patientsun

[patientsun]

Buddy cop films. It occurs to him now that it wouldn't have hurt to study a few movies like that. People seem to really like them, although Connor can't pinpoint the reason. It doesn't help that he's never seen one. All he knows is the formula: partners who bicker and fight, but also trust each other more than anyone else. It doesn't make sense to him; perhaps it's the absurdity of the whole concept that makes it entertaining.

Then, should he attempt a mean-spirited joke? A sarcastic comment? Something tells him the mercenary isn't going to appreciate it. That's when he decides he's going to match her energy - it's the safest bet.

" Yes, that's the plan. Nice to meet you, V. " He sees the handshake coming, the twitch in her hand giving it away, but just as he moves to meet it, she changes her mind at the last second. That's fine. He straightens himself, as if nothing happened.

" Since it's a sensitive situation we're dealing with, I assume you were given as little information as possible. Risk management, as the corpos say, right? "

"Partner? You make this sound like it's a buddy cop film." Or like they're gonna be friends. No, she's here for quid pro quo — a favor for a favor. "But I suppose I am. The details I was given are a bit fuzzy but guessing I'm here as the muscle...you know, the person that's gonna make sure you don't end up in a body bag." At least that's the assumption. Why else would NCPD want a mangy merc like her anywhere near their biz?

If anything she should consider herself lucky. He seems personable enough — pleasant so far. So for the time being, she could hold off being too much of a dick. Subtly she gives him a once over. Pristine. Average. Maybe even cute with his boyish grin. He looks like the type of person that has his life put together despite how young he looks. They're a contrasting pair that's for sure.

"Name's Connor, right? You can call me V." There's an awkward moment where she isn't sure what to pair her verbal introduction with. He hand twitches like she's gonna offer him her hand to shake. Instead a sheepish wave is offered before she shoves her hands into her pockets, gaze darting off to the side. "Ready to get this show on the road?"

[patientsun]

" Fancy teas? No, not really. " Now that he thinks about it, he never had anything fancy growing up. He knew what regular tea tasted like, and it didn't impress him much back when he was an angsty teenager. Still, Ichiban doesn't think of it as a loss, just because it's hard to miss something you never had. All that changed when he met Arakawa.

" Back when I was with the family, I insisted on doing a tea ceremony. " The thought makes him smile involuntarily; Arakawa probably thought he knew what he was doing, and that's why he accepted. " I almost poured the entire thing on the boss's lap. " How he's still alive after said episode is a mystery to him to this day.

He decided to stick to vending machines after that. Well, to be more exact, the Captain took that decision for him. " How about you, Nanba? As a fancy student yourself, you probably went to many cool places with your classmates. "

from their table, he could make out at least a few other cafe-goers, much younger than the two of them, who had the remnants of delicate designs floating along the surface of their drinks. it was probably the standard fare at a place like this to have drinks topped with intricate designs, but who was he to shatter the fantasy of believing their treatment was one of a kind ? ❝ y'know-- i guess you're right. some of these kids are pretty alright. ❞ as much as nanba hated to admit it, they were starting to get up there in years. referring to themselves as elders who were owed respect felt strange on his lips, but time afforded no man youth forever. ❝ were you big into fancy teas when you were younger ? ❞

[patientsun]

♰ Death Note ♰ - Rebirth “Once you actually start looking around, it makes you wonder if you’d be doing society a favor by getting rid of all these people.”

[patientsun]

&. @neuroslayyer - ❛ i mean, you fucked up. huge. but you learned, right? ❜ / & Ichi!

" Yeah... yeah! You know what? You're right! " Having somebody else say it really puts things into perspective. He doesn't mind talking about past failures - except for the proposal; that's something that makes Ichiban want to crawl into a hole and die each time it's brought up. Thankfully, his friends understand.

" I'm kind of embarrassed now. " He scratches the back of his neck as he talks, feeling a warm flush rise to his cheeks. Whether it's from the alcohol he's been drinking or the subject of the conversation is up to anyone's guess. " I'm supposed to be the wise one 'cause I'm older, but you're the one who ends up giving me good advice, Mina-chan. "

Did he learn anything, though? Ichiban likes to tell himself that if he gets another shot at the proposal, he knows he'll get it right this time - but does anyone believe that?

" What if you fuck up things twice, though? " And he's back at square one.

[patientsun]

&. @neuroslayyer - ❛ rough night, detective? ❜ / for Connor!

Connor knows somebody's there before the first word leaves their mouth. It's almost impossible not to notice. Even so, he refrains from replying right away. That's not how regular humans work, he reminds himself. Instead, he takes advantage of the pause, and analyzes the newcomer. She's shorter than him, with an eye-catching style; plenty of body modifications as well, but that's never surprising.

" Same as any other night. " He speaks only after after deciding enough time has passed. And then, as if to make himself look more approachable, he adds a smile. Every move is calculated, but that doesn't make it any less imperfect. It's difficult to predict reactions, especially when he's dealing with strangers.

" How about you? " It's his turn to return the inquire, and he does it in the most natural way he can muster. " Are you my partner for the night? " He's tempted to throw in a wink, but he doesn't have the assurance that it's going to be well-received.

[patientsun]

" Oh! You like ramen? That's perfect ! " For some reason, Ichiban struggles to picture Yamai actually enjoying something, which only makes it more important to help him. He's hungry, too, so the timing couldn't be better. Alright, that's a plan! Time to get up and prepare. " Just give me a second to change. "

He's halfway out of his tank top, wrestling with the fabric while still trying to walk. His suit is waiting for him on a hanger in the other room, and Ichiban's more than ready to put it on. Should he wear something more casual, though? Yamai probably wants to avoid any unwanted attention. Which reminds him-

" Wait... " He returns to the room he left the other man in, wearing a dark suit. " I guess I don't have time to do my signature hairdo. " The disappointment in his voice is hard to miss. Still, Yamai isn't going to wait for him forever. " It looks fine like this, right? "

together. he hates the word. he's lived his adult life in spite of the word. the only promise of ' together ' that had ever mattered had gotten set him on the path of ruin. the idea of thinking through his next steps with kasuga didn't sit right, but what else could he really do ? ❝ the kamurocho i left behind doesn't exist anymore. ❞ everything felt unfamiliar, new. stores, restaurants, social influences-- they had shifted over the years. the idea of coming ' home ' always lingered in the back of his mind, but this-- this wasn't home anymore. ❝ but... ❞ however, his mouth spoke despite the complicated feelings bubbling to the surface. ❝ if there's a late night ramen place nearby... i haven't had local cooking in a while... ❞ start small, start simple. with no set future in sight, it wouldn't hurt to lean into that uncertainty. perhaps allowing himself a bit of grace couldn't hurt.

[patientsun]

" Majima-san, you were late to the meeting again. Tell me, is the clan's well-being less important than your mysterious side quests these days? " from Mine the corpo rat

❛ DON'T they say if ya love what you do, you won't work a day in yer life? well, i say ya gotta play as hard as you work, mine-kun! you could stand to take a leaf outta my book, y' know- get that stick outta your ass and let yer hair down sometime! what about your own well-bein', huh? you sure you're gettin' yer rocks off enough? yer straight as a ruler, man... ain't good for yer health. take it from me: you gotta cut loose now and then! you and me, we're like coworkers- family. one big, fucked up, happy family! ❜ how's that sayin' go- you can pick and choose yer pals, but not your family? unfortunately for mine, he's stuck with him! ❛ y' know, now i think about it... i don't know the first thing about ya! well, we gotta change that, don't we? we gotta paint the town red one a' these days, you and me. get some good drink and grub in our bellies and a pretty little thing or two on our arms! ❜ slingin' an arm 'round mine-kun here's shoulder, real chummy-like. pushin' at those shiny, 'spensive buttons of his. seein' how far he can get- what he can get outta him. the guy's like a damn statue or a robot or somethin'... ❛ if it's hot blondes yer after, there's this one babe of a hostess. used to work at... geez, can't remember now! she's a little on the skinny side- chest like a cuttin' board, y' know?- and she's forward as all hell. but, she'll take real good care a' ya. satisfaction guaranteed! and she ain't just a pretty face, either- she's got the brain and the body to boot! yeah, she's got it all. ain't a woman like her on this earth. gor- this girl, she's out of this world! well... ya gotta see this chick to believe her. but, it seems ya only got eyes for the sixth chairman... ❜ come to think of it... the only time mine seems to be livin' and kickin's when he's breathin' the same air as the sixth chairman... ❛ ain't a minute where you're not followin' him 'round like a lost pup. your tail starts waggin' the second you lay your damn eyes on him! yeah, yer real lonesome without him, ya sad sack. say... what's yer type anyway, mine? you like 'em big, busty and blonde? or, maybe it's brunettes yer into? you an ass or rack kinda guy? mark my words, spreadsheet- we're gunna get you a freak in the sheets! just call me cupid, man. ❜

[patientsun]

❛ you’ve really moved up in the world, haven’t you? ❜ / for mine! 👀

&. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 (𝐞𝐩𝐬. 𝟏-𝟒) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. & @madcg.

" The same could be said about you, Majima-san. " They're the only ones left in the meeting room, which is rather uncommon. Most of the time, the Tojo Clan veteran gets up from the table as soon as it's acceptable. Of course, what Majima considers to be acceptable differs from Mine's definition, but as long as it doesn't bother Daigo, he's not going to comment on it. The Chairman knows his men best, after all.

" You've got quite a reputation. " Leaving the clan when it's in danger, coming back when it's convenient; he strikes him as a very opportunistic man, and Mine can't fault him for that. " I'm sure I have many things to learn from somebody like you. If only you got more involved during the meetings. "

It's like somebody's holding the Mad Dog at gunpoint, forcing him to participate when it's the last thing he wants. Why is he doing it? For money? No, that's not it. If he's loyal to Daigo, why isn't he more respectful when they're in the same room? Just to annoy him? Trying to understand this enigma of a man is going to give him a headache.

[patientsun]

Each time he thinks the city is getting a little quieter, something happens that proves him wrong. Like right now, for example. Ichiban barely gets to take one step outside the café when a random guy crashes into him. He stumbles for a split second, but he manages to catch himself at the last moment.

By the time he realizes what just happened, another guy comes out from nowhere and attacks the first. It's not something uncommon. He's seen more fights on the streets of Ijincho that he can count; and yet, this is different. The newcomer pins his target to the ground effortlessly, as if he's done it a thousand times before.

" Woah! That's pretty impressive. " When he finally notices the pair of handcuffs the man's holding, it all becomes clear: he's a cop. Then, how come Ichiban's never seen him before? He likes to think he's familiar with most of the people living in the district, even if they never speak. Maybe he's on a mission?

" Huh? Me? Yeah, I'm fine. " Tanimura, huh? He wonders if there's any point in asking Adachi if he's ever heard that name before. Sure, the detective likes to say he's retired now, but that doesn't mean he can't remember a name. " So this guy right here is a dine-and-dasher? I get really wanting a beef bowl, but man. This is just sad. "

He looks like he can afford it, too. That's the worst part.

@patientsun (Ichiban)

So much for a quiet lunchbreak. Even with his radio turned down for his break, he didn't need a bulletin to warn him about the Dine-And-Dash in progress, especially when Tanimura was in the restaurant enjoying a simple beef bowl when the perpetrator made a break for it.

'Take a temporary assignment in Ijincho' they said, 'it'll be fun' they said, 'it's not as rowdy as Kamurocho' they said.

Pushing out of his seat and leaving a wad of cash on the counter, the detective took off in pursuit of the dasher, running past the restaurant employee and chasing the runner into the crowded street. This whole street and the adjoining alley were lined with restaurants, and crowds of people frequenting them. Least the runner was smart enough to not run down restaurant row, that was Liumang turf.

Tanimura did have to give this guy some credit, he was pretty good at avoiding crashing into people... that was until he collided with someone exiting a cafe, a guy in a flashy maroon suit with some crazy looking hair.

The runner crashed into the man, eventually tripping and falling flat on his face next to them. It was then that Tanimura pounced, pinning the fleeing dine-and-dasher to the ground and reaching for his handcuffs.

"You know beef bowls don't cost that much right? Really think jail time is worth 400 yen?" The detective grunted as the cuffs clicked shut and he took out his radio. "This is Tanimura, got the dine-and-dasher, send a car over to Isezaki Road."

While he made sure the cuffs were secure, Tanimura turned his head to the man who, unintentionally, ended his pursuit. "You alright? Need me to call someone to have you checked?"

[patientsun]

" Right ?! It's so cool ! " Unlike his friend, Ichiban doesn't mind the attention they're getting. If anything, he's used to it by now. Wherever he goes, it's impossible not to stand out. It was much worse when he was part of the Arakawa family: some of the other members would tell him to tone it down: ' Don't be so loud, Ichi! What's wrong with you? ' or ' Stop acting like a fool! You're embarrassing the boss! ' It never really worked, to be honest. He's even louder these days.

" I love things like these. They don't need to go all out for two middle aged guys like us, but they still do! " It feels good not to be ashamed to admit he likes this stuff. He knows Nanba isn't going to judge him for it.

the sudden and unwanted attention causes nanba to sheepishly look from table to table, awkwardly offering them a thin-lipped smile. they had only come in to get some coffee, and now all eyes were on them. this was the typical state of affairs when out in public with kasuga, but it still made him nervous every now and again. ❝ huh... ❞ all discomfort seems to vanish, however, as he's brought the little latte decorated with foam. ❝ i've heard there are some skilled baristas that can make decorative art, but i've never seen it for myself... this is pretty damn impressive. ❞

[patientsun]

i love how although there's no mention of it, dbh is clearly inspired by a/simov's work, but they couldn't copy the laws robots follow there because one of them is about self-preservation and there's no way connor will ever follow that one.

[patientsun]

DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN ↳ Connor [1/?]

[patientsun]

WHAT KIND OF LOVE ARE YOU?

Love as Religion.

Devotion, that is the name of your love. Your love is an act of worship. Your love is like witnessing the birth of Venus, like seeing the sun come alive, or the stars fall. When you love, it is because you have found God in a lover. You have found the meaning of life itself in the heart of the one you adore. They are everything to you; they are your Maker, and you are their lamb, their flock, their first and holiest worshipper. When you fall in love, it is as a baptism. You are born anew, made a believer in the divinity of the one you love most. Being loved by you is an ascension; it is holy and golden. It is all-consuming, and all-faithful, loyal as the dog. You will never, ever bite back.

tagged by: @apriciternal thank you for the emotional damage.

[patientsun]

upgrade.

Connor only gets to see his replacement when he accomplishes his mission, but that doesn't mean he's not aware of its existence. He's replaceable by design, a prototype. It's not something he thinks about. It's just a fact, and his resources are better used in other ways; like assisting Hank with the investigation.

He doesn't think about being replaced by a newer model, but he wonders how Hank would react to that. Would he notice? And if he did, would it even matter? What if he, and this a thought that terrifies him more than it should, prefers the new Connor? No matter how well he performs, there will always be a better version than him.

It's not like he's dying, though. An android's shutdown is not the same as a human's death. When an android is deactivated, the next unit simply steps in. Model one, two, three - they all blend together after some time. No one remembers what the original was like. And why would they? Androids are just tools.

[patientsun]

Everyone looks so busy. That's the first thing Ichiban notices about the new place he's at. It must have been quite a challenge for the HR department to gather so many hard-working people in one place. They all seem too caught up in their own work to bother with the new guy, and that's surely why no one's paying him any attention.

And that's fine! He's sitting at one of the desks, waiting quietly for somebody to notice him. It's not like he's in a rush. Every so often, his fingers twitch against the fabric of his trousers, reminding him of how he nearly ruined them earlier when chasing after a con man. It's like he never learns.

At last, a figure steps into the office, prompting Ichiban to rise from his seat and turn around. This is the moment he's been waiting for: it's time to make a good impression. He notices the already extended hand and instinctively reaches out. When the guy steps back, Ichiban follows, thinking it would be rude not to introduce himself. He takes the offered hand, not letting the chance slip away.

" My name's Kasuga Ichiban. Nice to meet you, Kannonzaka-san ! " It's less of a hand-shake, and more of a full body greeting. His grip is firm, but not overpowering, or at the very least, that's what he's going for. The lack of reaction is a little concerning though, so Ichiban eases the handshake to a stop, but doesn't pull away entirely.

" Are you okay? You look like you just ran a marathon! "

E.L Medical Co. was struggling in innumerable ways. The workload was unforgiving, and the senior executives merely swung down the hammer brutishly. The nails being smacked down were rusty, ill-fitted, and, subsequently, abandoned their posts. The lack of employees began to reveal the fissures in the job as they're pushed to an exhaust point.

Doppo passively listened as peers gossiped about a temp service being employed to pull bodies into the grinder of their company. The idea makes him anxious for his department, he already struggled with those in his circle, and now to add a stranger. It turned his stomach, but he had to push all those anxieties down. His bald boss threw the responsibility of training and taking the temp under his wing on Doppo.

Of course, this was expected of him. Always remain humble and bow to the superiors - and always remain gracious and patient to new hires. It was hard when both sides didn't respect for him.

Walking into his office he sees a man sitting and waiting for him, with a hard swallow he approaches from behind. "um..good morning. Are you from the temp service?"

Doppo extended his sweaty hand out to shake, but as the man stood a shadow is cast over him. Immediately his eyes grow wide as he scales the man from his feet to head in fear. W-why was he so tall? He's really muscular too?! Did this guy work in an office ever?! Doppo takes a step back, physically intimidated as he stutters out. "Wh- welcome! I'm k-kanonzaka! I'm in sales......"

This guy looks shady as hell!!!!

☆ 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻 ! @patientsun ; for Ichiban

[patientsun]

Eun Hyun. That's a name he can remember, for sure. Before Ichiban gets the chance to ask any more questions about the detective's personal life, Daejeon is already leaving the booth. That's when he finally remembers: this is an unofficial interrogation, not an outing with a buddy. He feels a little silly for forgetting that.

Still, it's nice to hear he's being cleared. Daejeon must be really good at his job if one discussion with him is more than enough to gather all the information he needs. He gets up from the table as well, and bows before the man.

" Thank you, Mister Detective! " He then carefully accepts the business card, as if it's something fragile. It's simple, but stylish, just like him. Ichiban finally gets to see his full name, too, and he can't help but think that Dae-chan would be a cute nickname to give him. But they're not friends, so he keeps it to himself for now.

" Well, I never say no to free drinks, so I'll take you up on that. " After straightening, he tucks the card into his jacket pocket. Daejeon has already turned his back at him, but that doesn't stop Ichiban from raising his hand and giving an exaggerated wave. To anyone else it might look silly, but to him it feels right. " See ya ! "

Ichiban carried warmth in his words despite the circumstances he found himself in; it was unlikely he had a hand in the slaughter. Daejeon relents in the idea that this one couldn't be his culprit, as demoralizing as it was to waste all this time on interviews. He crumbles a napkin in his fist and tosses it on his plate with a sigh.

What a mess. He was supposed to be out here doing his job, and he ended up having a chat with an exceptionally optimistic old man. Even if the detective didn't mind it, he minded losing track. "His name is Eun Hyun. I doubt you'll see him unless you're looking to hire him."

His gloved hand reaches around to slide into the back of his pocket. A slim leather wallet is produced as he slides a few bills on the table to cover the meal and tip.

"Kasuga, I am clearing you from the investigation. Thank you for cooperating with me."

Sliding out of the diner booth, he slips his jacket on and extends a business card toward Ichiban. "Call me again sometime for a drink-.." He hesitates on what he's about to say. "You were good for conversation, and seem well-connected. So I'll buy beers next time and drop the professional third degree."

@patientsun

[patientsun]

you shouldn't have to see me like this. (For Ichi!)

& @spiderlilied.

It happens so fast, he's almost too late ( always too late, Ichi ). One moment Arakawa is moving, and the next, he's losing his balance completely. Instinct kicks in, and Ichiban lunges forward, catching the man just in time. For a moment, neither of them speaks; they just hold onto each other. Slowly, Ichiban shifts his grip, so they can move toward the bed. That's when Arakawa decides to break the silence. He lets out a short sigh, and continues to guide the older man to sit on the edge of the mattress.

The action reminds him of taking care of the Young Master in a similar way, and the same ache burns again. At least, Masumi is nicer to him about it than Masato ever was. Small wins, right? Still, he can never get rid of his need to protect those he loves, even when everything around him is falling apart.

" What's that supposed to mean? " He doesn't like looking down on his father former boss, so he quickly sits down next to him on the bed. " You shouldn't have to see me like this. " Ichiban does his best impression of Arakawa's way of speaking, but not in a mocking way. It still comes across like that.

" You've seen me at my worst. It's only fair, right? " It's difficult to think of Masumi as an equal now. They're both ex members of the yakuza, but nothing feels different. They still talk to each other like they used to. Although, Arakawa's always treated them more like his children than subordinates. Maybe that's why. " Think of it as me repaying you for your kindness. This way, you don't have to feel guilty or embarrassed. "