Selfish Desires
Cast:
Bassdrum, Ohta Torao - age 25
Baritone, Toujou Naoto - age 23
Bel, Itomashi Kazuhiro - age 68
November, 2013
In a bar that is also a bowling alley, two grown men are seated side by side. They are dressed as showmen, with colorful trousers and vests over white shirts. As well, both men are wearing capes. They could as easily be the kind of act that secures a decent living from casino residency as they could be circus freaks.
Each man orders the cheapest beer on tap, so the bartender decides it is the latter.
One of the pair, the one with pale blue hair, sets down his drink for a moment. He stares into it. "Hey, Bassdrum. We've given it a good shot, haven't we?"
The other man, with green hair and a beard, sets his own drink down, frowning. "What do you mean by that, Baritone? You wanna quit?"
"No!" Baritone shakes his head. "No, no. I want to sing. I want people to listen to me sing. I want fame, and stardom, and squealing women asking me to sign their- you get the idea. But lately I've been thinking that I'd also like to live better, you know?"
"Better? What is better than show business?"
"Money, Bassdrum. Good, solid meals every day. More than one good set of clothes. Not worrying every time I pay my rent whether I'll be able to make the next payment. Don't you think guys our age should aim for at least that much?"
"New clothes, huh?" Bassdrum takes a drink, then looks down at his shirt. Between the bottom of his vest and the waistband of his pants, the starched white shines like a spotlight on his paunch. "To be honest, I thought that we were really getting close this time."
"If only I could believe that, my friend. But what have we done since Siren cut us loose? We aren't even a trio anymore, not now that Falsetto is teaching full time."
"Jobs, then. Where can guys like us even find real jobs?"
"Shall I grant that wish?" The bartender, an older gentleman with yellow eyes, injects himself into their conversation.
"You know where we can get work?"
"It so happens that I am short-handed, of late. I have been looking someone to help with security and someone to help mix drinks." The bartender grins. "You gents look like you would fit right in."