[ Open ]

[enucleation]

WHO: Kaneki + Open
WHERE: Heropa, Nonah, Maurtia falls, De chima
WHEN: March 1st to March 15th
WHAT: Find Kaneki on the street because he won't tell you he is here otherwise
WARNINGS: Canon spoilers, mentions of violence, gore and cannibalism

[ His arrival back in this world was smoother than he expected. The government told him he was not going to prison for what he did, but due to his violent acts --even if he wasn't in his right mind and was being "controlled" by Hornets-- he had to be put on probation. He was requested to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet for a month and he will have to report to a Registered imPort who will act as his parole officer; the tattoo in his arm now says "criminal" and will remain so for a month. And during all of this, not once Kaneki argued or complained. He nodded and accepted every decision the government made about this situation, and at the end all he did was ask if he still had access to De Chima labs --they said 'yes' because it was necessary-- and requested to now live in De Chima --request accepted-- and that was it.

That's how he returned to this world.

He left an entry over the network, and went to his new place. he is not sure how to address others just yet, but he knows he has to apologize, though you can't really apologize for something like that, not so lightly. He will focus on what he can while he decides the best course of action: the Hornets, the Porter, he will focus on keeping his place in this world, that has been threatened so many times already, and he will protect everyone. He will find what is the better way to do that, since experience told him he can't just do everything blindly. He needs to think.

He will figure it out. ]

HEROPA : Bookstore

[ Even though Kaneki is no longer living in Heropa, he still walks around the city quite often. It's a way to make sure everything and everyone are safe and in case something happens, he will be there to help and protect the people he cares about. He is now working at De Chima bookstore, but he decides to drop by his old workplace; here, only few days passed after he was sent back to his world, but back home it was over 6 months.

He smiles politely at his ex-boss as he comments on the white hair, and he smiles kindly at the man. He also apologizes for leaving and apologizes for no longer working there. With a small bow, he buys three new books and an extra fourth is given to him for free. When he finally leaves the bookstore, he looks around for a second and decides to take off his eyepatch; white hair and black clothes made him pretty weird already, but he figured it was better to avoid looking THAT weird with an eyepatch too. ]

NONAH : Coffee shop

[ He never actually been to Nonah before. It's funny because he was 6 months in this world before, and he never found an excuse to go to Nonah and visit the city. Right now he is only doing so because he wants to know the city, the layout, to see the people, the natives, the imPorts and their locations. He is scouting, that's the only reason he is there. Annie and Reiner live there, so it's important for him to know the place and in case something happens, he can navigate through it.

After a whole morning of walking around, he eventually comes to a coffee shop - a petite and quiet one - and asks for their "best coffee, no sugar, no cream, just coffee". And he eventually sits by the window, looking outside. Doing this sort of things... drinking coffee at a coffee shop, taking a moment to look around without searching for an enemy... it has been a while. ]

MAURTIA FALLS : Streets

[ This was the second city Kaneki was set on getting to know. Like Nonah, he has never been there, but like Nonah, he needs to get to know it in case anything happens. Scouting, learning the layout, learning what you may need to face. If anything happens and he needs to go to this small city again, he will know the place easily. He is also interested in the rumored underground scene going on; these are usually good for information, but given Kaneki is currently a "Criminal" and under Government's observation he knows he can't approach it just yet.

He is carrying his eyepatch today, plus the black clothing and the white hair help a lot for people in this town not to be so suspicious of him. The ankle monitor also brought enough attention, too, but Kaneki politely asks them to go away -with a smile and everything!- as he grabs his cup of coffee and sits down at a public bench to drink it.

This is a really interesting place, actually. Ghouls would probably find it "homy" ]

HEROPA/DE CHIMA : Moving from a city to another

[ Now that he lives in De Chima, he will have to move there. It means going to his old apartment in Heropa and get his things and move them to a different city. At least Kaneki doesn't have much house utensils and necessities, but he has a lot of books and carrying those can be a feat. At least he has super strength and he isn't going to hide that anymore; in his hands, he carries bags full of books, some clothes, some other accessories like coffee.

He can be found carrying his items from Heropa Individual Housing back to De Chima Individual Housing, since it's where he will live from then on. ]

CLOSED : Will Graham

[ Kaneki was assigned Will Graham as his parole officer; he is to report to him and the man already has files on what Kaneki is, thus he doesn't expect having to explain it to him. Hopefully. Though he has a feeling questions and conversations will be had. In any case, Kaneki decides to visit him the second he can.

At least he doesn't bring cupcakes this time.

Kaneki is wearing black, and if Will remembers a gentle black haired kid who smiled and looked too naive for this world, he will now meet a white haired Kaneki who still wears an eyepatch and looks far too tired (and sad). He is still smiling, though. Once he arrives to Will's shop, "Hook, line, & tinker", the first thing he notices is the dog, but after he looks around ] Excuse me...?

Comments

[nagachika]

[Good, mostly. Because he won't forgive him for that. Had he the power to 'stop' Ken on his own, he would. But showing it ... where everyone can see...]

...Yeah. I know. He's a Dove. They're people who can fight ghouls. Picking a fight with them is idiotic, even in a place where I'm a bit more than 'normal'. [He heaves out a slight sigh, but he shrugs his shoulders. Onward and upwards... or something like that.]

So long as he realises what he did was both disgusting and wrong in every sense of the word, I guess I can just go on ignoring him as a person, or. Something. [A vague gesture with one hand.

He wants to say something like But if he picks a fight with Touka or your boss if they show up', but. ...Another time, another place.]

[enucleation]

He won't realize.

[ Kaneki looks away. ] The first time me and the Rabbit visited the CCG headquarters pretending to be normal humans, it was regarding the Daughter, attempting to give false information away from her. [ Codenames. Kaneki doesn't even pause when using them, but in his mind he makes a note to think things over and decide if he should tell Hide who is who even if they don't arrive ] They told us "Ghouls aren't people, it's only natural we exterminate them". You know this, Hide. You know this is how we are seen.

[ he worked with/at the CCG after all ]

But you must also know there are some Ghoul Investigators that don't come from people like I used to be, or like you. [ the orphans. And Hide knows why they are orphans. They must have seen terrible things - isn't it only natural for them to see Ghouls as monsters? To see the murder of a ghoul right and necessary? Something to be praised for? ]

Regardless, Suzuya-san is a Rank two Investigator. Someone so young already involved this deep with the CCG, and getting this far - do you think it's because he sees ghouls as "people", Hide?

[nagachika]

...

[He's quiet for a long moment, his eyes flicking down and away from Kaneki. He can't disagree with him. Hell; even he had thought until recently that Ghouls were heartless, terrible monsters that couldn't be redeemed.

A new lease on life could change your mind--people like Doves just couldn't learn to accept things like he had.]

...Yeah. I know. [He finally responds, quietly.] We used to think that too, right? That they weren't remotely human. [A hand drags through his hair.]

...I guess I'm just a little biased.

[enucleation]

[ he knows. He remembers even screaming that at Touka, that she was a monster.

That was cruel.

But Kaneki smiles a little when he hears Hide's last words calling himself biased. Yes, yes he is. And his hand reaches for his friends hair, messing it up while he smiles ]

I know you are. Thank you.

[ but there are so many ghouls so terrible. Kaneki has been plucking them out like the mad man he became, actually.. ]

[nagachika]

[His expression flickers into something of a grin, finally, as Kaneki's fingers make a mess of his hair. Winking one of those honey-browneyes at the other, he shrugs his shoulders.]

I'd rather be this than anything else.

...

So, do you need help with your things, here? [You're in the middle of moving, aren't you.]

[enucleation]

[ aha, right now is a bit complicated. Mostly because Kaneki has opened his place for a tiny miniature psycho named Nishi. He can't tell Hide that but he also thinks it's the best if Hide doesn't go to his place - not to mention, his place will be changed as soon as soon as kaneki's criminal month ends ]

Instead- buy me a cup of coffee. [ since kaneki is back to being poor oops ] Decent one.

[nagachika]

[Please don't live with psycho teenagers.

His teeth click as his grin only widens that much more.]

That--I can do.

One cup of high grade coffee on my dime, coming right up.

Do you have a particular place you prefer?

[enucleation]

[ they aren't living together, god no. But Nishi just... drops by with arms and legs he steals from the morgue. Hide doesn't need to see that. ]

I don't remember which is the best place. So, you choose.

[nagachika]

[Once again, man, you're dear to me, but I don't need to see that. He's so glad Kaneki understands that.]

There's one I'm pretty fond of that's not TOO far from here, I'm sure we could get there in short time.

Short-er time if you wanted me to run us there.

[He's kidding, really.]

[enucleation]

I'd rather walk, just this once. Maybe some other time. [ he goes along with the joke ]

But one day, let's try racing. [ he knows Hide will win. But it sounds like good training for Kaneki, he thinks ]

[nagachika]

[Kekeke.]

Some other time, then. [He waves a hand, pointing in the direction of where he'd come from. Let's go, then.]

--You really want to? Race? [Way to pique his entire interest.]

I'd actually really like that. I'll even go partways easy on you.

[enucleation]

[ kaneki follows Hide, already familiar with the path they are taking, so he doesn't pay that much attention to it. However, being hyper-aware is Kaneki's default now. he is always paying attention to everything subconsciously. ]

I know you will win. [ he doesn't mind being weaker than Hide, though it'd only be this aspect ] You were able to avoid my Kagune.

[ maybe he shouldn't have said that. But it's true. Hide even used it to jump. Not many people would be alive after that.

kaneki idly reaches for his ear. he hears a buzzy, or more like a crunching sound from inside and without even realizing it himself, he is reaching for it, as if trying to grab something inside. it's not there, he realizes, and with one last attempt, he pulls his hand down ]

I just want to see how it goes.

[nagachika]

[His face lights up just a little again, though perhaps there's a touch of something melancholy there. Kaneki remembered. Here he'd think Kaneki's thoughts would have been clouded from that little... thing...]

Ah, you remember that, huh. Those tendrils of yours were quick, it was harrowing there for a while. [He'd really used one as a launch pad, even he was still a bit shaken that it'd worked.]

We'll still give it a go. It'd be fun, right? [He tilts his head to the side, waving a hand in reply. It'd be fun, it'd really be fun. It's when he notes Kaneki's fingers that a flicker of concern works it's way over his face. ...What a weird motion.]

...You okay there, bud?

[enucleation]

[ they are quicker now, but Kaneki decides not to say that. They aren't like tendrils either, and more like... insect legs. Though kaneki's kagune is able to take so many different forms now.

he almost apologizes again, but Kaneki knows what Hide will say if he does.

However, about the concern, Kaneki will smile back at the other and nod ] I'm alright. [ he is. it's nothing to worry about. It's just sometimes, when he stops, there is no silence; he always hears something, even if it's not there. Only when he closes his eyes, it all stops.

That's why he keeps busy.

Hide doesn't need to worry about that. Kaneki is fine. ]

I wonder where should we run. Do you prefer obstacles? [ back to the conversation at hand, let's ignore Kaneki's crazy mind for a moment ]

[nagachika]

[He waited to see if Kaneki would have touched his face after saying 'I'm alright'. But when it didn't happen, Hide continued to walk, his smile returning to it's normal cheer. Whatever it was, he had a feeling it wasn't something Kaneki felt important enough to share.

He'll just poke it away for later.]

Heeeh, if there's obstacles, you might have a better chance. Obstacles slow me way down, 'cause I have to change momentum and fix my direction. [A grin.] So maybe that's for the best, eh?

[enucleation]

[ He became a good liar with time. Though there are times that he still can't happen, specially when he hears certain things he doesn't want to hear.

He nods ] I thought so. It'll help you train, too, right? [ so it's all good. ]

[nagachika]

Heeeeh, it will. [A smirk, and it's clear he's getting excited about this idea.]

I practice a bunch with Wally an' Rei, but usually it's just on flats. Doing obstacles'd be real different... [A hand on his cheek...]

Do you have any place in mind?

[enucleation]

[ he nods ] The forest would be nice. There are a couple around. [ and away from the general population, so he will be sure there is no destruction or prying eyes nishi ]

[nagachika]

[He'll lead Kaneki around a turn, avoiding the crosswalk for now. The spot he was thinking of... they'd be there soon.]

Heeeeh... I've actually not visited one yet, actually. I should think that'd kill two birds with one stone.

[enucleation]

[ Kaneki is following and though he doesn't look like it, he is learning every single step by heart ]

They are quiet. I used to train there. [ with his kagune, actually. He never told anyone, before. He didn't want anyone knowing either, too ]

[nagachika]

[Learning your surroundings by heart is a symptom of paranoia, bud.]

Nothing dangerous there, I'd hope? [He turns a little grin towards Kaneki, a finger tapping the side of his temple. He's mostly joking, but hey. Superheroes existed, who said monsters in the woods didn't, either?]

[enucleation]

[ indeed. Welcome to Ken's life, Hide. He also hallucinates. ]

The squirrels are deadly. [ whoever said Kaneki lost his sense of humor is wrong. ]

[nagachika]

[....He stops in his path, giving Kaneki a very serious look.]

[nagachika]

...They're Nuts, huh.

[enucleation]

[ he stops, to look back at Hide with an equally serious look ]

Nut jokes are corny. Don't worry about the squirrels, they are nuting to worry about.