Happy Birthday

[ghoulking]

WHO: Kaneki + Anyone
WHERE: Anywhere, really!
WHEN: 20th December
WHAT: Kaneki's birthday
WARNINGS: None so far

[ Today is Kaneki's birthday. As someone who never had much of a reason to celebrate or anyone to celebrate it with, Kaneki never paid attention to the date (plus, he does have two birthdays and It's Complicated™ ), so naturally no one really knows about the date either.

Except Kaneki's fans, of course. All through the day, he will be dealing with them because they are way too excited about this. ]


1. :RE CAFÉ
[ Arriving at the coffee shop was very easy, but as he approaches the place, he sees near the door bouquets of flowers - a crown of flowers too! - and small wrapped up boxes. They don't have Christmas wrapping, so whoever dropped those there wanted to make sure this was not a Christmas present. Kaneki gathers the few boxes and flowers, coming inside the shop after, and he barely had time to put things down when a couple of natives come inside ]

Ah- welcome, the shop is still not open- [ nevermind that, they aren't there for that. Apparently the two natives only want to shake his hand. ] Happy birthday! [ that's what they say as kaneki awkwardly stares at the two of them shaking his gloved hand. And after, they leave some more presents on the counter.

All through the day, they'll have a lot of people coming in to leave small presents and tell Kaneki they are glad to have him as a hero (even though Ken isn't even registered and doesn't like to be called that) but all he can do is not softly and smile awkwardly. Eventually, one of the tables is covered in gifts and flowers and new trinkets for :Re Café, from all the gifts Kaneki has been getting.

It's really awkward. He stares at the table for a second, sighing after ] What am I even going to do with all of that...


2. MAKING MY WAY DOWNTOWN
[ Making his way downtown, walking fast SUPER FAST because kaneki just saw a group of highschool girls screaming his name and he is trying to pretend he didn't see them. But of course, when a hero ignores their fans, fans decide to step in so they won't be ignored. Quickly, the group of girls surround him, screaming "Happy Birthday" as loud it's humanly possible, and quickly they take off their cellphones and begin to shower him with pictures. ]

I have a present for you!! [ one says, and look - those are cookies. Which he can't eat, but the thought is nice. However, as he opens the small box of cookies, they are all Halloween-like cookies which means they are fingers and eyeballs and brains. Wow. ]

Uhm- thank... you? [ should he thank them for this? Probably not because it's creepy, but when they start chanting "Kennibals forever" he knows it doesn't matter because this is the kind of fans he has and he wishes he didn't. Before he is able to get away, they have their arm wrapped around his and Kaneki just feels too embarrassed and too awkward to be able to tell them to leave ] Let's spend all day together. We will eat the cookies, and you? You can eat u- [ oh my GOD

Kaneki quickly turns to the closest person walking by, which is probably YOU ]

Ah! Hi there! Glad I found you- I had that thing for you! [ HELP HIM. ].


3. OLD LADIES MAN
[ When kaneki lost his memories and became someone else, Haise Sasaki, he did get a new group of fans. Haise was known for his sympathy and kindness among people, and because at the time he worked as a policeman doing small jobs like helping old ladies with their daily issues, it didn't take for them to form a fangroup as well. Sure, Kaneki regained his memories and Haise Sasaki is gone, BUT the fangroup remained.

When he is crossing the street, one of the ladies captures his arm to ask for help to cross it - which Kaneki gladly does - and on the other side he is ambushed by a group of old ladies who want to cover him in kisses and gifts. They are all handmade, from sweaters to scarves and even gloves and a winter hat; and while he tries to thank them all, between kisses and hugs, they put the hat on his head and ruffle his hair and insist for him to try on the gloves and the sweater ]

Thank you, but I- really need to go Mrs. Smith. [ except she is having none of that, and quickly shoves a cute bag full of ginger cookies right under his nose (poor Kaneki almost recoils with disgust, but he tries real hard not to show it). ] Really, you don't have to-

[ gloves in his hands, scarf around his neck, winter hat on his head and holding on to cookies, he tries to escape the ladies who insist he has to try on the sweater ] It's fine, I'm sure it fits - this isn't the right place and time, I mean-

[ HELP. JUST HELP THIS POOR MAN. ]

Comments

2

[h2no]

[it is very clearly a HUGE effort for archie to not be absolutely losing his shit right now. he feels for kaneki, really, but seeing the guy so flustered is just... too funny.]

Yeah, I know the thing. Don't you wanna listen to their song, though? It's not urgent.

[murder and eat archie tbh he's terrible]

[ghoulking]

[ PLEASE BE HELPFUL

kaneki almost shoots archie an accusatory glance, but he is quick to shake his head after ] no, this is more important.

We really need to go. [ the girls whine and they turn to archie to complain that he is taking Kaneki away. Kaneki, however, is quick to pat Archie's back ] Some other time.

but thank you so much for the cookies. I'm certain they are lovely. [ ARCHIE WE GO NOW ]

[h2no]

[he beams back, the picture of innocence. then snorts when they complain at him.]

You lot can dump that attitude back in the toilet you fished it out of! This is imPort stuff, you wouldn't understand!

[no sorry he kind of wants to argue his pride]

[ghoulking]

[ aha getting annoyed, Archie? See what Kaneki goes through? ]

Yes, exactly - let's go, let's go. [ let's not argue, please. Kaneki will now just tug at Archie's arm and try to tug him away from the group of girls ]

[h2no]

[he has his own fans, of course, but they're not this bad. archie gives them one last glare, then lets kaneki tug him away.

but not before calling:] IF I SEE FANFIC OF THIS YOU'RE DEAD!

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki's fangirls are basically Twilight fans, he can bet his ass there will be fanfic of it. That's why Kaneki avoids them, that's why he doesn't talk about it. ]

You'll make it worse, Archie.

[h2no]

[he just grumbles as he follows.]

I got some stuff taken down before... [and scared the piss out of the fan, but.] ...happy birthday.

1

[d33tached]

[D33, being the spectacularly good boyfriend that he is, has positively no idea that it's Kaneki's birthday, so the sudden abundance of gifts, flowers, and adoring fans (more than usual) is, naturally, a bit confusing. Eventually, once there's a bit of time to chat between customers, D33 steps behind the counter next to Kaneki, nodding casually toward the table now filled with gifts and saying:]

I was under the impression that we had not yet reached the upcoming holiday.

[Next he's eyeing Kaneki with a raised brow, as if to urge some explanation.]

[ghoulking]

Oh- [ kaneki looks back at Dee for a second, and then back at the table ] it's not for the holiday. Some might be - I'm certain I saw a Santa hat in there. [ yeaaah ]

But they are mostly birthday gifts.

[d33tached]

Birthday gifts?

[D33 wrinkles his brow, turning to face Kaneki dead-on now, a curious though not particularly perturbed expression on his face.]

Is it yours?

You didn't tell me.

[ghoulking]

[ he hums when Dee asks if it was his birthday, and then turns to the man again ] It's not important.

Except for natives, they always make a huge deal out of everything involving imPorts. [ kaneki never planned for them to know, when he first arrived, but after his files were leaked and hacked several times now, it was difficult to keep that a secret. kaneki is sure when April comes, he will get a lot of birthday cards and presents once again. ]

[d33tached]

I see.

[Though, he...doesn't sound entirely convinced. On one hand, he doesn't particularly see the importance in a birthday either, but...

[On the other hand. Those are a lot of gifts. Maybe he should have gotten Kaneki something...Other than what he's already picked out for him for Christmas.]

Had I known, I suppose I would have gotten you something myself. [He glances sideways at the ghoul.] Though, I...suppose I do have something for you, should you want it now...

[The idea of which makes him just...a little nervous.]

[ghoulking]

You don't need to get me anything. [ kaneki says with a small chuckle, but when D33 mentions he has something for him, Kaneki blinks ]

Why would you have a present for me? [ forgive him, he isn't used to the idea of Christmas, therefor he doesn't connect it is a Christmas present ]

2

[incogneto]

[ Erik is just minding his own business, trying to get to a café when-- Oh no. ]

--Yeah, I was actually just on my way to come ask you about an update actually, glad you have one for me, why don't we go talk about it in private?

[ He casts a sharp glare towards Kaneki's adoring fanclub, who seem to protest. ]

Sorry girls, it's important business.

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki couldn't be more thankful and relieved, quickly moving close to Erik so he can escape the group of fangirls. They aren't happy that their hero is leaving, but he waves them one last time before he finally starts walking, expecting Erik to do the same]

Thank you... I never know how to deal with them.

[incogneto]

I know, usually I just take pictures with them but sometimes they just keep wanting more things.

--Happy birthday, by the way. How old are you now?

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki sighs to himself ] they always say weird things. [ and give him weird things. In fact, kaneki rises his hand, to give Erik the cookies ] Do you want them? [ he can't eat them after all ]

And I will be 27, if we count all the years I was in this world. [ yes, he knows he looks 16. people tell him that all the time ]

[incogneto]

Twenty seven.

[ He tries not to look too surprised, he keeps forgetting how old Kaneki is. Technically, he's still very young, about the same as his children. So... ]

That's a good age.

--And shouldn't I be the one giving you gifts?

[ghoulking]

Aha- I am not sure what "good age" is. [ everything has been awful ever since Kaneki was a kid, so he has hardly any decent opinions on what age is considered "a good age". ]

It's alright, I don't need to celebrate or anything. Plus, I can't really eat them. [ so he'd just throw them out ]

1

[drivesadesk]

Jonathan came by, as he often did, for an evening coffee. He liked coffee anytime, and without Kaneki, it would be much harder to find a good coffee later in the day. However, when he saw the presents, he stopped. Initially he thought Kaneki was doing an early Christmas thing, but then he noticed the 'happy birthday' wrapping paper, and grinned.

"What this? Kaneki! Is it your birthday?" Which was super exciting if it was, and if it was, Jonathan was going to run out and get Kaneki something right now! Maybe, he didn't know what Kaneki would like.

[ghoulking]

When Jonathan approaches about his birthday, Kaneki can only offer the man a small embarassed smile. He isn't used to people making a deal out of it, after all. "Aha, yes, it is." one of them, at least.

"It's nothing big, really." in fact, because Kaneki actually got cakes and cookies that he can't eat, he remembers: "Would you like some of the sweets i got? I'm not sure what to do with all of them."

[drivesadesk]

"Yeah, sure! You're like...a vampire or something, right? Can you even eat those?"

Kaneki had never said anything about that, but Dio said he got his blood from Kaneki's cafe, and so he kind of assumed if there was a secret menu that involved blood, then Kaneki was probably part of a community that drank blood himself.

[ghoulking]

"Aha- a bit different from that but somewhat." something like a vampire SURE. It's easier to explain. "But no, I can't eat them" which is why he will be giving what he can away. it'd be a waste to just throw them out.

"You can take as many as you want."

[drivesadesk]

"Then sure, I'll eat them! I can just eat whatever," he said, grabbing a cookie and taking a huge bite out of it. He only partially chewed before he continued, "Oh, and I'd like a mocha latte. And I think I've seen you drink coffee, though, right? Or am I remembering wrong? Or was that coffee?"

[ghoulking]

Kaneki smiles, letting Jonathan eat as much as he wants - for free too, kaneki is certainly not going to charge him for eating those cookies! At the request of a mocha latte, Ken nods and starts moving to prepare it.

"Yes. Coffee is the only human food ghouls can consume. We aren't very sure why, but it also tastes the exact same way humans taste it." it doesn't taste any different from when kaneki was a human, that's what he means.