004. Action for Violet City/Video

[ardent]

[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.]

Comments

[ardent]

[He laughs as well, though the sound is a bit...odd; it's just breathy enough at the start to seem forced and a bit too sharply-punctuated to sound natural, but that's how it always is.]

Excellent, then!

As I said before, I won't be much longer; I should clean the board off before I leave - I told someone the other day that I would leave things as I found them - but then we can go, all right?

[diamondo]

Yeah, no problem! I don't mind waiting up!

[Mondo's still grinning and he reaches out to push Ishimaru's shoulder gently.]

I really appreciate it, kyoudai! You're so good to me!

[ardent]

[There's a brief moment where he's clearly tempted to correct him again, to say that no, he isn't, but this time...well, he seems to shrug it off, still looking pleased.]

You're my best friend, why wouldn't I be?

[diamondo]

You're my best friend too! I hope someday I can be even a fraction of as good to you as you are to me!

[He laughs again, clearly pleased now.]

[ardent]

You're already far too good to me, kyoudai, don't worry about that!

[...oh, may god help Johto, they're getting sickening again.]

[diamondo]

[Oh, you think this is sickening? Mondo hasn't even gotten started!!]

Aww, c'mon, I'm not doing anything special! Someone's gotta look out for you, after all!!

[ardent]

[Oh, that'll get a light shove, you.]

I can take care of myself, you know!

[diamondo]

[He returns that shove, laughing.]

Yeah, yeah, I know you can! Doesn't mean I'm not gonna be here for you!

[ardent]

Likewise - you know you can count on me for anything!

[He moves back to the board then, starting to erase the phrases written there; good lord, he's going to have to wash this thing once he's done, isn't he, there is a lot of chalk...]

I'm glad that I could help you tonight, kyoudai.

[diamondo]

Yeah, I'm glad you could too! I... haven't been feeling all that great lately, so it's nice to feel better about all this, y'know?

[He watches for a moment before tipping his head a bit.]

You want help with that?

[ardent]

[...orz...]

Help would be nice, yes...

[He returns to his task anyway, though, whether Mondo is going to assist him or not; might as well make this go quickly.]

And you have been seeming a bit out of sorts lately; it's why I've been having Aiko keep an eye on you! Although knowing her, she'd probably do it whether I told her to or not.

[At least she seems to understand who "kyoudai" actually is by now...]

I don't want anything to happen to you.

[diamondo]

[Mondo joins Ishimaru by the chalkboard, snagging the free eraser and assisting his friend with clearing the board.]

She's a big help!

[And she's downright adorable. Bbghost, you are the cutest.]

I don't want anything to happen to me either! It's good to have someone like you here for me though. Pretty sure I'd just drown in self-pity otherwise.

[He laughs, but the sound is forced. Where would he be without Ishimaru?]

You won't have to worry about me anymore, kyoudai. I'll be fine. Moping around won't help anyone and we've got a lot of work ahead of us to bring the others here. So don't worry, I'll be just fine now!

[ardent]

[Can people really just...decide to be fine like that? Ishimaru isn't sure; he's quiet for a moment before deciding to accept it. He doesn't always understand the things Mondo does, but he can understand putting aside personal difficulties and doubts for the time being, if they're just going to be detrimental and there isn't much to be done. After a while, you can convince yourself that you're fine, and that's what matters, isn't it?]

I'm glad to hear it! If there's ever anything that isn't fine, though, you can always tell me.

[And he seems content to leave that particular issue there, really, though he glances over again after a moment.]

You know, it...was really nice to hear what you had to say earlier, about my not seeming afraid. [He smiles a bit, but the expression is odd.] It was one of those things where it felt like everyone knew - like everyone could see it. It's good to hear that it wasn't like that.

[diamondo]

Yeah, I know I can! And I will let you know if this shit starts bothering me again.

[Mondo is perfectly content to leave it at that. Will he really be able to simply put aside everything so easily? He's not sure, but he'll do his best. Ishimaru doesn't need to be dealing with that shit, and neither does Naegi or Fujisaki. He's content to leave it alone for the time being though.

Ishimaru's statement earns a bit of a strange look, but Mondo's smile is quick to return.]

Hey, don't mention it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought you weren't afraid. It definitely wasn't as obvious as you thought! I know that feeling though; fuck, I was the same way. Felt like everyone in that fucking school knew how fucking terrified I was.

[ardent]

...you mostly just seemed really angry, actually.

[Ishimaru.]

[diamondo]

...well yeah, I mean, who wouldn't be angry about being trapped in a fucking school?

[He does sound a bit sheepish though.]

[ardent]

I wouldn't have been, if it'd been a proper school and not...that! There weren't even proper textbooks, kyoudai!!

[And that's terrible.]

[diamondo]

[Resisting the urge to facepalm...]

You wouldn't be upset about being trapped, kyoudai? C'mon, you'd be upset about something like that regardless of where it was, right?

[Right??]

[ardent]

[It likely says something when he actually has to think about it, but there's method to his madness, don't worry.]

It wouldn't have been ideal, no, and of course it would have been upsetting for a while. But...

[Mnngh.]

You realize that if we'd all followed the rules that were put forth for us, back in Hope's Peak, we would have been fine for as long as we needed, don't you?

There was nothing threatening us there, and as long as we didn't attack Monobear we wouldn't be harmed. We were being provided for very well, and while it's true that we couldn't get out, nothing could get in to harm us, either. Even with those motives...there was nothing to be done about that; the damage had already been done in the case of the first, if those DVDs were real, and in the case of the second I don't think there are any secrets worth murdering to keep! We were entirely safe there, kyoudai - we would have had all the time we needed to plan an escape if we'd just stayed as we were and not tried to harm one another!

[He cuts himself off immediately after that's out there; he returns to wiping that board, the gesture rough and angry. He has more thoughts on this than he'd figured for; he's not crying, but he looks like he's considering it.]

[diamondo]

What are you talking about? None of that was fine! Let's say no one did murder anyone else over those motives, do you really think Monobear would have just let us stay in there without trying again? Shit, Monobear had complete control back there! He could take away our food or something! Or shit, he could just decide to open fire on us with one of those fucking guns! Don't you get it, kyoudai? We were completely at his mercy! There's nothing okay about that!

[It's surprising to hear Ishimaru attempt to rationalize this, but more than that, it's worrisome. How could Ishimaru even think to say that the situation would have been okay?]

'Sides, I dunno if we could've even found a way to escape, no matter how much time we could've had.

[ardent]

If that was an option, then why bother providing for us at all?! Why bother setting rules in the first place if they're just going to be disregarded?! It would have made more sense for him to make an example of one of us right away, to shoot someone when we didn't believe him about the situation as a whole, rather than to let us work it out for ourselves - if he was going to deprive us to get us to kill, why bother providing in the first place? That would have provided incentive right away, wouldn't it?!

You heard him yourself, kyoudai, this was a game, as far as he was concerned - and in games like that, your safest bet is not to play in the first place!

[diamondo]

[There really isn't any arguing that, is there? Monobear did seem to put a big emphasis on following the rules, so what Ishimaru is saying does make sense. Still...]

Why are we even arguing about this? It doesn't matter. We're not going back to that fucking school.

[ardent]

We may not be going back, but that doesn't mean what happened there doesn't matter.

[diamondo]

Well... well yeah...

[He falters a bit, trying to find something to say in response to that.]

Look, it's not gonna do us any good now. Maizono, Enoshima, and Kuwata are all... and then there's Fujisaki... S-so even if you're right and we could manage to find a way outta there, it's too late for a lot of us.

[ardent]

I know that.

[It isn't what he meant, either, but he's not going to argue it if he can help it; he simply grits his teeth as he sets the eraser down, trying to find something to say.]

Leave it alone, kyoudai, forget I said anything.