V - All returns to nothing [video]

[istoppedtime]

[The feed clicks on to the interior of one of the Japanese houses, which is currently in a bit of a state. Mostly because the shoji door leading to the inner courtyard has been violently torn out and crumpled like a piece of tissue paper. Shards litter the floor. In the midst of them, Jotaro stands, completely still and impassive. Hands in pockets

Comments

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

You shouldn't blame yourself for something the Animus made you do.

You didn't forget them. Not really.

[Video]

[istoppedtime]

I forgot them. It doesn't matter how it happened. It won't happen again.

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

[Raven gives him a thoughtful look. He's too hard on himself. But she's like that too, so she understands. And even if she knows you can never predict what the Animus are going to throw upon them all... it won't prevent her from supporting him.]

What are they like? Your wife and your daughter, I mean.

[Video]

[istoppedtime]

[Normally he'd just wave her off. Now, though... it almost feels like a duty.]

They're... [Have we mentioned how he's bad with emotions, yet?] Jolyne turned eight this year. Got her first real bicycle. Kid's hell on wheels. Katie's... [... argh.]

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

[And normally she wouldn't have ask. But if he wants people to help him remember, he has to tell them first.]

I'm sure you're a very good father. And that your daughter loves you. [Unlike Raven and her own father.]

Is Jolyne dark-haired, like you?

[Video]

[istoppedtime]

[Oh, Raven, don't say such things. Because they aren't true. And it's killing him a little to think about it.

Not that it shows. It never shows. That's part of the problem.]

Yeah. Looks more like her mom, though. Good thing...

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

[She's being honest though. You don't know each other much and still you often look after her, make sure she's alright. According to Raven's standard that qualifies you as a "very good father"...]

[She smirks.] Oh come on... You're handsome enough.

Do you teach her marine biology?

[Video]

[istoppedtime]

[If only she knew... but they all have their shadows behind them. His is no bigger than anyone else's.]

She's too young for that... let's see her take care of a goldfish first.

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

Eight years old is not that young. Kids often get a lot more things than adults give them credit for.

And given it's your passion, she would certainly be interested in hearing you talk about it, in having you share something you like so much with her.

[Video]

[istoppedtime]

... how old are you anyway?

[Opportunity for topic switch! Huzzah!]

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

[She blinks at his sudden question but decides to answer anyway.] I just turned sixteen at the beginning of February. Why?

[Video]

[istoppedtime]

[That is usually how he rolls.]

You talk pretty grownup for sixteen.

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

[She shrugs.] That's maybe because I was never really treated like a child.

[Video]

[istoppedtime]

Your family? [It's a noncommittal sort of invitation: she can talk if she wants to.]

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

Never really had one. My four teammates are what I consider family.

[A pause.] I think my mother was alright though. I wish I had known her better. I wish she had tried to know me better.

[Video]

[istoppedtime]

Teammates aren't bad. [Standard Jotaro deadpan. But there's an odd sort of conviction in his eyes when he says that. He means it from the depth of his otherwise stoic heart.

It's back to normal after that, though not without a note of sympathy.] She gone? I'm sorry.