genessia | 1st Despair // Video/action

Video

[The feed opens to a shot of the Bay area, hologram fading having delivered its message with the racks of maps and literature clearly visible. It then tracks as the person broadcasting gives up on the Bay area and heads out into Genessia proper, and soon enough a young woman's voice provides the soundtrack alongside the general sounds of the city.]

Congratulations, Genessia. I can honestly, one hundred percent, truly say that I did not see this one coming. Denying me my own death, that takes some pretty incredible skills and I'd just love to know exactly who I have to thank for that.

[It's here that the woman stops in her stride, shop window in front of her - and thus is reflected the face of one Junko Enoshima, indistinct for the way the light hits but she either doesn't notice or doesn't care.]

And don't worry. I promise I won't waste this second chance I've been given. That really would be a waste, right?

Action

[Junko's found her way to one of Genessia's parks, and now stretches out on a bench that lets her watch the goings-on around her. Nothing like learning the people to learn a city, after all, and in a place where she doesn't know anyone it's all the more important that she figure out who might be useful to her sooner rather than later.

Of course, she can't just sit and watch, that would be boring. So occasionally, when people are walking past while seemingly not paying attention, Junko will stretch and extend her leg to try to trip them, curious to see if they'll notice in time or pay the price for their lack of attention. Or if she spots someone with a pet that has the energy, Junko will find a stick or something nearby to throw to see how pet and owner will react.

And should anyone just happen to notice the young woman sitting by herself and come over to talk, regardless of intentions? She'll lean forward, deliberately tugging down her shirt to best display her cleavage while simultaneously putting on the most innocent face and tone she can muster.]

Well, I am new around here. Did you notice and come to see if I needed help?

[All the while, the way she moves implies they came over for less savoury reasons, regardless of who they are.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ There's a bright contemplative smile on the end of the screen. Junko has her full interest. Nobody admitted to the place being a second chance yet so openly. ]

You know, I don't think anyone knows who is to blame for this yet. It might just be a black hole that's pulling us in to it and popping us out here.

Did you actually die?

So then you're saying all of this is down to just whoever happened to get pulled here?

[By "all of this" she means the buildings and structures she's vaguely gesturing to. It's clear she doesn't really put much stock in that theory but who knows, she's been proved wrong before.

She finally turns the screen to herself at the other question, allowing a moment to show off her whole body before settling the feed to her face.]

I know, right? You'd never think I got smushed into paste not even all that long ago. Or maybe they just have such good timing they swept me away in the milliseconds between the crusher falling and my beautiful features being smeared into nothing recognisable.

[Her tone is casual all the while, as though there's nothing weird at all about talking about her own death.]

Possibly. There's no way to tell for certain if we were picked for being special somehow.

[ She tried to hack into the CPU to find out but it didn't let her get very far. All well. The casual nature of talking about it has Monika smiling. See. Someone else gets that it's no big deal when it's all just a game. You'll come back later! ]

You look great for paste! It could go either way. It'd be hard to tell since being crushed would be too quick to really remember for sure if you died or not.

Huh. Well if that's the case, maybe this place isn't so different after all.

[If they're here for being special, that makes it Hope's Peak on a grander scale and there's something about the idea of breaking that which brightens Junko's day that little bit more.]

I mean, you're not wrong. Maybe their timing is just that good. Actually it's more satisfying if I think about it that way.

[The despair of being denied the despair of her own death. That's an idea she can really enjoy.]

What type of game were you in before this one?

[ Wouldn't it be nice if she was picked because something in a multitude of universes thought she was special? That's actual love, right? It's a wonderful thought. ]

If their timing is so specific, we could all be saved from death here and not know it.

Maybe that's exactly what's going on. Just most people don't realise it 'cause they don't know they're about to die.

[It could just as easily be something else. But Junko's not above spreading a little misinformation for a good cause.

As to the first question, she decides to dance around it for now. Not because she's ashamed, but where's the fun in giving everything away up front?]

Same game we all are, I'd assume. Though I guess not everyone sees life that way.

[And she knows not everyone sees death that way.]

Most people don't get to have the realization they're about to die. The ignorance of it might make them more hopeful people here, since they'll be working towards trying to go back to their home. It could be a good thing?

[ Monika doesn't think what the reason is matters in the end. This is probably just some kind of crossover event game. ]

Everyone has their own perspective. You're right.

Well, hope does usually lie in ignorance. Whatever they can cling to so they don't see what's right in front of them, right?

[Though she's not disagreeing that it could be a good thing. She's just thinking more of the potential despair in the face of failure that tends to follow such an elevated degree of hope. At least when she has anything to say about it.]

I completely agree. Sometimes knowing the truth is far worse than anyone could think.

[ Being self-aware can drive someone c r a z y.]

Necessary, though, don't you think? Just because truth can be inconvenient doesn't mean people don't deserve to hear it.

[Which is absolutely not why she blew the whistle about Izuru but she can pretend it is.]

It really depends on what the truth is. If it's something so overwhelming a person might break.

I suppose they might.

[No suppose about it. She knows they do and that's the best part.]

1st Despair // Video/action

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;