maskormenacelogs | [ Closed ]

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WHO: Kaneki + Reiner + Hide + Annie
WHERE: Around Florida, honestly this is a road trip
WHEN: Thursday
WHAT: Double ~~not~~ dates
WARNINGS: Canon spoilers, mentions of cannibalism

[ kaneki's life is never "amazing" or "great"; it's hard to when he lives the way he does, with what he is. But the hardest part was to hide it from people who are close to him and sometimes life takes a turn and makes things easier, smoother. Annie knows, Hide knows, Reiner knows; that made things smoother. Not amazing, but a bit better. Of course he still struggles a lot, to be looked at as "not human" and worries that they look at that inhuman part whenever they are with Ken. But in all honesty, after admitting to it, after he allowed them to know, it became easier not to think about that.

And Kaneki feels that it'll be alright, in a way; never completely, NOTHING of what he is is "alright", but with his friends, the people he cares for. Yeah. It'll be.

He has decided to do more. Enjoy that state of "alrightness". So he talked to Hide and then Reiner and Annie, and he decides why not hang out together? He never really left the cities with Annie before, and Hide wants to explore America and Reiner still has to meet and get to know Hide, so it's all good if they go together somewhere. Kaneki isn't sure where, but they will get to that.

They agreed to meet near the train station, but Kaneki decided that no, they won't be going by train. Because he does have a driver's license, and thanks to being an imPort, kaneki rented a car - not a hoover car, he doesn't know how to handle that - a black simple one that wouldn't be too expensive to rent for a day, and he drives off to the meeting point. On the luggage he has all sort of traveling utensils that might be necessary along with towels (in case someone goes skinny dipping again HI REINER) and, of course, he brought along his imunosuppressant drugs and those special "sugar" cubes. Another good thing? He isn't wearing the eyepatch. He can't drive with it. ]

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[It's a vicious cycle, and he somehow knew it always would be. But... he was tired of having to watch Kaneki suffer from the sidelines. Pretending he didn't know what the other had to go through--it wasn't necessary any longer. He shifts where he stands, so he's pressing an arm against the others', his food having long gone cold; his appetite not quite there, any longer.]

...I know you do, bud. And you have, for a long time. And you still do, here. Warning me about what people to avoid and showin' me around. You're always protectin' me, even if ya don't realise exactly how much. ...But you know, sometimes I want to return the favour.

Here, it's a bit easier. What with how I can't really stay hurt. But back home, all I've got is my brains and sheer will. If you're not there then... [He shifts. No, he's there, he knows it. What ifs aren't important, but for peace of mind...] Then shouldn't I do what I can so that what happened to you doesn't happen to anyone else?

I am safe.

I'm here, right next to you. At a nature park, eating awful food. Falling in the lake off a kayak with a beautiful blonde lady--

Gotta admit. ...This is pretty safe as it gets, Kaneki. ...Here, at least. You... shouldn't worry so much. You'll go grey. [Haha.]

[ Kaneki watches Hide for a moment, in silence. He is so glad Hide is there. And he doesn't know what to expect from the future, what will happen to him, but he is there with Hide and it has been hard being able to relax and have good day. It's true that he is worried about what will happen to himself, but he always has been since he WAS kidnapped by the Aogiri Tree (all sort of crazy ideas already crossed his mind; being dead was the first, actually).

Eventually Kaneki smiles, his hand reaching for Hide's arm to reassure him. it's alright.

He will still protect Hide, always. He will try his best, he will be the one that is hurting, instead of hurting others. Always. But it's good to see Hide, it's so good that he is there ]

Thank you. [ for always being there and not giving up on kaneki. Never. ]

... glad you had fun on your small date with Annie. [ BECAUSE YOU TWO LEFT yeah he is going to throw the date thing back at Hide ]

[He's going to tilt his head to the side, and quite purposefully bonk the top of his head against Kaneki's temple, and then leave it there. Maybe a bit of a weird position, an oddly affectionate gesture--but to hell with it. He was glad Kaneki was here too. He hadn't lost him after all; and even if they were in a dangerous place a hell of a far way from home--

He could deal with it. Things weren't all bad here, after all.]

Heh. Unnecessary to thank me, but I'll take it all the same, bud. [And he'll finally take a bite out of his (cold) hot dog, pausing a moment to chew as Kaneki directed that revenge-filled tease at him. ...Thing is, Kaneki, he's not going to get flustered like you.]

We didn't find any manatees, and I think she's still mad that I ended up throwing us into the water when I tried turning badly--but!! Hey, hey--do you think if I asked her out for a second date, she'd say yes??

[ Hide, that would have hurt if kaneki was human. instead he just smiles awkwardly, but doesn't really push his friend away. As Hide resumes to eat his hot dog, Kaneki is back to taking a sip of his fairly cold coffee.

He smiles, amused ] Annie is serious, but she is the kind of person who doesn't like it when people beat around the bush. Ask her directly, she'll give you a honest answer.

[ a pause ] Sometimes, too honest, but-

[He takes a moment to think about it, but then he NODS.]

She's serious, straightforward, quiet--

But when she smiles--man, her entire face changes for just a second, you know?

[His usual girl talk, you've been through this a thousand times.]

I'll do my best. If I get rejected, it's just another notch on my axe. I'll always have you to hang out with, anyway. [Suggesting that Kaneki's company is something better in that way.]

...Ah. My food went cold.

Are you falling for her? [ kaneki has to smile. Well, he never thought much about Annie in that angle, to be perfectly honest. She IS very pretty, kaneki couldn't agree more, but he never gave much a thought about it ] Well! Good luck.

[ Kaneki hums ] I don't know if you can warm it up- you can probably ask, though. [ his coffee is cold too, but he doesn't think it tastes good enough to keep drinking it, anyway. ]

Won't know unless I spend a little more time with her, right? I mean, sure, she's beautiful. But I'm not smitten or anything--

[He pauses, his head tipping towards the other. A grin a slow bleed across his face. His arm immediately looping around the others's shoulders.]

--Haa? Are you jealous? If you're jealous, just say so, yanno. [His voice is clearly teasing, at least.]

[ Kaneki blinks ] Eh? [ jealous? Why woul- oh.

Look at him turning red ]

It's nothing like that! I'm giving you my support, you know?

We've been friends our whole lives, you don't have to hide anything like that from me, yanno.

[Reaching out, pinching one of those reddening cheeks--!]

Support's always nice, though. Even if certain girls are way out of league for guys like us.

I don't like her like that...! [ and face turns red like a tomato HONESTLY HIDE

well. he just. never thought about it. He doesn't think it matters too.

The way kaneki is, he doesn't think he should bring anyone into that, to be perfectly honest. Not that he thinks Annie would have interest, but he doesn't pursue any romantic venue exactly because of what he is ]

I'm fine like this. [ taking a sip of his horrid coffee so they can just change the subject ok ]

You sure? You're absolutely sure? [He nudges his elbow into the others' ribs, but he'll leave it lie, after that. He doesn't want to bug his friend more than necessary--but it's not like he's the sort of person to move in on a girl who his best friend was interested in first.

He had loyalty up to his ears.]

So long as you're fine, then, I'm just fine too. [And he proves so by flashing the other a wide, amicable grin.]

I'm sure. I just find her pretty, but I don't see her like that.

[ honestly, Kaneki wouldn't mind if Hide went on dates with Annie. Hey, Kaneki went on ~~totally not~~ dates with Annie's friend too, so it balances out. ]

Don't worry too much. Enjoy your time with her.

Just remember she can kick your ass.

....

She did once already. Did I tell you that? [He shoots his best friend a grin.]

When I first got here, she totally wiped the floor with me in a single move.

....

It was kind'a cool.

Oh, yeah - her move is pretty cool.

[ Kaneki blinks for a second there, before he starts laughing ]

Are you a masochist now?!?

[HANDS UP, NO, NO DON'T THINK THAT BADLY OF ME, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT AT ALL--!]

I'm not--! I'm not!!

I'm just saying--!!! I've never seen anyone move that fast before, you know?!!

[ you never saw a ghoul moving before, Hide. Good thing, in a way.

Kaneki chuckles ]

Yeah. She's a soldier, so she has a lot of training.

[He's seen a ghoul moving before. Maybe not at full speed; but... He was once followed out of Antieku by a starving one before. If it wasn't for his bike--

...Ah, no point in telling Kaneki that.]

See? Tough and pretty. She's pretty amazing. --Hey, how did you guys meet, anyway?

Hm-

through the network. We met up to learn how to dance.

[ kaneki tales a sip of his coffee ] We still meet every week for dancing sessions.

--Dancing?

[He casts his friend an owlish look, his head tilting to the side.]

...Like, ballroom dancing, waltzin' and stuff, or...

....[A hand on his chin. Trying to imagine Kaneki breakdancing...]

[ LINEFACING ]

Ballroom, of course. [ honestly, have you see him? as if he could do any other kind of dance ] I'm actually pretty good, you know?

...Come on, you have to admit, other kind of dances would be cool, too, right.

I mean, sure, I don't doubt you're good--ya can learn anythin' if you keep at it.

But--

Breakdancing and stuff, just imagine--

[He's getting excited over an idea again.]

There is no way I'd breakdance- [ shoving Hide away ] And I bet you would look ridiculous, too.

... you should try it. [ so he can laugh at Hide ]

[ Kaneki reaches for his coffee, to drink the rest of it, before he places the cup down. ]

[Wobbles!! Wow, I almost fell down. Rude.

He gets a look on his face--it's that look he gets when he's considering learning something new on a spur of the moment. ...Kaneki, stop while you're ahead.]

Maybe I will learn how to breakdance. Hey, maybe I'll even be good at it because of my superspeed. I can move really fast and stuff, it'd be twice as cool. Right??