LOCKED TO preybeforemeals

[deaftly]

[Today was supposed to be just another, normal day in which Naki terrorizes some poor waiter with his awful manners and rude demeanor while Tsukiyama attempts to place nice, all the while probably being disgusted by the sheer amount of sweets Naki will undoubtedly consume.

But no. Not today, apparently. Not today, because Naki's been sitting here at this café, waiting for over an hour for Tsukiyama to show up.

Eventually he calls out five of his Pokémon. It should be of no surprise to anyone who knows this man that they're all Inkays. Naki gives one order "Search party: go!" and points in a random direction and the five squids immediately start floating away as quickly as they can go. Naki leans back in his seat and messes with his 'Gear, waiting for them to return. Apparently they've been trained to respond to that stupid command and they know that it means "find Tsukiyama". Somehow. Naki also releases his last Pokémon, a Malamar, who is presumably one of the two responsible for this set of Inkays (unless Naki kept a third Malamar, which honestly wouldn't be surprising).

It doesn't take long for the Malamar to catch Naki's attention with her frantic tentacle-waving. After relaying her message to Naki, the ghoul goes stiff.]

What-- Are you... You're sure!?

[The Malamar bobs up and down as best she can in a nod. Naki takes off immediately, only pausing to return the Malamar. Unsurprisingly, he forgot - or didn't bother - to pay for the coffee he was drinking.

The forest closest to the northern end of town is still too far away, in Naki's opinion. It takes him much longer to get there than he would have liked, and he seriously misses the speed and stamina being a ghoul had offered. Sure, eating tons of cake probably hasn't helped him with this, but by the time he arrives to where the Inkays have gathered, he's holding his side and wincing.]

Move-- Get out of the goddamn way!

[The Inkays part and let Naki through. He drops to his knees, ignoring the fact that his pants are going to be grass-stained horribly. All that matters right now is Tsukiyama.]

Shit, fuck, are you alright!?

Comments

[preybeforemeals]

...So it would seem. Tell me, then - how long have I been gone?

[However long it's been here, it hasn't been nearly as much so back home, he knows that much already.]

[deaftly]

It's been uh... Shit, what's today's date?

[One of the Inkays informs him; Naki glances off to the side and thanks it before returning his attention to the device.]

It's been a year, two months, and three days.

[He doesn't appear to be bothered by the fact that he knows the exact amount of time without thinking about it.]

[preybeforemeals]

...Really.

[Honestly, it's the length of time rather than the preciseness of it that gets his attention first, and understandably so; it...actually takes the rest a second to sink in, but.]

You've been keeping track that closely?

[deaftly]

Well yeah. Who wouldn't?

[Naki, that's not normal...]

[preybeforemeals]

Most people, I'm fairly sure - ah, but that hardly matters now, does it?

[SIR, THIS IS SORT OF WEIRD BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, HE'S GOING TO ACCEPT IT FOR NOW.]

I don't suppose you're still in Goldenrod, are you?

[deaftly]

I am, yeah. Oh, you're back in New Bark Town, right? I traveled to Violet not too long ago, so I should be able to use Fly to pick you up from there.

[Because clearly you're coming to Goldenrod as soon as possible.]

[preybeforemeals]

[...Ah.]

Shall I just...wait for you, then?

[deaftly]

Well, we can probably meet on that route between Cherrygrove and Violet, right? It shouldn't take me too long to get back there.

[Unless he gets horribly lost.]

[preybeforemeals]

...You don't happen to have anything that teleports, do you?

[deaftly]

Well, no, you can't breed Teleport onto these guys, but I can go catch an Abra and send it to you! That'd take a lot less time!

[GOOD IDEA TSUKIYAMA]

[preybeforemeals]

Just remember to heal it and then fly it over, don't use the PC or it'll be useless to me.

[HE HAS CHEATED A FEW PEOPLE TO GOLDENROD IN HIS TIME

HE STILL KNOWS HOW TO DO IT]

[deaftly]

Oh okay! I'll take care of that then! I can get it sent to you in like, a day or something, right?

[preybeforemeals]

Right, and then I should be there shortly after. We can catch up in person then, if you'd like.

[deaftly]

Yeah! That'd be great! I'll go catch an Abra right now, so hopefully it'll get to you soon!!

[AND THERE GOES THE FEED apparently he is really pumped.

It takes a little bit longer than expected, but eventually a Honchkrow shows up with a Pokéball. Well, actually it's an Ultra Ball, because apparently Naki was tired of the Abras just Teleporting away from him, so he went all out. Either way, congratulations! You're now in possession of one (1) Abra capable of Teleporting back to Goldenrod!]

[preybeforemeals]

[...You know, the last time he did this it ended in the Abra being made of rage and more or less thriving off of blood and screaming, because he used an overpowered snake to suplex it into submission before forcing Banjou to capture it. At the very least the Ultra Ball means he can take some comfort from the notion that this one probably won't hate him.

...He's apprehensive as hell about letting it out of the ball, though.

That said, he'll be putting it to good use eventually, once he's recalled Alessia; it's going to take him a moment to get his bearings - here's hoping Naki isn't, you know, standing around waiting at the damn Center.]

[deaftly]

[Do you really think he won't be waiting in front of the Center? Admittedly he looks sort of out of place pacing around not too far from the Center's entrance and glancing over there far more frequently than anyone really should. It looks less like he's waiting for someone and more like he's trying to find a way to blow up the Center or something.

Naki's dressed differently today; it seems the white suit has made a reappearance, but the shirt underneath is a dark purple which isn't quite as different as the red suit. He also doesn't have any of the Inkays out, probably because that would be at least five of them floating around uselessly after him in the middle of town.

Tsukiyama finally appears though and Naki's irritated look immediately changes to pure joy. He approaches quickly, but he stops short and immediately begins fidgeting.

Somehow he didn't think about what he'd say when he came face-to-face with Tsukiyama.]

You're here in one piece, good!

[He thinks about what he just said and remembering the last time Tsukiyama was supposed to show up in a Pokémon Center, he winces. That... came out wrong. Oops.]

[preybeforemeals]

[...Ah. He ought to have expected that the guy would be pacing around looking like some sort of walking bomb threat, shouldn't he; somehow, he finds that he was expecting the awkwardness, however - he would have been more surprised if Naki had actually considered what he was going to say rather than just showing up without a second thought toward it.

Although if Tsukiyama is at all bothered by what does eventually shoot out of Naki's mouth, he doesn't seem it; actually, he laughs a bit, the sound light as he rakes a hand through the front of his hair.]

As tactful as ever, I see.

[And the words are as gentle as the laugh, as opposed to anything chiding or backhanded; it's fine, Naki, don't stress about it.

He hadn't missed this at all back home, simply because he hadn't remembered that there was anything to miss; here, though...this is comfortable, and he's pleased by it, whatever "this" may happen to be.]

Where are we going today, monsieur?

[deaftly]

[Tsukiyama's words go a long way to helping him relax, and Naki grins after a moment.]

Wherever you want to go! It's been a long time since you were last here, after all!

[preybeforemeals]

...We'll find something, then.

[He tips his head a bit while he says it; come on, sir, let's not stand around in front of the Center, people probably think you're here to set it on fire and he's here to help you do it.

That said, he doesn't have a particular destination in mind; he's content to just wander around and see if anything's changed in his absence.]

It seems someone finally convinced you to put some color in your wardrobe, if the last few days are anything to judge by; it looks nice, you know.

[deaftly]

[Naki glances down at his shirt like he can't remember which one he's wearing and then awkwardly messes with his jacket for a moment.]

Y-Yeah well, I guess it was time for a change.

[It's not something he gave much thought to before and he's not really sure he wants to start thinking about it now.]

So uh, how were things back home?

[preybeforemeals]

[He notices the awkwardness, though he doesn't try to comment on it; if Naki doesn't want to dwell on it, he's not going to make him - it's not so much due to Tsukiyama actually having tact as it is realizing exactly whose advice Naki may have been taking.

He brightens at the question, however; clearly that was an A+ topic change, sir.]]

Ah, tres bien - they were very good, actually! It seems things are finally going well for us for once - the group I'm with has made a few changes, but they seem to ultimately be for the better.

It looks...very promising, after seven months of things not going in our favor; I'm pleased with it.

[deaftly]

That's good! I'm glad to hear that you had a good time back home!

[Of course if things were going well for them that probably means they weren't going well for Aogiri, but Naki doesn't care about any of that anymore.]

[preybeforemeals]

I did, yes - granted, we didn't come across you again, but that may have been because we're not looking.

[He's rather aware that Naki isn't as thoroughly supportive of Aogiri anymore - that sort of thing had been made clear even when he was here last. But just the same...]

We're not on good terms by any means, but we're technically not enemies anymore, either; my master has decided to let things lie for the time being.

[deaftly]

I guess that's good. I mean that we aren't enemies.

[It's definitely not as good as things are here, but that goes without saying.]

You didn't remember anything about this place when you were back home, right?

[It's really surreal to think about that.]

[preybeforemeals]

[Oh.]

Nothing at all - coming back here was a little strange, because my memories weren't matching up and it took me a while to realize why. It was very surreal, actually.