September Catch-all

[ghoulking]

WHO: Kaneki and others
WHERE: all the cities
WHEN: All through September
WHAT: catch-all for Kaneki.
WARNINGS: TBA

Prompts are in the comments. If you'd like a prompt, you can contact me through PM or on my plurk vilani , OR you can always go wildcard on me and make something yourself, I'll tag along c:

Comments

[ghoulking]

I don't think there is "right" and "wrong" here or "weird" and "normal". It's impossible to apply that to a situation like this. we are all so different.

[ kaneki smiles a little, before he shakes his head ] We aren't perfect either. And sometimes we do mistakes, serious ones, and we have to live with them. or sometimes, it was all just a response to a world that you don't know, but a response we had to give nonetheless. [ kaneki did so many mistakes, he tries to do so many things that didn't end well. ]

It doesn't mean they are bad people. It doesn't mean they don't feel guilty, it doesn't mean they are wrong or right. And it can be difficult to understand that, sometimes. But I'm sure even you, when you look at Mickey and you consider him a friend, you know there isn't an easy answer for everything.

[continuousgroaning]

[She nods slowly.]

That IS who they are, and they shouldn't have to change. It's what they had to do back home. And one of them wants to protect me from having to think about and experience having to hurt or kill other people, which... is a pretty great thing for him to do. I AM just a kid. One who's led a pretty ordinary life, and I'm finding that I'm lucky that way.

[Tina pokes at the milkshake with her straw, then takes a deep breath.]

But you're right... I feel like my world is so simple compared to everyone else's, but it's not in some ways. Not every question can be answered in a way that puts things into a neat little box of right or wrong. Someone... someone can still be a good person even if they do things I consider wrong. And I can't expect my morals to apply to everyone else. I just... freaked because it was a new thing to me and I didn't know HOW to react.

[ghoulking]

Hm- it's not bad to be a kid and to be away from such things. [ but Tina will meet things like this again and again. Whoever is trying to protect her from such things needs to realize they can't protect her always and forever, and she has to learn to face different situations too. Hopefully not the way Kaneki did. ] But you can't hide forever, right? Sometimes you will see it.

Like now. [ he smiles softly. ]

Your reaction was normal, Tina-chan. It's fine to react like that because there is so much falling on your lap right now, so fast - how else can you react? But- you don't have to deal with it alone.

[continuousgroaning]

[She nods agreement.]

I WISH it was that simple and I could just go on and pretend nothing bad ever happens. But they will. And it's not going to do me any good to pretend. It'll just make it harder to face reality when it DOES hit. Or else it'll make everyone around me think I'm oblivious and don't care about things.

[Tina takes another drink and smiles wanly.]

... You're right. I'm just so used to being able to go to my parents and have them listen and give me advice that I forget I have people here I can trust. Who've seen these kinds of things before.

[ghoulking]

Hm- you do have many people. And even if you aren't sure where to turn, the whole imPort community is ready to help when you need. [ at least there is that. ImPorts can have their small disputes (or very big ones) but when it comes down to helping younger imPorts, many are more than willing ]

And before I forget - it's important to think about your own feelings too. If you feel that something makes you uncomfortable, it's okay to tell the other person that. It doesn't mean you are a bad friend or you don't care, it means you care about yourself too and that's important. [ it's good to set boundaries regarding what someone is willing to talk about as well ]

[continuousgroaning]

Yeah... even the strangers, right? I have a whole network at my disposal.

[She then pokes at her milkshake and nods slowly.]

... I guess in this case, even though I DID speak up about my feelings... it's not going to change anything, either. So in that case it does seem... a little pointless.

[ghoulking]

Even strangers, yes. Sometimes, it's even easier to talk to strangers than people you know. [ some things are easier to get out there when you don't have to worry that your friends might judge you ]

But I don't think it's pointless, Tina-chan. Because that person will know how you feel and that's important. [ friends worry about how each other feel ]

[continuousgroaning]

Guess so. They can look at a situation differently than I can, or even some of my friends can, being so close to me.

[She sighs.]

And I know they do care how I feel. Which does make it harder to talk to them about it.

[ghoulking]

Exactly. Less bias.

[ kaneki smiles softly and nods ] It will. But it's part of life, we have to talk about things that are hard to talk about, sometimes.

[continuousgroaning]

[She takes another drink of milkshake at that.]

Yeah. ... It's part of growing up, right? I can't stay 13 forever.

[ghoulking]

yes, it is. Growing up+ is good. Just don't grow up too fast. [ it's good to be a kid for a little while longer, even if a kid with more knowledge on things ]

[continuousgroaning]

[She nods.]

... I'll try. And I don't want to change too much. I'm at that age where part of me wants to be a grownup, but part of me just wants to stay a kid. It's a weird place to be in.

[ghoulking]

Aha- [ kaneki smiles, amused. he had a very different childhood from Tina's, but he does remember that phase a bit, too ] i think it happens to everyone.

But when you are a kid, you get a lot of free stuff and passes - like milkshakes. [ what he means is, she doesn't have to pay for her drink ]

[continuousgroaning]

Thank you. This really did help... that and the talking. That was a big help, too.

Being a kid definitely isn't bad. And I'm glad I had the life I did.

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki smiles ] I'm glad I could help somehow. And I'm sure your life will continue to be great.

[continuousgroaning]

Even if it is really different from how it was back home.

[ghoulking]

I'm sure it is. But I'm also sure you can adapt to it, Tina-chan. You have been doing great.

[continuousgroaning]

I've been trying my best. It's either adapt or... not... adapt.