DICK;

[crashout]

Comments

[unpredicktable]

The whole nothing dollars? I wouldn't want to make you break bank for me.

[ but he follows, abandoning everything there

(except the screwdriver which junpei can see him clearly just fucking shove into his utility belt as usual. klepto.) ]

Oh, I should tell you-- Higekiri knows about me. Escha told him about hers, otherwise I don't think he'd have caught on that I've been dodging questions.

[crashout]

No, no, I insist. [He'll play that joke up as long as he can. He watches the screwdriver disappear and slips his hands into his own pockets, taking the lead onward.]

...surprised he hasn't figured out me, but I've been selective in who I tell things. What exactly did he say about it? Anything?

[unpredicktable]

You spoil me.

[ they're terrible. but he keeps going ]

We... got distracted with an idea he had, but I think he got the gist of what it was. At first, he was kinda pouty I'd been keeping secrets from him.

[ hige is hilarious ]

[crashout]

[There's a mumble of "maybe you deserve it" under his breath but haha, anyway.]

He gets like that. He wants to be used and be relied on, just like Hizamaru. It's why I've sent him on other tasks myself. But...he's good enough to have on our side of things. I can trust him not to spread it around unless we have to.

[unpredicktable]

[ ... dick isn't sure how to react to hearing that so he. just. doesn't? ]

Yeah, I trust him. I would've just told him otherwise if I didn't. But he'll be able to help us look for others now that he sort of knows what to look for. [ he tilts his head a bit ] Nikkari figured me out, too. Took him long enough.

[ he skipped dick entirely when he was role guessing and it was. real funny ]

[crashout]

I thought Nikkari already knew when we talked to him Friday? [Business is easier to talk about, and also wow what the fuck.] Pretty sure the only people who know are you two and Haymitch. And Nikkari's debatable since I never actually confirmed...

[unpredicktable]

Nope. It never came up. [ but speaking of junpei's life choices-- ] Weren't you the one thinking we'd have to work together? [ he says that like he's not, y'know, aiding with hiding junpei's. ] For now, let's concentrate on finding as many as we can. We can figure out a sharing process once that part's done.

[crashout]

[Fuck off, don't call him out like this.]

And I still think that, but...my method's working just fine. I've been getting a lot of answers that way and when the time's right I'll explain why. We do have a conference room now. We could probably shove everybody in there and go over everything we know once we find all of them.

[unpredicktable]

I have missed being able to point at information for people to see for themselves. That's why I've got the laser pointer.

[ he's going to be writing on the whiteboard like a teacher and he will like it ]

[crashout]

Wait you have what? [Hello? Also goddamn what a nerd.]

[unpredicktable]

[ he beams and takes out the laser pointer, aiming it at the wall. it is a laser pointer. ]

Thought it might turn out useful at some point.

[ WHY ]

[crashout]

[Maybe predictably, Junpei looks at the laser bouncing off the wall and swats at the projected line.]

And...how would this be useful?

[unpredicktable]

Well, for one thing, I've learned you're part-cat, so that's a big plus.

[ dummy. ]

It was for the tech lab, mostly. Improvised laser sight, quick visual impairment, basic robotics...and there's always pointing out things so people pay attention. It varies. In this place, I try to make do with what I can get my hands on. [ he draws a :) with the laser pointer. will junpei figure it out. a mystery ] I may or may not have faked a sniper sight with one of these to scare off the wimpier thugs back in Gotham once or twice.

[crashout]

[Stop. His hands go back into his pocket so they can't betray him anymore.]

Thinking on your feet as usual. Those aren't bad ways to use it if you can get those things to work. Which...I'm guessing wasn't going that well before I showed up. I'm not really technical.

[unpredicktable]

I know how the tech stuff works, and I've got no problem putting stuff together or programming it, but-- off the cuff making stuff up like that from spare parts? [ dick sighs a little, pocketing the laser pointer ] Might've been asking for too much.

[crashout]

Good thing we have a lot of time on our hands then. [Not a good thing. Who the fuck said this was ever a good thing? Either way, he's heading away and over to the coffee shop with Dick in tow, glancing at the machines around him.]

What're you drinking? I've been getting better with these things. [He likes keeping his hands busy while he lets his brain run in circles.]

[unpredicktable]

[ he's noticed. Which is why dick just leans forward on the counter, content to watch him go ]

How annoying is it if I say "surprise me"?

[crashout]

Hmm, a little annoying. Give me some idea of sweet or bitter at least. [He's flipping on switches and buttons as it is though. He seems to have a plan here. ]

[unpredicktable]

You say that, but it's looking like you already had an idea. [ still, to throw him a bone: ] Sweet?

[ dick is that asshole who pours a shit ton of sugar and cream in coffee and lives off the sugar high just as much as the caffeine. ]

[crashout]

[Hate that I established lore that he's also that asshole, so it's fine. He's just turning around to do as he do.]

I usually have ideas, but they're not always good ones. [A joke, but he's grabbing a few things such as vanilla, condensed milk, ice, etc.] I kind of missed the phase of holding down a regular job but before I spent my time in bars I hung out in coffee shops. You end up learning enough.

[unpredicktable]

When you put it like that, I can't even make fun of you. [ since dick. obviously doesn't have a regular job. he's looking curious the entire time, even though he's seen others do this. ] Well, I can a little. Did you just watch the baristas while they worked?

[crashout]

[Tags this back until we find Dick's dead body.]

Not with that attitude you can't. [Mixing and pouring and measuring...] But yeah, I guess. What else was I supposed to do? I got bored of studying every time I tried so I found other things to look at.

[unpredicktable]

[ god, i wish ]

So you procrastinated by people watching? Good thing you didn't end up needing college.

[ is he allowed to joke about that. eh ]

[crashout]

The world really doesn't need another economics major anyway. [So yes, he spent time people watching.] As it turns out, learning to observe and understand people has helped me out a lot more than anything else.

[Not long after, he passes Dick what appears to be a cup of iced vanilla caramel coffee.] Try that.

[unpredicktable]

Economics major? You?

[ he could stand to sound? slightly less bewildered? but then he gets a coffee and he peers at it openly before putting the straw in his mouth and sipping. he hums in appreciation right after. ]

Okay, I gotta hand it to you. You did learn a lot by observing.