maskormenacelogs | And when he speaks that word, you will descend into your very own world of fear...

After agreeing to resume their conversation elsewhere, ducking and weaving through the crowd seems an endless task before Simon finally reaches the coffee shop and picks out one of the empty tables off to the side where people are least likely to pay them any mind. Finally, the terrifying taste of blood and flesh are out of his mouth, though the memory itself is still fresh in his mind. And then, of course, there's the matter of whatever memory Kaneki had seen—Elizabeth, or at least he'd thought it was her at the time.

How much of it did Kaneki see or know? Even Simon isn't entirely sure of what exactly had happened in that memory because Elizabeth is still alive, believe it or not. And yet, Simon doesn't believe that M'gann would've planted a memory like that. No, that seems utterly ridiculous, and as terrible as it may seem, Simon thinks it may be true. It has to be true, and there's so much more to everything that's happened. If only he could figure it all out, even though it's not going to make any difference if and when he gets ported back.

With that, he settles down at the table and tries to catch his breath before they continue their discussion.

Edited 2015-02-11 12:46 (UTC)

While Simon hasn't really frequented De Chima, he still remembers what it was like to do the base jump back in December, the silent date auction, and then to actually just have his date right afterward. He knows a fancy place to wine and dine well into the evening, knows where the best and most beautiful night sights are. But he's more or less a stranger when it comes to visiting during the daytime, and that's exactly what brings him here.

He sends Jennifer a message that he's in town and will pay her a visit at a time of her preference, giving him some time to wander about. And after a bit of touring, of looking about and noticing all the hospitals and science and research buildings, he finally drops by the hospital to meet with Jennifer and have his fingers looked at. He's directed to a waiting area, where he sits and idly flips through a random magazine he's pulled from the stack while, well, waiting.

Maurtia Falls certainly has this air about it where people aren't so invested in each other as themselves, and imPorts don't seem like a hot commodity here as they seem in Heropa or Nonah or De Chima. Hardly any hurrah or hoo-ha for imPorts; they and their businesses don't stand out any more than the average person's, so it seems. It's quite a different atmosphere, one that Simon is still trying to determine whether or not he likes it just yet.

Oh, but there's more of an underground here, more places to gamble. The urge is real, so very real, and Simon fights it for as long as he can maintain any semblance of control. So he makes it a real focus, a mission even, to visit Gil's bakery. It'd be a welcome distraction, a good way of ignoring the niggling feeling to take as many chances as it takes to strike gold. So Simon chants the bakery address like a mantra in his mind before looking the building over when he arrives at the door. He pulls it open and enters, holding his hand up to wave at whoever he may first encounter.

Heropa
Simon works and lives in Heropa, and it's not all that hard to run into him. He takes walks in the park and often hits up convenience stores and various other places where he could get takeaway. He often wanders about because it's good for when he's stressing or dealing with... things. More often than not, he doesn't mind meeting new people, but he'll definitely make some time for you if he's already met you. In fact, he's even gone so far out as the outskirts of Heropa, but has avoided it since having run into Dean Winchester's charred corpse last month.

Nonah, De Chima, Maurtia Falls
Simon is inclined to stay in the more crowded areas and does his best to stay relatively alert since Gamagori rescued him from being mugged back in December. And mind how that was still in Heropa; what more of other cities he isn't nearly as familiar with? He's been to De Chima before, but not in the daytime; he knows the night sights, but things are somewhat different during the daytime. And as for Nonah and Maurtia Falls, he's got quite a bit of discovering to do—with the latter, it's quite hard not to indulge his frustrating gambling compulsion.

Maurtia Falls isn't Gil's kind of city, to be honest. He enjoys the lack of personal intrusion and the weather is much more tolerable than it ever was in Florida, but city's vices are near impossible to disregard. It feels... wrong much of the time, because it is wrong. He just doesn't know what to do about it. He's no hero or vigilante and besides, what can he do about the illegal activities of the city being one person?

There are other things to focus on, such as his job, paying his rent and utilities, groceries, and trying to understand the information Kate Bishop and others have put out on the network.

But for now, he's busy at work, carrying a tray with a batch of freshly baked lemon-filled danishes over to the display case when the bell above the door jingles. The store is quiet, with a few people sitting by the window seats and old blues music playing from the radio softly in the background.

Through the glass display he sees Simon. Careful to fit the tray into the shelf in the display, he ducks his head out from it to look up and greet the man he recognizes off the network, looking somewhat surprised.

"Simon?"

Edited (SUBJECT TITLES!!) 2015-02-11 14:30 (UTC)

Kaneki isn't sure how to continue (or rather, start) this conversation, but from what he gathered he had seen something pretty terrible - murder - happening, and Simon has seen... well, something similar but probably a lot worse that involved Kaneki and human flesh. Who should talk first was also a question that crossed ken's mind, but as he sits down and looks at the other, he can't help but to open his mouth iin an attempt to start.

"S-simon... what exactly... did you see?"

"Hello," he replies, approaching his side of the glass display. Tipping his head, he continued, "See, I told you that I'd visit when I drop by."

After cursorily glancing about, he asks, "How's business for today?"

The moment Kaneki asks him, Simon wills away the iron tang of blood and the sinewy feeling of flesh. The thought revives those feelings a little bit, but at least it seems he's more in control of it, so he isn't nearly as sick as when he'd first experienced it.

"It was hard, it was blurred by tears, and you were talking to someone," he starts before really trying to focus on any other aspect of the memory. "Someone holding an arm, and you said... You said that you're human."

But then, then that. No, he doesn't want to recount the whole thing; he hopes he's said enough, please let that be enough.

"Hey, Simon." Jennifer smiles kindly at the man as she finds him in the waiting room- and indeed, she seems pretty relaxed and happy. This was what she was all about, after all- seeing patients outside an emergency setting. "How's your hand?"

"Ah! Hello, Jennifer," he replies, tossing the magazine back to the pile and rising from his seat. "It's not any more painful than usual. But it is healing up. How're you?"

She looks in her element, that's for certain. Simon guesses it's a good day for her.

The description causes Kaneki to go silent and look down at his own hands now resting on his lap. There were many instances when he was crying, but only one when a woman was holding a arm and shoved it down his throat. That was Touka-chan, he was certain, and that had happened few days after he woke up from his accident.

".... I... am human. At least a big part of me is. But I don't think I can say that with much confidence. Not all of me is human, not anymore..." it was a complicated situation then, it still is now.

"Rather slow, but it's a given; the holiday season is over."

It sometimes makes for a boring day at work, but he would take boring over overworked and stressful. It's rare for this store to be that busy, though it has its moments.

Gil smooths down his white apron, bits of red and yellow can be seen smudged against the fabric. Fruit fillings, a little bit of sugar, glaze, and just a pinch of flour. His hair is tied back into a tiny ponytail, too.

"How are you? Have a seat somewhere."

"Glad to hear it. I'm doing well, thanks for asking- I'm glad I can see a normal patient, even if it's on the side. I called in a few favors and got an exam room- would you follow me?" she asked, beckoning as she moved down a different hallway than the one she'd come out of.

The sick feeling returns despite Simon's best efforts. While he nods slowly and tries to accept Kaneki's vague explanation, it's apparent he's disturbed and terrified and grossed out but doesn't want to show it or to look freaked out. It's quite difficult knowing how to react or how to feel about it.

"Which means there is a part of you that isn't human..." Simon lets that trail off. The hairs on the back of his neck stand on end when he thinks that maybe it's that non-human part of Kaneki that craved human flesh. Or perhaps, still craves it. He shudders with the thought before it's suddenly interrupted by another one. "Wait, then what I saw—was that really something that happened to you? Was it a memory?"

"Certainly." With that, he follows her down the hall and glances about as they move along. "Thanks for this, really. I appreciate it. I suppose this is a version of down time for you, what with working with EMT. Is it usually more hectic than this?"

"Don't mind if I do," Simon replies, picking a table and pulling out a seat. "I'm fine. Better than when a couple weeks ago, that's for sure."

He's still battling that addiction as much as he ever is, and it helps to be busy. Though it probably also helps to be scared out of his wits after having seen a body burnt to a crisp. And while that wasn't Lunatic's work, it still weighs heavy on Simon's mind for various reasons.

"You know, it's different seeing your work clothes. Not in a bad way, of course, but something in the way of an artist at work."

Kaneki swallows dryly and nods softly; he can't look back at Simon, he doesn't dare to, but he does answer with a nod. It was a memory, and it was indeed something that did happen to him.

"In... my world, there is a species called "Ghouls", who can only... feed on humans. They can't eat anything else." just that. Just human flesh. "I had an accident and- they transferred ghoul organs onto me and since then I became.... like that...." Kaneki closes his eyes harder "I can't... eat anything else, I-" he trails off, before he lets out a choked sound "I'm sorry-"

"No, no, no, it's—"

Simon stops himself short, unsure of what he's trying to say. It's not Kaneki's fault that Simon saw his memory, though it is a wonder of how that came to be. Similarly, he can't be certain that Kaneki had ghoul organs transplanted into his body. But he eats human flesh, it's the only thing he could eat, and that thought remains quite horrifying.

"I'm sorry, too. For seeing it. Sorry, really. I don't know what to say about it, but... I don't know that I should blame you for it, you didn't ask for it."

"I'm not hurting anyone, I promise." he knows it's hard to believe that, but Kaneki wants to make sure Simon understands he would never hurt anyone ~~actually...that might happen~~ "The government knows of my situation, they have been helping me - no one is getting hurt because of me, I swear"

"It's no problem," she replied, then nodded. "Sometimes- it's off and on. Usually we tend to be busier during the evening and the nighttime... you know, when people are getting drunk and disorderly after the workday is over." She smirked. "Add superpowers into the equation... and boom."

The blood immediately rushes into his cheeks and head, a dizzying sensation that forces Gil to lean a hand against the counter and prop himself up while another hand flies to his mouth, covering part of his face with embarrassment.

"A-Artist? I wouldn't go as far as saying that..." he mumbles shyly, barely able to meet Simon's gaze as he replies.

Looking at the boy, Simon can't help feeling bad. It's no wonder he's such a wallflower, but it's not as if he can just coop himself up forever. Humans are typically social creatures, and Kaneki can't just lock himself up forever. He also cannot help going hungry, and Simon can understand that. It's terrifying, but... Kaneki himself can't help those urges.

"Okay. Okay. It's—it's okay. I believe you; you didn't choose this, and you can't help that it's happened to you. I believe it when you say you're not hurting anyone..."

But here he wonders just how he sates his hunger. Where does he get human flesh? Cadavers from the morgue? Simon shudders again and tries not to think too hard about it. And that's proving to be quite a challenge.

"Right, I'd imagine superpowers have a tendency of complicating things." That in mind, he's thankful that there aren't superpowers back at home—who knows what his tormentors could've done to him. Instead, he's here because he just wants to make sure that the damage they'd done is healing correctly. With a quick thought, he asks, "Oh, I won't have to actually sit on a table when you check these out, right?"

"it's...it's not okay." Kaneki doesn't think so, Kaneki thinks it's gross and disgusting and it's definitively not okay, none of it. But it feels better to hear that the other believes him when he says he isn't hurting anyone.

"... please don't tell anyone." it's not fair to ask this, kaneki knows. "People... would get scared and I-" he doesn't want to be seen as someone disgusting, even if he is.

He chuckles. "It's just a little reminiscent. Come on now, don't be so modest. You've quite a charming place here."

Leaning on the table, he continues, "So. What would you recommend that I'd have, now that I'm here?"

"Not if you don't want to," Jennifer said, washing her hands before pulling a pair of gloves on. "Especially if it's healing well. Hold out your hand, please... If you don't mind me asking, what kind of injury was this in the first place?"

"I'm just an assistant baker here. The owner is really the one who put this together." Gil shifts from the counter, his hand lowering to his collar to give it a nervous tug.

At Simon's request, he immediately gives the display a look over, trying to determine what would be an appropriate baked good to recommend Simon. It's packed full of various goods and even on the counter, small baskets with other delicious treats sit. Gil has to rub the back of his head, glancing over at Simon uncertainly.

"That depends, honestly. Do you like your pastries sweet? Soft? Something with a bit of a crunch to them? Then quite a few of them have fruit fillings..."

Simon tries not to look so pathetic and disgusted about the whole thing, instead attempting to seem more assuring. He licks his lips before replying, "I promise, I won't tell anyone anything about it. I wouldn't—that's just not right, not when it's not up to me."

Then he lets it fall silent, giving them time to process things.

"I'm sorry I had to see that. I don't know why or how I got your memory. Are you all right?"

"Ah, it's—" He cuts himself short here while thinking of the best way to put this. Hesitating for a second or two while debating removing the wrappings first, he holds his hands out. On each hand, three fingers are carefully bandaged.

"Um, well. I got myself into, well. Something, an ordeal back where I'm from. It's not something here, or that has followed me here as of yet, but anyway. Some guys, they. Uh. Cut my nails. Yeah."

It's apparent he doesn't want to go into much detail about the situation. Though at least it's been months, and with just a little more care, they should grow in and be fully healed within the next month or month and a half.

Jennifer grimaced as he spoke, getting the idea that he was trying to avoid the how. She got the gist, and figured that was enough- she wasn't going to pry, and at any rate, she had enough information to make a judgment about the injuries.

"I got you," she affirmed, taking the bandages off with practiced ease and tossing them into a bin before examining the fingers. "Looks like everything's coming along well, though. Is there any pain or discomfort? Anything feel like it's broken, or are they all working as they should be?"

"All right, all right." Simon relents, wondering if the owner is often around or is rather the hands-off type.

"Um, I think something if you've got anything with the fruit fillings that might be sprinkled with nuts or something crunchy, I'll go with it. Or alternatively, I wouldn't mind trying something that you like. Just to have an idea." Though it's quite possible that Gil might like making things rather than having them himself, Simon can't be sure if that's the case.

"Thank you..." and no, Kaneki is not alright, but he chooses not to answer that question. Instead, he will focus on Simon now.

"... the memory I got from you... what happened?"

"Uhh, that." Simon quirks his brows and lets out a small sigh. "It's hard to say. I mean, at first you asked me who Elizabeth was, yeah? She's from my world, a therapist. My hypnotherapist, actually."

He swallows before licking his lips. "What exactly did you see?"

"Uhh, no... No pain or anything different from usual."

It's clear he's tried to take care of his nails the best he could as they've been growing back in—as much as possible, they're more or less neatly filed. Some parts are still somewhat uneven despite his efforts; likely from where a blade had broken or split a nail before cutting it away. When Simon glances down at them, he frowns and swallows back his disgust because to him, they still look quite gross. Probably will see them that way until they're fully in and roughly the right length.

"I mean, the parts that are a little overexposed, they've always been a wee bit sensitive, you know."

Jennifer nods as she examines his hands, surprised that they seem to be in such good shape despite how he received the injuries. She squeezes and prods as she listens to him talk, checking for breakages, flexing to make sure everything is working properly.

"Well, the good news is you're well on the way to healing like normal," she assured him. "I can't find anything out of the ordinary, either- so I'll be able to bandage you back up and send you on your way. I can see that you've been taking care of the injury pretty well on your own."

He seems relieved and lets out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "That's excellent, good, good. I'm glad to hear it, really. I had been trying, but I think it best to check them regularly."

Watching as she set to wrapping them back up again, he asks, "When is your shift over? Maybe we could chat at one of the nearby places?" With a sudden thought, he quickly adds, "Oh, I'm not trying to hit on you, by the way. I remember you have a boyfriend. I just thought maybe we could talk about things here, this world and De Chima and things like that. If it's all right with you, of course."

"Maybe one of the banana bites?"

He disappears down the counter for a moment, returning with a basket that's full of brownie-sized baked goods wrapped in plastic. Sprinkled atop are nuts and flakes. He places it in front of Simon and then lifts a hand to point to the display where some muffins sit.

"We also have some muffins, though they're lightly flavoured with real fruit filling. Nothing too overwhelming since they're heavy as it is."

They appear to have a berry-flavoured muffin with nuts and then there's a bran muffin, also banana-flavoured, with nuts mixed into it.

"I agree," Jennifer nodded, reaching into some supply drawers and beginning to re-wrap the hand. She then looked up at him and smiled at his words.

"I'd like that. I don't get out all that much," she admitted. "And I need to make more friends here. It's... not always been my strong suit, admittedly, and since I have such irregular hours, a lot of days I end up just getting coffee before going home and going to sleep. I'll be off in a few hours."

And when he speaks that word, you will descend into your very own world of fear...

CLOSED to Kaneki, BACKDATED to Jan 31, a coffee shop near the imPort charity event

CLOSED to Jennifer, sometime in early Feb, a hospital in De Chima

CLOSED to Gil, sometime in early Feb, Gil's bakery in Maurtia Falls

OPEN to anyone, early Feb, pretty much anywhere

also after the 2nd works since he was... an "astronaut" before then oops

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woo hoo yes good, after Feb 2nd as well. XD

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