redjacketthief | 10th Turn [Voice/Action]

[July 9: Voice]

Hey, Luceti.

[The thief speaks clearly over the public audio feeds very suddenly that night, with a level of calm that is surprising for some residents he spoke with over his most recent transmission. There's no laughter in his tone, nor any bitterness. He speaks as if he were holding a casual conversation.]

I just wanted to let you know, for those of you who knew him, that Detective Inspector Zenigata Koichi has returned home. Don't worry--he's just gone back to doing what he does best, even if he hasn't yet succeeded. Never let there be a doubt, he is the best damn officer that the ICPO has to offer.

We're down another lawdog, guys, but we'll manage. Let's make the old bastard proud!

Also...he wasn't here for very long, so I don't know how many people he knew, but Jigen Daisuke has also returned home. Don't worry for him either, because its better for him to be out of here. He's quiet, but places like this never got on well with him.

If you want to honor them in some way, have a few drinks and a few smokes. If that's not your thing, then have a bowl of Miso Ramen for Pops. It's his favorite dish.

[Filtered to Smoker: Unhackable]

Captain? Pops left you something if you want to come get it.

[Considering recent weeks and the whirlwind of events, Lupin appeared to be taking the loss of two of his best friends rather well. Residents of Community House 5 would have noticed the sheer delay he took in actually investigating Zenigata's apartment on the third level. Whether out of physical necessity or his own misplaced lonliness, Lupin spends the night there.]

[July 10: Action]

[Residents of the village will be able to catch Lupin between several places the next day, largely in the area around Community House 5, the Barracks, and the Battle Dome. Although he's physically not fully adjusted to the current conditions left on him by the Malnosso, Lupin treks his way over to the Dome to make use of one of the simulation rooms for target practice. His aim went with his balance, and he intended to rectify that as soon as possible. Acquaintances could call him out on his poor coping skills once more, but that won't stop him from trying.

It's late afternoon by the time he's satisfied enough to leave, although he doesn't quite make it back to his room. Wandering villagers will find him napping anywhere around the Barracks or Community House 5, although a preference for sleeping under or in trees is noticeable. Just...don't ask him if he needs a hand.

If his refusal for aid is unaccepted, he will not be directing people to his apartment in the community building, but to House 46 on the other side of town.

His friends insisted on the change, and he was in no position to argue.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

That's cute, Smoker. Really cute.

[No title or jest this time, just a name--he's that serious. Even if it were for a joke, Lupin would not steal the cuffs right then. It was the wrong time. Slowly, carefully, he pulls himself into a standing position and braces an arm on the sofa for support. He would reveal himself eventually, but first...]

You know, he ordained because of me. Wrecked his home life too, but I think his love of adventure also contributed.

[Blinks. His eyes narrow for a moment. That's... a little too close to comfort if he's perfectly honest. His relationship with Straw-Hat is nothing short of "fucked up" and Smoker does have his own love of adventure. And an obsession that would lead him to chasing Straw Hat well over choosing to be with a family, so it's just as well that he's not married and told Grell as much (that his job comes first and that's why he's single) a thousand times in advance.]

[There's a grunt and a nod.]

[Should he aspire to even be as close as Lupin and Zenigata accidentally were? Or would that be its own kind of accidental failure?] Sometimes there are worse criminals out there. [Pretty much the best acknowledgement that Lupin and Luffy are pretty good guys that anyone will ever get from Smoker. And that it's better to team up with the likes of them to take the others down even if it means using a thief to catch a thief.]

I know, and that's why it works so well.

...I just figured that you should know, really.

[Because they were friends as well, and it was only fair. If it served to further highlight the similarities between their two rivalries, then so be it. That wasn't the entire reason he called Smoker over.

He laughs bitterly, thinking over recent weeks.]

It's funny. In our last conversation, Pops accused me of going straight. I don't even know what he'd be saying right about now. It's pretty safe to assume that his old, bitter heart has grown three sizes in recent weeks.

It's just...weird.

Sorry to hear it. He seemed like a decent bloke.

[After three days of being at home, Don needs to get out. He can't speak straight, but he can operate a computer (more or less) and he can fight, so to the Battle Dome he goes. He spends a very satisfying couple of hours beating up virtual enemies, then heads to the lounge to get a drink and observe the occupants of the other simulation chambers.]

[Is that Lupin...? Maybe he'll come up here when he's done.]

He's not dead.

[It was sharper than he intended. Lupin takes a breath to calm that spike of possessiveness.]

But...he is. He's a very decent bloke.

[That's Lupin all right, not feeling right but being damnably sure not to show it as much as he could. He had taken to lying low like a sniper to practice targeting in the beginning, so as to not run into consequences caused by his other problems. Until he had gotten used to the meditative practices that Luke was doing with him, and the basic dance movements that Adele was teaching him, he didn't want to risk knowledge of his problems getting out too quickly. He had his pride to consider, and didn't want half of the village coddling him like his close friends were.

He enters the break room and leans back against a wall, his eyes closed against the vertigo that was following with the needy hunger of a stray dog. Donatello would notice that the glasses he was wearing were anomalous--he's worn them before, but rarely in public. They had become a physical focusing tool at this point, but Lupin thought that they were starting to work.

The thought that his body may just be getting over the initial shock of his death and following penalty never crossed his mind.]

[No, Don doesn't remember Lupin wearing glasses. But it's the leaning on the wall looking vaguely sick that has him worried.]

Are you okay?

[He opens an eye to glance at the turtle, and tries to ignore the spins. They would pass soon enough.]

Been better, but I'm all right enough. How about you, Don? It's been a while.

No, right, sorry. Wasn't trying for dead. [ I swear :'| ]

No, to you it is a 'was.' He's a damn fine Inspector [and a closer friend than either would admit,] but somehow I don't think he'll be back anytime soon.

[He makes a so-so gesture, and doesn't elaborate.]

[Lupin stares in confusion for a second as he processes that. Don...hadn't lost his voice, but he was normally chatty in a geeky kind of way. He doesn't say anything on it, thinking of it as a socially awkward fluke.]

You too, huh? How about we both take it off of our minds for now--I had something a few weeks back that I wanted to ask you, before all of the stuff with the blue man happened.

[Attentive look. Please ask.]

...right.

[There's something off here...]

I was wondering if you could help me rig up something for an outdoor film screening. I found a copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream with James Cagney and Olivia de Haviland. I can set up the screen...but the projector is the problem.

You're a tech guy, and a film buff. I was wondering if you could give me a hand.

[Smile, nod. No problem.]

[Yeah. Problem. Lupin's gonna need to teach him basic Sign at this rate...]

Okay.

What's with the silence, Donnie?

Anything could happen. Though frankly, I'd hope not, no matter how much we could use a few extra 'lawdogs' around. [ The key to Luceti must be everyone trickling out one at a time. ]

I know that, Lestrade. This place...had nothing to offer him.

[He'll tell you his if you tell him yours.]

What's with the leading on the door?

[... Or he might just give himself away.]

...

Don. There is no leading on the door.

[Sigh. Don gets up, comes over to Lupin, and imitates his posture.]

[With a look and a gesture: What do you call this?]

Leaning Don. Did you get picked up recently?

[Blink. Did he what?]

...were you abducted by the Malnosso recently too?

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