011. [Video/Action for Goldenrod City]

[ardent]

[Well, it's been a while since Ishimaru's actually been around via video; he's had a rough go of it over the last few weeks and it shows - he looks incredibly tired and he still doesn't seem to have been eating very much, and he's still looking a little dead behind the eyes compared to the usual intensity.

But for the most part he looks reasonably put-together, and he's outside, and even if it's more than a bit overcast and admittedly cold as balls he doesn't seem to mind the cold; this may have something to do with the fact that he appears to have ditched the school uniform for today in favor of a rather thick black coat, and he's got a different scarf on than the usual red one he wears - this one isn't quite as long, but it's patterned after Ho-Oh's plumage. Something he got for Christmas, really; it's about time he wore it out somewhere. And he's...certainly somewhere; it looks like one of those parks near the Center.

His gaze flicks awkwardly to the side before he speaks; it takes him a moment to find words, but when he does he tries to keep them coming, and keep them steady, and dear god it's been a while since he's been this shouty at the network in general but it's clear that whatever he's been doing, it certainly hasn't been figuring out what an acceptable level of volume is.]

There...there have been a lot of people who have come up missing lately, I think, and there have been a lot of new arrivals as well! For those who are missing someone - friends of those sent home - I...I understand that it's often difficult to move past it, and that it's a lot to take in at once! For some of us, it's better that they're sent home because maybe they have important things to do or other people to take care of; for some it...it isn't, and that can make losing people hard, when you know that whatever they're going through is going to be bad for them...

[He trails off a bit; his eyes scan upward for a moment while he tries to gather his thoughts, though he seems to shake it off soon enough.]

But...please don't worry. If you want to discuss it, even if I don't know you, we can - you don't even have to give me your name or anything, if you don't want to! It can be over text if you'd like...

[...deep breaths, Ishimaru, you are fine.]

And for those who have just arrived - well, that's also a lot to take in at once, but for different reasons! I've been here for about ten months now, and I'm still getting used to how things are done. It's a learning process, but you'll get through it!

My name is Ishimaru Kiyotaka; I'm the Super High School Level Hall Monitor, from Hope's Peak Academy's 78th annual class. If that didn't mean anything to you, that's fine, but I think there are a lot of new arrivals for whom that does mean something - if I haven't spoken to you yet, please get in contact with me so I can do so.

[...Right. Right, um. Um. Um.

Almost done here. Almost.]

...Otherwise, everyone just try to keep your heads up and your gazes trained toward the horizon! I hope that today is a good and productive day for all of you, and if not, that tomorrow will be better - we all just have to remain strong, and not lose hope.

[End feed.

Ishimaru can still be found outside for a while after that's over, however; he still seems more than a bit aimless and like he's not entirely sure what he's even doing out there, and he seems to be zoning out quite a bit when he's not directly engaged in conversation or otherwise doing anything. But hey, "outside staring off into space" has to be at least vaguely better than "in the basement and staring off into space", right?]

Comments

video;

[superordinary]

[ Naegi seems to light up a little at that. ]

Is there anything in particular you want to do?

video;

[ardent]

[Ishimaru has never really been good with social cues, but he doesn't miss that one; he doesn't know what to do with it, admittedly, and he rather clearly breaks eye contact with the device for a moment before making himself return it.]

Well, I should probably come back inside, unless you don't mind the cold...

[He trails off a bit before refocusing.]

...Yes, I'll do that. And then we can do whatever you like.

video;

[superordinary]

Okay. See you in a bit, Ishimaru-kun.

[ With that said, he'll be waiting for Ishimaru to head back to the house. ]

video;

[ardent]

[Well, he will return presently! ...Without having wandered aimlessly and taking the long way, either, he's actually sort of wanting to spend time today. This is improvement, clearly; just...let him hang up his coat, though he'll keep the scarf on.]

...Naegi-kun...?

action;

[superordinary]

[ Naegi's in the kitchen stopping three of the Eevees from carrying out what appears to be a plan to get the fridge door open. So when he hears Ishimaru's voice, he quickly scoops them up and heads out to the front hall with the little furballs in his arms. ]

Hey, Ishimaru-kun. Um, do you know how to play chess?

action; (I totally know how to change headings)

[ardent]

[...thank god that fridge doors are generally sealed such that they're somewhat hard to get open without thumbs, but still.

Ishimaru just kind of eyeballs the errant members of the fuzzball legion - they're not usually hoisted up and carried en masse unless they were up to something - but he returns his attention to Naegi at that question.]

...I do, yes. Did you want to play?

[No, Ishimaru, he's asking because he wants to know the most strategic way to burn the set.]

action; (yes you do)

[superordinary]

Yeah. I bought a chess set for myself recently and Carmen-san's been teaching me how to play.

[ He gently puts the three Eevees down on the floor, and instead of going back to the kitchen to try again they immediately bolt for the stairs so they can rework their grand plan to pillage the fridge. ]

[ardent]

[...those are some very suspicious fuzzballs, but...]

I didn't know you were interested in things like that, Naegi-kun. I'm not sure I'm at my full strength, but I'd...like that, I think.

[superordinary]

I guess all this Pokémon battling got me interested in strategy games? I like that aspect... and I don't think there's any luck involved, so there's that.

[ Very suspicious fuzzballs, indeed. But let's worry about that some other time. ]

A-Anyway, I got the chess board set up in the study.

[ardent]

There isn't any luck involved if you know what you're doing, no.

[...thank god, in your case.

That said, however, he's more than willing to wander back toward the study; go ahead and pick a side, Naegi, and we'll start.]

[superordinary]

[ After some thought, Naegi decides to go with black. Ishimaru hasn't unfucked himself completely so he gets the benefit of going first. ]

[ardent]

[Ishimaru settles himself on his side of the board; the opening move he goes with - g2-g3 - is fairly simple, but it's something, at least.]

Carmen-san told me you talked to her while I was having...problems.

[He doesn't sound judgmental about it, at least.]

[superordinary]

[ Naegi responds by moving his pawn from f7 to f5. ]

I wasn't really sure what to do so I asked her for advice. When I tried to help you back when we were inside the school, I... just made it worse.

[ardent]

[Knight; G1-F3.]

...Ishida. That's what you're talking about, right?

[superordinary]

[ Pawn; H7-H5. ]

Y-yeah. I didn't want to cause him to show up.

[ardent]

[Bishop; F1-H3.]

That wasn't your fault, Naegi-kun.

[superordinary]

[ Pawn; G7-G6. ]

I know. Still... I wish I hadn't done that.

[ardent]

[Pawn; E2-E3.

After he moves, however, he shoots Naegi a bit of an odd look across the board.]

Why not?

[superordinary]

...Ishida was, um, insane. No offense.

[ Pawn; E7-E6. ]

[ardent]

...I know he was.

[He's quiet for a moment before moving his king two places to the right, castling it with the rook on that side.

King; E1-G1, Rook; H1-F1.]

Are you still afraid he'll...

[He'll...what? Show up? Take over? Happen, like some freakish force of nature?]

...That something will cause that to happen again?

[superordinary]

[ Naegi looks on, a little confused because he doesn't fully understand how castling works yet. But he trusts Ishimaru so that move has to be legal. ]

...A little, sometimes. But you're doing better now... so I don't think it will happen.

[ Pawn; H5-H4. ]

[ardent]

...I don't think it will either.

[Pawn; G3-H4, capturing the black.]

I was very angry at everyone back then. All of you; myself. Everyone.

[superordinary]

[ Knight; B8-C6. ]

Carmen-san said Ishida sounded like... um, a coping mechanism. Being you was too painful so you became someone else.

[ardent]

[Pawn; D2-D4.]

That's what I think as well, and why I'm saying it's not your fault.

You couldn't have known that I would do that. I don't think I expected to do that, either.

[superordinary]

[ Pawn; B7-B6. ]

I don't think anyone expected Ishida, to be honest. I thought talking to Alter Ego would just make you less.... um, 'broken' is the best word I can think of.