002. [Video/Action for Goldenrod City]

[preybeforemeals]

[Well, it seems that Tsukiyama has finally left whatever hellhole he's buried himself in for the last couple of weeks; he hasn't been out nearly as much as he'd normally like – really, he hasn't been out at all unless it's been absolutely necessary – but it seems that today he's decided that if he's going to bury himself in several layers of escapist fantasy, he might as well do it outside rather than behind the locked doors of a hotel room.

...That, and he's run out of reading material.

The feed from Tsukiyama's device today opens with a slow pan over some of what he's managed to find in his attempt to stave off boredom; after a moment, his voice can be heard over the video.]

I'm finding myself a bit at a loss, really – if nothing else, I'm unsure whether I should be impressed or offended.

[To his credit, he sounds more amused than anything; after a moment he turns the camera around to actually get him in the shot. He seems well enough, if a bit exasperated.]

They seem to have things such as The Metamorphosis and Battle Royale as well, things that don't seem to have changed much just judging by the title, but I'm sure there's some sort of completely hideous difference in there that will make itself known eventually. For now I think I'm just grateful that I haven't found anything like The Black Gogoat's Egg...I'm sure it would be by someone like Takatsuki Sentret, while we're at it.

[Because this place is a travesty like that.]

From what I've seen, the film selection isn't much better... Tell me if you've found anything particularly interesting during your time here, will you? I don't particularly mind if it's a pun-entrenched mess; if anything, I'm a little curious about how badly they've managed to butcher things.

[Granted, he's not entirely sure how this is going to go, given that there's apparently a market for things like Sharpedonado around here and as such he is effectively asking for recommendations from people who find things like that to be high art, but you know what, live a little.]


[ACTION]

[It's a little overcast today but it's not too cold, and as such he can be found sitting in one of the squares near the department store; there's a café nearby that he's come to like, even if it's not Anteiku (because nothing is quite like Anteiku, even if he'd never really frequented the place as much as some it had its charms, he can't deny that), and he's claimed one of the outdoor tables with a book laid nearby and a cup of something that steams in front of him. As usual, he's a little hard to miss – which is really just a polite way of saying that he's still something of an eyesore, but at least it looks like there was an attempt today and the entire ensemble is blessedly argyle-free.

He's not reading the book he's got laid out, though once in a while he looks at it in a way that implies he's tempted to at least see how much of a shitshow it's surely going to be; for now, his time seems to be given to actually taking the time to savor the joy that is pumpkin-spice everything while it lasts (as long as we all take the word "joy" to mean "experience that involves drinking that coffee once in a while like he's not sure if it's poison, only to set it down and look at it funny and be clearly unsure in its general direction...but for some reason he can't stop drinking it once in a while anyway") and...once in a while swatting away a really persistent Klefki that is hovering near his head.

She doesn't seem to mind the swatting; if anything, she's seeming to find it to be a game of some sort, and she keeps coming back and...unlatching, for lack of a better word, for the sake of waving one of the keys she's found in his general direction with the happiest damn noise because NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND

SHE FOUND A PRETTY ONE AREN'T YOU PROUD OF HER.

...After a while the implications of that will sink in, however, and...]

...Mirabella...

[Surely she hasn't.]

Mirabella, amore – exactly where have you been getting those...?

[If he has gotten some sort of kleptomaniac keyring he swears to god - ]

Comments

action;

[occultigen]

Oh! Mr. Tsukiyama!

[Well, look who it is in her adorable blue coat, having evidently just spotted Tsukiyama while in the midst of either her afternoon constitutional or the beginnings of a shopping excursion and (rather courageously, all things considered, given that we're in public and carrying on too vocally would be positively unseemly) decided to wave in the hopes of catching his attention.

...It is also worth noting that she has a Swablu on her shoulder, which has apparently successfully color-coordinated with her outdoor ensemble, of all things.]

Good day!

[preybeforemeals]

[Well, look at that; he's almost proud of you, Meridiana - for both the coat and the...waving. Well done on being relatively socially well-adjusted today, and it's really sad that we have cause for that not being sarcastic at all but there you go.]

And a good day to you as well, Miss Everett - enjoying yourself?

[occultigen]

[It's really something, how a near-death experience via Super Ultron Lavaburst Kaiju McHellbeast tends to encourage one to be a little more daring in one's everyday life — and then facilitates its continuance when one discovers that literally nothing bad has happened despite doing so.

Over she trots, then, with her Swablu chirruping pleasantly.]

Very much so, thank you! I had a mind to go looking for a bonnet today, for the sake of dear Swablu here. Are you well, yourself?

[preybeforemeals]

[...You are out looking for a hat for your...okay then.]

It's a nice day and now I've been gifted with pleasant company - so I'd say I'm doing very well, actually.

[occultigen]

[Oh, no, it's even stupider than you might imagine.

She needs the hat because it won't stop sitting on her head.

So clearly she is just going to have to make Swablu a fashion accessory and work it like she's getting a paycheck for it.]

You're too kind! But I am pleased to hear I'm not interrupting — and to have seen you, besides! I have some lovely news.

[preybeforemeals]

[...Meridiana...]

Well, now I'm curious. Do tell.

[occultigen]

Come December, there's to be a Christmas market in the city stadium! That's just next week.

[This is wonderful news.]

In a building so large, one would expect quite a lot of marketstalls, wouldn't you think?

[preybeforemeals]

Ah, is there really?

[WELL, THAT'S GOTTEN HIS ATTENTION, HOLY SHIT.]

Tres bien - we'll definitely have to see what's there, at least!

[occultigen]

[SUCH ENTHUSIASM SO SUDDENLY!]

Why, yes! I heard the news of it just a bit ago — it seems it lasts the whole month, as well!

[...]

Then...shall we go? Once it's opened; I should like that very much.

[preybeforemeals]

[BUT APPARENTLY THIS PLACE DOES CHRISTMAS, MERIDIANA

IT'S AN ENTIRE HOLIDAY DEDICATED TO DECADENCE AND COMMERICALISM AND THE UTTER FUCKING JOY THAT IS MATERIALISTIC HEDONISM AND YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO GORGE THE SHIT OUT OF YOURSELF ON FOOD LEST YOU OFFEND SOMEBODY

AS A PURELY SECULAR CELEBRATION IT IS FABULOUS AS FUCK

WHY WOULD HE NOT BE EXCITED]

I'd love to go with you - it's almost a relief to know that this place does something so familiar, isn't it?

[occultigen]

[Also Black Friday, never forget that this is a holiday with an associated yearly body count.]

Oh, it is! But...well, I suppose I've come to accept it won't be much like the Christmases I recall, what with things so different all these years later. I'd rather not get my hopes up for sleighing parties and lovely dinners and roast chestnuts when by now I'm sure all the traditions have changed.

[preybeforemeals]

[It's the most wonderful time of the year.]

...Well, we could always attempt to do something about that, if you'd like. I don't know about you, but I personally don't plan on going anywhere for the next month, nor do I want to spend that month living out of the inn.

Once I've found somewhere a bit more stable, it's possible we could see about doing something like that, isn't it? At least some of it.

[occultigen]

You'll take a residence, then?

[She fidgets a bit — or rather, seems as though she'd like to, but is making herself resist the urge.]

All that...would make it feel a bit more like a proper Christmas, but...I shouldn't like to be a bother, either.

[Pause.]

It's simply that...well, I suppose I've begun to come 'round to the notion that things aren't like to be the way I remember them anymore, and perhaps not ever again, so there's really nothing to be done for it but to smile and try to make the most of what I have, isn't that so?

[preybeforemeals]

...I know exactly what you mean, mademoiselle.

[And it's awkward but in some ways he does, and he doesn't like that he does, but so it goes.]

Just the same, you wouldn't be troubling me. Keep it in mind, if nothing else?

[occultigen]

...If it were all up to me, Mr. Tsukiyama, I would have everything just as I remember it. I would count it a great courtesy to have even a sliver of that here.

[She's being careful to not go overboard on the emotion, though, in part because they're in public and in part because she's seen how it makes him uncomfortable.]

...Thank you. You're very kind to me in so many ways.

[preybeforemeals]

[That much is good, honestly, because it's something he's still incredibly awkward about even if she is trying to keep it held back; he'll put in an attempt to shake it off, but still.]

Likewise, you know, and I appreciate it.

[occultigen]

I do like to do what I can, so as not to be useless.

I suppose that's the other thing that I find strangest about all this — so many of the things I once thought were useful seem to have faded away in this future age.

[preybeforemeals]

...Such as?

[No, really, he's curious now.]

[occultigen]

Well — I know how to make a pretty cap with bits of ribbon and needlework, but what good is something like that if no one bothers with a cap anymore? I can embroider a handkerchief in four or five patterns I learned by heart but what's the use when it's only "throwaway" handkerchiefs now?

I can read and make music quite deftly and everyone gets their music from their little devices or the open air now, and I can dance and waltz and no one dances anymore.

So really, how is it that one doesn't feel useless when I know so many things but a hundred years later they're all for nothing?

[preybeforemeals]

[...You know, now is when Kaneki would be really, really useful, because Kaneki always seems to know exactly what to say to things like this whereas Tsukiyama is consistently rolling something like a -12 to Diplomacy.

...The woman also just openly complained about the existence of Kleenex and there's really no way to not find that amusing, albeit in a bit of an "ohhhhh sweet jesus" sort of way.

But! Even if the Reassure Useless-Feeling Victorian Girl check is something you'd want a corpse making before Tsukiyama, there are no corpses in the area and as such he's going to have to make do with a lot of OKAY HOW...WOULD KANEKI HANDLE THIS...]

...It's just a matter of finding those whose tastes align with your talents, then, isn't it? Some would actually argue that the rarity of the skill makes it more valuable, particularly in this time and age - many are disenchanted with mass-produced things, they find them to be sterile and highly impersonal, whereas the sorts of things you're talking about...those talents are well sought-after. As for music in particular, it's hardly a dying art; it's something I've studied extensively myself, actually.

...I'm not saying I can't see where you're coming from, amore, just that it's a bit less hopeless than you think it is.

[WHERE IS PROTAG-KUN WHEN HE NEEDS HIM.]

[occultigen]

[In every adventure there is always That One Guy with That One Check that nobody wants him to make, and naturally he is inevitably the guy who ends up getting called on to make it because of course he is.]

I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to sound as though I were complaining.

[...She was totally complaining.]

Things really are very nice here, it's just...not home, either. And perhaps it's the better for that, but all the same, there's something to be said for home as well.

[preybeforemeals]

[HOW DID HE EVEN FUCK THAT UP

WHAT ELSE WAS HE SUPPOSED TO DO OH MY GOD]

Ah, no, you have nothing to apologize for! Besides, complaint or not, sometimes it's good to discuss these things anyway, isn't it?

[occultigen]

[Maybe that tiny sliver of personality will creep back out from beneath its rock, dear god she's gonna try maybe.]

Do you miss home, Mr. Tsukiyama? Aside from the...Pokemon and such, the place you're from is rather similar to the way things are here in this city, isn't it?

[preybeforemeals]

[You can do it, he has faith!

...He also has faith that whenever it happens it's going to happen in a way that will just have him internally screaming "KANEKI DAMMIT WHERE ARE YOU" again, but you know what maybe this will be good for everyone involved.]

This city is very similar to what I'm used to, yes - the...pace, I supposed you'd say, is actually similar to it as well. There's the occasional threat, and sometimes it's dealt with and sometimes it isn't quite dealt with, but for the most part it's peaceful. But even without the culture shock of having apparently missed a hundred years or so, there are still enough differences to be noticeable, Pokémon or not. The lack of ward boundaries is disorienting, for one thing - we have very definite areas back home that we're supposed to stay out of, and even though I tell myself no such thing exists here, it's still..strange, being able to go wherever I please without having to worry about ward politics or being seen as trespassing on someone else's grounds.

But I suppose the thing that's really... [He trails off for a moment, gesturing aimlessly one-handed while he tries to find words.] ...I suppose you could say the thing that's really striking me oddly about this place is the fact that I don't really know anyone. I've always been surrounded by people - family, classmates, people I've known for years. Even if I was never very close to most of them, it's strange that they aren't...there, if that makes any sense? Likewise for the places I used to frequent, actually - whether I enjoyed them or not, they were constants, and I think that's what I miss about home in general. It's not so much the place itself as it is the familiarity of it.

[occultigen]

I...do, I think.

[And since she's probably been standing this entire time she's just going to get brave and kind of...take a chair for herself without being invited because what the hell, let's just be impulsive today, while we're crossing Victorian social boundaries with reckless abandon anyway.]

I think it's similar to the way I used to know of all sorts of families with fine titles and a great deal of standing — of course I wasn't friends with all those people, but they were...the old families and such, this marquis and that lord and the duke's son's son carrying on the name and so on. One expects that all to be there, and then it...simply isn't. It's strange in the way that I find it strange to think of the queen being...someone other than Queen Victoria, I suppose. Or of there being no queen at all.

One knows where one fits into the workings of it all, at "home". It's much more difficult to do that here.