Book Clubbin' --Chapter 1

[soundmind]

Who: Maka + all people that are interested in the book club!
Where: Olivine City at her house
When: Somewhere in the vicinity of early June
Summary: Maka has decided to form a book club and sent out messages about it over the network. Though, even if nobody got those messages, her Alakazam is visiting cities all over setting up flyers and offering transport via teleportation to Olivine. Hopefully the first meeting won't go too terribly.
Rating: Maybe PG-13 at the most? Solely for language of some characters, probably.
Log:


[If Maka Albarn was anything in life, it was prepared; the house was cleaned top to bottom, snacks and drinks prepared, and her favorite books found in Johto taken down from the shelves of her library.

This is weird, this is new, she's actually holding a club meeting for people that are interested in books. People said they were interested in talking about books. The nerd glee might be too much.

Well, all that's left now is to wait while Flash makes his rounds. Twilight already said she'd be arriving earlier, so Maka's expecting her, the rest of the people…who knows who might show up and when.]

Comments

MEET AND GREET

[soundmind]

[Flash will lead all guests immediately to Maka and Kirikou's house after he has transported them. He's doing his best to not look disdainful as he usually is, since this is for Maka and chasing people off is a bad idea. First thing people might notice is that there's a lot of Pokemon around, a good indicator of why the two Meisters opted to get a house.

Second thing is the door is unlocked and going into it will have Maka greeting guests and finding them places to sit in the living room or wherever else. People are free to talk to each other or Maka and Kirikou at this point as she is worrying over whether to start with snacks or books first and he is telling her to chill out.]

partially OTA

[samsa]

[After a bit of a tense exchange through gazes between Maka's Alakazam and his Kadabra, Kaneki manages to make it to her house in one piece. As usual he's got Rikki on his shoulder, watching over the proceedings like a particularly ruffled housecat, while Hide is glued to his side. He brought his own books to share, because why not.

Kaneki also has Phantom with him today, carrying the little Litwick in a small tea holder. He'd been spending a few weeks at Honeyed Soul while Kaneki was in Ecruteak, but he knew that the little ghost would be sorely disappointed if he hadn't been allowed to come to this, so anyone passing by might see a little candle peeping over the edge of the glass at them. Kaneki offers a smile to anyone unfamiliar he sees, holding Phantom in one hand while he grips the strap of his bag loaded with books in the other.

Since there should be a lot of folks here with an appreciation for books, he's hoping to maybe meet some new people. Provided Rikki doesn't stare at them until they leave, anyway.]

[Locked to Maka]

[When most of the people are there and Maka isn't busy greeting them or preparing to get things started, Kaneki will make his way over to her. Rikki actually isn't with him, for once; he managed to convince her to stick with Hide to keep him out of trouble, though now there's an arm chair in the corner with a Zangoose sitting on the back and a Smeargle actually in it that nobody will be able to occupy for a while...]

Hey, Maka? ...could I talk to you for a minute?

[...there's no possible way he can make this not sound bad but he really would rather speak with her in person, instead of over text or even video.]

[soundmind]

[Ah.

Here it is. The "later" that was mentioned before, the time in which a serious talking to is going to happen.

She had her hands on a book--actually, not a book, but what looks to be a photo album--when Kaneki approached, her grip relaxes on it for a second, then tenses again as she picks it up and holds it to her chest.]

Let's go out to the deck.

[It's quiet out there, and nobody else has explored that part yet.]

[samsa]

[Kaneki nods, falling back a little to let Maka walk ahead of him and lead the way. He can almost feel Rikki staring at the back of his head as they go, but for once she actually listens and doesn't follow. ...at least, not from what he can immediately tell.]

[soundmind]

[As predicted, the deck's quiet with only the sound of the ocean as part of the landscape. When Maka leads Kaneki out there, she bids him to sit down in a chair and takes the seat across from him.

There's a moment of silence from her where she just looks down at the album in her lap, tapping her index finger against the cover lightly.]

All right. [She sounds as though this is some official order of business to accomplish.] Ask me anything, I'll tell the truth.

[samsa]

[He's quiet for a moment, looking down at his lap as well. He's glad for the distant sound of the ocean, at least. It helps the silence from being...too silent.

Kaneki shifts in his seat, putting one hand on top of the other as his gaze wanders over to the floor of the deck.]

Actually...you don't have to tell me anything, Maka.

[soundmind]

[All right.

Not what she was prepared for.]

Aren't you...aren't you scared? I mean...it's not like most kids turn out to be soldiers.

[samsa]

[That gets another pause, his hands moving to pull at the edge of his shirt a little.]

It's not that. What Okumura-san said...you obviously didn't want that sort of thing just...given out as general information. But...it's not like you've been lying to me, or anything.

[Is it lying if you just neglect to tell someone something about yourself? If that's the case, then he's lied to everyone he's met here that isn't from home.]

Just because you're a soldier doesn't mean you have given me a reason to be afraid of you.

[soundmind]

[Maka, don't mess this up. Whatever you do, don't mess this up by doing something stupid like crying. It shouldn't be shocking that a friend isn't up and ready to ditch you, despite the losses experienced in this world and your own.

It really shouldn't.]

Ah.

[Get a hold of yourself.]

...Rin kept skirting around the topic, but he was talking like I was the one that had to be careful around you. Uh...do you mind if I ask why?

[samsa]

[For a second, Kaneki feels his insides abruptly go cold. There's...no way Rin would know. He hasn't told anyone, and nothing happened during that weekend to out him...but then, it hits him.

Uuuuuuh.]

This is going to sound...really strange, but...

[...]

He thinks I'm a street performer.

[This has to be the fastest a moment has been ruined ever, he thinks.]

OTA

[a_sin_for_him]

[Social clubs are, in Lust's research, a very common thing for humans to engage in. She enjoys books, she's fond of Kirikou and Maka, so here she is. Bearing tea. She isn't quite certain what to expect. Guttle's come along with her, as always, and she's brought two books. The overweight Spheal sticks close by her, eyes excitedly darting everywhere.

She isn't certain how many people she knows are going to be here, but if nothing else, she can spend the time visiting with Kirikou. It's rare they get a chance to spend time together face to face.]

[crackpotcrocker]

[Crocker however is still Crocker and a cluz. Which here means the man had one too many books coming in and manages to trip over the Spheal. Where Crocker lands exactly remains to be seen. Either way, there's a yelp as he goes down and the books flying. Growlithe on the other hand takes cover.]

[a_sin_for_him]

Guttle! Get out of the way!

[Lust immediately blames her Spheal - he makes an art of being underfoot - as she steps neatly out of the way. Well, mostly neatly. She ends up knocking into a coffee table, but it's low and neither of them tip over entirely. Lust does end with her butt on the table, but sitting sharply is far less embarrassing than ending sprawled on the floor. She manages to grab one of the tumbling, toppling books but the rest are on their own.

The cause of all the ruckus attempts to roll quietly away. As quietly as a 100+ pound blue seal ball can manage, anyway.]

Good god, are you alright?

[What's happened to Crocker?]

OTA

[crackpotcrocker]

[If anything, Crocker came because maybe just maybe he could come across some books that could help him understand Pokemon better and unlock mysteries. The man will be in a chair with a large pile of books by his side, a notepad in his lap, a cup of coffee in his free hand and a Growlithe lying comfortable by his side]

OTA

[silentscales]

[Snake arrived with his servine and ekans. He doesn't go up to anyone, however, finding a nice seat away from people. He is hoping that he gets to make a few new friends here, but the idea of talking to anyone new still makes him nervous.]

OTA

[friendyousohard]

[There's an Alakazam at Twilight's side as she walks up to the door bright and early, but it's not Flash. Starswirl stays next to her as she gets herself set up inside, visiting with Maka a bit before going to mingle.

She's at her most outgoing right now, here in her element. Books and knowledge are her passion, and with a whole group of people around who are presumably here for the same reason, she's all kinds of excited.]

[samsa]

[...wow, does everyone have an Alakazam around here? Kaneki's starting to wonder if he should try to get Carrie to evolve...but trying to put her in her ball and trade her is like asking if you want to keep living.

Either way Kaneki ends up brushing shoulders with Twilight eventually, prompting him to look over with a sheepish grin.]

Oh, sorry- are you one of Maka's friends?

[The second it comes out of his mouth he realizes how dumb that was, but he couldn't think of anything else quickly enough.]

[friendyousohard]

[Twilight turns to the young man with a radiant smile and extends a hand to him.]

Indeed I am. Twilight Sparkle, pleasure to meet you.

[samsa]

[He takes her hand with a slight nod of his head, letting his other grip at the strap of his bag.]

Kaneki Ken. It's nice to meet you, too. It's exciting to see this many people interested in books, isn't it?

[friendyousohard]

You have no idea. I ran the library back home, and some days it was just downright depressing how few people would stop by. And with the gear, I mean, as amazing an invention as it is I'm kind of worried about people leaving books behind for it completely sometimes.

[samsa]

Really? I hope that's not the case.

[He could see people wanting to read things digitally now and then, but still...]

I work at the bookstore in Goldenrod right now, actually. There seem to be a few people who still visit regularly, so I'm glad for that at least.

[friendyousohard]

Well, there wouldn't still be libraries and bookstores at all if it were completely the case, but I do still worry.

But this club takes a bit of the concern off my mind. I'm really pleased to see how many people responded to Maka's invitation.

for Maka!

[envy_the_sinners]

[Scar is... quite impressed when he arrives at the house. He realizes that maintaining a home is much easier here than it was back home for various reasons, but the fact that the two of them can maintain a place this large is worthy of note.

Then again, Scar isn't so sure he could even place how old Maka is. Her young age becomes quite clear from time to time, but she also has an air of maturity about her.

Scar is skulking around the door, waiting to catch a glimpse of Maka before he simply strolls in. It would feel rude to do so, regardless of the open invitation.]

Maka?

[soundmind]

[Scar isn't someone that can be missed easily, it's like even if the house isn't small he still looks...out of place in it.

Still, Maka looks surprised and delighted to see him and almost literally drops what she was doing to greet him.]

Mr. Scar! I didn't know you'd be coming!

[envy_the_sinners]

[It feels... very nice to see someone this genuinely happy to see him. Scar's lips tighten in some semblance of a smile, and his eyes would have softened if they physically could.]

I didn't realize your home was so big.

[...And of course, he fails to stick the greeting.]