The world doesn't change because of genius.

[Well! It's been a while since Ishimaru's been around on the network, but with the weather being what it is, it doesn't feel right to not say anything at this point, either. And besides, he's been in Kanto for quite some time now; it'll be good to maybe speak to some of those still in Johto that he hasn't seen in a while. He's still not entirely used to this whole "missing other people" business, but he supposes that's part of the tradeoff for having friends.]

With the weather being so bad and only looking to get worse from here, I have a suggestion that may or may not be viable - several of you may remember the swarm of Bloobers from earlier in the year, correct? A lot of us obtained Bronzongs during that incident, if I remember correctly!

[...okay, where the hell is this going - ]

Bronzongs seem able to bring rain from other places; they can supposedly open portals and do it! I've never directly witnessed that part, but obviously they do bring a lot of rain with them when they're determined enough!

Wherever they got it from, though - would it be possible, do you think, for them to open those portals and put some of our rain over there? It might help mitigate some of the damage, anyway...

[Well, that was...surprisingly sound, logic-wise, for a plan that literally amounts to "WE SHOULD TAKE THE STORM AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE."]

Either way, if I haven't spoken to you for a while - I'm going to ask that you check in with me and verify that you're all right and sufficiently prepared for what's about to come, particularly if you're in one of the coastal cities! Even if I don't know you or you're new to the area, I hope that you're doing all right!

Hopefully today is a good and productive day for you, and if not...well, I would say "perhaps tomorrow will be better" but that much is questionable!

[ISHIMARU.]

Things are going to look up soon, however, I can feel it!

[...that's better.]

[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?]

[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] )

( [PRIVATE VIDEO TO COLONEL ARCHER] )


[VIDEO]

[For once the feed is showing somewhere other than Goldenrod when it flickers on; Ishimaru seems to have taken up refuge on one of the larger rocks near the beach in Cherrygrove. He's not too high up, because there's no sense in risking literally falling into what would surely be a really anticlimactic set of injuries; his expression on the video is still rather severe, but that's moreso due to just being how he is rather than him actually being displeased with anything.

Dear lord, though, is it overcast out here.]

While it troubles me to see how little people prioritize education and proper study over everything else, I understand that most see pointless activities as a -

[...he hesitates for a moment, flinching back a little and blinking at something that can't exactly be seen on the feed; he shakes his head after a second before moving on, seeming to decide that whatever small stimulus caused that isn't worth bothering with.]

...r-right, anyway!! People have been trying to explain why they engage in such senseless activities and that they don't see them as a...

...

...waste...of time...

[He twitches a little again, swiping across the bridge of his nose with two fingers and studying them intensely, as though understanding whatever he was swiping away is fundamental to saving the damn world.]

Is it raining...?

[It's about then that he looks up, and...]

...Kyohei, shut that off for a second -


[VIDEO, ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST.]

[Well! Ishimaru's no longer in view - it seems he's decided to hold the device instead - so it's a bit hard to tell if he's still got that immensely strict expression going on; however, the camera is slanted sharply skyward, toward that overcast sky. The angle isn't an error; rather, it's showing off some...rather thick white flakes falling from on high.

Snow in June? Snow in June. Thank you, mods.

Ishimaru can be heard laughing a bit in the background; the sound is oddly blunted, but it still the sound of a person that is approximately a thousand percent done with the day.]

This makes no sense whatsoever. None.

[At least it's too warm to stick for very long, though the moisture on the device is contributing to some awesome JJ Abrams lensflare effects.]

Tell me - is it doing this where any of you are as well, or...?

[The feed will shut off immediately after that's out there; those wanting action can find him wandering around Cherrygrove, looking incredulous as hell and, as Parker would describe it, he's definitely appreciating the sky today because good lord he cannot stop staring at this.

A thousand percent done.]

[VIDEO]

[Well, today's video from Ishimaru is no less shouty than the first, though he seems to be less...manically enthusiastic this time around. Surely, this is progress!

Or, well, it would be, if it weren't so damn awkward-looking; he hasn't quite gotten the hang of addressing large groups of people over the feed like this, and as such his posture is a bit too tight, arms folded close against his chest, and his expression is still incredibly severe, though it's difficult to tell if it's through anger or just sheer...uh, passion. Let's. Let's call it that.

That said, he's still outside, seeming to be on one of the routes, the device apparently propped up on something; Goldenrod's skyline is rather visible close behind him, though, so he obviously hasn't gone too far.]

Through both my own curiosity and in the name of a personal project I'm undertaking, I have a request for the rest of you that have found yourselves in this place! It's not very much, and will only take a moment of your time - but if you have any sort of particular life motto or words that you happen to live by, I would like to hear them! If you have several, I would like all of them...and if you don't happen to have any, I'm sure that others would be willing to inspire you, should you want it!!

[...honey.]

Otherwise, keep your heads up and your gazes trained toward the horizon; it's been a beautiful day today - if a bit wet out sometimes - and hopefully a highly productive one for all of you!

[Okay, so he still hasn't quite learned how to people. He's working on it...]


[ACTION]

( Cut for length/the sake of reading list preservation! Tl;dr - there is a Magikarp. Training it is going...interestingly. )