route_1065 | Red-letter day, black heart

Entry tags:

Red-letter day, black heart

Who: Celestia Ludenberg (

divinitea) and Kiyotaka Ishimaru (

ardent)
Where: Goldenrod City
When: Today.
Summary: Ishimaru has come to collect Celes from Goldenrod City - and to have a bit of a chat with her.
Rating: PG should be fine, but I'll edit if anything goes bad. Spoilers for Dangan Ronpa.
Log:

[It's quite a lovely day to be outside, really.

Well, not quite outside; Celestia isn't about to stand around in the sun, after all. But she's currently found herself standing in the shade in front of the Goldenrod Game Corner, watching the citizens of the city go about their daily lives. It was intriguing, really; having spent so long (or at least, it felt like so long....how long was it really?) locked up with the same group of people, the admittedly ordinary citizens of Johto were practically fascinating to her.

The Pokemon everywhere didn't exactly do anything to help.

She hadn't quite gotten used to the sight of the strange creatures wandering everywhere, and likely wouldn't for a while, but it was admittedly nice to have a pair of her own. Victoria the Gothita tended to literally trip over herself to help her, and Beatrice the Vulpix was so servile that it was almost frightening. Needless to say, they were getting along very well with their new trainer, and would continue to do so if they kept that behaviour up.

Celestia had no time for fools, after all.

As the thought ran through her head, she smiled slightly. No time for fools? What did she define this meeting as, then? For Ishimaru was a fool. He had always been a fool, what with his grandstanding and his dogged devotion to the rules...and his 'brother'.

That had ended well for all parties concerned, hadn't it? Honestly. It was any wonder why she tended to keep people at arms length. Most of them were idiots, and the ones that weren't usually ended up being disappointments. Maybe Ishimaru would finally learn that (although judging by the fact that Oowada and Fujisaki were also in Johto, she strongly doubted it).

Well, it didn't matter. As long as he turned up on time (and she knew he would - he was nothing if not punctual), she didn't really care what he did with himself. There had been one thing about their conversation that had bothered her, however - he knew he was dead, back home. So did that mean he knew....everything?

Hmm. Well, she would soon find out. Not that it mattered, anyway - she hadn't done anything to him. Hopefully he wouldn't be so much of a fool to insist she had.

The clock on her Pokegear ticked over, and almost as soon as it had, a familiar figure strode into view.

Celestia's smile widened.]

Ishimaru-kun.

[This was going to be interesting.]

Right on time.

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[Alice had seemed to understand that Ishimaru would need some time alone with Celes; Oowada, on the other hand, had taken some convincing. They'd...well, they'd had words, really, as Oowada hadn't been pleased and had more or less demanded to go with him, but Ishimaru had refused to back down on the point until Oowada had had no choice to.

He'd deliberately set off early to give himself some time to prepare, mentally; he'd had some time to think last night, after the discussion yesterday with Alice and Oowada, and at some point in the middle of the night he'd come to a conclusion - maybe not the best conclusion, or one that most would agree with. But as far as he could tell it was logical, and it was just, and perhaps most importantly, it was one that he thought he could live with.

Of course, there were certain things that could serve to change his mind, depending on the circumstances around what had actually happened in the school - things that he really wouldn't be able to know without directly asking Celes herself. He was aware that even if he did, he likely wouldn't get a straight answer; what with all the emphasis he tended to place on truth and honesty, it was surreal to catch himself wondering if this was what people were talking about when they said that in some cases, lies were preferable.

But eventually time grew short, and the Game Corner edged into his line of vision just down the street; he'd never been in the practice of being late, and he wasn't about to start now. Initially seeing her might be unpleasant, and he was prepared for that; what he wasn't prepared for was the strange, heady rush when he actually managed to visually locate her, looking at the device in her hand as though checking the time. She looked the same as she always had; while it had always seemed like such a stupid, obvious statement to him before now, there was a sudden moment of clarity where he finally understood why people always sounded so horrified when they said that a person who had recently been revealed as a killer looked just like everyone else.

But there was something else that surfaced as well, beneath the unpleasantness and the odd dull ache coursing through him, and in the end, that was what he chose to focus on: there was a sick sort of relief to this. In knowing that she was alive and couldn't be touched by Enoshima, not anymore; in knowing that if they got their way, she wouldn't have to die. That she was being saved, like they all deserved to be saved. And when he approached her and she smiled and the greeting was so normal and, in the end, so damn stupid given their circumstances, he was able to look pleased to see her, and the expression was surprisingly genuine.

He stopped before managing to shatter anyone's personal bubble all over the sidewalk; thankfully Celes wasn't the sort to shatter it for him. Not in the same way Asahina was, anyway - it had been welcome from Asahina, but he knew such a thing from someone in Celes' position wouldn't be appreciated, no matter how much he wanted to cling to the positives. But as it stood, they were both fairly distant people and too much contact wouldn't really do anything but crush Celes' dress anyway, and she'd obviously think that there wasn't any sense in that, now was there.]

Of course, Celes-kun! Whether in a school environment or just meeting up casually, tardiness still isn't acceptable!

[This was so dumb.

He settled into seriousness quickly enough, though, and though his posture was a little tighter than usual, he was...feeling all right. Not because he was at that point where he wasn't feeling anything, either. Just...surprisingly all right. That likely wasn't going to last very long, but for the time being, it was welcome.]

Have you been well? No one's been giving you a hard time, I'd hope.

Edited 2013-08-23 00:22 (UTC)

[It really was odd to see him in person, and for a moment, Celes' mask flickers. He doesn't look any different to what she remembers from Hope's Peak - but that's the worst part. Because what she remembers from Hope's Peak is a bloodied corpse.

Closing her eyes for a moment, Celes forces the image from her mind and instead focuses her gaze right on his. Hope's Peak is now in the past; this is the present, and by the looks of it, the future.

He isn't the first dead classmate she's going to encounter, so she can't afford to have this reaction every time she runs into one. But still, there's something...oddly personal about seeing Ishimaru alive. Which is odd, really, because there was nothing personal about the way he died. There never had been.

Celestia has merely learned to take opportunities when they present themselves.]

Ah, no, I've actually had quite a nice time so far....a kind soul pointed me in the direction of this establishment, so I've spent most of my time here.

[Winning everything, naturally; she was half-concerned they were going to kick her out. Fortunately she left before that could happen, but still - it was hardly her fault their games were so childishly simple!]

Victoria and Beatrice have been looking after me rather well.

[At her feet, her Gothita and Vulpix peer around her legs to examine this newcomer. Beatrice the Vulpix doesn't seemed bothered, but Victoria looks up at her trainer with a slightly worried expression; she can sense that something about this boy is making her trainer uneasy, but she doesn't know her well enough to work out what.

Either way, there isn't much she can do. She's already learned better than to question her trainer's choices.]

What about you, Ishimaru-kun? You certainly look well.

[Celes manages to bite back any sort of uncomfortable additions to that sentence - now is not the time. Ishimaru is the tolerant sort but she can't afford to have him storming off on her, leaving her stranded.

The fact that she's somewhat powerless in this arrangement is frustrating, but she consoles herself with the knowledge that it won't be for too long.

Hopefully.]

[Thankfully the Pokémon provide an excuse for his gaze to not linger on hers; maintaining too much eye contact tends to make him uncomfortable as it is when he's keyed-up, and besides, the creatures are fascinating - he's never seen either species, after all.

So he bends down a bit while she speaks, bracing his hands against his thighs while he gets a better look; he straightens up at that question, though, focusing somewhere just over her left shoulder as opposed to looking right at her, but that's kind of par for the course as he goes, anyway.]

Five of you arrived at almost exactly the same time; Kirigiri-kun and Togami-kun showed up a few hours before you did, and Hagakure-kun and Kuwata-kun shortly after. So it's been a good week, really!

[...]

Although Kuwata-kun is very angry due to the execution and Togami-kun is...well, he's Togami-kun, but it's good to see them anyway!

[Both Pokemon stare back at Ishimaru as he examines them - Beatrice curiously, Victoria warily. Admittedly, though, he seems harmless enough. Perhaps her trainer is simply in an odd mood. It wouldn't be the first time, after all.]

Oh, Togami-kun arrived too? How lucky we are.

[Saaaarcasmmmmmm - although, Togami did have the tendency to be entertaining. It would be interesting to see how that played out...

...as for Kuwata-kun, ohoho. He had been a little on edge, hadn't he?]

Ah, I did speak with Kuwata-kun...his temper has not improved. He actually hung up on me, which was frightfully rude. I even said I was happy to see him! There is just no pleasing some people.

[Let her just neglect to mention the fact that she...might have purposefully riled him. But it was so easy....]

Everyone is in this 'Violet' City, then?

...Hopefully you were kinder to Kuwata-kun than you were to Oowada-kun, because yes, everyone is in Violet City. So you'll be seeing him soon enough.

[At least, he sort of hopes they will; he'd told Hagakure to make sure that Kuwata came with, but he has no way to know whether or not he actually did it.

That said, after that...admittedly slightly pointed comment is out there, Ishimaru is more than content to move on.]

Oowada-kun is here with me as well, along with a woman that I met here. Her name is Alice White; we call her Alice-san. We told her about the game inside Hope's Peak, but we didn't tell her details about who was responsible for what.

How delightful...what a wonderful opportunity, to be able to see everyone again.

[She'll just lovingly ignore that comment about her comments - one must speak how one feels~!

Now, as for the rest of what you've said, Ishimaru-kun:]

Oh, Oowada-kun is with you? I can't say I'm surprised.

[What with that whole....thing you two have. The weird brothers thing.

...whatever.]

If you find your Alice-san trustworthy, I'm sure there's no issue with her knowing the truth about Hope's Peak.

[There had better be no issue, Ishimaru-kun...please don't tell her you've been telling all your new buddies about the school...

...ah, that makes her think-]

So she doesn't know about what Oowada-kun did?

...Oowada-kun chose to tell her about that, because it's his place to tell her. However, she doesn't know about anyone else.

[...]

Would you mind discussing a few things with me, regarding the school? Not here, obviously, it's too public - but there are a few things I need to ask you about.

That's probably for the best. That sort of thing...shouldn't be passed around, even to close friends.

[She's still not sure how she feels about an outsider knowing about their...situation, but she'll reserve judgment. For now.

....ah. This is the moment she's been waiting for.

Now to find out just what you know, Ishimaru-kun.]

Very well, Ishimaru-kun; come, Vee-chan, Bee-chan.

[Lead on.]

[This isn't a conversation he wants to have in the Rocket base, either; the dormitories are the only place they can have any privacy - and while that's still not sitting right with him in terms of how proper that would be, he has a larger issue with the fact that all of it is underground, and if there's anything he doesn't want right now, it's to spend time in a windowless room.

So he'll be leading her in the direction of the Radio Tower, yes, though the elevator is going to be heading upwards this time.]

There's an observation deck at the top of the tower; the view is amazing. One can spend hours up there uninterrupted; I did it often, the last time I was in this city.

[He's talking just to fill space and he knows it; he can't seem to make himself stop.]

It's been a while since I was back; I left shortly after I arrived in Johto.

[...if you...get the drift there, Celes...]

Edited 2013-08-23 05:34 (UTC)

It sounds lovely.

[She's not bothering to sound overly sincere; the gears in her mind are turning, thinking up possibly scenarios and how she can lie her way around them - how much does he know? Does he know the truth, or some twisted version of it? Will he be able to trap her into a confession?

...really...it sounds like a wonderful game. Covering her mouth with her hand, Celes smiles, eyes narrowing slightly. This should be fun.]

You're also in Team Rocket, aren't you Ishimaru-kun?

[Don't worry, her voice is soft and no-one else would have been able to hear that, but still - she'd like to get that out there. Besides, he's well aware that she awoke here in Goldenrod, so there's no point in lying.

Not now, anyway.]

How charming.

Not...quite how I would describe it, no.

[It's a bit hard to tell whether he's disgusted by the assertion or if his sarcasm meter is broken again; if we're all going to be honest with ourselves...well, someone should probably fix that thing one day.

Either way, that elevator comes complete with an entirely too-cheerful ding to announce its presence; it's sleek and fast and modern, completely unlike the elevator in Hope's Peak. It shouldn't take them long to reach the observation deck, and then they can start properly; however, there is something that can be said once the doors close.]

Whatever we end up talking about - I want it to remain between us, if possible. It's not anyone else's business, I don't think.

[Celes' two Pokemon trot in after their trainer - so far, she's preferred to keep them out of their Pokeballs. There's something quaint about being so dutifully followed around by the little creatures. As such, they ensure they stay out of the way as the two human occupants of the elevator begin to speak.

Celes isn't bothered by Ishimaru's non-answer; she wasn't really expecting him to admit it. Considering his ideals, it must be quite a kick in the teeth to be forced into such an...unsavory organization.

The thought makes her smile, but she manages to make it look polite - a response to his request.]

Goodness, Ishimaru-kun, you are serious today. But if that's what you want, I will comply.

[Unless noncompliance becomes necessary or profitable, of course. But for now, you can have her acquiescence.]

[That would be why the "if possible" was in there. He knows that your definition of "possible" and his definition of "possible" are probably completely and utterly different things, but at the very least he's trying, bless his heart.

The observation deck is beautiful, the shining metal doors of the elevator sliding open to a bright, open view of the city below; he hadn't been exaggerating when he'd said he used to spend hours here, when he had to get work done and couldn't directly be outside.

He hadn't been inside the school for very long, in the scheme of things, but the experience had more than left its mark.

He's quiet for a moment before just starting in, with all the usual attention to tact and social grace.]

If I'm understanding what you've said, I must have just been found dead back in the school. Is that right?

[Celes allows the question to hang in the air for a moment while she observes the view of Goldenrod City - it's...beautiful. She closes her eyes, and allows the breeze to ruffle her bangs, taking a deep breath of the fresh air.

Freedom at last. It was all worth it.

Graduation feels good.

Reopening her eyes, Celes turns to face Ishimaru, her expression unreadable. Even now, however, her eyes keep flicking back to the view of Goldenrod, but whether it's due to guilt or pure fascination is impossible to tell.

Just how she likes it.]

Yes.

[That's all that needs to be said, really.]

[He studies her for a moment before continuing; he's never really been good at reading people, and even after months of improvement he's still not good at it, and he doesn't know what to do with what she's giving him simply because he can't be sure she's giving him anything. Reading into the nuances of things has always been Kirigiri's job.]

Some of the others told me about what happened; a blow to the head, right?

[He twitches a little.]

I was told...several things, actually. About what happened.

Yes. You died as a result of a blow to your head by a hammer.

[There's no inflection in her voice; it's a report, a statement of fact. He was bludgeoned to death. That's what happened. There's nothing else to be said.

The truth hurts. Why do you think she lies so much?]

What else were you told?

[Since you're obviously so desperate to tell her. Over to the side, Victoria and Beatrice are huddled together, watching their trainer with almost fearful eyes.

That coldness is coming over her again, and it frightens them very much.]

Who killed me.

[He's quiet for a moment, reaching out to grip that railing running the length of the deck; he's shaking a little, but it's controllable, and the cold steel bar beneath his hands helps with that.]

...Don't worry, Celes-kun. I was told enough to know that it wasn't you.

[......how interesting.]

Do I look worried?

[This conversation may be going the way she thought it was going to go, but that doesn't make it any more pleasant. He knows. He knows. Which means Kirigiri knows. It means the others know.

...

F u c k.]

I know I didn't kill you. What exactly do you want me to say to that?

[Despite her internal frustration, Celes is a master of the poker face, and her expression betrays nothing. Time to see where this little game will go.]

You don't have to say anything.

[He turns his head to look at her then - really look at her, not anywhere above her shoulder, but actually making eye contact.]

If anyone here tries to accuse you of doing anything like that to me, we both know they're wrong. And I'm not going to tolerate it, understood? No one deserves to suffer or take harassment like that, especially not for things they didn't do. So I won't let that happen.

[.....that was unexpected. Celes meets Ishimaru's stare unblinking, eyes peering into his, and her face once again betrays nothing. But she's surprised.

...but then again...at the same time...there is something so typical of Ishimaru about all this, and it amuses her.

She can't quite tell just how much he knows - if he's aware that Yamada only killed him because she drove him to it - but she can guess that he must be aware of the fact. Although, it doesn't appear to matter to him.

He really is a fool...but admittedly? An endearing one.]

You needn't worry, Ishimaru-kun...

...that makes two of us.

...I believe you. But I won't tolerate out-of-line behavior from either side, if it comes to that.

[If. You get. His drift.]

I wanted to ask you something, though. Based on what you know of the circumstances surrounding what happened, I mean - I was brought here shortly after I received our second motives, so I don't directly know how anything after that went. I know about Ishida and the like, but because I didn't experience it, I thought I would ask someone who did. Is it okay, if I ask you about it?

[Oh, she understands - she doesn't really respect what he's saying, but she understands why he's saying it.

What are you going to do if she does something you don't like, Hall Monitor-kun; give her a detention?]

I see no problem with it, if you are curious. I should warn you though; it was rather embarrassing to observe.

[Let's put it this way: the police here are very incompetent. They often just assign community service to people who are turned in after breaking their rules.

Community service often involves working in the sewers.

That aside, however, he takes a moment to try to figure out how to word what he wants to ask; he knows better than to try to get her to admit guilt at all. So that's just going to continue this really awkward dance around it, and as Alice would put it, he's never been a grifter. It would be so much easier if he could just ask her without running the risk of her just shutting him out entirely, but she's been agreeable so far (if occasionally so backhanded that even he's noticing it) and he doesn't want to chance her going...weird on him.

So, fine. We'll try this on her terms. Probably badly, but again - bless his heart, he's trying.]

It's just one thing. Then as far as I'm concerned, we never have to discuss this again.

I'm not asking this to imply that you would know for sure and I'm not trying to accuse you of anything - I'm asking because your talent includes being able to read people and situations. That's a part of determining odds, right? Being able to do that?

So based on that skill, and what you personally know about the situation - I want to ask you about what you think caused everything to happen. If you had to assess it, would you say there was some sort of personal reason behind it, or was it more a matter of convenience?

[...Celes, for the love of god he is trying to do this such that you don't have to confess to anything at all

please humor him]

Edited 2013-08-23 09:36 (UTC)

[.....okay, this is getting a little confusing-]

...Ishimaru-kun...I honestly have no idea why you chose to turn into 'Ishida'. Perhaps I am not the best person to ask, regarding that event.

[No seriously, why are you asking her about Ishida that was weird and very uncomfortable for everyone involved...]

Your language was rather filthy, if that helps. Kuwata-kun would have blushed.

[Not that she's one to talk....]

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