IC Inbox [Empatheias]

[hamnation]

[What's wrong, sinner? Wish to communicate with Gundam via telepathic amulet or messenger bird or even in person? Then come on over here and specify the format!]

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15th of Penta/Voice --> Action

[properprincess]

I will see you there then.

[She knows that he'll show after giving his word. She takes time in preparing food that will be easy to eat while talking and doesn't require much cooking. She doesn't trust herself cooking for others just yet, despite a successful lesson with Antoine.

When finished, she makes sure to pack a blanket and parasol in her basket. And a jacket, just in case. Then, she walks over to the gate to wait for him.]

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[Soon, his arrival is announced by the pattering of tiny paws as the dark devas scamper over towards her. Gundam follows, in his usual attire, with the primary addition being that he's made his amulet into a necklace. He smiles confidently as he approaches her.]

So, we meet again... [He says as if this wasn't planned.]

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

[The arrival of Tanaka and the Dark Devas is something that thrills Sonia so much that she cannot help but have the ringing of chimes sound as a slight, happy flush overtakes her face. She puts out an arm for the hamsters to crawl up onto her shoulders, but isn't surprised when only two join her while the others scamper up Gundam's body to perch in his scarf while peeking out.]

Hello, everyone. I'm so happy to see you all.

[And despite the conversation she knows they're about to have, it's always nice to be with the fuzzy helpers for a bit.]

I see that you've managed to acclimate reasonably well to the city. Have you spoken to the rest of our classmates yet?

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[The clever devils... By splitting their forces, they have both of the humans under their protection at the same time. And on Gundam's side, a warmth fills the air around them as he looks at her.]

Kehehehe... Compared to the netherworld, or even that sorry excuse for an island, getting used to this city has been mere child's play. [He flashes a confident smirk.]

Yes, it seems that I've met all of those classmates who have taken part in this intergalactic quest. And on top of that, I have already started to expand my forces of magical beasts within this world! [Priorities, he has them.]

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

Hm, yes, the island.

[And all of her good mood is gone for a brief moment. After the horrible sight she saw a week before, this is something that she knows will hurt them both. But, she's determined to enjoy time with him while they're both still reasonably unburdened.

But to find out that he's already made friends with the animals of their new home is a good sign. And she starts heading out of the gate towards the lake.]

I didn't doubt that you would be able to tame the creatures here, Tanaka-san. Your skills are amazing. I only wish that I can watch you do that one day. Have you figured out what you'll do to support yourself while you're here? Nanami-san and Komaeda-san work at a book store. Kirigiri-san has a detective agency. I'm...not sure what Hinata-san does.

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[He does soon realize that it may have been a mistake to mention the island, but they move on quickly past that. Gundam follows her as she moves, straying a little closer than he would when following others. And he crosses his arms as he listens to her, smiling mildly at her praise.]

Yes. I have made a decision that will change the very fate of this world! You see, I intend to lend my aid to the local asylums for enchanted beasts. By sharing my unholy power with them, this world's familiars can become truly unstoppable!

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

You're going to work at one of the animal shelters? [She gives him a smile that could put the summer sun to shame as they continue walking.]

That's wonderful! I think that is the perfect job for you, Tanaka-san. No one will be able to do as well as you can.

[He is the Ultimate Breeder, after all.

But they reach the spot soon enough and she sets out the blanket and food while humming happily. It's a good front that she's put up so that he doesn't have to see how badly her hands shake when they brush the bag at her side or how poorly hidden the dark circles under her eyes are.

Once everything is set up and laid out, she sits down carefully and sighs, knowing that the sweet farce is over.]

We spoke about Enoshima Junko the first day you arrived here. You remember that I'm sure.

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[That smile and those compliments bring a blush back to his cheeks.]

That is correct. Th-thank you... It certainly seems to be a fitting task.

[And as they arrive at the spot, Gundam sort of hovers around awkwardly nearby, but he occasionally leans over to try to help set up a thing or two. He does take notice of the shaking in her hands and the circles in her eyes. They're definitely out of the ordinary, and he finds himself feeling deeply concerned.

Gundam then sits down nearby and attentively glances towards Sonia.]

Yes, I recall. The unpleasant underclassman... [as unusual as it is to consider someone an underclassman when he doesn't remember starting class at Hope's Peak to begin with.] ...What of her?

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

[Where to begin... There's so much to cover, so much to talk about that she honestly feels overwhelmed for a moment.]

She is the originator of Monokuma-san. It is but one of many persona that Enoshima puts on. She looks like this: [Sonia projects an image of Enoshima from the recent trial they had for the girl's "murder" to her companion, with the slightest hint of distaste attached.] You might have seen her already. She's told me that she's spoken with you.

The island that we were on was meant to be a prison for the Remnants of Despair, a group of vicious, dangerous killers that followed Enoshima Junko—the Ultimate Despair. Our class, the 77th class of Hope's Peak Academy, and Hinata-san, are those criminals.

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[Now it is his turn to feel overwhelmed, as he takes in all of those revelations at once. Recognition glimmers in his eyes when she projects the image of Junko. He had indeed met her, when he was practicing snake charming. She had seemed perfectly harmless and gullible. It's hard to believe that she's the one behind Monokuma... and behind a group of killers.

A group of killers - that are comprised of them?!

Winds start picking up around them, stirred on by Gundam's desperate confusion. The idea of them all being criminals - how could that be?! As much as he trusts Sonia, at this moment, he only feels lost.]

What?! What are you saying? What is the meaning of those words? Our class... criminals? [It may be easier to imagine himself as a criminal, and there might be a yakuza or two in the mix. But, the rest of the class?] Are we playing some sort of a game...? [Is this her way of playing along with a demon lord maybe?]

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

[She understands his confusion, anger, distrust and everything else that he might feel, but she has much more to relate.

Instead of speaking, she reaches out and takes his hands in her own, face devoid of any sort of mirth. She looks stern, but there is a kindness still lingering, especially for him.

Always for him.]

I need you to listen to me, Tanaka-san. I know that it sounds ridiculous. We all thought so at the time of the revelation, Hinata-san, Owari-san, Souda-san and Kuzuryuu-san. [She lets those names sink in before she speaks again, gathering courage for what she needs to impart.] After your execution, Komaeda-san went... crazy.

He set up his own murder so that the rest of us would die and Nanami-san would survive. Because she and Monomi-san were the spies sent by the Future Foundation to watch over us. However... they sacrificed themselves so that the rest of us might live and make it out.

I have a memory that I would like to share with you, one that I received from the Tree of Memories last week, a few days after you arrived.

[She pulls out a book from her basket, opening the front cover to show a delicate looking petal. The other still hides in the other end of the book.]

This will prove to you what I'm saying and after viewing it, I will attempt to answer any questions you might have.

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[Gundam still gives her his attention as he speaks. Because he's believed her... he's always believed her and believed in her, and he knows he has to hear her out. Even if this sounds unbelievable even to the self-proclaimed demon lord. That's why he even lets that hand contact ensue. Her touch may be oddly warm, but what comfort it provides is negligible next to what follows.

He hears her describe some more confusing events. Well, Komaeda's actions actually don't sound unexpected for him. But the idea of Nanami being from the Future Foundation - and sacrificing herself? It can't be.

All of that is nothing compared to the last thing that he is shown. Gundam is utterly wordless during her revelation, and then he quietly takes the petal in both hands as he gazes into it. Komaeda had warned him, hadn't he? About the memories that could appear... ones that he would not want to see.

...

This is definitely something he did not want to see.

Even when Gundam faced his death, he was able to put on a brave face and posture through it all. But this sight of Sonia, so twisted and cruel, along with that glimpse of he himself... It only leaves him feeling cold, and empty. It shows on his face, and it seeps out into the environment. The air around them chills, and the grass starts to whither.

Gundam finally manages to look away from the petal and looks up towards Sonia. He meets her eyes instead, stricken by how different they look. He stares, agape with confusion and shaken as he considers the truth behind her words.]

Th-this... this is not you! This is inconceivable! [He manages to bark out those words, but his objections sound weaker and more desperate than ever. How could reality be so much more twisted than his own imagination?]

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

[She shakes her head, but not in disbelief.]

That is me in full royal regalia and that is my family's castle in Novoselic. That is the ante-room that leads to the balcony used for official declarations. I might not remember that particular memory as it happened, but I know that room as well as I know my own name. I grew up in there after all.

[She carefully takes the petal back and puts it in the book once more.]

The Future Foundation was sent to destroy all of the Remnants of Despair, but Naegi Makoto and the other survivors of the 78th class took us to Jabberwock Island, removed our memories of our time at Hope's Peak Academy and beyond, and then placed us under what they called the "Neo World Program" to try and redeem us. They wanted to save us from who we'd become under Enoshima's leadership.

[She feels so small, so tired, but this is something that has to be done. Nagito was right that she was the only one who could handle this enough to help Tanaka process everything.]

I have another memory that I'd like you to see, but it can wait if you have any questions.

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[He sits there and looks down towards the ground with a blank stare as he tries to process all of that, plus the new information.

The Future Foundation was allegedly their enemy. But they were trying... to save them?

The air keeps growing colder as Gundam frowns.]

There... there is even more?

...I do not know what to ask. ...All of... all of these events, even in the underworld such calamity is unheard of!

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

[The cold air is terrible, but she will endure more than this to help him make it through these revelations. She puts on the jacket she brought with her, glad for a little foresight in this instance.]

Yes. I'm sorry but there is more. And I can understand that you don't know what to ask. A lot of the things that Hinata-san and I know were learned after your departure. Nagito-san learned of our time in Ultimate Despair as a gift from Monokuma-san for his defeat of the Dead Door Room at a much higher difficulty than your success.

It is why he wanted the rest of us to die, because we'd become the one thing that he hated, even himself. However, the thing that I've always found the most terrifying and have had to come to terms with is that my life has now become something I'd never even imagined. I am a criminal, a murderer even if I haven't actually done the killing myself.

With every conversation I have with Enoshima, [the lack of an honorific in this instance is very blatant] I ask myself how I could possibly be friends with someone like that. She is no one's friend. She forced her classmates to do horrific things, killed her own twin sister. All this was done for the sake of something that is unfathomable.

But the other memory I wish to show you is...nice, good. It is confusing, but it isn't damning like that one.

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[His head remains bowed sullenly as he welcomes even more events into his head. But for once, a thread of sense does start to connect. That explanation does make sense of how differently that fool had seemed to be acting in the last trial...

...But what does it help now?]

It is not the same... You are not the same- as that. [He feels the need to speak that much at least, to defend this Dark Lady's honor.

But then, he hesitantly glances at her.]

What could possibly seem good after all of that? [He tries not to sound too bitter.]

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

That was the point of our memory loss. If we couldn't remember what made us fall into despair, we would be available for redemption. The fact of the matter is that Monokuma-san's appearance in the program was as a computer virus whose mission was to continue spreading despair to the world.

So, the me that you've known is who I was before I came to Japan. The memory is of a person that I became. It is still me, no matter what.

As for the other memory, [she opens the book to the end, showing another petal for him to take] I believe you will like it.

[OOC: mobile tag but referencing thread with Nanami on Sonia's last post.]

15th of Penta/Action 1/2

[hamnation]

To... to wipe the darkness from our souls... [He utters what seems to be the case in his own words as he looks down with his fists balled. He feels a heavy weight upon himself at the immenseness of the situation weighs down on him. That they would become such horrific and inhuman monsters, far beyond the type of monster Gundam pretended to be... and that their memories were taken from them in a virtual realm, to try to purify them.

He trembles slightly as the truth of it all settles within him, but he won't cry. Instead, he will look towards that petal with a skeptical eye.]

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[And now he looks into the petal and watches the memory unfold, familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. That's not a bad look for my hair...

He doesn't quite understand the context, but it is enough to draw a smile out of him. And some warmth starts spreading in the center of the icy chill, just far enough to reach Sonia.]

I see...

...That one is far easier to take in. It seems that a standard rite of darkness was in effect... [He sounds a little weaker than usual as he speaks, as if he's just run his throat hoarse, but he's trying. He's trying to accept all of these aspects of himself at the same time.]

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

[The feel of the heat does reach her, but she's still not sure it's wise to take off her jacket.]

I'm not sure what the party is for, but that woman appears to have been our teacher. [And Nanami was a real person, but he doesn't know the truth about their friend just yet.] And she said that we'd grown close in the six months she'd been gone.

[She doesn't want to hope too much. Shyly, she reaches out to touch the palm of his nearest hand.]

I hope that you know that I only want to help you if I can, Tanaka-san. I have said it multiple times, but I feel that it bears repeating after what I've shared with you.

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[The party, that purpose and whoever that woman was... Gundam finds it all irrelevant in the face of everything else he's taking in. Rather, he'll settle for satisfaction at the simple fact that Sonia will act as a great ally to him in that other life.

He flinches at her touch, but after a brief moment, he relents to allow it. It's not a bad touch at least. Not at all.]

...I will... acknowledge and accept your alliance, Sonia Nevermind... [His expression is sunken, as if he's aged many years. But he meets her eyes for this much, at least.]

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

[She is only too pleased to take the little allowances where she can. He isn't the type to be very touchy-feely, but she is. Especially since her arrival to this world.

But she doesn't push it any farther. He's been through enough as it is. The look on his face is a good indication of that.]

Would you like to eat now? I brought lunch for the both of us and something for the Dark Devas as well.

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[A light glow returns to his cheeks as the contact continues, although it looks out of place compared to how these revelations are weighing on his features.

He takes a moment to glance towards the Dark Devas, who have huddled into his scarf in fright and to escape from his cold, and then he speaks quietly.]

...It seems that all of this talk has made the Dark Devas famished once more. At this time, they will appreciate any offering. And, I suppose it is only customary that I share the meal as well.

15th of Penta/Action

[properprincess]

[Reluctantly, Sonia lets go of Gundam's hand and begins to take the food she prepared out of the basket. The hamsters will find seeds and some vegetables for them to one side while she takes out sandwiches, a thermos of lemonade, and some rather curious-looking crisps and sugar cookies.]

I hope that you enjoy this all. [She is both nervous and happy to see what he thinks of her hard work. Who knew how well she'd take to all the cooking lessons everyone's been offering her as of late.]

15th of Penta/Action

[hamnation]

[The dark devas may have eaten fairly recently, but they have room for snacks, and they're easily pleased by the selection. Some of them stay close to Gundam to try to ease his pained feelings. But Jum-P at least stays on Sonia's shoulder and nestles close to her. Halfway through nibbling on a piece of vegetable, Jum-P gently drifts off into a snooze while resting against her neck.

Gundam shifts lightly and overlooks like the food silently. With all of the weight on his mind, it's hard to find an appetite. But he wants to. As much as he's compared himself to a demon lord, right now he feels like he wants to escape, into being just a normal teenager without this other life full of murder clawing at him.

Soon, he reaches for a sandwich and gently bites into it. There is a pause, and then he manages to smile.]

This food's preparation... it easily surpasses humanity!

[There's a cold chill, and undercurrent that may never disappear from his heart completely now. But at least here, with Sonia and his devas, on this picnic blanket... for this short pocket of time... He's managed to sustain a field of warmth amongst the horror.]