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“S… Seven?” The young man before me repeated, seeming uncomfortable from what I just said. Well, introducing any newcomer to the Alleys has always been the hardest part, so I mentally prepared myself for the explanation.
Now I know what a tour guide feels like.
Putting on my best smile- which is any of them- I gave the newest JoJo and his friend a short bow, one of my hands resting atop Arnold’s head.
“First off, welcome to the Alleyways, JoJo Sev… ah, I suppose it may be best if you just told me the names you go two go by. Repeatedly calling you guys ‘JoJo’ is gonna get confusing after a while!”
The two still seemed flabbergasted and got into a tight huddle between themselves, whispering incoherently. I wanted to peek in to listen but figured staying out and letting the two take their time would be best.
Finally, the boys are facing me again, still wary as ever. The tall one with the weird beard seemed to be most pensive as the JoJo of the two finally spoke up.
His hand moved to gesture towards his friend before going to himself as the young man gave out their names. “The big guy here is Gyro. And I’m Johnny, which I honestly prefer that you call me rather than JoJo.” He spoke rather bluntly and direct!
“It's a pleasure to meet you both.” I respond with a small curtsy.
“Enough with the pleasantries. You haven't explained where we are or how you know who I am.” Johnny, the JoJo, snapped at me. The rude reaction was to be somewhat expected, but it still grated on my nerves.
“I was just about to explain that, Johnny. As I said before, the place you're in is known as Ghost Alley. It's somewhat of a waypoint between worlds. And I'm the guide to make sure you JoJos and friends don't get die or get lost on your back home or when you're going somewhere else.”
“What do you mean ‘between worlds’? Are we talking about an alien thing here?” Gyro questioned, looking skeptical with that arched brow of his. Really, after everything he's seen so far you would think he'd believe me!
“Not an ‘alien thing’. There's simply different dimensions similar to yours. All of them have one thing in common: a JoJo. It's not so much a nickname as a role. I'm surprised you two haven't run into another JoJo! Joseph seemed pretty intent on finding you.”
At the mention of Joseph, both of their eyes widen. Oh, so they really have met Joseph? And he didn't take tell them about the alley? Really, he could have made this so much easier for everyone! The lazy bum.
“Wait... you're telling me Joseph is from one of these ‘other worlds’?” Gyro asked trying to process what I said, clearly.
“Yes, Joseph is JoJo number 2.”
“He seems normal, though…” Joseph? Normal? I mean, I guess…?
“Of course he's normal! Like I said, the worlds are very similar to your own. I'm surprised you didn't think something was off about his sudden appearance.”
“Well I did… just didn't think he was from some kind of alternate dimension, you know? Wait- is Caesar like that too?”
“Oh good, you've met Caesar as well! Yes, they're both from the JoJo 2 World. It's a real shame they didn't explain this stuff to you before you stumbled into here.”
“Yeah, you're telling me.” Gyro grumbles, occasionally glancing behind him.
Johnny just seemed to be processing the information so I decided to keep on with my explanation.
“Ghost Alley connects all these JoJo worlds with the alleyways like the one you came through. You may have noticed it on your way here, but at the end of each alley is a signpost. Yours has a horseshoe and the number seven; that's why I know you're JoJo number 7. Plus, I've already met the first six.”
“S-six? The only person we've met is Joseph,” Johnny stuttered.
“Well, not everyone likes to travel around as much as Joseph does. Though I am surprised Jolyne never tried to come around. Don't worry, you can meet the others when you travel to their worlds.”
“Do I have to go through these other worlds to get back home?” Johnny seemed to growing plenty anxious over this.
“Of course not! I'm just saying there's a whole bunch of worlds for you and your friend to explore now. If you're that uninterested I'll just lead you back home, but at least let me explain everything about the Alley before you run off.”
Johnny sighs but looks back at me, patiently waiting for the rest of the explanation.
“There's more than just six other worlds, of course! And you're allowed to go visiting any that are open.”
“‘Open’?” Johnny repeated, “Why would you have alleys that are closed?”
“Well, that's not my choice! You see, every JoJo has a ‘coming of age’. When they reach that age, their alley opens! Before then, not even I can enter it. The signs are still there so I can have an idea of which JoJo is closed off.”
“When's the coming of age?”
“That varies from JoJo to JoJo. It has to do with their linked life actually. It's when their adventure started before.”
Gyro held a hand against his face, eyes clenched before holding up his other palm for me to pause. “Hold on... first you're telling us about alternate dimensions and now you're talking about ‘linked life?’ What the hell is that?” Gyro asked desperately.
“Linked life is my own term for it. The best way to describe it would be a... past life I suppose, though it's not exactly your direct past. Or even your only past. The linked life is the lives all the JoJos originally shared. Now all the JoJos are scattered in their own dimensions. These linked lives can even bleed into your own world because of the large impact they had.”
“So we can still remember these linked lives?” Johnny asked quietly.
“Not entirely. It seems only very emotional events stick though some less impactful memories can be remembered with certain triggers.”
“Could these memories be… bad?” JoJo gulped, looking up at me with his brow beginning to glisten with sweat. He was even beginning to chew on his lower lip.
I frowned at that. Seems Johnny carried some traumatic memories with him to ask a question like that. “Most of them are, unfortunately. Sad memories are more emotional and lasting, after all.”
Johnny nodded solemnly before tightening his grip on Gyro’s hand. The motion reminded me of something I should have done before I started going on with the long explanation.
I walked closer to the pair with Arnold at my heels. Once I was close enough, I held out my own hand towards Johnny's free hand. Johnny only looked confused at the action so I cleared my throat before explaining myself.
“I can learn more about you like this. Really, any touch will do, but I figure a handshake is the most comfortable. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt or anything; it's just for my own knowledge.”
Gyro unconsciously, or perhaps consciously, moved forward acting as a small barrier between Johnny and myself. I stepped back. Dragging out the processes only made it more difficult but I didn't want to argue with either of them. After all, I could just sneak a touch if they were going to be stubborn.
“What kind of information do you get from a handshake?” Johnny asked but doesn't move any closer.
“Information about your linked lives. Not just yours either! Everyone who was involved with you originally as well.”
“And why do you want to find that information out?” So skeptical, I swear.
“Well, it's just interesting. Your linked lives can influence your current life anyways. So I can help you if I know something about it.”
Hesitantly, Johnny reaches out his hand and Gyro scowls.
“It'll be over before you know it.” I say mostly to Gyro and put my hand in Johnny's quickly.
As soon as our hands meet, I freeze up while the memories of the linked life pour in. It's an odd sensation, almost like I'm reading a story or watching a show. While it seems like hours to me as my mind reels with all the new information, I know it's only been a second as I take a step back with a shuddering breath.
Good God....
I scrub the tears starting to form in my eyes away. I always forget just how horrible the linked lives can be and Johnny's was especially filled with tragedy. I could understand why he was so attached to Gyro if he remembered even some of the things that happened in their race.
Arnold whined beneath me and I lean down to pet him and regain my composure.
“Sorry,” I tried to smile, looking back at the pair. “Linked lives and experiencing them all at once can be very intense.”
Gyro looked shocked at my reaction but Johnny's expression is neutral as he looks down to the floor.
“So these nightmares I get... they're real memories?” Johnny asked, not looking up.
“Yes, but I like to think that we were all blessed with a second chance! So even though those horrible things have happened, you're living a better life now!” I emphasize my point by gesturing to Gyro and Johnny's intertwined hands.
“How come only you can remember all these linked lives?” Gyro asks.
“I'm not quite sure myself. I think it's because I'm the guide for the dimensions.”
“Do you have a linked life?” Johnny asked, finally looking up.
“Yes! I'm a part of JoJo Number 4’s World, originally. I worked like a guide in Ghost Alley there, too, but the Alley had a much different purpose then. It was a waypoint between the world of the living and the dead. I didn't die this time to come to Ghost Alley; I just simply appeared here one day along with Arnold.”
“So do the people from your world remember you?”
“A little. I don't exist in their current world anymore so there's not much to trigger any memories. But enough about linked lives you two must have questions for me.”
“Yeah if this is a waypoint between worlds how come we don't see a bunch of people roaming around?” Gyro asks.
I answer first by turning around and motioning for the pair to follow me. “It's better to walk and talk so you can see more.” I explain and start walking forward. There's silence for a moment before I hear the squeak of wheels and soft footsteps behind myself. “This place usually isn't too busy. It's not impossible for you to bump into another JoJo here but you're more likely to see the JoJo in their own world.”
“So wait can only ‘JoJos’ travel through these alleys? Like, Gyro couldn't come here on his own if he wanted to?”
“No, they can travel here on their own. They just need to have traveled through the alley first, which is hard without a JoJo, since the alleys location is only clear to a JoJo.” Unless I really wanted for it to be discovered by certain people.
“That explains why you couldn't see the alley at first.” Johnny mentioned, presumably to Gyro who hums in response.
“Once they've been through the alley once then they will be able to find the alley on their own and travel as they like but you don't see many people traveling without a JoJo… Well except for Dio; he comes around pretty often.”
The wheels suddenly squeak to a halt and I turn around to see what the commotion is all about.
“Dio? That bastard is from a different world?”
“Well, there's actually a couple Dios, so we may not be talking about the same one. The one I'm talking about is originally from the 3rd JoJo world. Or was it the 1st? Either way, he's quite tall and-”
“Yeah, that's not him.” Gyro interrupts. “Damn... if he was from somewhere else, we could have forced him back to his original world.”
Johnny nods in agreement with a scowl and I giggle to myself. I understand why the JoJos have such a grudge against Dio in their link lives, but it's funny how it's still a universal constant.
“Are you two talking about Diego?” I asked. Diego did go by Dio as well in their link life, after all.
“How do you know that jerk?” Johnny asks, raising his brows in shock.
“Link lives.” The answer came out as simple as it needed to be.
“Well no, we weren't. We were talking about his even shittier twin.”
“Twin?”
“I thought you could tell everything with your ‘link life’ stuff?”
“I can see your link lives, but I don't know anything about your current life beyond what you tell me. How interesting... Diego has a twin in your world...could it have something to do with that alternate version…?” I began to mumble, my thought train beginning to run.
“What?”
“Sorry, just thinking aloud.” I turn back around and continue walking towards my destination. “Any more questions?”
“What are those?” Johnny asks and points to the barred off alleys.
I sigh. “Those worlds are dangerous. They have similarities to your link lives with the Stands and Hamon and the Spin all that stuff. You're not allowed in those places because you don't have those abilities anymore.”
“Whoa, you just threw a lot of words I don't put know out there.” Gyro pointed out, clearly confused.
“It's nothing for you to be concerned with. Trust me, there's nothing good in any of those places.” The last thing I needed was for either of them to get too curious and do something that was way over their heads.
Gyro huffs and Johnny whines disappointedly, but they continued to follow.
After a short trek, we reached the alley I wanted to show off first. I point towards a signpost with the Stone of Aja and the number 2 on it.
“Here's Joseph and Caesar's world! I figured you'd want to see a familiar place first.”
“Hey, I thought you said we didn't have to go through another world.” Gyro grunted with a hint of irritation.
“You don't. I'm just showing you around first. I was hoping Joseph would be here actually. Like I said, he comes here relatively often.”
“Wait- Joseph is in there right now?” I nod and Johnny continues, seemingly confused. “We just saw him before Thanksgiving, though. How long has he been gone?”
“Well, that's kind of complicated and depends on what you're asking. Like, if you're asking how long he's been gone from your world, then it’s as long as you haven't seen him- give or take a few days. But if you're asking how long he's been gone from his world then it's only been a couple seconds.”
“How is that possible? He was at our world for like a month at least!” Gyro asks.
“Time works differently in the different dimensions. You could be in a different world for years and it only passes as a few minutes in your own world.”
“Why?” I got the feeling that these two ask too many questions for my own good.
“Look boys, I don't know. It's not like time doesn't affect you, though. You still age when you're away, it's just like time is stopped or- more accurately- slowed down in your original world when you're in a different one.”
“So if we go back to our world, it'll only be a few seconds?” Johnny pipes in, now seeming curious about the odd time manipulation the different dimensions cause.
“Probably less, since you haven't been here for long, but yes.”
“What if Joseph wasn't in his world; could I still go in it?”
“Yes. The alleys stay open once they've been opened the first time with the coming of age, regardless of who's there.”
“If someone's gone, doesn't that disrupt the time stuff?” Ok, deep breaths, me. They have to run out of questions soon enough.
“Surprisingly, no. Let's say you were in Joseph’s world for a month while he was in your world for the same amount of time. When he comes back to his world it'll seem like he was only gone a moment to you and to everyone else in the world, even though you both were in different worlds for the same length of time.”
“Amazing.” Johnny mumbles to himself, staring intently at the signposts now. “Does time reset when you come back to your world?” Eh?
“What do you mean?”
“Like... let's say I was in Joseph's world for a month and then came back to my own for a moment before going back to Joseph's. Has it still been a month in Joseph's world for me? Or did time reverse because of my leaving?” A bit of a tough question, but I managed to stick along!
“Oh no, it would still be a month later in Joseph's world for you.”
Johnny nods and continues looking around at the signposts. Phew, he seemed to be done for now. For now.
“Time stuff is fascinating, but something else has been bugging me.” Gyro butts into the conversation suddenly. “Caesar said he was a Zeppeli? Was that true?”
“Oh yes, he's as much of a Zeppeli as you are! Same with Joseph being a Joestar. In the different world, your bloodlines are just a bit different.”
“And… are there other Zeppelis?”
“Well there is William, but he doesn't leave his world often.”
“Alright... so if we're all Zeppelis how come we didn't explode or something when we came in contact? Doesn't that cause a paradox?”
“You're not the same people, silly, just similar blood lines. And the people who are the same don't cause a paradox. It's just like a painful shock whenever two of the same person touch that keeps the two apart. Oh that reminds me: Johnny, if you're ever planning on visiting the JoJo 1 world, I wouldn't recommend touching Jonathan.”
“There's another Johnny?” Gyro asks excitedly.
“Not exactly. While Johnny and Jonathan share a name and relatively similar upbringing, their appearance and personalities are polar opposites.”
Gyro pouts. Johnny gives him a quizzical look before looking back at myself.
“So if we were to go through anybody's alleyway, we would just end up in a different version of New York? Isn't that confusing?”
“The JoJos have scattered all across the world, actually. If you were to go to Joseph's world, then yes, you'd end up in New York. But if you were to go to Jonathan's world, you'd end up in a different country! Why, my own world is in Morioh, Japan.”
“Japan? Huh, you don't have any accent. I would never have guessed; your English is perfect.”
“I'm not speaking English. That's just what you hear. It's odd, but when one of you travels to another world or to Ghost Alley, you can understand any language as if it were your native tongue. It's not just me, either, anybody you come across from a different world will understand you. So even though I'm speaking Japanese, you hear it in English.”
“What? Then how come I'm hearing you in English, too?” Gyro asks.
“You can understand multiple languages, so my speech just translated to one randomly. Who knows, maybe next time you're here you'll hear me in Italian?”
“So if I were to go to your world, I'd understand the people speaking Japanese?” Johnny asked.
“Yes, and it’d work both ways. They'd hear you in Japanese, unless they already understood English.”
“That's convenient.” It is, it really is.
“Mhm. Have any other questions?” Please don’t.
“Just one.” Oh good. “If you're not here, can we still come and go through the alleys?” Gyro offered as his, hopefully, last query.
“Well… uh...I'm not sure I can even leave! I've never attempted to so... you don't have to worry about it.”
“But don't you get bored here by yourself?”
“I'm not ‘by myself’. I have Arnold with me!” I crouched by my beloved dog’s side, rubbing at the top of his adorable head!
“A dog's not really much company. You said people don't come around often, either.”
“Yes, but that doesn't mean I'm bored. Ghost Alley is interesting enough on its own. Plus, I'm not sure what would happen to the Alley if I were to leave. If I can even leave. I don't want to risk anything.”
“You should try to leave.” Johnny suggested. “You'll never know what's going to happen if you don't even try.”
“No, I don't want to trap anyone just to satisfy my curiosity.”
Johnny pouts but doesn't pursue the topic further.
“Should we check one of these places out?” Gyro asked Johnny, petting the top of his head to get his attention.
“Why? Did you want to check somewhere out?” Johnny rose a brow, one of his hands rising up to rest atop the larger palm patting him.
“I'm pretty curious now. And if we're only gone for a moment, we might as well check out one Alley.”
“Fair point… alright then. Reimi, take us somewhere.”
I huffed and narrowed my gaze at them with a pout. Johnny blinked, a bit confused before finally realizing his rude little error. “...Please. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
Huffing with a bit of satisfaction, I gave the boys a smile. “I'm glad you two changed your mind.” I smile and start walking to another Alley. They've already met with Joseph, so I figured a different JoJo would be nice for them to meet.
Once I reach the Alley I was looking for, I motion for them to enter.
“Now remember not to turn around while you're exiting the alley. Just ignore anything you hear until you're on the other side. Make sure to tell me all about it when you come back!”
With a short wave, Johnny wheels into the alley with Gyro by his side. I watch their figures get smaller as they walk away before turning around and walking back to my usual spot.
As I sit down I see another figure approaching in the distance. I glance up to the signpost they came out of and grab myself another Pocky stick to munch on before they get close. Oh boy, not a moment’s rest for Reimi, huh?
“Hello! Enjoy the trip?” I cheered with a wave. Guess I wasn't going to get a break today, but really, that was fine.
This place is more fun when it's busy.