Kaseki stayed quiet for a bit, thinking about what to say. "Hmm… there's a lot of good stuff to start with, and I've read a lot of horror novels so I wouldn't really know where to begin either way," he said, laughing nervously again. He still seemed very happy, probably because he found someone who is willing to listen to him ramble on about his love for horror-based books. He suddenly bit down hard on his lower lip but stopped right after. He inhaled through his teeth then took another deep breath. He smiled again, and it was clearer than the softer one he had before. "Most horror novels usually do what you mentioned; start off small then gradually build up. Usually, I just skim through the beginning parts and really pay attention to the more gruesome parts, so I can study how certain writers fit their styles into their novels, specifically the ones that are centered around horror… Sorry if I'm rambling again, I just…" he added, trailing off near the end of his sentence.
“No! Please don’t apologies!” Theron squeezes Kaseki’s hand gently and offered his own smile. “Believe me, if I had anyone to talk to about my interests the way you talk about horror, I’d ramble on for days.” He glanced down at their touching hands, his cheeks heating slightly but he didn’t pull away. “Please continue, if you'd like of course. I find this truly fascinating. Both the love and passion you have for the horror genre and the immense knowledge you seem to have about it.” He said, glancing up gazing to the other man’seyes
Kaseki felt another red tinge flush across his face, but he didn't mind it. "I- Well, I'm glad you can handle my rambling, to say the least… most people usually get annoyed when I ramble on about this kind of stuff- It's… different, in all honesty-" he said, his smile returning after previously becoming a frown. He didn't seem to mind his hand being grasped or the eye contact currently being made anymore, he just seemed… Excited, for the most part. He didn't show it too much, but it still showed. After a moment of silence between the two of them, Kaseki began to go off on another tangent about all of the horror books he's read, how certain writers only use horror as a one-time thing for a book unlike other authors like Stephen King and others, and how specific authors combine horror with other genres to gain further interest from their readers; hook, line, and sinker. He continued talking about this topic for a long time, maybe half an hour or even more. He genuinely seemed obsessive over certain details about writing styles used for horror books, what kind of situations characters in horror novels are put into, etc. It was clear that studying these kinds of things was a pastime he had, and that he took it very seriously. He soon began talking about how he dislikes when people use actual monsters as a villain in some horror stories, and that he enjoys seeing an actual person be the one wreaking havoc in horror novels. He then explained that seeing a human bring damage to other humans in a gruesome way shows people that not every person is perfect- That everyone has a flaw, whether they like it or not.
Theron happily sat through the entire hour as Kaseki continued on his tangent on horror, liking that he didn’t shy away from the more controversial arguments made. He agreed that monsters were no longer young he traditional swamp monster or Dracula, instead now they were seemingly normal people that had twisted minds. It both intrigued him and horrified him how a person could somehow turn into a murderer in less than a day, or just due to a situation. He also liked when Kaseki mentioned that everyone had flaws, despite being seen as genuinely good. He couldn’t defiantly attest to that statement, having been with people that had seemed decent and then suddenly show their true colors after a few months of being together. He himself couldn’t say he was perfect but he tried to be genuine with everyone he met, or at least tried to show that he wasn’t hiding anything. He gently took his hand back from Kaseki’s, not minding the contact but also not wanting to make the other uncomfortable
Kaseki kept talking for another hour, then finally paused, supposedly to once again let Theron add to the conversation. He didn't wanna come off as self-centered, and he felt the best way to prevent that was by letting the other add their views in like before. Not only that, but his throat was becoming dry since he had talked so much for a long period of time. He eagerly waited for Theron to share his thoughts, excited that he was finally having an actual conversation, one where Kaseki doesn't accidentally scare someone off not just with his appearance but his obsession with the horror genre. He seemed glad that for once, he didn't scare someone away just by being himself; the chances of this ever happening we pretty low before now, but now he felt like he had a shot at making a friend: someone who is willing to sit and listen to him ramble, someone who cares enough to follow him around when he tried pushing that help away for a while. This showed, not just through facial expressions but with his body language and the fact that he didn't seem so nervous or even standoff-ish too.
Theron smiled and nodded “I agree! It’s interesting to see how these people who could well possibly among us be so mentally detached that they have the ability to kill in cold blood. Some going as far as torturing for pure delight. I especially like it when they leave the reveal until the end, making us like the murderer run whatever and even doubt the good guys until the end.” He added on, sort of incoherently but still understandable. “One thing I can’t stand though is when they have a victim love the abuser or murderer even after the author clearly shows that they’re not good as a partner. It kind of annoys me how the protagonist insists that the other can’t be good when clearly shown over and over again that they’ve done some messed up stuff.” He glanced up and blushed “uh, sorry, that was kind of off topic.”
Kaseki nodded while listening to Theron's thoughts on the subject. "And don't mind being off-topic there, I actually completely agree with you- When a victim loves the person victimizing them, I personally think it takes away from the fear factor because the victim is willing to go through any sort of pain for the person victimizing them. That leaves a lot of holes in the plot as well as the stories behind the characters as well. It also kind of subtracts any chemistry the victim in the story could have with other characters in the same story, not only because they already love someone else but also because people will think the victim is crazy enough to love the person causing so much pain in their life," he said in response to the previous statement, with a more in-thought kind of look replacing the smile on his face. It seems Kaseki is a bit in tune with some romance aspects of horror stories, which could be a blessing or a curse, depending on how it's taken. He had begun staring at the ground, apparently thinking really hard about what to say next. "Witing flaws like that make a story fall apart if you really think about it. With those sorts of relationships, the remaining plot holes slowly begin sinking in on themselves and just bring the entire story crashing down with it, don't you think?" he asked, making eye contact with Theron again. His pale grayish-green eyes seemed to have lit up while he was talking, probably because he feels very strongly about subjects like the ones they were discussing and enjoys sharing his opinion as well as hearing it from another person's view.
“My thoughts exactly! It’s just an unpleasant reading experience, I can’t imagine how it isn’t for the writer! It just makes everyone uncomfortable. You as the read know that this specific character has literally no business being with the other character other than to be a victim of whatever they’re doing. Then the author decided was to romantics that? It’s almost s if they’re making us dislike the protagonist just so when something bad happens to them it’s almost satisfyingly to watch them get hurt. Honestly it’s something that astonishes me sometimes when reading.” He laughed and shook his head. He flicked his gaze up to Kaseki’s, meeting his eyes with his warmer brown ones. “This whole hour has just proved that we understand books more than actual people, didn’t it?” He teased gently, putting the violin back int he case but not leaving Just yet
Kaseki carefully listened to what Theron said, and chuckled at the question, nodding in response to it. For Kaseki, this was probably the most fun he's ever had in a long time since others always thought he was weird; although he did know exactly why. The fangs, the messy white hair, his condition, everything: he supposed he did come off as weird or even crazy, but knowing someone cared enough to follow him when he ran, was able to put up with his shenanigans, and was willing to listen to him ramble about books was enough to tell him that he wasn't so odd after all. He smiled now, his usual shyness slowly drifting off, and it could be seen through the way he talked, moved, etc. Everything he said or did was suddenly filled with confidence, but not the arrogant kind. Kaseki's confidence seemed like the kind someone gains after having a prolonged amount of low self-esteem. It was a joyful kind of confidence, which also seemed to help his mood. He mumbled something to himself, and it was barely loud enough to hear. He had asked himself a question and also answered it: "What did I do to deserve all this? It's unclear… Maybe it's…" Soon enough, Kaseki trailed back off into his mumbling, however, these weren't crazed like the last ones were. He seemed to just be talking to himself in a calm way, trying to figure out how to answer his own question.
Theron smiled softly, seeing that Kaseki was slowly relaxing around him. He hadn’t really had many friends growing up, despite him trying his best to be polite. He had gained more once he had moved out Igbo his hometown and had gone to college, though it wasn’t clear by the night before that they weren’t always his cup of tea, especially when they went out partying. He liked this type of friendship, one where he felt comfortable enough to express his passion and and just be himself without having to think twice about how dorky he sounded.
When Kaseki has started mumbling again, Theron just attributed this to one of his many quirks. He didn’t mind at all, though, finding that the talking to oneself always brought out The best ideas, no matter where one was. He let kaseki slip into husband own little world for now, occasionally glancing up to make sure he was scratching at himself again or he wasn’t going hysterical. He wasn’t too sure what he’d do if Kaseki started freaking out but he promised he wouldn’t leave him If that ever happen, assuming that they’d meet again.
Kaseki scratched at his leg again rather abruptly but quickly stopped, knowing that the scratching wasn't good for him at all. He bit his lower lip again and rocked himself back forth, trying to suppress any biting urges he was beginning to gain. He eventually just took off his jacket and stared at his wrist for a minute or two, contemplating whether or not he should do this in front of his new friend. He didn't wanna scare them off- but he didn't want to end up biting them either. He glanced up at the sky, trying not to think about what could go wrong if he does or doesn't hold back his urges, and his eyes began to swirl. "Nnn…" he let out a quiet groan, feeling his eyelids grow heavier. Soon enough, his eyes completely shut, but it was unclear if he fell asleep or full-on went unconscious. Either way, this would probably be a helpful thing, since he rarely sleeps, and if he does it's only for an hour or two. So, in a way, him shutting his eyes would be enough for him to start getting his energy back.
Theron glanced up in concern, having been pulled away from his thoughts. He scooted as close to Kaseki as he could, his worry for the other blocking out any thought of him possibly makin either of them uncomfortable. He thought Kaseki’s actions before pretty off, from staring at his wrist to suddenly blacking our. He was starting to think the Vampire nickname he had given the man held more truth than Theron ever thought possible. He found the jacket Kaseki had pulled off and balled it up into a pillow of sorts. He scooted around him and gently moved Kaseki into a more comfortable position in case he had in fact fallen blacked out. He moved the make shift pillow underneath his head. Theron wasn’t completely sure if he should have Called an ambulance or something, though by the look of things, he didn’t think that Kaseki would like that much. Instead he decided to stay bubbly the others side until he woke up. He found the book he hadn’t next to him and started flipping through the pages Kaseki had already read
Kaseki remained still, and soon enough, he began to quietly snore. He had just fallen asleep- It's better than the latter, at least. After about 2 hours, his eyes began to open and he sat up, stretching. "Hnnn… What… happened?" he slowly looked around, trying not to make any drastic movements since he was still pretty sleepy. He rubbed his head and began staring at his wrist again, then put his arm down and looked towards Theron. His eyes were only half-open, but the grayish-green hue could be seen pretty clearly. "Did I… pass out or something…?" he asked, his voice almost as quiet as a whisper. He wiped his eyes, letting them fully open so he could get a better view of what was around him. He seemed extremely confused and even briefly asked, "Where am I?"
Theron had moved to sit beside Kaseki and was now thoroughly enthralled with the book. He glanced over when Kaseki’s awoke and set the book down. “I assumed you had, though now it’s just seems that you fell asleep. Forgive me if I bored you with the conversation.” He teased with a bright little smile. “You’re at the park. Somewhere on the east side. Theron paused for a moment, concerned that Kaseki had forgotten the last few hours they had spent talking. “Uhm, I’m Theron, I don’t know ignorance your remember but we were talking for a bit before you fell asleep.” He said quickly, hoping not to scare the other into running off again
Kaseki seemed rather nervous but eventually calmed down when things started coming together. He smiled weakly. "Yeahhh… sorry about that. It usually happens when I spend too much time on a subject. Sometimes, it makes my brain go awry, and then it just shuts down, leading to me falling asleep or even just passing out. Lunari said that it's also probably because my brain is trying to push certain thoughts out of my head and replace them with new ones so my brain kinda restarts itself or something, but I dunno, " he said. "It could be caused by my constant forgetfulness as well but either way, I'm just gonna change the subject now because I don't want to fall too far down the rabbit hole of my condition." He let out another shaky laugh, scratching the back of his head. His eyes met with Theron's, and his smile became less weak and more joyful like it was before he fell asleep.
He nodded, catching the name once more. Lunari. He had assumed from their conversation that it wasn’t the name of the piece he had been playing. Theron didn’t really pay attention to the titles of the pieces he played, he mostly just identified them by the melody. But now that he had heard the name again in this context, he now assumed Lunari was another person, possibly a parental figure, doctor or even partner. He broke away from his thoughts and shook his head frantically, “no! Please, don’t apologies. You’ve done nothing wrong Kaseki. I didn’t mind the light reading.” He glanced up, a shy smile on his face. “Speaking of which, sorry about reading ahead in the book, I had never really read it the intention of reading it for the horror aspect.”
Kaseki released another shaky laugh. "Oh, don't worry about that. I don't mind-" he began, but suddenly cut himself off and looked into the distance, then started waving at whatever it is he saw. He put his hand down, shooting another glance at Theron. "By the way, did I ever tell you I had a brother? If not, then…" Suddenly, someone who looked exactly like Kaseki, except for the outfit, sat down right next to Kaseki. They both smiled brightly, basically child-like smiles. His brother, who basically looked like a clone of Kaseki himself, was silent. "This is Kaneki. We're twins, in case you couldn't already tell," he said, still smiling childishly. Kaneki then whispered something in Kaseki's ear and he nodded, then Kaneki's face went blank. Kaseki chuckled sheepishly. "He's pretty anti-social, he doesn't do well with talking to others so he normally stays in our little shelter, but he comes out around now to find me here under this tree." Another laugh followed this, and Kaneki just kinda stared blankly at his brother.
“Oh uh no you didn’t!” He replied, a bit startled when Kaseki started waving then suddenly stopped. He glanced at the two, awestruck by the resemblance, though he guessed that was expected since both were brothers. “Yes, I can see that.” Theron said with a small laugh as he looked at the two brothers interact. “Don’t worry, I understand, i don’t really talk to many people either.” He watched the other brother as he didn’t smile or really react to any of his brother’s comments, kind of finding it unsettling but not wanting to offend him. “Ah so you do this often.” Theron noted, referring to when Kaseki had suddenly fallen asleep. “Well, I’m glad you have someone watching out for you. It’s nice to meet you Kaneki, I’m Theron.” He said with a sweet smile
Kaneki immediately looked at Theron and slowly waved back, then quickly lowered his hand and looked at Kaseki again. "Mhm!" Kaseki responded to the bit about how he had fallen asleep. He then placed a hand on Kaneki's head, and Kaneki smiled slightly. "My bro here takes a while to get used to others, but hopefully he'll warm up to you just like I did! But then again, I'm not as introverted as he is, so I guess it could take him longer. Either way, he seems pretty happy!" Kaneki had extended his hand out to Theron, presumably indirectly asking for a handshake. Kaneki looked at Kaseki, and Kaseki nodded, leading to Kaneki making eye contact with Theron again. Kaseki still had a cheeky smile spread across his face.
“It’s alright! Take all the time that you need. He gently took Kaneki’s hand and shook it, glad that at least he was trying to be more friendly. He glanced over at Kaseki and laughed softly, having never really met anyone like the two brothers in front of him. He liked it though, despite their appearance and slightly odd habits, they seemed like genuinely nice people to be around and he hoped he’d keep running into them, whether that literally meaning running or just accidentally finding them again.
Kaseki and Kaneki both smiled again. The child-like smiles seemed to fit perfectly on their faces since their complexions almost looked like those of children, soft and round; only slightly blemished. They seemed to do almost everything in sync at this point, even speaking at the exact same time on occasion. It was quite odd at first, but it made more sense once you got to know them both better. Eventually, Kaneki said he had to go and he stood up, walking off. Kaseki waved goodbye at Kaneki even after his brother had gone far into the distance. He soon stopped waving at Kaneki and looked back at Theron. He'll probably be back later- right about now he goes to our shelter. We've stashed a bunch of food there in case we forget where we are- we always remember our small home, even when our condition gets the best of us. But… I'm not gonna really explain that- I'll spare you the sad details- I don't really feel like monologuing about our condition, so…" Kaseki said, his weakened smile returning.
“Don’t worry about it, you don’t have to explain anything. It’s none of my business.” Theron said with a reassuring smile. He glanced over his shoulder to where Kaneki had walked off to. Theron had always though Kaseki and now his brother lived in a shelter, not made one themselves. He felt a bit guilty for not understanding before but didn’t want to make Kaseki uncomfortable. “You know if you or Kaneki need food or a warmer place to sleep or something my apartment is open for you to use. I used to have a roommate but they left so the bedroom is open. And there’s plenty of food.” He said softly, not wanting to seem a small if he were overly worried or anything but not being able to help himself. “That’s of course if you’d like.”
"I mean, that would be better than us living in a cardboard box all the time. I'll have to let Kaneki know when I see him again-" Kaseki responded, still keeping a cheeky grin on his face. "I, for the most part, would love to not be cold for once," he added jokingly, hoping to lighten the mood. "And I think Kaneki would, too. We always get cramped in the box since we only have one that's just barely big enough to fit both of us. Luckily, I'm pretty small, but he tends to curl up while I sprawl myself out so I end up hitting him in the face on accident most of the time." He seemed fine with the box, but he did know that it had its flaws, so he accepted the offer. "So yeah, I mean… if you're really willing to let us stay, then I guess we could. Kaneki might hide away at times depending on if there are any good hiding spots he can go to when he gets really nervous. It's just a thing he does." Kaseki then gave one of those eyes-shut smiles that you'd see in an anime or something.
Theron smiled softly at first, thinking that Kaseki was joking around Whalen saying his living conditions was a box. When he finally realized that the other was in fact, not kidding, he felt a bit guilty for not realizing before. The fact that Kaseki seemed fine with living in a literal box only made Theron more concerned, though he knew he was in no place to judge how’ve others lived their lives.
“My apartments open to the both of you whenever you’d like.” He said with a small smile. “I’m sure Kaneki would be able to find plenty of places to hide, just as long as he’s willing to fight over them with my cat.” He relaxed slightly at Kaseki’s cute smile, knowing he didn’t have to worry about the two brothers. They were alright, despite living in a box, despite their oddities. Theron would be more than happy to have them in his life.
“As long as you two don’t take my cat or murder me while I’m sleeping, you can stay as long as you want.” He added on, picking up the book and writing down the address below the note in the book.
Kaseki nodded at the final comment. "We couldn't do anything bad like that even if we really wanted to," he began. "Kaneki and I wouldn't be good criminals at all, honestly. We feel guilty about making mistakes; even minor ones." That seemed right- They both looked like they couldn't harm a fly. "I think Kaneki would be willing to fight over hiding spots, he always finds a way to hide in places I'd personally never imagine. One time when we were younger, we were playing hide and seek, and Kaneki decided he was gonna hide in the cabinet beneath the kitchen sink. I couldn't find him until he came out from hiding," Kaseki said, chuckling quietly. "Thanks for giving us this chance.. It's not every day that someone offers to give us a place to stay. Most people think we're weird or creepy and whatnot… But you seem to be a special case, I suppose."
