video

[inthejunk]

[Nothing like a rude awakening at 2:30 in the morning, right? Well, you're in for a treat fellow refugees. It seems like one just flew over the cuckoos nest. Not that you can tell initially. At first this just looks like some inconsiderate kid with rings under his eyes and messy hair, breathing down the camera lens a little too up close and personal.]

Yo. If we haven't met yet, hello. I'm Yosuke. But...but if you're new, you should count to three and then stop listening. Okay? One, two...three. Alright, go away. It's for your own good.

[For emphasis, he clicks the lamp beside him off, and the video goes dark. Nothing to see here, apparently.]

Listen. Guys. I'm curious what people do here for fun. Because uh-look. I've tried sleeping, and training, and then I tried going outside. And talking to the people in the market, and you know. Looking for animals. And I found some, but they were really creepy and mutated. You know? So it's impossible to forget this place is so...

[The light comes back on with a soft click. The phone-roll-up is on the bed table now. Yosuke smiles down at it tightly, and shrugs. Then something thumps in the other room and he jumps at least a foot, gesturing wildly and knocking the device off the table. Someone get the kid some decaf.

He hangs over the side of the bed and gazes at the mobile, his image now fractured like a kaleidoscope, and gives a rather put-upon sigh for a guy who was just trying so hard to be personable.]

Damn it. I'm cracked...

Comments

[hostage]

[He's exhausted and sallow, thanks for asking. What's he even doing awake in this condition, let alone taking care of a teenager? Daddy instinct...]

You're like jumping outta your skin. You wanna sit down for a second, cool it?

[inthejunk]

Ah. Yeah, sure. Sorry.

[And for a moment he actually does sit, though his leg bounces, apparently if it's own volition. He's like that annoying kid in class who can never stop fidgeting during exams. Before long, he's drumming his fingers nervously on the table as well.]

You must really like cookies, or maybe you don't know how to make anything else? I could show you toast and eggs. That's all I know how to make. But it's probably better than just cookies, isn't it?

[hostage]

[Jesse is that annoying kid, so that doesn't necessarily bother him. It's slightly weird behavior in the middle of the night, though. It makes Jesse think of himself when he's on the verge of nervous breakdown, seeking out a distraction or company or both.]

I can make eggs. Most people prefer cookies. You want eggs?

[inthejunk]

What? No. They make me burp anyway.

_And now that the sitting down feels sufficiently accomplished he springs up again, and takes a look at what's laid out for the cookies.]

So, what do we do?

[hostage]

[Jesse gives Yosuke another unsure look before turning to gesture to the butter and cup of sugar.]

Take that bowl there and start mixing those together. Start slow so you don't get the sugar all over the place, but then speed it up so it gets real fluffy.

[inthejunk]

Fluffy. Got it.

[He's sort of got it, anyway. The part about going slow seemed to go in one ear and put the other. He dumps the cup of sugar in and stabs at it with the spoon, causing the bowl to slide back and forth with the motions. The sugar, for it's part, dutifully attempts to mix in anyway. But it's not easy going.]

[hostage]

[Jesse just reaches over to hold the bowl in place, letting Yosuke do the rest of the work.]

So what's going on with you?

[inthejunk]

[Yosuke jumps a little at the motion, but not in a traumatized way. Just the way that people do on tired, frayed nerves. He relaxes -as much as he ever was anyway- as soon as he sees that Jesse is attached to that arm that came out of nowhere.]

Nothing. I wish something was. I just keep...not doing things. And. A-and, you know. It was nice at first but then it just...you know. I should really be doing something, but I'm not.

[hostage]

Yeah, I know what you mean. You been training?

[inthejunk]

Uh. Yeah, sort of. I go down and I practice the stuff I know. Sometimes someone else is there and we practice on each other. But it feels weird. Like a joke. Augh, I don't e en know what I'm saying. I guess I just wish they would hurry things up. It...it feels like a dream. Don't you think so?

[hostage]

Yeah. I mean, I used to. When I first got here, I couldn't tell if it was all in my head or what. Either that or I was in Hell. But now I'm used to it, you know. It's normal now. I think you get used to anything, when it's your life and you're living it every day. Stuff that used to be crazy stops being crazy, 'cause it's happened before and it's happening again and you know how it all works the next time around. You adapt, I guess.

[inthejunk]

What, like a salamander?

[That gets a goofy laugh, and some more thoughtful sugar stabbing.]

Mm. That's probably true. But it's been almost three months now, and I don't feel adjusted. I feel...well. Dizzy? But not exactly that. Spun, maybe. Like whatever is usually in the middle is leeching to the outside. Like spilled ink?

[Okay, yeah. That sounded stupid even to him, and he's the one who just said it. Yosuke frowns, and tries again.]

What I mean is, I don't think I know how to fit in here yet, I guess. Something like that, you know?

[hostage]

[Jesse doesn't think it sounds stupid. He's nodding in understanding.]

Yeah, I know what you mean. But you'll either find your place or you'll make it. Find a clique, get a job, meet some chicks... You'll mellow out. It'll seem like home.

[inthejunk]

That's what people said about the last place, too.

[Though, now that he's thinking about it, he did eventually find a purpose in Inaba. Or at least one found him. He stabs at the sugar again and considers it for a moment.]

Maybe waiting isnt the best approach.

[hostage]

Totally. I mean, put yourself out there. Get involved in the community. You know, all that stuff.

[inthejunk]

It's not very easy.

[Glumly stated, because he's not expecting Jesse to understand. A guy who bakes cookies for everyone can't possibly have trouble making friends.]

And I don't have any skills.

[hostage]

The cool thing about skills is you can learn 'em. But that ain't even the most important thing. Most people just want company. Like, somebody to talk to. Somebody who'll listen.

[inthejunk]

[Nope, this is his doubtful face, dude.]

I tried to learn! But Kaneis won't let me hang out in the clinic anymore. I think he's still hung up on that stupid vent sucking up the paperwork thing.