01. Video

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki did not enter his new house in De Chima #1, instead he is standing in front of it, looking very unsure of he should go in, despite being told that's where he lives now. The video feed will start with him looking up at the building for a second and then smiling back at the camera - it's totally a nervous smile ]

Hello- I hope this is on. [ oh this is very awkward. ] I'm Ken Kaneki, 18 years old and I come from Tokyo, Japan. I have just arrived so I'm still trying to figure things out. This is all a bit too surreal...

I was given a house and a job. I don't mind the house but the job is a little... [ bad, the job is bad ] I wonder if I could pick something else.

[ He is still smiling though, and his uncovered eye looks down while Kaneki tries to figure out what else to say. No, he knows what to say, but how to say it...? ] Is there a way to know who comes from where? I'd like to know if there are other people from my world here. [ he can't just downright ask if someone is a ghoul, after all ]

... and coffee. If anyone knows where I can get good coffee, I think I need a big cup right now. [ this is waaaaaay too awkward ] Thank you.

[ and with a small head bow, he turns off the feed ]

Comments

2/2

[anthropophagite]

[ his expression quickly turns. So does his tone. It a bit less "trying really hard to take it all in without freaking out" and much more "this is getting a bit too much". There is a certain panic rising, which is slightly different from learning he could stay stuck here for 6 years ]

No. I wasn't here before. I don't know what you are talking about, that never happened.


[ WELL let him take that back, because he is ABSOLUTELY going to run away from this. ]

[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail sits on a couch with two dogs, one on each side of her. The dogs are happy, tails wagging, giving happy barks. Abigail stares for a moment, then gently calms the dogs by whispering to them. When the dogs have quieted down, she looks at Kaneki again.]

Hi. I'm Abigail. I was eighteen when I arrived here too. That was a while ago. It gets easier. Are you settling in okay? You can change jobs. Maybe you'll want to open your own cafe someday.

Oh and I second the recommendation for the re:Cafe.

[heliophilic]

You might not make a living out of it, but if you let enough of the locals see you, you can absolutely make a name for yourself.

[M is all too aware of this, thanks to his own strange foodie following.]

Video

[namesaquestion]

-You're back.

[On one hand, he's happy to have someone he counted as a maybe-probably-friend-shaped-person-friend???? back.... until it sinks in. That Kaneki doesn't remember shit.

His face blanks and red eyes go hard. Friendship's a joke in this place and he hates it.]

Awww, whatever. My name's Nikolai and ... I'll third re:Cafe. It has the best dango in this stupid world.

Re: audio

[h2no]

It's... complicated, sometimes. As life tends to be.

[things seem to be pretty calm with the OTO gone, at least, so he doesn't see a point in bringing all that mess up. at least this world isn't on a timelimit anymore. he figures kaneki deserves that peace, at least.]

You search for 'em on the comm listings. I can only apologise in advance if there ain't no-one. It's hard to be here on your own. Believe me, I know. A lot of us do.

( video | un: mrs.s )

[aeva]

Hello Ken. Can I ask what job they gave you?

Re: audio

[anthropophagite]

Ah- [ kaneki smiles and shakes his head ]

It's alright. I'm used to be on my own, so- [ he is not. It's true that kaneki spent most of his life technically alone. And he feels very lonely, all the time. But he is highly dependent on the people he considers "his world", and without them, he feels like he is nothing. ]

I know I will eventually get used to all of this, anyway.

[anthropophagite]

Ahh, I was just joking. I'm not an expert on coffee at all. [ well. He kind of is ]

I prefer not to be too involved with locals, I was told we are kind of super-stars to them. [ it's creepy ]

[anthropophagite]

[ oh dogs! And a cute girl? Kaneki smiles back at her when she greets him ] Hello, it's nice to meet you Abigail-san.

I... don't think I'd be good at running a coffee shop at all. I was working in one when I was brought here, but being a waiter suits me better.

hm, another person mentioning that cafe ] Ah, that place sure seems popular.

Video

[anthropophagite]

[ Back...? Kaneki stares at the communicator - and Niko - for a while and he feels very unsure right now ]

Ah, yes, everyone keeps mentioning that coffee shop. I'm not really a fan of dango... [ HE CAN'T EAT IT. ]

Uhm- are you... [ you okay? ] Is everything alright?

[anthropophagite]

Hello. [ he smiles sheepishly ] I'm supposed to be a Spookster at a haunted house, in De Chima...

[aeva]

It sounds like it could be fun. Unless haunted houses aren't your idea of fun.

[anthropophagite]

I don't think I'm a good match for that type of job at all. It would require someone more... [ UHM. scarier? with more personality? confident? ] ...outgoing.

[aeva]

( she just offers him a smile )

I wouldn't be able to do it either.

( though not because she's not outgoing. she just wouldn't want to scare people )

But I don't see why you wouldn't be able to have a different job.

[anthropophagite]

Yeah, I was told I could just find something else.

I wonder if I have to write my resume... [ would people even believe in it? It's not like he will have references ]

[aeva]

Do you have something in mind that you wanted?

[anthropophagite]

I used to be a waiter at a coffee shop, back in Tokyo. [ he thinks for a second ]

Maybe something related to books as well. Like working at a library or a bookstore. That would be nice.

[aeva]

I've come across a few of those in each city. I think they'd be glad for the help.

[anthropophagite]

[ he nods, looking a bit more cheerful ]

At least it'd be something I'm familiar with. So it doesn't all feel alien to me. [ everything still feels alien to him, truthfully ]

[aeva]

It's strange. There's a lot that's familiar in these cities but it does feel-- ( she pauses to find a good word and then realises that his works ) alien.

( especially since she was an architect, she knows it all but this isn't her universe )

I think it does for many of us.

[anthropophagite]

I've never been to America before. So I'm having a hard time seeing familiar things right now... It's kind of scary.


[ a pause ] I wonder if this counts as "visiting America" even though it's in a different universe.

[aeva]

I haven't either.

( not in this lifetime. she's definitely just a simple irishwoman )

But I think it does count. You're still here.

[anthropophagite]

I was told we won't remember when we go back home, though.

[aeva]

That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the experience you have now.

[anthropophagite]

Isn't all a bit useless, though? Because once we leave, the time spent here means nothing to us anymore... [ he may... have found out he used to be here some time ago. But he doesn't remember that. ]