002 [video;]

[irenicly]

[When the feed turns on, Banjou has a guitar in his lap, the camera at an awkward angle that focuses more on the guitar than it does Banjou. He doesn't seem to mind this, idly strumming at it without trying to play a particular song. It's not like he can actually read sheet music, so everything he does is played on the fly anyway.]

I have a question.

[He finally settles on something melodic, if repetitive, before he continues.]

Does anyone here have hobbies they find difficult to continue here? Or something they've found they have more time for here as opposed to where they come from? Take what I'm doing-- I never had as much time as I wanted back home.

It's complicated, but I think I'm beginning to enjoy the freedom this place gives me.

I was wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

((bonus alternative listening.))

Comments

[irenicly]

[He's.... not very good at trying to fix things, either. Though Banjou is smart enough not to mention that publicly. At least not when Kaneki might listen in and learn about how he fucked up.]

I'm sorry.

[He's... really not sure what else to say.]

[glaciates]

It's alright. That was a long time ago.

[Three years, actually. It's pretty surreal.]

[irenicly]

[Three years. If only Banjou knew.]

This place gives us time to have some perspective, doesn't it?

[glaciates]

It does. I appreciate it; it's not something I ever would have considered back home.

[irenicly]

I know what you mean.

Our situations aren't the same, but being able to have some time to think helps. I never thought about it before.

[glaciates]

I guess it's hard to compare it to anything when it's what you've experienced your whole life, but I didn't realize that Amestris was such a terrible place until I came here. I mean there were some messed up things happening, but others seemed perfectly normal. Now that I've gotten some distance, I can see where it's awful.

[irenicly]

[He can understand that, actually. Well, in Banjou's case he's always known that ghoul culture is horrible, but having some distance from Kaneki's group has taught him that he wasn't doing much better surrounded by people who only killed fellow ghouls.]

I don't know how long people stay here, or if they can control how long they stay here, but at least you're away from all of that here, right?

[glaciates]

I think there are people that have been here for over four years now. I've been here for three, so it's been awhile. This place is a lot different than Amestris, but that's a good thing.

[Well, besides the lack of alchemy.]

How long have you been here?

[irenicly]

Four years?

[He really hopes he's not here that long. This place is great and all, but he has stuff to do.]

I've only been here for four months. That's... that's impressive.

[glaciates]

Most people aren't here that long. I can only think of one person off the top of my head who's been here that long.

[And it's Cobra. No one needs to talk about Cobra.]

I don't know what the average is, but it seems like some people come and go really quickly or they stay for around a year, then leave.

[irenicly]

[Banjou only knows about Cobra because the guy never shuts up on the network, let's be honest.]

I've noticed that people vanish sometimes. I wonder what keeps people here and what makes people leave?

Maybe that's not something we can know about, though.

[glaciates]

I have no idea. It would be nice to know, but people would probably abuse it.

[He shakes his head. You'd think someone would have some sort of idea about this after four years.]

[irenicly]

[Maybe one day people will figure it out...]

I'm sure.

[He's actually a little uncomfortable at the idea, but he's very aware that it's something that people would take advantage of if they could.]