Voice Testing Ken Kaneki | Canon: Tokyo Ghoul

[kafkaesk]

No, really, I don't -- I can do without a game! The ones you've looked at seem ... [oddly adorable and a little too close to canon for his liking!!!?] ...safe? But -- uhm... [Okay take a deep breath and just say it!]

-- We should be able to read each other better before jumping into something that might be over our heads!

And practice! I know you've had other muses before and you practiced with them so... [Not that he has much practice with large groups of people or anything] -- Practice is good, like -- like how you've re-read those chapters to make sure you understood -- just like that.

[ . . . . . . P l e a s e ? ]

Comments

[tricksandmischief]

Jumping into things is what muns do.

I take it you are under the impression that practice makes perfect.

[kafkaesk]

...I wish that they didn't.

There's a difference between theory and practice! ...Do you think so too? [He's unsure as he states his question. He's not entirely used to speaking about his ideas, much less to people he isn't familiar with.]

[tricksandmischief]

Oh, of course. Experiencing something is never the same as that which you may have only heard about.

[kafkaesk]

[He eagerly agrees. This person understands exactly what he means!]

It would be different if we had something substantial to work off of! I'd feel more comfortable with a few more ... "threads"? [ . . . Oh, he's been talking a lot.] . . . b-but I can't see how you'd have those sort of issues. . .

[tricksandmischief]

Oh, I do not but my mun has only recently been, as yours also said above with you, "voice testing" - making these threads.

So we are all helping each other here.

[kafkaesk]

Oh! [That is wonderful! Having something in common with someone normal is wonderful!!! What is this camaraderie?!]

I'm glad I could help you out as well. [This! This is theory in practice!!]

[tricksandmischief]

[It is indeed.]

You seem to be very nervous.

[kafkaesk]

[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

. . . Wh-What do you mean?

[tricksandmischief]

You have a stutter.

[kafkaesk]

Oh? Is that all?

[Should he have his guard up? That's a weird observation... Maybe Ken was overthinking it? Yeah. This guy didn't seem all that bad.]

[trashprince]

[he's creepin' on ya elsewhere, so he's just gonna stare here. don't mind him.]

[kafkaesk]

[A HA A HA A HA. . . . . SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH]

[scythestitches]

[Oh you're the guy he pick-pocketed. You should carry more cash around.]

Isn't going somewhere at least more exciting than sitting around here rotting?

[kafkaesk]

[He is a poor college student who needs to eat buy textbooks. Lots of textbooks. Maybe coffee for those late night study sessions.

. . . That's funny, you don't look familiar at all. But you smell... nice.]

It would be -- yeah. I haven't been here as long ...so it still feels new? [Did that sound like a question. He hoped not.]

[scythestitches]

[Don't let him know you're sniffing him or he'll prooobably break your nose.]

Well people here are boring as shit. I want to go somewhere fun.

[kafkaesk]

[Duly noted . . .

He has a baaaaaad feeling about his next question. . . ]

Uhm. ... What would be fun for you?

[maskuerade]

Ah, are you looking for adventure, Kaneki-kun?

[kafkaesk]

Uta-san! [Despite the potential heart attacks that might be coming his way, it is still a pleasure to see him.] I think my life is adventurous enough as is.

[maskuerade]

You said the games were 'safe', I thought you were complaining for a moment.

[kafkaesk]

No, sorry. [ . . . Well. Maybe it should be okay to explain himself a little.] Actually, I'm a little worried about joining one.

[maskuerade]

[Go on, he's interested.]

Why is that?

[kafkaesk]

[Having Uta's full attention was a little unnerving. Even so, it was good to have a chance to talk about their shared problem.]

Uta-san, you're a ghoul so you know -- ... you know [who] what we have to eat to survive. [It was hard enough being a ghoul, hard enough to resist the urge at home] . . . I don't want to put anyone in danger.

[maskuerade]

Ah, I imagined that's what you are worried about.

[Poor, sweet Kaneki...You get a head pat.]

If your mun isn't sold on a game yet, the one I'm looking at has a solution. [Even if he will still hunt because he enjoys it.]

[kafkaesk]

[He grudgingly accepts it, but sometime in the future he will definitely address it. Maybe.]

A solution? That sounds almost too good to be true.

[Maybe there was a way. There was no way to hide the spark of hope that slowly made its way through him. Even so, he tries to fight it down. His mun was definitely more excited than he was.]

...You could say my mun is still looking...

[maskuerade]

My mun is planning on going to entranceway. Apparently the kitchens there have whatever you want.

[Really, what or whoever. Its not a trick!]

But the option of hunting is still there.

[kafkaesk]

Whatever you . . . -- !!!

[UTA-SAN!! NO!!! KITCHENS SHOULDN'T BE SERVING THAT!!! Besides, if the kitchens are doing that, then that means whatever this entranceway was, it was an enclosed place. Enclosed space meant limited supplies. Limited supplies often led to unknown sources of meat. That could only mean...]

Where do they get the meat, Uta-san?

[lacked_exercise]

I know! Maybe I can persuade them for you. J-just a sec...

There's something called a "live ball" in tennis. It's the difference between practicing against a wall versus facing a real opponent on the court. Usually the gap is so large a new player can freeze up and have no idea what to do. Like I did.

[He has no idea if that connected emotionally or not. Whoops.]

[kafkaesk]

[ A-Awww . . . if nothing else, Ken likes how earnest this person seems.]

I've never heard of a "live ball". It sounds like a game of squash to me. . . . Thank you. It doesn't make much sense to my mun, but it means a lot to me. I-I mean, it makes sense and your words mean a lot!

[Even if it was an emotional misfire, Ken understood it all! Point one to the kid with the book!] Uhm... ...I take it you play tennis?

[lacked_exercise]

[Rushing to clarify! He's still hopeful he can overcome this by backtracking. If he could pinpoint the misunderstanding then--- ]

In other words, a "live" ball is when you have a "living" player. S-so I guess the opposite is a dead ball... The only way to adjust to it is practice with others. Does your mun get it now??

I still don't feel that I did enough for you, so please don't thank me so prematurely. This is your future at stake! And ah... I'm trying to go pro, but it's just as hard as thought. Even that seems disrespectful to all the amazing players.

[kafkaesk]

[Oh! Now that was a lot more clear! Even Ken nods in agreement.]

Y-Yes! It makes a lot more sense -- but now -- this person is even more set on getting me into a game?! [Oh nooooo!! This was the opposite of what he wanted!!]

I think my future is in danger...

[lacked_exercise]

[Oh no is right. He sure screwed the pooch there. ]

How about-- wait, wait, I can still fix this somehow. I told you not to thank me, look what happened!! A complete misunderstanding.

Um.... please send my regards to your family.

[kafkaesk]

[Should he tell him to just stop or give it a second chance?]

My mun was bound to misunderstand... You still tried... so really, that's all that matters. [Although now he is curious...] ...How were you going to try to fix it?

[A-Awww...] My family? [He seems a little sad for a moment.] W-Well, uhm ... I'll try... I'm sure that they'd -- uh... like that. [-- O-Oh wow way to be awkward, Ken.]

[lacked_exercise]

I did my best. [He gives a long, disappointed sigh.]

Oh, well, asking that puts me in a tough spot. I mean, I thought I'd just quiz you on your mun's interests. Then I could find something that related better. I'd attack with a commonality tactic! [Analyze your opponent and use their weak points against them! TENNIS IS A LIFESTYLE CHOICE.]

Ah, right, you probably can't reach them here. Me neither. If I could send a letter I don't know what I'd even say.

[kafkaesk]

You did, so please don't beat yourself up over it. ...My mun is just excited, I guess.

I don't -- well, I can see why a game is important. Still... ...A commonality tactic? ...That could work. [Yes, this seems like a solid plan. Gee, maybe if Kaneki took up sport, he'd be able to actually implement these good ideas!]

Oh! They might like a postcard every now and then. [ . . . oooooooooooooooooh] Oh... n-no I mean - ...they passed away a while ago.

[lacked_exercise]

Hmmm.... What gets a mun excited? They call them games, so maybe they're just plain fun to watch...? [He drifts off in thought like an old man.]

Normally you compromise, but this is really one-sided. You can't help but do what they want. I-it makes me want to be a little rebellious. Maybe I'll steal a car and be really out of character!

Oh, right. Right. Are you--- are you doing okay without them? [He feels the compulsion to ask but he'd rather not bulldoze on sensitive matters.]

[kafkaesk]

[Let him drift off in thought with you...] ...I think it's more about seeing us interact in those games. [Which unfortunately gets him thinking about things like Battle Royale...]

I-It's completely one-sided! Behavior like that isn't acceptable, but neither is taking over other people's lives. [Oh but stealing a car? That makes Kaneki smile a little more. And it's with that same good humor that he answers the following question.]

I'm fine. It happened when I was 10, so I still have good memories of my mother. [Old and a little faded around the edges, but good memories nonetheless.]