[ Closed ]

[ghoulking]

WHO: Kaneki and Utena
WHERE: Nonah, The Farmhouse
WHEN: Sometime in June
WHAT: Utena comes check on Kaneki after Lucina's post
WARNINGS: None for now

[ Kaneki's farmhouse is far away from the city Porter (45 minutes), but it's not impossible to find. Not a lot of people venture into the land, but easily anyone could point out where the ghoul and his family lived, specially by asking Kaneki's fans. The property is located in a largely un-wooded stretch of land on the bank of a small river that faces a heavy swath of forestation, and it has cattle fencing up along the property line. When Utena comes up to the propriety, she will find the main gate and a house in the distance, very close to the river. She can ring Kaneki to go pick her up or... well, she can certainly go explore on her own as well.

Kaneki is home, right now, reading a book on top of the roof. It's probably a favorite place for many reasons - quiet, peaceful, sunny and warm, but he also can keep an eye on the area around the house, in case someone approaches. He also has the communicator with him, just in case.

Outside, Kaneki's two dogs playfully bark and run after each other, which two crows sit nearby watching them. ]

Comments

[andtherevolution]

[Hitchhiking may not be the safest way to get to where she's going, and she's pretty sure Kaneki would kill her if he found out, but hey! She's done this before and it turned out fine. She's fine. Besides, she's not taking a ride all the way up to the property; she's just going close enough not to make a walk completely miserable. It should be about fifteen minutes away now, she thinks. She hopes.

Her estimate is a little off, and she begins to wonder if she's even going in the right direction. Utena's stomach starts to twist itself into knots, but she keeps along the the fence, and her faith is rewarded when she sees Kaneki's house off in the distance. She breathes out in relief, laughing a bit when she sees the dogs running around. This place... this land, this house along the river, it's nice. But, uh, maybe she should give Kaneki a bit of warning. So, she whips out her communicator, and gives him a call.]

Hey, Kaneki-san! This is Utena. How are you feeling?

[She adjusts her backpack, and cans and bottles jangle against each other, muffled by bags of coffee beans. What do you give someone who's on the brink of death? Soup? Instant coffee? Decent coffee? She honestly doesn't know what to bring him or what he can even drink, so she decided to bring all three. It may not have been her best decision.]

[ghoulking]

[ when Kaneki hears the communicator, he reaches for it to pick up Utena's call. He wasn't expecting that, naturally, so it comes a bit of a surprise to see her name on the screen, but he doesn't mind it at all. With a smile - though she can't see him - he picks up the call ]

Ah- Utena-chan. I'm well, and you? [ he is always fine, of course.

However, he does worry a bit about the call, since it's sudden (at least to him) ] Is everything alright?

[andtherevolution]

[She breathes out, not bothering to hide her relief. He's fine! Or at least, he sounds fine.]

Oh yeah, everything's great! I just came by to check up on you, is all. I, uh, I've got coffee?

[surpriiiise]

[ghoulking]

[ came by...? Came by where??? ]

Came by the coffee shop?

[andtherevolution]

...came by your house. Surprise?

[And she's just going to. Try and find her way in, and ignore what a terrible idea this turned out to be]

[ghoulking]

[ wah? Kaneki blinks at the message and he puts his book down.

What now.

He gets up, looking around, though he realizes he probably can't see her. So quickly he reaches for his communicator ]

Are you lost? [ LOOK.

HE IS JUST WORRIED. He also doesn't think he ever told Utena how to get there. ]

[andtherevolution]

no i'm just looking for the gate now

[Utena, that counts as lost. Immediately afterward Kaneki gets another message, though]

nevermind! i think i found it

[ghoulking]

[ yes, definitively lost.

kaneki will jump off the roof next, the dogs that were playing quickly turning to their owner. As kaneki passes by them, he pets Tommy's head, and after looks around. ]

I will get you. Wait by the gate.

[andtherevolution]

[Alright! She's by the gate, staying still. When Kaneki comes over she perks up, before laughing awkwardly]

I'm sorry about this. I'm supposed to be helping you out right now, not the other way around.

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki is being followed by the two dogs who now rush to Utena. Because the gate is in the way, all they can do is to try to stick the head between the bars and lick the air as to attempt to lick the girl.

Kaneki laughs back, shaking his head, while he opens the gate. Utena will be greeted by two very excited dogs ] Please don't worry.

But- here to help me?

[andtherevolution]

[Oh! Hello, hello friends. She laughs a bit when they come up to her, and she rewards them with vigorous petting. Everything is... fine. Perfectly fine. She looks away from Kaneki, focusing on the dogs]

...I saw Lucina's post. The one about the healers, and... well, I just wanted to see if you were better, is all.

[ghoulking]

[ ah... Lucina's post.

Kaneki smiles softer now, and nods after ] Yes, I'm fine. Lucina-chan just freaked out a bit too much, truly. [ kaneki is fine, super SUPER fine ]

But come, I'll show you around the farm. [ might as well, so she doesn't waste her trip. The dogs will of course follow along, very excited to meet a new friend ]

[andtherevolution]

[She's a little worried, but... well, he seems fine. She's happy to follow along with Kaneki and his dogs, and she adjusts her backpack as she starts on the grand tour]

Thanks... I guess it was one of those things that looked worse than it was, huh?

[ghoulking]

Yeah... for sure. [ well, it's one of those things that can't be fixed, at least. Kaneki knows perfectly well whatever he has is a death-sentence, but he can't do anything about it, no one can. So it's better not to worry.

As they reach the farmhouse, two crows bark from a top of a tree. They are also Kaneki's pets, but they don't need (nor like) as much attention as the dogs - and if you think that's too many, he also has two cats, but at least those are house-pets and don't go outside.

The ghoul lets Utena come inside the house. It's a quiet warm place, covered in books and there is always a lingering smell of coffee everywhere. Exactly the way Kaneki likes it. ]

[andtherevolution]

[Utena lingers behind to take off her shoes, and leaves them at the door before stepping inside. She sees the books and the cats, but the what really gets her attention is the smell of coffee. It's both new and familiar, similar to the cafe, but mixed with all those unidentifiable scents that mingle together and make up the smell of each person's home.]

This is really nice... to be honest, I didn't expect you to live someplace so cozy, Kaneki-san, but it really suits you.

[She didn't expect it, no, but it makes sense, doesn't it? He always seems like he's working to make each person in his cafe feel at home.]

[ghoulking]

It's not really my house, if I'm being honest. I'm just... keeping it safe, until the owners return. [ if they ever do. daryl and Mako have left, and Kaneki has a feeling that after so long they are not coming back. Still, the house is in their names as well, and Kaneki doesn't plan on changing that. ] They had good taste.

[ he smiles wide as he says that, walking towards the living room. There are a lot of books around, some on the sofas and the coffee table and those are used a lot, in this house. ] Do you want anything to drink or eat? I've some pastries I made this morning.

[andtherevolution]

[Until the owners return. Utena knows exactly what he means by that, and she allows herself to look at the decor instead of Kaneki. Before she can get lost in her thoughts, his question brings her back to reality, and she straightens up before answering]

Oh, uh, sure! Thanks, Kaneki-san. Do you need a hand with anything?

[She's a guest, after all, and a good guest helps out]

[ghoulking]

No, not at all. [ kaneki shakes his head, heading to the kitchen. Since the house isn't that big, Utena will still be able to hear him ] You are the guest after all, so just sit down and relax.

[ kaneki is a good host and that means he is bringing some pastries, tea and coffee, to let her pick what she'd like. Also milk, just in case she wants to add it to her drink ]

How are things going with you?

[andtherevolution]

[Her hand hovers over the tea for a moment, before she changes her mind and takes a cup of coffee and a pastry. No cream or sugar is added; she wants to taste how Kaneki made it, without any additions]

Everything's fine.... well, mostly fine. It's better than it was a couple months ago, at least.

[She pauses, tapping her fingers against the ceramic of her mug]

I've just been thinking, that's all. Thinking about what we should do here... about what I can do here.

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki hums softly. He himself had those questions plaguing his mind for a very long time, but he was able to find a couple of things to focus on.

Investigations, mostly]

Have you decided on anything?

[andtherevolution]

[She nods, but she can't tell Kaneki what she's decided. Not all of it. She's not sure how much he'd approve...]

It's not enough to just help people - I mean, that's important, don't get me wrong. But...hmn. You know OTO, right? If we wait until after they cause trouble to stop them, then people are still going to get hurt. We need to stop them before they can do anything else. But if we want to do that, then we have to find out more about them.

[In the past, she always waited for disaster to strike before she acted. This was how it was back home, and how she spent her early days here. But if she's learned anything in this strange new world, it's that that isn't good enough anymore.]

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki pauses, looking back at her for a moment without saying a word. Well, what she is saying is true, which is why Kaneki has always immersed himself in work and investigations; always trying to be a step ahead of everything.

But everything he has done also has consequences, some of which a lot of people don't agree with and blame him for. Naturally. What he did with the Porter still weights on his mind, and also the possibility that all of his investigations were what caused OTO to react.

He reaches for his cup of coffee to take a small sip ]

Does that mean you are going to head into investigations, Utena-chan?

[andtherevolution]

Yeah, I am. For a long time I held back because... well, I'm not really the brainy type, you know? I'm not some computer genius, or some master tactician, or anything like that. But maybe...

[She jiggles her foot against the floor at she taps her fingers against her mug, fidgeting as she gets her thoughts together]

Maybe I don't need to be like that. I mean, all these investigations, they were a team effort, right? I can still help out, and if there's something I don't understand, then there's somebody out there who can help.

[ghoulking]

Well, neither am I. [ he blinks, looking back at her. Kaneki is no hero, scientist, tactician. it's true he is a leader back home, of a whole kingdom, but in the end he is never sure of what he is doing ] I just don't like to stay still and not do anything.

So I will do my best. [ let's be honest here, kaneki's best is kinda shitty sometimes ]

But yes, it's always a team effort, and there is a lot we need to do together to be successful. You are not going to be left behind just because you aren't the "brainy type".

[andtherevolution]

[She blinks and straightens her posture, taken aback]

But you always seemed so smart, though - and responsible, too. Though...

[Utena scratches the back of her head, feeling more than a little sheepish]

Though I guess it didn't come overnight, did it? It's something you have to grow into, and the only way you can do that is to just go out there and do something.

[ghoulking]

Aha- I think I'm just a good liar. [ kaneki is book smart, but he has made mistakes through his time here, and responsible... well, not really. He does what he wants, when he thinks it's the right time to do it. He is actually very selfish.

He smiles a little ]

I don't think it's wrong for you to want to do something. But it's good to have help. We can't do everything on our own.