009. [Video]

[preybeforemeals]

[Good evening, Johto! It seems that Tsukiyama's in a decent mood today; we're doing this again, from the sound of it, and he's got the camera set up as he usually does - the focus is low, aimed more toward the piano than the player with the exception of his hands, and keeping his face out of the shot. (It can be seen, however, that he is once again unironically wearing one of Chihiro's janky-ass scarves, because of course he is.) He'll speak after a while, though; he sounds pleased, at any rate.]

It doesn't seem all that long since the last time I did this, does it? It's hard to believe it's been a year or so. But time flies like that, n'est-ce pas? Even if we have a funny way of ending up back where we started, in some ways.

I asked last year, where you all thought you would be now; some of those who answered have left, but some surely haven't. So tell me! Have you managed what you'd hoped you would, in the past year? I've been wondering about it, a bit...

Of course, I'd like to hear what you've done with yourselves this holiday season, just in general; I want to know the sort of experiences you've had. Assuming that you don't mind sharing - that's what this time of year is good for, c'est vrai?

Comments

action because why not;

[shuttermouse]

[ Chie doesn't feel like replying to the video; they live in the same house, she's not going to bother doing that when she can go pester her poorly-dressed bestie in person. She wanders into the room not long after the video goes up on the network, holding her hands behind her back. ]

Tsukiyama-kun, I got you another present.

we do what we want

[preybeforemeals]

[That gets a soft noise out of him, one that sounds more amused than anything; he takes a moment to stop what he's doing, finding somewhere that's a bit more natural in the music to cut off, before he turns to face her properly.]

Did you...? That's kind of you, little mouse.

[shuttermouse]

Yup.

[ She brings her hands forward, revealing a small jar containing some sort of parsley... also known as Mitsuba. ]

[preybeforemeals]

[...Oh my god - ]

...That is either the best or the worst visual pun you could have given me, and I'm genuinely not sure which it is.

[shuttermouse]

I knew you'd appreciate it. [ She laughs. ] Now you can eat Mitsuba as much as you want without me having to dump hot chocolate over your head.

[preybeforemeals]

I can- ...I was trying so hard not to say it, Hori...

[...oh goddamn it, that is going to get him to laugh, okay.]

Someone put work into that chocolate, too.

[shuttermouse]

[ ...These two are so awful, aren't they. ]

The chocolate had to be sacrificed so you would go home and take a shower.

[preybeforemeals]

[Possibly literally the worst.]

Just getting it on my clothes probably would have been enough, you know.

[shuttermouse]

That wouldn't have been as funny, though. And you gotta admit, it was a good way to end an argument and win some time.

action;

[occultigen]

[It has been approximately a year and a third since Meridiana made her arrival to Johto, and it has perhaps never been more apparent than it is this morning, that she's put that time to very good use learning about the nuances of modern culture and conduct, and the appropriate occasions upon which to engage in certain behaviors.

...Which is why a wrapped garment box containing an elegant black shirt and a...not-so-elegant something ELSE...is left outside his bedroom door at early o'clock in the morning, followed by a rapid bout of knocking, FOLLOWED BY THE SOURCE OF THE KNOCKING BAILING AND SCURRYING BACK DOWN THE HALLWAY TO HIDE OUT OF SIGHT AROUND THE CORNER

Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause, as Miss Meridiana Everett has embraced and mastered the concept of "Carol Of The Bells"-Grade Ding-Dong Ditch.

(But not the part about subtlety and misdirection, because how many possible suspects could there be, really.) ]

[preybeforemeals]

[Well, either Banjou has embraced his inner yolo (not likely), Chie has found some degree of subtlety over the last couple of hours (...let's not lie to ourselves, damn near impossible) or Meridiana has figured herself out well enough to know that there is literally nothing about this that isn't hilarious (which is mildly surprising but ding ding ding we probably have a winner).

...Either way, that vest is completely godawful in a way that guarantees that it is the greatest thing he's ever seen, so GUESS WHAT THIS IDIOT IS GOING TO BE WEARING TODAY oh my god what did anyone do to deserve any of this.]

[occultigen]

[SUCCESS. VICTORY. But she's still going to feign at least some semblance of surprise when she catches him wearing it a little later; the item itself isn't anything she hasn't seen before, but there's legitimate delight in the fact that he apparently just cracked the thing right open and put it on.]

Why, Mr. Tsukiyama! Merry Christmas, you're looking very fine today.

[preybeforemeals]

[Well, that just gets him to touch the thing, his fingertips resting lightly over some of the gold...everything, there.]

Ahhh, and Joyeux Noël to you as well, Miss Everett! It seems someone saw fit to be very kind to me today.

[It's teasing, a little, but very gently so; he's pleased with it, obviously.]

[occultigen]

Did they! Why, how magnificent; was it St. Nicholas, perhaps? The tailoring is very fine, and the fit is quite pretty.

[This would be a lot more effective an attempt at innocence if she weren't visibly preening at how well it came out.]

It suits you well, I think!

[preybeforemeals]

[...is there even a reaction to this that isn't oh no it's cute because]

Oh, I certainly agree with you, at least with that latter part of it all.

[...]

I do appreciate it, Miss Everett, thank you.

[occultigen]

Why, I'm not sure I know what you could mean by—

[...And there it is, the moment she can't keep up the act anymore.]

...Oh, all right, I suppose there's no sense in playing at all that anymore. Really, it's nice of you to wear it; I do think you look very well in it.

[preybeforemeals]

[oh no]

Well, why wouldn't I wear it - it really is lovely, I like it quite a bit.

[At the very least she knows his taste well, goodness.]

[VIDEO - PRIVATE]

[deaftly]

Ugh, look at all of this sentimental bullshit.

[...]

Good to see you're enjoying yourself, Americano.

[And Naki smirks at that, which is the closest he can actually get to a proper smile.]

I don't remember what I said last year, or if I even answered the question to begin with. But I can tell you I got a new roommate!

[...naki what does that have to do with the holiday season]

[preybeforemeals]

[He'll reach over and flip the device back on to answer; good afternoon to you too, Naki.

He doesn't stop playing as he speaks, though it does get quieter and decidedly more simplified.]

You didn't answer, actually - au contraire, you told me to stop pretending everything was all right and tell you what was really on my mind, if I remember correctly.

[And he actually appreciated that, believe it or not.]

I'm glad to hear that, however, about the roommate; it's good to know. I imagine it's no one I'm going to disapprove of...?

[And the teasing in his tone is light, but it's there; come on, come on, tell him.]

[deaftly]

Oh. Oh yeah, I remember that! You were kind of a wreck, huh? At least you seem to be doing better this year!

[...As for the roommate--]

Depends, I guess. How do you feel about killer robots?

[OH MY GOD NAKI]

[preybeforemeals]

[Uh.]

I'm sorry?

[deaftly]

Well, he was a killer robot. Obviously he's not now!

[...naki]

[preybeforemeals]

Well, yes, I would assume so...

[What the actual hell does he do with this information.]

[deaftly]

He's hilarious, Tsukiyama! Oh yeah, and he can also cook, so that's pretty fucking useful. He baked a fuckton of cookies earlier, so!

[...well at least it's not cake???]

[preybeforemeals]

...I can see why you're fond of him.

[Tsukiyama.]

Where...did you meet this person, exactly?