Excerpt from "Shining Sandstorm: Real Interviews with Stand Users" by Johnny B. Goode
I had finally scored an interview with the elusive Yuki Mercury, who had taken part early in the conflict. At some point, for her own safety, she was spirited away to Italy, to learn under fellow Stand user and Passione member Pannacotta Fugo.
She was quite apprehensive at first, wanting nothing to do with what had happened roughly a year and a half ago at the time of the interview. However, with persistence and a little coercing with the help of my own Stand, she agreed.
December 2nd, 2017. A hidden Italian Villa.
"…"
I stared down the young, blonde woman, wearing a Union Jack sweater and a light blue skirt, in front of me, not knowing what to think. Was this really Yuki Mercury? She looked WAY too young to be a former member of the Cleaners.
"What the hell are you here for? Spit it out."
I sighed. Still a brat at heart, eh?
"I'm here to talk about your involvement in the Shining Sandstorm incident, a year and a half ago."
"Another journalist? I thought Fugo would have shooed you away by now."
"You don't seem to… understand."
I summoned my Stand, [HOPE RIDES ALONE,] willing it to grab onto her leg. She gasped in surprise, as my Stand changed color from its natural Blue and Red to a dark purple color, with light purple highlights. She shot up from her seat in surprise.
"What did you do?"
"For the sake of brevity, I will explain my Stand's ability. It can [Mimic] any other Stand it touches."
To demonstrate, the gas normally dispersed by [You Spin Me Round] got pushed out in a small puff of air from [Hope Rides Alone's] hands, dizzying Yuki for a couple seconds.
"I-I get your point… geez… I'll do the interview, just… turn him back…"
"I have no control over the duration. I will not actually use the powers, however." I de-summoned the Stand, taking on a much more disarming posture.
"…Good enough."
"Anyways, I suppose we can skip over the formalities, Ms. Mercury, and skip straight to the meat of it all. I'd like you to recount your view of the events in Egypt."
There was a tense silence, the two Stand users staring each other down for a good twenty seconds, neither budging an inch.
Eventually, Yuki relented, sitting back in her chair.
"…Alright."
June 18th, 2016. DIO's Mansion.
I was having a rough day.
I had gone down to Egypt on Michael J.'s orders, helping the Cleaners' cause. Maybe I would have gotten to beat up a couple of those stupid Blues Brothers ruffians, or I could have discovered a couple ancient secrets. All in all, I was just set to have a good time with my fellow Cleaners.
Instead, upon arrival to the Mansion, I get treated like a child, teleported around like trash by some unknown Stand user, almost possessed by another, and was in general, WAY too disoriented to be of any help to the Cleaners at all!
After the fighting had died down, and one Stand user had been dispatched, I was still incredibly panicked and exasperated. Upon seeing my own ally, Jozen, I immediately attacked, gassing him and knocking him out with one blow.
I only realized my mistake once Jozen was out cold, having turned his body around to get a good look at him. A sandstorm was cooking up by then, so I knew I had to work fast. It wouldn't be long until I could only see two feet in front of me.
I had searched around the third floor, finding the map that I was sent here to locate in the master bedroom. I shuddered in disgust upon realizing that was the bed that DIO himself slept on, but I soldiered on, noticing the map sitting in an open drawer.
It was a wrapped-up scroll, with green edges. I snatched it out of the drawer, chuckling to myself at this easy victory for the Cleaners.
It wasn't that easy. I wouldn't be in this villa right now if it was, right?
Just when I had thought that victory was all but assured, the sandstorm kicked up, the gathering gale blowing the map out of my hands! It rolled down one of the holes in the floor, and I didn't see where exactly it went after that.
OPEN THE GAME!
At the time, I hadn't considered at all the fact that another enemy Stand user would be there. I was just concerned with getting back the map. I wrapped some bandages I had found earlier around my head, to protect me from the sand, and hopped down the pit. I hadn't considered it at the time, but the sandstorm would have muffled any noise I made jumping down.
Jumping down the holes, I followed the north to south direction the wind was going, ending up in the basement. I frantically searched the area, not finding anything.
I nearly tore apart the area in my desperation, searching any possible spot that the scroll could have fallen in. I repeated that process for just about every room in the basement before Jozen, who had woken up, stopped me.
"Do you…" He sighed. "I don't even need to ask. Let's just get you to safety."
He then casually picked me up and hoisted me over his shoulders! I knew it was useless to resist against such strength, so I resigned myself to my fate.
June 19th, 2016. Pit "Repider" Prentice's Home.
"Sheesh, what a day" Pit said loudly knowing that he got his home all for himself. "Well let's do what every single does in such a time, but first I should check the Cleaner Forum just to be sure that everything is alright..."
Logging in... Welcome back Repider
[Michael_J_admin changed the name of Repider to Arrowlosingdumbass]
Arrowlosingdumbass: Would you stop doing that? It has been like two weeks now
Michael_J_admin: Not until someone else does something even more stupid and I doubt that'll ever happen. You just dug yourself into a really HUUUUGEEE ****
Michael_J_admin: I gotta change the censorship. H 0le is not a bad word at all
BigBlack****: I am pming you like three times a day and you do it now?
Michael_J_admin: Oh sorry I was busy to lead a freakin' gang and stuff oh and in my free time I try to save the world
BigBlack****: Oh and Pit you could be happy You'll change your username soon
Arrowlosingdumbass: Yay, but why?
BigBlack****: Wait she should be here any minute
Yuki_me_around is now online
Major_Tom_admin went online
Crazy_Frog went online
Michael_J_admin: Oh Yuki good to see you are alive. Did you sent the map already?
Yuki_me_around: Ah yeah about that...
And then Yuki proceeded to tell the Cleaners about the battle.
[Arrowlosingdumbass changed his name into Repider]
Repider: At least I got my username back
Major_Tom_admin: Well I am already 118 years old. I witnessed a world war. I witnessed a lot of stupid things, but this gets easily first place with honors.
BigBlack****: Oh finally Major Tom can you change the censorship?
Major_Tom_admin: Why?
Major_Tom_admin: oh
The censorship rules have changed
BigBlackHole: FINALLY
Michael_J_admin: Anyway what to do with you Yuki? We need to teach you a lesson... Has anyone an idea?
handsome_turtle: Perhaps she has to date Pit for a month?
Repider: Heeyyyyy, also HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ONLINE?!
handsome_turtle: Around the time Michael destroyed his computer...
psa: Yeah about that... Michael would you mind not to destroy my laptop too?
Michael_J_admin: Gee fine (It's not like we own a computer store or so)
Major_Tom_admin: Although that I disagree with Michael in terms of "teaching a lesson" this time I'll make an exception
Yuki_me_around: QwQ I know I screwed up badly, but not that bad I hope
Michael_J_admin: If someone told me that a nazi has revived Hitler and gave him a stand that would be on my to-do list below the censoring thing
Yuki_me_around: Oh god did I screw up that badly?
BigBlackHole: You knocked me unconscious, had the map in your own hands AANNNDD lost it afterwards
Crazy_Frog: Perhaps she could go to Italy and train with a friend of mine?
Michael_J_admin: It depends is he a dick?
BigBlackHole: Oh come on you censored hole but not dick?
Michael_J_admin: That does not matter now
Crazy_Frog: Well he left his group when they rebelled against their boss...
Michael_J_admin: Fair enough Tom are you ok with that?
Major_Tom_admin: Do as you must. I just got a call from a client and thus I have to go offline.
Major_Tom_admin went offline
Repider: Well Yuki a few weeks won't be that hard
Michael_J_admin: LOL good joke you'll be there for 2 years. Starting tomorrow. The official reason is that you got accepted on some italian elite university.
Yuki_me_around: Can I atleast stay in this forum?
Michael_J_admin: Well yeah ofc. You have to write a blog every few weeks or so and tell us about your progress.
Repider: See Yuki we actually care about
Repider: You did a bad thing, but that does not mean that you are any part less of family for us
Repider: Why don't you give me your number perhaps I can visit you?
Michael_J_admin: I WILL LITERALLY PUKE ON THE LAPTOP OF MY BROTHER IF YOU CONTINUE DO TRANSFORM THIS SACRED PLATFORM INTO TINDER
Yuki_me_around: Well I'll have to meet up with someone now. I will be back tomorrow evening.
Yuki_me_around went offline
Repider: Could you be less of a dick?
Michael_J_admin: Could you grow one?
Crazy_Frog: Anyway you two remember that we have an organisation to fight? Michael what do we do next? New Zealand? Texas? Arizona?
Michael_J_admin: Nah not now that'll come later. I am currently calling the next two to tell 'em what they should do
Repider: Let me guess get the map back? It would be easier to just get a photo of it and destroy the original or has it to do with stands that we can't do that?
Michael_J_admin: Why do you even ask?
Repider: Dunno well gotta go… I have things to do
Michael_J_admin: Oh no I know what you'll do. I looked into your browser history and THAT is not healthy!
Repider: What? How?
psa: We are an information gang
Repider: Why do I even ask
Repider went offline
AMV_Fan went online
EyeSeeYou went online
Michael_J_admin: Ah there they are.
AMV_Fan: why did Yuki just left our dorm crying like she'd been expelled from us?
Crazy_Frog: Technically she is...
EyeSeeYou: What?!
Michael_J_admin: TL;DR Yuki lost the map after she obtained it, she is now going to italy getting tutored by a friend of Oliva
AMV_Fan: G. or F.?
Crazy_Frog: F ofc G has better things to do
EyeSeeYou: Would you stop using this secret Jargon?
Michael_J_admin: Calm down nobody wants to kill you here we are not reds
Michael_J_admin: I mean soviets
EyeSeeYou: Wait are we affiliated with any former Yugoslavia employee?
Michael_J_admin: Besides you? No one my comrade... I will give both of you a short info, before you'll get the full dossier tomorrow at 9 am
Michael_J_admin: Meet with a SPW Employee in Cairo and help him.
EyeSeeYou: Understood. I will do my best. Oh and could you ask for me around if someone heard about anyone who was involved with killing protestors in the former Yugoslavia?
Michael_J_admin: Sure can do
EyeSeeYou: Thank you
EyeSeeYou went offline
Michael_J_admin: Although they do buy a lot from me...
AMV_Fan: Gotta go. Pit just called an he makes one of his delicious BBQ!
AMV_Fan went offline
Crazy_Frog: You okay with sending a student and a paranoid security guard to Cairo?
Michael_J_admin: It shouldn't be too hard for them. Well gotta go
Crazy_Frog: Where do you go?
Michael_J_admin: When Pit is at the grill you have to pray that you are on his good side and you'll get food from heaven!
Michael_J_admin went offline
Crazy_Frog: Well let's what's so special about it...
Crazy_Frog went offline
handsome_turtle: I am so lonely...
psa went offline
handsome_turtle: Hello?
handsome_turtle went offline
YUKI MERCURY: [RETIRED!]
December 2nd, 2017. A hidden Italian Villa.
"I see… Thank you for your account of the events. Do you want me to fill in what else had happened on that day for you, for better clarity?"
"Hmph. I'd like to know which of those Blues Bitches gave me two years in this villa."
June 18th, 2016: DIO's Mansion.
Veridis Quo was having quite a nice day so far, disregarding the sandstorm.
Having gone inside the mansion to seek shelter from the aforementioned sandstorm, he immediately began looking over the first floor for the map, scanning just about every object he could find, intact or not, through his portals.
Having very little luck with searching upstairs, considering the sandstorm was picking up, he took refuge in the basement, looking around in there.
When he got to the gameroom, a very, very bizarre thing happened: The map dropped down right into his open arms! It was a miracle!
Veridis smirked to himself, and walked out with his prize, not noticing or hearing Yuki tumbling down a short while after the map fell into his hands. He was long gone from the premises by the time Jozen regrouped with Yuki.
December 2nd, 2017. A hidden Italian Villa.
"BULLSHIT!" Yuki shouted, outraged at what had actually transpired. "THAT WAS BULLSHIT! I WOULDN'T BE HERE RIGHT NOW IF THAT VERIDIS PIECE OF SHIT HADN'T BEEN IN THE GAMEROOM!"
"Please, calm yourself. Fugo will be back any second. And besides, this has been a learning experience, correct?" I have her a moment to calm down.
"I suppose so. Still annoyed that I have to spend half of a year here still due to blind luck"
"That's life for you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to take my leave."
"I've just got one question for you. Just who ARE you?"
I got up, and turned to leave. "Call me Goode. I'm an… associate of Michael J's."
I walked away, leaving the poor girl still confused.
Stand Name: 「You Spin Me Round 」
Stand User: Yuki Mercury
Stand Type: Short Range
Stand Ability: Within a close to medium range (6ft area) of「 You Spin Me Round 」the stand will create a colorless, odorless gas that causes extreme dizziness to anybody within its area of effect, also after about 30-40 seconds of exposure to the gas a secondary effect will trigger, the person effected by the gas will have their sense of direction completely flipped and will now perceive left as right, up as down etc... Their world has now been "Spun Right Round". The dizzying effects can be so strong that it causes nausea and even fainting. The biggest drawback is that the ability does not distinguish between friend and foe and while the user cannot be affected any of the user's allies can be.
Stand Stats:
Destructive Power: A
Speed: B
Range: D
Durability: B
Precision: B
Stand Name:「Face to Face」
Stand User: Veridis Quo
Stand Type: Long-Range Stand
Appearance: 「Face to Face」 is a humanoid stand reminiscent of a mechanical skeleton, with thick cords winding around its limbs and spine like arteries. Normally, 「Face to Face」 is covered by a golden yellow translucent hologram that flickers slightly, creating its "skin". 「Face to Face's」 most notable feature is its head, which is boxy and juts forward, giving a hunched appearance. 「Face to Face」 lacks a nose, mouth, or other facial features. Instead, it has four square-shaped eyes, one being where the mouth would be, and one on the forehead. These eyes are usually closed, but open when 「Face to Face」 uses its stand power.
Abilities
「Aerodynamic:」 「Face to Face」 projects a hologram around itself that deflects weak projectiles and energy attacks.
「Voyager:」 When 「Face to Face」 opens one of its eyes, it can open a square, opaque portal 2 m2 in area on any relatively flat surface within Veridis Quo's line of sight. Up to four portals can be open at once, and both stand and user can travel between portals freely as long as at least two are active. 「Face to Face」 can also see from these portals, which counts as line of sight for creating new portals. When something enters one of these portals, either on its own or by being pushed or pulled in, 「Face to Face」 determines which active portal it comes out of. Additionally, multiple objects entering a single portal at once can be directed out of separate portals, or vice versa. This can be used to disarm a held item, separate a stand and user, or bring a dangerous item like a bomb closer to an enemy. A portal is closed when the eye corresponding to it is shut. If 「Face to Face's」 eye is damaged or destroyed, it is no longer able to open the corresponding portal, and will close the portal if it is open at the time.
「Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger:」 When something passes through a portal crated by 「Face to Face」, Veridis Quo gains knowledge of its various properties, in the form of numbers. These can be things such as weight, velocity, color, even age. Veridis Quo gains almost full knowledge of basic inanimate objects with just one teleport, but gaining knowledge from more complex sources like computers or living things requires multiple passes through the portals. After it learns about a property, 「Face to Face」 can then change that aspect of the object on subsequent passes by editing the number associated with it. Veridis Quo affects objects by imposing his psyche on them. Because of his relative psychological weakness, overtly complex or supernatural items or beings with strong will or intent, especially other stand users, are exceptionally difficult to edit. The objects changed revert to their original state when 「Face to Face」 is deactivated or otherwise incapacitated.
「Face to Face: Short Circuit」
When Veridis Quo is no longer capable of psychologically coping with a stressful situation, 「Face to Face」 regresses to its 「Short Circuit」 form. Upon transforming, 「Face to Face」 loses the hologram around it, its eyes and body twitch erratically, and bolts of electricity fire off of it randomly. When the bolt strikes an object, a random property of it is changed similar to 「Face to Face's」 active ability. However, since there is no direction to the attacks, most objects in the vicinity of 「Face to Face」 will be affected, quickly creating a radius of total chaos. While 「Short Circuit」 is active, 「Face to Face」c annot use any of its normal stand abilities.
When this transition occurs, Veridis Quo has extremely limited control over his stand. As his mental state becomes more extreme, this control diminishes further. 「Face to Face」 becomes more violent and unpredictable as its range increases, and its movements become more erratic as it fires off bolts more frequently. Despite being mostly independent, 「Face to Face」 will not intentionally harm its user even as it lashes out regardless of his best interest. 「Face to Face」 will return to its normal state when Veridis Quo calms down and returns to a normal mental state.
Stand Stats
「Face to Face:」
Destructive Power: C
Speed: C
Range: A
Durability: C
Precision: D
「Face to Face: Short Circuit:」
Destructive Power: A
Speed: C
Range: B
Durability: C
Precision: E
Stand Name: 「Hope Rides Alone」
Stand User: Johnny B. Goode
Stand Type: Long Range
Stand Description: A short, red and blue robotic humanoid, with its face replaced by a screen, displaying a gray, blank face. Its ability is, upon contact, with a Stand or its user, to copy that power, taking upon the color scheme of that Stand, along with the image on the screen changing to a rough pixel approximation of the Stand's head, or, if the Stand has no head, the User's head. The user gains a basic knowledge of the Stand power that it has copied. Hope Rides Alone can copy multiple powers, however the copy goes away after roughly five to ten minutes and it can only use one ability at a time, ie he has to wait for the power to run out before switching to another one. If Hope Rides Alone attempts to copy an ability from a regular person, it instead gains proficiency in the activity that the target is the best at, for example, if it were to copy a Chef, it could cook quite well. The face on the screen stays blank, and the color scheme stays the same, however.
Stand Stats:
Destructive Power: D
Speed: B
Range: A
Durability: D
Precision: B
