Clear Skies

London Bridge Is Falling Down | Rosa | Body Reaction

With how much Rosa was panicking, Monoko briefly considered pushing them to the side, pulling her mask off, and doing the rescue breaths herself. Luckily her roommate was able to compose themselves somewhat when the time came. With each compression a non-Monomi-like grunt could be heard from underneath her mask. “Now.” Was that 30 again already? Again, and again. Each cycle forced the realization deeper. He was dead. And nothing Monoko or Rosa could do would bring him back. That didn’t mean that she stopped trying. She had to keep trying. Giving up would be as bad as killing him herself, at least in her mind. Rosa could hear the sound of sobbing briefly interrupted by grunts as she completed yet another cycle. “N-now…” Her voice betrayed her thoughts… There was no reason to be doing this anymore other than sentimentality. Akihiko Fujiwara was dead.

Rosa was good at pushing through things like this but... The realisation that Aki was dead was settling in. There no reason to continue.

"Stop."

Rosa spoke up. Their voice cracked as they spoke, unable to contain the small sadness that was bubbling up. Aki was dead. They knew that. The chances of coming back lowered further and further and there was no long anything that could be done.

"Mioda-san... Stop. We can't save him."

Rosa had to say it, even as their heart broke. How should one handle death? Part of them wanted to sit there and cry. Hold onto the boy that had been their classmate and a good friend. One they wanted to get close to.

"Aki-kun..."

They just slowly stood up, lifting their hands to their face. How... does one deal with the death of a friend? In their books, it was so easy to write. They moved on. But they had never considered the mourning part. The grieving. The denial. It was all there.

And anger. An emotion Rosa had no experience with. Not even when they were falsely accused... Anger boiled up and they didn't know how to respond to that especially.

So they shouted. They shouted as loud as they could. They ran out of air and breathed... And shouted again. They repeated this a couple of times until the anger felt like it had dissipated and they slowly fell to their knees, and softly cradled Aki's head, not caring for the blood. They patted his hair down and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I was going to offer to stay with you... I should have done that. I should have said that. I... shouldn't have been so nonchalant. I could have saved you. You could have been safe... And now..."

London Bridge Is Falling Down | Rosa | Body Reaction

They couldn’t sleep. Even with Monoko’s help… They couldn’t sleep. They slept too lightly and the music was just… too much. Whatever happened left their mind though…

“Aki-kun…?”

They stood in silence, things happening around them but they just stood still. Death. They spoke of death in their books. Online. To other people… But this was the first time they had come face-to-face with it and it was… a friend. Someone they had started to really like. Someone they had been classmates with too.

“No… I’m… I’m dreaming. This… was hardly a threat… Someone couldn’t have done this. This can’t be happening. Right…?”

Rosa was confused. They slowly approached the body, before suddenly breaking into a run to get to Aki’s side. They grabbed his hands, shaking them and shaking their own head. They couldn’t breathe. Were they panicking? Were they okay?

“Aki-kun, wake up! Please… Please… You… can’t be dead… No…”

Monoko pushed her way through to the center of the group, her eyes falling upon the scene that lay before them. Her friend was dead. Okay, friend may be a strong word, but she considered each and every one of her fellow alumni to be her friend. Even if she had never directly spoken with him, she had waved in passing each time she saw him. Just as she did with everyone… And now he was gone…

No.

She couldn’t accept that. She was trained as a first responder, having worked at theme parks for most of her adult life. “Nononono. This isn’t…” She approached her roommate, who now was panicking beside the corpse. That wasn’t helping. Monoko dropped to her knees beside the body checking for a pulse, checking for any sign of life. He was still warm, but there was no pulse. Almost immediately, Monoko was filled with energy. She could save him, no one had to die. “You’re okay, you’re gonna be okay. Don’t die. Please don’t die. I can’t…” She got up on her knees and began chest compressions. “He’s… He’s going to be alright… It’s… It’s going to be okay.” She managed to say in grunts as she put considerable force behind each compression. She stopped momentarily. “Rosa-chan, can you do the rescue breaths? I can’t with my mask on. Just… Tilt his head back, pinch his nose, and cover his mouth with yours.” Or y’know… You could just take your mask off Monoko. “I’ll tell you when. Just two breaths is all he needs per cycle.”

With that she returned to her compressions. After counting to thirty she looked to Rosa. “Now.”

Rosa actually froze for a moment. Small panicking suddenly went to big panicking. They heard the words rescue breaths but after that the words muffled. They stared at Aki, tears falling down their cheeks silently. They had completely frozen up and almost stopped breathing themselves - it was barely audible.

The 'now' was what kicked Rosa back into action. Now. Their eyes glanced to Monoko. Right. Rescue breaths. They knew how to do those.

But how would rescue breaths save him...? The trauma was to his head. Was he even able to be saved...? Rosa's brain went to all things logical and rational and those things told her Aki was gone.

But their heart told them otherwise. So they followed their heart. They tilted Aki's head back, pinched his nose and breathed in. They did this for a second time before pulling up.

"Aki-kun... Please... Please come back to me... To us. Please I'm begging."

Tablet Update

Just a minute after the Fool’s second departure, the tablet you found in your bag upon arrival turns on with a small beeping sound. A file has been downloaded and opened automatically:

VICTIM: Akihiko Fujiwara

TIME OF DEATH: [5:30]

TIME OF DISCOVERY: [5:40]

DISCOVERERS: Shinobu Fukui, Natsume Nannini, Caroline Chambers

SCENE OF DISCOVERY: The Chapel, Exterior

CAUSE OF DEATH: Blunt force trauma to the skull

Consequences

The Fool has stormed off and left you to your own devices- left you with the body of what was formerly one of your own. Possibly a classmate, possibly a friend…. Possibly just a stranger who you did not spend too much time with. And who could blame you? A few days in tense capture spent together, who was to say you even so much as spoke a word to anyone else? Especially after the Fool revealed their ideas for alleviating their boredom, wouldn’t spending your time here locked away in your room be the reasonable thing to do?

And even there, you wouldn’t have been able to escape reality, chasing you down in the form of the jaunty, loud music going on and on over the speakers, too loud to drown out.

Now, it is silent. None of you could ever escape it, but one was truly hunted down it seemed.

Akihiro Fujiwara, SHSL Street Artist, had died. Had been…. Murdered…. The thought sits strangely. You may be able to relate to the Fool’s reaction to it, though their parting words may sit oddly with you. Monsters….. Monsters they’d called you. Even though it had been their actions leading to this. But, could you really blame it all on them? Whatever had… happened. Had happened because one of you made the choice to make it so.

Whatever your thoughts on this, whatever your feelings, you have some time to figure them out, some time alone in blessed silence, though if it’s really so blessed if it comes at the price of a human life is questionable. Damned Fool. Even when they stopped their torture, it didn’t give you the privilege of some peace.

What you didn’t know was that even now, your torture was far from over.

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London Bridge Is Falling Down | Rosa | Body Reaction

They couldn’t sleep. Even with Monoko’s help… They couldn’t sleep. They slept too lightly and the music was just… too much. Whatever happened left their mind though…

“Aki-kun…?”

They stood in silence, things happening around them but they just stood still. Death. They spoke of death in their books. Online. To other people… But this was the first time they had come face-to-face with it and it was… a friend. Someone they had started to really like. Someone they had been classmates with too.

“No… I’m… I’m dreaming. This… was hardly a threat… Someone couldn’t have done this. This can’t be happening. Right…?”

Rosa was confused. They slowly approached the body, before suddenly breaking into a run to get to Aki’s side. They grabbed his hands, shaking them and shaking their own head. They couldn’t breathe. Were they panicking? Were they okay?

“Aki-kun, wake up! Please… Please… You… can’t be dead… No…”

Little Monsters

Before anyone can really react to the horrible thing that has happened, everybody’s favorite asshole arrives. No, not Omen.

The Fool comes running into the crowd that has gathered, and stops abruptly when they see Akihiko’s body on the ground.

“…”

A moment of silence is all you get. Enough time to read into it, but little else. Is it shocked silence? Angry silence? Proud silence? Without a face, it’s impossible to tell.

“You…”

And the spell is broken.

“You little monsters!” says The Fool, their distorted voice practically crackling with rage and disgust. “You murderers! Criminals! Cretins! Villains! You did this! You. Did. This.”

They’re pointing at everyone, now, at nobody in specific. Their finger is accusatory, yet shaking.

A deep, shuddering breath from The Fool now.

“I’m not cleaning up your mess. Someone has to be punished for this. Someone. Something must be done. I. I have to go.”

With that, they disappear to wherever they must have come from.

Whatever you expected from The Fool, it must not have been this. Didn’t they want this?

The Tower

The music stops, early this morning, and you look up. Were you stirred from sleep? Were you up late, trying to drown out the horrible music with companionship or work? Were you doing something you shouldn’t be? It matters not, because the music has stopped.

It’s hard to say what this means. Perhaps, you think, The Fool has taken pity on your ears and your sleep schedule. Perhaps the days of terror are over. You would be wrong, of course, if this is what you thought.

The shrill scream of a girl in terror clears all thoughts of hope and reprieve from your head. Something has happened.

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Say, can you see the cross? Inverted solemnly... | Calandra | Motive Reaction

“D’aaaaaaw~ He’s adorable!” Secretly Monoko was a bit salty that she didn’t get to pet the duck before he waddled away, but… maybe he’d be back? He seemed fairly calm around humans… He might stick around if people keep feeding him.” Monoko laughed, grabbing the little pudge she had. “Then I should be a knight before you know it!” She joked before turning her attention to Callie once more.

A part of Monoko wanted to offer Calandra a part as a cast member at Monoworld. She’d be a natural for Monokuma, but… Monoko feared she wouldn’t be able to filter her language and content around the kiddos, and got the feeling asking her to do so would be taken as an insult… After all, this was apparently her religion, which she seemed to take rather seriously. Monomi tilted her head a bit in confusion. “Spinning bodies?” She shook the thought from her head. “Regardless, it’s nice to meet you Jeggare-san!

When Callie said the dreaded “D-word”, Monoko slipped. “Language, please.” She almost immediately placed a hand over her mask’s mouth. “Er… Sorry, habit. Used to working around kids.” She nodded. “But it sounded like a quality recording! They did a real good job!” She was silent a moment before speaking again. “So who were you praying for? Your daddy?” Yes, best to avoid mention of the whole praying to destroy her foes thing.

#callie #monoko #say can you see the cross inverted solemnly #chapter 1 ic

Rosa bowed her head to greet the other, and glanced after the duck friend. He was long gone now, but smiled.

“Well he already likes me, and he’s a fan of Magnus-kun! Sir Waddlefoot seems pretty comfortable around us. We can go meet him sometime. See if the little knight is playing nice with the other ducks.”

“A consigliere...? Forgive me for asking, but that would be... a Mafia thing right? An adviser?”

The Ugly Duckling | Rosa [He] & Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot | Closed for Magnus

#magnus #sir waddlefoot quack a lot #chapter 1 ic #the ugly duckling

shsl-alchemical-chemistry:

“I mean, I hope not!” Magnus shrugged inadvertently as he teetered sideways so he could see Waddlefoot’s face. Sure, he seemed comfortable. Perhaps he actually did like the chemist. He hoped his pets were enough for the noble duck, and he hoped that he wouldn’t leave his lap anytime soon. Magnus turned his head back after hearing the author ask his question. Suddenly he remembers what happened not long before this, and he sighs. “Uh, yeah, I’m okay. Just a bit in, uh, shock, you know?” A small, nervous laugh escapes his mouth. “I don’t think I can believe it. Uh, what about you?” The chemist’s upper body scrunches up, a bit worried that his conversation partner wasn’t in good condition.

Yep, that’s one happy duck now snoozing in your lap. You’re now blessed by the duck! You’ve been CHOSEN. Just like Rosa was. He watches Magnus and finds himself frowning. Shock...

Yeah. That is probably a standard reaction.

“I don’t really feel threatened, if you know what I mean? Like... the music is really frustrating, and then there’s the family thing... but I don’t feel scared? I don’t want to say this is a joke but...”

He shrugs.

The Ugly Duckling | Rosa [He] & Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot | Closed for Magnus

#magnus #sir waddlefoot quack a lot #the ugly duckling #chapter 1 ic

shsl-alchemical-chemistry:

“Yeah, I bet he only likes me for my lettuce, not my personality.” The chemist sighs again, looking down at the duck in his lap. His gloved hand brushes down the duck’s back in constant strokes. Although he couldn’t necessarily feel how soft Waddlefoot was with the glove, he could just tell by looking at his feathers that he was probably one of the softest aquatic birds the chemist would ever be able to lay his hands on. It made Magnus feel like he was special, even if the duck was probably using him for his leafy greens.

He turns his head to look at the sketch book. It takes a moment for him to really take the picture in, what with being near sighted. When the masked boy realizes what the picture is of, however, his free hand raises up to cover where his mouth would be under his mask. Magnus tried his best not to completely melt over how adorable the picture is. “He’s… He’s so handsome! I’m at a loss for words!” The chemist finally spurts out. “What a good noble boy!”

“Well, he seems comfortable. So maybe not!” Rosa smiles widely, as the duck friend doesn’t seem bothered by the pets. He seems to be enjoying them and having a nap on Magnus’s lap.

“He’s going to be a brilliant knight.” Rosa can’t help but smile at Waddlefoot before letting his expression soften a bit. “Are you feeling okay?”

The Ugly Duckling | Rosa [He] & Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot | Closed for Magnus

#magnus #sir waddlefoot quack a lot #the ugly duckling #chapter 1 ic

shsl-alchemical-chemistry:

Magnus nods, understanding what Rosa means. “So he does his own thing a lot of the time, but he still hangs out with you a lot? That sounds almost like a human friend or something!” The chemist realizes, beaming with delight. He found himself almost jealous; Only if he could make a friendly relationship with an animal.

The masked boy scritches the top of Waddlefoot’s head gently. The fact that a duck like this was sitting in his lap calmly was still very surreal. Because of this, he felt like he had to do the best job as a duck-seat as he possibly could. By this point the music blaring in his ears wasn’t a very big priority, and he found the noise almost fading out of focus.

“I think that Waddlefoot’s good company. Especially with…. Yknow what.” Magnus sighs, remembering what had happened just soon before. “I wish I could be close to a duck around this time, just like Waddlefoot.”

“I guess!” Rosa smiles as he watches Waddlefoot. The duck seems completely okay with everything going on. He has settled himself there. When he gets bored, he’d hop off, but for now he’s happy.

“Well, who says you can’t? He seems to like you, though that might be the lettuce.” He giggles a bit and leans back on the bench, picking up his sketchbook that he keeps with his laptop. Opening it up, he shows Magnus a very beautiful drawing of Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot... In handsome armour too!

“I’ve been distracting myself doing this.”

Say, can you see the cross? Inverted solemnly... | Calandra | Motive Reaction

Monoko managed to make it through the whole prayer, not wanting to stop and potentially offend, but… Yikes. Once it got to the whole striking down enemies, and letting them drown in blood bit, she started getting a little uncomfortable with what she was saying. It wasn’t a problem that that was Calandra’s thing, but… That wasn’t something Monomi should say… If she were in her Monokuma costume, MAYBE, but… he’s still a children’s character.

“I’m Monoko Mioda! But you can call me Monomi if you like! I was the SHSL Theme Park Mascot back in my day. It’s nice ta meet you miss…” She hung her head. “I’m sorry… I don’t think I remember your name.”

#callie #sir waddlefoot quack a lot #monoko #chapter 1 ic #say can you see the cross inverted solemnly

Rosa seemed to be praying herself... but not saying the words, since she felt rude to act as if she was a part of it. She would respect Calandra though. When she turned to the two of them, Rosa found herself actually going to pet Sir Waddlefoot and getting him a bit a lettuce. The duck happily ate it before waddling away. Goodbye Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot!

With a smile, she straightened up to the other two, mostly speaking to Calandra for her own greeting.

“Rosa Join, from the most recently graduated Hope’s Peak Academy Class. Um... I was the Super High School Level Children’s Book Author.”

“And that duck is my friend. Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot! Although I guess he’s had enough for now since he’s wandered off. Probably back to the pond! He is super cute, and friendly. And very, very greedy! But to be a knight, you must eat lots and become big and strong!”

Look how happy she is about a duck.

The Ugly Duckling | Rosa [He] & Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot | Closed for Magnus

#magnus #the ugly duckling #chapter 1 ic #sir waddlefoot quack a lot

shsl-alchemical-chemistry:

Excitement rose in the chemist as the duck sits on his lap. Out of all the laps to sit on, he decided to sit on his! Magnus couldn’t help but feel greatful for that. The chemist runs a hand down the ducks back as he continues to feed the loud duck.

“Well, either way it seems like he likes you! And good, he deserves all the pets and all the food in the world. He’s a good little fella.” A smile forms under his mask, and although it’s not visible, one could probably tell how happy he was by the way he was acting.

“Gee, uh, ducks aren’t usually this friendly! I’ve never met a duck this comfortable with humans before.” He lowers his hand once he’s out of lettuce. “Sorry, bud! I don’t have anymore!” There was a sorry tone in his voice as he pets the duck with both hands.

The duck gives a frustrated quack, but settles anyway, despite no more food. Looks like he’s not complaining for now. He will probably get bored or fed up after a bit but for now, Magnus has a cute duck on his lap!

“I guess it’s because it’s in a village. I mean, people must be here at times. Plus food is always a way to a man’s stomach! Haha... not true, but it was the way to Waddlefoot’s.”

Rosa’s trying to joke, look at him! He smiles at Magnus. “He still does his own thing mostly, but I'm at the pond a lot so he joins me.”

The Ugly Duckling | Rosa [He] & Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot | Closed for Magnus

#magnus #chapter 1 ic #sir waddlefoot quack a lot #the ugly duckling

shsl-alchemical-chemistry:

“Mhm! The world is quite fascinating.” He nods in agreement. Whatever the chemist had been thinking about earlier with the Fool seemed to have wiped away completely as the duck ate from his hand. Magnus gasps, in awe of how fast the duck ate it. “Jeez, Waddlefoot! You gotta slow down!” He scolds, peeling a bit more lettuce off.

Carefully, the cloaked boy places a gloved hand onto the ducks back and pats it gently. He hoped the duck didn’t mind him doing this as he pet it. “You got one hungry duck on your hands, Rosa. At least Waddlefoot is a cute duck, yeah? And he doesn’t seem very hostile either, which is nice! Just…. Just really, really hungry!” Magnus felt a little overwhelmed with the antsy duck practically on top of him, but in the end, he didn’t mind that much. The situation was keeping his thoughts from wandering to what had just happened before meeting the duck. That’s all he could really ask for right now.

Rosa grins, his attention turning to the duck gobbling away still, and the duck is quacking at Magnus to hurry up. It’s much like a greedy child. What a silly duck! It’s still quacking at Magnus, even as he’s trying to get more lettuce. Waddlefoot seems fine with being petted and even sits himself down on Magnus’s lap.

“I guess so. He joined me when I was here last time and began following me after I fed him. I don’t obviously own him, but he gets lots of pets and food from me.”

Rosa smiles and leans over to pet the duck.

The Ugly Duckling | Rosa [He] & Sir Waddlefoot Quack-A-Lot | Closed for Magnus