[ Open ]

[ghoulking]

WHO: Ken Kaneki (AU information)
WHERE: White Tower > Krakoa
WHEN: During September
WHAT: Open log for Kaneki through the event
WARNINGS: Cannibalism, violence, trauma, death, and other NSFW themes.

1. WHITE TOWER; before quantum leap

[ It’s not that Kaneki was born a bad person; he is in fact the epitome of “the way to hell is paved with good intentions” because all of this started with wanting to do good and spiraled down to whatever he is now. Ken is a man in love; he is in love with his wife who is still back in their original world, he is in love with his husband who was ported out years ago – and the love he feels for them, after so many years without them, turned into loss. And loss turned into bitterness, anger, frustration, despair. And Kaneki does not deal well with any of that. He blamed himself at first, but eventually blamed the world.

The world is wrong. The Porter is wrong.

And he is tired of living in the shadow of a machine that nobody really controls – or rather, don’t know how to control. Because, in his mind, he is certain it IS possible to do that. If only he can get to it.

And that’s his plan, to get to it by reaching the highest position as the High Chancellor. He has few bad beans on his way, but he is certain he can pluck them out. And with that single objective in his mind, Kaneki grew to become a member of the Parliament of White Tower, but also a vicious assassin for the faction. Not only that, but his biology – a half-ghoul, who can only consume humans – became well known and he too became well known as the “One Eyed Reaper”, the one who does not leave anything behind (because he eats them, yeah!). And he embraced this title quite well, standing tall, often with an angry expression (also called “resting bitch face syndrome”) and little patience for anyone that will not help his objective.

Few people get to see a much more gentle side of him, often reserved to his current lover Ashlynn, mentor, and allies. Towards everyone else, he is cold, often angry, if not downright vicious. Careful not to step on his toes – he bites. ]

2. WHITE TOWER; post quantum leap

[ waking up in the middle of a room with a woman pretty much on top of him was not something he expected happening, but it is something that did happen. Confusion hit, naturally, but after calming down and speaking to Ashlynn, kaneki learned a bit about this place and the person that he just stole the body from (well, technically it’s himself, right? A version of himself. Kaneki is familiar with alternative timelines by now, if only because that’s what he thinks it happened with that other Kaneki who left last year). Anyway, about what he learned-

None of it was good. And he hates everything he heard.

This world, not only is confusing, but it’s also terrifying, and the person Kaneki just stole the body from – well, he is completely insane. Naturally Ken didn’t share all of his thoughts with Ashlynn, but she probably picked on it from the terrified expressions Ken made. A psychotic killer, an assassin, and someone who willing eats other people, who was recently hired to kill the High Chancellor and wants to take over the place so he can control the Porter. Insane, that person is insane.

Do you know who is not insane? This Kaneki, who actually realizes this is bad. Given how involved original Kaneki was, doesn’t that mean he too is involved, even if he doesn’t want to be? People will recognize him, people will realize it’s not him, and given how murderous this whole faction seems to be, won’t they just go in for an easy kill? Kaneki realizes he is in danger and he realizes he should leave.

Ashlynn has been extremely helpful, but Kaneki doesn’t want to tell her he is planning on leaving (deflecting, that’s the word. Becoming a traitor is also a good way to describe it). But he can’t stay here and thus he decides to at least explore his options. Right now, he can be found at a library, reading through newspapers and articles, learning about the factions and the current state of the world. He is quick to notice Krakoa could a good faction to join but also easy to get to, considering what Ashlynn told him about Josh.

And thinking of him actually makes his face twist. Can he… really just go there and release him? While the woman holding him captive said so, in the end Kaneki is worried if he has to fight someone, too. He doesn’t want to give away that he is not the original Kaneki, and he doesn’t want to be too involved, either. At the same time, it feels so cruel to leave that person, even if Kaneki never met Josh. ] What do I do…? [ with a frustrated sigh, Kaneki passes his hands through his now white hair. Maybe the network… maybe someone else is like him? He can’t be the only one that suddenly just woke up in this place and replaced the original person living here. Right…? ]

For continuity sake, Kaneki will end up figthing Kavinsky after this. That's when he will make a network, asking for help. He will be offered help from Jane Porter (from Krakoa) during this post, but Kaneki decides to go save Josh first. He and Josh will be arriving in Krakoa thanks to Luther's powers.

3. KRAKOA; post-arrival

[ Kaneki arrived to Krakoa a complete and utter mess. He saved Josh and brought him along, and Luther came to pick him and Josh up and of course the man had no idea who Kaneki was (and most likely only knew him as “that guy who eats people”). And then in Krakoa, Kaneki had to try and explain this whole mess and how he really is not that guy who eats people (actually, he does. But not the way the other Kaneki did!!).

To add to all of that, Kaneki killed someone. He promised to himself he’d never kill a person, he’d never kill a human. And he did. It broke him completely, his mind and his heart. And sure the person he killed was an imPort and he was revived, but Ken had never killed before.

The days after his arrival are spent mostly avoiding everyone. Kaneki just wants to be left alone, as far away from people as possible. He stays by the beach while he stares down at his hands, all of him broken thanks to everything that has been happening. He doesn’t even remember how he killed Kavinsky, but everytime he remembers him dead, kaneki gags and actually vomits. He has nothing left in his stomach by now, but that will continue to happen – and he cries and sobs like a child, unable to control himself.

what did he do?!

This shouldn’t be happening. None of this should be happening. Why does everything happen to him? ]

4. KRAKOA; general/happier prompt

[ Naturally, Kaneki can’t just cry forever. He still feels sick and still cries whenever he remembers what he did, but Ken comes to the realization that he… might be here forever. So eventually he moves from his hiding place and actually joins the rest of the island. It’s surprising to see so many children around, but they seem happy and in a way, that calms his heart a little.

From time to time he hears his name and there is a strong feeling of fear and despair creeping right behind him, but it passes soon enough when he notices it’s a kid asking him if he’d like to play. “No, thank you” is always the polite answer he gives, but he does watch the children happily enjoying their time, as if the world outside this island wasn’t completely broken and messed up. Maybe that’s the point of this place.

Neverland.

Well, he is here too, so that makes him one of the lost boys. If he has to live in this world, he is glad he is allowed to be on this island, at least. ]

5. Wildcard

[ Go for it! Feel free to contact me on my plotting comment, through PM or through plurk vilani

Comments

[ghoulking]

[ Well, hopefully he won't remember this world's Kaneki is Ashlynn's boyfriend.

Kaneki is as gentle as possible, wrapping Josh's arm around his shoulders, while he uses a hand to bring him closer and support him. if this doesn't work, he will piggy-back, but the ghoul doesn't want to just grab him like a princess, people do have their dignity even if Josh wasn't given any this past year. ]

Ashl- [ oh. Maybe he shouldn't mention her. Or maybe he should. he doesn't know, so a small grunt follows and then Kaneki repeats: Ashlynn told me where you were. It didn't feel right leaving you behind.

[goldtoxicity]

[ he leans heavily against kaneki with every step, winded before long.

but its at that he freezes. his pale eyes go wide, body shock-stiff. is this a rescue or another trap? she plays mindgames, he knows. ]

Why? [ panic edges into his voice. ] Where are you taking me?

[ghoulking]

[ yeah he probably shouldn't have mentioned it now, he should have waited until they were safe ]

D-don't worry, she is not here or anything like that. I'm taking you to a place called Krakoa. I was told you are important to them. [ Ashlynn didn't really mention HOW important and Kaneki didn't ask at the time because he didn't think too much about the politics of the world. He should have asked. ]

They are good people, right? [ please don't tell him they actually want to hurt Josh as well or something -at this stage, Kaneki thinks everyone wants to kill each other, he has a terrible image of this whole world. ]

[goldtoxicity]

Krakoa?

[ is this a trap? he still looks panicked, wild eyed and terrified - but also terribly hopeful. in fact, it looks as though he might cry. ]

Why? [ his voice catches. this could be his worst fear. the white tower using him to gain entry into krakoa, to slip through its defenses.

he might not be thinking so clearly. it has been a year of isolation and torture. his mind keeps jumping to the worst possible scenarios. ] Why do you want to go to Krakoa?

[ghoulking]

[ he doesn't particularly want to go to Krakoa ] ... they were the only ones that answered when I asked for help.

[ kaneki's lips form a thin line and he frowns. What he did... he can;'t really forgive himself for it, but those people knew and still told him to come. Naturally, it's because he does have some information on White Tower doings and internal.... "politics" (aka murder attempts), and now also because he is bringing Josh along - but they were the very first ones who immediately said "I will save you". ]

I hurt someone really bad. [ Kaneki really thinks he killed him, in fact ] But they still said they'd take me in.

[ Kaneki will finally reach the outside; as Kaneki said, it's empty. Ashlynn isn't there, there are no guards, it's an empty place lost in the middle of nowhere. ]

[goldtoxicity]

[ it's clear that he's never actually seen outside the cell. he looks bewildered, and still as though he might shatter at any moment into tears.

his skin is faintly golden in the sunlight, the light reflects off of it strangely. it should be gold as a shiny new ring, but...

but he's half dead. there's an ugly rasp when he breathes. the wounds over him have been treated. ]

... Who did you hurt?

[ghoulking]

[ oh... he shines... it's as if he is made out of old gold. Kaneki will not stp moving until they are far away enough from the place where Josh was locked up. While contacting Krakoa has to happen, he'd rather if they are somewhere safe for now. ]

...I think he is the right hand of the Chancellor. Kavinsky... [ kaneki will not cry, except he is already crying, tears forming on the corner of his eyes ] I went out of control and I... [ he won't cry, he won't cry, he won't cry - no crying. Kaneki is carrying a half-dead person and said person should be the one crying so kaneki is going to swallow his tears ]

The High Chancellor was the one who gave the order to take you.

[goldtoxicity]

[ kavinsky.

he hurt kavinsky. killed him. death is temporary here but a death is still a death. and this monster... this monster...!

is crying.

josh stops mid-effort to shove him away. the world is swimming at the corners - he realizes he's crying too. crying for kavinsky, crying for the year he'd just lost, crying for this misguided stranger who they're now bringing to their shores and that's sure to cause trouble.

he lets out a shaky breath. ]

I... knew that. [ his eyes shut. its too bright. he can't keep walking. ] He'll come back.

[ kavinsky, or tony? he can't be sure which he's referring to. ]

[ghoulking]

[ when Josh stops, so does Kaneki. He gently allows the other to sit down and gives him some room while he cries, unsure if a stranger's hand would be of any help. Probably not.

Kaneki whispers a small "I'm sorry" as he lowers his head in silence and shame for a while.

They are far enough, he should be able to contact Krakoa now ] I'm going to ask for help. They should be here soon. [ and said that he reaches for the pocket of his coat to take the communicator and send his contact - Jane Porter - a message to tell her he is ready ] Jane Porter will be sending someone to these coordinates.

[ and while they wait ] I have some water, if you want - [ he should have offered it right from the start, Ken realizes. He reaches under his coat for the bag he is carrying, to take out the water bottle. ]

[obediences]

[ The two of them wait together in exhausted silence, as Josh slips back under; maybe unconscious, maybe just drifting, it's hard to tell. Jane's sent them to a quieter neighbourhood, where there was a better chance of them being scooped up unnoticed by their pickup. They've gotten far enough away from the hustle and bustle, close enough to a building that has a freight elevator opening onto an alley — an entry point that Luther's used before, and so eventually a tall, lean blond man comes at a quick, long-legged stride. Not running, not suspicious, just hurrying along like a man on an errand.

And what an errand it is.

Once he turns into the alley where the pair of them are huddled, his steps almost falter, but he keeps moving until he reaches them. Jane had given him the name, so he'd girded himself for the sight of the supposed Ken Kaneki, the cannibal ghoul, the terror of the White Tower. Luther had been skeptical and dubious about this, fists tightened and ready for a potential fight if the whole goddamn thing is a trap (which it probably is!), but when he sees Kaneki, the other man is... different.

Tear-stained cheeks, small and shrinking in on himself somehow. Luther's brow crinkles in confusion, but then he clears his throat and utters the pass-phrase they'd settled on. It's cheesy as hell but Spaceboy wasn't exactly known for his subtlety: ]

I hear you called for a taxi—

[ But then. Then. His gaze slides to the crumpled shape propped against the wall and its unmistakable gold skin, and he stops. Everything grinding to a halt. The world flattening as his eyes widen, and he stares. ]

Josh?

[goldtoxicity]

[ the golden boy isn't quite as golden as he should be. he's as dull as an old penny worn down by the streets, only the barest hint of a gleam bouncing off of one gaunt cheekbone. and he's not doing so hot right now. moving even this far took everything he had, and all he wants to do is close his eyes and drift off into dreams.

but his head lifts groggily at the sound of the voice, struggling to focus on the shape of the man before him. ]

Luther... Hey. [ he manages the weakest of smiles, relief and disbelief written across his exhausted face. ] You found me.

[ josh's unique physiology has never allowed for medical intervention - he has to repair himself, and if the shape he's in is any indication, that has been beyond him for a while now.

no matter what luther does next, he's out. slumping against the wall as the last of the adrenaline wears off and just leaves him hollow. he weighs next to nothing and is feverish to the touch.

of course, the worst part and the most telling, is that skin to skin contact fails to produce the warm rush of healing it should. no powers. none at all. the supression collar around his neck won't budge for anything. ]

[ghoulking]

[ Kaneki stays nearby, nervous and stressed of who might show up, but he trusts Jane would send him somewhere where most wouldn't notice his presence. Unless it's a trap, but he doesn't have much of a choice right now. From time to time he makes sure Josh is not dead while they wait for... well, he isn't sure what he is waiting for. Or whom.

And when he sees someone approaching, he can barely recognize who this is, at first. After all, he knows Luther for being HUGE and while this person is rather tall, it's not at all like the man he met before. Yet, there is a small hope to be recognized, so Kaneki gets up quickly, feeling his heart beating faster only to eventually realize that no, Luther does not recognize him the way he wanted.

Of course not.

The pass-phrase is spoken, and Kaneki has one of his own, muttering "I've a lot of traveling to do" but with a small hint of despair behind it. Nobody recognizes him, no one knows who he is -who he really is- and he is now in this world and nothing matters anymore. This is awful. But when Josh's name is mentioned, Ken freezes for a second and there is a sort of uncertainty creeping within him.

He approaches Josh just to make sure he is not dead, yet again, but this time he also looks back at Luther. He has to ask, just in case ] Are you going to help him? [ until this exact moment, no one told Kaneki just how important Josh is to Krakoa. He is important, sure, but for all Ken knows, Josh could be an important prisoner or an important traitor. it's not like this world is normal and so far everyone has been torturing and attempting to kill each other, so kaneki is assuming everyone kind of... does that.

So Kaneki wants to know what will happen to Josh once Luther takes them both, yeah. ]

[obediences]

[ After Josh passes out, Luther also winds up hunkered down on his heels beside him, fingers splayed against the other man's throat, checking that there's still a pulse, that he hasn't just up and died in front of them. There's a thread of panic in his own chest, and so many words he wants to blurt out, shocked: He's been missing. I didn't know. I didn't even think—

But he presses it all down, letting himself slip back into the practicalities of the battlefield, of an emergency, and so there's a businesslike cast to his voice when he speaks again. ]

Hopefully. There's people better qualified back on the island, we should be able to get him medical attention...

[ But then he looks up, eyes narrowing slightly. He's been sent here to help, to extract Kaneki, and they really need to get moving as soon as possible — but he just has to ask first. He's still far more suspicious than Jane was. She hadn't had the personal experience with him that Luther did. ]

What do you care, anyway? You're not usually concerned about collateral damage.

[ They had worked together, back in the White Tower. Luther had been ruthless himself, but Kaneki had been worse. Number One was steel-nerved, had grown up with a brother whose tentacled monsters tore people apart, but the things he'd seen from Kaneki had been unnerving even for him. It's difficult — almost impossible — to reconcile that history with the figure in front of him, who's shaking like a leaf. ]

[ghoulking]

[ He is visibly relieved to see that Luther seems to care and he isn't just going to lock the other up in some shady cell as well. Trusting Jane seems to have paid off - even in this world she is kind. And Luther, well- that comment would be well deserved if Kaneki was that Kaneki. ]

... I'm not him. [ in truth, that is probably a conversation that would take too long to go through and Kaneki is worried about being out in the open and also having Josh passed out like that. They should get going - ] S-should I carry him? [ he doesn't know how Luther's powers work, after all, nor what is required for them to be teleported to the island. ]

But in all honesty, he probably feels like the answer will be "no". Luther seems to know the original Kaneki from this world, so naturally he wouldn't want that person carrying someone important (heck, Kaneki himself wouldn't want that either). ]

[obediences]

[ It doesn't make sense. And that stutter sounds so misplaced, so unusual and unexpected on the lips of this forbidding white-haired figure, the haunting of so many people's nightmares over the years. The stutter reminds him of Diego for a moment; perhaps that should loosen up some of Luther's rigid sternness, but it doesn't. ]

No. I've got him.

[ And Luther tucks his hands carefully under Josh's body, delicately lifts the man into his arms, carrying him like a small child and trying not to jostle his wounds too much. He doesn't seem to flinch at the weight at all, but he winces as he gets a better look at the injuries. Shit. Shit, shit. He shakes his head and starts to walk, gesturing with his chin for Kaneki to follow him. ]

Alright. Fine. Let's go, we gotta hurry. The exit's a couple alleyways over; I'll be taking you into a freight elevator.

[ and then he adds, loosely, almost conversationally: ]

If this is a trick, Kaneki, I'll rip your head off.

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki watches in silence as Luther picks the man up. He is at least certain now that Josh will be in good hands and that Luther isn't secretly evil and will just do worse than Ashlynn did (can anyone do worse than Ashlynn, he wonders? yeah, probably. People are strangely original when it comes to the suffering of others. Like using chickens).

When the other man finally gestures at him, kaneki is quick to grab his communicator and also the bag he brought from his house in White Tower faction. it has clothes, but it also has... well, food. Kaneki can't just go to an island without having a source of food, so as disgusting as it is he had to bring some along. Most of it is bottled blood, but there is more than just that.

In any case, he does hurry after Luther, holding on to the bag and to his own coat because he doesn't know what else he can do. But when he hears those words, his throat feels tight and he feels like crying again. He fights the tears threatening to form at the corner of his eyes by blinking them away, and the grip on his bag becomes tighter ] I'm not him. [ he repeats with some frustration but also more certainty.

He is not him, he is not him, he is not him. No one is listening to him, no one cares, but he really is not him ] Nobody is listening...!

[obediences]

[ Luther can hear the other man's frustration building and building and he glances over at him, startled, over the edge of Josh's limp shoulder. He still doesn't really believe it, but he doesn't want to start an argument here either, when they need to get out of here first. Everything else, the disbelief and the persuasion, can wait. So he concedes: ]

Okay, okay.

[ He speeds up as they start moving, breaking into a jog: as quickly as he can move without jarring Josh too much, where he's cradled protectively in his arms. It's the White Tower and they've probably already wasted too much time. They need to get out of here, now. Whenever they spot other people in the street, Luther veers them down a different road; relying on old memory, from a time when he used to live here for seven-odd years.

Finally, he steers them into an open industrial door in an alleyway, and it's... just a normal freight elevator? Luther frees up one hand to drag Kaneki in, and then hammers on the button to close the doors. Hopes, vaguely, that no one saw them. Him. Recognised him. Or Josh. As the doors close, he says, cautiously: ]

You do seem... different.

[ghoulking]

[ Kaneki runs after Luther, not saying a word. Even if his "okay okay" sounded more dismissive than actually understanding, he knows there is no point starting this now (or at all, at this stage, Kaneki might as well accept he is going to get arrested when he gets to Krakoa. But as long there is no one trying to kill him, he is... sort of okay with that).

Inside the elevator, he presses himself against a corner, wanting to just become invisible and disappear. He is still clinging to his bag, breathing heavily, so it's not like he can just pretend he is not there. When Luther speaks, he jerks a little, looking back up at the man ]

... that's because I'm not deranged like him. [ that's a good word to describe his other self. because that Kaneki IS deranged. He is eating people; he is torturing people by eating parts of their body; he is trying to take over White Tower by planning on killing and torturing; he was hired to kill Tony Stark; and he apparently is dating a crazy woman who has been torturing a man for the past year. ]

I ended up in his body. I don't know how...

[obediences]

[ Now that they're alone and have some time to catch a breath in safety, Luther takes a closer look at him, and feels that curiosity piquing. ]

Like some kind of, I dunno, bodyswap? Or you're still someone called Ken Kaneki?

[ Luther shifts Josh in his arms, peering down at the dead weight a little owlishly, his brow still crinkled in concern. The dull patina to the younger man's skin, the lankness of his hair, the hollows in his cheeks and the dip of his collarbone, his bones standing out at sharp angles. Christ. He doesn't look good.

The elevator lurches into motion and they feel that sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach as it starts rising and rising. There's no security, really. Because why would there be? They're just in a normal everyday office building or warehouse or something in the White Tower, heading up. He gets a faraway, distant expression on his face, though: concentrating, even as the elevator mechanism clanks away. ]

[ghoulking]

[ he doesn't know exactly how to explain it, but he has heard of terms before that could be helpful: ] I'm from another... universe, I think. Or maybe parallel timeline? I'm Kaneki, but different from this one. [ Luther - the one he knows - said he too had to deal with this sort of thing before, but Kaneki doesn't know how much this Luther is similar to him. Physically? They are very different.

In a way, kaneki feels like he wants to look at him, but he also feels to awkward to do so, so instead he looks down at his feet as if that would bring him some comfort (spoiler alert: it doesn't). ]

I also knew the "other" you. From my world, I mean. [ he mutters, mostly to himself ] He is very kind...

[ that thought is almost forgotten however, because Kaneki just realized he should probably ask about the elevator he just got in. After all, he doesn't quite understand why they will be leaving like this. ] Uhm, is someone waiting for us at the top?

[obediences]

You did? Are we close?

[ Surprise shooting through him as he glances over, sidelong. 'Kind' isn't something anyone from the White Tower would really have associated with Luther. He'd toed the party line too well for too many years; had gone along with their missions, with the casual violence that had been trained into all the Hargreeves. Krakoa was the place that unlocked that door, threw it open, honed this gentler part of him.

But then Kaneki's question makes Luther actually laugh, a short rumble against Josh's spine. ]

No. There's no top, actually. You'll see in a moment—

[ And it happens when the elevator settles to a stop fifteen storeys up, or at least what feels like the top: the doors open. Except they're now on... the ground floor of a building? And there's suddenly dazzling sunshine and tropical trees through the glass doors and windows, and they can both see a few wary-looking imPorts waiting outside on the lawn. The security that Jane had promised. It's a sheer impossibility: the elevator doors had closed on one corner of the world, and have now reopened somewhere else entirely.

Toto, I have a feeling we're not in the White Tower anymore. ]

[ghoulking]

Ah.. we have some things in common. And because of that we just - I guess it's easy to talk to you. [ AH! ] To him, I mean. [ this is all so difficult.

Kaneki watches Luther, a bit confused about what he is talking about. he had no idea this was even a power, and that is obvious by how his jaw just drops when he realizes they are nowhere in the building they went in less than a minute ago. Kaneki even looks around at the elevator, trying to find the buttons or any sign of what is even going on, but eventually he just... moves behind Luther instinctively.

He will stick close to him just in case - after all, kaneki has no idea what just happened, but at least he does know they are no longer in the White Tower territory and that is good enough for Kaneki ] Is this... Krakoa?