[video] forward dated to 9/13

[appraiser]

Ryoji Mochizuki shared a video.
09/13 near Apprassage

[ The video starts up, dark, silent. A bedroom, if an empty desk and neatly made bed and too many cardboard boxes count as a bedroom, and then the view flips over with a soft ] Oh. [ as the user finds the front-facing camera instead of the rear that he always uses on his phone. ]

Hi... It's been a while.

[ The bottom half of the screen blurs as Ryoji draws his knees to his chest where he sits on bare floorboards, phone in his hands. He doesn't introduce himself— doesn't need to, when his name is up there for people who don't know him, his face right here for people who do: the people he's recording this video for, whispers in an empty room. ]

I'm back. I know there are probably questions as to why, or how... and I can't really explain it well myself. But I'll answer the best I can, if you want to ask, texting or in person.

[ Ryoji sits up a little straighter now, looks a little more serious. This is what he meant to say: a confession. ]

But before that, I want to say that I'm glad to be back, however it happened... a second chance like this. I also want to be more upfront about myself, and there are things I want to say to a lot of people.

There was a time in the past where I was a monster: I'd hurt a lot of people, and I ran from all of that, hid myself away, and pretended it hadn't happened. The memories I've been experiencing, I kept the good ones close, the bad even closer, pretending they weren't real and that they have nothing to do with me. I thought... that it would be better to forget about all of that and return to a simpler time. Unconsciously, I think that's what I did. I went back to before everything happened, to start over, and do better this time. But I got it wrong. I made myself forget, but I wasn't forgotten...

[ He's rambling now, a little, so he turns his eyes away from the screen, staring off at something in the distance- it's the moon reflected in his eyes, only half. ]

There's somebody I still need to say goodbye to, but after that... I want to see so many of you. I owe a lot of "thank you"s and "I'm sorry"s and "I love you"s, and I want to be with people again. I don't want to leave this world or its people ever again.

So... I'll see you guys soon.




( ooc: forward dated to 9/13 to give myself a buffer. replies can be via text, or an in-person if you want to fast-forward to ryoji showing up at your character's house/class/chance meeting at some cafe/hi roommates/he'll be finding people around town somehow. for his cr, please assume he checked up on them, whether it's handwaved or not! )

Comments

[cattack]

I... Wait a moment.

[As he starts to walk in, Cleo grabs his arm.]

Instead of this... Will you come with me for a bit instead?

[appraiser]

[ "Instead" catches Ryoji off-guard, but he reasons he did put Cleo on the spot before in choosing where to go. ]

Sure. Where to?

[ Please don't be the police station, which is what he remembers her other most familiar place to be. ]

[cattack]

No, this way. It... won't be far.

[She'll all but pull him towards her bike, and then once he's on, takes off. And, indeed, as she says, it doesn't take long, before she pulls up to their destination.

The coffee shop where he and Minako had first taken her when she grew her ears.]

I know you don't need to eat anymore, but... I thought this would be good anyway...

[appraiser]

[ It's Expressive... A smile, however small, had started to grow on his face the moment he recognized the route they were taking and where they would possibly end up. He hops off the bike and clasps his hands behind his back as he stares up at the storefront, then over at Cleo. ]

This is one of my favorite places in the entire city, you know. I come here a lot, but usually on my own. It's a good place.

[cattack]

I'm glad...

[She just. Lets out a relieved sigh.]

I ended up coming here a few times, while you were gone.

[appraiser]

I'm glad you've come to like it too, enough to come back. Did a lot happen while I was gone?

[cattack]

No... It was rather quiet. And I think it will remain that way... Or I hope, at least.

[for another few days before i break people's bones]

[appraiser]

[ I like that it's people in plural ]

That's good...

[ Ryoji pushes through the door, looking around for the barista first before turning to see what window seats are free. ]

I sort of thought I'd never see peace again, but I'm glad if things would be calm and quiet from now on.

[cattack]

[TECHNICALLY ONLY ONE PERSON GETS BONES BROKEN

the other just gets bones dislocated

oops]

As quiet as Retrospec will let us be...

[She takes a window seat with a small smile.]

I'm glad you're back here. This place suits you.

[appraiser]

[ cleo........ ]

This place? The cafe?

[cattack]

[DON'T JUDGE HER]

... Yes. You seem happier here, if that makes sense.

[appraiser]

...Oh.

[ He smiles a little at that, leaning back onto his seat and closing his eyes. ]

It's because there's somebody I like here.

[cattack]

The barista?

[EVEN SHE CAN TELL, DUDE]

[appraiser]

[ ......He was expecting her to ask who, and then he can joke and say "It's you~" but then

this.

I don't have an embarrassed icon, so this is the closest thing to it. ]

Is it very obvious?

[cattack]

[She just laughs.]

Both back then and now, you look to behind the counter before you try to even find a seat. Most people would try to make sure there was an empty seat before worrying about what to order, right?

[so do you remember she's planning on becoming a cop.]

[appraiser]

[ Ryoji can't help but glance over at the counter again at the mere mention of it; the barista is working today, so he can't be too upset about being found out. ]

If there wasn't an empty seat, I'd just hang around at the counter, and we can talk, so...

[ That's why the counter first. ]

[cattack]

[ryoji... you're cute]

So I was right, then?

[appraiser]

...Yes.

[ But nothing's going to come out of it, nor his several dozen other crushes, because he has a girlfriend. So nothing more gets said. ]

[cattack]

[ryoji pls]

You know, when I first met the two of you, I thought you were dating Minako.

[appraiser]

[ That makes Ryoji laugh in surprise. If only. ]

I'm not what Minako needs in a relationship, so I'm happy enough just being her friend.

[cattack]

You're not?

[now she's surprised

USELESS BISEXUAL MODE: ENGAGED]

But she seemed more devastated than anyone when...

[... let's not talk about the death.]

[appraiser]

[ get her


But yeah, she doesn't need to complete that thought for Ryoji to know what she's talking about. It's all anybody's talked to him about since it happened. ]

...She's my closest friend. The person I've known the longest, outside of my family, and I think I'm something like that for her too. Like family.

[ The only family he has left now, he thinks to himself. Losing his mother hasn't sunk in yet. ]

[cattack]

[she wants to get it but it's hard

She... isn't sure how to respond to that. Because she's only dimly heard about his mother, and... To be honest, she has trouble talking about family herself. Being able to call Tatsuo her brother is new and weird, only since he vanished for a month.]

Family, huh... Is she that to you?

[appraiser]

Yeah. But my perception of family might be a bit biased.

[ For the vast majority of his life, his family consisted of just his mother. And she'd given everything to him, a fact he was forced to face just a week or so prior; he still feels a little guilty about it, turning his head from the counter to the window, watching the cars zip by. ]

For me, family is people whom I love, just by being there. They don't have to do anything, or say anything, or... be anything. It feels as if my soul were inexplicably drawn to them, meant to love them.

[cattack]

Drawn to them... Meant to love them?

[She thinks.]

Is that... what family feels like?

[TALK ABOUT YOUR LOADED QUESTIONS, CLEO. But she doesn't know what that feels like. Or... What it feels like to be 'meant' to do anything. It's strange... And that worries her. Because does that mean she's not really family with Tatsuo?]