earnedmystripes: (pic#6595952)
鏑木・T・虎徹 ᴋᴏᴛᴇᴛsᴜ ᴛ. ᴋᴀʙᴜʀᴀɢɪ ([personal profile] earnedmystripes) wrote in [community profile] savetheearth2013-08-11 03:08 am

[ Closed ]

Who: Kotetsu, and Nick, followed by Suzaku and Ravi, and finally Karl in part 2
Where: Some random cafe
When: Backdated to Monday, August 5th
What: Gigglewater shenanigans



[There is some sort of saying to be had here about the best-laid plans. Kotetsu had heard the warnings on the network about the water. He'd even managed to avoid it fairly readily; there were plenty of other things to drink at home, and the coffee at the station was terrible, anyway.

Today, though, the matter had slipped his mind. It had been an unusually busy week, a rash of traffic accidents, petty burglaries (with an armed robbery or two) and domestic incidents having managed to actually push his thoughts away from aliens and invasions and past lives for a while.

With things settling down into their usual lull, Kotetsu had asked Nick in between paperwork whether he wanted to grab lunch, and they'd made their way to a little corner cafe just down the street from the station. And then they'd ordered lemonade.

God help them both.]
detectivetroll: (beam)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-08-12 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
[He can't be blamed for this, all right. Nick hasn't had coffee since he'd shown up at work - it may taste terrible, but he pretty much lives on the stuff, and he's definitely suffering through caffeine withdrawals.

It doesn't occur to him that the cafe'd use tap water to make the lemonade.

And it still doesn't occur to him when, a little bit after drinking it, he finds something Kotetsu said a little too funny, and ends up laughing a little bit harder than he'd meant to.]
detectivetroll: (hee (2))

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-08-13 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Perfect scapegoats. It really is their fault, anyway.

For a long moment, Nick doesn't realize what's going on, either. It's been a long time since he's laughed like this, probably since before he came to Locke City. It's suspicious, sure, but at the moment, he's attributing it to the fact that everything in his life is just so damn ridiculous right now that he can't help but laugh.

Hysterical laughter, that's what this feels like, going on a lot longer than it should before starting to fade.

Except then, apparently, nearly getting sprayed with lemonade is just as funny as the toupee joke, because it sets Nick off into another round of laughter. This time, he fights to control it, wrapping his arms around himself and shaking.]


Who would've - fuck, ahaha - thought they'd house-make the lemonade?
detectivetroll: (what do I do)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-08-17 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Nick's managing to laugh silently now, in an attempt not to draw attention to them, but that last bit might not be very successful. Just because he isn't making any obvious laughing sounds doesn't mean he isn't clearly showing signs that something's wrong.

Still, at Kotetsu's words, Nick nods and attempts to stand. They do have to get out of there.

Or not, apparently, as the same sensation overtakes Nick, and suddenly he's remembering. It's one he's already had before, but now the memory feels fresh, and it -

It isn't any less horrible than the last time it'd happened. Fighting with that woman, her face something monstrous, the taste of blood in his mouth when she bites him after he kisses her.

Watching her soul get ripped out of her body, and knowing that he was the one who did it.

The shaking from suppressed laughter still hasn't stopped, and now with the echo on top of it, Nick's hand jerks, sending his glass to the floor.]

[personal profile] ex_elude798 2013-09-09 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
[And here Suzaku's been thinking he could just have some passable tea in peace. He's not unfamiliar with people being inappropriately loud - something he will forever associate with Americans (erroneous or not) but breaking glass makes his head snap in the direction of the table.

The laughter makes his brow furrow, wondering if these guys are out to cause trouble...until he sees them jerking strangely where they sit. Are those guys having some kind of episode? At the same time?

...Is that even possible?

Suzaku shakes off his surprise and stands, patting his pockets for a phone. Of course, this would be the day he'd leave it at home. His godfather'd have it rigged up like some frankencell by the time he got back for sure.

He looks around swiftly, and not seeing a phone in the open]


Damn...

[He mutters it, and when he speaks again, it's in a tone that anyone should be able to hear. The place isn't that big after all]

Someone, call 911! Those men need medical attention.
healspec: ([28])

[personal profile] healspec 2013-09-11 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
[no nonono ravi just wanted a peaceful evening before work, he is not here for this. he's been in line just long enough to have noticed there's a commotion on the other side of the cafe, and he recognized Kotetsu when he glanced over, but he really just wants to mind his own business and walk out of here with a cupcake and a mocha and nothing derailing his evening.]

[but the call of "someone call 911" brings his attention back to it, and he reluctantly resigns himself to getting involved. this is water-related, he's pretty sure, and calling 911 is not going to end well.]


I'm a nurse. [GOOD-BYE SPOT IN LINE... he hurries over to their table and realizes he has NO idea what to actually do about this. he shoots the rest of the room a nervous glance.]

[...maybe he could try that hangover spell he echoed back? it seems like it'd be applicable to toxicity, if that's what the tap water issue is. but he definitely can't do that in a public place like this and risk people seeing it...]

[facing away from the rest of the cafe, he leans on the table and whispers to Kotetsu and Nick: ]
If you can manage to get into the restroom, I think I can fix this.
Edited 2013-09-11 09:21 (UTC)
detectivetroll: (debating)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-09-12 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
[He's barely managing to suppress his laughter enough to make it look like shaking, or possibly that he's having a seizure, but really, anything would be better than hysterical laughter.

Nick knows too well what the police are looking for, and that's the first thought in his mind when he hears someone shout for people to call 911.

He tries to say that they're fine, really, but all he manages to get out is a slight snicker, and then he decides that it's better to just try to hightail it out of there.

Before he can manage to haul himself up from the table, there's a nurse heading towards them, and Nick's pretty sure things can only get worse from here. For a moment, he's ready to deny the man's offer, because he's pretty sure that nothing medical can fix this.

But the restroom is closer than the front door, so Nick jerks a nod and pushes himself up, heading towards the restroom while trying not to burst into laughter.]
healspec: ([07])

[personal profile] healspec 2013-09-21 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
[uuuuuugh everyone is staring, this is not okay. (everyone may or may not actually be staring.)]

[he isn't even going to look back at the rest of the room because he doesn't want to see the weird looks people are giving him. he's just going to calmly follow them both into the restroom and pretend everything is perfectly normal and that he is NOT calling unwanted attention to himself]

[he nearly trips over Kotetsu.]

[. . .]

[quietly eases door shut, stares uncomfortably at the cop sprawled on the floor...]

[does not remember to actually lock the door...]

[he kneels beside Kotetsu and sets one hand on his shoulder, holding the other a few inches away from his chest. he has no idea if this is actually going to work, but he figures if it can detox a hangover, it might be able to detox whatever this is.]

[He concentrates and channels the magic from that strange warmth behind his heart, weaving it into that familiar, yet unfamiliar, spell that he's used before. it appears as a golden light in his palm, visible for a brief moment before he lays his hand against Kotetsu's chest. the magic will feel warm and soothing, like liquid sunlight washing through Kotetsu's body. It lasts maybe six seconds, and then Ravi pulls his hands away and it fades, along with the giggles.]

[Ravi was right, the principle of the spell is the same, but this is his first time trying it in this form, so he might not have managed to wash it out completely.]


Better? [tentative. he's not sure yet if it actually worked]
detectivetroll: (what's going on over there)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-09-23 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Kotetsu sprawling across the ground like that pretty much ends Nick's attempts at containing his own mirth. He bursts into laughter, back against the door as he sinks to the ground and helplessly cracks up at Kotetsu's predicament.

The laughter doesn't stop when the nurse approaches Kotetsu, even though Nick knows he should be doing something about it - a medical professional's opinion on this is not what they need right now, even if Kotetsu thinks they can trust him.

But it's only because of Kotetsu trusting him that Nick doesn't jump to his feet to intervene when the other man calls up some kind of golden light and puts his hand against Kotetsu's chest. Well, all right, that and the fact that Nick's laughing too hard to move quickly, and it's over too fast for him to do anything about it.]


What the hell?

[personal profile] ex_elude798 2013-09-29 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Once Suzaku's stopped a few people who'd whipped out their cell phones out, he looks around. Being so occupied with that means he half-forgot to keep an eye on whatever was going on with those men. Of course, it's really not hard to figure out where they went.

Although the bathroom really doesn't seem like the right place to conduct any sort of medical treatment...

Suzaku approaches the door, hears someone talk, and pauses. After a moment's debate, he knocks on the door once]


Everything alright in there?
healspec: ([06])

[personal profile] healspec 2013-10-06 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
[definitely better. that's a relief. and while normally being outed as network is potentially dangerous, 1) he knows they're also both network or they wouldn't be in this situation, and 2) he knows Kotetsu is a trustworthy sort of person. so in this instance, he's willing to straight-up cop to it.]

Yes.

[Suzaku's knock and the question that follows startle him; he freezes up, staring at the door. that guy, he doesn't know is network. there is no assurance of safety there. and he has no idea what to say to cover for himself.]

[that's the part where he usually looks to someone else to take the reins, but in this situation, he is the expert. he is the one who's supposed to be in charge of the situation. no matter what answer he gives, it is far more suspicious for someone other than him to be giving an answer.]


Ah--it's fine.

[that is definitely not enough to satisfy any curious bystanders]

It was-- [oh my god, quick, what's a good bullshit medical excuse...] --the lights. You know, some people are very negatively affected by certain types of lights. A few minutes in a dark room and they are fine.

[wow that is. so bullshit. hopefully Suzaku is not also a medical professional.]
detectivetroll: (hee (2))

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-10-12 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
[At the man's admission that he's part of the network, Nick relaxes a little. Well, as much as he can when he's still battling fits of laughter and trying to listen for anyone who might have followed them.]

Right, glowing lights, of course it-

[He's cut off by gritting his teeth against more laughing, and by the arrival of - yup, someone who followed them and is asking questions, perfect.

Nick would try to give a better explanation, but honestly, he doesn't have one.

That, and the comment about life made the laughter win, and now he's busy laughing again.]


He's right, it's the lights. You have to admit that's hilarious, I'm not a jerk for thinking my friend's allergy is funny.

[personal profile] ex_elude798 2013-10-17 09:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Perhaps some people might buy this, but not Suzaku. Not when people would have to walk into a place in broad daylight and sit for some while before suddenly having a reaction to fluorescent lights]

The bathroom has the same lights in it.

[It's a flat statement of fact, his tone heavily skeptical. While Suzaku is willing to believe there was a nurse present, he's not sure about the excuse, nor the decision to go into the bathroom.

Probably the filthiest place to take anyone who's happened to fall ill]
healspec: ([28])

[personal profile] healspec 2013-10-19 08:04 am (UTC)(link)
[HE DIDN'T BUY IT]

[aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa what does he do now omg noooooooooo WHY CAN'T YOU JUST ACCEPT THE BS STORY HE'S TELLING YOU, STRANGER]

[Ravi freezes up, staring at the door. he...has nothing. he has been caught. there is no way out. trapped!! and he hasn't even cured nick yet!! WHAT IS HIS LIFE]
detectivetroll: (bitch please)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-10-23 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Nick waves a hand towards Ravi and Kotetsu, trying to tell him to finish up while Nick handles this, but considering the gesture is somewhat weak due to laughing, he has no idea what he's actually conveying.

Then he attempts to get up, leaning heavily against the door. Both because he needs it to stand, and because he's trying to keep it shut, although given his current state, it's unlikely that it'd take much to push him over.]


They're not florescent in here. It's a different wavelength. Look, I don't know how the hell allergies work, man, why don't you-

[Except he doesn't finish, because the little snorts and chuckles that have interspersed his speech turn into full blown laughter, and it's suddenly hard to breathe.]

[personal profile] ex_elude798 2013-11-05 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Suzaku rolls his eyes, huffing out a quiet sigh]

It's not my business, as long as nobody's dying in there [and obviously, they weren't] so do us all a favor and cut the crap.

[After a beat, he adds something else]

You'll look conspicuous if you hang around in there too long. People already seem curious.

[Having said that, he steps away from the door. It seems those seizure fits weren't so bad, considering those guys were both trying to come up with reasons - strange reasons - for what's going on.

And he doesn't believe any of it, but he's accomplished what he wanted to. They're fine and that's what he wanted to know.

A personable teenager he is not, but at least he's not prying]
healspec: (Default)

[personal profile] healspec 2013-11-12 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
[KOTETSU.]

[Ravi just stares at him in horror. IS THIS REALLY THE OPTION YOU WENT FOR? REALLY? REALLY?!?]

[he can never come to this cafe again.]

[he will miss you, amazing cupcakes...]

[but if Kotetsu is taking the fall then he is just going to do his best to pretend he does not exist. let Kotetsu handle it, Ravi has other things to worry about.]

[he moves to Nick and duplicates the process he used on Kotetsu. One hand braced on his shoulder, gold light gathered in the other and then pressed against his chest. That feeling like liquid sunlight washes most of the toxin out of Nick's system in a matter of seconds]

[when he's done, he pulls back and stares at Kotetsu some more because seriously what now???]
flamberge: (sagacity -- pride comes before a fall)

So sorry for the late!!

[personal profile] flamberge 2013-08-17 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Being a drinker of things that don't come straight from tap water had been a blessing in disguise today. Richard, or rather, Karl could not help but consider himself lucky while waiting on his triple shot small latte. Coffee, the kind he tended to order anyway, lacked any water whatsoever. Either straight espresso shots or extra strength lattes and both lacking water. Truly lucky. Giggle fits hardly suited someone like him. Explaining to his superior office why he was laughing during their meeting wouldn't have been fun, either.

While waiting for the drink, he spares a quick glance around. People watching proved a good way to kill time. It occasionally led to learning fun, if informative things, as well.]
Edited 2013-08-17 02:04 (UTC)
detectivetroll: (hair tuck)

<3! hopefully this is good, let me know if either of you want changes?

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-08-22 07:30 am (UTC)(link)
[He'd thought he'd been safe when they ordered the lemonade without ice, but of course, this had to be one of the few cafes that actually house-made the lemonade instead of just using store bought. Normally Nick would have been glad for that, but not will all of this tap water nonsense.

Fortunately, they'd manage to conceal it enough that anyone not belonging to the network had just thought they were having seizures - and even more fortunately, the nurse who happened to be around when someone wanted to call medical help did belong to the network.

Of course, when that's taken care of, Nick still has a few muffled giggles.]
flamberge: (sagacity -- pride comes before a fall)

me too~

[personal profile] flamberge 2013-09-09 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
[The giggling pair goes unnoticed right up until that loud hiccup. Karl's gaze shifts from some teenagers and onto the source of the hiccup. To his surprise, said source appears to be a cop. Cue a curious eyebrow raise from Karl upon seeing muffled giggles come from the other man.

Those two couldn't possibly be... Only one way to find out. Feigning a look of disinterest so not to instantly rouse their suspicions (best err with caution when dealing with other cops, after all), his eyes stray from the pair and continue glancing around while keeping those two within his periphery.

A few seconds later, an employee calls out his drink. A thank you gets uttered to the girl before he starts walking towards an open seat. This particular seat happened to be right next to where Officer Hiccup and Mr. Giggles were. How particularly lucky.]
detectivetroll: (I'm out)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-09-12 07:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Nick spots the man giving him a raised eyebrow, but it doesn't stand out, considering he'd done a brief scan of the crowd after the giggles, and he's getting a small number of looks. Most of them go back to what they're doing, and fights the very real temptation to smack his forehead against the table.]

I hate my life.

[At least he manages to get that out without laughing, though Kotetsu's hiccup had earned a snicker.

And then, of course, the seat next to them is taken, cutting off any more of Nick's complaining, though he can't stop another chuckle.]
flamberge: (sagacity -- perhaps so)

[personal profile] flamberge 2013-09-18 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Said other guy unfortunately has no intent of leaving. He just sits there and calmly sips at his drink as though two giggling/hiccuping cops weren't mere feet away. In truth, he's listening in to what's going on and closely at that.

The complaining about life? Normal. Doing so while giggling? Abnormal. The fact the, for of a better word, goofier one didn't get a drink for those hiccups said a lot, as well. A few thoughts of what may be causing their behavior cross his mind, but Karl holds off on drawing any conclusions until more data has been gathered.]
detectivetroll: (hair tuck)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-09-19 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Of course the random guy sitting next to them doesn't look like he's going to leave. Not only does Nick have to put up with the lingering effects of the water, but he can't even complain properly about it.

He's not so much worried about his occasional snickers and chuckles - he knows what the police are looking for, and they're coming rare enough that it likely wouldn't fit the bill. It'd probably only be suspicious to anyone who knew the truth about the water, and, well. At least then Nick would know something, too.]


How much trouble do you think we'll be in if we just never come back from lunch?

[He says it like it's a serious option, though it obviously isn't. Neither of them really call out when they're actually sick, let alone when they're not.

Well, sort of a serious option, considering it was interrupted once or twice for another chuckle.]
flamberge: (sagacity -- always a teacher)

[personal profile] flamberge 2013-09-22 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[The little hypothesis about who they were is getting proven correct and rather quickly. Laughter without reason means connected with the network. Maybe it could mean potential drug use but their behavior didn't suggest that.

Karl takes another sip of his drink. He'll wait just another moment before jumping in to this litle conversation. Best to make absolute certain about who they are, after all.]
detectivetroll: (head tilt consideration)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-09-23 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
[He drums his fingers against the table, considering that. It's possible - and it might be the best solution, but after a moment, Nick shakes his head.

Nick doesn't like lying outside of the interrogation room, and he already has to do it enough as is.]


Hopefully no one will ask. They'll just assume we're being workaholics like usual.
flamberge: (sagacity -- pride comes before a fall)

[personal profile] flamberge 2013-10-01 12:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[It feels about high time to get a word in. His suspicions are fairly confirmed and he had just finished taking a nice sip of his drink.]

Being on the same page alone may not be enough to convince a superior officer to permit you to essentially skip work.

[Maybe he is a bit of a hardass with that himself, but mostly precisely because of officers trying to skip work like this. Who knows how their precinct's superior is? And if he sees the odd giggling on top of weaseling out of work? That may have an unpleasant end.]
detectivetroll: (slight smile)

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-10-12 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, hey, the guy sitting unfortunately close to them decided to chime in on the conversation. And, judging by his comment, is involved with the police himself, although Nick doesn't recognize him.

Now Nick's really glad they'd kept the conversation vague enough that, to anyone not in the network, it would've just sounded like two guys trying to skip work.

Granted, the giggling concerns him a little, but whatever Ravi'd done had killed the effects enough that they didn't resemble anything close to what they'd been asked to look out for.

Nick gives a shrug, cutting off any conversation about potential explanations.]


It's just talk, man, no one's skipping work. I'm not even sure he understands the concept.

[He tilts his head towards Kotetsu, giving a slight smile.]
flamberge: (sagacity -- allow me to ellucidate)

[personal profile] flamberge 2013-10-15 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
[Any eyebrow gets raised at their denials, but no other reaction comes. Obviously the attempt at lying does little to impress Karl. Although his body language clearly says as much, he doesn't say so.

A look gets spared first at Nick and then at Kotetsu. Is he completely certain they're with the Network? No. Is he about to risk other officers seeing them in this state if they are? DEFINITELY not. With that in mind, Karl closes his eyes and turns back to his drink.]


I see. Then my intended offer of calling your current on-duty superior to attempt to reprieve you both of police duties today won't be necessary.

[The causal way in which that gets said almost feels as though it's a comment on the weather. He'll just allow that to sink in while sipping away at his coffee.]
detectivetroll: (suspicious)

gah, sorry for the delay! i was waiting on a response from the mods

[personal profile] detectivetroll 2013-10-30 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Nick raises one eyebrow in return. It's obvious that they're lying, but as far as Nick's concerned - who cares? This guy was the one to butt into their conversation, they don't owe him anything.

At the offer, Nick's other eyebrow goes up to join the first. He wasn't expecting that, and now curiosity mixes with wariness.]


Why would you be willing to do that for two officers you don't know?

[Technically, Nick doesn't need it - he's the homicide supervisor, so he pretty much assigns his own duties - but the offer itself interests him.

Either this guy's extremely laid back about actual work duties and is willing to help out a fellow officer, he made the offer to goad them into agreeing so he can report them for shirking duties, or - he's on the network, and knows exactly what the giggling meant and why they're not eager to go back to the station.

And somehow, Nick seriously doubts it's the first one.]