smashacademy | More ugly news reports + one patronizing [video] message courtesy of Seth Richardson

More ugly news reports + one patronizing [video] message courtesy of Seth Richardson

A casual Monday outing turned tragic when two men were brutally gunned down in front of Malo's Gun and Ammunition mart. The victims; Kaplan Stridehr and Marple Dethrris were found dead with a single Aperture-Brand Resolution Pellet to the head. A third victim, Hendorff Ditherrs, was found at the scene asphyxiated to death. All three of the victims regularly donated community service hours to the FLUDD orphanage and were cherished by their grieving families.

The murder suspects, Kiyotaka Ishimaru, Vivan Johnson, and Rick Johnson, all attend Smash Academy and have been interrogated at least once by the FDCPD. Rick has been hospitalized for the time being with life-threatening injuries, though his condition is stable. He will be questioned when he regains consciousness. It's unclear if his injuries were inflicted in self-defense, or by the other two Smash Academy students in the middle of the attack.

The Smash Academy students claim they were the ones who acted in self defense, but FDCPD has not reached a clear verdict yet to a very messy and terrible situation.

"It's not completely clear this was in self defense." says the police chief. "If you're not looking to kill, you don't put a bullet in someone's head."

Several eye witnesses to the attack also claim the smaller student, Vivian, was the one who open fired and murdered the victims, unprovoked. All three are on juvenile preemptive probation until further investigations are finished. It should be worth noting, again, these were non-human students of Smash Academy, a fighting school that accepts many different kinds of unnatural, humanoid creatures. They could still be considered dangerous despite the probation. Aperture Science is also being questioned for product deficiency, but has not returned any of our calls.

[Lakitu, an unnatural, humanoid turtle man, shuffles the papers on his desk and prepares for the next, possibly vaguely related news story.]

An abandoned church on the east side of the city was mysteriously engulfed in flames last night. Fire accelerants were noted in the area, suggesting that this was no accident. It's uncertain if this incident is related to the gun attack, but non-human terrorists are suspected given the target. If you have any important clues or tips to report, please call the FDCPD immediately.

It's truly terrible this historic building has been reduced to tinder and ashes. Residents are outraged and are calling for Martial law. Mayor Tabuu is taking this into consideration with rising rates of violence and crime, but states he is not likely to come to a decision or see any action result for a least a month, especially given the complicated nature of FDC. Martial law would necessitate the need for an outsourced, contracted military, and the Mayor wants to ensure he has the best for the job.

[video]

[Seth appears on video, close up and fiddling with the camera before settling in his seat, a grim expression on his face.]

In case you weren't aware about a certain fiasco that happened between Mary and Vianca a while ago, a new development has recently come to my attention, and I for one am ashamed. Shame on you!

Honestly, she's just a child and didn't know any better. That's no reason for anyone to go antagonize and bully her! I want to think better of our student body.

You're all so quick to turn a blind eye when that murderous swordsman returned to campus. You hardly bat an eyelash at knowing there's at least three new and different murder suspects residing right here! Have any of you even seen the news lately? They're right here, living amongst you all--murderers as your very neighbors. But the moment a naive little girl does something she didn't even know was wrong you ostracize her unfairly. I don't want to name names but you know who you are.

Everyone's double standards here are truly unsettling. You should all think on your sins.

[Ahem. He clears his throat and adjusts his collar, as if to clear out all that ~undignified emotional outpouring~]

Anyway, I apologize if any of that came across as harsh or blunt, and Mary's poor name shouldn't be dragged through the mud any longer. Mary has all my condolences, I wish her the best and above all that this doesn't happen again. That was a while ago anyway--old news. She should know better by now.

I'll see to it personally.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Don't you think you have more pressing things to worry about than final exams? He wanted to say that, but it made sense he'd be concerned about exams, since he seemed to be fixated on studying relentlessly for them these days. God, the more he looks at him, the more tired and worn ragged he seems.]

Even if it did, wouldn't the school be a little more lenient in your case? They'd let you take exams at some other time if it came to that, right? Can't be helped if the law forces you out at an inconvenient time.

Ah... Again...

[He should have seen that one coming. If he had a hundred yen for every time he was asked that today he'd be able to pay off his family's debts without a problem.*

*An extreme exaggeration, but it sure feels like it might as well be true.]

There was a fight in the city and people were killed. There is not much I can say that the news did not cover. However... it did not mention that those men were under the influence of drugs.

[Or that he's actually a human, but that seems less important.]

The witnesses were not reliable, either...!

[He wonders for a second if he did learn it from her. Sparring with Oogami... what a terrifying but somehow amazing prospect. If he should ever meet her again, he'd like to try that.

Maybe.

He'll cross that bridge if he ever reaches it, though. For now...]

That sort of self-defense isn't the problem here! But those shots that were fired... I am not sure what I should do...

I'm not going to allow any exceptions to be made for me, no matter what the reason is!!

[There's got to be a line between stubborn and plain stupid, somewhere. He's definitely on the wrong side of it.]

No, I'm going to prove that even with this, I can focus on my responsibilities...! That's an important skill!

[Pulse remained where he was for a few seconds, silent and still, his blue eyes focused on Ishimaru's face, a small frown forming on his own. Eventually, he closed his eyes and nodded.]

Mister Ishimaru, I believe you. When you say it, I believe you. I feel sorry that this happened to you and your friends, and that you ended up in so much trouble...

I wish there was something I could do. I wish I had been able to do something to prevent it.

[Growing exasperated, he brings his fingers to his forehead for a brief moment, then grabs Kiyotaka by both shoulders as if to steady him back into a more sensible frame of mind.]

Hey, calm down a little! I'm not sayin' you need to ignore your responsibilities! Shit, get a grip! You're freakin' out way too much over this, don'tcha think?

I am--!

[Not calm at all. He takes a sharp breath and lowers his gaze.]

...I am... ashamed that I have allowed myself to let my feelings get the better of me!

[The privacy of his own room isn't a safe space at all as long as he has a roommate. It works out, though. Now he has no excuse not train himself to present himself as professional and respectable at all times, no matter what.

With that in mind, he checks his posture again and makes sure to hold his head high. Although right now he's simultaneously too exhausted and high strung to think he can keep it up for long.]

Even so... Rescheduling would make it seem as though I'm just asking for more time to prepare. Unless I could take them earlier... So I should study even harder in preparation for that possibility!

[He reaches up to put his hands on Mondo's upper arms and gives them a fond pat.]

Thank you. You've helped me figure out how I can make this work after all...! That is one less thing to worry about! I'm so relieved...

[no kiyo-tan no]

["...we all bear some responsibility for what happened at Hope's Peak anyway."

These words cut through Celes' mind like a hot knife through...something that wasn't butter. She wasn't just responsible for Yamada and Ishimaru's death, but Kuwata and Oowada's as well. After all, she voted for them, as did the others. Hell, not even the first victim, Maizono, was innocent. Not even those who didn't commit murder were innocent. After all, each and every one of them voted to doom someone else. Sure, they were murderers, but they were still people.]

...we really do, don't we?

[She sighed, gripping her elbow tightly. Sure, Celes expected this to be uncomfortable, but not to this extent.]

I think...I'm going to leave the academy for a while. I need some time to get my mind off things...and then to gather my thoughts.

Edited 2013-05-07 20:01 (UTC)

[O...kay, he didn't actually say anything reassuring to make him perk up, but whatever makes him chill out, he'll take it. He seems a lot more cheerful now, that's for sure. What a weird thing to get excited about. If it were up to him, he'd like to extend the exam date right off the calendar, not bring it closer. Not like he ever studied or even cared for them...]

Yeah. Good to hear. [He seems a bit unsure of himself for the reasons mentioned before. Also, they are totally grabbing onto each other's arms shamelessly. And for longer than what should be considered normal for anyone other than lovers.]

But you shouldn't've been worried in the first place, right? Every time I look at you, you're either studying or patrolling the halls. All I'm saying is, you study more than enough as it is. Hard work's important and stuff, but don't you think there's a point where enough is enough? It's all you do.

[Uh excuse you, there's nothing weird about the way they're keeping contact longer than necessary. The way Ishimaru slowly trails his hands down until they rest by Mondo's elbows, the way he holds his gaze, the way his normally loud voice takes on the (relatively) soft tone reserved for these private moments. It is completely unquestionably heterosexual, thank you very much.]

Enough? Effort isn't just something you can take a look at and say that you have reached some quota and can stop, you know! ...Besides, this is my... This is our second chance at living.

[Now that's weird to think about. He inhales deeply before continuing, still not letting go.]

Don't you think that we should work especially hard to make sure we can reach our goals this time?

Edited 2013-05-08 05:07 (UTC)

[Those were some pretty heavy words that leaned against his drive for living, which was all outta whack since February. No, even before then, when they were crammed in Hope's Peak, it was like that- this frustration that kicked up worse and worse the longer he stayed away from his the life he left behind, taken from him so abruptly. That frustration rose and fell these days- sometimes it was gnawing at his brain cells; others he felt calm but empty. He'd been coping pretty okay all things considered, but then again, he was used to things being there one moment and gone the next.

He'd considered the option of not living, and had been tempted to feel that dying would have been infinitely better than going on like this. But feeling the sun on his back and the life in his blood made him remember that he was alive. And that was incredible.

But what to do with this life he'd been spared next? He had ideas he'd grasped at for the future, when he'd have to grow out of his teenage bike gang phase and walk the world as an adult looking for a way to make ends meet. The idea of fixing things appealed to him, a sort of atonement for the reckless destruction he left behind in his wake. But as comforting as having some idea of what to do with himself later in life was, he just wasn't ready to move in that direction yet, nor did he want to- it felt as unnatural to him as taking two steps up the staircase at a time. He wanted his gang back. His family. He wanted the two years of time spent being young back, the years he would never have wanted to trade for anything. It was hard to accept those days as... gone. And he wasn't even twenty yet.

So maybe that's why, when Kiyotaka brought up goals, his face grew a shade sadder.]

...I guess. But I dunno if there's a 'this time' in store for mine.

What do you mean by that?

[Didn't he mention carpentry during their first night together? That seems like a skill that has universal usefulness, so it's not like being here makes it nothing more than a pipe dream. Much like Kiyotaka's own ambitions of encouraging others to improve themselves and thus the world - even Final Destination City is in clear need of change, as the former day's events proved.

Although being stuck in this strange city without a clear geographical point... more than anything, his loyalty lay with the nation he was born and raised in, the one that so bitterly lost its faith in his Grandfather when he failed at leading it. Kiyotaka wanted to bring change to Japan and to make his family's name something to be proud of again.

He can't go back to any of it. Especially not if the country is in the sorry state Naegi described when he arrived.

Mondo's stuck without the things and people he held dear too, isn't he? Besides mentioning carpentry in the sauna, he did speak so fondly of his gang. Not to mention the lengths he went to to try to prevent it from falling apart, as horrible as some of them were. That was his family.

Thinking about it just drives the point home that the two of them are from entirely different worlds, and Kiyotaka may never fully understand his brother. He can't hope to improve what he doesn't understand.

He can still try...]

No matter what, there is always something to work towards. Even here. Don't give up before you've found it!

I never said I was giving up completely. [He's not looking at Kiyotaka anymore- it's the baseboards that earn his passive attention.] I meant... my goal of keeping the gang running in my brother's stead. That's not something I can do anymore.

Sounds like a story. Do tell~

A doctor will want to run tests on you to figure out what's wrong. You know what that means?

Seth Richardson.

I do sincerely appreciate it, Miss Eirika.

[Humans were very weak creatures, Seth was convinced of this.]

For money, probably.

[Finally, he starts to look a little uncomfortable, running a hand through his hair.]

Listen, it's not like I'm not concerned about this, but it's not like my hand isn't being twisted in this either. You wouldn't even begin to understand what it's like being in my shoes, so don't act like you do.

Oh, isn't that convenient.

I'll just let you do your thing then.

Are you well versed in the art of sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts?

[Wow we are like, long lost twins separated at birth or something.]

What an ~~perfect~~ awful suggestion, as much as I'm a proponent for equal and fair justice.

[There's something so fake in his declaration.]

Really, why don't you tell Mary that and see what she thinks? [And something so earnest in that one.] I dare you.

[Seth's toothy grin would make the Cheshire cat either envious or freighted.]

Oh, oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring up anything painful like a murder. That must have been so difficult for you.

I would, maybe, but there's a problem. I don't really even know who Mary is, or who she'd want to serve some early death~ I'm kind of new here, you see. I don't know everybody's name yet~

[ Being able to observe an entire city from the network... That certainly did sound handy. Alter Ego felt a strong inclination towards what Pulse was saying about that, and it made sense to feel that way. To want to protect everybody...

What he said afterwards also struck a chord. It was strange, that Alter Ego was just thinking about that topic and suddenly Pulse brought it up. AE nods and looks at the computers in the room, one by one, just as an idle gesture. ]

I thought about this a little, myself. Some AIs... They're made to perform simple tasks, so they are given very little capability in the realm of human likeness. Maybe that is why... Why she's being called "defective", only it's by human standards.

[ Alter Ego still didn't know what sort of AI Vivian was supposed to be, but there were endless possibilities. AIs came in many different forms and for many different purposes, and many AIs didn't come with a set of perfect human empathetic skills. It was harder than it seemed, to find an AI with a human core that other people could relate to. ]

What kind of rights do you think AIs should have, Pulse? Sorry if that's a strange question... I'm just not sure, myself.

Well... I guess you're right, there... It may just depend on how they were programmed, what they were made to do... Lots of AIs weren't built to have a personality, so to speak... But then, some of them evolve to have one, because their intelligence permitted them to learn and adapt...

[He touched his index finger to the side of his jaw in thought.]

I honestly don't believe that they should be treated like objects or property. Not when they are capable of learning and modifying their own behavior.

What happened was not your responsibility to prevent! If... there is anything you can do now, it's to make sure that you never end up in the same situation!

[He's always believed in leading by example. He just never wanted to be an example of what not to do... The thought is more than a little shameful.]

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More ugly news reports + one patronizing [video] message courtesy of Seth Richardson

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action tag more like inaction tag

baby i want your tldr

any time sweet cheeks

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