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Ken Kaneki (金木 研) ([personal profile] enucleation) wrote in [community profile] westwhere2021-12-12 10:59 pm

[ closed ]

WHO: Kaneki and Marcos
WHEN: After Kaneki's arrival
WHERE: Spina hunting grounds
WHAT: Merchant asked the boys to go get something for him
WARNINGS: Pulsating hearts, violence against undead animals, one of the boys is a cannibal )=

[ He had just arrived but there is little Kaneki feels capable of doing right now. Politics are not his forte and he has a hard time caring for a situation this convoluted and with so much already going underway. He is meant to be some sort of reinforcement, at least that's what he was called, however he mostly feels behind in a situation he doesn't care terribly about.

But when the Merchants gives Kaneki a specific task, he takes it because now he has an objective and a clear idea of what to do. He is also curious about this thing he was asked to retrieve and perhaps even suspicious, therefor he readily accepted it with a half-smile that held no actual feeling to it. He doubts the Merchant would care, anyway, for he doesn't seem like a sentimental man.

But naturally, Kaneki was given some reinforcements, even though he believes he could easily do this on his own. Marcos was the name of the man who would be coming along with Kaneki, and the half-ghoul did not complain. That is fine with him, he will make sure they are both safe during this small side mission and that they will find what they need.

Now standing in front of the gate to the hunting grounds, Kaneki looks back at Marcos ]


Do you have any experience with this?
soloritur: (82)

[personal profile] soloritur 2021-12-14 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ Honestly, Marcos hadn't really known what to think when he'd met up with Kaneki. Wherever he came from, he seemed to be taking this all in stride. But given how recently the guy arrived, and everything else going on, he didn't feel right letting him go off on a solo treasure hunt. It might have been a better idea to talk him out of it entirely, but Marcos has some hope that the Merchant asked for something that could help them deal with all the chaos going on in the city.

He's staring up at the gate with his hands out and half-raised when Kaneki asks a question. As he turns to look at him, Marcos wonders if the Merchant gave him any warning at all about what they'll run into. Not that the rumors Marcos has to go on count for much, but he's at least seen enough to believe them. ]


With this exactly? ...I've gone on retrieval missions before. Just none that potentially involved the undead. [ He looks back to the gate, listening for anything moving beyond it, but it's suspiciously silent. ] Did he give any hint to why this is so important to him?
soloritur: (Default)

[personal profile] soloritur 2021-12-15 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ He tilts his head when he removes the eyepatch, and the question is on the tip of his tongue, but he holds it in. Apparently he was wrong to assume it was an injury. Consider he doesn't know exactly what they'll run into, he'll take that as a good sign. From his experience, most of the people who are brought here have some kind of ability, even if nobody calls them mutants.

Telling Kaneki that he is one probably won't mean anything, so he shrugs as he follows him in. ]


Unfortunately. [ Here and back home, though he focuses on the more relevant point. ] Before you came here the city was invaded by all kinds of monsters. We drove them back, but I don't know if there aren't still a few hiding. It seems like he would have said something if he thought we needed a warning.

[ Maybe. Marcos has yet to speak to him personally, so he can't really vouch for him beyond what he's heard. ]

What about you? Was there a reason he asked you to go?
soloritur: (144)

[personal profile] soloritur 2021-12-22 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ Marcos is very tempted to hold a hand out to give them some better light to go by, but that would also make them easier to spot if there are any enemies lurking out here. Instead he just trails along and keeps his palms up and ready in case they're suddenly attacked. Which, listening to Kaneki speak, he obviously expects to happen.

He carries on the conversation though, as if that wasn't at all concerning. ]


I don't actually know what the Merchant would do. You've spoken to him more than I have, but it seems like he'd want us to succeed.

[ That's unless he really did give him this task just to 'keep him busy', in which case... why? Marcos isn't phased by his boasting, he's been around enough mutants who think of themselves as invincible, but he still doesn't know what exactly he can do. He turns his attention from the wind blowing through the bushes to raise an eyebrow at his last statement. ]

How do you mean?
soloritur: (79)

[personal profile] soloritur 2021-12-31 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's weirdly quiet beyond the two of them and some slight rustling of leaves. Nevertheless, Marcos doesn't let his guard down and keeps his eyes forward as they walk. ]

Well, he hasn't exactly made an effort to reach out. I'm told he arranged our entire stay here, so maybe he's looking to make it worth his while.

[ Then he goes on to explain what sounds exactly like something that would come from a mutant. Not many people use that word here, but he has to wonder if it's just another matter of genetics. At first, Marcos just nods, but his expression turns thoughtful when he looks back at him. ]

Mind if I ask you something personal? [ He waits for a moment, then tentatively continues. ] How do people react to you, back home? Where I come from, people with powers are persecuted, but here... it's not what I'm used to.
soloritur: (80)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-01-05 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ He wasn't expecting that level of honesty when he posed the question, but he does a decent job at keeping his reaction subdued and only looks back at him with measured concern. His experience is sadly not as surprising as it should be. The 'us vs them' mentality led to more bloodshed than he ever wanted to see in his lifetime, and he's feared that it will come to exactly what he's describing if nothing changes.

A glimpse into the future.

That Kaneki openly admits to what he's done says a lot about him. As much as he doesn't like it, Marcos doesn't really have the moral high ground to tell him that violence isn't the answer. He used to believe they could change things peacefully, and he still does, but every time he starts over from scratch it gets harder. ]


I... know a little bit of what it's like, to be hunted. There were plenty of people who only saw us as a danger to society. They decided we weren't human and didn't deserve the same rights.

[ He's tentative, not wanting to pry but wanting to know more. ]

Did something happen that started it?
soloritur: (102)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-01-06 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ghouls. Some people took offense to the word 'mutant', but he wagers that one is worse. Marcos isn't entire sure he understands his situation, or why he would kill his own kind. Kaneki is at least what some would call 'human passing' in his world, so he could have probably lived among them if he wanted. Sure, the white hair makes him stand out, but that doesn't necessarily scream mutant the way pointed ears or skin made of stone does.

It's not unheard of for mutants to go after other mutants. Some thought they could work within the system to change public opinion, and others thought that mutants were superior and had to take over by force. That fracturing is kind of how the Mutant Underground fell apart, both times.

They were the minority, but still at least a part of human society. So he has to wonder what it's like when there is no drive towards equality. Do humans look to Kaneki for protection? ]


You kill the ones who are dangerous, you mean? [ He didn't specify. ] Are they not like you?
soloritur: (70)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-01-08 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ The woods around them are forgotten as he turns all his focus to Kaneki. He looks like he's on the verge of something, and Marcos has been around enough traumatized mutants to notice the signs that he could snap in an instant. He hadn't meant to bring up a painful subject, and for a while he thinks he should apologize and tell him that they didn't have to talk about this. But then he seems to come to his senses and smile.

It's a cover, he knows, but he's not sure he wants to keep pulling at that thread. If having a task is good for his sanity, Marcos will help too. That's at least something they can agree on. ​]


Yeah. [ He's quiet for a few more steps, then sighs as he reconsiders their surroundings. ] They aren't here. Just the two of us and a... mysterious thing.

[ And he did say he has directions, so it's not like they're fumbling in the dark. He nearly asks if they're heading the right way, but it doesn't feel right to drop the subject like he's uncomfortable with it. Kaneki is clearly fighting against his own demons. He can at least reassure him that he's not afraid of him before they get back to work. ]

Listen. I've... been around long enough to see some things. Mutants who felt like they lost their humanity. Ones who have done things they thought they couldn't come back from. — You won't find any judgment with me. Wanting to help is more than enough.
soloritur: (32)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-01-09 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Marcos smiles at him, a little sadly. It's fair to ask. He shared a piece of his story, so it's only right that he do the same. ]

We don't all look like mutants. The only thing we have in common is possessing an X-Gene that manifests in different ways. [ He debates for moment, then lifts a hand up. Light travels through his veins and his palm starts to glow. Nothing so bright that it would light up the forest, and he douses it in his fist soon after. ] To answer your question... yes. I used to use my powers for something I'm not proud of. I could say I didn't have a choice because I was out of options, but that's just an excuse.

[ It's hard not to think of Lorna taking down a plane and thinking there was no going back, but she proved him wrong. He takes a breath and shakes his head. He tries not to make things uncomfortable with specifics, even if his recovery comes off awkwardly. ]

At least you don't have to worry about getting lost in the dark. I make a pretty good flashlight.
soloritur: (93)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-01-14 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ His compliment gets another brief smile. He could light up the entire forest if they need to, but beyond drawing attention, if there's not enough light for him to absorb he's got to conserve what energy he has for when they really need it.

It's nice though, talking like this. They can pretend that they aren't on a very bizarre errand for a benefactor that won't even give his real name. ]


Good question. It's been... probably close to three months now? You seemed to be pretty new to this place. How was it for you, getting here?
soloritur: (121)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-01-22 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Marcos nods, understanding that feeling completely. ]

I wish I could say that goes away. [ He sighs, looking around them, but trusting Kaneki knows the right direction to head in. ] ...I was drugged, when I came here, along with some of the others. It was days before the people here found us and helped get us out.

[ He leaves out the parts that were more distressing. The world looked a lot different after he got out. ]

I can barely remember anything that happened before that.
soloritur: (143)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-01-30 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ He returns his gaze and shrugs, a little stiffly. It was bad enough that he doesn't want to give too many of the disturbing details. He takes his question seriously though. He can understand why he's asking. ]

They were the ones who helped get me out of there, so I owe them. If it hadn't been for them, I don't know that we would have. [ Risking their lives when they didn't have to goes a long way with him. ] There's a couple I trust more than the others, but right now I think everyone realizes that we're all in the same boat. We don't really have a choice but to work together.
soloritur: (107)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-02-09 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ Marcos understands the sentiment. If he thought some of them might sabotage their means to get home, he'd be more reluctant to travel with them, but right now they at least seem to have enough of a common goal. ]

...Back home we tried to vet the people we worked with, to at least weed out some of the troublemakers. [ They took in about anyone, but they did make an effort to manage psychopaths who only wanted anarchy. As well as that turned out. ] That's harder to do here. Supposedly the Merchant knows more about us, so it's possible he has some standards, but I don't know how we'd get our hands on that information.
soloritur: (Default)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-02-18 09:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ He shrugs, because he sure doesn't. There's been so much going on that he's barely had a chance to do what he probably should have been looking into since the first day after he escaped. ]

Not enough to get his real name. The ones who have been around a while might know more than me, but I don't know how many have met him. [ He looks at him. ] Or been asked to run his personal errands.
soloritur: (53)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-02-27 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Marcos has a lot of people he's indebted to here. The ones who broke him out of that cage, and those who offered him everything they could when he was getting acclimated. The Merchant is another entity, and he's not sure how to interpret the way he seems to be watching their every move. ]

In a word? Yeah, I do. [ He hasn't voiced it often, but he won't pretend it doesn't bother him. ] We were put in an impossible situation without any alternative but to follow him. He could be behind all of this, for all we know.
soloritur: (117)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-03-03 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ He sighs out his nose. That's one thing he's happy that Kaneki missed. ]

They are. I only caught a glimpse of them when Taravast was invaded, but I don't know if any of us would still be here if it'd been more than a warning. [ All the Merchant needed to say was that this leverage was going to be used against the warlords and it would have been an easier sell. ]

Which I also don't get. They must see some benefit to leaving so many people alive, but if they could turn anyone into soldiers for them... there must be more that we don't know.
soloritur: (27)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-03-11 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ He nods, but hesitates to go on. What little he saw... ]

I only got a good look at one of them. She wasn't what you'd expect. A beautiful woman on a horse, who crumbled the ground she walked on. They said death and disease followed wherever she stayed, so we had to keep her moving. [ She was also very naked, which was extremely distracting in the middle of a battle. ]

The other one was nastier. I heard stories afterward, but mostly I was busy trying to fight off the monsters he brought with him.
soloritur: (140)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-03-12 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Marcos glances at him, and tries to think of how to talk about this without creeping him out. Despite what some people might say about mutants, monsters don't exist in his world. Undead warlords are an entirely different thing that he hasn't begun to understand. ]

Not that many. I got the impression there were four or five, maybe six? But one of them seemed to be against the others. [ Who knows how many undead they control, but it's... a lot from what he's seen. He shrugs. ] I'm probably not the best source of information about them. I had no idea what we'd be facing until they invaded.
soloritur: (Default)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-03-19 06:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ He wishes he had more to give him, but his arrival didn't get him any more clues to why they were brought here. Just a lot of warnings about staying away. ]

That time, I think it was a warning to Taravast. ...I guess they didn't get the offering they were expecting. Something about weapons that got diverted by some in our group.
soloritur: (95)

[personal profile] soloritur 2022-03-19 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
That I don't know. I willingly jumped through a portal before coming here, but the person who created it is gone. I also don't remember anything between jumping through it and ending up in a cage.

[ That doesn't mean that's not the case for some of them though. ]

It'd make sense if that was the reason why we were brought here, and why the Merchant wants us to leave, but I'm not sure that's the whole story.