ardent | 005. [Video, and one other thing]

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005. [Video, and one other thing]

[VIDEO]

[Well! From the sound of the BGM, Ishimaru is currently back in Violet, though he's apparently holed up in Nondescript Hotel Room #356; he seems to have set the device on the table in front of him, and one of his Pokémon is actually out with him today - admittedly, it's a small pink tapir with flowers on it, and while it's definitely levitating itself it's tethered itself to his hair in a way that makes it look more than a little like some sort of really fabulous Combine headcrab. At least, he doesn't seem to mind - if anything, he seems a bit...lost in thought today. Not distracted, per se, just really contemplative.

And maybe a little peeved. Though that might be just his normal expression, it’s sorta hard to tell sometimes.]

So I've been told that I should probably start dressing like a "normal person."

[...okay, yeahno, he’s definitely a little agitated, though it's definitely more frustration than anger; he seems to realize then that his Munna is back and...well, doing the hair-thing again, and he takes a moment to retrieve her, holding her awkwardly in folded arms.]

While I find the way I dress to be completely appropriate and necessary, apparently that isn’t considered to be the case here! I don't see why - I'm a student, and therefore my clothing should reflect that! It's my profession for the time being, and as such the uniform of my profession is something that I should wear with pride!! It isn't proper conduct to do otherwise!

How...ever...

[Whatever he was going to say after that, he falters quite a bit; just...let him get his defensiveness levels down a little bit.]

...As fashion is something I've never really had a grasp on, I would...like to hear about what constitutes "normal" and how it can be achieved, as one's presentation goes!

Thank you for your time, and even if you don't reply, I want you to keep your head up and your eyes trained forward! Today is going to be a good day, I can tell!

[...yeah he kind of doesn't do "normal" well, um.]

[VIDEO - PRIVATE TO DANGANS, ALSO DORUMON]

[A second video will hit shortly after the first, now that he's finished discussing his hideous social failure; still in the Painfully Generic Hotel Room, still with the same setup going on, but at least he seems in somewhat higher spirits this time around, though he's still holding the Munna and seems determined to keep doing so until he's done filming.]

We've made it back to town as of yesterday - safe and doing well, as far as I know! It will be good to see you all again; hopefully you've all been well and keeping yourselves in line during my absence!

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[ Kagura makes some sort of annoyed noise but does as she's told. She leaves the PokéGear and the audio feed running as she goes to find Naegi so Ishimaru gets treated to a few minutes of various background noise and the faint sound of a toothpaste commercial from a TV. ]

--Kagura, you want me to use the PokéGear?

[ That's definitely Naegi's voice. He picks up the PokéGear from the bed and quickly checks the caller ID before switching over to video. ]

Ishimaru-kun?

[ Judging by his damp hair, it seems like Naegi just got out of the shower. Kagura can be seen in the background, currently looking like herself and not him. ]

[...Naegi, you are seriously the most average person he knows; given the fact that he just spent about a week with Alice-san, however, he will not complain about the normalcy.]

Ah, Naegi-kun, there you are! Your fox contacted me!

[...he says, as though this is a perfectly normal occurrence.]

We've returned to Violet City; everyone seems to be all right still!

She did, huh... She's really taken a liking to you.

[ He sits down on the edge of the bed, allowing Kagura to climb up in his lap and look at the video with him. She lets out a bark and wags her tail, her expression matching this fox's. ]

Welcome back, Ishimaru-kun.

It's good to be here - Pewter was...interesting, but it's better to be back here with all of you!

[No shame whatsoever. None.]

I'm glad to have you guys back. [ Naegi really prefers his group to stick together. And when Ishimaru and Mondo aren't being forced to commit crimes. ]

...If you want to dress differently, get a hoodie? They're both casual and comfortable.

Well, I do own one, though it's not nearly as impressive-looking as yours, Naegi-kun! It's mostly for practical things.

[...it's also secondhand and completely hideous, but...]

[ ...Somebody call Enoshima so she can give Ishimaru advice on how to avoid dressing like a complete disaster. ]

You can probably find something that looks, um, similar to mine if you look around in the stores. I know the department store in Goldenrod has a good selection.

[...does anyone really want to fathom what kind of getup she would shove him in, though...]

I'll have to keep that in mind, then! I've been in there a few times, but it was mostly to stock up on supplies to be used in battle; their clothing selection was rather vast, if I remember correctly, but it wasn't anything I really spent a lot of time looking at...obviously an oversight on my part!

[...granted, it was an oversight because said clothing selection was entirely overwhelming but that's okay.]

Next time you're in Goldenrod, be sure to check it out. I'm sure you'll find something casual that's to your liking.

...By the way, when is your birthday?

[...Naegi, that was the most graceful segue the world has ever seen. Fortunately, Ishimaru can't pick up on social nuances for shit about 90% of the time, and he sees literally nothing strange about the sudden gear-shifting.]

The thirty-first of the month, actually!

[...what...now...right, right.]

Yours?

[ And the very second Ishimaru informed him of when his birthday is, Naegi decided that he will buy him a trendy hoodie. ]

February 5th. [ Pause. ] I've been wondering how we're supposed to decide our age. Are you going to add two years?

[Hmmm.]

I think so. Whether I remember those two years or not doesn't change how they've passed; it wouldn't be right to insist that they didn't.

That's what I was thinking too. I don't feel like I'm almost twenty, though...

Neither do I, actually...it's definitely going to take some getting used to, if nothing else.

Yeah, definitely. But it also means I get to work full time soon, and other things....

[ Things like being an adult. An adult who still has no idea what he wants to do with his life and who hasn't even finished high school. ]

...Right. Other things...

[Ishimaru is quiet for a moment after that, clearly mulling it over; it...doesn't sit well with him, really, though he isn't entirely sure he can articulate why - not properly, not in a way that gets his point across without dissolving into complaining and negativity and other things that no one needs.]

...Naegi-kun? Does it sound ungrateful to be displeased with this world's lack of direction? I understand that it's a second chance and we've been very blessed to have it, but...

[LET'S...TRY THAT...]

But what, Ishimaru-kun?

[...Mnnngh.

Something seems to click over in his mind then, and as a result his response is a bit too sudden to be natural; the shift in mood is so forcedly abrupt that it's going to give someone whiplash if he's not careful, but he can't say that he really cares about that too much when he has the the general sense of ABORT ABORT ABORT in his head to silence first.]

Ah, it's...just a bit of uncertainty, really! It happens from time to time, it's nothing to worry about - just something that I have to work through, that's all!

[ Okay. Um. That was a little odd. The sudden shift only makes Naegi raise his eyebrows. Real smooth, Ishimaru. You deserve a gold star. ]

With a response like that, I get concerned. Are you sure it's nothing to worry about...? You can talk to me about it, you know.

[At least he didn't try forget-beaming this time.

That said, however, his gaze darts away from the device for a moment; after a moment he shakes his head, the gesture tight.]

I had many goals back home that I was working toward. There were...things that I had to do - for my family, yes, but just as importantly, for myself. Those goals are why it's always been so important that I work as hard as I do; I believed them to be worthwhile goals, and I still believe that - I don't regret anything about what I chose to do back home, but just the same...those goals were all I had. Those goals and the spirit to achieve them. Such things required a lot of time, and a lot of personal sacrifice.

[He twitches a bit once that's out there, the motion relatively slight but still rather visible over the feed, before he forces himself to continue.]

...I don't know what to do now that I don't have that.

If you no longer can work toward achieving those goals...then start searching for new ones. Of course, that's probably easy for me to say. I didn't have any of mine taken away, after all. I'm still searching for what I want to do.

[ He pauses here, giving himself some time to choose his words. He's not even sure if what he's saying will do any good but he can't stay quiet, either. ]

Um. I can't exactly tell you what you should do, though. That's something you have to decide for yourself. But maybe you can start with asking yourself what would make you happy.

Edited 2013-08-14 22:11 (UTC)

...I...I see.

[It's obvious from his tone that he doesn't; he seems determined to push ahead anyway.]

It's never been quite that simple for me, Naegi-kun...ah, but that doesn't matter now, does it? Things are different here.

[He nods, more to himself than Naegi, as though reaffirming it.]

I'll try to do as you say, then.

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005. [Video, and one other thing]

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