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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?

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[ 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?

[ if marcos had tried to talk kaneki out of it, the younger of the two would have just told him to leave and not come along. So it was a good thing he did not speak his mind about that matter, and it's best to just do the mission because at least that is something to keep kaneki occupied which is absolutely something he has to do otherwise nobody will be happy (specially not him).

Truthfully, he has not dealt with undead either, and he doesn't know what to expect from them apart from what books might have told him about zombies. But undead are people - dead humans - and that means that kaneki himself has a very big advantage here. Besides, he has already feasted on some back at the citadel and that went perfectly well, so right now he isn't particularly worried about what revived humans can do. He is more worried about what sort of magical beings can be found out there as well what sort of artifact he is meant to bring back.

But he also hoped Marcos had some sort of experience since Kaneki doesn't want to babysit a stranger, either. He will give him the benefit of the doubt though. ]

He only gave me a key and directions. [ kaneki reaches for the eyepatch that covers his left eye to pull it off and put it back in his pocket ]

Shall we go, then? [ he asks but doesn't expect an answer, stepping inside the hunting grounds, past the gate. He can't smell any humans, though, so that's a good sign but the place is eerily quiet ] Do you have experience fighting?

[ 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?

[ he will learn what the eyepatch is for soon enough. Or, if they are both lucky, there will be no problem in these woods and there will be no need for Kaneki's eye to change.

kaneki listens as he watches Marcos, but also pays close attention to all sounds around them; having heighten senses is very useful, but then again, the training grounds are absolutely silent for now. It's good and yet also extremely unnerving. ] Would he? [ kaneki doesn't know the Merchant well enough to trust him ]

I can handle myself. But I assumed he asked me simply to keep me busy. [ kaneki hates to stay still. he allows for a small pause before Kaneki finally shakes his head ] I can fight and kill any undead with ease. I don't think they could do much damage.

My body is too tough. [ unnaturally so, he means ]

[ 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?

[ kaneki is fine with darkness. Not that ghouls can see in the dark, but sound will be enough. And perhaps smell, if there are some undead around - kaneki will easily identify that scent, it's one that easily overwhelm every single ghoul, including Kaneki himself.

But he nods when marcos admits to not being familiar with the Merchant ] He doesn't sound like a man easy to get to know. [ politeness can be an armor and the man wears it with pride. With a sharp tongue and polite words, it's hard to know where to press.

The younger of the two hums ] Their teeth can't rip through my skin. I'm kind of like a brick wall. [ kaneki smiles, amused, although that smile may not be honest. or maybe it is ]

[ 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.

[ eerily quiet. Kaneki doesn't like it - there are no animals around, he has noticed. It's just the sound of their own voice and footsteps and that is probably the worst kind of silence to be surrounded by. The chit-chat helps to distract him from that, but Kaneki can still hear the voices in his own head and the centipede in his ear eating away.

The question leaves Kaneki silent for a moment. Marcos clearly is assuming Kaneki to be something he is familiar with, but marcos is not a ghoul - he doesn't smell of such. And if he were a human who knew of ghouls, he would not be this relaxed. So no, whatever this person is assuming Kaneki to be, he would be wrong.

But the ghoul will go along because it's easier ]

Chased and killed on sight. [ he is not sorrowful for that. Kaneki knows that happens because Ghouls can be cruel, they can be vicious, they hurt and torture for fun and pleasure. Humans chase and kill them as defense, because ghouls do exactly the same in return. ] We do the same to them.

It's a messed up world. Wrong. [ that's why kaneki decided to focus on those he loves instead, humans or ghouls it doesn't matter. And he will face those who threaten those people ]

Do you do the same, too?

[ 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?

[ kaneki never once killed a human person. In fact, that's the line he will never cross (or so he thinks, the future is waiting for him to mess everything up and do what he said he'd never do) and he has murdered dozens of ghouls for doing exactly that. But because he considers himself a ghoul, there is no point to distance himself from them and what they do, since that is how humans will always see him as.

That is how things are.

But hearing marco's words explains a little bit more how he is seeing Kaneki. Unlike him, kaneki is not a human whose society decided he was not - he may have been born a human but threw away his humanity and embraced being a ghoul instead - but a ghoul. A whole different species ]

We are not humans, thus we never had rights from the start. [ kaneki stops, sighing, as he looks back at Marcos. They can have a serious conversation about this, indeed, although he isn't ghoul to explain all of it ]

Our situations are not the same, though. I kill ghouls, not humans. I pluck them out, like bad coffee beans, since they threaten my place and the ones who are mine. Humans, on the other hand, they never did. [ it's truly that simply to Kaneki ]

[ 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?

[ it's not truly worse when that is the species. Humans may have a more nefarious meaning for the word, but Ghouls have always called themselves that (and perhaps that's why the word has a negative meaning too, at least in kaneki's world). ]

Very dangerous ones. Not even other ghouls would dare to approach them. [ which is the point.

And yet it's not that simple. Kaneki started everything in order to eradicate the terrorist group Aogiri Tree in order so they'd not harm the ones he loved, but he messed up a lot, went mad and grew mad. He did things that he doesn't even fully remember, and he left dozens of half-eaten bodies behind, a trail of blood that spread all across Tokyo. And a lot of that was done out of hunger and thirsty for more, and the original objective got a bit muddled along the way.

Everything is a mess.

Thinking about it makes kaneki's head ring, and everything gets so loud; he feels like something inside his ear is eating away at him, and although his hand rises to reach for it, kaneki manages to stop himself before his fingers try to dig in. No, this is not the appropriate time to lose himself. ]

I am like them. They made me like them. [ kaneki is being very literal in the sense that he was originally a human and was turned into a ghoul, but he also means it in the sense that he used to be gentle and innocent and they tortured and messed him up. They created Kaneki physically but also mentally. ]

They aren't here, so it's alright. [ finally Kaneki's head clears enough. He smiles back at Marcos ] I won't hurt anyone and I will help in whatever I can. Even if that means walking into some creepy woods to fetch some mysterious thing for the mysterious
Merchant.

[ 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.

Mutants. [ Kaneki repeats that. They aren't seen as humans, but the way Marcos spoke sounded like they were. At least before everything. To lose humanity (even if only from society's standpoint) is a terrible thing, isn't it? Like the world was taken off your feet and you are left walking on a tightrope from which you will fall if you give the wrong step, and at the end there is a glimmer of hope someone will see you with that humanity you hold on to. Kaneki knows this far too well, but he decided to jump off that rope and ignore that hope; others would not be so willing to give up on it.

He smiles again ] You don't look "mutated".

[ he knows, he knows. There are many ways to pass as human, others would say Kaneki is one at first ] Have you ever done something you thought you couldn't come back from?

[ wanting to help is enough. But things don't always go right with just good intentions.

Kaneki glances around for a second there. It's almost like he heard something, and when one is standing in the middle of a silent forest, it can be easy to pick up that. But after he stops, no other sound can be heard, so he wonders if he is just being paranoid (entirely possible) ]

[ 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.

[ kaneki watches Marcos light in silence; it is pretty amazing, though. So this Gene gives people powers? He did say in "different ways", therefor that would mean whoever has it could have powers other than making light. Still, that last comment earns Marcos an amused smile from kaneki ]

I'd say that will be helpful here. [ it's a dark forest, they probably will need some light. ]

How long have you been here, in this world?

[ 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?

Confusing. [ kaneki sighs, touching his own chin ] And hard to accept, but given too little time to digest the information. Which I get. [ threat of undead and all that. Kaneki is very much ware they couldn't just sit him down, give him coffee, and patiently explain everything to him. ]

Honestly, it still feels like I am dreaming. [ and that none of it is real ]

[ 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.

[ kaneki glances back at Marcos for a second, before he looks ahead once again ] ... I'm sorry. That must have been terrible. [ drugging people happens here, then. Kaneki can't help to feel that this situation is somewhat similar to the one when he was kidnapped, too ]

Do you trust them? The ones we travel with? [ kaneki wishes to return home, but is that the desire of everyone else, he wonders ] I hope there hasn't been issues among us.

[ 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.

[ kaneki nods softly. yes, indeed, they are all in the same boat and all wish to leave this world...

maybe. ]

I have been wondering. People like you and me, our worlds are not kind. Not everyone would wish to return to their homes, specially if they came from places worse than ours. [ marcos probably knows what Kaneki is implying ]

I hope we are all in the same boat and continue to be. [ guess who is paranoid? kaneki is! ]

[ 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.

[ knows? kaneki wonders about that; he seems to know, but he just seems set of sending the newcomers out of his world and not die here so they won't be turned into powerful undead people. ]

Nobody knows much about the merchant, do they?

[ 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.

[ kaneki stops, thinking for a second ]

... Do you worry we all might be a bit too trusting of the man? [ what if he is actually planning something different? Maybe find a way to use these overpowered people for himself? Kaneki is far too paranoid not to consider it, but truth is, he knows nothing about the man. He could be an undead warlord for all kaneki knows ]

[ 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.

[ he hums softly ] It could be.

But in the end, we do not have a lot of options, though. I mean- I don't even have a map of this place, I have no idea where to turn. [ and magic isn't real, or at least wasn't in his world ]

There are always the undead warlords, but from what I've heard, they are much worse. [ at least the Merchant seems less willing to rise the undead and destroy everything ]

[ 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.

[ a pause ]

You saw one? [ that interests him, deeply in fact. He stares at Marcos for a moment longer, before his eyes finally fall to the ground for a second ] Can you tell me about them?

[ 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.

[ It sounds like a thing out of a fantasy novel. But then again, they are in a fantasy world, aren't they? With magic and undead... kaneki hums softly ]

How many warlords are there? [ so what marcos said is that they haven't really faced them directly. Is the merchant trying to avoid them, then? ]

[ 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.

[ little creeps out kaneki - after all, he looks at himself every day. He is very much aware of how creepy he is on his own. ]

Few warlords... and we have seen two. [ uh. It could be what the Merchant said: they are looking to have the arrivals from other worlds, and that's why they are around. Then again, kaneki doesn't know how big this continent or world actually is. It could be minuscule for all he knows. ]

Are they specifically after us, or did they just show up by coincidence?

[ 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.

[ aren't they the weapons themselves?

But still, he makes a mental note to somehow ask others later. Others who have been here longer... but he also fears they might be too paranoid to share. or might be too trusting to see any red flag.

Still: ]

I will stay alert. I would not like to meet one of those warlords. [ even if he is curious about them ] But I have been wondering... they have the power to bring us to this world, right? After all, the Merchant said we were brought to become powerful pawns for their war.

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.

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