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Entry tags:
- !ic,
- *action,
- *video,
- @carter blake,
- @chiaki nanami,
- @fuyuhiko kuzuryuu,
- @gundam tanaka,
- @hikoyo saionji,
- @jack skellington,
- @john egbert,
- @joker (black butler),
- @kazuichi souda,
- @maka albarn,
- @makoto naegi,
- @mikan tsumiki,
- @parker,
- @shaun mars,
- appreciating the sky,
- attempting to unbreak himself,
- come poke him or something,
- flawless social skills,
- honey do you talk to humans,
- honor student failed feelings 101,
- oh honey no,
- prayer circle for johto,
- really now,
- you tried
011. [Video/Action for Goldenrod City]
[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?]
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?]
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[ King; E8-F7. ]
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And he did this without sponsors, despite a lack of higher education; he was highly successful in business as well. In both business and politics, he received promotion after promotion at speeds that most would find impossible. Life came so easily to him; success came so easily to him...this was all when I was still very small, of course, but...
[He shrugs a bit. Queen; D1-B3 - check.]
It was as though he could do anything.
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What happened? Did he...lose all that?
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He was naive, unfamiliar with how the world works for most people; that lack of understanding led him to cause a scandal that proved utterly disastrous.
[Rook; A1-E1.]
It was enough to ensure that he lost his position, and his business collapsed just as quickly; his downfall was as swift as his ascension. The debts that were brought down on my family were absolutely crippling; we're well below middle class, and at the time I entered Hope's Peak we were still greatly troubled by them.
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[ Pawn; C7-C6. ]
Is that why you always work so hard?
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Helping my parents is important to me, of course, but my family has always had the spirit to succeed among us; even knowing what you and I do about the outside world now...I feel sure that they're all right, and if they were killed in whatever incident claimed the world, then I'm sure they did whatever they could for themselves and others, because that's just their way.
...It's terrible, isn't it? That I'm not worried about them, I mean. But I find that I'm not.
[Rook; E1-E7, capturing the knight. Check.]
What happened with my grandfather taught me that things need to change. We live in a society that rewards genius above all else, while teaching them nothing of the value of hard work and sacrifice. It's a disservice to everyone - both the geniuses who benefit only to be cast down the second they come across a problem they can't solve, and the ordinary people whose ability to affect the world is stifled because they aren't given a fair chance or a playing field that's anywhere near even. The odds are always against the ordinary. You felt it as well when you entered Hope's Peak, didn't you? Surrounded by people that were at the top of their field - did you feel troubled by that at all?
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[ King; F7-E7, capturing the rook. ]
I don't have any special skills and I didn't get into Hope's Peak because I worked for it, either. The acceptance letter made it clear I only got in because of simple luck.
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[Bishop; B7-C6, capturing the pawn.]
There isn't any shame in being ordinary; I'm perfectly ordinary myself. But I excelled, and was accepted into a school primarily full of geniuses, because I adhere to the solidarity of hard work.
[He toys with the pawn he's captured between his fingers, thinking; he seems to realize what he's doing after a moment and sets it down on the table beside the board.]
And I think that's the blessing that comes with being ordinary. You may not have any special skills now, Naegi-kun, but that doesn't mean you're subpar. It means you can excel in any skill you want, if you're willing to work for it. If anything, you have more potential than any of us, so please don't feel bad for being average - that means you can do literally anything you put your mind to.
And that's the sort of world I want for everyone, I think. One where we aren't afraid to challenge ourselves; where we learn how to succeed, rather than just how to proceed because everything is handed to us. Where we can all be the best we can be. It's that sort of spirit that's going to change the world - not through any sort of genius, but through the efforts of ordinary people. Extraordinary effort from those considered ordinary...
That's why I work so hard, Naegi-kun. A good amount of it is for others, to prove to them that hard work and sacrifice really is a way to succeed, that it's enough to change the world...but it's for myself, too. It's definitely for myself.
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I've always been perfectly average and my friends and family often reminded me of that. And it's hard not to feel plain and unremarkable, especially when standing next to a bunch of talented Super High School Levels. It's not easy to overcome that feeling. Still...I try not to compare myself with others because doing that doesn't help or change anything.
[ Rook; D8-D6. ]
I'm not really sure what I want out of my life. I'm still searching for a good answer to that one. But I know one thing for sure -- when I find it, I don't want it handed to me. I want to work for it and do it on my own terms. I feel like it would be a lot more satisfying that way... and as long as I get to live a satisfying life, I can be happy.
I think your goal is an admirable one, Ishimaru-kun. You really understand the power of hard work and...I think I'd like the world to be more like that.
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...It means a lot to me to hear you say that, Naegi-kun - especially when I find you to be such an admirable person yourself.
You're very remarkable, you know. At least, I think you are.
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[ Rook; D6-D5, capturing the bishop. ]
You know, you're very remarkable yourself. I admire that conviction of yours.
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His gaze darts away a bit at the compliment, though he doesn't seem displeased by it; just unsure of how to respond for a moment.]
...I appreciate it. It's...difficult to hold onto sometimes. Particularly lately.
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I understand. You've...gone through a lot.
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I've gone through relatively little, I think, compared to you.
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...Why do you say that?
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It's just a matter of timing, Naegi-kun; I died rather suddenly, from the sound of it, well before you escaped the school. You've been through more than I have, especially considering what you've told me about what happened afterwards. It's simple logic and numbers, not -
[He freezes up abruptly; his gaze darts away, and it takes him a moment to find words and resume eye contact.]
...I'm sorry. I...know what it sounds like when I say things like that, it's not...I-I don't mean it like that, I just...
...Sorry.
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[ King: D8-D7. ]
I never reacted to anything as badly as you did, though. The first motive hit me especially hard, as did Maizono-san's death... but I somehow managed to pull myself back together and forced myself to keep going.
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...I didn't hurt anyone, did I? As Ishida, I mean.
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[ King; D7-E8. ]
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[Queen; A7-B6, capturing the pawn.]
I've broken up several of them, but I haven't actually participated in a proper fight in my entire life.
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Y-yeah. I really can't picture you doing anything like that.
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...Hagakure-kun has seemed particularly concerned about my condition lately. Is there a particular reason?
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[ King; E8-D8. ]
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[Queen; G6-D6. Check.]
It's just strange to me, I suppose. I'm not...used to that sort of thing.
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[ King; D8-C8. ]
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