preybeforemeals | 002. [Video/Action for Goldenrod City]

002. [Video/Action for Goldenrod City]

[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 - ]

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[He isn't exactly startled by Greed's presence, because Greed is another of those people who tend to be difficult to miss; some are particularly loud in appearance and then some just have a presence that most do not, and Greed seems to be the latter even when he's not particularly the former.

It's something Tsukiyama's always found interesting in people, at any rate; he'd likely find it to be such even if Greed hadn't told him all the...ah, everything, regarding species.]

Aren't they just? I'm never really sure how I feel about the ones based on manmade objects.

[He swats vaguely at her again as he speaks; she continues to give not a fuck.]

A pleasure to meet you in person, Greed-san.

[Maybe one day Greed won't just assume he can start a conversation with anyone who briefly catches his eye, but today isn't that day.

That being said, he doesn't look particularly concerned given the last conversation the two had together.]

I have one that's a... ah, what was the word again, a computer program? It's a little hard to explain, but I've seen the floating swords, too.

[He tips his head in acknowledgement, though, giving a faint smile.]

Likewise, Tsukiyama. I'm surprised we haven't run into each other sooner.

I've been keeping to myself a bit lately.

Ah, but the swords are useful, at least! I used one back home once in a while - although needless to say, I'm not used to standing back and giving them commands as opposed to wielding one in the way I'm used to.

[Granted, most swords aren't wielded like the one he's used to, but...]

[...you know, he's going to assume we're talking about a literal sword here because he isn't sure if there's another way to take it.]

Used to have one? Did you trade it for something else?

Oh, I still have it; it's just used primarily in the name of someone else by now.

It's a little complicated.

[He shrugs after a moment.]

It's none of my business.

You've been doing well, I take it? I'll admit, after having a visit from the world's most confusing joke last month I'm not sure what to make of this place anymore.

Edited 2014-11-24 09:06 (UTC)

Oh, believe me, I've been experiencing the same sort of feeling. I'm still not sure what to make of it, to be blunt - but c'est la vie, right? Life goes on.

This place is usually slower paced than what I'm used to admittedly.

And every time it seems like it's going a bit too slowly paced, something usually happens.

[He's going to take a seat now, though, so he's not standing around talking the entire time. Greed doesn't mind standing out a little, but that would draw a little too much attention to them.]

It's an adjustment, but not a bad one.

[Well! Tsukiyama doesn't mind being joined, if the way he immediately leans forward attentively is any indication.]

And what sort of things are you used to dealing with back home, if you don't mind? I'm curious about what contributes to a more interesting pace, as you're concerned.

Oh, this and that.

[He's aware the answer is annoyingly vague, so he continues after a moment, mimicking Tsukiyama's posture.]

I've seen my fair share of conflict, you could say. I was forced out of it for a time for reasons beyond my control, and I was doing what I could to change that once I got back into the game.

Things didn't go quite as planned and now I'm here.

Edited 2014-11-24 09:40 (UTC)

[Oh, that seems to amuse him a little.]

"Things didn't go quite as planned and now we're here" seems to be a common theme, n'est-ce pas?

As does the conflict, actually. Surprisingly so.

[It's a common story as far as he's seen. The sheer amount of people who have unfinished business isn't lost on him. It probably means something, but figuring it out isn't very high on his priority list right now.]

I haven't spoken to everyone here, but for the most part, it seems people aren't from worlds like this. I don't know if it's an attempt at giving people peaceful lives or boring us to death, but either way it's something that's interested me for months.

It is an interesting topic, isn't it? I almost feel guilty asking about it - my own life is boring back home, so it seems I've gotten off easily in comparison.

[You, sir, are full of shit.

But Greed doesn't know Tsukiyama well enough to know that.]

So it seems. I'd say that's rather unfortunate, to be honest.

Edited 2014-11-24 11:04 (UTC)

[More full of shit than a whale with no ass, actually!]

Who knows? Maybe I'll find my own adventure here. Granted, the last one was a little overwhelming, but it was definitely an experience, wasn't it?

It was definitely an interesting experience. I wouldn't want a repeat of it anytime soon.

[And then he pauses, thoughtful.]

Actually, come to think of it, from what I've been told we're going to get another strange occurrence again soon. I was told the pattern is every six months or so, and that was when the last one happened in May.

...What sort of occurrence do you mean, Greed-san?

[Let's just ignore that Greed is probing around for a certain reaction here.]

People who aren't normally here will sometimes show up. Just for a few days, and then they're gone again.

And those who are like me will usually return to being whatever they were before coming here.

The problem is that the memories of what happen then are pretty fuzzy. I can't tell you most of what happened on that weekend.

[Wh...

He seems to have latched on to part of it, judging by the way he suddenly goes very attentive and his words pick up speed when he speaks; it's...likely not the part that Greed wanted him to latch on to, but then Tsukiyama doesn't tend to make anyone's lives easier, does he.]

Is there any pattern to the people who appear? Are they just...random, or are they relevant to us?

[No, it's not the part he wants him to latch onto, but it'll do. He'll give an honest answer.]

It seems to be people who are relevant to us.

I can't guarantee that the people you miss from home will show up here, but they often do, from what I've heard. I've experienced it myself.

[Granted, both situations had been weird, but Tsukiyama doesn't need to know that.]

I see...

[He settles back in his chair a bit at that; he seems to remember then that he has coffee with him, and he takes a drink of it as he mulls that over.]

There are a few people from home that I would quite like to see again; I miss them quite a bit.

[He's not sure what to say. He's lousy at comforting, and he's not sure if that's what Tsukiyama wants or needs right now anyway.]

Maybe they'll show up. It's hard to tell with these things.

[Not particularly; it's more that he's thinking than that he's upset, anyway, and he shakes it off eventually.

...He's still looking at that drink funny when he sets it down because what the hell is that even supposed to taste like, but. Anyway.]

It won't be a tragedy if they don't. I'll go back to them eventually and I won't even remember having been gone, and we can pick up exactly where we left off...it would just be nice, that's all.

[It's a reasonable enough thing to think. There aren't many people Greed wants to see from his own world at the moment-- there's only one, actually. And he'd rather she show up permanently instead of just for a couple days.]

You can never tell.

Maybe you'll end up lucky.

[It sort of sucks being on the same wavelength as others sometimes, but - ]

Is it really luck if they're only here for a few days?

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somehow I completely misread that tag

no worries!

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