[CALL | Video | un: monokuma ]

[disjunct]

[ A stuffed animal sits center of the screen.

The room he's in harbors just a chair, and looks isolated enough to be an interrogation room, if not for the dusty slats above him pouring in some light. It's a basement somewhere remote, but nonetheless, he seems to wave at the camera. However, his motor functions seem limited. ]

Hello! Good evening! Good morning! Whichever one you're feeling right now.

[ A slight, curious cock of the head. Once again, the mechanics seem off... and the voice doesn't seem to be coming from the stuffed animal. Someone is speaking for him behind the camera. ]

I think the best way to get to know everybody is to toss out a fun little icebreaker! Lesser-known facts! No one likes being the shut-in at a party. So...

[ "He" clears his throat. ]

Do you know what they did in Paris in the 19th century?
Oh, they definitely painted a lot of paintings and baked a lot of bread. But I mean... for fun?
Back in those days, 'fun' would count a lot on how much money you had. But resourceful Parisians could find it in other ways. For free. There was a once-of-a-lifetime opportunity that anyone in the city could get a ticket punched into! To be the star, or the audience. That's right! I'm talking about...

[ A brief pause. ]


... The morgue!

You see, life was so boring back then that people would line up to walk through the morgue just to see who croaked last night! The more grisly the victim, the more people came to visit!
People were excited to try and recognize the victims! Of course, this was originally just so people had access to claim the deceased, but it was a theater attraction of its own!
Upupupu...! Can you imagine if you didn't have the things you had today, what you'd resort to for fun?
The gawking joy that it brought people... but still, we slow down for car crashes today, don't we?

Hmm...


Do you think humans are really different from back then? From the public executions, to the public display of bodies, to the now?

I wonder about it a lot. I can't say I know for sure, because I am a bear. Would anyone like to try and guess?

Comments

[audio; un: ghostprince]

[shootaro]

No, thanks. I'll take a theater of the macabre instead. [Either one's fine, Parisian (or Kalosian, technically, in his world) or Japanese.
—that was a joke (he sounds entirely too young for that sort of thing) and you can hear the smirk in his voice, there— but the rest of his speech is very gruff.]

If it's just for the thrills, we can get those without hurting anyone for real or disrespecting the dead. That's what fantasy is for, isn't it? That's basic. Humans are resourceful. Even if it's for things like finding a way to enjoy something evil without hurting anybody.

[If you can train a Ghost Type that feeds off human souls to feed just off the dead, indulge its nature within boundaries, without fully rejecting it, then you can certainly do the same for human beings!

... besides, he's had to see a dead human body this past week and honestly? Just one is more than enough to last him a lifetime, that was disgusting and terrifying and he's in zero percent hurry to see anything like that again for as long as he lives, thanks.

(He gets the feeling that's a bit of a naive hope in a place that draws in this many people, but he can't help being a little naive right now.)]

[disjunct]

But the need to still have it is still there, right? Artificial or not, when someone yells 'Night of the Gorefest: The Bloodening is out in theaters!' we all turn our heads and look!

[ That sounds like an awesome movie to the girl behind the curtains, but she's also seen it played out in real life... so who knows, maybe sitting in a theater for two hours of Freddy vs. Jason antics would end up pretty boring? ]

I think we all enjoy that kind of suffering. Artificial or not. I wonder what that switch is, in your human brains that gets all excited when it sees a skull cleaved open?

[1/2; probably a bad idea to let them talk]

[shootaro]

Sounds a little cheap, but yeah. [Straight-up slashers are kind of boring...]

Never denied it. Anyone who thinks human beings are inhetently good is naive, that's basic.

...?

[But there's a bit of a lapse in logic there, like she's fishing for certain answers... but hr'll take the bait, he isn't so different and cruelty excites him too.]

Hm, I think it's fear of it happening to them. And disgust. But when it happens to someone else, it's having control over that idea and fear. But it's also a thrill to witness violence, you know? Gives you an adrenaline rush, excites you. Makes you feel alive. Same reason why the people who love rollercoasters enjoy them. Feeling your stomach drop, senses heightened, some sort of instinctual... something takes over.

[2/2; probably a bad idea to let them talk]

[shootaro]

The thrill of the hunt, maybe, the same instinct that keeps us alive and makes us run and hide from prey. Hide-and-seek. The fear of being found, the excitement of the seeker tormenting the, um, encouraging them to get out. Isn't that just sadistic? They won't, of course, but hearing that voice makes their hearts beat fast, makes them hold their breath, curl up to hide better... the point is to scare them, torment and intimidate them into exposing themselves in fear.

[Darkly:] That's just kids being kids.

We know what it's like to be scared, but when the roles are reversed, we enjoy wielding fear over someone else. Isn't that messed up?

Who knows, maybe it is human nature.

are you kidding it's a great idea

[disjunct]

Upupupu... upupupu! Forty points to this guy! He really gets it! In my classroom of two people right now, you're valedictorian!

[ The bear chuckles a little, red gleaming in its robotic eye, even if it's prone to a flicker or two. ]

Humans evolved from spaces where you either kill, or be killed. Of course it's still hard-coded in our brains to go nosing around for it! Humans have only been around for such a short time, too... of course we haven't gotten rid of those urges yet! That's just science!

[ The puppeteer thinks for a moment before the bear makes its gesture of standing up in its chair. ]

Besides, we all know people have a lot to gain from the despair of others! Whether it's money, fame, or just the sweet, gentle reassurance it isn't you yet. Humans are such a riot!

an appropriate bad influence has been found

[shootaro]

Who said you're my teacher? [But it's mumbled a bit, almost shyly. He doesn't really get complimented or praised much, so it still has a profound effect on him! In his world, talking like that or acting based on his cynical beliefs just get him labelled as cruel or earn him a weird lecture about reaching out with pure hearts or whatever.]

You're the smartest stuffed toy I've met, smarter than most humans even. Or at least, more honest than they are.

... hey, can I—

[He wanted to ask to see the puppeteer's face, but... he didn't show his face on the network either. If she's more comfortable staying hidden, that's fine.]

Never mind. [Just a little disappointed. But there's a smile so wide, you can hear it in his voice.]

dw monokuma is the best of bad influences B)

[disjunct]

No, you cannot!

[ His voice is stern, like a teacher's, and he pretends to adjust glasses that aren't on his face. Puffing up slightly with pride, he begins again. ]

Your job is to say 'Teacher, may I?' Grammar's important, kid! I can't let you walk out with a diploma without it! A headmaster's only as good as his students, yannow? So... let me guess...

Was it 'may I ask you a question'?

well, I'm comforted!

[shootaro]

You're awfully bossy, aren't you?

Fine. Teacher, may I...

[Wait, let him come up with a cover-up question.]

Ask what we'll be graduating from?

1/2

[disjunct]

... Hm. Hm hm hm! That's a good question! I suppose as long as I'm doing an online course, it'll have to have an appropriate name! Ahhh, but I always loved it when they were in person... you really got to connect with the students as they went about their youth-filled school days...

But it can't be helped! I'm on summer vacation! Paid leave! So I'm going to say...

[disjunct]

You're now a proud classmate of...

✨ Monokuma's Extra Exclusive Extracurricular Extravaganza! ✨

[ A very small confetti popper shoots forward streamers from behind the camera. It's FESTIVE. ]

In my class, we'll be teaching a myriad of real-world skills for your day-to-day student! No age limit! My class will be as FAMILY FRIENDLY as a CERO-Z title! Now we're in business!

[shootaro]

[Wow. Sparkly.]

... did you bring confetti with you from home or that Comedy place?

[Yeah, that's what he's wondering about right now.]

[disjunct]

Rule 43! No asking a professor where he gets his instruction materials!

[ Read: Junko stole it. From some kid's birthday party, probably. Before lighting up the presents. ]

What's important is that you're now officially my student! Not everyone gets such a high honor, kiddo!

[shootaro]

[Junk, that's almost literally stealing candy from a baby. That's mean.]

Really?

I thought we were all your students just by being here.

Will we take tests?

[disjunct]

[ Mean is the name of the game!! ]

Of course! What kind of credit can I give you if I don't issue tests? This isn't some new-age classroom nonsense!

... but because I'm so new here, it'll take a bit to organize a proper curriculum. I have to evaluate my students' needs and go from there!

[shootaro]

The same needs we were talking about before? [That'd sure make one messed-up, morbid curriculum. He has no idea...]

Or something else?

[disjunct]

A little bit of everything! Since it's such a small class, I'm gonna have to cover every subject!