so you feel entitled to a sense of control

[unbreaker]

WHO: Alfie Solomons and Josuke Higashikata
WHERE: Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Bright and early, April 11th
WHAT: Probably a lot of regret
WARNINGS: TBD


[Still a little sore from having been hung up on the day before, Josuke makes good on his word when the sun rises. After confirming his probationer's address, the Porter in Heropa's outpost takes him to Maurtia Falls where, thankfully very familiar with the city, he's able to make his way to Alfie Solomons' home without much difficulty. Being registered doesn't mean the whole of his trip is short, though, especially not with his attention half divided between the task at hand and perusing the network for Alfie's most recent activity. He's not about to go into today as blindly as he did the phone call from last night!

And what he learns is...that the other man doesn't always seem to be as much of an ass as he was the night before. By the time stores are opening up shop for the day, Josuke's read enough to think maybe he and this fella just got off on the wrong foot. And if Alfie's interest in the Porter is really all about wanting to go home...hell, Josuke can understand why he put up such a fight about the damn thing.

Doesn't mean he's willing to bend over backwards and make all kinds of concessions, of course. But it does mean he'll make a small detour on the way to Alfie's house that morning to pick up a couple of steaming hot coffees, fixings on the side. Because staying in's not on the docket this morning. Provided he doesn't get the door slammed in his face.

When he arrives, not at all dressed in his typical over the top fashion, opting instead for a dark burgundy blazer, white button down, and dark jeans, he gives the door a solid rap before taking a step back, putting himself in proper view of the little peephole.]

Comments

[devoutish]

[There's the sound of shuffling footsteps inside, then a voice calling out:]

Yeah?

[From the sound of it, he's not right next to the door, but the footsteps do approach. He has an idea of who this might be.]

[unbreaker]

[Stepping a little closer to the door again so that when he speaks his voice doesn't carry quite so far as to disturb the neighbors any, Josuke answers.]

It's Higashikata.

[Right on schedule, but sounding considerably less ready to grind steel with his teeth today.]

I brought a peace offering.

[In a manner of speaking.]

[devoutish]

Did you.

[He sounds wry, and he doesn't open the door.]

[unbreaker]

That's what I said, or can't you hear through the door?

[He gently taps the bottom half with the toe of his shoe for emphasis.]

Coffee's getting cold.

[And he can't warm you up with cold coffee, man.]

[devoutish]

Mm.

[More shuffling.]

It seems to me, right, that peacemaking would have been easier last night. Don't you think? Or maybe you like a challenge; is that it?

[unbreaker]

I dunno.

[Alfie's not wrong, not really. Being exactly the type of person who never seems to know when to quit, Josuke is rather fond of a challenge.]

It seems to me peacemaking's the kind of thing that can only be done after there's been a conflict, right? So here I am.

[devoutish]

[He looks through the peephole, finally.]

Fucking hell, you're a young one, aren't you. -- Right. To DeChima, then?

[unbreaker]

[Young? Well...yes, in a manner of speaking he is rather young, isn't he? Even if he's legally an adult now, and he'll be 19 in just a couple more months, that's probably still not very old by the standards of someone who may as well be ancient themselves.]

I don't like to let age hold me back.

[Figuring he's being watched now, he flashes a grin at the peephole and then gives a nod.]

Sure, we can head to De Chima. But I'm not really sure how you take your coffee, so I got everything on the side. If you wouldn't mind letting me use the kitchen for just a sec...

[devoutish]

Oh, it'll be fine how it is, mate; I'll drink anything.

[And Alfie opens the door, coming out and shutting it behind him immediately. He's all dressed and ready to go, wearing his hat and big coat, and carrying his cane. He watches Josuke beadily, sizing him up.]

[unbreaker]

[Hat, big coat, and cane...it's not the first time Josuke's walked alongside someone dressed that way. Only, the last time it'd been his old man. Strange thinking about how Alfie and Joseph probably have some things in common, but how at least Joseph didn't wind up arrested for all the times he'd been a shit.

Of course, Josuke will note, it's stranger still how Alfie seems so determined to keep him out of his apartment...

Plucking one of the styrofoam cups out the cardboard takeout tray and offering it to the older man, Josuke nods at the apartment door.]

I'm gonna be upfront for a sec, bear with me. But...are you aware that you act a lot like a guy with something to hide?

[devoutish]

Yeah? Why's that?

[He heads down the front steps, motioning for Josuke to follow.]

[unbreaker]

[Josuke sighs, but opts to follow along for now. He'd learned more by observing Alfie on the network, after all. Maybe the same rules would apply here, face-to-face.]

Oh, you know...really seems like you don't want company hanging around your place. Why's that?

[devoutish]

[Alfie snorts.]

I don't know you from Adam, Mr. Parole Officer. If a stranger tried to invite themselves into your kitchen, wouldn't you find that a bit odd?

[He throws a glance at Josuke over his shoulder.]

The policemen did search the whole flat, looking for that money they seem to think I stole. That's what you're concerned about, yeah?

[The whole ordeal had been a pain and a half. After Gemini had knocked him out, he'd regained consciousness only half an hour or so before the police showed up on his doorstep. He'd barely had enough time to reorient himself, figure out what was going on, and find a place to temporarily stash his gun to keep it from being taken away. Luckily for him, a radio alert about an ongoing bank robbery in downtown Maurtia Falls had helped get him up to speed.]

[unbreaker]

Higashikata.

[The reminder isn't spoken with hostility. It's as casual as Josuke can seem to muster given Alfie's tone.]

I think the way I'd be handling things in your position would be a lot different than you are. Not to suggest you're doing anything wrong, just that...y'know. From where I stand, if things look a little off, I gotta ask questions.

[He's intrigued now, however. First chance he gets to dispose of that carryout tray, it's gone. And he'll pop the tab on the lid of his coffee cup to take a sip. Black coffee isn't really his thing, but...it's better than nothing versus the still nippy air outside.]

You're sticking with claiming innocence, huh?

[devoutish]

And you don't believe me, I'm sure.

[Alfie hasn't had any coffee yet - so far he's just using the cup to warm his hands.]

[unbreaker]

Don't know. Wasn't there.

[He shrugs.]

Does it matter if I believe you or not? I mean, my job's the same either way.

[devoutish]

Yeah, it is.

[There's that beady, unnerving look again, cast over his shoulder.]

So what are you planning to do, then? Not follow me around everywhere I go, surely. Have you got a real job?

[unbreaker]

Of course I've got a real job. Other real commitments, too. You're just a part of the routine now, that's how this works.

[He lifts his gaze from his cup to meet Alfie's beady-eyed stare with a bright-eyed and sharp look of his own.]

You understand that we want the same thing, right?

[And while he won't be around all the time, the times when he is, that's the goal he has to work towards: convincing the judge at Alfie's eventual hearing that he's fit for reintegrating back into society and doesn't need to be babysat anymore.]

[devoutish]

Yeah, I'm not so sure that's the case.

I've got a busy schedule. I've got a job of my own, I've got commitments, there's an important holiday on now - all sorts of things. It'll likely be difficult to fit our routines together.

[unbreaker]

You don't get it. I'm not saying I'm going to be glued to your ass, nobody's got time for that. This? I just figured it'd be nice to actually meet you properly. The rest of the time all I gotta do is check in on you.

[Another sip of his coffee.]

I wouldn't say that's such a bad thing, either. I mean, if you really are innocent, having an extra set of eyes watching your back could mean catching the asshole who threw you under the bus in the first place.

[devoutish]

I've got no interest in having my back watched by the police, you understand? I don't trust your protection, and I don't want it.

[unbreaker]

You sound like someone who's been screwed over before...

[devoutish]

Hasn't everyone, at one point or another?

[They're coming up on the porter now. Since he's traveling with a registered imPort, Alfie will get to skip the lines and security searches for the first time ever.]

[unbreaker]

[Meanwhile, Josuke will be watching him a lot more closely, curious about how he'll react around the Porter after what he read on the network earlier.]

I imagine everyone has, yeah. But not everyone has been screwed over by the police.

[devoutish]

If you'd like my life story, there are other places to start.

[As they approach and travel through, Alfie acts as if he's using any other form of public transportation - like he's getting on a bus, or a train. The trip goes smoothly, but unfortunately for Alfie, he does not get ported out in a porter glitch.]

-- Fucking hell, that was quick.