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[It’s late, right on the edge of when people should be turning in for the night, when an unexpected message comes in from Togusa.]
Fynn. I really need you to come get me before I do something I’m going to regret.
[He gives an address in Tisse, a block away from Everyone’s Favorite Building.]
Fynn. I really need you to come get me before I do something I’m going to regret.
[He gives an address in Tisse, a block away from Everyone’s Favorite Building.]
[Normal people are about to call a night but not a cop like him. Fynn doesn't seem to get much sleep since moving to his new abode. It might have something to do with him not feeling completely comfortable here or something.
Paranoia is a dozy.]
Wait, Togusa what in the hell--
[He sits upright as soon as he sees the address. Without even looking it up, Fynn knows it's the Retrospect building.]
WHOA! WAIT! Togusa, don't you even think about heading there!
Paranoia is a dozy.]
Wait, Togusa what in the hell--
[He sits upright as soon as he sees the address. Without even looking it up, Fynn knows it's the Retrospect building.]
WHOA! WAIT! Togusa, don't you even think about heading there!
I'm really seriously thinking about it, which is why I'm contacting you instead of moving.
Because I'm having a lot of trouble coming up with a reason not to right now. And that is scaring the hell out of me.
Because I'm having a lot of trouble coming up with a reason not to right now. And that is scaring the hell out of me.
Look, you and I both have our reasons for wanting these bastards' heads but we're cops. This kind of blind vigilantism isn't what we do.
[No rest for the wicked. Fynn is already putting on his clothes in between text.]
Believe me when I say this, I wish there was more that we could do. Truly but we have our hands tied right now.
[No rest for the wicked. Fynn is already putting on his clothes in between text.]
Believe me when I say this, I wish there was more that we could do. Truly but we have our hands tied right now.
I believe in the job. I do. This is my life, we do this the right way.
[Togusa is shaking on his end, hands trembling too badly to be of any use.]
But they took his arm.
James Barnes, the kid you busted because Retrospec sent him an arm in the mail and he tried to get rid of it. It was a warning.
He woke up this morning without his left arm.
[Togusa is shaking on his end, hands trembling too badly to be of any use.]
But they took his arm.
James Barnes, the kid you busted because Retrospec sent him an arm in the mail and he tried to get rid of it. It was a warning.
He woke up this morning without his left arm.
They've what---
[The words are accidentally said rather than typed. He stands there for a moment peering at the screen in shock.]
They took his arm? They took James' fucking arm?!
[Fynn inhales sharply. This reminds him too much what happened last month with that girl.]
...they did the same thing to a girl, you know? They took her eye. She logged into the network screaming for help.
[The words are accidentally said rather than typed. He stands there for a moment peering at the screen in shock.]
They took his arm? They took James' fucking arm?!
[Fynn inhales sharply. This reminds him too much what happened last month with that girl.]
...they did the same thing to a girl, you know? They took her eye. She logged into the network screaming for help.
[Togusa cringes at the memory, the post had popped up in his vision, he couldn’t figure out how to dismiss it until the damage was done.]
I saw. I- fuck, I was too much of a coward to post. Because what do you say? Cant tell her it’s going to be okay, because it isn’t.
And now James. I could keep it together when I was with him, you know? Figure out a plan, get some food in him, all the little instrumental things.
But once I dropped him off, it all hit me and I just started walking and now I’m here.
I’m not capable of this. I’m not. Help?
I saw. I- fuck, I was too much of a coward to post. Because what do you say? Cant tell her it’s going to be okay, because it isn’t.
And now James. I could keep it together when I was with him, you know? Figure out a plan, get some food in him, all the little instrumental things.
But once I dropped him off, it all hit me and I just started walking and now I’m here.
I’m not capable of this. I’m not. Help?
Trust me, I can't blame you for not saying anything but that's when I realized that these "gifts" Retrospec gives us aren't always so great.
[Fynn glances out the grand windows of his condo for a moment, his gaze just admiring the dim glow of Recollé at night. From up here, everything still looks the same. Everything still looks normal but this sense of normalcy is such a lie.]
You're not in this alone. I'll be there in a moment.
[He's already reaching for his keys on the table.]
[Fynn glances out the grand windows of his condo for a moment, his gaze just admiring the dim glow of Recollé at night. From up here, everything still looks the same. Everything still looks normal but this sense of normalcy is such a lie.]
You're not in this alone. I'll be there in a moment.
[He's already reaching for his keys on the table.]
Thank you. I knew you’d get it.
When Fynn pulls up, Togusa is sitting on a bus stop bench. His whole body is held tense, one leg shaking in agitation. He’s been doing much the same as Fynn, looking out on the city, anywhere other than that bright blue sign, still stands out against everything else. Right this second, he doesn’t know what he’s most afraid of. What will Retrospec do to them next? What will he be capable of the more Retrospec pushes him?
Is this guy that Retrospec is trying to turn him into capable of vigilantism? He’s better trained. More dangerous than Togusa, at least.
It is a relief unlike anything he’s ever felt when Fynn’s car appears. He closes his eyes, his shoulders shake, and he offers up a silent thanks to whoever might be listening. His eyes are rimmed with red, and he cant stop trembling, the aftereffects of an adrenaline dump.
When Fynn pulls up, Togusa is sitting on a bus stop bench. His whole body is held tense, one leg shaking in agitation. He’s been doing much the same as Fynn, looking out on the city, anywhere other than that bright blue sign, still stands out against everything else. Right this second, he doesn’t know what he’s most afraid of. What will Retrospec do to them next? What will he be capable of the more Retrospec pushes him?
Is this guy that Retrospec is trying to turn him into capable of vigilantism? He’s better trained. More dangerous than Togusa, at least.
It is a relief unlike anything he’s ever felt when Fynn’s car appears. He closes his eyes, his shoulders shake, and he offers up a silent thanks to whoever might be listening. His eyes are rimmed with red, and he cant stop trembling, the aftereffects of an adrenaline dump.
Unlike most people, Fynn does understand where his colleague is coming from. He understands better than most. Truth be told, Fynn is a little surprised that not more people are taking up arms against Retrospec. Is the general public really this sickeningly passive? Seems so. This whole debacle reminds him of something dark, a distant memory he simply can't touch upon. Fynn been weighing in on his memories about Cocoon as of late, his dreams haunted by a past he utterly forgotten until recently. It should go without saying that Fynn feels like he's losing his mind during all this but he doesn't dare voice it. There's just too many people who depend on him, one too many.
So when he drives up to the lonely bus stop, Fynn masks all the worries and doubts yet again. He replaces it all with genuine concern and a smile. Oh, and coffee. He stopped by one of those 24 hour delis along the way to fetch them some coffee. It's a little cool out here tonight and Fynn thought his colleague would appreciate something warm. Recollé PD might not like donuts but all of them certainly like caffeine well enough.
"You look like hell." Fynn says as he closes the car door behind him. That beautifully silver Nissan GTR definitely looks like and oddity here by the bus stop but it fits in with the gray backdrop of this sleepy city. "I'm guessing the look is appropriate all things considered." Fynn jokes as he approaches with coffee at hand.
"Here you go." He says with a faint smile. "Something to chase away the cold."
So when he drives up to the lonely bus stop, Fynn masks all the worries and doubts yet again. He replaces it all with genuine concern and a smile. Oh, and coffee. He stopped by one of those 24 hour delis along the way to fetch them some coffee. It's a little cool out here tonight and Fynn thought his colleague would appreciate something warm. Recollé PD might not like donuts but all of them certainly like caffeine well enough.
"You look like hell." Fynn says as he closes the car door behind him. That beautifully silver Nissan GTR definitely looks like and oddity here by the bus stop but it fits in with the gray backdrop of this sleepy city. "I'm guessing the look is appropriate all things considered." Fynn jokes as he approaches with coffee at hand.
"Here you go." He says with a faint smile. "Something to chase away the cold."
Fynn's thoughtfulness actually gets a real smile on Togusa's face. He reaches out with both hands to grab the coffee, wraps fingers around it to warm up a little. "Thank you." There aren't really words for how grateful he is, for the fact that Fynn is here at all, let alone the coffee.
Togusa shuts his eyes and he takes a very long breath out that seems to deflate his whole form, shoulders slump, and he tries to get a handle on himself. "I don't know what the fuck I'm doing."
"I just-" He looks up again, looks over Fynn. "Well, I don't have to spell it out for you. You're right there with me. Which is why I called you, instead of anybody else." He knew Fynn would come. And he knew Fynn would have the ability to stop him cold if for some reason Togusa didn't calm the hell down, but that's a different story.
"How am I supposed to protect them?" The question that keeps rattling around in his mind. This might be what has driven Togusa here tonight.
Togusa shuts his eyes and he takes a very long breath out that seems to deflate his whole form, shoulders slump, and he tries to get a handle on himself. "I don't know what the fuck I'm doing."
"I just-" He looks up again, looks over Fynn. "Well, I don't have to spell it out for you. You're right there with me. Which is why I called you, instead of anybody else." He knew Fynn would come. And he knew Fynn would have the ability to stop him cold if for some reason Togusa didn't calm the hell down, but that's a different story.
"How am I supposed to protect them?" The question that keeps rattling around in his mind. This might be what has driven Togusa here tonight.
Fynn simply shrugs his shoulders. "Think nothing of it." He replies with a grin before settling on the bench next to him. It's not exactly cold out but sitting out here for too long would give anyone the chills. That's why Fynn has that signature blue jacket on that Jirou gave him. It's just a damn shame it still appears gray.
For awhile Fynn doesn't say anything. He's listening to the quite ambience of the city, his mind currently free from any thought until Togusa speaks. "Yea, I hear you loud and clear already." Fynn whispers as he rests his chin within his hand. "How can you protect them all when you're a victim yourself, right?" He peeks over at Togusa for a minute before sipping at his coffee.
"That's a tough one to answer, honest. I've been stewing about that too." Fynn hasn't been able to find the answer yet either.
For awhile Fynn doesn't say anything. He's listening to the quite ambience of the city, his mind currently free from any thought until Togusa speaks. "Yea, I hear you loud and clear already." Fynn whispers as he rests his chin within his hand. "How can you protect them all when you're a victim yourself, right?" He peeks over at Togusa for a minute before sipping at his coffee.
"That's a tough one to answer, honest. I've been stewing about that too." Fynn hasn't been able to find the answer yet either.
Togusa nods along. There's a slight frown, "I wouldn't- think of myself as a victim." Pause. "Says the man with microscopic machines in his brain." Togusa lets go of the coffee to run a hand over his face. Even he realizes that he's being ridiculous.
"We can sit here and debate over the same questions, the whys, the hows, even though I know it doesn't actually matter. And I know it doesn't justify doing anything back to Retrospec outside of the bounds of the law. But god damn it." Quiet frustration finally puts some tone into his voice.
He falls silent again, looking out at the same patterns of movement in the city he's been using to distract himself. They can't get away from it. No matter where they are or what they're doing, there's always a reminder that Retrospec is in their lives. From the color of the sky, to now, the little constant notification floating in the corner of Togusa's vision. He's disconnected right now, nothing active is coming in, but there's still an icon.
"We can sit here and debate over the same questions, the whys, the hows, even though I know it doesn't actually matter. And I know it doesn't justify doing anything back to Retrospec outside of the bounds of the law. But god damn it." Quiet frustration finally puts some tone into his voice.
He falls silent again, looking out at the same patterns of movement in the city he's been using to distract himself. They can't get away from it. No matter where they are or what they're doing, there's always a reminder that Retrospec is in their lives. From the color of the sky, to now, the little constant notification floating in the corner of Togusa's vision. He's disconnected right now, nothing active is coming in, but there's still an icon.
A sardonic chuckle escapes him. There's no humor to be had in any of this but sometimes Fynn can't help but laugh. If he doesn't, he might try to put a bullet right between Jim Halloway's eyes. "It's sickening." He admits with a slight hiss. "Legit sickening. I don't like how they hold all the cards against us either but what can we do? We've been dealt a bad hand but we still need to persevere." Fynn glances over at Togusa for a moment and sighs.
"How are you holding up though since...the upgrade?" Fynn still doesn't know what to think about this cyberbrain business but he knows it's a touchy subject for Togusa.
"How are you holding up though since...the upgrade?" Fynn still doesn't know what to think about this cyberbrain business but he knows it's a touchy subject for Togusa.
Edited 2017-10-14 18:53 (UTC)
Persevere. Togusa nods at that word in particular. He knows. He thought he was better at it than this. It’s just a slip, one nobody but Fynn needs to know about, because he didn’t do anything stupid.
“Still- learning to control it,” Togusa admits. “A few more accidental messages or pictures. People are getting used to it.” He waves a hand in front of his face, indicating something in his vision. “If I’m online, anything people post shows up right here. Figuring out how to get rid of it.” It’s been irritating and amusing in turn.
“I’m trying not to worry that it’s not going to stop here.”
“Still- learning to control it,” Togusa admits. “A few more accidental messages or pictures. People are getting used to it.” He waves a hand in front of his face, indicating something in his vision. “If I’m online, anything people post shows up right here. Figuring out how to get rid of it.” It’s been irritating and amusing in turn.
“I’m trying not to worry that it’s not going to stop here.”
Yeah, I'm still not certain how you're a fricking sword. That's pretty bizarre even for you.
I guess...being a puppy wouldn't be too bad. I would be deceptively nonthreatening. Most folks wouldn't know what hit them until it's too late.
Perfect disguise.
I guess...being a puppy wouldn't be too bad. I would be deceptively nonthreatening. Most folks wouldn't know what hit them until it's too late.
Perfect disguise.
isnt it? oh have I shown you the picture of Kentas sword? its EVEN BIGGER than me! (you know the me sword)
lol see? being a puppy is great! and then you get pets and people want to give you treats!
oh oh speaking of treats! ur coming to my party right?
lol see? being a puppy is great! and then you get pets and people want to give you treats!
oh oh speaking of treats! ur coming to my party right?
I don't quite remember you showing me his...sword. Just how can a sword be any bigger than yours? Wouldn't that be impossible to wield?
Yeah, yeah! I wish people gave me more treats. It's usually the other way around.
Ah? You're having a party?
Yeah, yeah! I wish people gave me more treats. It's usually the other way around.
Ah? You're having a party?
Edited 2017-10-15 05:23 (UTC)
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