ardent | 004. Action for Violet City/Video

004. Action for Violet City/Video

[ACTION]

[Perhaps strangely for the late evening hours on a Sunday, there are lights on in the school in Violet City tonight; Ishimaru usually avoids coming here in the evenings for that reason - surely it would look suspicious if someone were to come by and see that, or notice someone wandering around in there through the windows - but he has been coming by here once classes let out for the day once in a while, and tonight...well. It's been a long week.

It had taken him some time to convince himself that being here was okay (it is public property, as far as he can tell, so he's not in danger of trespassing, and surely it can't be breaking and entering if the door is unlocked); he'd run into a janitor yesterday who didn't seem fazed at his being there, and didn't seem to mind as long as he left things as he found them. It isn't as though he does much here, anyway; he mostly just wanders around, enjoying the feel of the place. Schools have always had very distinct feelings associated with them, as far as he goes; even his time in Hope's Peak hasn't managed to tarnish that.

About the only thing it's effected is the way he makes sure to leave the windows open and unblocked by shades while he's here.

So he's clearly visible to passersby, should there be any this evening, though he's got his back to the outside; he's got chalk in his hand, quickly adorning the chalkboard in front of him with words written briskly in steady, straight lines.

Live with simplicity, fortitude and vigor.

The foundation of hard work is the spirit to succeed.

Sacrifice is freely given, not yours to demand; give freely of yourself when possible.

Do what you can with your life; it's the only one you've been given.

Do not tear down when you can build up; do not destroy when you can create.

Respect all life as though it were your own.

They're simple phrases, really; things to be kept in mind, thoughts that he needs to remind himself from time to time. He thinks for a moment before scrawling one more down, and then he steps back, surveying his work.

We are not dead yet.

It had struck him as horribly morbid, when he'd first heard it; it's still painful, but it brings with it a dark sense of comfort. We are not dead yet.

That one gets underlined.]

[VIDEO]

[Well, judging from the background of the video, Ishimaru hasn't quite left the school building yet -

...all right, he's not even in the process of leaving, as several of those lines are still clearly visible on the board behind him, but still. He'll wipe them before he leaves, definitely.

However, for the time being, he has something of a question; it's been bothering him for quite some time now, actually.]

A lot of people seem to have been brought here during times of stress or conflict in their lives - in fact, almost everyone I've seen has been like that! Is there anyone here from a world that's actually peaceful and in order?

[It hasn't quite hit him that this isn't just something you ask people, good lord.]

Of course, even if things are dark for you now back home, the focus shouldn't be on futility, but rather on hope and possibilities! Even if your world is a dark one and your circumstances are unfortunate, it's still nice to hear about the positive times, so if you have any of those, they can be shared as well, if you like.

I hope that today was good to you, and if not, that tomorrow will be better - anything can be overcome with hard work, inner strength and cooperation!

[...again, it's been a long week, and he tends to solve issues with his own sense of spirit by screaming encouragement at others; it usually works, for the most part.]

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Do you believe everyone is capable of it?

[ Trying to just plow through hardships. For all his encouragement, some things just have to be broken to get that sort of strength. Provided people can survive the ordeal, anyway. ]

I...

[His expression tightens a bit at that, though he doesn't go snappish; just taking a moment to put what he wants to say into words without giving away too much.]

I know some people aren't; that no matter what you do, some won't be able to pick themselves up again. They just can't.

That doesn't mean that we should stop encouraging those who can, and if I'm in a position to help the others pick themselves up, then I should - it's only right!

Of course.

[ She won't dispute him on that. She even gives a small, resolute nod. Just looking at it in a more... realistic light, for a lack of a better word. ]

And those that can't should be protected.

As long as you know to protect them in the first place, of course they should! Some are just better at keeping it to themselves than others.

Do you?

[ She tilts her head at him, casually looking him over from what she can see from the feed. ]

Do I...?

[Well, that question is...um, new.]

I guess that depends on how you mean!

Do you use your enthusiasm and your encouragement of others to hide your own troubles?

[ And do you know how to protect such people in the first place? The ones who hide and try to cope with their problems in their own ways? Pointed stare your way, sir. Mikasa's pretty much in Blunt Question mode. ]

Edited 2013-07-15 08:13 (UTC)

[He's somewhere between being able to appreciate the blunt wording - because people really need to learn to say what they mean - and most definitely not appreciating the specific line of questioning. But fine. Apparently we're going to do this thing.]

I use my encouragement of others as a way to assist them with their troubles - my own are lessened when those around me are taken care of.

Then you should have someone to look out for you.

[ It's really not even a question; that is just what it sounds like to her. The kind of person who looks out for others while lessening their own needs. Not that she's really offering, considering they just met and are only talking. ]

[...oh, is that all? Relaxing immediately, then!]

Ah, there's no need to be troubled by such things - I have my brother here, and at least one other person with me that I trust well enough! It's not anything to be concerned about!

[ Her eyes glance off to the side when the word "brother" comes up, and stares there for a moment as he talks. And she wasn't really concerned, but common courtesy prevents her from correcting it. She snaps her gaze back to him once he stops talking. ]

It wouldn't do for others if their encourager was blindsided by whatever troubled him.

It's a bit hard to imagine anything blindsiding me here, anyway; everything is far easier than it was back home!

[...]

From the sound of it, it's the same for you, isn't it?

Yes. The whole atmosphere of this world is still strange to me.

[ Not being in a life or death situation on a constant, day-to-day basis is really throwing her off. She admits this, but her expression is still as passive as ever. ]

Edited 2013-07-15 08:50 (UTC)

[Social cues have never really been Ishimaru's thing; it's not so much that he reads them incorrectly as it is that he usually fails to process them at all. Complex social interactions with him tend to be a bit...odd, as a result.

Just the same, something about this is managing to strike him as very wrong.]

...How long have you been here, then?

A week.

[ She told herself she wouldn't give up. But even before mentally telling herself that, her body keeps going. She has her objectives in this world - she will do it.

Still... this peace is unsettling. ]

[Well, that explains a lot. Honestly, once he got used to actually being allowed to go outside whenever he felt like it, it wasn't so bad, but the first week was...yeah.]

...There's a sort of honesty to this place, I think, that's difficult to get used to - it's so straightforward that it seems like there must be some sort of trick to it. The whole thing is a bit uncanny.

It gets easier to accept it after a while.

I have to accept it at some point. And I will.

[ The reality of the situation. And really, it's no longer in her to remain completely idle in a hopeless situation. Soldiers adapt.

She gives a pointed look towards him. ]

I hope the people in this world are as straightforward as this place.

I don't know that all of them are, just because I haven't spoken to all of them yet!

[Ishimaru.]

But for what it's worth, I've always believed in saying what I mean - there's no sense in trying to talk to people otherwise!

[ ... Huh. Well. That seemed obvious, and at least he's following with what he's saying. ]

So you can be trusted to not lie.

[ Right? ]

Of course I can!

[ She gives a small hum at that, before nodding. She'll take his word for now.

A pause. Then: ] Mikasa Ackerman.

[He tips his head a bit at that, seeming a bit unsure of where that came from before nodding resolutely.]

Kiyotaka Ishimaru - surname is preferred, however!

Ishimaru.

[ It flows easily from her tongue, but then again, that should be no surprise. The surprise only lies in the fact that she's seeing more of them in this world. She gets the feeling that Ishimaru is of Orient descent.

Then she realizes she's staring, and gives a nod back. ] I don't have a preference.

I'll keep that in mind, then!

[....]

It's good to meet you!

[Well. Sorta. At least it hasn't been bad.]

And you. I hope the rest of the day treats you well.

[ In Mikasa's case, this conversation went a bit better than expected? ]

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004. Action for Violet City/Video

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