genessia | first fix // video

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first fix // video

[Waking up with little to no memory of how he got there is sadly becoming par for the course, for Souda. Even the welcoming care package is uncomfortably familiar. Oh boy.

Tugging his black beanie lower until it shades his eyes, he curls up in the weirdo cocoon and tries not to shudder while reading the pamphlet. So this place is "safe", huh? How safe could it possibly be if they have to explicitly state it's safe!?

If he's paranoid, it's well justified.

Hmm. Well, at least there's a map and money, even a phone-thing that he'll probably dissect at some point... He doesn't trust the necklace, but eventually puts it on.

It's his growling stomach that finally gets him moving. Making his way around the city, he warily investigates the various stalls and buildings, until he manages to find an approximation of the takoyaki he always enjoyed back home. The food makes him feel marginally better.

After a bit more investigation of the city, Souda re-reads the pamphlet for good measure, then figures he should introduce himself on what he assumes to be the main social network.

And thus, his pink-haired, pink-eyed, shark-grinned mug appears on the videophone screen.]

Helloooo Genessia. Did I pronounce that right? Name's Kazuichi Souda, atcha service! [There's a forced quality to his cheerfulness; in truth, he's feeling a bit lost.] I... guess, if anyone needs a mechanic, I'm your guy. Bikes, cars, planes, computers, phones, cameras, radios, robots... Ah, you get the idea; I can fix anything. It's my Talent!

So what do you guys do for fun around here?

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[Leon's positive he's never seen this kid before in his life, and yet there's an undeniable, distant sense of déjà vu as he takes in that extravagantly bright hair, odd coloured eyes, unique grin ... And then there's the mention of having a talent. Fairly inconspicuous on its own, but it seems oddly significant when combined with his feeling.

His eyes are still narrowed in scrutiny when he sends a video reply to the newcomer.]

What d'you mean by... talent?

[Souda quite nearly jumps out of his skin upon seeing Leon's face. He's dead! Should be dead! Clearly wasn't dead! But how? Eyes wide, he stammers in shock.]

Leon!?

Wha--? How did ya know my name?

[Using his personal name, too. Who is this guy to be acting so familiar with him? The shocked reaction is just as baffling.]

[Still looking stunned, some sadness begins creeping into Souda's expression.]

Because we're friends! We-- were. [Before everything went to hell. Before the Despair-o-rama, mass suicides, murders, executions--] Don't you remember...?

[Leon shakes his head and nervously rubs the back of his neck, frowning. There's no way he could forget being friends with someone like Souda, if they had been. ...Right?]

You must have the wrong guy. Never met ya before now. [Thinking of other possibilities. He suddenly grins.] Oh! I bet you're a big fan, huh? Y'know, baseball? Maybe that's how you know me. [It is his own Talent, after all, and he'd been a Big Deal in his home world because of it. His feelings of déjà vu could even conceivably be explained by having seen Souda at one of his games before, or something like that.]

[Souda tugs his beanie down to hide his eyes, and he sounds choked up. It isn't fair. Leon's somehow back from being dead and doesn't even remember him or their friendship.]

I wasn't a fan! [There's annoyance in his voice, but it quickly fades.] I-I mean I was, but it wasn't like that... [He wasn't a groupie, Leon. >:(]

You're my soul friend...! We have f-friendship bracelets and everything. You helped me dye my hair. I kept your guitars tuned. When those guys made fun of me, you'd beat 'em up... [His voice becomes increasingly quiet with each thing he lists, until he's practically whispering. He sounds slightly embarrassed by that last one, and wouldn't have even mentioned it normally.

Kazuichi, the weirdo too timid for his own good and mercilessly bullied... until he met Leon, the loud mouth that people thought was all bark and no bite, before he'd had guys twice his size beaten down bloody and crying in the dirt... my hero *_*]

How can you not remember any of that, Leon? [He unrolls one of his sleeves and scrubs it against his face, sniffling.]

[Aaawkward. This guy is obviously convinced that those things happened (and how could he know about his guitars?), but for the life of him, Leon honestly can't recall a single one.

~~Souda was so totally a groupie. :Db~~]

Look, I'm sorry, man. [He tries to sound sympathetic, and he's being uncharacteristically patient. He genuinely feels bad for Souda. Especially after it's apparent he's all teary over this bizarre situation.] But that couldn't have been me, I ...

[He trails off and simply shakes his head again, not knowing what else he can say.] Wish I could help you.

[Souda is devastated and doing a poor job of hiding it. His face disappears from view for several moments and the sound is muted, then he comes back along with the audio, sounding a little less sniffly.]

I dunno what they've done to you... M-maybe dying messed with your memories...

[He's fidgeting now, fiddling with the zipper on his jumpsuit. His image on the vid screen is also wavering because the hand holding his videophone is shaking. A weary sigh.]

Can we... meet up somewhere? Just to talk?

[Translation: gonna get you soggy in person]

How'd y'know-... [About the dying part? He's only brought it up with Chihiro, in this world, and it's not exactly the sort of thing that makes good gossip. Chihiro doesn't seem like the gossiping type anyway.

Souda sure knows a lot about him...

Well, Souda doesn't appear particularly threatening or hostile... Nor do the waterworks strike Leon as an act. What harm could there be in meeting him and maybe sorting things out.]

Uh... okay. How 'bout in front of the bay? That's the place everyone arrives here at.

[Souda musters a weak smile in response. That Leon would agree to meet up with him even after he's behaved kinda like a psycho means a lot to him... and gives him hope that just maybe, deep down, Leon does remember him. Somehow.

It's something of a miracle that he's still able to feel hope at all.]

I know the place. I'll be there. And... thanks.

[He switches off the videophone before he can embarrass himself further.

The bay is nearby, so it only takes him a couple minutes to walk there. He puts his hands in his pockets in an attempt to lessen his fidgeting, but he has so much nervous energy that he ends up idly kicking around leaves on the sidewalk while he waits. He also mentally rehearses all the cool things he could say to Leon.]

Edited (forgot something!) 2014-05-18 22:48 (UTC)

[Leon arrives at their agreed upon spot not too long after. Souda is evidently so preoccupied that he doesn't immediately notice him, which gives Leon time to size up the guy. He's shorter than Leon, and though it's kind of hard to tell with the jumpsuit, seems a bit slighter too. Are those... screw earrings? Hmm. Probably self-pierced.

With Souda's punk appearance, it's not hard to imagine that they might have some common interests.

Arms crossed behind his head, he saunters closer.] Oi, Souda.

[Sure enough, Souda's so caught up in his hopes and worries that it takes Leon saying his name to get his attention. He looks up, eyes wide, mind going blank-- all the super cool greetings he'd thought of are gone.]

Hey! [He sounds startled. Embarrassed, he clears his throat, tries again.] Hey. T-thanks for coming.

[Stuttering now. Great. Real smooth, Kazuichi.]

So... [He's not good at small talk, so decides to jump right into it.] You don't... remember anything about me, I guess... But what do you remember? About Hope's Peak Academy?

[Not much in the mood for small talk anyway, he doesn't mind getting right to the point.]

Well, it's been taken over by a stuffed toy that calls himself Monokuma. [Raising an eyebrow, he watches Souda as though expecting him to laugh or deny it. It does sound pretty ridiculous. He nods toward the sidewalk, wanting Souda to walk with him while he explains.]

I remember me and the other first years blacked out or something right after we arrived at Hope's Peak... when we woke up, we found we were locked in, and were told Monokuma had taken over.

[No laughter or denial is forthcoming. Souda of course already knows how this story goes.

He moves to walk beside Leon.]

And... he started the "High School Life of Mutual Killing"?

[Surprised, Leon nods, but finds himself reluctant to go into the details.]

S'actly what he called it. He explained the "rules" and I think most of us still thought it was some kinda sick joke... and then...

...Your classmates started dying. [One was killed by the controller behind Monokuma first, Souda remembers. Then there had been the first class trial. That one's impossible to forget.]

The idol invited you to her room after you all got the DVDs, right?

I'd thought we were friends. She talked with me a lot about what it's like in the music industry, 'cos I wanna be a musician. I thought she kinda liked me...

[~~Sayaka-chaaan ;_;~~]

She invited me over and... attacked me...

[Premeditated. Bowing his head as he walks, he rubs his neck, his expression troubled.] Guess she didn't expect me to defend myself.

[The rest had actually been an accident on his part, while trying to calm down his hysterical friend... who was still intent on killing him. It doesn't absolve him of his guilt, and he did pay for it with his life, but the fact was he never intended to kill any of his classmates and wouldn't have, if Sayaka hadn't attacked him first.

It still hurts, wondering if Sayaka's friendship had been real, or if she'd thought he was some kind of sucker since the beginning.]

...But how d'you know about this?

It was broadcast.

[Souda had watched. Hell, the whole world had. He shivers at the memory of it, and Leon's gruesome execution...

He only becomes aware sometime after the fact that he's grabbed onto Leon's arm, clinging to him. He's embarrassed, but finds it difficult to let go. He's still reeling from the emotional shock of seeing his best friend alive again after believing he was dead.

His voice is low, just loud enough to carry to Leon.] A-all of it... was broadcast. For the world. By the girl controlling Monokuma. No one could get in, no one could stop it. [His voice thickens, edged with anger.] They voted to murder you and all I could do was watch.

[The clinging might have startled him more if he hadn't been so absorbed by Souda's explanation. He slows to a halt, reaches up to grip the other boy's arms, and forces him to turn so they're facing each other. For a long moment he only stares, brows furrowed. His voice is likewise low when he finally speaks.]

Why can't I remember you?

[Souda's brows knit together as he meets Leon's gaze with his watery one.]

When you guys thought you blacked out, they-- the organization behind it all-- were actually taking your memories of your time at Hope's Peak Academy. Back when it was still a real school, I mean, so that's why you could only remember arriving and not the years you spent there. We met there. I was in the year above you.

[A wet sniffle escapes.] I thought because you'd died... your memories might return. [It seems too cruel, to be murdered and still have those memories lost.]

I'm told they did the same thing to my class... sort of... [It started as a rehabilitation program, but predictably went horribly wrong. For various reasons his memory of it is about like Leon's missing gap.] It's confusing, I dunno where to begin.

[Leon seems dazed, letting go of Souda now to press the palms of his hands against his face. It's a lot to take in all at once.]

Y'know, when I first saw your face on my videophone... [He drops his hands to look at Souda.] It was like déjà vu. Like -- like I recognised you, but how could I, when I don't remember you? Those memories they took... I don't think they really took them. I think they could still be there, buried...

[And he wants them back. He wants to remember his friends and classmates, and especially this strange guy with the shark's grin who calls him his soul friend.]

Tell me... about the organisation. Tell me everything.

[That's the powah of true friendship, Kuwata-kun~]

...!

You do remember me!! [It's practically a shout as he launches himself at Leon, full-body hugs him, and gets him a bit soggy just like the narrative promised earlier. Don't worry, it'll wash out.

A few passers by give them weird looks and keep their distance, but Souda's completely oblivious. And overjoyed. He has his soul friend back!

After he's adequately enjoyed the moment (it'll be a while, seriously, imagine being reunited with your BFF after thinking he was dead), he'll go on to explain everything he knows in detail. Which is essentially the entirety of the Danganronpa storyline, including how he himself was brainwashed to be part of the SS Despair crew (wut) but was inexplicably cured by the magic of hope and ahoge (and friendship?). And it will all make sense, promise.

(Also he doesn't out Chihiro Fujisaki, either because he doesn't remember the details of Chihiro's crossdressing/murder (likely) or because Souda's refined sense of propriety forbids him from revealing another's secret (lol).)]

[Chihiro appeared on the screen.]

Can you really fix anything? [It's a general wondering on his end honestly. While he can fix computers perfectly well, if he broke anything else he would need the help.]

Oh, I should have told you my name first. I'm sorry. I'm Chihiro Fujisaki.

I've never run into anything that I couldn't fix! [Hardware, anyway. Complicated software would be beyond his expertise.

The name 'Chihiro Fujisaki' doesn't immediately ring any bells, but there is something vaguely familiar about it, and the girl's (he assumes) face. Souda peers more closely at the screen while he tries to puzzle it out.]

[Chihiro feels slightly awkward, but he'll try and shake it off.]

Then I'll know who to go to should I need anything fixing, but... If you'll ever need some programming to work, I'll also offer to help you as well.

So you're a programmer? Sure, it's a deal! Someone wants me to build an anti-newspaper robot, I could probably use the software help...

[He's still been trying to figure out where he knows that name from, and his eyes widen when he thinks he's found his answer. Wasn't that the name of an underclassman, one of Leon's classmates...? Hope's Peak Academy is something Souda's tried hard to forget about (excluding the friendships he made), but the sheer horror or what happened there makes it impossible.]

W-wait! You're the hacker, right?

That's right. I can help with that though... an anti-newspaper robot is a first.

[It was pretty much the only thing he knew he excelled at and he knew it was why he was chosen to go the Hopes Peak, until that unfortunate occurrence of course. Though at him asking that he looked confused. He knew who he was. Except Leon he was certain he didn't know anyone else, but...he had to answer.]

Uh...That's right. H-How did you know?

I thought your name was familiar. [He sighs heavily and runs a hand over his face. He's been explaining things to Leon, but it doesn't get any easier with repetition.]

You're in the same year as Leon, aren't you? I was in the year above you guys, at Hope's Peak Academy. I- I know what happened to you, to your class. I guess I know more than you guys do. Leon doesn't even remember that we were friends before... [And he's assuming Chihiro won't remember anything, either.]

I am or I guess I was suppose to be in the same year. But I don't remember anyone who was in the years above because when I woke up it was...That supposed game.

[Chihiro was kind of thankful that he was currently sitting down. He paused to think about what they just said for a moment. He knew what happened... and he says he is a year above them, but honestly Chihiro had no idea about that, mostly because he had never seen anyone but the others from his suppose year.]

How do you know more than we do...We didn't start school until that day after all. [Or so he thought anyway.]

Can you build a robot that can block flying newspaper deliveries?

[Repairing's more his forte, but it wouldn't be the first time he's built something from scratch. A robot with one function couldn't be that hard, right?]

Probably! If the tools and materials are provided, anyway.

...Are newspapers a problem here?

I'll see if I can find what you need if you give me a list.

[ Of course, at the question, her tone completely changes. ]

They're a huge problem! The delivery people don't pay any attention at all, peoples' windows get broken constantly!

[wut]

In that case, wouldn't you rather have a robot that hits the papers back at the deliverer?

[Hey, it'd be funny.]

I still want the paper, I just don't want it through my window.

[ Though she wouldn't deny that it might be pretty good justice if the deliverers got a taste of their own medicine. ]

[Clearly disappointed his amazing idea was rejected.] You sure? Ah, well...

I'll start compiling a list of what I'll need. Want me to text it to you?

That's fine. I'm Weiss, by the way. Weiss Schnee.

[ She's still not used to saying it without the pride that everyone should totally know who she is. ]

Nice to meetcha!

***

[At some later point, after Souda's worked out a few general schematics to get a feel for what'll be required to make the anti-newspaper bot, he texts the list.

The optimistic part of the list contains the sort of items easily obtainable from a robotics specialty shop, but he can't be sure Genessia has one, and so the less optimistic part details some "garage alternatives" (such as scrap sheet metal, old computer circuit boards, bits and pieces from household appliances, etc.). The tools and welding power supply he notes he can probably just borrow from locals, since they're not hard to come by.]

[ Once she receives the list, she stares at it for a moment. It doesn't seem incredibly far off from what she expected. Even if she didn't know how to build them herself, she knew some of the basics.. ]

I'll see if I can't find a place that sells these parts.

If nothing else, it seems like a portion of my world's been opened up. I'm sure I can find some somewhere if any of Schnee Company's security robots or factories are down there.

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video; I do apologize for the very late reply. In my pre-expo mode.

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