007 | Text/Action for Goldenrod

[samsa]

[Text]

[There have no doubt been plenty of people broadcasting their displeasure at the appearance of these creatures that have shown up, and even more talking about strange changes that have suddenly begun to take over their bodies within the last day or so. With each passing hour, the affliction seems to have affected more and more trainers.

At this point, though, Kaneki isn't interested in complaining about the situation on the Network, so he instead has a different question to ask.]

How long do you think this will last?

[That's assuming, of course, if this will even wear off...]

[Action near the edge of the city]

[Staying indoors is a solution that can only last for so long when your body is rapidly changing beyond your control. It started slowly as all things like this seem to at first, beginning with his aching leg and traveling outward from there to the rest of his body. While it wasn't particularly painful any more than the cut had been, it was an ache that settled into his bones in a way that was a little too familiar for his liking.

It wasn't like he had a whole lot of time to think about what was happening, at any rate. His first reaction to the change was initially to contact someone, but that never made it past being just a thought. For some reason, talking to anyone while like this was too daunting to think about, so he didn't. By now, though, he's wondering if maybe that wasn't the best idea.

Kaneki eventually has to leave his hotel room and wander outside thanks to a myriad of tentacles that now protrude from his shoulders and back, making it difficult to avoid undue property damage from being indoors. Not to mention the thick, purple substance that occasionally drips off of them, only to hiss and sizzle wherever it lands. At least going outside closer to dusk and away from the town's center made it less likely that he'd be spotted...maybe. None of his Pokemon are out with him, either, all either in their balls or back in his room. His Gear was left behind as well, so anyone trying to reach him right now won't get a response.

But now that he's out here...he honestly doesn't know what to do. He's had a day or so to actually quietly panic about the situation in private as the changes really took shape, leaving him at a bit of a loss afterwards. He doesn't want to be alone, not really...but he hasn't even gotten to a mirror to see what he looks like. He can't imagine it's good, and just not knowing for sure has his hands (which are blessedly still intact, compared to some) shaking a little at his sides, particularly when he lifts one up to hesitantly run his fingertips along the hard substance that has grown from the crown of his head down over his forehead and the bridge of his nose. It doesn't help that the growth has made it significantly harder to see in any direction that isn't straight on or slightly to either side, meaning that he wouldn't even be able to see if someone decided to approach from behind.]

Comments

[preybeforemeals]

I suppose I have less to complain about than others in that regard. Small favors, really.

[...Kaneki, there is so much fluff. If you think he's going to do anything but resign himself to the notion that he's not getting off the fainting couch for the duration and is instead just going to lie here and aggressively pet this...scarf thing he's got going on, you've got another thing coming to you, um.]

Is it terribly unpleasant, then?

[samsa]

[While Tsukiyama is over there as fluffy as all hell, Kaneki is busy contending with being cold and vaguely jellyfish-like. But at least some people haven't had reason to mind the changes too much.]

Yes.

[Also there's no point in lying about it because oh my god he kindof hates this a little.]

It feels like it's getting worse.

[preybeforemeals]

[...Well...all right, that's a little concerning, isn't it - ]

Worse...? Can you explain how so?

[samsa]

[There's a short pause before he responds.]

I don't know. Maybe I'm just worried that more things will have shown up on me when I wake up in the morning.

You say yours isn't that bad?

[preybeforemeals]

It's entirely too warm and it's incredibly inconvenient, but it's definitely tolerable.

Although this talk of "things" showing up isn't exactly promising - mind if I ask?

[samsa]

...they're tentacles. Like a Tentacruel.

[preybeforemeals]

[...Ah.]

...My first temptation was honestly to ask how, but somehow I doubt that's going to be of much use to either of us.

[samsa]

No, not really.

...they don't hurt, or anything. It just isn't pleasant. ...and cold. I probably have at least eight by now.

[preybeforemeals]

Just...everywhere, or is it similar to rinkaku?

[...Morbid curiosity compels, he'd apologize if he were sorry.]

[samsa]

They're similar to rinkaku. They're coming from all over my back and sides, though.

[He does not have tentacles for legs, if that's what you're asking.]

I...I think they might be poisonous.

[preybeforemeals]

[...All over his...oh god.

That...sets off something really unpleasant in his head, actually, give him a moment.]

...I can see where that has potential to be a problem, yes; do try to take care, though I suppose there's small comfort in knowing that you're not a danger to yourself, judging by how poison works in this place.

Is there anything else, or is that the primary change?

[samsa]

There's...something heavy, near the sides of my head. I can't see what it is, but it feels like...jelly, if that makes sense. I guess like what Tentacruels have on their heads. The fake eyes.

The only other thing is something hard, grown over the front of my face. Like a mask. It's making it hard to see.

[preybeforemeals]

[......]

Show me. If you wouldn't mind that.

[samsa]

...give me a minute.

[It takes a little doing, but since his hands are still...well, normal hands in every way, it isn't hard to take a quick picture of himself to send to Tsukiyama. It's at a bit of an angle, but he'll still be able to see the protrusions Kaneki described, along with numberous tentacles sticking out of his back and going off-screen.]

[preybeforemeals]

[Shit.

It's actually fortunate that this isn't over video, that they never communicate over video; the force with which Tsukiyama recoils from that is enough to get him to nearly drop the device because no, no we're not doing that today, thank you very much - there's entirely too many memories attached to that sort of thing, loss of sanity and grievous injuries and he's actually still got the scar from it where it'd torn into the side of his neck, it's - ]

...I see.

Consider it appreciated, Kaneki-kun.

[It isn't, it really isn't, but at least that's confirmed and...and right, he's got...some responsibilities here to the others, doesn't he, he should...say...something...]

Just as a word of warning, expect Banjou-san to take it poorly, should he see that.

[samsa]

[Banjou? But why...? Does he really look that scary?

...then again, it is Banjou.]

I'll probably try to stay inside as much as I can, so maybe he won't run into me.

I guess it looks pretty bad.

[preybeforemeals]

I'm not going to lie to you, it does, but it's more of a personal concern than anything. We've seen something fairly similar before, on a raid we were on with you at one point.

[...Well, that was a poorly-explained clusterfuck of "thanks, asshole", but it's...a little difficult to explain.]

[samsa]

[Oh. No matter what explanation he gets, that's really all the information he needs to know that it must have been something that was Not Good.]

I see.

[Just a bad coincidence, then.]

I just hope someone figures out a way to reverse it.

[preybeforemeals]

[Bad coincidence. Yes. Sure. We'll go with that. It involves a lot less I THINK THE LAST THING BANJOU REMEMBERS IS YOU STABBING HIM THROUGH THE ABDOMEN WITH YOUR ARM LIKE YOU'RE IMPALING HIM ON A FUCKING PIKE.]

...I'm sure they will, Kaneki-kun. Don't worry too much.

Things have a way of working themselves out around here.

[samsa]

[SEE IF HE KNEW ABOUT THAT HE WOULD FEEL HORRIBLE BUT LET'S JUST HOPE BANJOU-SAN DOES NOT WITNESS THIS WONDERFUL FUSION TODAY.]

I hope you're right. There isn't much we can do otherwise, I guess.

[...]

Thank you for talking to me by the way, Tsukiyama-san. I was starting to get worried, but talking about it...helps, anyway.

[preybeforemeals]

[...Oh.

That...well, it's decidedly more welcome than anything else that this discussion has decided to be, even if he isn't altogether sure what to do with it.]

Anytime, Kaneki-kun. It's what I'm here for.

[samsa]

It's funny...the first thing I thought about doing when things started changing was talking to someone. I just never did, for some reason.

[preybeforemeals]

It's understandable, though, isn't it? There's not really much of a way to breach the subject with any sort of grace.

[samsa]

Not really...I couldn't exactly call someone and say "I'm covered in poison and I'm worried I'll wake up with tentacles for legs". There isn't really much you can say to that.

[preybeforemeals]

[OH NO.]

Well, I'd imagine not! Although there's not much to say to most of what we're going through, I think, whether you got off easily or not.