irenicly | Warmwood Day 2

[Oh, look, a new day and everything is still seventeen layers of bullshit. Lovely!

Tsukiyama is aware of the note, of course; almost everyone is by now, he imagines. It's not really making things much better, but you know what, there's not much he can do about it for the time being. He has his thoughts on it, definitely, but...

...Well, it seems he won't be left to those thoughts for very long. He's down in the library when Banjou approaches him, doing the same sort of thing he was doing yesterday evening - pacing idly, flipping through a book he has in his hands without really seeing what he's looking at, and while most who wouldn't know him would probably just assume he's distracted, those who do can probably tell just how agitated he is.

But he looks up when he's addressed, and he smiles because of course he does, and his voice is light when he speaks.]

Of course, Kazuichi-san. Anything you'd like.

[He tips his head toward the steps leading up to their rooms.]

Shall we?

[He's trying to make his tone light, but it's not really working. As soon as they settle into this new town, things immediately get ugly. It's not ideal at all and if Kaneki knew he'd be trying to get them out of there as soon as possible.

Normally, Banjou would be perfectly okay with that sort of situation, but it's not safe outside the village. Kaneki can't help them. It's up to the two of them to get out of this alive, and hopefully without the situation getting very, very ugly.

They're still ghouls, after all.]

Let's go.

[He leads the way to his room, taking a seat heavily at his desk chair.]

This is hard to believe, isn't it? Demons? Actual demons? In Tokyo, humans called us demons.

But it's real. These demons are hurting people. Hurting the Lady.

[Tsukiyama doesn't sit down; he takes up a position near the wall, folding his arms across his chest as he does so. The gesture is stiff, awkward; this entire thing is familiar in a way that he doesn't like, it's too close to all the meetings back in Tokyo - with the notable difference that Kaneki isn't with them. Their guidance is gone, somewhere beyond the walls; they just have each other here.

He wouldn't send his brother away from him for the world, but just the same...this doesn't strike him right.]

They're nothing like us, so don't compare us again. At least we have the benefit of being a higher species; this...farce is disgusting.

[It's wrong. All of it's wrong, and while he can't remember if he was so close to his brother back in Tokyo, Banjou needs him now.]

You're right. I'm sorry.

[They're different, they're better than the demons.]

I don't know what they're planning, but it can't be anything good. I don't want to think about what might happen if this goes on for much longer.

[Why did they move to this remote place where everyone knows everyone else? It's going to cause them serious problems in the not too distant future.]

[He takes a second; tries to calm himself a bit. Self-restraint is what's needed here, isn't it?

His words are a bit softer when he speaks, most of the agitated edge to them forced out; he shakes his head.]

...We'll get rid of them, Kazuichi-san. I know what happened today was troubling, but we'll find them despite their lies.

[Granted, that's not the...only problem they have, but they'll work that out, surely; it's been strangely far from his mind here, for the most part.]

I don't trust the cop, Fulbright-san.

[It's a simple enough statement. He doesn't really need to say why, not really.]

I don't trust Kimblee-san either, but I think it's pretty convenient there would be a note saying Fulbright-san is innocent and Kimblee-san is a liar after Kimblee-san was revealed to be the False Seer, don't you think?

[The look he gives him is made of so much "...No, Banjou-san."]

I think it's pretty convenient that Kimblee-san tried to claim that at all, actually - Fulbright-san had a point, that would ensure the Templar would protect him, wouldn't it?

Maybe, I don't know. It sounds like something he might try. Like I said, I don't trust Kimblee-san.

[He's also not the best judge of character.]

What if he notices anything odd about us, Shuu-san? If he's smart enough to poke holes in things Kimblee-san says, he might start noticing everything odd about us.

[They don't eat normally. People are going to talk. Sure, Banjou is good at faking it, but he's not eating as much as a man his size should. The people who run the restaurant are going to notice that eventually.]

[That gets him to pause for the briefest of moments; it isn't much, but it's likely telling.]

Siebold-san has already been trying to get me to eat; he understands me entirely, so he's taken that to the logical conclusion of trying to cook for me.

I was able to give him a reason why I can't allow that, as well as a reason why I may have to avoid people sometime in the near future, but that won't last forever.

May the Lady forgive me, but I think we need to be looking out for ourselves as much as we are trying to find the demons before they harm any more of the village.

What if we run out of time? I don't want to think about being found out.

[Something in Tsukiyama's head obviously goes a little strange then, it's obvious in the way his expression flickers at that - it doesn't darken, per se, but there's a definite tightening in his features, and the smile he offers is equal parts attempting to force one and baring teeth.

It's fleeting, but it's telling, even after he settles himself into something slightly more neutral.]

I can trust you to not repeat anything I say here. Isn't that right?

[His expression goes from desperate to serious in an instant.]

Of course, brother. You can trust me with anything.

Then may the Lady likewise forgive me, but I'm becoming rather tired of pretending to prioritize the livestock's survival over my own.

[It's really not something Banjou would be so grateful to hear in normal circumstances-- he's a pacifist. He'll always pick the nonviolent option, even when it comes to the unsavory things ghouls have to do to survive.

It's probably a sign of how warped their situation is that his expression is relief instead of outrage.]

Then you agree?

We need to be careful how we do this. We can't have anyone think we're with the demons.

[And something in that isn't sitting right with him; he tips his head a bit, one of his eyebrows darting up beneath the front of his hair.]

...I wouldn't expect you to be so eager.

[He lowers his head.]

I'm just... concerned, Shuu-san.

I don't remember why I agreed to coming here, with people who might notice something off about me.

We don't have Kaneki here to solve our problems for us. But we have a potential dove we need to deal with.

Edited 2014-12-04 08:33 (UTC)

[He's quiet for a moment at that, clasping his hands together and steepling his index fingers in front of his mouth as he considers; Banjou is a pacifist and he knows it. That he would be resorting to such things...

After a moment he smiles, and the expression isn't particularly nice, and it's clear that any reason for that has nothing to do with Banjou.]

I told you earlier that I would take up my sword for you, didn't I?

I'll handle the dove. Just be my shield if I require it.

[His expression is somber when he finally speaks.]

Thank you, Shuu-san.

I couldn't do this without you.

[He's silent for a long moment, staring at his hands.]

I'll be your shield, all you need to do is ask.

Siebold-san is going to be very angry with me, you know. He tried to tell me to keep quiet; he said that the demons are probably going to be after me if I don't watch it.

But if the dove turns out to be one of theirs, it will have been more than worth it.

Now, as for our approach...you said you didn't like the note, isn't that right?

[He doesn't know what to say to the comment about the demons. It's not like Banjou can protect Tsukiyama against something that attacks a person in his dreams.]

If Fulbright-san is one of them, it'll lower their numbers.

[Banjou nods at the question.]

I don't remember what the first note looked like well enough to try to compare handwriting, but I think it's too easy to fake. Let's assume the first note was written by the real False Seer. That means Ling isn't a demon and we're very lucky we didn't send him to his death.

But I don't think we can rely on the one that was written today. It's too easy to claim a role anonymously. Unless we have an opportunity to compare the two notes, it isn't any help to us.

It could also be a forgery, couldn't it? That second note...

[Hmmmm.]

It is a little convenient that a note would crop up proclaiming Fulbright-san's innocence after Fulbright-san was the only one to vote to kill Kimblee-san...but that isn't what bothers me about it, I don't think.

[...actually, hold on a moment. Dear god, you can probably see the oh moment from clear across the room.]

...Kazuichi-san, if they're so confident in their abilities...why didn't the false seer scan Kimblee-san?

Edited 2014-12-04 09:39 (UTC)

It's possible it's a forgery.

[It seems as likely as anything. He still thinks the forgery is a possibility, but as soon as Tsukiyama asks that question, he has an oh moment of his own.]

Kimblee-san was the one acting suspiciously yesterday, wasn't he? The False Seer should have used the opportunity to scan him in their dreams, but they didn't. Instead they chose Fulbright-san.

[It's a strange choice.]

Mhmm. It would be much easier to scan Kimblee-san and claim that he's a demon, wouldn't it? If they're so confident...

But they didn't call him a demon, they checked Fulbright-san instead and called Kimblee-san a liar.

It doesn't make any sense.

There wasn't anything stopping them from looking at Kimblee-san.

...If Kimblee-san is the real False Seer, that means whomever wrote that note isn't. They couldn't claim that Kimblee-san is a demon in that case, because there's a chance that they're wrong. So the only way that note makes any sense is if the person writing it couldn't be sure.

[...]

...Or perhaps if they can be sure, and know for a fact that Kimblee-san isn't a demon at all. "Outing" Kimblee-san in that case would destroy the ruse and their word couldn't be trusted again.

The demons would know. In that case, this would be a solid argument for why Kimblee-san isn't one of theirs, and why the dove might be.

[It's a lot to take in.

The dove being a demon is the most likely explanation right now. It's their only lead.]

You're probably right.

If he's a demon, Our Lady is counting on us to find them for her.

I'll make sure it comes out at the trial.

Even if I'm wrong, I'm not going to complain about one less dove in the world.

Warmwood Day 2

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