Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[anthropophagite]

[ it's easier, but grosser.

There is a hand in his face and it's obvious how uncomfortable Kaneki is when that happens. People touching him is... yeah. Last time it was Tsukiyama and look at where that got him. At least the other pulls back.

Ah, so it was just a misunderstanding. Kaneki is sort of relieved because he isn't entirely sure what he'd do if ghouls were around here too, it'd probably be a bit dangerous ahahaha, kaneki......

He shakes his head, adding a smile ] It's alright. I guess we are all trying to find familiar faces in the crowd. [ that is, if this person isn't from this world. ]

Uhm, I don't feel anything... [ but this person is probably right. he mentioned he could set the Goblin's stand on fire, so he is probably a Witch, so he probably knows better about this sort of thing, too ] I will be careful.

And I'm sorry about... [ UH vomiting all over your feet? ] dirtying you.

[devilyouknew]

[Takizawa looks down at his feet. He scrapes the bottom of one across the ground and kicks up a little dirt with the toes of both, gathering it up between all the digits. Then he shrugs.]

They've been worse.

[He's watching the boy a little too closely, a little too familiar for a stranger, but he can't help it. There are too many questions that need answering for him to walk away, and very few of them are ones he can actually ask.]

Let me stick with you for a while - just to make sure nothing happens to you.

[He's a concerned fellow displaced individual, that's all. One who happened to come by at the right time. Who also looks far less friendly than he's trying to pull off.]

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki's eyes follow Takizawa's for a moment there, wondering if it wouldn't be better to wear shoes when you are walking somewhere public like this. Not only it's dirty, but there could be glass and other things, right? But it's not like Kaneki judges, and he also doesn't bring it up either.

He eventually looks away, specially given how the other man stares back at him so intensly. Does he really look that similar to whoever Takizawa's was expecting?

The offer to help Kaneki out is, naturally, just as unexpected]

Uh? Really?... I don't wish to be a bother. [ he adds a small smile next, but in truth Kaneki is sort of glad someone is offering him a hand. He isn't sure what he is even doing here, in all honesty.]

I'm Kaneki Ken. I just arrived.

[devilyouknew]

[There's another moment as Takizawa continues to stare, the name only solidifying his discomfort with the situation. But if that's who this person is claiming to be then he has even more reason to keep an eye on him. He has to know why someone is here, looking like this, and whether or not they're who they say they are somehow.]

...Seidou Takizawa.

[A name that won't be, shouldn't be familiar to Kaneki at this point in his life. His eyes don't leave the boy's face as he says it.

But then he does his best to look more relaxed, as friendly as he can be. He doesn't need to scare off the kid before they've gotten anywhere. If he does he'll never learn anything.]

It won't be a bother. I've only been here a couple days myself.

[anthropophagite]

[ he doesn't know the name at all. In fact, he has no reaction to it when Takizawa says it out loud and instead Kaneki just nods his head a little] it's nice to meet you, Takizawa-san.

[ hearing that the man arrived a couple of days ago is a strange relief - it means he isn't the only one in this situation. Which he knew already, he was told there are others, but it's that thing where he can have something in common with someone even if it's just confusion and being weirded out by everything.]

Ah, it seems we are in the same boat. I'm still trying to wrap my head about the whole... Monsters and witches thing. [ and about himself being a monster. Which he sort of was anyway but apparently now he will be yet again transformed into something new.]

You are a witch, right?

[devilyouknew]

That's what they tell me.

[He hasn't actually tried much magic. Any sort of spellcasting is going to require energy, which he's being careful not to spend too much of right now until he figures out what he's going to do about food here.

He'd been hoping to find some vitamins for sale here, but none of these vendors are trustworthy.]

Are you not?

[Making a monster of this boy - there's a lot of irony in that, especially if he really is who he says he is. He'll feel obligated to look after him, and he already hates the thought of that.]

[anthropophagite]

[ kaneki shakes his head softly ]

I can't use magic so... [ either he is a Witch and he CAN, or he is a Monster and he CAN'T. therefor, he is a monster. He doesn't like that word, but it's the word everyone uses without qualms. ] I don't know what kind, though, I was told only after I start to manifest changes I will know.

[ manifest changes. He is absolutely terrified or whatever those changes are. He is terrified of everything. He doesn't want to change more, he doesn't want to change again, and he doesn't want to manifest anything.

Kaneki smiles, touching his own chin. He shouldn't complain; many other people are going through the same, right? He isn't the only one, this time. So he should just be glad for that ] I'm a bit curious. [ he is not. ]

[devilyouknew]

[Takizawa is staring again. It's ridiculous, but every time he tries to keep his eyes anywhere else they always stray back to this kid's face. It's the hand motion he's making now. He's seen him do it before - some sort of personal tic that he has.

If this is a fake, it's a very well-crafted one.]

Are you?

[He's cut off from adding more to his question as his stomach growls loudly. They've cleared the merchant stalls and the scent of freshly baked bread is in the air. His face immediately reddens and he clears his throat in a poor effort to distract from it.]

It might not be so bad. You could grow cute puppy ears and a tail. The girls would love that.

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki KNOWS the other is staring, but he isn't going to ask. maybe he really does look like the person this man knows, maybe this is how the man acts. He won't bring it up, though it's a bit uncomfortable being stared at so much. Though he doesn't show it, instead keeping a small smile on his face.

when he hears Takizawa, Kaneki blinks and it's his turn to stare for a bit ]

Uh- w-well- no, I don't think that matters. [ he isn't interested in girls anymore, the last one tried to eat him. And girls who'd be into monsters? They would probably be someone to be wary of, too ]

Uhm, Takizawa-san, are you hungry? It's fine to stop, if you want to eat something.

[devilyouknew]

No.

[He says the word firmly, and there's a bit of an edge to it though his usual ghoul undertone is absent.]

No... It's just the smell. [The sharpness eases out of his tone. He's doing a piss poor job of acting any kind of normal around Kaneki. He might not even be capable of "normal" anymore.] But thank you.

[He won't offer to get the boy anything either. Takizawa still finds the food off-putting, even though he's slowly coming to terms with the fact that it's most likely perfectly normal, and he won't encourage anyone to eat it.]

You said you'd just arrived? As in today?

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki tenses a little when Takizawa quickly recuses. But he doesn't say anything else regarding the matter, so there is no pressure from him. If Takizawa wishes to eat, he can; if he doesn't, it's not Kaneki's business.]

Ah, no. Few days ago. I was... Uhm- [locked in his room for those days, feeling like he was going insane] well, it was a lot to deal with at first, so I needed sometime.

But I figured it's no good to stay locked in.

[devilyouknew]

You won't learn anything that way, that's for sure.

[He was hiding away? That could be true. It could also just as likely be an excuse for why he hadn't seen the boy up until now. They could be studying him, searching for weak points. Maybe they knew that this version of Kaneki, this innocent and unbroken version, would tear at him mentally more than any other.

It could be that the boy wasn't even here. He could just be seeing--

Takizawa stops suddenly, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes squeeze tightly shut and he takes a long, deep breath.]

...I tell you what, Kaneki-kun. I've changed my mind. Let's get something to eat after all.

[He'd say it would be his treat, but the festival food is free.]

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki still gives a couple of steps before realizing Takizawa stopped. When he does, he glances over his shoulder curiously, waiting for an explanation that comes soon.

Ah. Food.

In truth, kaneki still can't eat. He isn't a ghoul anymore, supposedly; he can't use his kagune, and he can actually get hurt with things like papercuts. But his sense of taste and even smell didn't return back to normal; food tastes horrible to him, the texture is horrendous, and he pukes out everything he tries to eat. He was never good at recognizing smells, but offer him any kind of food and it's like his nostrils are being invaded by the smell of putrefied fish. The boy doesn't know if it will feed him, but when he forces himself to swallow, he still feels horribly sick.

So he doesn't know if he is a ghoul. But he is certainly retaining some ghoul parts.


Which means, he is not going to eat ] If you want to...

I've eaten before coming here so I'm not hungry. But I can accompany you.

[devilyouknew]

[That causes Takizawa to narrow his eyes in Kaneki's direction again. Ate before coming here, did he?

He can't help this paranoid thinking. He can't take what this place is doing to him - even though what it's done might have been considered a boon by someone else in his position. He can't live normally. He's not that person anymore. He can't sit down to a normal meal and enjoy it. How does he deserve that?]

No? [That edge to his tone is back again.] You wouldn't even want ice cream?

[He reaches a hand out to grip the boy's shoulder tightly.] Yeah, come on. Maybe you'll change your mind when we get there.

[The grin on his face now is terribly forced and not at all friendly.]

[anthropophagite]

[ why does it feel like a threat?

Kaneki is not the type to be paranoid, but everything that has been happening in his life is leaving him on edge. Not just being turned into a ghoul, nearly eating his friend, fighting a Ghoul investigator or being kidnapped by Aogiri, but also being brought to a magical world where he is told he will be turning into a monster.

So maybe he is a bit on edge and the hand landing on his shoulder sends Kaneki a sudden red flag. He is bad at judging others, but he can't deny being a bit worried ]

It's alright, I'm not really a fan of sweets. [ should he really go with this person? Technically they are still in public, right? As long Kaneki doesn't walk into a shady shop or a dark alley or leaves the busy market, it should be fine, he supposes ] I don't really need to eat.

[devilyouknew]

[A+ character judgement skills. Amazing.

Takizawa releases the boy's shoulder, looking momentarily regretful. The feeling soon passes but he appears visually deflated and all the hostility is gone from his voice.]

We'll be quick, then.

[It unnerves him because this is the way a ghoul might act when asked out to eat by a human. A poorly adjusted ghoul, anyway - which is what Kaneki would likely be. But the obvious hunger isn't apparent in the boy's eyes. Has he not been changed by this place the way Takizawa has? Are the powers that be trying to make him believe that's the case?]

I'll just get some bread and we can go.

[Basic. Simple. Something he can eat that might stave off any encroaching madness if that is indeed what he's suffering from, but nothing fancy that he'd be able to get any real enjoyment out of.]

[anthropophagite]

[ the fact that he makes such poor life choices should be in itself proof this is Kaneki...

The younger ghoul watches Takizawa both confused and a bit suspicious, but nods very softly. Bread it is. He won't ask about the ice-cream Takizawa mentioned before, nor if bread truly is enough; he sort of just wants this food part to be over with.

He will won't enter any place that is deserted; for once, Kaneki is very glad for the crowd and would prefer to be in public places with others around. Takizawa freaked him out a bit too much, though Kaneki tries to tell himself the man simply probably didn't mean it like that sure]

Alright... Er, where do you want to get bread? [ hopefully it's somewhere in the market. He will have to politely decline if Takizawa wants to leave it]

[devilyouknew]

[He'd never intended to have any ice cream. That had simply been to entice the boy and it hadn't been successful. Despite appearances, Kaneki isn't much younger than he is. (Takizawa wouldn't have turned down ice cream before he'd become a ghoul, however.)]

There are food stands around here somewhere. I'll just follow my nose.

[It's not as sensitive as it used to be, but the smell is strong enough that it doesn't need to be. He leads them toward a couple stands, and as they get there he finds himself putting a hand over his mouth. He's going to begin drooling. The scent is overwhelming. How embarrassing.

He swallows, maintaining what composure he has.]

Stay here. I'll be right back.

[When he walks off to get his bread he doesn't even realize there are tears rolling down his cheeks.]

[anthropophagite]

[ honestly, it's very confusing. The whole situation, but also Takizawa and everything else. Kaneki figures it's because he is absolutely overwhelmed with everything and Takizawa most likely is too. So he decides not to say a word about Takizawa's reaction, no matter how weird it is. Instead he shrinks a little, as if trying to disappear for a second there, pretend he didn't notice, and nods very softly when the man tells Kaneki to wait for him.

The younger ghoul looks away, a bit uncomfortable, and eventually does move from his place to go look at some Goblin stalls. He is still nearby and while the boy is ultimately very plain looking, he does have an eyepatch that makes him noticeable among the crowd, when Takizawa comes back.

This time around he won't blindly trust the Goblin trying to sell him all sort of potions, and instead he will smell everything that he is handed, refusing all of it because it just stinks. At least he is learning from his mistakes ]

[devilyouknew]

[A bare foot meets the top edge of the booth Kaneki is in front of and there are frantic squeals from the goblin running it as Takizawa shoves it over. Only a couple of the bottles shatter but it's enough to cause a small, colorful explosion.]

I told you to wait for me.

[As in remain standing where he was. It may have been a bit much to ask, especially of someone who doesn't know him the way he should, but the ghoul hasn't been in the best of mindsets for a while now.

He's wiped the tear streaks from his face, though his eyes are still wet around the edges. He has a wrapped parcel in one arm and is accompanied by a strong aroma of cinnamon.]

You're gonna get yourself turned into a frog at this rate.

[anthropophagite]

[ WAH!

Kaneki watches Takizawa shoves the tablet, and he is quick to reach for said table to try and stop him. There is no need for that, Kaneki was the one approaching and was interested in the potions, after all! Even though he no longer believed whatever the Goblin said, it was ultimately Kaneki's decision to be there ] That's not necessary!

[ he looks back at the Goblin and quickly bows his head to apologize, before he ALSO apologizes to Takizawa ] I'm sorry, I just wanted to see what those were...

[ and kaneki IS worried about finding something that he can actually eat and drink. Because he needs to eat, and Kaneki doesn't have a lot of options here; he doubts the Witches (or anyone!) would be willing to help him regarding his meals, and while Kaneki isn't hungry right now, sooner or later he will have to feed.

And that thought is terrifying.

So maybe one of the Goblins will have something for him, maybe there is something that will feed him, some magic potion that will make his hunger go away, or anything really. ]

[devilyouknew]

Come on.

[With his free hand, Takizawa grabs Kaneki's shoulder again in order to pull him along with him. He wants away from these goblins. Preferably he'd like to find a table or a bench or some place to sit at the edge of the marketplace where he won't have an audience while he's eating.

He never thought he'd be embarrassed to eat a pastry.]

And don't apologize to him. He would have screwed you over anyway.

[Is that a racist comment? Now that he thinks about it, it might be. There are probably decent goblins out there, but so far the only ones he's seen are the ones trying to hustle people here. Maybe he can contribute the bad aspects to the marketplace goblins only and feel a little better about judging them.

Or he could just not care.

He leads the boy to what he finally considers a decent open seat and slumps down in it, releasing him. The sweet-smelling package is moved into his lap where he stares at it.]

You're kind of a handful.

[He says this as if he hadn't been the one to cause a scene only moments ago.]

[anthropophagite]

[ kaneki ends up being dragged once again, but since he feels he is being a burden, he doesn't say anything or fights back. In the back of his head, he still wonders if Goblins won't be the best people for him to get food exactly because they would easily "screw people over". that's probably racist as well

But that's something to try to figure out later on. Right now Takizawa-san seems to want him around and while Kaneki is far too shy to ask why, he is at least a bit glad he isn't completely alone and there is someone this willing to help him.

At the comment, Kaneki lowers his head, a bit ashamed, and looks to the ground ] I'm sorry. [ even though he doesn't think what he did was particularly bad, and he truly wasn't the one causing a scene, Takizawa did ask him (demand?) for him to stay put and he didn't (at the same time, Kaneki feels like he is being treated like a child, but once again, he doesn't say anything about that).

Eventually he sits down too ] Takizawa-san, are you Japanese? [ he has a japanese name, so Kaneki hopes he isn't wrong ] Was your world very different from this one?

[devilyouknew]

[Takizawa's attention is drawn away from the food as he watches Kaneki apologize. Is this really how the boy was before everything happened? He's so timid. It's a little ridiculous. True, it makes him easier to work with, but he's not sure he prefers that.

Thankfully, before they can get into a circular argument where he tells the kid to stop apologizing, he gets asked about where he came from.]

Yeah, I'm from Tokyo. [Doesn't he look Japanese? Is it the hair?]

I would say it's probably as different as yours was, given how you're taking it.

[He's not willing to come right out and say that they're from the same place. Mostly because he's still on the fence about Kaneki being who he says he is.]

[anthropophagite]

[ no it's absolutely not the hair. Just the name, really. And when Takizawa mentions Japan, Kaneki figures the world he comes from is at least "Earth". Might not be the same Earth - Kaneki is not about to ask if cannibalistic humanoids called Ghouls exist there - but it's at least Earth and it has a Japan. That is close enough for Kaneki ]

Well, I was wondering if we are all from different worlds, or if we all come from the same "Earth". I mean- [ kaneki looks up at the sky for a moment ] I'm guessing it's the first, but there should be a reason why we are all here, no?

[ are only humans arriving here? No, Kaneki isn't exactly a human is he? So that's not the best theory. Maybe they are all from an "Earth"? ]