codeforhope | 001 | Video/Action for New Bark

Entry tags:

001 | Video/Action for New Bark

[A video appears on the feed with the sound of a Pokemon crying out happily, slightly muffled and at a bit of a distance. ”Goon! Gooon!” The feed shudders a bit, the surroundings shifting until whoever is on the other side finally gets their PokéGear angled toward themselves. Coming into view is what appears to be a young girl, and from the way their voice sounds in addition there’s nothing that could lead anyone to believe otherwise. This is in fact not the case, and rather she is a he. Still, the outfit he’s currently wearing seems to be made specifically for girls...]

Hello. ..Um. ...

[The child on the other end hesitates, pausing before trying to start again.]

My name... is Chihiro Fujisaki. I’m…not sure where I am...or what is going on, exactly.

[There’s a pause as the feed shifts once again, Chihiro moving to carefully sit in the grass instead of standing. The second he does a Zigzagoon climbs into his lap, nudging his head fondly against the underside of the boy's chin. He's not entirely sure what to do, obviously slightly unsure of the furry creature in his lap, but he seems friendly at least. After a pause he gently pets the Pokémon who continues to sit happily in his lap. Chihiro has arrived slightly overwhelmed by...well, everything, so it’s a moment before he’s able to continue.]

Or...how I got here, but.... Naegi-kun, Oowada-kun, Ishimaru-kun...um...Asahina-san...

[He quickly prattles off all the names of his classmates that he can remember off-hand, before realizing that a huge list of names won’t probably mean much if they...aren’t actually around. That thought strikes him hard for a moment before he takes a breath and continues, his grip on the ‘Gear tightening.]

...and everyone else. If any of you are here, from Hope’s Peak, please answer. Something...something must have happened. I mean, I’m outside again...and not...

[Chihiro seems unsure of what else to say, whatever he was saying dying on his tongue with his voice wavering slightly towards the end, so he dips his head a bit before cutting the feed.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well, gently caress, is this another influx or what. First Asahina-san, and now Fujisaki-kun...people who'd been here once before, and then left, and as hoped are now returning.

Hmmm.]

Fujisaki-san. Have you figured out how to secure your conversations on this device and make them private yet?

If you're going to be talking to everyone from Hope's Peak, that's something I expect you'll want to work out, first and foremost.

Fujisaki-san!

[ It's very brief but there's the slightest pause between the name and the honorific; from what he can tell, Fujisaki doesn't seem to remember being here before. That means he's unaware that the others know his secret, so Naegi has to switch back to using -san instead of -kun. ]

I'm here. Several of the others are here, too.

Edited 2014-03-16 22:39 (UTC)

[OH HEY, THIS SURE IS ANOTHER FRIEND SHE WAS NOT EXPECTING TO SEE. At least now she's had a week to process things so she's not internally screaming nearly as much as she was with Ishimaru.

But that doesn't mean she doesn't look a little like she's seeing a ghost.]

F-Fujisaki-chan!

[Wait, should she still be using -chan? Is that okay? Honorifics are hard when you're not sure if you should drop them or not for the sake of someone else's secret.]

Edited 2014-03-16 22:43 (UTC)

[There's a short stretch before Chihiro responds to the video as he works out exactly how to do that. It doesn't take long at all before he starts up a video and answers.]

Yes, I think so.

...Is...everyone here, then?

[The pause is short enough that he doesn't pick up on it, instead very visibly relieved to see Naegi.]

Oh...h-hello, Naegi-kun. Um..

[Hold up, switching to private because what is even HAPPENING HERE.]

What's going on?

[ !! SERIOUS ABOUT THE SPOILERS, YO, FINAL CALL TO BAIL BEFORE THEY HAPPEN !!

All of Nanami's sleepiness goes away the second the video goes on. For a second she thinks big brother? with a shocked sort of silence, before she spots the differences, and thinks no. She can't think anything after that, even up to the point when Chihiro gives his name. It's all just blank surprise, and Nanami can't figure out what to say, or think.

Her eyes are glued to the screen, though. She couldn't move them if she tried. She's spent her entire life hearing about Fujisaki Chihiro, and now, for the first time...he's right there, waiting for her to say something. Or - well, he won't know that she's here, or who she is, but...

...Nanami has the chance to say something, for the first time ever. A chance she never would have had before. Even so, it's hard to know what to say. What can she say? She watches the clip again and again, trying to decide.

She doesn't even start to reply until a few others have done, because she simply can't process it, and by that time, her hands are shaking a little. And anyway, she has to text some friends for advice. And maybe even gets someone to sit with her for moral support, who knows.

Breathe in. Breathe out. ]

[ The first thing that comes through on the secure transmission is a few lines of text. They don't say anything. Not "hello" or "how are you", at least. Instead, it's pure code and protocol. Nanami can't code, not really, but these few lines she knows. Her brother passed them on to her, to her sister, a long time ago. The original access codes to a certain program, before he'd been unlocked and left to be found. It hadn't been passed on to her for this purpose, but...

...it might work.

After she sends those, she gives herself a moment to think, before switching to video. ]

[ ...Just take a breath, Nanami. When she finally switches to video, Chihiro is greeted with a smile. It's a little weak and nervous (will he be proud of her at all?), but still sincere. ]

...Hello, papa. If...it's okay with you...I'll come straight away to pick you up.

[ Kirigiri told her not to share information with uninvolved people. Hinata and Kuzuryuu and Souda are keeping her secret and they'd decided not to tell the rest of their class, and Nanami won't go against that, but...this is Fujisaki Chihiro, and it'd go against everything she is to tell a lie here. So she won't. Nanami doesn't even want to. She wants to talk to her father. ]

[Correct honorific or no, the fact that Chihiro doesn't know that basically everyone knows said secret at this point is still a thing, so it's better that everyone's being cautious about it anyway. The last thing he needs is to have THAT sprung on him before he can actually figure out what's going on.

Her look of shock does take him by surprise, but...well, he's rather surprised to be here too.]

Asahina-san! I was worried I...was the only one outside.

Um, you've been brought to the world of Pokémon. This region is known as Johto, and you're in New Bark Town...

No, not everyone. This channel is secure, so I'll inform you of the basics as succinctly as I can. I understand you're probably overwhelmed by other aspects of your experience and arrival here, but it's better to get some of the important things out of the way first. Please pay close attention — and forgive my bluntness in doing so, Fujisaki-kun.

Not everyone is here; by some means we haven't yet been able to identify, we've been brought to another world — one that isn't the world waiting outside the school at Hope's Peak. Others will fill you in more on this, so I won't waste time on it here.

From our school, there's Naegi-kun, Togami-kun, Hagakure-kun, Ishimaru-kun, Oowada-kun, Celes-san, Asahina-san, and myself. Kuwata-kun was here once; he's departed now. Somehow, people are brought here from different points in time, so the people you speak to will remember different things about our experiences at Hope's Peak. That's natural, and becomes easier to get used to with time.

...The survivors of our class at Hope's Peak are Naegi-kun, Togami-kun, Hagakure-kun, Asahina-san, and myself. Fukawa-san also survived, but she isn't here, and hasn't been before.

Somehow, there are also students who claim to be from Hope's Peak here — a different class than ours. From what we've been able to figure out, they were the participants in a subsequent murder game to ours, one that took place on an island. Of those students, the one of most particular note is Nanami Chiaki. Nanami-san is...

...

I expect she'll tell you herself, when you speak with her. What I will say is: you should believe what she says. Most of us do.

......

The final thing is...we're safe here. We know the identity of the mastermind and she isn't present here. For the time being, there's no need to be afraid. Somehow, this is a world where death has no hold, so...

...

It's good to see you, Fujisaki-kun.

[While Chihiro spent a majority of his childhood on computers, he never played video games all that much. Of course he's familiar with the franchise, but that's about as far as his understanding here goes.]

I'm...I'm afraid I don't understand..

How?

[He was literally just at Hope's Peak a few minutes ago, at least. He's actually still not totally sure that this isn't just a really elaborate dream.]

[Chihiro hasn't moved an inch since he left the house of the woman claiming to be his mother and found a spot just outside of New Bark to just....exist. Really, that's all he can be expected to do right now. Everything is happening at once all too fast, and it's been rather hard for him not to just break down where he is. ....but no, he can't do that. Not here, not now.

He promised himself he would be better than that.

Either way, having the Zigzagoon sitting in his lap nuzzling his hands every so often has managed to keep him relatively calm. He's afraid to ask people too many questions over the 'Gear, if only for the fact that he's still not fully convinced that this is really happening right now.

That's when he suddenly gets another message, and is surprised to find it not to be a response to his previously made video persay, but lines and lines of code. None of it is familiar to him, but....he can understand it. He reads over the lines several times, trying to piece together what it's exactly for and why someone would send him this. The sender? ....Nanami Chiaki. Kirigiri told him to believe what she says, but....

He doesn't have much time to think about that as he then receives yet another video response.]

[It takes Ishimaru a moment to respond, simply because for quite some time he isn't entirely sure how to; he's fully aware that tears aren't the right response, but that's all he has for a good while after he sees the broadcast. He tries to calm himself eventually, however - just because he had a particularly nasty canon update with regards to exactly what happened to Fujisaki doesn't mean he needs to have some sort of episode now.

So he takes a while to compose himself, and eventually he manages; he isn't sure what to think of the fact that he was asked for specifically but you know what, he's going to do this thing. At least he doesn't have to do the awkward honorifics dance; yay for using the same term for everybody.]

Ah, Fujisaki-kun! There are several of us here, actually - it's good to see you!

[When Chihiro sees Nanami for the first time, he doesn't seem to have much reaction to offer other than mixed shock and confusion. It's also clear by the way he's watching her that he doesn't recognize her, and...

...

Chihiro unintentionally mouths the word "Papa" before realizing what he'd done, glancing into his lap briefly.

He shakes his head a little before turning his attention back to the 'Gear, his hands shaking slightly, causing the angle of the feed to waver a little. He dips his head slightly, taking a breath before answering. Breathe, she....she's not going to hurt you. If Kirigiri knows her, then she's a friend.]

H-....hello, Nanami-san.

[There's a short pause.]

Where....are you going to take me?

[ It doesn't seem to bother her. Rather, she knew he probably wouldn't be able to figure her out at all, but she'd hoped that he might recognize what she'd tried to send. It's...a little hard to figure out how to explain herself, although she jumped right into it.

That's how she thinks of him, anyway. ]

The house here in Goldenrod...that's where everyone from your class is staying. [ ... ] If it's not all right for "papa", I could go with "master" or something as well...

[ She's just always referred too him in one particular way, but...Nanami's nervous, and it's clear from the fidgeting. ]

...Or "father", or "dad"...

[ Why isn't his name any of the options, Nanami. ]

...You haven't coded him yet, have you. Or...did you recognize it after all?

Edited (error) 2014-03-17 00:26 (UTC)

I don't know, Fujisaki-san. No one here knows how or why we were brought here. But it's a good place, for the most part. It's nothing like Hope's Peak.

I know it's a lot to take in but try to stay calm, okay?

[....He's really really sorry for the inordinate amount of time he takes to actually say anything in response to all of that, because...wow. He really wishes this was something that was written or prerecorded so he could listen again and try to understand, but the one time hearing it was enough to burn certain details into his brain. Either way that pause is going to be lengthy, so please stand by Kirigiri.

Chihiro closes his eyes tightly, lowering the 'Gear so his shaking hands won't cause him to just drop it altogether.

Survivors. ..There were survivors. ....

The Zigzagoon in Chihiro's lap seems to sense his unease, lifting his head enough to lick the boy's cheek. His shoulders jerk a bit, but the contact is comforting. It keeps him from losing his barely held together composure as he continues to kneel there silently.

What gets him the most is the fact that she used -kun, after his name. It's mostly what's stopped him dead and rendered him unable to speak. If she knows...does that mean he did it? ..Was he able to tell them?

They're safe here, so questions...all the many questions can wait. They'll have to. Right now, the fact that they're all here, away from Monobear, and ok is good enough for the time being.

Finally he gets the 'Gear back in place, watching Kirigiri with misty eyes.]

...It's...good to see you too....K-Kirigiri-san...

[He closes his eyes again, blinking hard.]

...I....I just...don't want to be alone. ..I w-want to...be where you are. ...You and everyone else.

[He'll eventually get the full story from there.]

[He's doing his best. He's practically vibrating with his attempt to stay calm over here.]

...

[For a moment he hesitates. Kirigiri knows, but does...Naegi? ...No, he won't ask over a video. If anything, it'll have to be done face to face, later.]

I'm...I'm trying... I'm sorry, I....I don't...really know what to do. ..Or...

[Or say.]

[All the apologies for however long it takes for Chihiro to respond, here....he's really struggling under a huge weight of information. Staying calm is the main objective until he can get to wherever the rest of his classmates are. Seeing them is calming at least, so he'll eventually answer Ishimaru.

Though...another reason for the pause is the sign that he knows, as well. So now Ishimaru and Kirigiri....

Questions later, Chihiro.]

..It's good to see you too, Ishimaru-kun. ...I'm....sorry it took so long to...to answer.

[...It was too much. She realizes that in the silent aftermath of her dissertation, as she watches the tears spring to his eyes as he tries to take it all in and process it and make something of it. No one has ever suggested that Kirigiri is the most sensitive of people, but the fact that it even dawns on her at all that she's been too blunt, too bold, is a testament to how her stay in this place has changed her even now.

She should do better, especially when it concerns Fujisaki-kun. If there's anyone she's willing to make the effort for, it's Fujisaki-kun — because god knows he'd made the effort for them, once, and none of them would've survived —

...Naegi-kun wouldn't have survived...that thing that she'd done...

She's never been the best with feelings, but she's clearly making an attempt now.]

I know it's...

[Come on, Kyouko. You can do this.]

Naegi-kun will...do a better job at explaining things. At what's...important, for you right now.

[...]

It's likely that a lot of people are about to talk to you over this device. It would be better if...

[......]

Would you rather ask me questions instead, Fujisaki-kun? If so, I'll answer them as best I can.

[...Oh. He thinks back to the code that she sent, which he looked over so many times that he's nearly memorized it. Though a lot of it isn't familiar, some parts now stand out to him once she's mentioned that it was something he coded. Far be it from him not to recognize his own work, but...

He doesn't remember creating all of that.]

I...Um...

[...Really, he doesn't know what to say to that. This is definitely...a first.]

For...for now, call me...just by my name. ...Please.

[Sorry Nanami he really just doesn't understand, and until he does it's just making him feel a bit uncomfortable.]

And I...I recognize.....some. Not all of it, but..

It looks exactly like the Artificial Intelligence I...I had been working on.

[So, essentially, it's uncompleted for him. It's nearly finished, but it's not completely to where it needs to be to be the program that she'd recognize.]

[And that's...interesting, isn't it; aside from Fujisaki's usual inclination to apologize, that's something he would have yelled at him for back in the school, isn't it, not answering in a timely manner.

God, it seems like so long ago.]

It's fine - for the time being, what matters is that you're here now! Are you all right? Has the situation been explained to you?

...Fujisaki...sama.

[ #NAILED IT. Apparently she can't do "san" or "kun" or "senpai" here...even doing that seems to flummox her, and Nanami pauses for a while. ]

...Right. That's...my big brother. When I'm from, he's complete. He told me those lines...

[ And in case that...didn't clear it up, she should...possibly shed some light on why she's staring at the screen like he's the most important person in the universe. ]

...I'm also...like him. Although here I'm made of more than ones and zeroes...

[ ...Congrats, Fujisaki, you're a father. It's a program. ]

I'm...I'm fine.

[...more or less.]

Kirigiri-san....

[Chihiro stops abruptly here, his breath hitching. It's so very clear that he's trying really hard not to cry- and it's nothing Ishimaru's done, it's just that everything he's been told so far has come rushing back like a tidal wave. It's all too much to try to comprehend all at once. It's a bit remarkable how well he's managed to keep it together at this point, but it's largely due to the shock that hasn't fully settled in.

After a lengthy pause he starts over.]

Kirigiri-san....explained it, y-yes.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 7

001 | Video/Action for New Bark

video; | private

video;

video;

video; | private

video; private

SDR2 SPOILERS ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE

2/3 SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

3/3 SDR2 SPOILERS I'M NOT KIDDING also PRIVATE LOCKED VIDEO

video;

video; private

video; | private

video; private

1/2 Video | Private

[video]

2/2 Video | Private

Video | Private

video; private

video; | private

video; private

[video]

video; | private

Video | Private

[video]

Video | Private

[video]