- A logical consequence of tireless diligence -

Glancing up at the boy with the familiar face and those silly glasses, his eyes widened a bit. Inigo’s face was filled with surprise, happy, yet confused to see that huge hat and those silly mage robes. 

"Laurent! You’re here, too.."

In a moment, Inigo was almost saddened. He was pleased to see that his friend was alright, but that also meant he was trapped in here just like Inigo was. How could he be happy to see him in this scenario? Inigo figured at least they would suffer together now, rather than on their own. Still…

He laughed, but it was a shaky laugh, the mage clearly fighting back emotions of relief and gladness that his friend recognized him. However, of course, he didn't let it show long, soon relapsing back into his serious buisness expression: and the topic Inigo brought up was indeed one of dire seriousness. "Yes, Yarne is here as well, as matter of fact, and I believe I saw Lucina here a few times in past, but...I think she found a way out again, because I regret to say I have not seen her for a long time. If only she was able to share what way out she found, but I digress."

Musings aside, the mage then asked a serious inquiry of his own. "How long have you yourself been here, Inigo? Is there anything you feel you need to know more about? If you hold a lack of information...it would be my distinct pleasure to aid in elucidating matters, like old times."

"I don’t mind! Is it stuff the bear shouldn’t hear either? Or just everyone else? I think the locker room is good if Monobear shouldn’t hear it."

Oh, great! A life of mutual killing. Now how the hell did that happen? The lawyer didn’t remember anything besides coming to Hope’s Peak Academy, as a Super High-School Level Lawyer! She felt so much pride thanks to that title, but now she’s here. In a weird life of mutual killing. Athena didn’t even know what to say, she was just so bamboozled that it didn’t even make any sense. And also, wasn’t this kind of ILLEGAL? She needs to arrest Monobear, but bears can’t be arrested!

Damn, things are tough. What the hell will she do now? She has to go to a room, according to a note on her pocket— room 153. Now where to find, where to find that room… it must be here somewhere. She starts running towards that somewhere, just to bump into another person! Athena falls to the floor and well, things are not very pretty.

A plan couldn't go forth unless weights were taken off the planner's shoulders, after all. There'd been enough hiding it. Except, his walk to the dojo was cut short at someone barrelling into him and sending him reeling. Thankfully, because he was tall, he did not fall, but his glasses were knocked askew and it hurt still.

Readjusting his crooked glasses somewhat blindly, Laurent blinked at actually seeing who was speaking to him. "...I am fine, but do please endeavour to watch where you are going, in future."

That could have ended badly for both of them! 

Kitchen. There she was after receiving the news that this was a life of mutual killing. She went all the way to Hope’s Peak, hoping to find her head there. But no, there’s no head. Instead, she’s locked without her bike. She felt naked. But also… could this be the work of aliens? Totally. Now she’s scared. That stuffed bear was probably a very ugly alien.

But it doesn’t matter. For now, she will cook something. She learned watching Simon. Time to cook some sushi. It was easy enough, and maybe someone would want to eat. She couldn’t eat because, you know, she’s headless. But make someone happy could be nice. So, she starts making the sushi. Why not, right? After all, there’s nothing to do.

She remembers she should visit Shizuo’s room soon. After cooking, she’ll head there. The sushi is almost ready, when suddenly… someone. Someone was in the kitchen. Who was this person? Celty gets her cellphone and starts typing. It was the only way she could speak. She shows the cellphone to the person.

Then again, he was not one to talk. He'd done some regrettable things in past as well, and perhaps those who drank the potions thought they may be given a power that could help them escape. Of course, the bear would never be so silly as to give out things like that. Shaking his head, Laurent sighed. 

Musing over it all would only result in one certainty - him getting a headache. What he needed was a nice drink of tea to get his mind off it and let those thoughts go, and he thusly moved to the kitchen. Though he did his best to move quietly when he was there, the clatters of the teapot did not go unnoticed, a stranger with a...strange piece of tecknoiliogical headgear that he did not recognise moving a Mono-messenger to his face.

"...I've never heard of sushi before, to be perfectly honest. Is it some sort of new food?" As with technology, the prospects of 'new types of food' in this time were unknown to him, yet the mage then tugged his hat down apologetically. "Ah. Forgive my sudden enquiry, but whatever this 'sushee' may be, I do not wish to take it and leave others upset because they did not get any. I'll just stick with the tea. Thank you for the offer, though."

When the mage pulled out a near identical tome out of his pocket, the only expression on his face was pure confusion. That’s really weird… He tried to remember how and where he got the tome, but there were only bits and pieces left.

Kirby frowned, “I can’t remember much! All I remember was a ruined neighborhood, and lots and lots of snow…”

Something clicked the more he thought about it.

His own tome, worm from age, and now sir Gareki's goggles as well. Logically speaking, it was simple to elucidate an answer from the facts he had. But what could this mean? Shaking his head a little, Laurent then spoke once more.

"Sir Kirby....this conversation is going into quite serious territory, and things nobody should overhear. Do you mind, terribly, if we continue this talk somewhere more private? Let's see...ah. Perhaps my room shall do? Or, if you are uncomfortable with that, the storage room has very few people in it, as well." 

"If we can all get out safely, I do not see a reason why I won’t help. I am not afraid to assist even if things get hard or go dark. That bear is a huge threat, sure, but our safety and freedom is much more important than any given ‘fear’ I could have for him."

It was a fact that he controlled the school and everything related to it. However, Fugo wasn’t someone to just turn his back to it and run away. He had faced quite powerful foes in the past, and he beat them. There was no reason why he couldn’t do that now. After all, if things got dire, he could always resort to using him…. 

However, such thoughts were not exactly ones he wanted or wished to linger upon at the point of this conversation. Using a gloved hand to gesture to the scarring across his neck that made it very clear someone had struck blade against it, he then spoke once more. "After all, if death were an escape here, I wouldn't be here to talk to you right now." Getting his point across without too many words (for once), he found himself nodding at the words of the other.

"...I must agree with you on that. To help free everyone else of the school - though some do not believe in it any more, I still see it as a long-term goal of mine." Though, for obvious reasons, he did not say 'why' he wanted this for everyone else.

"None the less, it is a distinct pleasure to have another ally in this."

But then… a person. Someone. Maybe even someone she knew, that could help her to get out of this junk. She slowly touches their shoulder and turns them back. No need for manners now, they were all stuck in this life of mutual killing.

Combined with the fact that strangers had not outwardly sought him out for conversation, that had obviously added to that surprise, but as usual, Laurent did not wish to break his stoic expressions so easily, and that look of surprise faded away.

"...My apologies for being off in that state of thought temporarily, madam. I am Laurent Caroban...a SHSL Fire Mage, though you are free to disbelieve me when I say this. Not many new folk to the school trustingly go right up close to a complete stranger like this, I must say - but if you require advice on this place, I shall certainly do my best to answer any enquiries you might have."