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rainbow-crane · 6 months ago

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In-Depth Analysis On All The DR Characters Because What, Are You Gonna Try And Stop Me? Who Are You, My Mom? Yeah, I Didn't Think So- Part 2: Mondo Owada

So yeah, I decided to do Mondo's next. After all the material I ended up inadvertently collecting for him in my Taka analysis, it just made more sense to go ahead and get him out of the way, even if I'd rather go for my personal favorite characters first.

As noted previously, this analysis will only be using canon material. It'll primarily focus on the game and its english translation since that's what I'm most familiar with, but may also pull from the original Japanese, as well as the animation, stageplay, etc. If you aren't interested, just keep scrolling. Mondo fans, prepare some popcorn, and perhaps a tissue box since if you're anything like the Taka fans you may end up crying. You're welcome.

Part 1- Character Design

Mondo Owada is a delinquent character whose design pays homage to manga series Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, and is modeled after its protagonist, Josuke Hikashigata. Mondo sports a massive pompadour and a modified uniform that mimics Josuke's, and is the leader of a biker gang called the Crazy Diamonds, a direct reference to Josuke's Stand, Crazy Diamond.

Due to leading this biker gang, he was given the title of SHSL Gang Leader, or Ultimate Biker Gang Leader.

Part 2- Character Introduction

Most of Mondo's character introduction isn't actually from himself, but from the researching Makoto did prior to entering the school in-game. We know immediately that he's leader of the largest biker gang in Japan, and get a look into his public image via Makoto. Despite the fact that Mondo is being fairly chill with his greeting, Makoto remains terrified of him based off of reputation alone- "I'd better be careful around him. One wrong word and I could wake up at the bottom of the sea..."

However, we can quickly see that this reputation is built mainly on bravado, as when Monokuma first calls for the entrance ceremony, we can see Mondo begin to sweat, despite his claiming otherwise- "Well hell, it ain't like I'm scared or nothin'. Let's just get this over with!"

He continues to sweat throughout Monokuma's explanation of the communal life, attempting to cover it up by yelling at the bear to let them out. We get a brief look at his more protective nature, as he purposefully puts himself between Hiro and Monokuma in order to confront him. We also quickly learn just how easily provoked he is.

Despite this provocation, he's not completely swept up in his rage, as he's able to listen to Kyoko's warning of the bomb and follows her advice- to throw it away- without hesitation. So our first real impression of him is that he's a short-tempered and intimidating- but well-intentioned- protector of sorts. He's not completely brainless; he's considerate of his classmates and their safety even when putting himself at risk.

Part 3- Early Game Development

Mondo is an interesting case, as he's a character that almost immediately looks directly into the camera and tells the player directly what their main motivation is. The only other character in this series that's as transparent about their goals so early in is Sayaka, and even then the game makes you ask for that information.

He tells us, in no uncertain terms, that keeping promises is the #1 most important thing to him. He also tells us indirectly how highly he values his family and personal connections, holding his brother's word as law. These combined with his talent being that of a gang leader all suggest a pack leader mentality, which is immediately confirmed by his anger at Byakuya for trying to separate from the group- "Like hell I'm gonna let you run off and do whatever you want!"

Not only is this loss of control upsetting to him, but he's then immediately provoked and called insignificant by Byakuya, leading him to lash out at the closest person in an attempt to regain that hold of power- which just so happens to be Makoto. Not only is this response irrational and violent, but it knocks out Makoto for 10-11 hours. Mondo is a leader, yes, but he's a gang leader, and his bite does match his bark.

Mondo's aggressive and fairly single-minded nature is made apparent when he continuously tries to break down the hatch in the main hall. Not only does he attempt to bust it open with Sakura on the first day, but he then returns to the hatch with Leon the following day, despite the fact he already admitted there was probably no way to open it from inside, and continues to check into the following chapter. He sees one possible way out, and zeroes in on it, just in case.

The game continues to double down on the irrational, defensive aspects of his character when Monokuma appears again to present the first motive. He again confronts Monokuma directly- pretending as if he knows who's piloting the bear for a fact("We know who you are!")- and attempting to intimidate him into letting them go. Once again, this demonstrates both his desire to protect himself and his classmates, and his unwavering confidence in the intelligence of said classmates, as Chihiro was the one to suggest the mastermind being Genocide Jack based only off her gut feeling. He then proceeds to immediately turn around and make Makoto be the one to go find the motive instead of going himself, getting extremely angry when Makoto doesn't instantly do as he's told- "Hey... Hey hey hey hey hey... HEEEEEY!!! You see how passionately I'm begging you!? What's the big deal? Just check it out real quick!"

He then calms down the second Makoto agrees.

It creates a sort of duality with his character between his more protective nature and his need to exert control, something the game makes a point to call out.

Part 4- Relationships

Mondo develops a fair number of relationships across his time in the game, to varying levels of importance- some antagonistic, some exceedingly complex. We'll go from least to most important to the overarching story.

4.1- Celeste

Celeste and Mondo are written in directly opposing ways, as while they're both fairly short-tempered, Celeste is much better at hiding it. It's by this logic that throughout the early game, oftentimes when Mondo starts to get riled up by the rules of the school and/or their circumstances, it's Celeste who ends up deescalating before he can explode, maintaining a facade of calm where he can't.

4.2- Sakuraoi

While not very touched upon, Mondo does end up developing a mutual respect for Sakura and Hina. When the class splits up to investigate the school on the first day, he joins the two of them in trying to find a way to get back to the outside, and he and Sakura work together to try and bust open the hatch in the main hall.

Hina's the one that stops Mondo from attacking Byakuya in the library, and when Chihiro begins to cry over Mondo saying that 'women are naturally weak anyway', it's Hina who calls him out for 'screaming like a lunatic.'

His relationship with Taka is also directly contrasted to Sakura's with Hina by Sakura herself- "Friendship between men seems very simplistic. Nothing like what I'm used to with girls." "Yeah, for real..." It's an interesting comparison, considering both Sakura and Mondo end up dying and leaving the responsibility of failure on Hina and Taka.

4.3- Byakuya

Byakuya antagonizes Mondo more than once, first as they're splitting up to search the school, and again after the library opens. Both times he seems to take enjoyment from it, calling him unimportant more than once and refusing to even entertain the idea that he might die.

"So miniscule, so insignificant, they couldn't possibly have any kind of influence on the boundless ocean."

"You know, I still just can't believe it..." "Believe what?" "That an uneducated, brain-dead, useless piece of garbage like you has survived this long."

"You all need to try harder. If an opponent isn't going to give it their best, where's the fun for me?"

It's enough of a threat for Mondo to genuinely believe that he's dangerous and want to keep him bound so he can't attack (foreshadowing when Byakuya himself would go one to tie Chihiro up? Probably not but it's a neat connection)

He also goes on to fuck with Chihiro, both by mocking her fear and by purposefully tampering with (what he believed to be) the crime scene of her death. On both counts, this directly affects Mondo, calling him out for his bullying("Hey, shithead! You get off on bullying people that can't fight back?") and letting Byakuya pin the crime of killing Chihiro on himself in the trial.

However, despite all this, Mondo never gets the chance to give Byakuya his comeuppance for his words and actions.

4.4- Ishimondo (yeah these bitches gay)

Similarly to Byakuya, Taka starts in a more antagonistic position, directly opposing Mondo as the unofficial, self-designated 'leader' of the class and remaining insensitive to the feelings of his classmates.

Unlike Byakuya, there's no actual intent to harm here, and their banter remains more focused on their differing ideas on how to help their classmates than anything else. Still, as time continues to pass, Mondo's impatience combined with the recent losses from ch 1 starts to push him over the edge, getting angrier with the class's lack of urgency.

This impatience only leads him to butt heads with Taka more, who's trying to keep the class together and safe first and foremost. On top of that, Mondo's delinquency is directly opposed to Taka's disciplinary background, making it all too easy to see each other as foes. Despite the fact they consider themselves the better type of man to the other, they have similar views on how men are to face each other, leading to the sauna scene.

Both characters' strong-willed determination and stubbornness inadvertently puts them on the same path, attempting to use their physical abilities to prove himself a more worthy leader than the other. It's a simplistic way of deciding, but it's one they both wholeheartedly believe in, and this gives them the opportunity to connect with each other in a way they're unable to with anyone else in the class. Thus, the following morning, when asked about the contest, the two have formed an inseparable brotherhood and refuse to even acknowledge the contest, as having a winner would put them on different levels. Interestingly, Mondo shares the belief with Taka that men bond by being naked around each other("Guys gotta expose themselves to each other, ya know?"), suggesting that he removed his clothes in order for this 'brotherhood' to form.

4.5- Daiya

The first thing we learn about Mondo's older brother in-game is that he was the one who taught Mondo to always keep his promises, no matter the cost. The second thing we learn is that he fucking died. And until nearly the end of Mondo's run in the game, that's all we as an audience need to know. He had an older brother that taught him his core values and passed away, leaving Mondo to carry out his wishes. It's not until after the chapter 2 trial is said and done that we learn anything more about him through Mondo's secret: "That embarrassing memory, that secret he didn't want anyone to know... You know what he did? He killed his own brother!"

It's through Monokuma that we learn the truth of Mondo's history with his brother: Daiya was his only family growing up, and thus, became his role model, the man Mondo himself wanted to become. He respected Daiya and Daiya alone. He followed him everywhere, and together, they formed the Crazy Diamonds, which went from a local biker gang to one of the greatest in Japan. It was through his brother that he developed his biking talent, and acted as his right hand. But some of the gang didn't believe in Mondo or trust him the way Daiya did. As Daiya grew older and prepared to retire, rumors of nepotism circulated throughout the gang, saying that Mondo was nothing compared to Daiya, that he wasn't worthy to take over the gang.

"Daiya created the gang with his bare hands! Mondo's just along for the ride." "Can someone like that be our leader?" "All that'll do is make the gang look bad."

Any accomplishments Mondo had made within the gang didn't count to the gang, or to Mondo himself, because they were put next to the leader's achievements. He compared himself to Daiya as well, feeding into the rumors and developing a deep-rooted jealousy. He felt like he had to be the stronger man, had to prove himself to the gang, had to best his brother or he wouldn't be accepted. So he challenged him. He challenged Daiya, and lost all restraint on the road, charging forward with the desperation of a dead man. And it cost him his brother's life.

His brother made him promise not to let the gang go as he passed; Mondo became shackled by his honor to stay. He fully believes it was his fault Daiya died, and now not only is he indebted to stay with the gang, but can never admit blame for fear of tarnishing not only his own reputation, but tearing his brother's gang apart. His community demands unwavering macho leadership, and he can't afford to break character for even a second.

4.6- Chihiro (will be using mostly he/him due to discussing canon)

Mondo and Chihiro exist on 2 sides of the same coin- toxic masculinity. Both characters (canonically speaking here) are men, but are perceived totally differently, both by those around them and by themselves. And because of this design, when put into the high-stress scenario that they were, they were doomed to drive each other to ruin.

Even before chapter 2 starts, there are multiple instances of Mondo listening to Chihiro and respecting his words without doubt(his theory of Genocide Jack and asking his opinion on '11037'). We've also seen Mondo's confrontational and protective nature in action. So it's no surprise at all when he stands up to Byakuya on Chihiro's behalf when he clams up. And while this is done with good intentions, it only serves to make Chihiro feel weaker. Mondo is physically stronger- anyone can see that- and he's not afraid to mouth off to someone showing excitement at the killing game they were all forced into. So when asked if he's okay the following morning, he can't help but explain himself- he feels weak, and doesn't like having someone else stand up for him. For Mondo, this goes directly against his idea of strength, and can't comprehend why "she'd" possibly care.

With all of Mondo's toughness, he carries not just the expectations of a man, but the misogynist beliefs that often come with it. But regardless of that, he's immediately able to tell he fucked up("Hey, c'mon, don't cry... I-It's my fault, okay? I won't yell anymore...") as far as the narrative will allow him due to writer's bias*. He feels bad about this, genuinely, enough to offer Chihiro his promise as a man. It's enough of a gesture for Chihiro to trust him completely, believing in the man's promise he's emphasized as being the most important thing to him since the very beginning.

(*Writer's bias in this case means the author is also sexist to a degree. Mondo is very clearly meant to be a tough guy with good intentions but because the creator appears to agree with the sentiment that women are weaker on average, we as an audience are meant to take issue with the fact that he's yelling and not the sexist statement. Said bias is made pretty clear by the fact their 'weak boy' character is dressed like a woman to emphasize his weakness and be a 'gotcha', as well as the fact they later have Kyoko force Makoto to tear paper out of Hifumi's rigor mortis hand because Makoto's a boy and she's a girl, even though earlier in that same game she, still a girl, was allowed to examine Chihiro's corpse in enough detail to find her dick. Writer's biases can and does affect the final product, so it's always important to consider that when looking at a character's development to determine whether they're being shitty because they're supposed to be or if it's some fault with the creator themself inputting their biases into something that otherwise wouldn't develop in this way. This has been Critical Consumption of Media 101.)

When Chihiro's found dead, Mondo keeps his head hung, lamenting about the fact that Chihiro wanted to be stronger, and when Makoto points out Chihiro was a woman anyway, Mondo just dismisses it, contradicting his earlier statement.

He respects Chihiro's memory and refuses to speak poorly of him. And while at first glance this is all it appears to be, as the trial unfolds and we learn the truth about what happened to Chihiro, a dual meaning behind this reveals itself- another showcasing of his devotion to the promises he keeps and the desire to protect his friend, even in death.

Chihiro is physically weak; a strong wind could probably knock him over, and he's much more in-tune with his emotions than your average guy. He mourns the losses of Sayaka, "Junko", and Leon all deeply, and has a deep shame for not being able to defend himself against Byakuya. But despite all this, when tested by Monokuma's secrets motive, he doesn't crumble away. He thrives, taking that threat and turning it into motivation to push his limits. He has the self-awareness to know when to ask for help, and isn't swayed by the threat of death. He's physically weak, but is incredibly strong mentally and is able to conquer his fears and face the lie he created for himself. Unfortunately for him, living with this toxic idea of what masculinity is supposed to look like makes him believe the way to do this can only be found in becoming physically stronger, and dies without ever seeing the strength he already had.

Mondo, on the inverse, is extremely physically capable, even without trying. He's 187 cm of muscle, and is confrontational to a fault, only giving him more opportunities to show off that physical strength. But on the inside, he can't face the sins of his past, can't admit his faults, and can't comprehend how to make peace with himself. All this is exacerbated by the weight he carries of leading the gang his brother formed, unable to release that weight from his conscience.

"N-No matter what... I couldn't let the other gang members find out. If that happened, everything would've been ruined... Everything me and my brother worked to create... woulda been destroyed... His death... all the guilt I'd been carrying around... it all woulda been for nothing."

And when Monokuma tests his resolve, he completely crumbles. Unable to admit the truth to himself, he's faced with Chihiro, someone who has the mental capability he could only dream of. That primal fear of breaking the promise he made for his brother on his deathbed, combined with Chihiro's unwavering confidence as he happily chimes how unbothered Mondo must be, blocks out all rationale. He spirals, forgetting where he is and who he's talking to, trying to make the panic go away as he throws the dumbbell in his hand.

Chihiro and Mondo each have everything the other wants, and drive each other to death trying to get it.

Part 5- Chihiro's Trial

For most of the trial, Mondo doesn't appear suspicious at all. So much time is spent on Byakuya's suspicious behavior and his framing of Genocide Jack that you barely notice him. He fully appears to be trying to find Chihiro's killer and find justice for her, following Makoto's line of reasoning to find Byakuya as the killer- with the body's suspension and the subtle differences between Jack's methods of killing and the murder of Chihiro herself. He's all too eager to declare Byakuya as the killer- and though we can't know for sure, he may have genuinely believed it. After all, walking into the girls' locker room to find her body suspended and the message of 'Bloodlust' written on the walls certainly wasn't his doing. Unfortunately for him, that's all Byakuya did, and the conversation continues.

In the end, Mondo brings about his own execution. Even after slipping up with his words, the conversation is able to continue on, sfifting focus over to Chihiro's missing E-Handbook and what exactly happened to it. And when Mondo becomes cornered with Makoto's mention of the sauna, it's not Mondo who goes on the defensive; it's Taka. Mondo gives up; he lets his tough-guy persona go. He finally faces the truth; he's undoubtedly the one that ended Chihiro's life, no matter how he may have wanted to delude himself otherwise. He sees his bro defending him, and he accepts that he has to die. It's not beyond reason to say that Taka's insistence of his innocence was what pushed him to truly admit his guilt, both to the class and to himself. Up until this point, he'd still been trying to play it off and get away with it. But was it worth it to live and kill his bro, and everyone else, just to protect his pride? No. He admits to being the killer, straight up.

"Yeah. Yeah... I did it... I killed him."

"Go ahead, Monokuma. Get it over with... Ask for the goddamned verdict..."

Part 6- The Cage of Death

The first person that comments with some variation of OH MY GOD YOU'RE SO EVIL HOW COULD YOU PUT THE EXECUTION IN THIS gets a cookie. Anyways, the executions in these games are always thematic to the characters and are meant to send them into the worst possible despair in their final moments, so let's break this down.

The execution begins with Mondo forcefully strapped to his motorcycle by Monokuma, who's sporting the same pompadour as him. This may be representative of Mondo feeling confined to the biker gang by his guilt; he was never able to break free of the lie he created about that night. The pompadour is likely just Monokuma making fun of him for his hair again, as the thing that nearly killed him in the prologue.

The kanji written on the motorcycle reads 'Little Black Sambo,' a reference to a children's story of the same title. The entire execution is an inverse of this story as well. In the story, a boy named Sambo is surrounded by four hungry tigers, and gives up his clothes to avoid being eaten. The tigers are all conceited and argue over who's the best-dressed, chasing each other in circles until they churn themselves into butter. Sambo is then able to recollect his clothes and the butter, and his mother uses the butter to make pancakes. This story is well-known and beloved in Japan, but isn't in basically the entire rest of the world on account of the racist caricatures of the POC present in it.

Mondo's execution is a inversed version of the story(and also, because Mondo isn't blasian there's thankfully no directly racist art in it, just tigers). Rather than being the one to trick the tigers, he's the one who's full of pride, and so he's sent into a motorcycle cage and left to spin around and around, while the tigers dance on either side of him. He ends up being the one who's turned into butter, and Monokuma gets to enjoy a delicious plate of Mondocakes. It's meant to represent the downfall of Mondo's macho personality and how he sent himself into a spiral, but loses a lot of its meaning if you aren't familiar with the story.

Part 7- Jealousy

So, we've torn this character apart. We know what makes him tick, but why does that all matter? What was the point of his story? Simple- it's a cautionary tale. It's a warning against everything he stands for. Mondo, through all his faults, is NOT someone you're actually supposed to idealize or hold up as the epitome of manhood in the way that Chihiro does. Rather, he's a deconstruction of everything society views as 'manly', and a demonstration of why that line of thinking is inherently flawed. He's big and tough, he yells and cusses at the people around him, he doesn't have a handle on his own strength. He knocks a dude out for like, 10 hours straight because he was mad at someone else!!! That's not a healthy way to get your frustration out!!!

Simply put, your image and pride are not worth your mental health, and comparing yourself to the people around you not only tortures yourself, but can hurt those who you love. Mondo couldn't stop comparing his own faults to the strengths of others, and ended up pushing himself too hard trying to prove himself. Not only did he lose his brother over it, but he felt like he had to keep all his pain and regret locked up for the sake of an image they'd painted together. It pushed him up to the edge, and he never learned to cope with it in a way that was healthy. It only led to him lashing out more and more, and repeating history when he killed Chihiro. Your trauma can't be fixed by ignoring it or shoving it down; seek out help when you need it. It's okay to confide in your friends; they aren't your enemy, and they aren't making fun of you. That line of thinking will only push you over the edge.

Afterword

So yeah, this was longer than anticipated. Even after doing Taka's and creating a point of reference for myself, I still ended up surprised. I mean, Taka survived longer, so you'd think his would be longer, right? But no, Mondo is not only a very well-established character, but he has more important connections and a much more impactful storyline. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say Mondo may be one of the easiest characters to understand from THH, considering how in-your-face they make him. And I respect that, even if his whole facade can be kind of annoying for me. I totally see why this guy is so popular among fans. Happy birthday Mondo!

Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed this one, and be sure to stick around! Sayaka's analysis is coming up next, and holy shit am I excited for this one.

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ariiadnes · 1 month ago

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ㅤ╭ ⿻ ･ FORTUNA

YOU ONCE TOLD ME THAT OUR FATES WERE DECIDED BEFORE BIRTH -- BOTH YOURS & MINE ALIKE.

-ˋ ♡ ◞ jonathan ･ joseph ( pt. ii ) ･ jotaro ( pt. vi ) ･ josuke ･ giorno ･ jolyne. jojo's bizarre adventure. quote cr : house of fata morgana. jacqui germain. blythe baird. linda hogan. natalie wee. pathologic. giorno & josuke's parts are strictly platonic! repost.

BUT YOU ARE BOUND BY BLOOD, YOUR FATE A TWIST & TURN ON THE ROAD TO TRAGEDY AND BLOODSHED.

WILL YOU SURVIVE THIS , WHAT CANNOT BE CHANGED?

*ੈ ✩ ‧₊˚ jonathan

❝ because the world is so full of death and horror , i try again and again to console my heart and pick the flowers that grow in the midst of hell. ❞

HOW INNOCENCE LONGS FOR THE DIAMOND DAYS, fragile youth and a brave new world turned upside down in the blink of an eye. how cruel he is, this stranger birthed from love and scorn and made of vengeance, to tear everything & everyone jonathan has ever loved away.

and it hurts ; it hurts to witness the brightness in a kind soul dwindle, decay ; a flame that flickers, suffocates, extinguishes itself until it is nothing but smoke -- a haze, a remnant, losing a fight that seemingly cannot be won. it hurts to recognize the defeat that drowns under waves of sorrow, buried at sea beneath the weight of hatred, and it hurts to know that he must endure something that should never be endured.

( this world is not meant for evils, but dearest, how they will haunt you so. )

"jonathan," his name leaves your lips in an act of mourning, fingers and voice trembling so violently as you welcome him into your arms, "crying is not a weakness. there's no need to hide it."

oh, how he misses the diamond days so deeply, days of laughter and cherished memories gone missing, replaced with a creeping dread and fear of the future and what-ifs.

"you can do this, you know. if anyone can, it's you."

he smiles, exhausted, leans into your touch as you wipe the tears away. there is a gentle shift of the soul, a waning determination that reignites and flourishes in the trials of resolve as he speaks.

"you have always managed to put my heart at ease. with you by my side, i know i will always have the courage to face tomorrow."

( & THEY WILL CALL IT FATE, THE BEGINNING OF THIS CURSE. but they do not know the blood he will share is made of justice and righteousness, and how beautiful it will be, their survival. )

*ੈ ✩ ‧₊˚ joseph

❝ YOU HAVE SURVIVED SO MUCH THAT NO ONE REMEMBERS. ❞

BUT SUFFERING IS NEVER MEANT TO BE QUIET, SUCH LIVELINESS OVERSHADOWING ALL HE HAS ENDURED. many would not believe it, the endeavors joseph has faced : a reckless man shielded from the fight his ancestors carried and protected him from, the light in his blood turned to power and destruction meant for greater things.

he was not supposed to know about any of it-- the story of his grandfather, the disappearance and reappearance of his mother, the death of his father-- but heroes are never meant for joyful stories, and so he follows the tales of tragedy.

how do you win against someone who cannot be defeated? joseph is a fighter at heart, resilience and sharp wit never fleeting even in times of crisis. even then, to take on a battle against figures that have revitalize themselves, hunting for an everlasting, all knowing power--

he sighs loudly, dramatic and half genuine as he rests his forehead on your shoulder. you ruffle his hair, rewarded with yet another exaggerated sigh.

"what's the plan, jojo?"

he doesn't know. he's pondered this as well, spent many sleepless nights thinking about all the possibilities. there's too much on the line : his family, his friends, the world. he wonders if this is the same feeling his grandfather once experienced, such helplessness against a pure evil.

"the plan is..." his body tenses as he straightens his posture, looking you straight in the eye, "to run away!"

and he turns on his heel, thinks to dart away, but you catch him by the wrist, tug him in your direction. he offers a sheepish grin, one you can only raise a brow in response to, and soon enough, a grim expression surfaces on his visage.

"i don't have a plan. i've got to think it over, figure out a way to keep everyone safe."

you are not used to seeing joseph without a smile. something in your chest aches, but you do not show it. instead, you gesture him closer, ignore the confusion on his face when you wrap your arms around his neck, run your fingers through his hair again. his body relaxes, comfort found in your existence, and soon enough, he returns the hug.

"i should always be sad. you're much nicer this way."

"jojo."

"er-- i mean, thank you."

*ੈ ✩ ‧₊˚ jotaro

❝ how do i stop carrying everything that has ever happened to me? ❞

HOW MISERABLE IT IS, THIS CURSE THAT EMBEDS ITSELF INTO ONE'S VEINS. how cruelly he was doomed from the start, adolescence stolen as he traveled to the ends of the earth to save someone he loved, only to lose another and another and another until the dreams twisted into nightmares. how brutal the pain was, haunting in the echoes of survivor's guilt.

and how this cycle will repeat, ENDLESS, RUTHLESS -- jotaro knows this, and so he tears his heart out, shatters it into a million pieces, because it is better his than anyone else's.

this is all he knows of survival now : the destruction of oneself for the sake of everyone he cares for.

because living means protecting, jotaro has decided, and he will do everything he can to prevent the hurt from spreading. the curse he carries is his and his alone, and how desperate he is to stop it from affecting you and jolyne. so he pushes you away, tries to keep you at bay despite the thread that keeps you together.

because how horribly selfish he has been already-- to fall in love, start a family, all while knowing that he was never meant for happy endings.

"come back to shore, love." you chide, words as gentle as the smile on your lips. you adjust his hat, a habit you have always done all these years, before your hands slide down, cupping his face in quiet reverence. "you're drifting again, jotaro."

he swallows hard, feels the pull of fraying heartstrings. he wants to be with you, wants to be happy, live a peaceful life, but the past is catching up and he cannot let it. time and gravity are harsh beings, the ebb and flow of fate so strong in the will of good and evil.

how can he fight fate? he has already been through enough, defeated the world once already. how can he do this again? how long until his heart expires, worn from playing the role of atlas?

"come back to me." you whisper ; the smile turns into one of sorrowful loneliness, one he understands far too well, and he cannot help but oblige.

gingerly, he places his hands over yours, feels the weight of the world disappear in this moment of vulnerability.

"i'm here." he tells you, but even those few words are difficult to swallow. he wishes to tell you everything : the apologies never said, the worries never expressed, but you have always known, your heart the same as his.

"so stay." you feel his warmth, feel how he squeezes your hand in silent thanks. "we'll get our happy ending, jotaro. we're with you until the end, so please, stay."

*ੈ ✩ ‧₊˚ josuke

❝ watch and listen. you are the result of the love of thousands. ❞

BUT HOME SWEET HOME IS FILLED WITH MENACE UNKNOWN, AN EVIL LURKING IN THE DEPTHS OF PEACE. it's all he knows, higashikata josuke, the safety found in oblivion dissipated at the learned existence of his bloodline and origins.

it's not supposed to be this way-- a seemingly tranquil life that has always had an impending malice lingering beneath it all, the disappearance of those innocent gone entirely unnoticed for far too long. how terrible it is, the realization that your home has always been filled with horror.

it is no burden, the role of the protector, sword & shield alike, josuke will think ; he will ignore the pressure that sinks down on his chest, makes it hard to breathe. because he's supposed to be strong, supposed to carry on his grandpa's legacy of protecting this town. so he'll tell you he's fine, force the brightest grin he can manage, and he'll tell you that you shouldn't worry about him too much because that'll only make him worry about you.

it won't mean anything, won't offer any comfort. you'll see through it, see it all : the hardships he has suddenly been granted, the mourning he has not been able to process, and the idea of a family he has never known.

you pinch his cheek, watch as he half-heartedly swats your hand away.

"it's hard when you can heal everyone but yourself, huh? must get annoying."

he stares at you for a second too long, tears his eyes away before you can read him ( and it won't matter, you always manage to do, and that irritates him more than it should ).

"it's fine." he clears his throat loudly, absentmindedly wipes away the flower petals that land in his lap. "better me than everyone else, anyway. i'm not gonna complain about that."

you hum, wistful.

"it must be painful, right?"

josuke finds the courage to glance at you, freezes at the bittersweet smile that weaves itself onto your lips. you pat his back, ignore his incoherent complaints as you wrap an arm around his shoulder and pull him into a gentle hug. you do not know how long you both stay like that, a semblance of the peace you both are familiar with felt once again.

"yeah." josuke mumbles; you can hear the slight embarrassment in his voice. "it's painful."

"i know." you whisper, the town before you so quiet and filled with a hurtful deception of serenity. "i'm sorry, josuke."

*ੈ ✩ ‧₊˚ giorno

❝ WHAT WE MAKE OF LOSS IS A SPORT THAT KILLS US. ❞

& THE GOLD THAT LINES HIS EXISTENCE IS AN AFTERMATH OF TRAGEDY TURNED REDEMPTION, his heart ever so desolate and once despaired, innocence vanquished in the midst of childhood. how he was abandoned so, thrown to the wolves in a world he could not even begin to understand. he learned what found family meant, giorno giovanna, even in the distant gratitude from the one who protected him from the violence he would eventually learn and reenact.

he discovered his heart then, remnants pieced together by a brilliant gold : sinews tied together, the restoration of a humanity torn asunder, the relief of heartache of a boy wonder that spiraled onto the path of evils, now treading onto the path of righteousness and resolve.

his dream is not an easy one, nor is it one that is meant to be taken on alone. it is almost devastating, you think, fighting to right all the wrongs when you are only just learning what it means to live. no one is meant to lose everyone dear to you, and no one is meant to know the severity of such loss, but he will fall victim to such tragedies in the end, because fate knows best of all.

"giorno."

he does not hear you at first, brows furrowed in concentration as he focuses on healing your wounds. he loses himself in the task, decides the distraction will ease the guilt that gnaws and gnaws at his bones, dwindles the soul until it becomes a vestige of existence. the resolve wavers, its lungs desperate for revival.

"giorno."

he withdraws his hand, breaks from his trance. there is a semblance of panic that surfaces, but he is quick to compose himself, a hint of concern left behind.

"i'm sorry. is the pain too much?"

it does not hurt, it doesn't -- because how could anything hurt more than the suffering that resides in two hearts? you would give the world to carry the pain of your cuts and bruises instead of the pain of loss and grief.

who else will he lose? when will it be, this last moment he will share with you? he dare not lose sight of his goal, but the lines have blurred, vision distorted with the tears he doesn't allow himself to shed. this must be worth it. it will be worth it, the undoing of wickedness.

"it hurts, but it's alright." you feel a sharp pain in your chest, wonder if it is meant to be a sort of heartbreak.

apprehension surfaces on his countenance ; he knows you speak of a different kind of pain than the one that embeds itself in your body. giorno holds his breath when your gazes lock, and in your eyes there is only determination.

"you won't lose me. we'll make it through this together."

you will survive this, no matter what fate has determined as your end.

YOU WILL SURVIVE THIS. YOU HAVE TO.

*ੈ ✩ ‧₊˚ jolyne

❝ YOU'VE CHALLENGED HEAVEN. you're the reason for all that's happening now. ❞

OH, BUT HER BLOOD IS MEANT FOR DOOM & CATASTROPHE, THE ROAD TO JUSTICE ONE THAT ENDS IN CALAMITY AND HOPE REBORN, such fragile youth and a brave new world turned upside down in the blink of an eye. how cruel he is, this stranger birthed from innocence and callousness and made of violence, to bring judgement day to the world in guise of ascending the heavens.

the ocean blue is closer and farther than ever, the waves fleeting : how it approaches so quickly in a single moment, then disappears in the next-- unreachable, too far from her grasp.

it reminds her of something, of someone-- that distance, the coldness of the water. always around her, someway, somehow. it is strange, the fury that once ignited in her heart, seething rage lulled into something of loneliness and regret.

"told myself i was gonna see the other side of those prison bars." jolyne murmurs, gaze shifting from the waters to the stars.

something in her heart hurts.

it is very lonely, the sky and the earth, disconnected, meant for reunion.

"you made it." you watch as the sand falls through her fingers. "what does it feel like?"

she longs for her family, wishes to see them once more. it's not supposed to be this way -- torn from the comfort of her home, thrown into unfamiliarity and harshness, then saved by the one who now needs saving.

"like shit." she laughs, bitter, an aching smile on her lips. "i thought being free would be my happy ending." her fist clenches. "but it's not over yet-- not until i save him. until then, i have to keep going."

you gaze upon the stars, witness the moon's radiance and lament. your pulse quickens, something akin to fear wrapping itself around your chest, your ribs, and the hollows of the ground you stand upon. something tells you that the ending she seeks will not be the one either you expect. it will be cruel and unjust, but it will be okay in the end.

you keep to the sky, feel her hand grab yours in hope and solemness.

( BUT THEY WON'T CALL IT FATE, THE END OF THIS CURSE. and how beautiful it will be, their survival, their reawakening, their rebirth. )

#jojo's bizarre adventure x reader #jjba x reader #jonathan x reader #joseph x reader #jotaro x reader #josuke x reader #giorno x reader #jolyne x reader #-ˋ ♡ ◞ : fic #-ˋ ♡ ◞ : jjba #-ˋ ♡ ◞ : banner cr @ v6que

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