[ Video ]

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki was gone only for a day, most likely no one noticed. But when the video starts, he looks different: longer hair, strange marks on his face, and while he is wearing an hospital gown, it's easy to see there is something really weird going on with Kaneki's skin right where the neck begins [the link contains body horror, please beware]. He is in Heropa's hospital waiting room right now, with some curious patients staring at him since clearly he is an imPort. ]

For a long time, I saw the world as wrong. Because the world was wrong, things happening were wrong, too. A tragedy after another with me as the main characters. It's a very selfish way of seeing the world. In the end I'm just some guy, and while I may be the main character of my own novel, the universe has many novels besides mine. As I took the role of the tragic hero, I misplaced myself as the victim so no blame would fall upon me since I was simply reacting to this world's wrongness and that would justify my suffering.

But there is nothing inherently tragic about the world. We are all the main characters of our own novels, and we write them based on everything around us. The world does not have a moral quality to it, it's not wrong or right.

The world just is.

And my actions are my own, I wrote them. I've suffered a lot, I've lived through things no normal person should live through but those didn't happen because of some invisible force. They just did. I'm not the victim of a wrong world or a tragic fate. I am just someone who hurt and was hurt, who took and was taken from. I'm just a guy, and sometimes things are bad, and I make them worse. Sometimes things are worse, and I make them better.

It took me a long while to see that. I think in the end, I needed others to see it too.

[ a doctor approaches, apologizing for interrupting. Kaneki nods, but he turns to the video one last time with a bright smile ] You know, after everything that happened back home, I think I will sleep for three years. It's about time. [ he has had chronic insomnia for years, he deserves some good rest ]

Comments

vid

[h2no]

[well, this is some rare good news. look at his lil smile! good shit.]

I'm glad everything is going well for you, Ken. This is quite the set of revelations.

[he has a lot of questions, but-- won't ask too much just now. he figures kaneki has enough on his plate, what with being in a hospital and all. master detective at work here, folks. there is one thing he wants to know, though, after they'd spent some time talking about it before:] Did you see her, at home?

[he hopes yes...]

[ghoulking]

It was about time they happened. [ revelations are good, Kaneki figures ]

Hm- I did. Touka-chan waited for me, everyone did. She is alright, and so is the baby so far.

[h2no]

You got there. That's all that matters. [though... a quiet part of him does wonder if this is legitimate, seeing as it's such a change. he knows how port outs work-- kaneki could've been gone for years, but he hadn't really given any sort of reason for there not to be doubt before.

but-- all that aside:] Ah... it all went well, eh?

[that's putting it a little lightly, it feels, but he's still expecting some bad news. kaneki to brush something off the way he did before. archie smiles a little, but it's a little forced and marred with unease.]

Do you know how long you'll be in hospital?

video

[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail does her best not to look like she's staring, but she's quiet for a moment before she realizes she should say something.]

Kaneki? Are you...I'm glad you're back. That's very deep.

[She's quiet for another moment, thinking of a polite way to ask and decides to simply ask.]

What happened? What is happening? Do you want me to try my harpsichord healing power?

video

[ghoulking]

A lot happened - it'd be a long story. [ years long ]

The doctors tell me I'm technically fine. [ he already knew that from back home, but it doesn't hurt to ask again ] So there isn't anything to heal, not exactly. But thank you, Abigail.

If I need anything, I'll ask you.

video

[am_i_a_monster]

[She looks skeptical.  He doesn't seem fine.  She doesn't want to push it.]

Okay.

D33 will be glad you're able to sleep so well.   [She gives a little smile and speaks with a lighter tone, so he'll know she's joking.] Don't make a whole three years though.  He'd get lonely.  Maybe just one or two.  

video

[queenofseers]

[ Look, it's not that Kaneki's speech went over Cassandra's head. He's clearly passionate about what he's learned, and more optimistic than she's ever seen him. They're more colleagues than friends, but she should be quite happy for him.

That said: ]

Well, I'm happy you're back, but- what the fuck happened to you? Are you alright?

video

[ghoulking]

I'm fine. [ he used that phrase so many times to sadism people's worries but NO HE REALLY MEANS IT THIS TIME ] I know I look weird right now, but it's related to my biology. It'll be fixed.

video

[queenofseers]

That's...barely an explanation, but I'm not sure if that's something I should know. Or want to.

[ Even she has limits. She straightens up, brows furrowed looking at him. ]

Better question- do you need anything in there?

Video

[drivesadesk]

Kaneki? Are you alright, man? You seem...

[He gestures to his neck area.]

Video

[ghoulking]

I know- [ he touches the back of his head with an awkward smile] everyone is asking me that...

I'm actually fine. I know it doesn't look like it, but I'm not dismissing you.

Re: Video

[drivesadesk]

Glad to hear it. And glad to see that you look happy, even if this is a little...confusing. What happened back home?

video »

[onlydoubts]

Kaneki? You seem, uh... [ he scratches his head, trying to come up with the word ] different. Not entirely in a bad way, what you said was very deep, but... [ he gestures to the neck area. ]

video »

[ghoulking]

I am different. Which is good, it was about time.

And- [ he points to the neck area ] it's okay, actually. I can't explain the whole science behind it, but it's related to my biology and powers.

video »

[onlydoubts]

You sound happier, too. [ Again, not a bad change at all. What he knows about Kaneki, despite considering him a friend isn't as much as he thought - but he knows that he's someone who's been through A Lot. ]

When are you getting released from the hospital, then?

voice, private.

[glowsferatu]

So you've discovered the theory of mind. That's...great, if an absurdly delayed development.

...It's gotten worse, hasn't it? Your condition.

voice, private.

[ghoulking]

I don't think it was delayed. I don't regret living through everything I did with the mindset I did, because it still allowed me a lot. It's better now, though.

[ he tugs at this shirt, exposing his body just a little more ] And this has actually gotten better. The full science behind it is weird, since my case is too strange as well. But my body is a kagune, right now, so the human part that was dying was replaced.

It'll regenerate - but now it has time to do so. [ instead of having the body trying to heal everything at the same time while trying to keep him alive ]

Video

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Kaneki...

Are you okay?

[Somehow the most troubling thing about this post is that Kaneki is actually willing to sleep.]

Video

[ghoulking]

[ you should be glad about it, not troubled! ]

I really, really am okay. I'm not trying to shrug it off.

And physically- the doctors say everything looks fine so far, so I'm okay on that end as well.

[VIDEO]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You know, there's something you missed. If you're the story of your own novel, you shouldn't forget that no matter the content, every book has inherent value.

You sound...good. I'm gonna hold you to that sleep bit. No more meeting at the café at three in the morning.

[VIDEO]

[ghoulking]

[ LOOK HERE, you are asking a bit TOO MUCH now ]

To some, yes. I accept that. [ but even if kaneki had a good revelation, not everything can be healed so quickly ]

Well, something came out of not sleeping, didn't it? I learned some maths.

[d33tached]

[D33 misses most of the video, though he's only a couple of steps off screen by the time it ends. He's just arrived at the hospital to meet Kaneki where he said he'd be waiting. He looks anxious when he sees him, throat tightening, his fists even clenchin ga bit at their sides. He wants to wrap his arms around him like he did the last time they reunited, but, seeing as their at the hospital, he doesn't know if Kaneki is any state to be touched. Still, he takes a couple of steps closer, eyes pained, pleading.]

My husband. [There's something soft about his voice, even past the tension, when he greets him. He does look a bit nervous, but that's largely due to where they're standing. D33's been conditioned not to trust hospitals.] Kaneki...

[He reaches out his hand, but just a little, only so that Kaneki might take it if he feels he can. D33 just doesn't know the proper way to approach him right now.] I'd missed you. I'm glad to see you've returned.

[ghoulking]

[ when Kaneki sees Dee, his lips turn into a bright smile, so glad to see his husband finally. naturally, he knows where they are and knows well he shouldn't make a scene - D33 is a private person, and Kaneki too would rather not make a spectacle out of it since he enjoys his privacy as well (and would rather not have gossip going on the Majority Report again).

But the ghoul approaches, and his hand reaches for husband's, squeezing D33's hand softly ] I missed you too.

I'm glad it wasn't so long this time. [ here or even back in his world; here it was only a day, and in his world it was about a week. Pretty short, compared to the other times ]

video;

[codeofiron]

[That's...a lot? Whatever Kaneki's been through, it's clear from this speech and the look of his neck that it was a lot. Not that Brandon disagrees with what Kaneki's saying - in the end, things that happen are just that. Events, that can happen to anyone. Everyone's trying to deal with them in their own way, you just have to find yours.

Still, Brandon looks a little worried when he turns on the communicator.]

Welcome back.

video;

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki smiles a little and nods after (a small bow, actually) ]

Thank you.