("I'd like to dedicate this song to my partner, Kim Kitsuragi.") The lieutenant doesn't say anything, but gives you a quick smile, before turning away. (He's incapable of blushing, but if he weren't -- he'd blush.)
"*Sunrise, parabellum*," the lieutenant says. He's in the middle of a freshly cleaned room, with the fan above his head like a halo. His face is covered in bruises.
"*Sunrise, parabellum*," the lieutenant says. He's in the middle of a freshly cleaned room, with the fan above his head like a halo. His face is covered in bruises.
"Harrier Du Bois..." He looks you up and down. "It suits you. I'm going to call you 'Harry,' since it's short for 'Harrier'." (No, he's not. He's going keep calling you "officer" when he's angry with you -- and "detective" when he's not.)
"Harrier Du Bois..." He looks you up and down. "It suits you. I'm going to call you 'Harry,' since it's short for 'Harrier'." (No, he's not. He's going keep calling you "officer" when he's angry with you -- and "detective" when he's not.)
"You didn't stop at all, did you? You're just obsessing about *other people's* sexuality now." ("Yeah, but...") "... but am I? I'll spare you another *20 hour mind-project* -- yes, I am. Now let's get back to work."
"I think this racist is better than the last -- but the next racist will be the really good one." ("That will be our lucky racist!") "He will grant us three wishes."
"Harry... it explains *everything*. The running around. The jumping. The *bicep girth*. Your inexplicable facial hair... The fact that you don't seem to *know* what homo-sexuality is... And how you're able to perform a 360-degree spin-kick too!"
"Something the matter, detective?" ("Nope, all good here." You casually adjust your pants.) The lieutenant nods. You think you detect the faintest trace of a grin on his face, but you can't say for certain.
("Women, am I right?") "No, you ridiculous fool. You're *not* right. You're not even remotely right." "It's as though *right* is over here..." He holds up one hand. "... while *you're* over here..." He holds up his other hand, as far apart from the first as possible.
("Two's all you need. Me and Kim are the same way.") "Kim and *I*..." the lieutenant mutters under his breath. He scribbles something in his notebook but adds nothing else.
("To me, you're my partner.") For a moment the lieutenant seems to be suppressing something uncomfortable. Then he clears his throat... (The lieutenant's not comfortable with emotional openness. He's eager to change the subject.)
"I think this racist is better than the last -- but the next racist will be the really good one." ("That will be our lucky racist!") "He will grant us three wishes."
"I think this racist is better than the last -- but the next racist will be the really good one." ("That will be our lucky racist!") "He will grant us three wishes."
("He's always leaving... Why is he always leaving, Kim?") "Who knows, detective? It's a... mystery," he says, turning his face away from you. (There, he's laughing again!)
A red circle has appeared on the lieutenant's jacket. It's growing fast. Like a pillow, he falls on you. Cold nylon and blood slumped on you, as the lights go out. All the lights. The last thing you hear is the sound of his spectacles landing on the pavement next to you.
("I don't *want* to be Harrier Du Bois.") "Why? It's a cool name. I like it." He shrugs. "Besides, you're Harry anyway. No one's ever called *Harrier*." (He's not going to call you Harrier. He'll keep calling you 'officer' when he's angry with you and 'detective' when he's not.)
"I think this racist is better than the last -- but the next racist will be the really good one." ("That will be our lucky racist!") "He will grant us three wishes."
"Harry... it explains *everything*. The running around. The jumping. The *bicep girth*. Your inexplicable facial hair... The fact that you don't seem to *know* what homo-sexuality is... And how you're able to perform a 360-degree spin-kick too!"
("I'm gonna call you *Kimball* now.") "No. You're *gonna* call me Lieutenant Kitsuragi -- or on rare occasions 'Kim', because it's shorter." He nods. "Let's go."
("Who's the king of pinball, Kim." You hold out your fist.) "Congratulations, your highness," the lieutenant replies. His knuckles touch yours and he smiles. "That was really impressive."
"Well, except that one time when he stopped to sing karaoke. Which, by the way -- I have to disagree with you, Mr. Vicquemare -- was a valiant effort. He really sang his heart out."
"Yes!" The lieutenant takes a step closer to you, rubbing his hands together. "There is a *stranger* reason, isn't there?" (He gives you a slight nudge on your side, apparently enjoying himself.)
("Two's all you need. Me and Kim are the same way.") "Kim and *I*..." the lieutenant mutters under his breath. He scribbles something in his notebook but adds nothing else.
("I'd like to dedicate this song to my partner, Kim Kitsuragi.") The lieutenant doesn't say anything, but gives you a quick smile, before turning away. (He's incapable of blushing, but if he weren't -- he'd blush.)
("I *did* say there was an emergency on the dance floor, did I not? The emergency?! NOT ENOUGH KIM!") "Oh, c'mon, Harry..." (Did that just cheer him up a bit? Could be... It feels like the lieutenant cracked a little smile there.)
("His shirt... why is his shirt always unbuttoned?") "His shirt..." The lieutenant squints his eyes, trying to hold back laughter. ("His shirt.") "His shirt..."
("I don't *want* to be Harrier Du Bois.") "Why? It's a cool name. I like it." He shrugs. "Besides, you're Harry anyway. No one's ever called *Harrier*." (He's not going to call you Harrier. He'll keep calling you 'officer' when he's angry with you and 'detective' when he's not.)
("His shirt... why is his shirt always unbuttoned?") "His shirt..." The lieutenant squints his eyes, trying to hold back laughter. ("His shirt.") "His shirt..."
"I think this racist is better than the last -- but the next racist will be the really good one." ("That will be our lucky racist!") "He will grant us three wishes."
("Kim, I know the alphabet now.") "Good. I also know the alphabet." (It is a very useful skill to have, he thinks. For all sorts of life-activities. Like reading, and...)
The lieutenant has taken a small step back. He looks at your face illuminated by the flames and nods silently. Then the fire falters... (The flames warmed him too. Not at all in a bad way.)
("Two's all you need. Me and Kim are the same way.") "Kim and *I*..." the lieutenant mutters under his breath. He scribbles something in his notebook but adds nothing else.
("His shirt... why is his shirt always unbuttoned?") "His shirt..." The lieutenant squints his eyes, trying to hold back laughter. ("His shirt.") "His shirt..."
"The problem is..." the lieutenant says, glancing at the lapels, sleeves, and studs, "it really *does* look cool to have both of these jackets on right now." (I can't believe I've climbed aboard the piss-train.)
"You didn't stop at all, did you? You're just obsessing about *other people's* sexuality now." ("Yeah, but...") "... but am I? I'll spare you another *20 hour mind-project* -- yes, I am. Now let's get back to work."
He opens one hand and looks at it. A moment passes. "Which school do you subscribe to -- Mambo..." He opens the other hand: "...or Jambo?" ("Wait, which one is the one where you hear your tie talk to you?") "Mental illness."
("To me, you're my partner.") For a moment the lieutenant seems to be suppressing something uncomfortable. Then he clears his throat... (The lieutenant's not comfortable with emotional openness. He's eager to change the subject.)
("Kim, you look cold -- maybe a thicker coat?") "I'm okay. You on the other hand, yefreitor... you look like you're about to turn into a popsicle." ("What if I *want* to be a popsicle?") "Don't be silly, no one wants to be a popsicle."
("I *did* say there was an emergency on the dance floor, did I not? The emergency?! NOT ENOUGH KIM!") "Oh, c'mon, Harry..." (Did that just cheer him up a bit? Could be... It feels like the lieutenant cracked a little smile there.)
The lieutenant leans in. "Hey, you promised you'd only ask about one cryptid." ("But, Kim... Don't *you* want to hear about another cryptid too?") The lieutenant pauses thoughtfully. (Something in him breaks.) "Ah, fuck it. Let's have more cryptids."
"You didn't stop at all, did you? You're just obsessing about *other people's* sexuality now." ("Yeah, but...") "... but am I? I'll spare you another *20 hour mind-project* -- yes, I am. Now let's get back to work."
"Let's go, officer." The lieutenant closes his notes. "These people wouldn't know a good performance if it bit them in the ass." ("You... liked it?") "Lieutenant Du Bois..." he bows lightly. "It was downright *tragic*. Now let's go." (I mean it, he thinks.)
"I think this racist is better than the last -- but the next racist will be the really good one." ("That will be our lucky racist!") "He will grant us three wishes."