Red-letter day, black heart

[divinitea]

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.

Comments

[ardent]

[...and for some reason he doesn't even want to begin thinking about right now, that manages to placate him; he realizes, somewhere in there, how backwards that is - wouldn't most prefer to think someone had died because they actually deserved it, rather than it being a matter of convenience? - but for the time being, he's content to be self-centered and take solace in the knowledge that he hadn't legitimately hurt her. He knows that Naegi had said she'd lied about that, but it's different, actually hearing it from her. Granted, she might be lying about it, but even if she is, it's a lie that brings him comfort rather than doubt.

He'll take it for now.]

...Thank you, Celes-kun, it's appreciated. That's something that's been troubling me for quite some time; I'm glad you could clear it up.

Are you wanting to stay a little longer, or are you ready to leave?

[divinitea]

It's no problem, Ishimaru-kun.

[And really, it isn't - if this is enough to get him to drop the subject, she's made the right choice.

Oh, she'll still deny having anything to do with it if anyone accosts her, but there's something oddly satisfying about having Ishimaru placated. She didn't really want to deal with the potential tears, anyway.]

However, I would like you to answer something for me - in exchange. I believe that is fair.

[ardent]

Ah...really?

[Just...give him a moment to think that over, because he is really not sure that he wants to answer whatever might come out of her mouth, but...]

That does seem fair, yes - what is it?

1/2

[divinitea]

Despite arriving from before the second trial, you seem to know quite a bit about what happened afterwards.

[You might

want to brace yourself a bit here, Ishimaru-kun]

...

[divinitea]

After the third trial, am I going to die?

[ardent]

[Ishimaru flinches visibly at that, his grip tightening against that railing; it takes him a moment to respond.]

Yes.

...I guess at this point it's only fair to tell you that most of us know what you've done. Naegi-kun, Kirigiri-kun, Togami-kun, Asahina-kun and Hagakure-kun are all beyond that point in time, and they remember the end of the trial. My brother and I were told about it. I don't know if anyone has told Kuwata-kun or Fujisaki-kun about it yet.

[...]

As it stands, if you return to that school and see the end of that trial, you're going to die. We're looking for a way to ensure that we can all stay here permanently, however; if we have any say, that won't be your future anymore.

[divinitea]

[When he finishes speaking, Celes pauses, face unreadable. Slowly, she turns towards the view of Goldenrod, closing the distance between her and the rail. For a little while they stand in silence as she stares out over the city, eyes not taking in the view. They're glazed over, almost unblinking, as she tries to process everything Ishimaru has told her.

So Kirigiri wasn't bluffing. How unfortunate.

She has a choice to make - this will be a big gamble. From what he's said, the majority of her classmates are all aware of what she's done; five of them saw it with their own eyes, apparently. Is it worth proclaiming innocence, in the face of such solid opposition? What could she hope to gain, though, if she confesses? Could this be some sort of trap, designed to trick her into a confession? Oowada wasn't hiding the fact that he'd murdered Fujisaki, and Kuwata wasn't pretending to have done nothing wrong himself...so could she join their ranks, as a humble redeemer, fighting to make it up to the classmates they betrayed?

Could she admit that she's lost this game?

The thought is almost incomprehensible.

Without speaking to the classmates that witnessed her...execution (because that's what it must have been, after all...), she can't tell if denial will get her anywhere. Kirigiri had seemed unshakable, even moreso than usual, Hagakure knew things he should not have known, and Ishimaru...there was no doubt in his voice, no holes where a skillfully crafted lie could sit.

It's too much. Her fingers grip the material of her sleeves, bunching it tightly.

It's too much.]

...Ishimaru-kun.

[Her plan had been perfect-]

Do you know how this conclusion was reached? I want-

[......]

I want to know...how the case was solved.

[ardent]

...I don't know.

[He looks over at her; he's not quite sure what to make of what she's doing. He's never seen her acting quite like that before; he knows he shouldn't feel sympathy for her - after all, what their discussing is receiving what she deserved, due and just punishment for what she'd done - but if his time in Johto has taught him anything at all, it's that the world is less full of absolutes than he'd thought it was.

It's an uncomfortable line of thought; he doesn't move to touch her, though the usual harsh, blunted edge to his voice does soften a bit.]

I...I'm sorry, Celes-kun.

[And he is. Not that the case was solved, not that she was caught, but that any of this happened in the first place, maybe.]

[divinitea]

...it's alright, Ishimaru-kun.

[Tch. Useless.

Celes' eyes soon begin to regain their focus, narrowing slightly as she doesn't shift her gaze away from the view of the city. So he doesn't know what the catalyst for her downfall was, does he? Fine. It's to be expected, really; he wasn't there. His information is secondhand.

But there are those who saw it happen. Who voted for her, and watched her die.

They know.

And she'll find out one way or another.

And when she does...she'll take that information back with her to Hope's Peak, even if it takes years for her to return. It will happen eventually, surely...there's no way they could be stuck in this ridiculous place forever.

When she's sent back, she'll know what to do.

And she won't lose.

Because she doesn't lose.

Not ever.

As her face softens into a vulnerable, regretful expression, Celes inwardly smiles.]

I...I think I'd like to go now.

[This game is not over. If anything, she's been given a second chance.

As always, luck is on her side.]

[ardent]

Of course, Celes-kun.

[...]

Ah, but before we go - one more thing?

[divinitea]

[A sharp stab of anger pulses through her body at yet another question, but she controls it.

Now is not the time to lose it.]

Yes?

[ardent]

...What would you have used it for? The ten billion yen.

[divinitea]

[That just makes her smile.]

What do you think?

[ardent]

...if I knew, I wouldn't be asking.

[divinitea]

I was going to donate it all to charity.

1/...idk like six

[ardent]

[.........]

[ardent]

[..............!!!]

[ardent]

[CELES YOU ARE MORE FULL OF SHIT THAN AN ASSLESS WHALE, OH MY GOD]

[ardent]

[...

... ... ...

... ... ... ... ...]

[ardent]

[...okay look

as much as he hates himself - and oh god does he hate himself - that was actually pretty funny]

[ardent]

[it probably says something about the state of his life when that is what ends up almost getting him to laugh oh my god]

...I need to pick something up, and then we can leave. It'll only take ten minutes at the most; let's go.

[divinitea]

Of course, Ishimaru-kun.

[She's glad you accepted her 100% factual answer! Isn't she such a kind soul~?]

I do appreciate all this, you know.

[ardent]

[He's not sure if everything is actually okay or if he's just settling back into that state of being weirdly numb because he's run out of ability to care about anything for the time being; either way, he's pretty content with how this has gone. Hopefully it'll stay that way.]

Don't mention it! We've been looking out for our own here. You're no exception to that!

[And just think, he'll be in a good mood when we leave the Tower; Alice won't have to hit you with a chair!]

[divinitea]

[How lovely! That's very good news! Nobody has to die! ^_^]

I must say, the thought of being together with everyone once more...there is something...most comforting about it.

[And she might not even be lying this time.

...

maybe]

What do you need to collect?

[ardent]

Something I'm purchasing for a...friend of mine, really - she posted something to the network earlier, apparently it's her birthday soon.

[...]

...Celes-kun. The others who survived are likely going to want to talk to you about what happened at the end of the game; I can't explain it very well myself because I wasn't there, but I think you should talk to Asahina-kun about it. She's been very helpful.