"Soft & Wet. I took away the friction from the ground."
A strange man spoke, causing Joseph to suddenly look back at the person standing beside him.
The man wore a sailor suit, cut with a wide neck and above the navel, a neckerchief with a button resembling a slotted screw head, large emblems of an anchor on his right side and a compass rose on his left, fitted pants with a belt, and a pair of high-top athletic shoes.
But especially, on the back of his shirt is the logo of Rhodes Island.
"Damn, that hurts. And let me guess, next you'll say: My name is Josuke Higashikata."
"My name is Josuke Higashikata... Wait, what the fu-?"
*BAM*
Taking advantage of the moment, Joseph planted his hand on the floor as he swung a leg sweep, bringing the strange officer to the ground with him.
"Ha ha, how do you like them apple?"
Joseph chuckled to himself as he got up from the ground, before reaching out his hand.
"Damn, my hips still hurts. But, the name is Joseph Joestar, and you can call me JoJo."
Joseph spoke in a strangely relaxed manner, but Josuke didn't seem to be confused by it as he took his hand and stood up.
"That's... rather a way to get to know a new colleague, isn't it? Hey, is that really a way of saying hello, Amiya?"
Josuke asked. Although this question might sound like a silly question, Joseph could sense Josuke's wonder behind the question.
"Perhaps... um, that's true, Operators Gappy. But I don't think you should try this greeting with other officers. Especially with Officer Specter."
Amiya worryingly said.
"Ah, I almost forgot. Joseph, Josuke here will be your roommate. I think maybe. Um, please note the word 'maybe', he'll help you get acquainted with your new co-workers at Rhodes Island."
There was a hint of worry in Amiya's voice, and it did not escape Joseph's attention. But he didn't seem to mind that much.
"And next you'll say: Now for the paperwork."
"Now for the paperwork..."
Amiya was shocked when Joseph predicted every word she said. Not even she had expected that.
"You have to teach me that trick."
Josuke said, feeling some kind of interest in the trick Joseph just pulled out.
"Sorry, bro, but a magician never reveals his tricks, right? And, also, paperwork, of course, it always has to be the paperwork."
Joseph sighed and sat down in an armchair. He hates having to read the rules and regulations that he considers 'useless'. Maybe that's why he couldn't be too serious about matters like this, so he immediately picked up the pen, but just as he was about to put it down on the paper.
"Ehm... I think you'll have to read the terms and conditions carefully before you sign it, Mr. Joseph."
Amiya said, preventing him from signing the paperwork too soon.
"What if I don't give a shit?"
Joseph asked again.
"...Okay. But be careful, I think you should watch and see it with your own eyes, Joseph."
Amiya leaned back in her chair, leaving Joseph to decide for himself.
"'Looking at it with my own eyes'? Damn, I've heard it twice."
Joseph sighed, gently dropping his head in boredom. However, he still picked up the pen and signed the contract of service on the desk.
"Hmmm..."
Amiya formed a satisfied smile at the paperwork before her eyes.
"Welcome to Rhodes Island, Operator Joestar."
The little girl held out her hand, welcoming him to Rhodes Island.
"Thanks. Phew, now I don't need to take some garbage as pillow."
And Joseph responded with a similar action.
"And here's the path to the canteen. But it looks like you've had your breakfast, so I think I should take you to the Human Resources Department first."
Josuke said, guiding his new roommate behind him on the corridor filled with Operators busied with work.
"Oh wait, if you can call me JoJo, then can I call you Gappy?"
Josuke suddenly stopped and looked back at Joseph, but his face hadn't changed much.
"For somehow, I'm not surprised by this anymore."
Josuke, now known as Gappy, sighed in exasperation at his diastema between his upper incisors.
"I'll take that as an indirect 'yes'. Oh, and by the way, how old are you? You look so young and tall."
Joseph asked.
"Looks who is saying.*sigh* But to be honest, well, I barely remember. The only thing I remember is that I've been working here for like... two years?"
Gappy shook his head, thinking about his answer.
"Wow, yet another case of amnesia. I guess this won't be the last time I see an amnesiac patient, right?"
Joseph put his hands behind his back, thinking blankly about the future.
"We have come."
Gappy said.
"Oh, finally... Wait a minute?"
In front of them was not the Human Resources Department, but...
"Convalescence Garden? Well, damn, one hell of a name it is."
Joseph stroked his fingers into his hair in confusion.
"Huh, last time I check, this was the way to the Human Resources Department?"
Gappy started looking around, but Joseph went straight ahead inside the Convalescence Garden, leaving Gappy thinking about how to find his way.
"Aw, damn, automatic doors too? Now that's something I haven't seen before"
The door opens automatically, revealing a greenhouse with rows of flowers of all kinds, from the sunflowers facing the sunset outside the window to the red spider lilies and the red and white roses, to the succulent apples and oranges on the branches. The nose-splitting scent combines with the fruit-filled scenery to form a miniature regeneration system right inside this vast R.I.I.C facility, leaving Joseph in awe of this beautiful setting.
"I can't believe it... I think this whole place is a goddamn moving castle."
Yes, a goddamn moving castle, as if this was the only one. He walked as he grabbed and took a bite at the apple, as he looked at the scenery around him. Until he stopped in front of a glass door. In fact, the walls of the small room in front of him were all made of glass, so he could see what was inside.
It was a room filled with garden tools, from hoes, shovels, knives, and more. All were carefully and neatly arranged, and clean with no trace of dirt on them. But the strangest thing is an armchair attached to a swing, and a round table, decorated as a living room.
"Come in."
A female voice came from behind an armchair inside the room, catching Joseph off guard.
"Huh. Well, I did intend to be sneaky, didn't I?"
Joseph told himself, before grabbing the doorknob, pushing in, and moving forward. The girl behind the armchair stood up and turned to say hello.
"Welcome, Operator Gappy, it looks like you've finally decided to come here for another treatment..."
She suddenly stopped when she saw him.
"Hold on a minute... Hold on, you're not Operator Gappy."
She said.
"Nope, the name is Joseph Joestar, but you can call me JoJo."
Joseph pointed at himself.
"Huh, maybe you and Gappy have a more similar scent than I thought."
She said, before sitting down on the armchair one more time.
"So, I'm Lena, but you can call me Perfumer. Welcome to the Convalescence Garden, newbie."
Perfumer solemnly introduced with open arms.
"And first thing first, how do you like them apples?"
"What?"
Joseph was a bit confused, before he realized that indeed there was a bitten apple in his hand.
"Oh, sorry for taking it. I, uh, couldn't resist it."
Joseph scratched the back of his neck, before taking another bite at the apple in his hand.
"Your action doesn't seem to match your words. But I accept it."
Perfumer sighed.
"So, you got quite more than a thing or two about perfume, right?"
Joseph crossed his arms.
"Basically yes."
And Perfumer replied.
"Huh, I don't think this garden is the last surprise this place has for me."
Joseph said to himself, walking around the storage room, gazing at the flowers planted by the hand of the woman in front of him.
"By the way, you planted these by your own hands?"
asked Joseph, lightly touching the blue spider lily on the table, completely different from the red spider lilies he saw outside the room.
"Basically yes as well, but Podenco deserves some credit as well."
"Podenco?"
"If you want a cup tea, be sure to visit Podenco's Greenhouse. The tea she brews is very fragrant and flavorful. So what do you think of that flower?"
Perfumer said, pointing at the blue spider lily in front of Joseph.
"This one? I feel like there's something oddly familiar about this thing."
Joseph stooped, gently lifted the petal and observe, before Perfumer took it away.
"Haha, you're right, this is probably one of a kind. I found this flower during a field trip to Higashi. Legend has it that long ago, there was a demon in order to achieve absolute immortality, he created an army of demons that roamed Higashi in search of this thing, but the funny thing here is?"
"Is?"
"This flower can only bloom in the morning, while the demon and his army cannot survive a second in the sun."
(My poor reference to Demon Slayer)
Perfumer smiled wryly, before sitting down on a chair with the blue spider lily pot in hand.
"Damn, is it fate or just a coincidence?"
Joseph said.
"Coincidence?"
Perfumer asked.
"A long story."
Joseph replied.
"And I, too, don't have all day waiting for it."
A third voice interrupted them, and it was none other than Operator Gappy.
"Ah, Operator Gappy, here you are. Are you consider-"
"Sorry, Perfumer, but to be honest, I don't want to waste your time."
Gappy said, as he turned away.
"Wait, didn't you say that it was-
"Making progressive, yes. But that was from a month ago."
He coldly interrupted her words
"Well then, I'll see what I can do in the meantime. Until we meet again, then."
Perfumer waved goodbye as Gappy left. And Joseph was confused, he may seem like he didn't bat an ear to them, but he noted their words.
"See you soon, Operator Joestar. Remember to visit the Life Garden if you have time, I could use the help of a big-handed person like you."
Perfumer said, before the other two were out of her sight.
"And this is the..."
"Engineer Department?"
Joseph said nonchalantly.
"Oh my god, how many times are we going to get lost again?"
It didn't escape the ears of a passerby, though.
"You're saying?"
A female voice asked Joseph. And it was none other than Instructor Dobermann, and the whip nearly sent Joseph to the hospital for another day.
"Ah, nothing, nothing, Instructor. But what are you doing here?"
Joseph pretended to be polite, clearly not wanting to be whipped by that whip of hers.
"It isn't something much. I just brought some stuff to fix."
She replied nonchalantly.
"Fix things?"
"Yeah. I need to send my weapon here for maintenance."
Dobermann said, before the door in front of him opened. Welcoming them was the faint metallic smell that hit their nose. In front of them was a huge array of computers, tools, and mechanical machines, along with tools and wires scattered on the ground. Followed by desks are classified into two main categories here: Repair tables with repair tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, or blueprints of weapons and items. The tables display stats, statistics, and reports, as well as battle maps. But about where will the map take place, none of the three of them knew.
"Bloody hell... What the hell is this feeling of familiar?"
The feeling that was running in Joseph was dejá vu. The feeling in this place was the same as when he infiltrated a secret research facility run by Stroheim in Mexico. And fortunately, there was no Pillar Man who was awakened by some irresponsible German soldiers. There was only one engineer lying somewhere in this room.
"Closure! Where are you?"
Gappy said loudly. And to his response was a mournful weary groan from within the corner of the room.
"Ah, dang it, your timing couldn't be worse."
And it was a female voice that responded to his words, and a figure stepped out of the dark corner of the room, followed by a strange black cube with bat wings.
"Let's see, what do we have here?"
Said Closure, before sitting down in her chair.
"A little maintenance will do just fine."
Dobermann said, placing her whip on Closure's desk.
"Okay. I'll take note for Mechanist when he gets back."
Closure said, put the whip on the away.
"Thank you. Now, if you excuse me, I'll have something to do first, so goodbye."
Dobermann said before leaving, leaving Joseph a little nervous and annoyed.
"Great, now I'm stuck with this airhead."
Joseph told himself with a sigh, as laziness suddenly rushed through him.
"How mean."
Gappy said, but the tone of his voice didn't shift.
"Hahaha, don't worry, although Operator Gappy is half-baked. He will always lead you where you need to be."
Closure said.
"Thanks... Wait, did you just fucking call me half-?"
"AND speaking of where you need, why don't we talk about WHAT you need?"
The blue-haired girl spoke, making Joseph realize what he was getting hooked into, but the person next to him didn't.
"Daga koto-
"Elaborate."
Gappy interrupted the refusion of the brunette, surprising him and forming for the blue-haired Vampire a satisfied smile, before she pull out an ink and wash painting of a scene of a towering mountain peak, standing firmly on it was a large Chinese castle, or a Yanese castle, as they would have it.
Although it is simply a picture depicting a tower with only black ink, additional details such as branches, gaps, and curved and straight lines are carefully arranged. All have created a picture that perfectly combines expression and magnificence.
"An ink painting painted by Yan's most talented, seasoned artist, and... um, a true N.E.E.T. as well"
Closure said solemnly, resting the painting on his shoulder.
"Well, there's a certain staff whose name I can't say, who sent you this painting as a gift. And wow, I didn't expect it, it's rare for an Operator to be able to get to know her, let alone to receive her gifts."
Closure spoke admiringly, making Joseph curious about the person whose name she couldn't speak.
"Huh, did she? Well then, if you excuse me, Joseph, I'll wait for you at the door."
Gappy took the painting from Closure's hand, looking back at Joseph for an answer.
"Fine, fine. Let me see if there's anything interesting here."
"Okay then, see you outside."
Gappy said before leaving the Engineer Department, with his eyes still stuck on the ink painting as he let out a tired sigh.
"And next you'll say:
"Now then, what can I get you, rookie?"
They said simultaneously, catching Closure off guard.
"Then, an answer first. Where is this?"
Joseph asked, interrupting the merchant in front of him before she could said how.
"Oh...You sure didn't read the sign before coming in, huh? This is the Engineer Department, sometimes Research and Development Department, sometimes, my store."
Closure explained.
"So, is there a some uh..."
"Discount for first-timers?"
"Ah, yeah, discount, I think I can use some."
He asked again, causing Closure to begin to get excited about a new order.
"Of course it is. So what do you like? Clothes? Weapons? Furniture? Household items?"
Closure said excitedly, like a merchant promoting his new product to a potential future VIP client.
"Hmm... I want two pairs of Clackers. And wire... a lot of them will do just fine."
Joseph said, as Closure started to take note.
"Anything else?"
The merchant asked.
"No."
The brunette replied.
"Oh, and by the way. Can you teach me how to predict lines? I promise I would give you a discount for every order if you agree."
"Nope, a magician never reveals his tricks. Bye."
Joseph said as he left the room.
"Oh my gosh, another sleepless night awaits me..."
Gappy thought in exhaustion and patted his face, still holding the ink painting in his hand.
"You have some sleeping problem, dude?"
Joseph patted the back of the person in front of him unexpectedly, causing Gappy to turn around in surprise, almost dropping the painting in his hand.
"Hey! You should be careful, it's going to cost me my life if this picture gets a scratch."
Gappy said.
"What the...? I'm no critic either, but what's with this painting? Isn't it just a simple castle on the top of a mountain?"
Joseph spoke curtly when he did not understand the real problem in the picture, but Gappy was even more reluctant to explain the problem to Joseph.
"And next you'll say:
"I don't think you'll say that after knowing the problem behind that picture..."
Gappy whispered, before realizing that Joseph had predicted his words.
"Ahem."
Gappy straightened his posture to avoid suspicion.
"By the way, do you want to go to the canteen? I'm a bit hungry too."