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[aceslow]

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[aceslow]

Corpses are traumatizing for anyone to have to deal with. Age really has very little to do with it. Experience... does help. Depending.

[ Kim sighs, leaning back in his chair. He has never divulged what he does to Aragaki -- not that it's a secret in the least. It just hasn't come up. And frankly, it distresses him to be confronted with someone underneath the impression that having an emotional reaction to a corpse, a corpse of a person he had known, is a sign of weakness. Kim folds his hands in his lap, neat and proper. ] I've worked with my fair share of dead bodies. In the morgue. Even working with them day in and day out, you'll still see some that... linger. It is not a sign of weakness or immaturity to have difficulties with it. It is a sign of humanity. I worried more about my colleagues who were wholly unaffected than those that were.

...your previous experiences. What were they?

[petsthedog]

[Someone with Kim's profiling background can likely catch the sudden tension in his hands around the cup, the kind of deliberate calmness to the set of his jaw and shoulders that suggests it is not quite that he doesn't want to talk about it so much as that he doesn't want the other man to realize there is anything specific to talk about in the first place.

He rolls a shoulder, false casual.]

I mean...you know how it is, yeah? Especially in the sketchy parts of town. Criminals, junkies, homeless people who couldn't take the cold overnight. You see that kinda shit all the time. No good gettin' broken up 'bout each one, it'd be impossible to function.

[horrifictie]

but the train might know it isn't an actual person!
(don't ask me how it would know that)
how about we just walk down the tunnel together?

[aceslow]

Even in a place like Revachol, it's not that common to simply see corpses lying around, [ Kim says carefully, his narrowed eyes betraying the fact that he sees right through the kid. So he's involved in something dangerous. No surprise there. Gang activity? Probably, Kim thinks. This is why he hated working in juvie so much. He has nothing in common with kids. He couldn't even talk to them when they were kids. But it makes it that much harder to try to sus them out, to figure out what the hell to do with them when they've already been so deeply entrenched in a life of addiction and violence, cops like Kim left to rob them of what structure they have before leaving them out to dry. If they were from the same place, it's more than likely that Kim could have ruined Shinji's life under the guise of saving it. He's certainly done it before.

He prefers working with corpses, at the end of the day. Then he doesn't have to worry about them anymore. He waves a dismissive hand. ] Like I said. If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to. But even running into a corpse is far different than having to bury it. [ He clicks his tongue, shakes his head.

Moving on. ]

Anyway. It's done with now. Now all that's left is to move on. At least while we wait to see what happens next. You should stay with someone tonight, just in case.

[aceslow]

If we walk down the sides, then fine. I don't have getting run over by a high-speed train written on my agenda. It's at least worth a shot.

Do you even have a flashlight with you?

[ Ah, though if he were to die, wouldn't he choose death by high-powered vehicle? Well, Harry doesn't have to know that. ]/small>

[horrifictie]

not ONLY do i have a flashlight
it's yours!
i also have your prybar and chaincutters.
but fine we will walk down the sides, the boring way, but only because i miss wandering down pitch dark corridors with you.

[petsthedog]

[It's strange, how Kitsuragi can manage to see through him and still only leave the door ajar for him to step through or ignore as he pleases. He's so used to Aki chasing him aggressively, trying to drag him through that door, and the more Kitsuragi doesn't do it, the more he finds himself easing his guard around the older man.

...Even so. Stay with "someone" implies not him, and the way Shinjiro hears it, the fact that the man is bringing the matter up suggests that he is coming close to overstaying his welcome. Given that, the last thing he's willing to do is admit he doesn't have anyone else he could ask to stay with; Kitsuragi letting him stay the night out of anything like pity would be much too mortifying.]

Nah, I'm good. Just needed a minute.

[He quickly finishes his tea and abruptly stands, making for the kitchen to rinse out his mug.]

Thanks for the tea.

[aceslow]

[ It's not a huge surprise, that that's enough to scare Aragaki off. He hadn't even wanted to be here in the first place. It was just the only safe place he could think of, Kim realizes with a pang of -- something. Guilt, perhaps, for not being sufficient at the task of comforting a young man who had just witnessed a brutal murder. Remorse that of all the kind people here, Aragaki had decided to latch onto him. And a little confusion, too; they hadn't done all that much together.

Aragaki has nowhere else to go. That much is clear. Kim is not a man that enjoys putting himself out for other people. It does not come naturally to him. He is intensely internal, intensely private; his space is his own, whether it be physical or emotional, and he guards it ferociously. To allow another person to stay here for anything other than a crisis goes against his nature. But so does sending Aragaki back out into the cold unfeeling night, not even the sussuration of crickets or quiet chirps from the street cats present to accompany him back home.

He will offer once, and only once. He does not chase people down. But he will hold the door open, just a crack. ]

You're welcome. [ He pauses. ] I don't say this only out of concern for your mental well-being. You were, technically speaking, an accessory to a premeditated crime. We have already seen people be punished for less. The fellow who had woken up handcuffed, for example. It may be wise to have someone with you in case something similar happens, if not only to see if someone comes in.

[ He gets up and paces over to the kitchenette, putting his own mug in the sink. He shrugs. ]

You can stay for the night. But it's up to you.

[aceslow]

How romantic.

[ Harry, he's joking. Harry, he is beaming the thought to you with his mind: he's joking. ]

Sounds like a plan. You can give me those back, while you're at it. With everything here being free, I'm sure you'll refill your pockets soon enough. I'll meet you there.

[ ... ]

And I'm bringing sandwiches. What do you want?

[petsthedog]

[An accessory to a crime. There's something about that which feels so desperately ironic he almost wants to laugh. Waking up handcuffed would be more punishment than he's ever received for his role in things, and some part of him almost hopes for it. The offer, on the other hand, catches him off guard. Not because he's surprised Kitsuragi would be willing to offer, exactly; he knew if he admitted he has nowhere to go, it'd come. But he hadn't expected the older man to catch on quite so easily. Maybe he should've lied.

Now that the offer's on the table, though, he's -- conflicted. There's a young, wounded part of him that wants to accept the safety and comfort of not being alone with only the violence behind his eyelids, of having someone there that cares but doesn't pry. It's drowned out by the much larger part of him that says he doesn't deserve it. And besides, it's clear enough that Kitsuragi would have rather he gone elsewhere, and it's only being offered to him out of a sense of obligation. Shinjiro isn't offended by that; Kitsuragi is a good man. Plenty of others would never have invited him inside in the first place.

He sets the mug in its proper place in the dish rack to buy himself another moment to think. Eventually, he turns back to the older man, and asks:]

...Is that something you'd wanna know? If someone might come in?

[He's genuinely not looking for an excuse to stay, yet the point the older man had raised was an interesting one. He doesn't care what might happen to him, but possibly learning something about the way this town works might be worth the inconvenience of putting him up. He can be gone first thing in the morning, if it doesn't happen.]

[aceslow]

[ It's a justification for them both. Kim would never invite someone to stay with him simply because he's worried about their mental state. That sort of thing erodes at boundaries he has carefully constructed, for his own safety and for the safety of those around him -- not that he has any dangerous enemies, or anything as outlandish as what you'd find in one of those pulpy noir novels, but because Kim himself is not equipped for caring for another person long-term. He's too cold, tires of others' company too easily, fails to share anything about himself; it's nothing he hasn't heard from his ex-partners, sparse as they may be. So, no. He is not eager to set a precedent.

Likewise, he can see that Aragaki is reluctant to stay for his own personal welfare. He's a cagey kid, probably having been let down and abused in the past if Kim could guess at it, and isn't particularly eager to have his life meddled with by a well-meaning adult. Practically a stranger. Even if it is clearly the best plan for him, even if nobody should be alone after witnessing such a frightful sight.

Then it benefits them both. And Kim isn't necessarily lying, either. There is the distinct possibility that someone will come to punish Shinji for his assumed crimes, and that he should have someone here to watch his back if they can catch the person in the act or, if not, to have someone around to help him navigate around if he gets cuffed.

Kim nods. ]

Of course I would. The more we know about this place and its laws, the better. And I don't relish the idea of you waking in handcuffs alone. It's not an appropriate way to conduct law enforcement. [ Kim sets his mug down in the sink and turns, leaning against his small fridge. ] If that sounds reasonable to you as well, you can stay. Just don't expect too much hospitality. I'm not used to having guests.

[petsthedog]

[He can't quite resist a faint scoff at the mention of an appropriate way to conduct law enforcement; his experience hasn't given him a particularly great amount of faith in the profession. He never did learn exactly how the Kirijou Group covered up what happened to Amada's mother, whether they actually came up with another corpse to pin as the "drunk driver", or if they simply bribed the cops not to go digging into the story that was provided, but none of the possibilities are encouraging. The state of things with less supernatural affairs hasn't been much better, either.

All of that is hardly relevant in a place where the starting condition has been a mass kidnapping, though, and Shinjiro lets the moment pass without further reaction. It's not like the point is an important one under the circumstances, anyway. He rolls a shoulder, a bit more casual of a gesture than he really feels.]

...S'fine. Ain't like I'm used to bein' one.

[This might actually be the first time, now that he thinks about it? Awkward.]

I can crash on your couch, if you got one. No need to worry about blankets or anything. And I'll be out by morning.

[He almost wants to offer to make breakfast, in something like recompense for being allowed to stay, but it's too personal of a thing. Sharing a meal together would be more like something friends would do, and that's not what they are.]

[aceslow]

All right. The couch it is. Make yourself comfortable -- it isn't as though I have any personal possessions here. User the shower if you like.

[ He's cagier about his real home. Every item on every shelf says something different about him, something deeply personal, interests he has hidden away, secret loves he harbours, evidence of a life colourfully lived. Though the apartment he's living in now is objectively much nicer, it is devoid of anything that hints that someone with a personality lives here. Even if he had access to such things, he wouldn't use them. It would feel far too much like putting down roots.

And so Aragaki is the unwilling spectator of the rest of Kim's evening; he rustles himself together some shabby dinner (and offers Aragaki a plate, though doesn't argue if he doesn't want it), done without any real ineptitude but also without any skill, has a smoke, and mulls over some crosswords at the kitchen table before bed. Most people would consider this routine to be rather sad, the sort of thing relegated to a dreary montage in a film attempting to drive home just how lonely a bachelor is before he finds the girl of his dreams, but the entire effect of it all is rather cozy. This is a man who has settled enough in his life to know what he likes and what he doesn't, and what he likes is a good crossword every now and then.

Once he washes up and heads to bed, he stops in the doorway. ]

Let me know if you need anything. If you hear anything, feel anything. I don't expect anything terribly harsh, but I don't know what to expect at all. Hopefully you can get some sleep despite it all.

[horrifictie]

no, it's incredibly dangerous and reckless.
sheesh kim.

[ whether or not harry received the beam kim was sending him via vibe, elysium will never know. ]

i want ham. and salami. also some cheese?
i feel like that's a good sandwich combination.
should i bring anything?
oh i can bring my boom box!

text; like 3 am the night ken arrives

[petsthedog]

[That night, Shinjiro can't sleep. He gives it a good, genuine try, at least, but after staring at his ceiling in vain for an hour, he gets on his shoes and decides to go for a walk. Clear his head at least a little, maybe tire himself enough that he can properly pass out instead of fixating on Amada being here and apparently no longer bearing a grudge and staying at his place for lack of anywhere else to go.

It's hard not to think about it, though; the issue lingers right at the forefront of his mind and he keeps tripping over it, like a sore in your mouth which you keep accidentally brushing your tongue against. This wasn't the way it was supposed to be, the traitorous whispers insist. Amada was supposed to get closure and move on when he bled out in that alley. Having the opportunity to mend fences, to start over? It's dizzying, terrifying.

(He doesn't deserve it)

Eventually, he gives up and heads back, and when he returns to his bed and still can't sleep, he fetches his phone so he can pass the time idly scrolling the network. Only -- he hits the wrong button, and a list of contacts comes up instead, with k.kitsuragi pointedly at the top of recents.

...]

yo
you awake?

[If he isn't, Shinjiro can simply later deny having had anything he wanted to talk about, he figures.]

[aceslow]

If you believe it to be so dangerous and reckless, the boom box is the last thing you should bring. I doubt we'll run into anyone nefarious down there, but I'd rather not give them advance notice of our arrival. Bringing something hefty would be a good idea, though. Something you can swing. We don't have our firearms here.

I'll be there in about half an hour.

[horrifictie]

but it'll be *cool*.
come ooooooooon.
please?

[aceslow]

[ Kim is not, in fact, awake. When he's not plagued with insomnia - an unfortunately common event, as it is for most people of his occupation - he prefers to be in bed early enough so that he can at least pretend he gets a reasonable amount of sleep. It's an occupational hazard to be a light sleeper too, though, so when his phone buzzes in the middle of the night, he stirs, reaching blindly for his glasses on his bedside table and blinking hard until the notification on his phone comes into focus.

Aragaki. Kid's got a dramatic life. He gives himself a couple minutes before answering, sitting up in bed and stretching the kink out of his back before padding into his kitchen and opening the window for a breath of bracingly cold air to wake up for whatever's going on. It doesn't occur to him to ignore the message.

He prods at the screen's keyboard with his index finger alone. ] I am. What is it?

[aceslow]

Maybe on the way back.

[petsthedog]

[If Shinjiro knew, he'd be embarrassed and feel guilty, frankly, but from the message, he simply assumes that the older man is simply having an insomnia night himself. There's still a beat of hesitation before he actually dives in, though, because he's not sure he's ready to talk about this, or where to even start.]

can i ask you a personal question

[Completely normal things to text someone at 3 in the morning. There is no intense "asking for a friend" energy here, what are you talking about.]

[aceslow]

[ In almost every single other situation, Kim knows precisely how he would answer. No, curt and without explanation. It's precisely how he'd treat his colleagues and is, in fact, how he has treated previous partners, though he is not proud of the fact. No. Go to sleep.

But none of them were teenagers in incredibly precarious positions battling with a death wish who had, for some reason beyond his comprehension, decided he was an acceptable adult in their lives. He breathes out a long sigh and despite his better judgment, types back: ] Sure, why not?

[petsthedog]

[He types and erases and re-types his question several times. have you ever killed someone is his first pass, but it’s too direct, too uncomfortable if Kitsuragi says no. The second attempt is what’s the worst you’ve ever fucked up but that’s too indirect, meanwhile—Kitsuragi’s answer might not be relevant to his situation at all.

Several minutes of the interminable bouncing of the typing dots later:]

have you ever hurt someone
i don’t mean punched them or some shit
messed up their life
real bad

[horrifictie]

yes!!
the boys are back!
we're going to fuck out with our cock out!!!



(that *is* the saying, right?)

[aceslow]

[ Ah.

Either Aragaki did something terrible, or a new arrival has brought some of his dark past home to roost. He's teased details out of the boy bit by bit, and none of it has painted a terribly flattering picture. Kim considers the question -- a simple 'no' would have him retreat, which may be for the best. ]

I have, yes.

[ He's ended lives, after all. ]

One of the perils of being alive. We can't always avoid it. Why?

[petsthedog]

[He doesn't answer the question just yet; he's sure it's more or less obvious at this point that it isn't simple curiosity that's drove him to ask at this hour, after all. Might as well finish what he started first.]

you see em again after that?

[He'd like to ask, did they hate you, but the last thing he wants is for Kitsuragi to assume he's concerned about being hated, when that's the opposite of his problem here.]