deercountry | Moderation isn't in my vocabulary

Content Warnings: Anything listed in the 'From Within And Without' prompt.

[It had been days dealing with this annoyance. At first, it started as a minor thing - how did he get a shadow in the nighttime? It didn't make any sense. And then he thought it was almost funny. So, whatever it was, it was mimicking him to the letter. That was basically an invitation in Kokichi's book to do at least a few stupid poses, which it dutifully mimicked.

So. That was kind of funny. And he'd thought, maybe, it'd go away, but...it was still there. And it was getting to be worse and worse. Kokichi walked along the street of Willful Machine, occasionally sneaking a glance at his dumb, dumb ever-present shadow. He should get home. He should quit worrying about it. About anything. About the faint silver twinge to his skin.

It was all nothing and he was fine.

It was not nothing and he was not fine. But he was a liar, after all, and thus he would persist in his lie. He kept walking, not really watching where he was going when he nearly ran into someone...abruptly paused, and without talking, moved around them. He had to keep going.

If he crashed into anyone else immediately ahead, then he might notice. Otherwise, someone might have to reach out to him.]

[The everlasting darkness had Rika on edge enough already. She had been hesitant to leave her home for very long, understanding that her youth made the dark that much more scary. Even if it the butterflies lit the skies.

Her walks thus far had involved minimal interactions. She made sure to greet shopkeepers in order to create a timeline of where she'd been (in case Satoko worried later,) but she otherwise did not give anyone a chance to hurt her. With her arms full of grocery bags, she dutifully headed straight home-- Quickly, so as to avoid danger--

Only to crash into someone familiar. Literally, actually. With her vision blocked by the bags and darkness already hiding her form, it should come as no surprise. She stumbles and falls on her backside, yelping loudly as she does.]

MII! Who- [She looks up quickly, on guard;] ... Kokichi?

[Kokichi is taken out of his thoughts by bumping into someone--literally. This immediately makes him stop walking at the little yelp of Mii! and he looks down.]

Rika-chan? Jeez, sorry, I, um. I didn't see you there. I was kinda...lost in thought. Here--are you okay?

[He extends his hand to help the little girl up.]

[Rika pushes herself onto her knees first, collecting her bags before she accepts his help.]

I am fine. I am sorry- I wanted to get out of the spooky darkness quickly. I was not looking.

[Actually, she couldn't look over the bags. But she doesn't want to be reminded of how scary it is to be small and trapped in eternal darkness.]

Sorry- I do not have a map for thoughts. But are you okay? Is something troubling you?

[Kokichi's now intent on not letting her out of his sight, even if his skin is taking on a small metallic glint.]

Can't say I blame you. Don't worry about it, 'kay? We'll stick together from here on out. We'll be safer together, since I think we're going the same way...for at least a while.

[But his voice trails off, his eyesight also stuck onto his shadow, imposing, standing directly as he is.]

I can't get my shadow to stick on.

[A curious sentence, he knows. But it's the only one that comes to mind, staring at that. It's ominous.]

It shouldn't even be here at all. But I feel...emptier with it out here...

Edited 2022-04-16 10:44 (UTC)

[ when the Tethers started showing up, kaneki decided the best place to find some information on them would be the library he works at. And lo and below, he did find a book that had excepts from Charlotte Finch's journal, where Tethers -souls!- were explained. A way to help is also written there and while it's a bit awkward, kaneki is glad that at least there is one and doesn't involve anything terrible like blood.

Surprisingly enough, Kaneki was not affected by it. Which is surprising indeed! He doesn't have much luck with anything and fully expected to be followed around by a mirror image of himself at some point. And yet, strangely it never did.

Not that kaneki will complain about that.

Still, at least he can recognize it now and that means when he bumps against Kokichi on the street, he is able to figure what that is right away. it's freaky, scary, but at least kaneki isn't running scared and confused about everything. But in any case, having a friendly face in front of him being tormented by that thing, Kaneki immediately grows worried, frowning, while he reaches to touch Kokichi's shoulder with a hand ]

Kokichi-san... are you alright? [ clearly not, ken ]

[Kokichi had been completely lost to to the world....when Kaneki reached out and touched his shoulder. Cue the little squeak! And then he lights up pink, because he just noticed who it was that caused that squeak. Well, at least he's a bit distracted.]

K--Kaneki-chan! I didn't, um...I didn't see you there.

[He cleared his throat, glancing aside to his shadow, unmoving.]

I'd like to say so, but I might be having a little issue here. My shadow wants to play games with me. I don't think it should be out like this, but it hasn't gone away for a while now...I don't suppose you know why that's happening, do you?

[ when kokichi glances at the shadow, so does kaneki, and he frowns a little, worried about it. He knows it's no good, just like everything in this place. ]

I don't think it's games it wants to do. [ honestly: ] Kokichi-san, the Tethers are dangerous, I read a little about them.

I don't think you should focus on it right now, you need-- [ Kaneki's hand reaches lower towards Kokichi's wrist, although he is careful and will allow the other to pull away if he wants to ]

Have you heard anything about "Tethers" before?

T....ethers...?

[He had to have missed that book. But clearly Kaneki didn't, and he's making it sound bad. And he also...wants to hold hands?
. . .
Well. It's not like he's not going to let him, however risqué that may be. Only the most tender of acts...he's getting some very confusing mixed signals here as to why this is happening but he's not complaining, though he still hasn't looked away from his shadow, a bit wary.]

I...no. I haven't. Mind catching me up?

[ he doesn't want to give a full lecture on this, specially when Kokichi already seems so affected. But it's probably best to explain since he will need to help the other somehow - and be allowed to do so ]

Tethers are part of the beasthood, what connects you to it. It will try to consume you to turn you into a beast, but there are ways to stop it.

They said companionship and touch helps to stop it. [ hence why kaneki is being so "risqué"and holding on to Kokichi's hand. ] Do you understand what I'm saying?

[Kokichi listens. Okay, so it's part of the beasthood. It's trying to...consume him. Yikes. His face immediately twists into a fearful one, hearing that...

But then he hears companionship and touch helps to stop it. Kaneki asks if he understands what he's saying. And immediately Kokichi's brain falls down a dark, guttery path that it really should not, except he's a deviant gremlin.

His blush has returned in full.]

....It means you want to stay with me and make sure I'm okay, because even without being a hero, you keep saving me and being sweet to me?

I don't mind.

[And he squeezes their held hands. That's a safe assumption to make, right?]

[ yes, something like that.

(why... is he blushing?)

Unlike Kokichi, Kaneki does not have any deviant thoughts like that - naturally, he can't, so his actions don't really involve that sort of thinking. He is offering his hand and touch out of worry and doesn't really understand why Kokichi is blushing.

But if Kokichi blushes, kaneki blushes too!! He cna't help it, it's a natural reaction.

Ken coughs a little, shaking his head ] I'm worried about your, kokichi-can... I don't want you to get hurt.

[ but he squeezes the hand back. Indeed, that's what he meant ]

[I'm worried about you, Kokichi... wait. What was that honorific? Chan? San? It wasn't Kun.

Did he call him Kokichi-chan...?

That doesn't help at all! Is he saying he's cute?! And he's blushing too! This is...a situation Kokichi is wholly unprepared to deal with.]

You know, for a guy who insists he's not a hero, you sure do worry about me and turn up when I need it most, huh?

[And even his tone's gotten more shy.

Cool. Maybe his shadow will die from this interaction alone.]

....I don't mind. What were you intending to do to combat this, just...stand here and hold hands?

There's not really anything we're running from this time, so...there's not an excuse for much else. Unless you just wanted to hold me because you're worried...I'd say the reverse would work fine, too, but I'm the one in danger again. Neeheehee~

[Remember that whole 'might actually be in danger' thing?

Yeah, Kokichi doesn't, either. ~~He's dumb sometimes.~~]

[ Kaneki has no idea what is crossing Kokichi's mind at this moment and he is just worried the other will be killed by that shadow thing following him.

He simply shakes his head ] Doesn't that mean it's just luck? regardless, I'm glad I found you.

[ kaneki gently tugs kokichi's hand so he will follow along. It's best to try and find some quiet place to sit down and... well, stay together until the Tether goes? ] Clearly there is something wrong and that thing will hurt you.

So we have to try something, no? [ he trusts the stories because it seems to be true, otherwise the journals would haven't been left for others to read ]

Maybe. Or maybe it's destiny! [Kokichi chirps, and...he shrugs softly.]

Regardless, yes. You found me. And you'll keep me safe. [He gladly follows Kaneki along, continuing to hold his hand.]

I'm fine to try anything. I think it'll be fine, whatever you're okay with, Kaneki-chan.

[They are on such different wavelengths right now. It's astounding.]

[ fine to try anything he says... Although Kaneki is focusing on what he read about the Tethers and focusing on trying to save the other boy right now and that's all it matters. He doesn't have any other ways of doing it but what he read, so...

Well. At least Kokichi doesn't seem to mind.

He glanced back at the other, and then at the Tether] Are you feeling alright, Kokichi - San?

Oh, I'd say I'm getting better. I'm not there all the way yet, though, so. I'm still in danger. Neeheehee.

[His silvery glint is slowly fading.]

What happened to Kokichi-chan...? San is so formal, you know, you know. I didn't mind that, when you accidentally said...something like that...or did you not say that?

Either way I don't mind...

[He's getting too comfortable in it.]

Ka-ne-ki-chan~

[ and Kaneki furiously blushes all the way up to his ears, staring at Kokichi.

He would have pulled the hand away - and perhaps bury a hole and hide in it - if he didn't remember he had to keep doing this to keep the other safe]

T-that! That was!! [ dear lord]

I-it's weird to call you that since you are older, no? [ Kaneki is used to be called "chan" and "chi" and "kun" but he tried to be respectful, always]

[Oh wow. Kokichi's so close to getting cuteness aggression. Kaneki you can't do this to him. He resists the urge down to a gentle squeeze of their held hands.

God he cannot help grinning from ear to ear.]

I'm just 19, almost 20...is it weird? I just thought it was cute~

I like being cute. So I'm happy.

[And he says that so simply.]

Kaneki-chan is also being very cute right now. Huaa....always so worried about being proper. We're equals, I think.

[ he is being teased, isn't he? Kaneki is sure of it, and that's why his blush won't go away, although he squeezes Kokichi's hand back, shyly.]

... Kokichi-chan... Then. [ there you go, he used the honorific. Even though Kokichi is 2 years older than Kaneki]

Though it's fine not to use honorific with me. [ just being called Kaneki is alright. Everyone here does]

[Brrrrbth. There goes his heart. Immediately, Kokichi starts giggling.]

You don't have to if it makes you feel weird, but...neeheeheehee. It was so cute. Even if I'm like a senpai...whatever makes you feel comfortable. You can call me anything and I won't complain. Because I know it'll always be nice.

[And, he hums.]

Ahhh, really? Okay then. Just Kaneki it is then. [He just has the habit of sticking the '-chan' honorific onto anyone and everyone. It's a habit borne from years of trying to be cute.]

It's not weird just... a bit embarrassing? [ kind of? It's hard to explain. But kaneki shakes his head ] I will call you that since you like it more. [ clearly he does, otherwise he wouldn't bring it up, right?

But Kaneki smiles a little and nods ] Hm. Everyone calls me that, here. [ and most of his friends back home did too, so it's alright ]

Embarrassing...well. I guess it'll get less embarrassing over time. Neeheeheehee! [He knows why it might be, though. It's odd enough for an older girl to go by that honorific, but an older boy...almost unheard of. Still. It was unfamiliar, and that was nice. He'd never gotten a chance to appear cute to many people...]

...Ne, what about back home? Were you so casual back home~? I dunno much about your home apart from the fact that it's presumably in Japan, like mine. I mostly hung around the Shibuya area when I wasn't in school. [It could be a different Japan. Other dimensions were unpredictable like that. And it was at least something to think on that took their mind off of....whatever else this was.]

[ well, kaneki won't really understand the need to look cute, but whatever makes the other happy, truly.

he blinks, looking back at Kokichi, before he shakes his head ] I'm from Nerima City, in Tokyo. [ and that's where he usually hung around, really ] I didn't have many friends, but most people did address me with honorifics.

Not here, though. [ he doesn't mind that, honestly ]

[Good. This focus is helping his heart calm down.] Hum. I've never heard of a place like that. Maybe there are some integral differences between our worlds, after all. I'm used to getting 'Oma-kun'. 'Oma-kakka' and 'Oma-sama' are also common, if people are feeling formal. But I'd never have Kaneki address me like that. We're too close.

[He smirks. There's that confidence back. And yes, he's going so far as to say people address him as on the level as the Emperor of Japan. That's obviously a lie. Even DICE used 'kun', or rarely, 'niisan'. They were like one big family of runaways, after all.]

...There's so many mixed up worlds here that it's head-spinning, though. That's why I'm always so interested in differences. Helps that I've got a notebook noting down some extra info from...before even this, even, now. [It's made him a bit more paranoid, though.]

Don't tell anyone that. I trust Kaneki.

Moderation isn't in my vocabulary

(open) damn this, damn this fragmented life

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apologies about this response bc it may not at all be what you intended

oh my god kokichi lmao

:pensive: he's...selectively stupid

And Kaneki is very dense...

what a combination.

Two dumbasses!

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maaaaaaybe wrap here to go onto the next one nyoom

yesss we can wrap this one up <: