maskormenacelogs | a total absence of good lyrics

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a total absence of good lyrics

WHO: Kogami and Duncan
WHERE: Maurtia Falls
WHEN: forward dated to the 15th-ish
WHAT: Duncan gets harrassed by one of the Falls' respectable citizens. Shoes get put on the other foot.
WARNINGS: Very mild violence at worst, probably language.

[Kogami's been in this city about four days since his release from the hospital, and so far he is Very Unimpressed. The infrastructure of this place is a goddamn disaster; apparently not only is mental health care not required by the government here, even where it exists it's a service to pay for. It shows, honestly; he doesn't even need this new hue-sensing power to be able to tell that the people in this city are on-edge. Back in Japan, crimes were never so bold and out in the open. They existed on the fringes, away from much of the public gaze--something for the MWPSB to deal with and promptly sweep under the rug.

The whole place is like a powder keg asking to be lit, and Kogami's not a fan of waiting for that particular ~~shoe~~ match to drop. Even as he walks free out in these streets, he finds himself missing the familiarity of the institutions he knows. There's no scanners, no drones, nothing. Oddly, the freedom is boring; at the MWPSB there was always something for him to do, even during downtime, and when there wasn't, there was Sasayama's case to occupy himself with.

So even though he's been told to take it easy with his injuries, he finds himself walking around town, anyway. He might help someone find their lost cat or he'll test out that other power of his to track down the owner of a dropped wallet, just to give himself something to figure out, even if it's nothing like actual detective work. When he sees someone being harrassed by some thug, probably yet another mugger, he heads in that direction, mostly because he's going to punch them in the face but also because it's something more worth his time than lost cats and wallets.

...Only to recognize this particular mugger as one of the ones he got into a fight with the other day.]

You again, huh? And without your cronies, this time, even.

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[Duncan does not come to Maurtia Falls often, not since Urushihara had suddenly vanished without a trace. But, fun fact, the sale of Everclear is banned in Florida, and if he's gotta go out of town to pick that up then he might as well go with the town he's at least passingly familiar with.

He regrets that decision when he gets cornered on his way from the bus stop to the store. Normally he tries to lay low and pass as a native, except his phone is quite obviously a completely different aesthetic than the norm here, and for a moment he thinks it's outed him as an ImPort and this is about to be a hate crime.

But no. It's just the regular kind of street violence from an aggressive thug. Just a normal mugging ha ha ha THAT'S SO MUCH BETTER

He's trying to nervously back away while debating whether defending himself with magic will make the situation better or worse and which spell would he go with if this were a raid boss and would he get in legal trouble if he seriously injured someone like that or worse yet would it get on the news--

And then someone is there, interrupting the growing tension. Duncan doesn't quite relax, but he does at least look grateful for Kogami's presence and uses the thug's moment of distraction to put a little more distance between them and him.]

Edited 2016-03-14 23:46 (UTC)

[If Duncan were to attempt to run right about now, he'd probably manage to escape; the mugger is thoroughly distracted with the newcomer.]

Are you stalking me now, you sonofabitch? I'll kill you!!

[And with that, the knife originally to be pointed at Duncan gets turned on Kogami as the thug lunges at him, which he dodges easily enough when it's just the one thug rather than three, and then slams the bastard against the wall, knocking the knife out of the man's hand as he clamps one of his own around his throat.]

Did you know, Registered imPorts can handle crime here any way they want, short of murder? You'll wish you were dead by the time I'm finished with you. And you know what? I can find you. Any time you even think about causing someone trouble, I'll be right there. There's nowhere you can hide.

[Exactly none of those things is true, and he's definitely overstating the leeway he probably has (the details of imPort registration policies aren't something he's exhaustively researched, yet), but hey, this punk doesn't need to know that. And by the way his expression is slowly draining of color, it seems like he's bought what Kogami's selling hook, line, and sinker.]

O-okay, okay!! I'm sorry! Just let me go, alright??? I won't cause any more trouble!

[Kogami pauses as if to consider that...then shrugs.]

Hmmm....nah.

[That's punctuated with a sudden sucker punch, and the mugger goes out like a light, after which Kogami scoops him up by his front collar, and...finally addresses Duncan.]

You alright?

[Running away would probably be smart, but Duncan can be pretty dumb for a smart guy. He mostly just gets himself out of the way and then watches warily, kind of assuming that if he tries to bolt he's going to attract more attention to himself.

And also that he'd rather stick around the dude willing to step in on a mugging than go it alone after this.

Which, uh, he is somewhat reconsidering after watching Kogami actually handle the guy. His eyebrows shoot up as he watches that, and when he turns his gaze to Kogami's face at the question, his body language is tense and wary.

His hue, as Kogami might be able to see given the uncrowded surroundings, is a nice dark crimson at the moment.]

Uh. Better than I was about to be. Thanks.

[He's noticed, certainly, but even if he were convinced his Hue "readings" were accurate, he hasn't forgotten the incident from Tsunemori's first day, and how she'd reminded him that Psycho Pass deteriorations could be temporary in circumstances like this.

He also doesn't need his "power" to be able to read Duncan's body language, and though his expression remains somewhat severe, it's taken on a much more neutral cast, as of someone discussing the weather, or something equally mundane and trivial.]

I'm not going to actually hurt him. But I kicked his ass yesterday and he didn't learn his lesson, so I figured I needed to be more persuasive to make it stick.

[And also the intimidation factor was useful for not reopening his injuries a second time? :'D;;;]

[Somehow the switch to neutral in this situation isn't...really better. Duncan glances to the unconscious mugger.]

So what, uh. Are you planning on doing with him?

[he's not sure what answer he actually wants there, honestly.]

Police station.

[Possibly a better answer than might have been expected for a guy who just threatened to make someone wish they were dead????]

Got an incident report to file from yesterday, anyway, though you can come with me if you want to do your own, too.

[And, y'know, confirm for yourself that he isn't going to viciously maul this guy.]

Cool.

[That is an extremely awkward reply, but like what else do you say to that, man. Police station is the correct place, so there's nothing more to say there.

Duncan isn't sure he cares if this dude decides to maul the mugger once he's out of sight. As long as nobody dies, it's fine. But filing a police report, hm. His eyes dart between Kogami and the thug, down the street, then back to Kogami. Duncan doesn't really trust cops, buuut he's even less willing to let a guy who threatened to knife him get off scott free because of that distrust of cops.]

... Yeah, sure.

Although, uh, aren't you supposed to just call the cops in this kind of situation? And not, um, physically drag a guy down to the station?

[It's okay, not like he's the epitome of social grace these days, either.

He just shrugs at Duncan's answer, though.]

But then I'd have to babysit him until they got here. [and sure, he doesn't actually have anything better to do, but that doesn't mean he wants to thug-sit]

Plus, his thug-buddies might notice he's been gone longer than planned and find us in the meantime, and I really don't want to get my stitches redone again.

[Even Kogami's has a threshold of ridiculousness, here. Also yes, he totally just implied that he stepped in on a mugging while recovering from injuries bad enough to require stitches...and that this is possibly his second time doing so. Haha. Ha.]

[But what if he regains consciousness while you're carrying him, what then? WHAT THEN KOGAMI]

[the mention of stitches does not escape duncan's notice, though. please have this awkward nervous laugh: ] Ha ha...ha... Um. Are you sure you should be hauling him around, in that case?

[good point about his friends coming to look for him, though. that's the main reason Duncan opts not to argue too hard about this.]

[HE'S ALREADY DEPRIVED HIM OF HIS WEAPON, it'll be fine. Probably.]

It shouldn't be a problem unless I end up having to get in another fight.

['Another']

Which is why we better haul ass. Come on.

Edited 2016-03-17 06:30 (UTC)

Oh my god.

[he ain't arguing though.

but he is grabbing that knife and pocketing it before he starts following. Evidence, probably? Or uhh maybe he'll just keep it and learn how to knife fight, who fuckin' knows. Either way it seems important.]

[r u judgin his life choices, Duncan.

After a little while of walking silently, he turns to the other guy, and asks:]

Local, or imPort?

[What is making conversation]

[judging his own, more like.]

[the question prompts him to rub his wrist, where the ImPort tattoo is hidden beneath his sleeve. didn't this guy say something about registered ImPorts when he was threatening the thug? It's probably safe to admit to then, right...]

ImPort... [said kind of slowly, like he hasn't quite decided whether or not he wants to answer even though he's already forming the word.]

[He's still sort of in the process of admitting to himself that all this is actually happening and not the result of some hideous allergic reaction to a painkiller or something, so the whole imPort thing isn't one that he's particularly cared about hiding. Plus he uh. Very obviously can't read any of the English street signs, which gives him away pretty fast.]

You should probably move to one of the other cities, then.

[Remember that time when Gino told Sasayama that Kogami was the one good with people. Whoops.]

Oh, uh, I don't...live here.

So, haha, got that covered, I guess. [shrug!]

[duncan can you be any more awkward right now seriously]

[With their powers combined, they will...be very awkward turtles.]

Oh. What're you doing here, then?

[It's not accusatory, but not particularly gracefully asked, either.]

[On the plus side, Duncan's awkwardness doesn't come with any attached anxiety, so he's not inclined to read negativity into neutrality. Which is to say that even though Kogami might not ask very gracefully, Duncan still interprets that as curiosity rather than judgment.]

Making questionable life choices, honestly.

[He lifts an eyebrow.]

Ones that can't be made elsewhere, I take it?

[How questionable are we talking here.]

[oh, the eyebrow. he's just implied something he definitely didn't mean to, whoops]

Look it's just--you can't buy pure ethanol in Florida, alright? I don't know about the other Porter cities but I know it's legal here, so.

So, I mean, it's not like I'm here for anything criminal, you know?

Just. Making questionable life choices. By coming all the way up to Maurtia Falls to buy ethanol.

Edited 2016-03-17 07:53 (UTC)

[Well, it's not like he was expecting the Godfather or anything, or the mugging probably wouldn't have been an issue. Still...]

What do you need ethanol for so badly that you'll smuggle it in from another state?

[Nosy detective's gonna nosy.]

Look, it's not illegal to have, it's just illegal to sell. So smuggling is not really accurate, I feel.

[He shoves his hands in his pockets, his gaze drifting over the street around them.]

Anyway, it's because I have a drinking problem. That problem being that I can't drink.

Ha ha.

[the flat laugh makes it clear that he knows that's a terrible joke which is not actually funny.]

[...You're allowed to have it, but not buy it. That. Sounds like a bit of an oversight, what the hell, Florida. But more to the point:]

...Run that one by me again?

[Look shit like healing factors is never his first assumption, okay. He's still new to these Multiversal Shenanigans]

Edited 2016-03-20 03:28 (UTC)

[no no you can buy it, you just can't sell it. see, american laws make perfect sense!]

[he sighs and runs a hand through his hair]

When I got here I wound up with a passive healing ability that makes me metabolize alcohol about thirty times faster than most people.

So. The easiest way for me to drink enough to get drunk and stay that way for a reasonable amount of time is to just shotgun straight ethanol.

[Straight...ethanol......]

...Damn. I'm not sure if I'm impressed or horrified.

[A little from column A, a little from column B tbh]

[he pulls a face] Be both. It's nasty as shit and I need a whole bottle for about an hour's worth of a decent buzz.

Hey, uh. [topic change!] You're not going to cuff that guy or anything? What happens if he...wakes up... [because see where duncan is from people don't just stay knocked out as long as is convenient.]

[Honestly, he's not sure that's worth it, but then again, he's never been a big drinker. Maybe Masaoka would feel the same way if he came here and suddenly could no longer feel anything from drinking?

Anyway, he shrugs.]

Don't have anything like that on hand. I'll knock him out again if I have to, I suppose.

[~~If he gets a concussion that's not Kogami's problem, he shoulda thought of that before he decided to mug people.~~]

Edited 2016-03-24 07:03 (UTC)

[it's worth it. sometimes...

also he looks a little uncomfortable and judgey about Kogami saying he'll just knock the guy out again. Not because he particularly cares about his mugger's well-being, but because he's not entirely certain what that answer says about Kogami.]

Maybe start carrying something if you plan on making a habit of this sort of thing, I guess.

['Uncomfortable and judgey' is p. much the reaction he's grown accustomed to over the last few years; he barely even takes note of it at this point.]

Stopping muggings, you mean?

[Way to sound grateful, Duncan.

...Not that the other man's suggestion is a terrible one. Really, it could save him some trouble, down the road.]

I'll look into it.

[Where can he even find handcuffs now that he's not law enforcement anymore? Things to consider later/eventually]

Yeah. That.

[he slips his hand into the pocket of his motorcycle jacket, fingering the handle of the knife. he pulls it out, examining it long enough to notice it's a switchblade. he carefully folds it down and sticks it back in his pocket. it's a pretty nice knife. maybe he'll keep it...]

Um. Thanks, by the way. I forgot that part, I think.

[He'll hear no arguments from Kogami; petty theft like that doesn't interest him. Especially considering the knife was just used to mug Duncan.]

Don't mention it.

Might be a good idea to find another city to buy the ethanol in, though. This one's just crawling with this kind of crime.

[It's more blatant than could even be imagined, back in Japan. The sort of thing that happened to Duncan would be little more than a whispered rumor quietly smoothed over by the MWPSB.]

Edited 2016-04-03 07:48 (UTC)

Cool. [with a tone that indicates that it is not, by any means, cool. also accompanied by a tug on his jacket to straighten out the collar.] Fuckin' Yankees, man.

[Kogami blinks. Once, twice.]

...Yankees?

Yankees.

[Duncan repeating it more forcefully does not actually constitute an explanation.]

Northerners. Well, north-east, mostly. Basically everyone who was on the correct side of the Civil War, except now they're a bunch of rude assholes.

You're not an American, I take it.

[He barely even knows what the Civil War is tbh. It's a good thing he reads so much because come on, that shit was over 300 years ago on the other side of the planet, ok!!!

He shakes his head at Duncan's observation.]

Japanese, actually.

[look it is a VERY IMPORTANT CULTURAL MEMORY if you are from the south ok!!]

Ah. [he does not know nearly enough Japanese history to come up with anything remotely comparable to explain what yankee means.] Don't worry about it, then.

[how close is that police station because hello settling awkward silence]

[He might look it up later, if he remembers.

And there's definitely silence, because Kogami isn't exactly the most talkative person in the world, but it's not awkward on his part, at least. He doesn't even look annoyed at not understanding the reference.

But walking in silence also gives him a chance to observe Duncan's very crimson hue, and while he has been taking them with a grain of salt, he's admittedly curious about this guy.]

So, are you new here too, or been here awhile?

[Duncan tries not to have awkward silences. he's not very self-conscious about his own awkwardness or socially anxious, so he's one of those rare breeds who can let a silence settle and be comfortable assuming that things will be said when someone feels like saying them.

he is starting to re-evaluate his choice to accompany Kogami all the way to the police station by the time that silence gets broken, though.]

Huh?

Oh, uh. A few months. Nnnovember I think? Honestly my sense of time is still a little weird, it was September 2050 and then I blinked and it was November 2015. Still kind of getting used to that.

[He's a perfectly respectable ~~latent criminal~~ detective, ok.]

You too, huh? It was 2112 for me.

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a total absence of good lyrics

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