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

[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.

[irenicly]

[The fact that Banjou is willing to have a casual conversation at all probably means something, but he isn't willing to think about it right now.]

That's where I met him, too. He told me this place was a dream.

[Banjou doesn't laugh at the idea, but he does shake his head.]

I don't blame him. It's hard to believe a place like this is real after what's happened in Tokyo.

[...and then it finally hits him that he really is having a casual conversation with Tsukiyama. That's.. a little strange.]

I haven't traveled outside of Goldenrod yet. Maybe I should head towards the lake when the weather improves.

[preybeforemeals]

[Well, the conversation involves Kaneki. Surely that can be considered business, on some level.]

The weather is probably going to be hideous for moving in for quite some time - winter and all. I'm not going anywhere until that improves, hence I'm looking for things to amuse myself with here.

...Personally, I think I may go south once things improve. There's something in that forest I want to look into.

[irenicly]

[It's... pretty tangentially related to Kaneki, though. But they're not arguing with each other about anything at the moment.]

There's a Christmas market. I haven't visited it yet, but I probably will.

[Banjou really isn't the type to enjoy shopping, but he also grew up on the streets: finding himself in a situation where he can actually shop around makes him a little curious. Even if it's a lot of commercialized crap.]

What are you looking for in the forest?

[preybeforemeals]

[Something about the market seems to amuse him, a light smile crossing his features, though he doesn't seem inclined to elaborate; it's the question about the forest that has his attention for the time being.]

There's supposedly a shrine in there, dedicated to a god-figure that can apparently do some sort of time travel. If we're looking for what brings us here, that might be a fair place to start, don't you think?

[irenicly]

[He hasn't heard anything about that, but it seems a good a place as any to start looking. If God is a llama here, another god or maybe the same one being able to travel though time isn't much of a stretch.]

It's probably worth looking.

[Banjou doesn't know if there will be anything at the shrine, but Tsukiyama does have a point. It's not unreasonable to assume it's]

The monks in the tower in Violet City might know something about the gods here.

[preybeforemeals]

...I'll have to ask them. I haven't gone through there yet, but I'll need to return for the badge eventually. Maybe once the weather clears, as we've said - start by moving toward Azalea and cross back up through Violet.

[It's...a direction, anyway.

Either way, he pauses before continuing.]

Was it nice for you, seeing him again?

[irenicly]

[Banjou doesn't need to get badges, but he really should try anyway. It would be a goal to work towards and it would make his Pokemon happy, too.]

It was. I know he's doing fine, now.

[And given the fact that Kaneki didn't immediately freak out upon seeing Banjou, he either was from a point before the disaster that was everything that happened in the lab, or Banjou survived the attack. He's leaning more towards the second option, personally.]

[preybeforemeals]

I told you as much.

[He doesn't sound annoyed, though, and the comment actually isn't sarcastic; if anything, it's more like he's reasonably content that it's been confirmed.]

It'll be a relief to have him here with us; I'm sure he'll see it the same way once he understands the situation.

[irenicly]

[They're on the same page now which is a relief. It's a strange sort of relief but the weekend passing without Tsukiyama contacting him means everything went well enough.]

He'll understand, I know he will.

[And to be honest, Kaneki will be the most grateful out of all of them to be able to eat like a normal human. Banjou and Tsukiyama have always been ghouls, but Kaneki...

He'll be happy, Banjou knows that much.]

Once he knows this place isn't a dream.

[preybeforemeals]

I don't blame him for thinking that - half the time I'm not even sure I believe it isn't.

[He goes quiet after that, however, focusing on the piece; after a moment, he speaks again, his tone noncommittal - he's not dismissing him any, just...questioning.]

Did you need something from me, Banjou-san?

[irenicly]

[He shakes his head.

This is a little... awkward, isn't it?]

You already answered my question. There isn't anything else.

[preybeforemeals]

[It takes him a second, but that smile is back after a moment.]

Miss Everett wants me to accompany her to this Christmas market that you mentioned. I'll admit it interests me as well.

You should accompany us.

[irenicly]

[It's a little strange being offered to do something so normal with Tsukiyama. He hesitates, not because he wants to object, but because Banjou doesn't know what to make of it.

Meridiana is someone he wants to get to know better anyway, so...]

Sure. Alright. Let me know when the two of you are going.

[preybeforemeals]

[Excellent! Because that girl has been gathering funds, which means she is going to have hella bags to carry. Since Tsukiyama is personally not interested in carrying obscene amounts of bags, this works out well!]

Wonderful - I'll let her know, then!

[......]

We really are going to confuse poor Kaneki-kun horribly, aren't we.

[irenicly]

[It really is a good thing that Tsukiyama is the sort of person to refuse to carry bags. It means Banjou is anticipating something like this.

Let's not think too hard about why he's still willing to go despite this.]

Probably.

[The two of them tolerating each other without Kaneki's presence is a little ridiculous.]

It'll be nice when he and Hinami-chan come here.

[preybeforemeals]

[...Banjou-san, our lives are really sad...]

I'm looking forward to Hinami-chan as well - she's such a charming girl, I'm sure she'd like it here.

[...and when we see her we are going to give her approximately a million skitties and maybe some of those fluffy cottonbirds because holy shit she deserves such a thing.]

There are a few I wouldn't mind seeing outside of our group; I imagine you have some we haven't mentioned as well.

[Like those...people in the gasmasks that he was threatening to murder

okay when it comes to discussing that let's not and say we did]

[irenicly]

[...they did go from taking on Aogiri Tree to attempting to lead normal human lives very abruptly.

Does everyone who comes here end up having these problems?]

She deserves to live in a place like this.

[Probably the most out of all of them, honestly. They'll give her every single cute Pokemon possible.]

You're right, I have others I want to come here.

[He can admit that much without getting into a shouting match about Tsukiyama trying to murder his friends.

...Banjou is a little curious about who else Tsukiyama would want to see but he doesn't ask. The less he knows about Tsukiyama's contacts the better.]

[preybeforemeals]

[That comment about Hinami-chan seems to strike him a little strangely, actually.]

Banjou-san...?

[How do you even...word this, hang on.]

Do you ever wonder why this place seems to have chosen us?

[irenicly]

[That... the question isn't one he was anticipating, but it's a good one all the same.]

I've thought about it.

I don't know if it makes sense or not-- I haven't asked around about it, but it doesn't seem like we were chosen randomly ...but why us instead of someone like Hinami-chan, I don't know.

[preybeforemeals]

It's nothing I'm going to complain about. We have all the time in the world to stay here and nothing will change back home, and it's a lovely distraction for the time being. If whomever brought me here thinks I deserve it, then why on earth would I argue?

It's just a bit odd, I think.

[He seems to shrug a bit then, as much as he can without throwing off his playing.]

Who knows. Maybe they just don't want to instill Hinami-chan with false hope - I wouldn't be surprised if bringing here here did exactly that.

[irenicly]

You're right. It's not a bad place to live for now.

[Being able to eat human food is something of a novelty for him. Banjou knows without needing to ask that it's the same way for both Tsukiyama and Naki. If he's going to return home without any time passing, it'll be awkward, but not a disaster.]

The last thing I want is to see her sad. Maybe she is better off not being here if that's the case.

[But at the same time, he genuinely likes it here. It's a break from his life of going after Aogiri Tree and being able to do very little about it.]

There must be answers here.

[preybeforemeals]

Oh, I don't think it will make her sad, Banjou-san, quite the opposite. No, the concern with Hinami-chan is that she'd likely want to stay forever.

[irenicly]

[He nods.]

That's what I mean. If she were to ever leave after coming here, it'd make her sad, wouldn't it?

People can't predict or control when they leave this place.