003. [Video]

[preybeforemeals]

[Well, good morning, Johto – it seems like someone is actually up fairly early for once.

The room he's in is a bit on the sparsely-furnished side, though it's large enough to warrant that so far, maybe; it looks like there may have been an attempt at a bookshelf somewhere back along the far wall, though it's a bit difficult to see – either it's being slowly done by the world's most inept carpenter or someone has given up on fighting whatever the Pokéworld equivalent of Ikea is for the time being, but either way, at the very least it's slightly out of focus and not...too distracting.

What is in focus would be the keys of a piano, the natural light from the windows across the room spilling in; the device is set up far enough away that someone can be seen sitting at said keys, his hands resting lightly on them. The usual bright colors in his wardrobe are at least a little toned-down today – he seems to be wearing his trainer class whatnot this morning – and when he moves the bench a bit closer, that's when his face can actually be seen in the shot.

He sets his hands down, repositioning them a few times as though working out what he wants to play for the time being; what he settles on is decidedly happier than what he usually chooses, but he's always been partial to Beethoven's work.

He doesn't smile when he plays, which is perhaps a bit odd given that he's almost always smiling; rather, he looks focused, in that sort of way that people do when they've practiced a piece to an extent where they can find their musically-based zone.

He speaks as he plays eventually, his hands running light over the keys and his volume raised a little so he can be heard.]

It's impressive how much change a year can bring about, isn't it?

[And he does smile a bit when he says it, though it's fleeting in favor of closed eyes and that strangely focused look again.]

I haven't been here nearly that long, and yet I'm finding that I'm in a different place than I was at this time last year, as far as "back home" is concerned. But that's only natural, isn't it – after all, if I'm going to continue to experience this dream from which I don't have much say in waking, I might as well make something of it.

It's time I returned to doing what I've done in the past, I think. Finding my own happiness a piacere, instead of waiting for this place to hand it to me, instead of relying on others to provide...and most importantly, finding something that speaks to me here, something that can ignite my passion just as much as that which I had back there...

[He shakes his head a bit.]

I don't know if such a thing even exists in this world. But in that case, I suppose the...challenge, the driving force, would be seeking it out in the first place, n'est-ce pas?

[His words find a pause then, though his hands do not.]

I wonder where next year will find me...ideally speaking, amore, where do you think it would find you?

Comments

private video;

[irenicly]

[It takes Banjou a long time to decide what he should say in response to this, or if he should say anything at all. Maintaining the alliance is important, but Tsukiyama is also not someone Banjou really enjoys being around.

At the same time, he's familiar and better than Naki.

They're still allies even if it's precarious.]

You met him too, didn't you?

[preybeforemeals]

[It takes Tsukiyama a moment to reply; he doesn't seem agitated when he does. He's still at that piano, playing over something quietly one-handed while he connects the device to the private feed Banjou's got going on with the other. The pattern is simple and repetitive but it seems to be calming, and he settles into another piece entirely once he's got everything set up.

It'd be easy to shake his head and tell him that he doesn't know what he's talking about; he wonders if Banjou knows him well enough to call him on the lie if he did. He assumes not. But just the same, he's not too interested in trying it.]

He seemed to be doing better.

[irenicly]

[It's... a little strange, talking to Tsukiyama like this.

The weekend had been a little uneventful as far as Banjou was concerned. Strange, but uneventful. Until he suddenly found himself at a lake with Kaneki.]

I thought so, too.

[He hadn't opened the conversation with asking Banjou where the hell he'd been for the past two months, which means that time actually is weird here, and the two of them vanishing wasn't a disaster.]

He didn't think this place was real when I spoke to him.

[...]

When he shows up here permanently, he will.

[preybeforemeals]

Mhmm. He asked me for an explanation, actually.

[Strange indeed; conversation like this really isn't something they do unless they have something specific to say, and as far as Tsukiyama can tell, they don't. If he had something of value to report regarding the entire incident with Kaneki, he would have done so by now.

So this is just...conversation, then. How odd.

Not that he's complaining, either.]

He was at a lake - that's where I came across him. I'd never seen the place before, but if I had to guess it's the one up north, by Mahogany Town. There's a large one up there.

[VIDEO]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer usually leaves his 'Gear on while he's working; the background noise doesn't necessarily help him think, but it's become a habit by now and it's not one he's going to be breaking anytime soon. He looks over when he hears music, but when he recognizes the song he finds himself suddenly wanting to turn the device off. It's the one song he's refused to play since arriving here.

Before he can reach over to shut it off, Tsukiyama starts speaking. Archer hesitates and listens to what he has to say before finally picking up the 'Gear, but he's not going to turn it off right now. He might as well respond.]

...You're good at this.

[The room behind Archer is scarcely decorated at all - if you ignore the books stacked up here and there. Everything is very neatly arranged of course, but man that's a lot of books.]

That's certainly an interesting topic. While I doubt this place is anything like anyone's homes, there must be something here that can hold your interest.

[Besides ugly sweaters.]

[preybeforemeals]

[The praise gets a light laugh out of him, brief and breathless; he lets Archer finish before he responds, and he's still playing when he does.]

Consider it appreciated, monsieur - I've studied many things, looking for something that will present me with what I'm looking for eventually. This is one of them; music speaks to me in a way that many other things don't.

Training has worked well enough for now, but I imagine I'll move on from that eventually as well. It's just a matter of working out where I want to focus.

[sadisticwarfare]

I understand. I went through a similar thing. For a long time I focused solely on training Pokémon and raising many different types and species until I found something that interested me. Training isn't as important to me now because there's something I prefer to spend my time doing.

[You know, psychic mind control and mind wiping, that sort of fun thing!]

You'll find something eventually. It is good to see someone else with a good taste in music.

[AND NOT DUBSTEP]

[preybeforemeals]

Ah, you really are flattering me today! It's good to find someone else who appreciates it.

May I inquire about this other thing you've found? This interest of yours.

text;

[doitrockapella]

[...Holy shit, it's the soldier from the mountains that guy from Tohjo Falls, the Bad Cop™ to her Good Cop, the Italian-speaking fashion disaster who'd punched a guy so hard he died and then turned his attention to the next one.

And he's playing the piano and talking about passion. It's sort of surreal.

She's not one to put her face up on the Network, which is fortunate in terms of not being immediately recognized as that person he'd seen at Tohjo, himself; the drawback is, he might not want to stop playing for the sake of texting someone, and with no sound she won't be able to hear the music anyway.

Hnnngh.]

"Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." — the Dalai Lama.

It sounds as though you're already on the right track to happiness, yourself.

[preybeforemeals]

[He responds eventually; it's a little bit delayed because it takes him a moment to recognize that odd sound he'd heard as a text ping, but honestly the playing is something he can take or leave. It's something that calms him, giving him something to focus on, but it's not necessary or something he specifically needs right now, either.

So! Hello there.]

I've known for quite some time how to find happiness for myself, actually. I'm not concerned about finding it again, either - it's just been a while since I've actively sought it out, and this world has changed the ways in which I can really do that.

The thing I'm still unable to find is probably closer to satisfaction than happiness. Anyone can find happiness if they try to do so...satisfaction tends to be another story.

[doitrockapella]

From your perspective, what is it about satisfaction that makes it more difficult to achieve? High personal standards?

[preybeforemeals]

It's just the nature of it, really - "satisfaction," to me, implies something that completes you, in a way that you wouldn't have been complete if you didn't have whatever brings it to you. It's a long-term sense of fulfillment, basically. Not happiness, but contentment with one's life, which is arguably the better goal.

Happiness, on the other hand, is something best found in fleeting things. It's not something we're meant to have for a long period of time, and assuming that we will is just setting ourselves up for disappointment. That isn't to say I think life is inherently depressing! It shouldn't be that, either. But I think it's better to accept that we'll find happiness in temporary things, because all things are temporary by their very nature - nothing is eternal, so why try to find our happiness in something that doesn't exist?

video;

[superordinary]

Woah, you're really good at playing the piano, Tsukiyama-san.

[ Beethoven isn't his thing so he doesn't know what Tsukiyama is playing but it's a nice song that's appropriate for December without shoving Christmas in his face, he thinks. ]

[preybeforemeals]

[That would be why he chose it, honestly - he is all for goddamn Christmas, but it's the ninth.

That said, he does smile a bit at the compliment, fleeting though the expression may be before he refocuses on the piece.]

Ah, I'm glad to hear that you think so, Naegi-san! I've studied a lot of disciplines, really; music is one that I'm fond of.

[superordinary]

You must be pretty talented in many areas, then. I can't play music to save my life, but I like listening to it.

[preybeforemeals]

I'm sure you're not that bad - but if it speaks to you in ways that don't involve creation, that's also fine. It's being moved by its existence, I think, that matters.

[video]

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro doesn't actually speak immediately once he's got a video going ready to respond, if only to listen to the sound of the piano playing for a little bit longer.]

That is very pretty, Tsukiyama-san.

[And as much as Chihiro would be perfectly fine with just sitting and listening to him play, he also asked a question, didn't he?]

And I hope that, a year from now...I'm still here with the rest of my friends, actually.

[preybeforemeals]

[Oh, hello there, he hasn't seen you in a little while.]

Ah, Fujisaki-chan! I'm glad you like it.

[He doesn't stop playing when he speaks; clearly multitasking is a thing he's capable of, at least with regards to this.]

You're still finding this place to your liking, then?

[codeforhope]

Mhm. You are very good at it.

[He rather enjoys music like this, and he's actually never seen someone playing so well in person- as much as you can be in person over the Network, at least- before, so it's nice to see.

At that, he nods.]

Oh, yes. I don't know if I will ever be truly used to it, but I do like it here a lot.

[VIDEO - PRIVATE]

[deaftly]

[...you know he was going to try to resist responding to this because who gives a shit about music, but then you had to go and ask a dumbass question like that.]

Alright, I'll bite. What the fuck's up with you?

[Despite the harsh wording, Naki just sounds confused. He also doesn't elaborate on why he thinks something is up with Tsukiyama because of course he doesn't.]

[preybeforemeals]

[...hello to you too, Naki. He doesn't seem too bothered by the question, at least, though his expression tightens a little, the shift almost imperceptible before he makes himself relax again; he keeps playing, seeming to turn his focus there instead, though his words remain casual when he answers.]

What an odd question, monsieur; what makes you ask?

[deaftly]

[As usual, Naki doesn't notice the shifts, because he's Naki.]

You're acting weird. You never talk about this sorta shit.

audio

[fortunatetoaster]

... that song's pretty. That's... a piano, yeah?

[ please let her slightly uneducated guess be correct, she would really rather not make an ass of herself right now ]

What song's that?

[preybeforemeals]

[Oh, hello there. He doesn't stop playing when he responds, though the melody does simplify itself quite a bit while he gets the feed going; he's capable of playing and talking at the same time, however, and it's obvious there's a smile coloring his words when he speaks.]

It's a piano, yes - the song is called 'Ode to Joy' by most, though it's actually a variation on Beethoven's Ninth.

Does it speak to you, amore?

[fortunatetoaster]

Y--yeah...! It's pretty and it's all happy... even though the piano makes it sound like it should be kinda sad...?

[ it's not exactly the kind of feeling it stirs up in her chest, but she doesn't have the right words to quite express just what she wants to say. ]

How long's it take to learn to play that?