Meet me on Thames Street

[rassera]

WHO: Kaneda & YOU! (guest starring Capsule the puppy)
WHERE: Nonah 05 sidewalk (Birthday) & Any city for the rest
WHEN: September 5th (Birthday) & Rest of September
WHAT: September 5th is Kaneda's birthday. He sort of celebrates for himself. Other than that, he'll be bouncing from city to city every now and then to scope out for Tetsuo. He may or may not ask people to bunk with them for a night instead of trekking home.
WARNINGS: Kaneda


BIRTHDAY:

[8AM, September 5th. Was it already that time again? Honestly, if it wasn't for his communicator, he honestly would have forgotten. He often did--there was nothing special about it. Well, that is, until he got here and saw so many people asking for things for their birthday. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't tempted. Whatever. What he wanted wasn't exactly tangible.

The day went about as normal, a soft 'happy birthday' to himself in the mirror before messing up his hair into it's usual position was enough. A bruised face looks back in that mirror a moment, running a hand down the skin and rubbing it, turning away soon after.]

Happy birthday, Kaneda.

[Confirmation that yes, it was his birthday, he'd do something for himself about it, and that would be that. Only one other person probably knew about it, anyway, and he highly doubted that Tetsuo would a.) remember b.) care or c.) come back to even mock him about it. Not that he expected him to, either way. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he makes his way out the door to his bike. Maybe he'd just...go off driving for the day. Do what Kasumi said and relax a little. He doubted that driving just to see where he ended up was what she meant, but she wasn't exactly specific either....

Yeah, he'd do that.]

---

[Its not until 11pm that the bike pulls up to Nonah 05, engine hot from running itself into exhaustion. It'd certainly gotten a workout with Kaneda behind the handlebars, and there's an affectionate pat to the windshield as he steps off. Not exactly a talkative guest to his birthday, but a loyal, reliable one nonetheless. Fingers follow the glass to the handlebar itself, where a bag dangled. For once it's not takeout, he muses, looking into the plastic with a smile as he snaps the bike away to make room for his ass to plop down right on that sidewalk.

What's inside the bag? Two cakes, nothing big or special, but really what was just at the grocery store bakery. Honestly, he wasn't even sure what he got, only just now looking at the label. Chocolate and...red velvet? Huh. It looked white. He sets that one to the side as he opens the chocolate one, pulling out a box of forks and pulling one out. Just...straight up digging into it silently.

After all, it was his birthday. He'll eat his own damn cake. That is...unless someone finds him.]

GENERAL:
[Since Tetsuo's decided to wreak havoc among the cities, Kaneda's trying to play bloodhound and hunt for him. Which makes for a lot of travel, a lot of strain on his bike, and one tired teenager. You can find him doing any of these, either searching actively for signs of his *-BEST FRIEND-*, or if you're familiar with him enough, he might (accident or not) knock on your door to ask if he can break with you for a few hours.

He will travel home to check on his dog after a few hours, though. Or sometimes he'll even bring his dog with. It's a baby golden retriever what more of an icebreaker do you need than a boy and his dog?


A man has his priorities.]


[ooc: this is for general kaneda shenanigans as well so if you want to do anything with him, feel free to hit me up or toss up a starter! I'm good for anything, these are just the main two prompts if you want some teen boy disaster!]

Comments

11PM SHARE THAT GODDAMN CAKE SON

[rideme]

[The Iron Bull probably isn't much in the way of terrifying in the last few days. He's been good to his word, keeping an eye out for Tetsuo as well. In between that and work, he tends to flop on the couch as soon as he gets in for the night -- easier than his bed, and better able to hear the goings-on outside. Just in case.]

[... it WOULD be a good position, if all six cats and, recently, the puppy, didn't decide to use him as a bed.]

[Of course, once the bike approaches, said puppy is leaping to his big puppy feet and scattering cats and charging down the hall. Also stepping right on Bull's face.]

[Needless to say, when the Qunari appears in the house's front door, letting the pup come running out to see Kaneda, he looks slightly less than jovial.]

Hey.

[Nice greeting there, Bull.]

MAYBE HE WILL

[rassera]

[Kaneda doesn't look up until he hears the voice, followed by the yipping he'd come to know (and love) over the past week and a half. Mouth full, he sets the cake to the side as the little thing bounds over to him, scooping him up in his arms. And that's how Kaneda died of a puppy lick attack.]

Capsule!

[Pure laughter escapes at it, leaning back as he tries to 'fight off' the puppy's love, ruffling him on the head.]

Were you sleeping this whole time? Huh? [And then his eyes travel up, looking at Bull standing in the doorway.]

Thanks for watching him.

[rideme]

More like, he was using me as a bed.

[But he pads over, stumping down onto the curb next to Kaneda, fluffing the pup's ears as well.]

What's that you've got there?

midnight

[resipiscent]

[Sometimes Riku's curious about what's going on over at Kaneda's. He's a good guy and all, but he's better at getting himself into trouble than Sora is, which is saying something in his opinion. So it's after swim class that he's showing up over at Nonah 05, wet hair still clinging to itself.

At home he might swim in his clothes, but at a public pool he can't really do that, so he's resorted to legskins. He's got his windbreaker on, just so he's wearing some kind of shirt, though it's hanging open (he was lazy). He walked here from the training facility -- leaving his vespa parked there, because he figured it would be better if he didn't get it wet.

He is aware, vaguely, that he's leaving a damp mark in the welcome mat as he rings the doorbell, but that's fine.]

[rassera]

[Oh Riku, Nonah 05 is ground zero for all the shenanigans. You might see a broken door still in the backyard, and a tarp over what would be Tetsuo's bedroom window. Cats are perched in the window, and behind the door after it rings you can hear a little yipping of a familiar puppy.

Yep. It's a lively house.

Kaneda's first to open, though, the second cake now in his hands with the fork stuck in it. He's dressed in a tank top and ratty pants, brows raising in slight (and happy) surprise at Riku being there.

Capsule making circles around his feet and trying to lick that water dripping from the wetsuit.]

You fall off a bridge or something?

[resipiscent]

[He looks confused, then smirks.]

Yes, I fell and died and then returned to life to stalk you. No, I teach swimming. What's up?

De Chima

[orions_shadow]

[Bro so sorry he missed your birthday but he came down with a little case of the hurts. Right now he's sitting on the steps leading into his house, looking far better but his arm still in a sling, shoulder wrapped in some kind of plastic containment over a plaster cast.

His little puppy is on a leash, rolling around in the front yard grass, tracking the scent of squirrels and otherwise getting her nose in trouble.

Ears flick when the sound of a motorbike comes down his road. He remembers that sound. Pretty distinguishable noise. He grins when he sees that red bike come down and he waves to Kaneda.] "Hey!"

[rassera]

[It's okay man it wasn't even all that exciting. And he knows full well what being beat to hell and back is like. He almost doesn't hear Shadow calling him as he drives past, but his eye catches him sitting out on the step, pulling back on his handlebars to brake along the side of the road.

Stepping off and snapping his fingers to let his bike go into whatever hammerspace it lives in, he walks over, shaking his hair out of his eyes.]

Lookit you, up and out again. How bad's it hurt now?

[orions_shadow]

Baah. Won't be but a few more days in a cast. I heal fast. Just not fast enough.

[Where'd the bike go? His hears went straight up when the bike disappeared, searching with his eyes for the missing device. He settled down though once he realized it was just a power. Strange though.

He moves his shoulder back and forth to emphasize the increased movement without pain, but gingerly puts it back in place.]

Still lookin' for him?

General

[cartesianspidertank]

[ Tachikoma drops by Nonah 5 to see if there's anything to do since she knows pretty much everyone. She sees Kaneda in the garage working on his bike, which looks worse for wear. ]

Wow, that thing looks really beat up! It looked fine last time I saw it!

[rassera]

[Kaneda doesn't hear her at first, too busy on his back trying to readjust the wiring near the wheel. Despite making it disappear, the bike had taken quite a hit during the chase. Thanks Tetsuo. But he does see some feet standing there that weren't there moments ago...


Huh.


He'll slide out to look at her, dressed in only a white tank and his orange pants.]

She got a little banged up. Nothing I can't fix though. What are you doing out here, and where's...the bigger you?

[cartesianspidertank]

Hmm, I haven't really thought about it! Where does my tank body go when I'm not using it? Does it cease to be? Is it stored somewhere??? That's a really interesting question!!

Anyway I just came by to see what's vertical!!!! [ Was she using that right? ]

What have you been driving so much for?

Nightish

[maglevflash]

[She's been out of the hospital for the better part of a week now, but other than attempting work (and regretting it thanks Crane) she hasn't left her house. Traveling any distance was still tiring, and her body still aches with faded bruises and healing cuts. She's wearing her own jacket tonight, sleeves pulled down over her hands to hide the scars, with Kaneda's borrowed jacket folded neatly in her arms.

Her messenger bag is strapped tight around her, the discs hanging off the strap in position for quick grabbing. She's uneasy being out at night, especially in Nonah, and there's a paranoid pattern of keeping an eye around her, but Kaneda hadn't been home for hours and she hasn't felt like going home and coming back out here to maybe miss him again.

She could have called him, but she hasn't felt up to talking to anyone, really. Though if it gets too much later she might knock on the door to see if she can stay here to try and catch a nap. Doesn't want to risk being caught off guard outside.]

[rassera]

[When Kaneda pulls up, bag wrapped securely around his bike handle, he doesn't notice her at first. Maybe he's a little too caught up in himself, dazing a little as that bike pulls up to the sidewalk. It's almost as if Kaneda's on autopilot right now, the way his legs swing over the seat, hoisting himself up and sliding the bag off the handlebar.

In fact, it isn't until he's a few feet from the sidewalk that he notices, eyes widening.]

Gogo?

[Not that he's not excited to see you but...what are you doing here?]

[maglevflash]

[She's not cold. It's not that cold out to begin with and she's got a jacket, but she's hugging herself nonetheless. She pulled herself together when she heard the bike approach, sitting up from her slouched position on the step. She looks tired, but smiles when he notices her.]

I, ah... I came to return your jacket.

[She lifts the article in question to show him.]

[amadaman]

[On weekdays, around half past two in the afternoon, Koromaru crawls through the doggy door set in the front door and disappears for a few hours, always coming back with Ken. Sometimes they'll both be tired like they ran around, and sometimes they'll have groceries. But they're almost always together.

He does the same today, too. Ken's been out since morning and it's a little bit earlier than usual. Two-fifteen, he gets up, stretches, gets some water from his bowl, and crawls out of the door without even a bark of warning. This is a dog on a mission]

[rassera]

[It's something that's always bugged Kaneda, honestly. The same time every day, Koromaru would pop up, as if he were possessed, and make his way out the door. Every day.

In fact, one time he even timed it, and sure enough, at 2:15, Koromaru dropped whatever he was doing, walking past the couch that Kaneda was resting on. Kasumi and Charlie had told him to take it easy, which he...sort of promised to.

But that was more of telling him not to get involved with anything dangerous, right? He could do this. Because Koromaru's...well, he's never understood that dog on a personal level. He wasn't like Capsule in a lot of ways.

So he's getting up, waiting for the dog to exit...and sneakily following him outside.



What could go wrong?]

forward dated to: LATE SEPTEMBER;

[amadaman]

[Ken looks exhausted as he sits down on the couch next to Kaneda one night at the tail end of September, but still not as tired as he had over the last few weeks. There are bags under his eyes and his brows are furrowed like he's fighting off a headache, but there's less tension in his shoulders as he leans back on the cushions and scrubs at his eyes.

In all honesty, he's been pretty depressed since the swear-in in August. His initial attempt to hide away at Minato's house aside, he's lost a lot of crucial sleep hours (especially for someone his age) and the stress from when he was still hallucinating Shadows has worn him thin. He's recovered, but there's still a lot of times when he silently stares out the window and watches the moon in silence until midnight passes. He's attentive to conversation once he's called upon, but he's often lost in thought and Koromaru's even taken to walking him to school in the morning, just in case.

Tonight, it's almost midnight, and Ken's managed to tear himself away from the window. He didn't want to be alone, though, and he wanted to talk to Kaneda anyway. The red hoodie he's wearing is different from his trademark orange and a little too big on him as he draws his feet up on the couch and curls up next to the man who had become a surprisingly big part of his life at such an alarming speed.]

Hey, Kaneda-san?

[rassera]

[It's a good thing bedtimes were so loose in Nonah 05. Then again, sleep really didn't come easy to Ken nor to Kaneda. With Tetsuo still missing in action, and him no closer to finding him than when he started, he found himself running ragged. More often than not, he was having to crash for a few hours of daytime at other people's houses, returning home every night for Ken and Capsule.

Which made nights long. Bags below Kaneda's eyes had become constant, almost raccoon-like in nature.

When Ken flops next to him, his eyes shift from what he's eating to the boy, noticing quite immediately those bags under his eyes. What had been shaky stability in Nonah waas now more like crumbling gravel beneath their feet. He doesn't speak, the only acknowledgement of Ken's presence he gives is how he moves his feet to another sitting position, to make room. If Ken wanted to talk, he'd talk. Chances are, he just wanted the company.

At least, that's what Kaneda wanted.

But when Ken speaks up, his head turns, arm slowly lifting up and resting around the boy's shoulder.]

Well look who's staying up. Something eatin' you?

Whatever Forest Peter Pan is hobo-ing it up in | 9/16

[rassera]

[Well, Tetsuo had certainly invited him to come find him and talk things out. And he wasn't about to pass that opportunity up.


Okay, he thinks it's absolutely bullshit. He knows it is. But he's got a location on Tetsuo now, and even if it is a trap, it's a trap that Tetsuo's present in. And to him? That's a lead. Without hesitation, he gets to the forest that looks most likely to house a bratty teenager, sitting at the edge of it. He wasn't afraid of forests, but it was his first time being in one for real. Living in a metropolis your whole life, it's all new territory.

Honestly.

Getting off his bike, he opens his glove compartment to pull out the pistol and taser he got from the cop(s), tucking the latter in his coat and the former going around his thigh. He didn't -want- to bring them, but he also isn't an idiot. There's one final reach in, pulling out Anti-Inflammatory drugs he'd dug around and found in the house from after the Swear-In.

Look just because Tetsuo's a shitheel doesn't mean he doesn't care. Bees in any quantity suck.

A snap of his fingers, and the bike disappears to wherever it's magically held as he starts to walk in. It wasn't so bad--a little too quiet for his tastes--but harmless enough. He couldn't see how Tetsuo could live here, though.

Then he remembers. He couldn't. That's why he was here.]

Alright Tetsuo, I'm here! Now what's this you wanted to show me. Trees?


I'm not impressed!

[dreamshades]

[ Well, look who is in his woods. It's Kaneda.

While Peter has no real care for this boy, just messing with the boy has been something of a pleasure. Planting his seeds of doubt and ruin inside Kaneda's and Tetsuo's friendship has been a real treat.

So, why not go a step further?

Peter will remain hidden but as soon as Kaneda begins to walk about, Peter sets to work. A barrier here, a barrier there, a ward there...and Kaneda won't even find his way out.

And then there's a text on Kaneda's phone the source is anonymous. ]

Lets play a game, Kaneda.

GIMME YO CAKE BOY

[sidecars]

[ Bucky has, sadly, become attuned to the sound of Kaneda's engine revving down the street of their neighborhood. It is unapologetically loud and unique. Once he hears it die, Bucky's out the door and walking the short distance between their houses.

No chipper greeting or insult comes from him this time; he's not exactly in a chipper mood. When he sees the Nip parked on the curb with a cake, he squats down too. Then without asking he's got a fork in his hands. ]

Good choice.

[ You can't go wrong with chocolate ever. He digs himself his own corner out of the cake. ]

[rassera]

[It was weird, how fast everything seemed to take place. Bucky exited his house, walked over, and sat down before Kaneda could even think of something to react with. Maybe the just needed the fuel to start the fire. Either way, he looks from the sidewalk, to where Bucky sits, to the fork suddenly in his hand.]

Wha???

[Okay, play it cool, Kaneda. He'll just stab that other corner and work his way in.]

Not bad, yeah? A little sweet, but that's all your food around here.

Post forest adventure - Bull

[rassera]

[The walk home from the forest was a quiet one. Kaneda hadn't really wanted help, but with things escalating the way they did, he had to call for help.

Thankfully, someone was listening. And that someone was Bull.

He's constantly staring at his communicator, thumb pressing up and down on his network. Looking for any trace of those texts. Bull would believe him, of course. But this was twice that he'd been tricked this same way. What does he even say to that? He can't possibly ask Bull for that kind of faith.

He wouldn't have, and he didn't expect it in return.]

That bastard.

[His gruff, a little hurt pride showing as he stuffs that communicator back in his pocket, his hands shoving themselves in there after it.]

Post Forest Adventure - Ken

[rassera]

[Son of a bitch.

Kaneda wasn't above asking for help if the situation arose, but damn, did this one sting. That anonymous texter had struck again, and this time, when Kaneda was in unfamiliar territory. Not only that, but he was able to play games with him, messing with his head and...knowing things he shouldn't.

Knowing what only Kaneda could have known. And the worst part is? Once again, he had no proof of this. The conversation was erased yet again.

It made his blood cold just thinking about it as he steps into the house, slumping in the doorway a moment as he tries to muster up any and all pride that he could. It's like everything that happened out there suddenly weighed down upon him. That Tetsuo was still out there and he wasn't doing enough.

Bull wouldn't have allowed him going out again anyway, so he makes his way in, Capsule running to greet him as he gestures for him to fall in line next to him, leading his way to the couch. He just needed to lie down and let his pride heal.

The TV is already on, though, and he sees Ken there as he walks in, playing video games. He doesn't say anything, although Capsule's tail wags against his legs. Somehow, that was a bit of relief to have someone there. Something to take his mind off that whole situation. Striding over, he silently falls on the couch horizontally, legs hanging over the armrest as he looks at the TV. Capsule flops down by the couch's side, just under Kaneda's feet.]

...Are you winning?

[Hi Ken.]