@endphones ♡’d for a starter
The world works in odd ways, doesn’t it? First they pull him away from his beloved city, then they strip him of most his powers, and now this—oh, he’s being dramatic, of course, Joshua will not deny this. It feels somewhat warranted when this is the closest he’s ever been to human: well, the first time in a long time, at least. Even during the long game, powers suppressed, he’d still had to hold back. He has the right to gripe, even if not vocally so.
Mortal actions do not deceive the gods, was it? He cannot say he disagrees with that, but...the thought of being considered mortal again is distressing, even if he’s fairly sure that’s not the case ( temporarily so, perhaps, though that is not that much more reassuring to you ). Not that such any emotion ever makes itself visible— vulnerable. Composer might not be entirely composed here, but he at least has that much reign over his emotions.
And what is this, exactly, you may ask? Why, finding his dear proxy here, clearly. Perhaps, all things considered, he shouldn’t be so surprised, although he’d never had any desire to see Neku again after all this time. Well, it’s less about what Joshua wants, but— avoidance is clearly inevitable, he can’t just jump planes here. Might as well engage him on his own terms, instead of waiting to see how long it takes for him to figure out he is here ( likely, it wouldn’t have made a difference ). Tee hee. Surprise! This way, he can perhaps cleanly cut things off before anything can start, see how far he can get away with pushing him. Maybe things will be better this way. His own feelings have no say in the matter here, a lonely god is destined to be alone.
( Maybe not. You never really had a good sense for people, isn’t that right? )
“Trying to break the rules, Neku? I wouldn’t suggest it. As you’ve already probably gathered, the powers that be around here seem unfathomable as far as their full potentials go.” Neku’s colors still bleed warm in his peripheries, almost like the setting sun above them, but he doesn't linger on that too much. Besides, Joshua can remember the last time he’d seen proxy, dead ( and for once, not by his hand ). Didn’t need him anymore— that might’ve been an exaggeration, lie had slipped out easily enough at the time; he’s still useful as entertainment here. If nothing else, Neku’s always been sharp, so he can count on him to notice the same oddities that he does. Nothing more, and nothing less than that. Composer doesn’t deserve anything else than that. “Or, don’t tell me you hadn’t picked up on even that much? Because as far as I recall, right now you should be...hee hee. Well, unless you’re not my...? You don’t seem like the other Neku’s, though.” Not entirely out of the question, though; while necromancy doesn’t seem unlikely here, given his own situation, it’s not like his proxy is the only Neku Sakuraba— and you are not the only Composer of Shibuya out there.
It is far easier to act casually, as if he’d never avoided him in the first place...do you hate him, Neku? For that, he means, always acting according to his own agenda. He really wouldn’t blame him if he did, really; though what proxy feels in the end is inconsequential to him. Joshua doesn’t really expect him to understand the meaning behind his actions, but Neku’s always been pleasantly surprising. “Well, what do you say, partner? Feel like an escort mission, for old times sake?”
