[Maka gets a callback soon enough; the only reason there is much of a delay at all is that Kaneki was trying to work up the nerve to answer back verbally. Text is so much easier, but he figures it would have been rude to text her back instead of calling...]
Good morning, Maka! We can meet down at the hotel lobby and head that way together, if that's alright with you.
[Who would have thought he would have gotten himself two "dates" from this survey thing.]
Anytime would be fine! I'm, ah...pretty free, too.
[The only things regular that Kaneki does would be going to the bookstore and hanging out in the lobby with Nonon on occasion. Otherwise he's in his room 99% of the time and only had bad weather to blame up until recently.]
If you want you can just text me when you're downstairs.
[Or he could go pick her up like any other gentleman would, but he doesn't actually know if she's staying anywhere or...literally just got to town or what.]
[Yes...she is actually saying she got booked up into her room today and has been talking to him from this room the whole time. They are actually in the same hotel.]
[Kaneki falters when Maka says that, glancing over at his Zangoose sprawled on the bed. She just eyes him flatly for a moment before stretching and giving a wide yawn, following that by hopping up onto his shoulder and using her paws to direct his head to the door.]
A-ah- ..alright! I'm on my way, then!
[He quickly stands, holding his Gear a bit awkwardly against his ear with his shoulder as he slips on his shoes. Thankfully he was able to buy a new pair recently, since his Deino tore up the others...but he's currently safe in his ball where he can't cause any undue damage as Kaneki makes for the door with Rikki perched on his shoulders.
Unfortunately, Kaneki probably doesn't notice Maka coming from the other direction in his haste to get out the door, having to stop and struggle in the doorway for a brief moment when the strap of his bag gets stuck. And if she's made it to him by the time he's turned around, he won't be able to stop from running right into her.]
[Maka does not have the same problem with juggling her Gear as Tsubaki-the-Lucario is always happy to hold onto it for her while she gets her bag and packs up the usual supplies. The trip out of the room and to the hall goes a little more smoothly for Maka...
Well, until she sees a person struggling at their door. The natural reaction for herself and her Pokemon is to see if the person requires assistance.
And that earns her a full-body smash that knocks her flat on her ass. Tsubaki appropriately slaps her paws to her face in an "oh no!" expression, clearly torn about what to do first.]
[Kaneki staggers back, feeling Rikki's claws dig into his shoulder as she scrambles to find a foothold before he can manage to tumble over as well. He walks backward into the door-frame instead, staring down shocked at the person he ran into...and the shock slowly turns to horror when he realized who this probably is.]
M-Maka-san!?
[...SORRY THAT SLIPPED OUT but he doesn't even notice, releasing his hold on his bag to quickly step away from the wall. For a second he doesn't seem to know what to do with his hands until he finally crouches a bit, cautiously reaching out one of his hands to her.]
[That's all that comes as a response at first before Maka pulls herself together and realizes she's being offered a hand up. She takes it, pushes herself up off the floor...
[He manages a weak smile back as Rikki huffs in his ear, causing him to flinch a little. See dude, she keeps trying to tell you that all these girls are nothing but trouble. But do you listen...]
I'm really sorry about that. I should have been paying more attention to where I was going. Are you sure you're alright?
[Tsubaki, having realized that the situation seems to be resolved, trip-trops back to Maka's side, staring up at Rikki curiously. She holds up her paw and waves, hello other Pokemon, how are you today?
Maka, blissfully unaware of Pokemon politics as usual, just shrugs.]
I've had worse. Besides, it doesn't matter, I'm just happy that I get to meet you in person finally! And since this happened, now we can walk down together, so it's a good thing.
[Rikki rolls her eyes over to look at Tsubaki, her expression flat and unchanging as her bottle-brush tail flicks behind Kaneki's head. She just sorta...nods her head a bit awkwardly in return before glancing away, keeping her attention on Maka.
Meanwhile, Kaneki's a little taken off guard by that, and it shows a bit in his expression as his cheeks flush red and he brings a hand to nervously touch the side of his face.]
O-oh, well...me too! Should we head on down, then?
[To make it worse for Rikki, Maka not only doesn't let go of Kaneki, but she leads him along as though this is completely normal. Bless being American.]
We're going to the park first, right? Maybe we'll run into some neat Pokemon there.
[Well good job, Maka, the Zangoose is bristling like an angry cat on Kaneki's shoulder now as he's pulled down the hallway, lifting his bag a bit higher on his shoulder with his free hand.]
Right.
[...he hopes it's not Murkrow, though. Anything but Murkrow.]
I've only been to the park a few times...but it's nice.
[Good job, indeed, but it's totally harmless--it's not as though Maka's going to throw him down the stairs.]
There's a lot of Bug types there, they actually have a contest once in a while to see if you can catch the best of the type. It's how I got my Vespiquen and Butterfree.
[Implying yes, there's not just one terrifying gigantic bee, but TWO.]
Mostly I'd just go there to sit and read for a little while, though. It's actually how I met my friend, Snake--maybe you've seen him? He's a quiet person, always has his snake Pokemon with him, shy, but very kind. [She sounds quite fond of this friend.]
I think we are, yeah. His Pokemon actually ended up submitting the survey for him, but...he does seem like a nice person. I think he's going to try to meet with me at the bookstore café, sometime.
[Either to cash in their date or just to meet, Kaneki really doesn't care. He's just glad that there are other people out there who wouldn't mind him babbling about books to them for hours.]
[She kinda laughs, tugging at one of her pigtails as they go.]
Is that weird? I don't know, I thought it felt more peaceful being up there, and I could see some Pokemon going about their business sometimes too. I grew up in a desert, so there wasn't really a lot of places for trees.
[Besides that inexplicable forest outside of the city proper, but let's not discuss the supernatural aspects of life on the first date.]
Oh, well... my friend Hide used to when we were kids, but he could never quite convince me to go up there with him.
[And while Hide could be convincing, Kaneki knew that if he even got a foot off the ground he'd probably be in danger of getting a broken arm. Or worse.]
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Good morning, Maka! We can meet down at the hotel lobby and head that way together, if that's alright with you.
[Who would have thought he would have gotten himself two "dates" from this survey thing.]
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[That's cute, she's talking like he has a social life.]
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Anytime would be fine! I'm, ah...pretty free, too.
[The only things regular that Kaneki does would be going to the bookstore and hanging out in the lobby with Nonon on occasion. Otherwise he's in his room 99% of the time and only had bad weather to blame up until recently.]
If you want you can just text me when you're downstairs.
[Or he could go pick her up like any other gentleman would, but he doesn't actually know if she's staying anywhere or...literally just got to town or what.]
audio;
[Yes...she is actually saying she got booked up into her room today and has been talking to him from this room the whole time. They are actually in the same hotel.]
audio;
[Kaneki falters when Maka says that, glancing over at his Zangoose sprawled on the bed. She just eyes him flatly for a moment before stretching and giving a wide yawn, following that by hopping up onto his shoulder and using her paws to direct his head to the door.]
A-ah- ..alright! I'm on my way, then!
[He quickly stands, holding his Gear a bit awkwardly against his ear with his shoulder as he slips on his shoes. Thankfully he was able to buy a new pair recently, since his Deino tore up the others...but he's currently safe in his ball where he can't cause any undue damage as Kaneki makes for the door with Rikki perched on his shoulders.
Unfortunately, Kaneki probably doesn't notice Maka coming from the other direction in his haste to get out the door, having to stop and struggle in the doorway for a brief moment when the strap of his bag gets stuck. And if she's made it to him by the time he's turned around, he won't be able to stop from running right into her.]
audio; --> action
Well, until she sees a person struggling at their door. The natural reaction for herself and her Pokemon is to see if the person requires assistance.
And that earns her a full-body smash that knocks her flat on her ass. Tsubaki appropriately slaps her paws to her face in an "oh no!" expression, clearly torn about what to do first.]
action
M-Maka-san!?
[...SORRY THAT SLIPPED OUT but he doesn't even notice, releasing his hold on his bag to quickly step away from the wall. For a second he doesn't seem to know what to do with his hands until he finally crouches a bit, cautiously reaching out one of his hands to her.]
I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!...are you alright?
action
[That's all that comes as a response at first before Maka pulls herself together and realizes she's being offered a hand up. She takes it, pushes herself up off the floor...
Then shakes Kaneki's hand in greeting, smiling.]
Hi! Are you Kaneki?
action
[He manages a weak smile back as Rikki huffs in his ear, causing him to flinch a little. See dude, she keeps trying to tell you that all these girls are nothing but trouble. But do you listen...]
I'm really sorry about that. I should have been paying more attention to where I was going. Are you sure you're alright?
action
Maka, blissfully unaware of Pokemon politics as usual, just shrugs.]
I've had worse. Besides, it doesn't matter, I'm just happy that I get to meet you in person finally! And since this happened, now we can walk down together, so it's a good thing.
[Yes...glass half-full kind of person over here.]
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Meanwhile, Kaneki's a little taken off guard by that, and it shows a bit in his expression as his cheeks flush red and he brings a hand to nervously touch the side of his face.]
O-oh, well...me too! Should we head on down, then?
action
[To make it worse for Rikki, Maka not only doesn't let go of Kaneki, but she leads him along as though this is completely normal. Bless being American.]
We're going to the park first, right? Maybe we'll run into some neat Pokemon there.
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Right.
[...he hopes it's not Murkrow, though. Anything but Murkrow.]
I've only been to the park a few times...but it's nice.
action
There's a lot of Bug types there, they actually have a contest once in a while to see if you can catch the best of the type. It's how I got my Vespiquen and Butterfree.
[Implying yes, there's not just one terrifying gigantic bee, but TWO.]
Mostly I'd just go there to sit and read for a little while, though. It's actually how I met my friend, Snake--maybe you've seen him? He's a quiet person, always has his snake Pokemon with him, shy, but very kind. [She sounds quite fond of this friend.]
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...would you believe me if I told you that he actually got paired with me on that...dating survey?
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[She was definitely serious when she said that he's shy.]
Someone must have done it for him, like with me. I hope you two ended up friends, anyway.
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[Either to cash in their date or just to meet, Kaneki really doesn't care. He's just glad that there are other people out there who wouldn't mind him babbling about books to them for hours.]
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[Read: she's a sap.]
[But besides that, now Maka realizes she's been holding onto his hand and lets go.]
Oh, sorry, I forgot I was doing that. Geez, I think I'm picking up some bad habits from my Sylveon.
[Tsubaki makes a face at that, she certainly hopes not--Cadence is weird, y'all.]
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He takes a breath and glances down at his feet as they walk, shaking his head with a weak laugh.]
N-no no, it's okay. Don't worry about it.
[Rikki's making a face too, but for a completely different reason.]
action
Moving on to other things, when they arrive at the park Maka will turn to him again with her eyes practically sparkling.]
I'll show you the tree I used to read in, it's this way!
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You used to read...in a tree?
[He asks as they walk, not seeming to mind the fact that his Zangoose insists on riding on his shoulders instead of walking alongside him.]
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[She kinda laughs, tugging at one of her pigtails as they go.]
Is that weird? I don't know, I thought it felt more peaceful being up there, and I could see some Pokemon going about their business sometimes too. I grew up in a desert, so there wasn't really a lot of places for trees.
[Besides that inexplicable forest outside of the city proper, but let's not discuss the supernatural aspects of life on the first date.]
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[Or just flat out fall out of it, if you're Kaneki Ken.]
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[Injuries are normal for her, she almost says, then stops herself.]
It may be peaceful, but it's still not that comfortable, and I can't imagine falling asleep just sitting up.
Have you never climbed a tree before?
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[And while Hide could be convincing, Kaneki knew that if he even got a foot off the ground he'd probably be in danger of getting a broken arm. Or worse.]
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