maskormenacelogs | I can move mountains, I can work a miracle [OPEN]

Do you want to?

Go on one, I mean.

Doesn't matter. That's not gonna happen.

[It's like he's just scared to actually hope fun things can apply to him now]

...Ah.

[Technically, Barnaby had charged in there right along with him.]

Our armor was actually lost in Heropa once Pan's curse engulfed the area. We both have plenty of experience fighting without it, actually, but...he can certainly be reckless in other ways too.

[Honestly, Ken would agree with that. Why do people drink something so bitter? Burnt bean juice just sounds absolutely unappetizing, and he doesn't like it one bit; but still, the adults drink it, and he stubbornly drinks it in hopes of getting closer to adulthood with every sip. One day, he won't waste it.

He'd known that Kaneki worked here. They didn't speak to each other, and Ken never sat around during the hours that Kaneki worked, but he saw him from time to time. Today, his only surprise is that they finally managed to run into each other, so he returns a smile happily.]

Kaneki-san! Hello, um -- I've seen you around. You were working today?

Yeah. Yeah that's-- that sounds good. Hopefully we won't need to resort to that for awhile.

I'm always here for you, y'know?

[And that about does it. For a brief moment, it seems like Ken is going to fall silent, stay like this until he pulls away and tries to go about life as usual. But he doesn't pull alway, and instead leans on Dipper a little more with a feeble hope that it might make him feel better.

I'm always here for you. He and Dipper didn't always talk about serious things, and they yelled at each other about a lot of stupid things, but Dipper always, always was here for him. Even when Ken tried to push away his help.

Ken doesn't say anything, but he buries his face against Dipper's shoulder, and it's with a sniffle that he eventually breaks the silence.]

I sure didn't. Every time something happens, it throws me off.

[There's no way she can live a normal life here. Maybe it's time she steps it up a notch.

But hey! Pizza!]

No catch!

[None. She loves taking pictures.]

[ Kasumi tries to give Koromaru the most defiant stare she can, really, but how can you stay vaguely annoyed at a sweet doggie face like his. Damn it, Koromaru. She didn't used to be a dog person!

When she hears Ken's voice from the other side, her shoulders tense up before she even realizes it; she folds her arms as much as a gesture to appear nonchalant as much as it seems to be one to protect herself. She already knows this is going to hurt, probably. To his greeting, she shakes her head. ]

You could say that.

[ Although if she were to put a fine point to it, to her it seems more like they have changed. Even though the house--or more specifically, the people who live in it, even before Kaneda and Tetsuo came along--has always been a magnet for people, somehow, Kasumi can't help but feel like now that it seems like the worst has come to pass, they've made new friends, new company, moved on. Maybe she should, too. ]

You guys have had a lot of guests coming in and out nowadays, huh? It's like there's always a party going on in there.

[The last time Kasumi left Nonah 5, it was a better place for Ken. No matter what the mess was with Tetsuo, he had Bull, and he had Charlie. The twins started as his friends, and Kasumi paid a lot of attention to him, too. The house had more guests since the Neo Tokyo boys' arrival, but it was a good place for Ken. Before, he would have nodded and smiled and complained a little about the noise despite sounding pleased.

Now, Ken's eyes darken with an unmistakably hurt look and he doesn't look back up after he nods.

It's louder in Nonah 5. Kaneda and Tetsuo are talking again. Kaneda has someone who comforts him. They have a gentle, loving presence that they always needed, and they also have friends. For the boys who once lost everything, it was a good thing. But instead of welcoming Kasumi into the loud, crowded house, Ken steps out and closes the door behind him.

Without looking up, he shrugs and says,] Tetsuo-san's friends. His, and Kaneda-san's. It's lively.

[The confusion on Tetsuo's face, and the way it twists into a matter of different emotions is what Kaneda was hoping for. Because Tetsuo can't come up with an excuse for this one. That mug exists here because Ken knew, and there was no prompting from anyone else in the house to do so.

Ken Amada, the one who should have wanted Tetsuo back the least, if at all...

Was the only one who was expecting him to come home again. And no amount of insults or snide remarks or bitter feelings Pan could worm into his brain could change that.

Kaneda steps forward, right in front of Tetsuo as they both look at the mug, one hand reaching up and putting itself on his shoulder.]

[ Well, Kasumi is at least relieved that his expression takes on more of a youthful, teenager tone as opposed to his irrepressible, unadulterated anger of past. ]

Moving on... Tetsuo, I--

[ She pauses. I'm sorry was the rest of that aborted statement, but--what, exactly, was she apologizing for? There's a beat or two that passes before she starts back up. ]

I'm really sorry. About everything that happened to you.

[ And she knows none of it was her fault, per se, but that can't mean she can't feel bad about it. ]

[ This is why you just keep things casual, Bull. Not that Kasumi's one to judge. She was excited for the both of them when Charlie had told her they began dating, if only because she's a hopeless romantic sap.

She turns her head, looking over her shoulder out the window, from the other side of which she had just been looking into. ]

... I don't mind talking about it. It's been over a year since it happened, now, so.

Good job!

[alright, so she sounds amused when she gives out the congratulations, but at least it's within the realm of believable excitement. he's pretty wrapped up in playing so it shouldn't be too hard for him to assume she's just psyched about his progress instead of endeared by his struggles.]

They're gonna give you tanks in the next one.

[she says this because she remembers. oh, she remembers her arrogance and the unexpected downfall.]

[ She's honestly surprised at the expression he takes, and before she realizes it, she's unfolding her arms and moving closer. And she won't say it out loud, but she's thankful for the respite that Ken offers by coming outside instead of inviting her inside. Kasumi has always been rather selective about people she surrounded herself with. The Normandy crew were, of course, an exception, because being on a suicide mission together tended to give people an unspoken trust like that. The boys of Nonah 05, the Archangel folks, Quill -- they were all exceptions, in this place. Products of many nights spent doing nothing (which for a person as busy and mysterious as Kasumi was at home, came few and far between), of aftermaths of horrible situations spent supporting each other. She wouldn't give them up for anything, but that doesn't mean she's open to the chaos within the house just yet.

In the first place, being inside would just remind her of what was missing. Charlie, his smile, his unphased expression whenever she snuck in, all of that. Quiet nights of Ken sitting at the table doing homework, Charlie working on his spells, Bull talking to his cats, and Kasumi reading a book from Charlie's collection. Nights when the twins were there, too, and nights when Peter and Kasumi would tell Charlie stories about being out in space. She would miss all of that, so much. But right now, it's not important to her how she feels -- when Ken makes that kind of face, he's all that matters. ]

Well, I'm glad if they're getting to have wild teenaged parties now, but--what's wrong, Ken?

[ She rests a hand on his shoulder, gently. ] Do you want to talk about it?

[Kaneda's hand reaches over, taking the remainder of the fruit that was inedible out of his hand and going to throw it out. No warning or anything, but then again, Kaneda's at the point where he feels he doesn't need to.]

Maybe I could use some fresh air.

..

[A smile.]

You wanna go for a walk, wan-chan?

...Wan-chan?

[Curiosity fills his voice as he peeks in closer.]

Where'd your powers go...? [It's not even insulting. He's just...the last time this happened was Pan's jungle. He didn't think it could still carry over.]

... They brought so many people in.

[Ken knew a lot of people. He was friends with a lot of people. He went out of the house almost every day for the past year, and he met with people on a majority of those trips. But that was just it, wasn't it? Ken went out and did not dare to disturb the sanctity of his homes. He had been so surprised, and almost upset then too, when Hiro introduced himself as a member of SEES, and he asked a million times if it was okay with Bull and Charlie for him to bring the twins over. Home was sacred to him, and he liked being able to come back to the house and sit down and interact with the people he gave his trust to.

Kaneda was not like that. Kaneda was the type of person who brought people in, and to his endless frustration, Ken now understands better than ever why Tetsuo must have been so uncertain and angry with him. Kaneda offered home to anybody he thought wanted one, and he didn't always realize how much that hurt other people.]

It doesn't-- It's good, that they have people. But I don't know any of them. There's nowhere to go in the house right now.

I don't mind, you can sleep wherever you want, zura~

[It's not like he can get upset with all this attention. ...Although let's face it, Komasan probably wouldn't have cared that much even without someone fawning over him. He really is just the world's most content little lump right now, absentmindedly rolling onto his back in the same manner most dogs do.]

He can't help that he grew up so fast, zuraaa~

[ Kasumi can identify with the idea of home being a sacred place, probably more than anyone else around here. It's why she can count on one hand the number of people who know where she lives: Shepard. Peter. And Charlie, before he left. Even Jaime, one of the most harmless people to ever exist in any dimension (or so Kasumi thinks) wouldn't be let into her fortress of solitude even when all he wanted was to bring her takeout. She takes her privacy seriously, possibly too seriously -- not just because she has a lot to hide, but because she needs that kind of space where she can be completely alone with her thoughts, where she can take off the mask that she wears around most people. For anyone else to be let into that place... it would have to mean Kasumi would trust them with her life. And hearing Ken be so unhappy about his own home, where he should be able to rest and be at peace, and even if he would never outright say it, makes her consider offering her own space for him.

... But maybe after she's tidied the place up a bit and maybe found somewhere to store some of that stolen artwork she has lying around. ]

Hey. Why don't you and I take Koro-chan out for a walk, huh? We can get ice cream [ fro-yo, for her ] like we used to, before... Or maybe hot chocolate? It's getting a little chilly out.

[It's a cold night out in Nonah, and with snow dusting the streets and the wind howling against the paneling of the house, it's definitely one where you stay inside. The house is almost eerily quiet, dim with a few lights pocketed around to give a dull glow. The only sounds that are heard are from the kitchen, and even then, that's nothing suspicious. The kitchen always seemed to be used at some point or another, with how many people are in the house.

Hours pass, and Kaneda makes his way through the house, feet silent on the carpet as he navigates, making his way up or down the stairs. At some point, he'll pass by Tetsuo's room, heels pivoting to enter the room.

And there, left on Tetsuo's nightstand, is a bowl of kitsune udon. Warm and ready, with some chopsticks ~~stolen~~ taken from the local takeout place bridged across the bowl, paper wrapping and all. The broth's warmth fills the air, and the smell carries through the entire room. The noodles are there, handmade just like Aunt Cass taught him, broth and vegetables sitting with some hard boiled egg and tofu pockets. Little Narutomaki laid off to the side, and topped with green onions.

But most importantly, there's a note left on the bowl, written in a scrawly Japanese.

Tetsuo.

And with that, he walks out.

Feel free to catch him in the act, or to discover it later.]

Edited 2016-01-24 17:12 (UTC)

[It's a cold night out in Nonah, and with snow dusting the streets and the wind howling against the paneling of the house, it's definitely one where you stay inside. The house is almost eerily quiet, dim with a few lights pocketed around to give a dull glow. The only sounds that are heard are from the kitchen, and even then, that's nothing suspicious. The kitchen always seemed to be used at some point or another, with how many people are in the house.

Hours pass, and Kaneda makes his way through the house, feet silent on the carpet as he navigates, making his way up or down the stairs. At some point, he'll pass by the door to the basement, heels pivoting to enter the room.

And there, left on a box near Kazu's bed, is a bowl of Kake udon. Warm and ready, with some chopsticks ~~stolen~~ taken from the local takeout place bridged across the bowl, paper wrapping and all. The broth's warmth fills the air, and the smell carries through the entire room. The noodles are handmade thanks to Aunt Cass teaching him, the broth warm and seasoned. There's not much to this one, a little bit of fish from their trip to the market and green onions sprinkled across.

But most importantly, there's a note left on the bowl, written in a scrawly Japanese.

Kururu.

And with that, he walks out.

Feel free to catch him in the act, or to discover it later.]

[It's a cold night out in Nonah, and with snow dusting the streets and the wind howling against the paneling of the house, it's definitely one where you stay inside. The house is almost eerily quiet, dim with a few lights pocketed around to give a dull glow. The only sounds that are heard are from the kitchen, and even then, that's nothing suspicious. The kitchen always seemed to be used at some point or another, with how many people are in the house.

Hours pass, and Kaneda makes his way through the house, feet silent on the carpet as he navigates, making his way up or down the stairs. At some point, he'll pass by his room, heels pivoting to enter the room.

And there, left on his nightstand, is a bowl of kitsune udon. Warm and ready, with some chopsticks ~~stolen~~ taken from the local takeout place bridged across the bowl, paper wrapping and all. The broth's warmth fills the air, and the smell carries through the entire room. The noodles are handmade thanks to Aunt Cass, the broth seasoned and seeped with tofu pockets and narutomaki. There's a few vegetables there too, and half a hard boiled egg.

But most importantly, there's a note left on the bowl, written in a scrawly Japanese.

Komacchi.

And with that, he walks out.

Feel free to catch him in the act, or to discover it later.]

Edited 2016-01-24 17:25 (UTC)

[It's a cold night out in Nonah, and with snow dusting the streets and the wind howling against the paneling of the house, it's definitely one where you stay inside. The house is almost eerily quiet, dim with a few lights pocketed around to give a dull glow. The only sounds that are heard are from the kitchen, and even then, that's nothing suspicious. The kitchen always seemed to be used at some point or another, with how many people are in the house.

Hours pass, and Kaneda makes his way through the house, feet silent on the carpet as he navigates, making his way up or down the stairs. At some point, he'll pass by the basement, heels pivoting to enter the room.

And there, left on a box next to Kazu's bed, is a bowl of chikara udon. Warm and ready, with some chopsticks ~~stolen~~ taken from the local takeout place bridged across the bowl, paper wrapping and all. The broth's warmth fills the air, and the smell carries through the entire room. The noodles are handmade thanks to Aunt Cass, the broth seasoned and sprinkled with green onion. There's fish in there too thanks to their shopping trip, and a baby's first attempt at a mochi rice cake.

But most importantly, there's a note left on the bowl, written in a scrawly Japanese.

Ikkicchi.

And with that, he walks out.

Feel free to catch him in the act, or to discover it later.]

[It's a cold night out in Nonah, and with snow dusting the streets and the wind howling against the paneling of the house, it's definitely one where you stay inside. The house is almost eerily quiet, dim with a few lights pocketed around to give a dull glow. The only sounds that are heard are from the kitchen, and even then, that's nothing suspicious. The kitchen always seemed to be used at some point or another, with how many people are in the house.

Hours pass, and Kaneda makes his way through the house, feet silent on the carpet as he navigates, making his way up or down the stairs. At some point, he'll pass by the basement, heels pivoting to enter the room.

And there, left on her nightstand, is a bowl of kake udon. Warm and ready, with some chopsticks ~~stolen~~ taken from the local takeout place bridged across the bowl, paper wrapping and all. The broth's warmth fills the air, and the smell carries through the entire room. The noodles are handmade thanks to Aunt Ca--you know Hazel can't even eat this shit...

But most importantly, there's a note left on the bowl, written in a scrawly Japanese.

Hazel Tree.

And with that, he walks out.

Feel free to catch him in the act, or to discover it later.]

I can move mountains, I can work a miracle [OPEN]

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