bad rap

The things we become known for aren’t always what we’d like to be known for. Reputations are hard to run from. Sometimes they’re not even deserved. So here’s your chance to set the record straight. Clear up some misplaced assumptions, debunk any rumours about yourself and defy your stereotypes.

how to play:

Top level with something(s) your character is tired of people assuming about them, blaming them for, or pigeonholing them about, etc. Say it in person or over text.

Comment on any surprising, or not so surprising declarations.

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[ This guy backs off, sort of, which is nice except now in the absence of being pushed for a direction, Okuyasu's curious. What the hell is going on?

That answer's not what he expected, though. He pauses, surprised, and then his face does a very, very poor job of trying to mask his embarrassment by looking away. His shoulders round and his head tilts down. ] Oh. Uh. I-I'm not, though. [ It's not a convincing lie. Now that he's been called out, now that he's thinking about it, it's like the emotion gets bigger. He swallows.

He's gotten to trusting some people. Okuyasu's always cried easily — at movies, at stories, at whatever makes him sad or even overwhelmingly happy. But he also knows that's one of the many things that makes him look weak and dumb and damn, he's real bad at this, isn't he? This stranger is seeing all sorts of nonsense from him right now...

Except he doesn't sound like he's bothered by it. Okuyasu looks back over at him. ] But if I was...you'd give a shit?

[This poor kid is slowly painting a picture here, and while incomplete, it's not looking good.

Marco gives him an earnest smile. Does he have friends? He hopes he has at least some.]

Well, obviously. That's why I'm sitting here talking to you.

[But maybe that won't be so easy to believe if he's not used to getting that kind of sentiment from other people. They do say to show, not tell.]

Say, what's your name? You don't, ah, you don't have to share, of course. [Marco considers giving him his real name - he's far enough from home, after all - but his company has really started taking off in recent years, and if he starts making more public appearances... The inconsistency could land him in trouble. It almost feels like the lie would be more honest, here.] But I'm Luigi. I'm not from around here.

[ The guy responds like it's that simple, and maybe it is? Is Okuyasu the one who's mistaken? Probably. It's just that this is new, and doesn't make sense. He squints, suspicious but also with no real rebuttal...maybe this guy is just...nice?

Hmm. He isn't going to jump ahead with the idea, but fine, okay. Maybe he's like Josuke or Koichi. ] Okuyasu Nijimura, [ he offers automatically enough; it's just his name. He gives both because sometimes adults like the buffer of last names. ]

Yeah, you look like you are, [ he agrees about the guy not being from here, oblivious to why that might be rude. ]

How come you're in Morioh, then?

[Marco doesn't take any offense, really. Of all the times and places to hear something like that, a country where he's clearly not a local and can't speak the language all that well is a pretty reasonable one.]

Well, I came to Japan because I work with technology, you see, and I've been hearing about some cutting-edge developments I'd like to stay on top of. I'm in Morioh in particular because... I heard it was a very beautiful town. I thought I should see the sights while I have the chance, too.

[That's not the entire truth. He knows he shouldn't get involved - he's not one for trouble, and especially not one for violence provided he pays attention to his needs - but when he heard about the absurdly high rate of disappearances in this little town, relative to the rest of the country... he couldn't help thinking something must be afoot.]

Oh. [ Hmm. Morioh's kinda small, but it's definitely beautiful, so...this story definitely checks out. Okuyasu nods. ] Yeah, it's nice here. I just moved back.

[ Oblivious to the fact that they are both clued in on a bit of what else is lurking in this town, Okuyasu shrugs and says earnestly, ] Just make sure you stay safe around here. —Not, not that anything's happened. But just. You know.

[Well, that's... a peculiar thing to say, given one of the reasons that brought Marco here. His brow furrows, but then the expression fades into a soft laugh.]

I suppose I do stand out as a tourist, don't I?

Why's that matt— [ Okuyasu belatedly realizes he's been given an out and just hurdle-jumped over it. Like an idiot. His entire expression freezes and then he winces.

And then he laughs, nervous and forced. ] Y-yeah you do! You look...super like a foreigner... [ Okuyasu avoids eye contact for a second, embarrassed and worried he'll get called out, but it fades quickly enough because now he's thinking of all the reasons it would be bad for this guy to be suspicious. Like, several of those reasons have to do with Stands and keeping that secret, but one of them has to do with—

His nervous energy flickers out all at once, and he's left with an exhausted awkwardness. He drags a hand against the back of his neck but looks over at Luigi again. ] ...Anyway, you seem like a— a cool guy, I guess, so. Welcome to Morioh.

[So that's not what he meant, is it?... Huh. Now he's starting to wonder what this kid knows, but... that's not why he started talking to him, and frankly, he's still concerned. He smiles.]

Why, thank you. I rented out a hotel room in the city, but I'll probably pop back in here in my downtime.

So, ah... Okuyasu, right? Where were we?

[You know, just in case he wants to get anything else off his chest.]

Yeah? Okay. Maybe I'll see you around, then... [ Trusting adults is both hard to do, to the point of almost feeling impossible, but it's also...really tempting. Maybe it's something that will stay safely locked up in Okuyasu's imagination.

This guy prods him and Okuyasu feels himself shrivel with embarrassment and something almost happy. He has-- zero idea how to handle this. It's direct enough to be shocking but also direct enough that he can't really misunderstand it. ] N-nah, I think we were... I think we were done. [ But...

He looks over again. ] Will you...be here again tomorrow?

[For a moment, he thinks he has most definitely overstepped his boundaries, which isn't that surprising. It's especially easy to get carried away now that he does, in fact, have the means to help people.

When he just wandered from place to place in search of discreet food sources, working menial jobs, he hardly had the chance to think too much about others, as much as that pained him in light of the sins he was committing in turn; when he found a friend who helped him get properly on his feet, he was finally able to start tipping the scales, and now that he has the momentum to live peacefully and on his own, perhaps he has a tendency to overcompensate. People welcome the help, sometimes; other times, they get wary, and he knows he can't blame them.

He is still a predator no matter how he tries to patch up the tapestry of his life, after all. There are always people who can tell, aren't there? The good people. He wonders, sometimes, if people close to God can feel it.

But then Okuyasu does take the opening, in his own way, and Marco smiles. Of course he can take a little time out of his life to come here again tomorrow. It's not something he's lacking in.]

If I have time to come to Morioh tomorrow, sure. This is a very nice park.

[And just to make sure Okuyasu understands that he is giving the most casual, non-aggressive "yes" that he can, Marco winks.]

[ He doesn't push. He also doesn't make a promise, but he sounds like he might still show up...

And then he winks, which is so surprising that Okuyasu's anxiety instantly dissolves into shocked delight. He laughs, short and surprised, but it feels like it dislodges whatever was caught in his chest. ] Yeah, but there's nice parks everywhere. Probably, anyway. [ He stands up from his end of the bench, stretching as he goes. Not that it improves his posture in the least when he slouches back down and shoves his hands in his pockets, though. He turns to leave, but-- he waves as he goes. ] See ya, Luigi-san.

***

[ Okuyasu does not, in fact, turn up the next day. He's busy figuring out how the hell he's supposed to sign off on all these forms and bills that keep coming in now that Keicho can't take care of everything, and pretty soon it's dark, and that's when he finally remembers.

Dammit.

It's three days later and Okuyasu's dragging a shopping cart through the grocery store when he almost very literally runs into someone he recognizes. ] Hey, watch where you're-- Oh! [ Aggression melts in an instant into wary pleasure. ] Hey, it's you. Hi, Luigi!

[ Okuyasu's cart is...half questionably-healthy snacks and instant noodles, but half fresh food, too. An attempt is clearly being made, here. ]

[Nice kid. Realistically - objectively - Marco shouldn't concern himself; not when he has work to do in the city, and not this town sees people disappear at such alarmingly high rates.

But he still can't help wondering who made his poor boy feel so worthless, and what's an hour or two of his day when he has far, far too much time ahead of him?]

***

[It's funny. If Okuyasu had gone looking for him when he remembered that day, he probably would have found him. People have misconceptions about vampires, Marco finds, because that's just how it is when reality somehow becomes myth, but the sunlight thing isn't one of them. He can only be out in the sun with copious amounts of extremely strong sunscreen, and even then, it's highly appreciated if the sky happens to be overcast. Being out after the sun sets is, unmistakably, the better option for him.

But he doesn't advertise that, exactly, and truth be told he didn't think to mention it to Okuyasu. Still, he doesn't think much when he doesn't find him that day; maybe he was hanging out with friends, or maybe his family was keeping him. Shame, but Marco still planned to be around for a bit longer. They'd run into each other again.

The next day, he suddenly and acutely remembers the disappearances plaguing this town, and wonders if he was the last one to see Okuyasu. Could he track him down? He doesn't remember his smell. Of course he doesn't remember his smell, he doesn't go out of his way to just... SMELL the people he meets, frankly he'd rather not at all and if he's hungry enough to notice how they smell he shouldn't even be AROUND people--

The day after that, he's still wondering what to do - when it comes to tracking Okuyasu, or figuring out what is responsible for all these disappearances and if he can, in fact, do anything about it - when a detour takes him to a pylon somebody appears to be happily living in. The man refused Marco's invitation for a meal, but he still thought it might be nice to swing by a grocery store and leave him something by the pylon as a surprise before he heads back to the hotel...

Which is precisely when he bumps straight into Okuyasu.]

Oh! Hello. I wasn't expecting to see you here.

[But he is very clearly pleased.

(He's also eyeing those snacks. Not judgmentally or anything; it's just that he saw some of those on the shelves and couldn't quite figure out what they were.)]

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bad rap

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