redjacketthief | 10th Turn [Voice/Action]

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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.]

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[He drops his joking tone:]

His apartment. I'm...gonna need a pick up. Things happened, and we need to talk anyway.

Understood. I'll be right over.

Thanks.

[He doesn't say more when he closes the journal, knowing that sometimes words were unnecessary to understand the Marine. Instead he settles back on the couch and lights a cigarette for the old man, pondering over how empty the apartment felt without Zenigata's stolid, bear-like presence.

The cigarette is still lit when Smoker arrives, but Lupin doesn't bother with smiling this time. There's something wrong, and he knows that he has no chance of hiding it.]

Need help with any of this?

[He's gruff, the voice rumbling as ever. He had no luck with keeping friends here. He'd been the only marine from his world except Coby for over two years. He's trying not to be selfish about it, but it's hard.]

[Be as selfish as you want, Smoker. Lupin is irritable too. He doesn't stand--not now--but he reaches into his pocket for Smoker's gift.

It was a pair of handcuffs, ICPO Standard. Lupin holds them out to the Marine, the steel bracelets dangling from his hand.]

There was nothing but these. [And a note for Lupin himself, although he doesn't say that.] I think he wanted you to have them.

Thanks.

And you're sure they're not meant for you to put on yourself? [Lightly teasing. It's the best he can manage right now.]

[He manages a smile at the light joke.]

Why would he give me a pair of cuffs? He doesn't work with thieves, you know!

Like I said, to get you to arrest yourself.

[But he'll takes those cuffs and pocket them for now, taking note of which side the seastone's ... Oh hey. His seastone cuffs are missing? :| WELL. He'll deal with that later....]

At least he'll be back at work at home.

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.

Weird?

[His ears perk listening to all of this. He feels like he hasn't been as observant the last few weeks, and mores the pity. It's difficult to juggle so many things, something winds up slipping attention.]

He'd probably clap you on the back and say to cheer up. Just a hunch.

...I'm not a good man, Captain, and I made some choices that I never would have made at home recently.

[He looks up at the Marine, dead serious. In all of the chaos between the battle, the storm, Keimi reappearing, and several more residents disappearing, Lupin doesn't blame Smoker for not noticing. He has been busy as well.

A wry smile quirks his lips at the attempt at humor, but he knows that its much more complicated than that.]

He probably would, except it's more complicated than that. Grell...all ready knew, but I asked her not to tell you for personal reasons. Don't worry--I know how she knew too, and everything about her suddenly makes a whole lot more sense. [He chuffs, stalling for his own sake as he gathers the nerve. Though several people knew or suspected, he barely had to actually state it himself beyond bare implications. Breathing deeply, he steeled himself enough to continue.]

Remember that thing with the Blue Man and the decoys a few weeks back? Captain...

I died back there.

[His ears flick taking in all the information. So Lupin knew about Grell being a reaper, or something else?

That last part though...

Damn.

Smoker's teeth clench on the cigars. Could have, should have, would have... Could he have saved Lupin? But Lupin was here now and that was what mattered more, wasn't it?]

What was the price paid? [Not that dying in itself wasn't traumatic but since he'd be alive back in his world. Tsk... still, that was how Luceti worked. How the Malnosso worked. And with that said, there probably wasn't a lot of way such a thing could have been prevented. Still a shitty thing to have happened though.]

[He was aware of Grell being a Reaper, but only because she called him out on his death before he even knew that people other than the decoys knew about it. Smoker's rage is palpable even in the dim room, and Lupin feels his own heart pound in sympathy for the man. He was another person angered, and another who wouldn't have been able to stop the bullet from piercing his chest. Jaw set, Lupin tears his eyes away when he replies.]

It's my balance, Captain. I can stand and do things, but it's become a small piece of hell.

[One that was getting better, and one that he could deal with. Luke and Adele were both working with him on planning his movements better, and everyone from Shikamaru to Obi-Wan Kenobi has offered to assist him in any way that he needs.

He wanted to continue training with Smoker. Badly. But he had a feeling that he physically backslid in his progress as well alongside of his problems.]

[Grunts.] Well, I guess you won't be walking any catwalks soon. [Oh god, he's picking up theater speak from Grell. This can't be good. He doesn't seem to notice though, just nods.] I'll see what I can do about finding exercises to cater to that instead.

In your... former training -- [The words sound like ash on his tongue, and from his distaste it's obvious that he means as a thief.] Did you learn how to take a fall safely?

[He giggles with too much force and catches it when it's too late to stifle it. Grinning, Lupin tries to keep his focus straight when he returns his gaze to the Marine--without much luck. Between the stress of finding out about Zenigata's return and his own lingering concerns over his recent actions, keeping his vision straight was too much work. The hand braced on the sofa grasps the solid cushioning so hard that his knuckles turn white as he clings to an anchor in his quiet distress.

There wasn't much else to say. What else could he say?]

...Thanks. [He found it in him to breathe.] That might be for the best...

[The laughter died down to a bitter chuckle.] I can take a fall, Captain. Off of skyscrapers, even. It's dangerous, but I think I can handle it.

[Arches an eyebrow. He has no idea what Lupin's world calls skyscrapers but that can't be healthy. Still that's a good start at least. At least he knows Lupin won't be too bruised from just practicing.]

You don't have to try so hard thief. [Let it be noted...... That is crazy rare for Smoker to actually say. His solution to everything is "get stronger." In this case though, he thinks Lupin needs to chill though, since the guy is more wound up than Smoker.] All right, I think I know where to start if you still have the time and inclination anyway.

[He leads an unhealthy lifestyle in any world, and Luceti is no exception. Lupin stares at Smoker for a beat longer as his words sink in, fully comprehending the deeper meaning of the phrase. He's never seen Smoker actually tell someone to hold off for a while, not like this, in all of his six months training with a man. Little more than a week had passed since he returned to the enclosure, and the concern that everyone was showing had him worried that he was slacking in his own skills. Had he really become that readable and well known to the general population?

It was too much to think about that night. Sighing, Lupin flops back into Zenigata's old couch. It was a comfort, even if it was only temporary.]

Everyone's telling me that, and I don't do sitting still very well. Even though Luke's been helping me with meditation and Adele's been helping me rethink how I walk, it's not going to be quite enough.

...I promised Keimi-chan that I'd work on learning magic from the spirits here with her. It will give us both something, but we'll have to see where that goes. There isn't much else that I have going right now either, Smoker.

I can start any time.

[A shrug.] Suit yourself. [If Lupin got antsy enough to join in on Tony Stark's fight club sessions, of course he was going to be antsy while healing. That's how he was. Still, Smoker didn't just mean physically in this instance. But he had a feeling Lupin got even more fidgety without extreme mental or emotional distractions. It explained a lot about the man.]

But right now I still want a drink and ramen if you're up to it.

Drinks and ramen...right.

[It was his intent anyway, and part of the reason he called Smoker over. Pops deserved a toast and a good send off--but. He was rattled by the current state of affairs, and he had a suspicion that he would have trouble along the way to the restaurant. Lupin pulls himself up regardless, and pauses momentarily to fight back an impending wave of vertigo.

It had been getting better; clearly he needed to calm down.]

We can go...just don't go too fast, okay?

Edited 2012-07-12 05:13 (UTC)

Are you sure you don't want me to carry you? Or better yet, bring it back as take out?

[The suggestions earned a bitter chuff from the thief.]

I don't want to be here all night wondering if he's really just hiding in a closet and waiting for the right moment to surprise us. I'll probably come back later...but it's better to get out for a while.

Besides, this is my last night in this building. My neighbors below are moving to House 46 on the other side of town, and they want me to come along. It's single level, and one of them is a really good friend. It's a better situation overall for me right now.

[There were too many ghosts in Community House 5 for his tastes anyway. Between Jigen and Pops, it didn't feel right to stay. His only qualm was leaving Fujiko behind.]

[A small laugh himself at that.] That would kind of be his style, huh.

[Rubs his chin and nods.] All right, your call. It's pretty nice out now, we could grab foot and hang around the fountain. [And then he will escort you home like a gentleman. This is not a date at all...]

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. [Because he did need to get out for a little while, and spending the night out with Smoker sounded ideal. Between his training efforts and bearing his emotional burden, he was starting to feel the strain...

"You don't need to try so hard." There was a point there.]

You know, Captain. I was going to have it be a surprise, but...I'm gonna steal that fountain one of these days. We all need a good laugh, and that will be the best joke this place has seen for a while.

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