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

[unbreaker]

I wasn't expecting you to pay, it just sounded like...

[Like maybe Alfie was trying to offer, which is why Josuke had asked. Because after all the bickering to start, it'd seemed a little odd.]

Ah...never mind. I could go for something to eat. What about you, I drag you out before you had time to eat anything?

[devoutish]

I was out already this morning, before you showed up. I ate before that.

[He heads up a side street, towards a Starbucks - expecting Josuke to follow.]

[unbreaker]

[Oh, Josuke follows. Closely, and with curiosity painted plain as day on his face.]

Already out? So like...do you not sleep much or something?

[Because he'd showed up pretty early. Or at least...thought he had. Maybe keeping tabs on Alfie was going to be a lot more challenging than he already thought.]

[devoutish]

Sure I do, yeah.

[But he doesn't elaborate any more than that.]

[unbreaker]

[He might not elaborate, but Josuke keeps digging.]

Just odd hours?

[devoutish]

Well, you see, I was robbing a shop down the road from my flat.

[Alfie, stop being a little shit.]

[unbreaker]

You're fucking with me, aren't you.

[It's not even a question. Josuke gives the guy more credit than that. He wouldn't be stupid enough to boast about a crime on probation. Unless...he really didn't like Josuke that much and genuinely wanted to be a shit.]

I'm just trying to make conversation. What do you wanna talk about?

[devoutish]

[Totally fucking with him.]

I was at temple, mate. Fucking hell.

[He quickens his pace, which is a little hard for a guy who walks with a cane.]

Who says I wanna talk about anything at all?

[unbreaker]

[Maybe not too hard for Josuke to keep up with, though. The kid's tall, and always has been. Good genes.]

We don't have to talk, I just figured it beats the hell out saying nothing at all.

[He shrugs, finishes off his coffee, and as they draw up to the Starbucks, deposits the empty cup into the trash outside. The coffee shop door he then holds for Alfie. He might be a delinquent, but he's got respect for his elders. Sometimes. Or maybe he just doesn't wanna give the man the chance to disappear behind him around some corner.]

[devoutish]

[It's a valid worry, because Alfie is absolutely considering ditching Josuke at the earliest opportunity.]

Yeah. So don't come by too early tomorrow. You might miss me.

[Alfie plans to make his schedule as erratic as possible.]

[unbreaker]

What makes you think I'll be by tomorrow at all? It's like you said, I got a life of my own to lead, I can't just drop it because you stepped into a seriously big pile of shit, you know?

I'll probably just call.

[And save the check-ins for around curfew, because making sure Alfie is home by 10PM every night is something he's unable to bend on unless there's some kind of an emergency.

Sure is gonna be a fun couple of months for them both...]

[devoutish]

[Alfie plans to be home by 10PM exactly zero percent of the time. This should definitely be fun.]

Yeah, well. If I can't answer, if I'm too busy to, I hope you won't be offended.

[unbreaker]

No reason to take offense. Haven't known you long, but by now I'm starting to expect that kinda thing. It's nothing personal, just you being you: a dick.

[The Alfie Solomons way or whatever.

Which isn't to say Josuke won't be frustrated or even angry, because he'll definitely wind up being both of those things.

Porter privileges are gonna get hella scarce...]

[devoutish]

Well. You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours. Eh?

[He moves to the back of the line to order.]

[unbreaker]

[Josuke moves with him. He stares at the menu board but doesn't really seem to be reading it so much as using it as a place to direct a frown that isn't at the baristas who are working, the customers in front of them, or the annoyance at his side.]

You know I can't agree to that.

[devoutish]

Why not?

[He makes it sound like a genuinely perplexed question.]

[unbreaker]

Why do you think?

[He's got reports he has to make. People he has to answer to. Whether or not he believes Alfie was framed doesn't matter, because as long as he doesn't have proof, and as long as he can't speak for the man's integrity come time for the trial, Josuke can't really help him.]

[devoutish]

I think we're both fucking adults. Aren't we?

[unbreaker]

I know I am, but I can't really speak for you given the whole...y'know.

[He flaps a hand, a casual reference to the whole being arrested business.]

[devoutish]

Mm? The what?

[He raises an eyebrow at Josuke, shuffling forward in the line.]

[unbreaker]

The whole part where you got your ass stuck with a babysitter, that's what.

[Except a real babysitter would be getting paid for this shit.]

[devoutish]

Yeah, but I think you'll find that that's not really necessary.

[unbreaker]

Oh yeah, and why's that?

[devoutish]

I would tell you, but I honestly do not believe you care about my answer. So--

[He moves forward again.]

Here's the plan, right. You come meet me once per day, after my work. We take a little trip through the porter, you get your check-in done, and then we both go about our lives. Surely you've got heroics to do that keep you very busy.

[unbreaker]

[He nearly laughs at how well Alfie's got him pegged already, but instead shakes his head at the man's plan.]

Sounded fine up until that end part, but I get the feeling you got no idea what my responsibilities are. They not tell you anything? Or do you just think you can make your own rules and everyone will roll with them?