Josiah Meets Shinnosuke! The Secret of Stands!

Osaka, Japan. December 28th, 2032.

Josiah's tired fingers felt as if they were about to fall off as he typed away at the office computer, sweat rolling down the side of his head. The heat in this room felt like it was trying to choke him, but maybe it was his imagination; no one else seemed to be reacting to the intense heat.

The long sleeves provided by his uniform didn't make it any better, in all honesty. He absolutely despised his job but it was the only way to keep food on the table. He ran his fingers through his long, dark brown combed over hair as he sighed, pressing enter on the keyboard with one of his free fingers.

"Joestar, your shift is almost over!" A gruff voice shouted at him as a shadow towered over his desktop, "Are you done yet?"

Josiah looked up to see a portly man with a thick beard and mustache covering most of his face, unable to see his mouth if it weren't for the fact that he had just spoken.

"Yeah, boss," Josiah responded as he wiped sweat from his brow, scooting out from his seat as he looked back up at the man, "What time is it again?"

"Haha, you're out of it as always, Joestar! It's around eight in the evening, same time as always when you leave work." The overweight man answered, spit flying out from his mouth as he guffawed.

"Thanks, Kosei," Josiah murmured, pushing his seat in as he pressed the power button on his computer, grabbing his duffel bag right after doing so, "I'm off now. See you in a few days."

"JoJo!" A lilting, soft voice called out as a feminine figure came into the picture. Long black hair nearly hit the middle of her back. She wore a pair of white dress pants as well as a pair of white pointed toe slingback shoes to match. She also wore a small white jacket over her grey shirt with white stripes crossing over it.

"Oh, hi Sophia," Josiah yawned, covering his mouth at the last second, "S-sorry. Just really bored.. What's up?"

Sophia tilted her head, looking up at Josiah since she clearly wasn't nearly as tall as him. "Geez, you and your six feet height.. I was wondering if you'd like to walk home with me?" She asked invitingly.

"Oh, sure!" Josiah said with a warm smile, stepping away from his desk as he began to walk with the smaller woman, almost being an entire foot taller than her, making her look like a child.

[Ten minutes later…]

Cold wind blew across the empty streets of Osaka… well, as empty as it could be. The rapid growth of technology had left some areas more poor than others, leaving barely anyone within middle class. Most people were unable to catch up with the growth of the overall country, though some were lucky to stay where they were or rocket to new heights.

Trash littered the streets as the stars began to shine above both Josiah and Sophia, the former shivering in his boring, white, button-up dress shirt.

"You sure you don't want my jacket? It's really cold out tonight.." Sophia offered, her voice decreasing to a murmur as she stepped closer to him, as if to keep warm herself.

"I'm fine," Josiah insisted, his sky blue eyes falling down to look at her, "I'm the one who didn't bother to bring one with me in the first place, so this is what I get for my ignorance. Don't worry."

"Fine," Sophia huffed in response, crossing her arms as she continued to walk alongside him, "Have you heard anything from your mother lately?"

"Huh?" Josiah asked aloud, confused for a moment, but he quickly realized what she was talking about. "Oh, yeah. You met her not too long ago.. I haven't heard much. I just heard from her father that 'Irene Joestar' has too much business to deal with to see her own son."

Josiah spoke with an aggression that was no stranger to Sophia, though it didn't scare her any less each time that he did it. His fist was clenched to the point that his entire arm had been shaking, almost completely clear that it wasn't from the cold.

"H-hey, calm down," Sophia stuttered, putting her left hand on his shaking arm, gripping it lightly, "This is a peaceful time of night, so we should try to enjoy it, right?"

Josiah sighed, the shaking coming to a stop. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry about that.." he responded regretfully, though a pang of hope resonated in his body, glad that that thing didn't pop out from him again.

He shook his head, continuing to walk as the cold air clung to him tightly, his body shivering as he stayed close to his friend. "So, was your day as boring as mine?"

"Pretty much," Sophia retorted without a second to waste, "I think Kosei spat on me again, which was really gross."

While Josiah had been doing his best to listen attentively, his mind couldn't help but to blur out her voice as his eyes spotted something. He suddenly stopped in his tracks, trying to get a closer look on what it could possibly be.

He stared ahead into a dark alleyway, noticing that there were two fairly lean men wearing ski masks were holding a man about their size, one of them grabbing one side and vice versa.

When he got a good look at the man being carried, he knew right away he was unconscious. His face was completely checked out, and had long brown hair falling on his shoulders. He was skinny to the point where Josiah swore he could see his ribs poking out from his thin t-shirt, and he had to be near Josiah's height. He had also been wearing a white beanie atop his head.

He watched as the two disguised men carried the unconscious, possibly malnourished man through a steel door, one of the men slamming it closed as they made their way in.

"Josiah? Yoohoo, earth to Josiah Joestar!" Sophia called out to him, waving her hand in front of his face to try and snap him back to reality.

"What? Oh, sorry.." Josiah's eyes didn't leave the alleyway for a second, in fear that he might have been watched when he saw what had been going on. "Hey, Sophia?"

"Yeah?" She asked, curious but worried as she tilted her head, her hand coming back down to her side as she stared up at the goliath.

"I need you to go home by yourself," Josiah choked out, feeling as if his entire body was frozen, and he wasn't sure if he was more scared of letting her go alone or doing what he was thinking of, "There's something I have to take care of."

"What? Josiah, are you okay?" As she spoke up, her soft voice began to trail off, "Uh.. are you sure? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Josiah stated calmly, putting one of his hands on her back slowly, as if to move her forward, "Just hurry, something important has come up, and I don't wanna drag you down with it."

"Uh.. okay." Sophia couldn't help but give one last look of concern as she turned away from him, running into the cold night as snow began to fall.

".. I can't believe I'm doing this." Josiah murmured to himself as he turned to the entrance of the alleyway, his hands balled up into fists as he began to walk slowly towards the scene of the crime, "But something is calling me there.."

Josiah did his best to ignore the oncoming cold as he examined the cramped alleyway, noticing that a black hoodie and a pair of shades had been laying on the ground.

"Huh.." he whispered quietly, turning to the steel door. He put his hand on it and attempted to push it open, but no opening was made clear. "Damn it.. Guess you have to come out now, Downplay."

Josiah quietly focused as a bright, sky blue aura surrounded his body. He sighed calmly as a seven foot tall figured slid out from behind him.

Downplay's body is mainly a dark grey in color. Its mouth is circular and has dozens of grey lines covering it, and has a thin antennae sticking out from its head. Downplay has wires extending from its fingers, long enough to drag on the ground behind it. Its eyes are an emerald green. It also has several light grey lines stretching up and across its body. It has what appears to be a six pack on its abdomen, and it has no eyes of any kind on its head.

The almost metallic looking figure bent down as it placed its finger inside the lock, twisting it a little bit until a satisfying 'click' ran through Josiah's ears.

The figure faded out of existence once more as Josiah pulled the door open, entering cautiously as dimly lit lights invited him inside the mysterious building.

Josiah shivered as he moved along the wall, his hands feeling around the corner as he peaked over, noticing that two lean men were walking down the hall, identical to the pair of men he had seen beforehand.

Quietly, he crouched down and made his way to the two men, seeing that they were heading towards a door at the end of the hallway. Downplay moved out from Josiah's body as he approached, though he suddenly broke into a sprint as the mechanical looking stand moved its two hands in a chopping motion.

Before they had time to look around, they both slumped onto the floor, the blows simultaneously knocking them unconscious. He wiped sweat from his brow as he bent downward, sticking his eye near the keyhole in the door.

Downplay attempted to look into it, seeing that the malnourished man from before was tied up in a steel chair, his legs and hands bound, his eyes closed as well. Quickly, Downplay stuck its finger in the lock, twisting it as the lock clicked.

Josiah silently pushed the door open as he did his best to observe the room, thankful that nobody was around. He rushed over to the bound man, looking over him as he put a hand on his shoulder, shaking him.

"Huh.." the man murmured as his eyes flickered open, noticing that this tall, broad shouldered man was standing above him. "Oh.. come on, Shinnosuke, you gotta be dreaming.."

"Sorry, this isn't a dream," Josiah said in a hushed voice as Downplay put one of its hands on the man's binds, "I assume your name is Shinnosuke, then. Come on, we're getting out of here."

"Wh.. why are you here? And.. wait you have one too?" Shinnosuke asked in a yawn, his hazel eyes slowly motioning over to the seven foot tall figure in front of Josiah.

"Huh? Wait.. you mean you can see it?" Josiah, though taken aback, quickly used Downplay's hand to break apart the rope instantly. "Well, we can discuss it later. I'm here, because, well.. I was at the right place at the right time, and helping you was the only choice I had. But, if you can see it, couldn't you have used your own power to fight back?"

"I mean, I could but.. I don't like using it." Shinnosuke cringed when he answered Josiah, making it quite obvious that his power wasn't something he was too keen on.

"Well, doesn't that just make it easier, gentlemen?" A menacing yet smooth voice echoed throughout the room, freezing the two in place as a figure seemingly stepped out from nowhere.

The man had been at least five feet and nine inches tall, wearing a purple suit with a green tie draped over it. He wore a pair of purple slacks, both of his hands resting in his pockets as his black leather shoes clacked against the floor. "I didn't expect a fellow stand user to drop in and ruin the party. I certainly didn't expect the famous mangaka, Shinnosuke, to have a stand either."

Shinnosuke stood up, his hand on his left hip as sweat began to roll down his head. He stepped out from the shadows.. I think invisibility of some kind may be an ability he has.. I can't see his stand, though, which is kinda scary.. He thought to himself.

"So, what's your name?" Josiah asked, beads of sweat almost covering his face as he turned to the fancily dressed man, "And what do you want with Shinnosuke?"

"Leopold Gilbert is my name, don't wear it out!" Leopold stated egotistically, taking a hand out from his pocket to graze it across the stubble on his face. "What I want with him? Well, you see, I was hoping we could negotiate. He would give me funds so I can buy supplies for my gang, and he goes free, of course. A mangaka in Japan makes a lot of cash, y'know."

"Well, if you don't mind, we're going to be leaving. I'm sure you don't want me to ruin anything. Ruin your dumbass plan, that is." Josiah grit his teeth when he finished his speaking, darting towards Leopold with his fist extended.

"Dumb kid." Leopold sighed as he frowned, pressing himself against the wall as he suddenly disappeared, though that didn't stop Downplay from jamming its fist into the wall, pieces of brick falling a Josiah's feet as he yanked it out.

Shinnosuke quickly kicked the chair to the side, his body shaking in anticipation as he looked left to right. "Josiah, he has the power to camouflage himself! Look for an outline of some kind!"

"You're all idiots! My stand, Novocaine, won't be beaten that easily!" Leopold shouted, though Josiah's eyes instantly followed the sound as he quickly turned to the left.

Josiah smirked, punching at the brick wall. Downplay's knuckles broke off a large chunk of the stone, blasting it towards the sound.

Chunks of rock smacked across some kind of surface, crimson blood spitting out of what was assumed to be Leopold's lips as his camouflage slowly faded.

"Says the dumbass," Josiah taunted him as he looked upon Leopold as his hand brushed the blood off his lip, "Is that all you got?"

"You'll need more than raw power to beat me!" Leopold shouted as a figure jumped out from his body, though ultimately, it was much shorter than Downplay. It was about as tall as Leopold, its flesh being silver in color with lime green stripes running down its back and front. It had two black orbs where eyes should have been. "Novocaine, teach this brat a lesson!"

Novocaine threw its fists at Downplay, though it was ultimately sized down as Josiah sighed. Downplay threw itself at the silver stand, its fists almost being twice the size of Novocaine's fists.

"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!" Downplay cried as it rammed its fists against the smaller being, barely any punches getting through to Josiah as he stood behind his stand confidently, signs of strain showing on Leopold's face as he groaned.

Leopold suddenly backed off, wet blood dripping from his mouth and down his chin as he panted heavily. "If you hadn't come along, I wouldn't have to risk this.. Novocaine, initiate plan B!"

"Huh?" Shinnosuke and Josiah both wondered loudly, watching as Novocaine began to shapeshift into what seemed to be a silver briefcase. On the front was a small screen, showing green numbers - though it suddenly started counting down from five minutes.

"In five minutes," Leopold started, one of his hands gripping his purple suit in pain, his body still showing visible signs of strain, "Novocaine will explode, taking you and this entire street with it.. In this form, even the slightest motion can make it explode. What are you going to do, punks?"

Josiah bit down hard on his bottom lip as he turned back to Shinnosuke, a look of intense worry taking over his body. "Shinnosuke, I know you don't like it, but whatever you can do, use it now if it'll help!"

Shinnosuke cringed, a painful look in his eyes as he sighed. "Fine, just restrain him first! I need a second!"

"No, you don't!" Leopold shouted as he pulled a switchblade out from his pants pocket, his feet carrying him over to Shinnosuke, but to no avail.

Josiah quickly sidestepped as Downplay hooked its arms around the gang leader's, binding him from moving any further. "I don't know what these Stand things are, but as long as I have the power, I'm going to keep you from hurting anyone, you piece of shit!"

Shinnosuke bent down on one knee as a white aura covered the entirety of his body, his hand pressing against the floor. He moved one of his fingers and made the outline of a large circle, making sure he made it around the briefcase. When he was finished, a white glow began to shine from the shape's outline.

"Now, throw him into my stand's range, J-Josiah!" Shinnosuke shouted, a hint of hesitation in his voice as he quickly jumped back.

"Get your hands off of me!" Leopold screamed angrily, and quickly had his wish granted. Downplay tossed him into the glowing circle, though nothing seemed to have happened. "Just wait till I get my fucking hands on you!"

Suddenly, all became quiet for Leopold. He swore he could see something swimming in the air behind him, but he couldn't get a good look at it. Cold sweats ran down his face as the ground beneath him began to sink.

"Wh.. what's happening?! No, stop! I'LL DO ANYTHING!" He screamed, watching as the circle opened up, revealing a gaping maw of razor sharp teeth waiting for his body to completely sink into it.

The hole in the floor suddenly closed, sucking in the briefcase and Leopold as he let one final scream loose. This left Josiah utterly speechless as looked up at Shinnosuke while the white glow faded.

Shinnosuke slowly uncovered his eyes, a look of pure terror in his eyes. "That's why I don't like using my Stand.. It's always going to kill someone when I use it. Besides, it's so.. creepy."

"Well, uh," Josiah scratched the back of his head, his Stand sinking back into his body, "You did what you had to. One life traded for this entire street, as far as we know."

He walked over to Shinnosuke, slapping his hand against his back. "Huh? What are you doing?" Shinnosuke asked, confused as he looked up at Josiah.

"You saved our skins," Josiah said with a warm smile, "I owe you something. Come on, let's go by my house. I'm starving."

"Oh, are you sure? I have a lot of work to get back to.." Shinnosuke murmured, scratching the back of his head nervously.

"Forget work, I owe you something. You were really brave, man. So, let's go!" Josiah gave him a wide smile, helping him up before heading to the exit.

Shinnosuke stayed behind, his entire body shaking still, but he couldn't help but smirk a little at how strange this man was. "How.. bizarre."

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHARACTER BIO
Name: Josiah Joestar
Age: 21
Stand: Downplay
Stand Statistics -
Power - A
Speed - B
Durability - C
Precision - A
Range - E