preybeforemeals | IC Contact/Voicemail

You are very good, Tsukiyama-san. That was beautiful.

[Well then. c: ]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Kaneki-kun.

[...]

Is it strange for you - the idea that someone like me would do things like this? I'm not offended by it, I'm just guessing that that's why you asked.

Well...it is, yes. I guess since I've grown up thinking differently for so long, it's still a bit strange to think about.

[It takes him a moment to formulate a response to that; it's reminding him a bit of a conversation he had with Banjou recently. Not a bad reminder, just...one that he can't exactly immediately shake off.]

I was raised around humans, you know. Not raised by them, mind, there's a difference, and if I had been then my ideologies would likely be completely different. But I attended school with them, and it was always considered very important that I should integrate with them. You learn a lot about them, in that sort of circumstance.

I won't say that what humans want and what I want are the same thing, and I won't try to claim that we're the same beneath the immediately obvious superficial differences, because I think that's pretty insulting to both of us, but...I will say that we're just as diverse in interest as humans are, or at the very least we have potential to be if we're allowed to realize it. The problem with many ghouls is honestly that they aren't - they can't attend school for various reasons, they're hunted down from a very young age, they learn that they can't trust anyone and have to kill everyone who gets too close to them. That isn't a way to become actualized for anyone, is it?

You know that I don't believe human lives should be valued over mine, because I've told you as much myself; the fact of the matter is that I don't believe that anyone has more of a right to survive than anyone else. I know full well why humans want me dead, and I understand why it's easier for them to consider me some sort of soulless animal that can only take joy in slaughtering them - it's the same reason why it's easier for ghouls to consider humans as nothing more than livestock.

It's doing both sides a disservice, I think, to see it like that.

[At some point during reading Tsukiyama's response Kaneki has to stop, because when he starts talking about how ghouls don't generally have the same opportunities as humans do he is immediately reminded of Hinami. He's reminded of how...unfair it is for her to miss out on being able to go to school when she's already so starved for knowledge. How she's on the run at this very moment, trying to avoid the hands of the CCG who would like nothing more than to see her- a child- gone.

...]

I think I understand what you are saying. And...I agree, too. I really wish things didn't have to be that way.

[But things never would improve. There would always be humans working for the CCG and those who recoiled at the mere mention of a ghoul. Likewise, there would always be ghouls who hunted for pleasure just as much as they did to survive, such as Rize. Not even all of the pacifists out there and humans willing to see ghouls as more than just monsters could do anything to change that.

It was a little overwhelming, how...suddenly sad that thought made Kaneki feel. It wasn't something he had to worry about anymore, here, but that didn't make it any less distasteful.]

I am glad I know what I do now, about other ghouls. I mean, if you really think about it...as far as having hopes, goals, and dreams, we really aren't all that different. Are we?

You mean you see us as people now. That's what that comes down to, isn't it?

It is. After everything I've seen and been through, I don't think I could think of it any other way.

[Humans seem to be just as capable of being raging psychopaths as any ghoul, so the only thing really separating them is their biology.]

That's good to know. Ah, but there's not much point in focusing on such things now, is there? What with how things are here for everyone.

Oh, no, not at all. Talking about hobbies and all just got me thinking about it, I guess...

[He's got too much time on his hands to think, but honestly he prefers that over anything else.]

I am curious about one other thing, though.

Go on. Anything.

Is there a reason that you wanted me to contact you today, specifically?

I don't suppose "I just wanted to hear from you" will fly in this instance.

It's my birthday today; I wanted to spend it with familiar people. That's all.

[Oh, well that certainly does make sense. ...not that he's the most interesting conversation, but he's trying his best.]

Oh! Happy birthday, then. Do you plan on doing anything special for it?

I've already been given more cake than is probably a good idea, and I'm going out with friends later.

Otherwise, I don't have any plans; I'll likely go out for a while, I've been in the house for entirely too long.

[He can actually feel you on the excessive amounts of cake front...not today, but he's probably eaten more sweets during his time here than he has in his entire lifetime, and that's probably a bit concerning yet he can't find it in himself to care just yet.]

That sounds like a good idea. Hopefully the weather will be nice today so you can.

[Kaneki hasn't actually checked the weather lately but he's rapidly run out of things to talk about so AND NOW THE WEATHER, APPARENTLY.]

Do you want me to play something else for you, before then?

Sure. I wouldn't mind hearing something else.

[It takes him a second to switch back over to audio; he pauses for a moment before settling on something, and what he comes up with is sort of the piano-based version of "everything happens so much", but you know what, that's sort of what happens when you're interpreting a piece originally intended for an entire damn orchestra.]

[...well holy crap, um.

This one is less relaxing and more...well, everything happens so much, but it does have Kaneki's full attention. His Zangoose- who had been dozing a little next to him- jerks awake at some point through trying to figure out what the heck is going on while the Deino continues to sleep like a rock.

He's finding himself impressed by Tsukiyama's talent again, only this time he's finding himself almost wishing he could see him playing that because of how complex it sounds.]

[And when he stops he's a little breathless, and he can actually be heard laughing a bit over the feed, the sound quiet and understated, and the phrase "Well, that wasn't bad" is audible under his breath before the audio feed is cut off.]

It's been a while since I've taken that one so fast; my apologies for any audible mistakes.

Mistakes? That was incredible. I don't know how you can do that.

While I'm sure a good amount of it might just be natural talent, it's like I've said - I've been practicing for several years now.

Ah...well, it's still pretty impressive, either way.

Thank you for playing for me.

Anytime you like, Kaneki-kun. I really don't mind.

And I do appreciate you contacting me today; it means a good amount to me.

It's no problem.

[He types something else and debates whether or not he should send it for a little while...but then figures he wouldn't have typed it to begin with if he hadn't meant it.]

I would have probably done it anyway, if I had known it was your birthday today.

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