video • CALL • un: themeddler

[roberteo]

[Well, it certainly seems Speedwagon has figured out the video medium: he's posed himself very seriously, with a straight posture and both hands folded neatly in his lap. There is, however, a small, polite smile on his face, though this may be more formality than anything else. He is, of course, eternally a gentleman, no matter the circumstances.

It does not take a particularly observant eye to note that the man is in mourner's black.]

Hello! It is I, Robert E. O. Speedwagon.

[The smile widens into something more genuine, just for a moment.]

I'm curious if anyone in this city has any idea as to the state of...well...hm. I wish to phrase this delicately, but I would like to know if there's a program in place to...well, help people? Where people need helping, you know--Nightmares, Shadows...et cetera. Particularly children? I--I don't know, I was just wondering if there was any present system to care for people in unfortunate situations. Thank you.

[And he remains smiling for a few moments more, before lurching forward to grab the device.]

Speedwagon out.

Comments

video; un: galeas

[fivenareff]

[Oh. Oh, oh, he knows this man. Or rather: he knows this name, and given the foundation, it's no wonder the man in question is asking after children. God. He's glad he can finally show his face. It feels only right, given how much the Speedwagon Foundation has done for he and his friends.

It takes him a second to realize how he's dressed, but he won't mention that yet.]

I don't know of any, but I'm sure it wouldn't take much to start some kind of foundation or charity fund. I could help, if you'd like.

[...]

I'm glad to meet you, Mr Speedwagon. You don't know me, but you've done a great deal for me in the future.

[roberteo]

I did not want to take action with there being the possibility that someone could have already set something up--it would just divide support and prevent the best kind of help that these people could get, I think. I'll have to ask around some more, but I think you may be correct.

[He winces, looking down and away. That Giorno kid--he had mentioned a Speedwagon Foundation, but that had to have been a case of mistaken identity. It feels bad, though, to let people down like that, even if it isn't his fault.]

I think you're thinking of someone else; this has happened before. Similar names, it must be.

[fivenareff]

[He nods in reply to that first part. Either way, he'll gladly help; there's too many children running around places too dangerous. But as for that second . . . Polnareff swallows his smile, seeing how uncomfortable Speedwagon is.]

Do you know a Jonathan Joestar?

[He doesn't have much of a history to go off of, true, but he knows some things. The Speedwagon foundation was founded by Joseph's grandfather's friend, one Robert Speedwagon. There's no way this is a case of mistaken identities.]

[roberteo]

[It's impossible to really control the look of surprise that flashes across his face, though after a few moments he manages to dial back the deer-in-the-headlights expression to speak. He doesn't want to be rude, really, but it's just...unpleasant, considering the last conversation he had about Jojo.]

I do, yes! I do--

[He pauses, delicately rearranging his hands in a way that indicates nothing but empty space.]

...I did; I knew him well.

[fivenareff]

[Oh. The smile really does fade now, and Polnareff nods.]

I'm sorry.

[Does he know about Dio's desecration? Perhaps. But if he doesn't, Polnareff won't bring it up, not right now.]

I ask only because the man I'm thinking of was his friend.

[roberteo]

I...really--I really don't--

[He swallows, eyes flickering towards the camera and then away again. He hates sympathy, even as he knows that it is justified in this case. Jonathan was his friend, his only friend for too long, but he can't reconcile that with what he's heard about this other Speedwagon.]

You really must have someone else in mind, though. I never did anything to help anyone?

[Nervously, his fingers grasp the edge of his hat.]

Sorry?

[fivenareff]

[Okay. This is . . . weird, but okay. Pushing what he knows to be the truth clearly isn't going to help, and it doesn't truly matter. But he wonders. He doesn't know much about Speedwagon the man, and now he wishes he did. He asks about starting a foundation for children, and yet somehow believes he's never done anything to help anyone. So what's the inconsistency?

He's curious, but he's not cruel. So he shrugs.]

In any case: assuming that there's nothing set in place, what did you have in mind in terms of a program? Any specific ideas?

[roberteo]

Well! I had a few thoughts, yes.

[He's grateful for the subject change: he doesn't know this man, but his uncanny knowledge of Jonathan is a bit alarming, and, quite frankly, a bit disrespectful, in Speedwagon's eyes. However, he has to recognize that this stranger might not know the circumstances, and so it's an easy forgiveness to manage.]

I was considering perhaps just organizing a place for children to come, to stay out of bad situations or off the streets. Not even necessarily a living space--though that would be the ideal--just a location where they could come and occupy themselves.

[fivenareff]

That wouldn't be too hard to organize. The problem would be getting a location large enough. That, and something well protected.

[He thinks of what Giorno has told him of Italy's problems, and adds:]

A guaranteed hot meal wouldn't be such a bad idea either.

[roberteo]

Yes, I'd have to actually look into arrangements, but I've been keeping those factors in mind. I'm just going off of what I...what I know that children need, in these kinds of situations.

[Which definitely doesn't draw off of personal experiences.]

The hot meal is a fantastic idea, though! I simply can't cook.

[fivenareff]

Ah, it's not particularly difficult. Something like a stew is easy to make in large quantities, too, which I suspect we'll need.

[Not that he has any idea how many kids are in Nightmare or Shadow, but he can guess.]

If you'd like, I'll show you. It might be easier to plan this kind of thing in person.

[roberteo]

That would be absolutely splendid, sir! That seems like an excellent idea; I'm hardly used to these blasted devices.

[Finally, he looks genuinely excited: here is the chance for him to do something entirely physical with his time, because while planning is all well and good, he prefers face-to-face discussion.]

Oh! Speaking of, I don't believe I caught your name?

CALL Network (Video, un: Speedy)

[redarrowqueen]

That's a good question. [Thea's been wanting to do something just to feel a bit less helpless.]

[roberteo]

Do you have any kind of answer?

[He squints, leaning forwards to look at the device, before letting a grin slip.]

I like that name.

[redarrowqueen]

Not at the moment. And its a family given nickname that never really died.

[roberteo]

Well, I certainly think it's charming--though, I'm sad to hear about my initial question. I had hoped someone was already helping those who need it, though I know that this can't always be the case.

voice; un: ghostprince

[shootaro]

Your name is Speedwagon?

[Like you're one to talk, Trip.

It's a somewhat difficult voice to place. Might be a rather deep voiced woman or a young boy.]

Nightmare's pretty dangerous, I don't think you'll find too many kids in Shadows, but tons of crime. Trying to save people from it'd be like climbing into volcano, trying to put it out with a watering can, though. It's built on crime, you're just one man. That's basic stuff.

[roberteo]

Yes, my name is Speedwagon, and a good and noble name it is.

[...Okay, that's stretching it, but he does like his name, and the annoyance is very real and present in his voice.]

And I'm aware that it'd be a difficult task, but hardly impossible. I don't have to help everyone in the city, but I want to at least try and do what I can. I'm familiar with the structure of city crime--particularly in a place like this--and I know I can at least do some good.

[shootaro]

[A short huff of a laugh. He likes the man's response though, a sense of pride is something Trip respects! The rest of his speech is a touch friendlier, good-natured.]

Noble as your intentions?

You're a weird one. You're new, right? Was charity work really the first thing that came to mind when you got here?

You don't sound like someone who'd be familiar with places like that... you sound like someone who makes toasts at parties with a bunch of other big names.

[roberteo]

I...cannot say that I came here with the intention of pure goodwill, but after seeing the state of some of these areas, I find it impossible to not act! The conditions are barely livable, in my opinion, though you may disagree.

[His voice lowers from its previous volume, edging off the passion of his speech.]

I'm simply a humble man from the London streets; I'm really unsure as to why everyone assumes I'm a wealthy and powerful man! I only want to help where I can.

[1/2; rant incoming]

[shootaro]

Of course, you didn't, I meant after you got orientated.

You talk the part, sir. You look it too.

That kind of grandoise speech isn't a feature of commoners, at least not in my world and my era— I think others are similar.

In other words, everything about you, from the manner of your speech to these acts of kindness, all speak of a rich man with a guilty conscience who wants to lessen the social gaps a little. Someone who's barely making ends meet can't go around saving people. So you have to be rich.

That's basic.

[2/2; ......... he has no point, he's still just a bit of a jerk sometimes]

[shootaro]

If you're not? You're more heart than brains and you'll die in an alley somewhere because you gave everything, including every room in your home, to every poor or homeless person you meet.

If we were native to this world, I'd assume you were vying for a position of some sort and trying to win votes by making yourself out to be charitable.

You'd get my vote for effort alone.

video; un: wardenka

[boundinblood]

[The last person she knew with that many names was the son of nobility. Though with a family name like that... Well, clans have risen from origins more mundane than transportation, surely.]

I realize I haven't explored them much, but cities named "Nightmare" and "Shadow" don't sound like the sorts of places that would have anything like that.

[But this isn't the sort of thing one asks about out of the blue - whether the idea began here or in his homeworld, it had to have come from somewhere. Mourner's clothing in the Victorian era doesn't quite match up with the medieval-equivalent Katherine's world runs on, but the somber color and the implications of asking such a question are not lost on her.]

Why bring this up, may I ask? Did something happen?

[roberteo]

Sadly, I assumed as much--though I was hoping a traveler preceding myself might have organized a system. A foolish dream, perhaps, but I still wanted to believe!

[He smiles, but it hardly reaches his eyes.]

I...no, nothing specific, why do you ask?

[boundinblood]

You're dressed very...solemnly.

[She suddenly remembers the differences in worlds and adds:]

From where I'm standing, that is! Is it normal in your home world? I'm sorry for assuming, I'm not used to all of this yet.