reminder that he was alone again. He hadn't realized how much he missed traveling alongside his friend, being part of something as big as all the crazy events of the Steel Ball Run, feeling like an equal instead of a mess.

The adaptive technology here might be better, his chair lighter, more manageable, but when he'd been part of the race, he could almost forget that he was broken. A minus.

He turned to deposit the last of his shopping in the bag that hung from the back of his chair when he saw something. From the corner of his eye, but there was no mistaking it. A wisp of movement, that ridiculous cloak Gyro always wore trailing after, the hat with the slitted brim and-

Johnny dropped the groceries and spun his wheels, paying little attention to his surroundings as he raced down the street and toward the corner he'd seen his partner turn down.]

Gyro?! Dammit, wait up!

[ooc: He's not paying much attention, so feel free to have Johnny bump, jostle, or run into you.]

Act II - Porta Caelestis
[After ducking into several different alleyways, Johnny is well and truly lost. But that hint of his friend keeps taunting him, always just out of reach. His heart is pounding in his chest, his speed reckless as he chases in wild pursuit.

Gyro? Why the hell wouldn't he stop? Why wouldn't he wait? Was he disappointed? Angry? Had he done something? Was he in trouble? Was there some enemy Stand that was doing this? That had taken Gyro away? Maybe this was the only way he could call out, the only message he could leave to follow.

A dozen scenarios raced around in his mind as he spun his wheels and followed. The streets weren't familiar, the buildings seemed foreign, but he didn't pay them any mind. As he jerked the wheel once more, he felt his balance start to slide, the chair began to tilt, and-]

Shiiiit.

[Johnny wound up in the street, his chair some feet away. He was scraped up and bruised, but worst of all, alone again.]

Act III - In an alley somewhere between Marketplace and the Pleasure District
[It had taken a while to accept it. To realize that he would never catch Gyro. The Italian had disappeared into nothing but mist just when he thought he'd finally reached him. Worse, he couldn't be sure the hallucination wasn't some ghost of his past back to haunt him. After Gyro had vanished, another had taken his place- Nicholas.

Nicholas shouldn't- couldn't be here. He'd buried his brother years ago, and just like the memories haunted him, so too did the incorporeal mist that took on his form. Just when he tried to make out the details of his brother's smile, the way his eyes would crinkle at the corners, just as he remembered- it was then that the illusion vanished.

It left him feeling sick and the wounds of his past left open and oozing where scar tissue had once healed over. He'd seen these things before, no, things like it, but never Nicholas. Only those that had blamed him for his brother's death. The accusing eyes of his father and his own guilt every time he saw a that little white mouse.

He could feel tears welling up and he didn't care. He rubbed his palms over his eyes as his chair wobbled to a halt. Dammit, why couldn't he leave this behind him?

The worst was not knowing. If this was all that remained of Nicholas, why was Gyro like this too? Had something happened in Philadelphia? They'd told him his home was gone, the people there too, but it hadn't hit home until now.]

[ooc: He's totally not crying. Nope. Totally not. Feel free to shake him out of his sad funk.]

Comments

I

[meowbel]

[As Johnny was wheeling on by, Mabel didn't seem to notice him at first. After all, how could one notice anything when the girl was spacing out a lot. Or rather, she was spacing out more than usual. When one was seeing the memories of her childhood right before her eyes, that's when a small frown slowly started to appear on her face.

Oh how she remembered those times. Not that she wanted to be reminded of the time when gum was stuck in her hair but for some odd reason, she just can't bring herself out of it.

However, by the time when she was finished? That's when she finally heard something approaching her. As she started to turn around, she gave out a loud scream before quickly stepping out of Johnny's way!]

Whoa! If you wanted a race, Johnny, all you had to do was ask! I didn't know you were that excited for one!

[johnnyjoestar]

[There was a shriek near his ear as he spun past a blur of brown hair a loud sweater. The sharp sound was enough to shake him from his focus and he was left rolling to a stop, eyes darting frantically around for his friend. He was so damn sure he'd seen Gyro just a moment ago! But now it was just the usual bustle of the marketplace, though... had that little bird with the broken wing been there before?

He turned a moment later, unable to find any trace of Gyro, and seemed to notice Mabel for the first time.]

Oh- uh. Sorry. I wasn't really... paying attention. You ok?

[meowbel]

[As Mabel looked back at Johnny and then back at the ground, she could practically feel her heartbeat racing at 90 miles per hour! Whatever happened, it must be something really serious for him to go that fast!]

Y-Yeah, I'm okay! But whew, for a moment, I really thought you were going to trample me over! T-That's...that's some serious arm action you got going there!

[Nevermind the slightly nervous tone from the eccentric young girl]

You training for a race or something?

[johnnyjoestar]

[Mabel seems really startled and Johnny can't help a little pang of guilt at scaring her like that. He'd just been so sure...]

Sorry.

[Not a word that usually comes out of his mouth, but he does appear contrite. Maybe not for his actions, but for the affect they've had on her.]

I thought I saw someone I knew.

[It wasn't his imagination, there was definitely a little white bird stumbling toward his chair.]

[meowbel]

[As Mabel tried to calm down, she just brushed it off. Compared to all the stuff she's been through, having a friend randomly race down was nothing!]

Hey, don't worry about it! I mean, it wasn't like you were trying to hurt or or anything so we're good!

[She said with a giggle]

But who did you even see anyway? It must have been somebody super famous or something if you wanted to go see them that much! I bet they must be a superstar!

[If only Mabel knew!]

[johnnyjoestar]

Yeah.

[Johnny still looks somewhat shaken, but he keeps it to himself.]

No, nothing like that, just a friend.

[Johnny's not sure he can get into much detail without that tight and hopeless feeling in his chest returning. Mabel doesn't need to know the details, he tells himself.]

What about you, where are you headed?

[meowbel]

[As the girl looked at the older boy rather curiously, a part of her wondered if she should push on forward. How else was she suppose to help if she didn't know anything?

But if it was a friend...]

Then you think he's here? Because we could totally just go looking around for him! I was planning on doing much anyway so we could just have an adventure right now!

[She couldn't deny that she was missing Candy and Grenda like mad right now]

[johnnyjoestar]

[Johnny has to admit, looking for Gyro is exactly what he wants to do right now. Why the man would just walk away, leave like this, he couldn't fathom. Why wouldn't Gyro face him? He isn't sure what to make of it.]

I, uh-...

Alright.

[He points to an alley between a couple of shops, the direction he'd been headed.]

I think he went that way, but I'm not sure. Do you know the area pretty well?

[meowbel]

[At the same time, Mabel had to wonder if she was doing the right thing. She was aware that her friend's brother made something that allows to see if those people were here or not.

But...]

Nope! But that's okay! If I managed to run away from a bunch of monsters in really weird places, I'm sure Cerealia isn't any different!

[Said the girl who usually has no idea where she's going and needs her brother to navigate the area sometimes!]

And with my super focused attention, I think we can find him really soon! Just tell me what he looks like and I'll be set! [All with a confident nod too!]

[johnnyjoestar]

[Johnny can appreciate the enthusiasm, but he isn't exactly brimming with confidence as he wheels toward the last alleyway he saw Gyro duck down.]

Alright. He uh- He's Italian and tall and has long uh- blonde-ish hair- er... maybe it's light brown... and he's usually wearing a really dumb hat.

[He's not so good at this. He can picture his partner easily enough, but putting it into words? As if he could really explain all of Gyro Zeppeli in a few physical features and a gesture or two.]

He has a stupid laugh, like- I don't know anyone else who laughs like that. And oh- he has this gold plate over his teeth and he has this bright green lip balm he likes to use and... oh right. He tells a lot of jokes.

[meowbel]

[If Johnny wasn't confident, then don't worry! Mabel had more than enough of that to bring his spirits up! Because the last thing she wanted was to see him so down!

Although, as she listened to him, the more she couldn't help but be curious]

You know, whoever this Gyro person is, he already sounds like somebody I would like! Not everyday you get to keep somebody with braces and jokes around a lot!

It sure sounds like he's the guy to row you to a world of happiness eh?

[...Okay that was stretching it a bit but at least she made an attempt!!]

[johnnyjoestar]

[Johnny completely agreed. The two would probably get along famously if they could ever track him down. Braces huh? So that's what those weird teeth plates were called. Didn't seem like the sorta thing one brought up in polite conversation. Though it still didn't excuse how ridiculous it was to get his name engraved on 'em.

Mabel's joke was a stretch and Johnny met it with the same lack of enthusiasm in expression that he met Gyro's jokes with, which meant he didn't react at all and his tone was just as flat as ever.]

That was a good one. You'll have to tell it to him when we find him.

[meowbel]

[Don't question JoJo logic, Johnny. It's best not to. The moment that Mabel heard his wonderful flat tone, she just gave a small pout]

Oh c'mon! I don't think that's the way to go! I know you got a smile in there and it's totally ready to show up at any minute now!

[Then there was a two second pause]

...Annnnnyyyy minute now!

iii

[immobileyes]

[ It's about the fifth time she's lost sight of Seto, and Mary's already begun to suspect that she's never going to be able to catch up with him. But as she straightens up and tries to catch her breath - because girls with her stamina probably shouldn't have run around frantically - she catches sight of the person in the wheelchair.

... Is he crying? ]

Um--!

[ Hi. ]

[johnnyjoestar]

[Johnny glances up when there's a startled voice nearby. he rubs fiercely at his eyes with the back of one arm and looks toward the source. A girl that couldn't be a day older than Lucy seemed to have run down this alley. What terrible luck.]

You lost kid?

[immobileyes]

[ No she wants to say, instinctively, but... well. That would be a lie, and she definitely wouldn't end up in an alley otherwise. So instead, Mary fidgets, curling her fingers into her skirt. ]

Yes. Are you?

[johnnyjoestar]

[With the turn his thoughts had taken, it was probably for the best that he'd been interrupted and those ghosts were just hazy afterimages on the corners of his vision. Though he had to be a sorry sight like this.]

Yeah. I uh-

Fell behind. I was looking for a friend and-

Shit- sorry. I mean. I dunno where we are either.

[immobileyes]

... You were looking for someone too? [ And had ended up in the same place... is this lucky or unlucky, she's not really sure. ]

[johnnyjoestar]

[As if on cue, that wispy creature seems to dance at the edge of his sight. No, it's the bird this time. The one with the broken wing. It can barely walk, but it seems intent on trudging slowly after him.]

Yeah.

[He's not sure he wants to elaborate on it more than that, as the dove teeters dangerously close to the girl's feet. She won't know who any of them are. No one here does. He glances at the sky and judging by the cast shadows and time of day...]

The marketplace should be back that way. I'm not sure which streets will lead us there, but it's in that direction.

[immobileyes]

You can tell??

[ Amazing... Mary gets lost on her own way too easily, but she's going to take this person at his word. And... completely not notice the bird by her feet. Hopefully she doesn't accidentally kick it. ]

[johnnyjoestar]

[It wasn't exactly like home, but there were still enough signs to pick up if one looked and Johnny just gave a shrug.]

Think so.

[His arms would be pretty sore by the time he got back, but maybe it would give him something to think about besides the haunting memories that kept hanging around him. Johnny's eyes follow the bird for a moment, reaching out as she nearly steps on it, but the bird wobbles drunkenly and nudges her foot.]

Ah- Careful, that's-

[The memory is comfortable and familiar. traveling together through the dusty wilderness, clear skies before them and the smell of leather and horses strong on the air.

"Alright. The title is The Cheese Song."

The man traveling with Johnny clears his throat and sings in a brassy baritone, gesturing with his hands and tilting in his saddle as he does so.

"Pizza Mozzarella~ Pizza Mozzarella~"

Johnny is watching quietly- half in amusement, half in disbelief at his friend's antics. It's ridiculous, of course, but without him here, this trip would feel so colorless.

"RELLA RELLA RELLA~"

The singing continues for a while, bouncy and catchy in its own way, though it barely carries a tune. Johnny doesn't smile, but his mood is lifted in a matter of moments.

"...and that's how it goes! What do you think? The second verse will repeat with Gorgonzolla, like a Zola Zola Zola~"

There's a quiet moment as he considers- if he didn't put thought into it, Gyro would just think he was patronizing him, of course. So he replies in all seriousness.

"It's great Gyro, I like it!"

[ooc: The scene is actually here if you want it complete with goofy faces.]]

what beautiful faces

[immobileyes]

[ Careful, he says. But then it's too late, and Mary's being treated to the very bizarre (obviously) image of a man on a horse singing a song about pizza and cheese. Maybe. She knows mozzarella is a cheese, but what is gorgonzolla?? ]

... Gorgonzolla? [ she finally says, badly perplexed. ]

Gyro is such a treasure.

[johnnyjoestar]

[Johnny shakes his head. That was... unexpected. From crying in some alleyway to re-living memories on the trails with his friend, what the hell was going on? He felt dizzy and a little sick. He was sure he'd been the only one to experience it, but when the girl beside him started repeating the words, he couldn't even try to hide his confusion.]

It's uh- a type of cheese I think. Something Italian. I-

Did you... do something?

[immobileyes]

N-no? [ Normally, she gets this question after she temporarily petrifies someone, but he's still moving and she's pretty sure she didn't activate her eye ability, so that can't be it. ]

I just... suddenly saw something.

[johnnyjoestar]

[No. Right. Of course. How could she have? It wasn't as if she was a Stand user or had some crazy ability to peek into people's memories. Unless...?]

Yeah. That was... I-it's not important.

[The little bird is getting closer after its brush with her foot and Johnny leans forward in his chair to try to coax it into his hands.]