savetheearth | [closed] a cop runs across an artist

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[closed] a cop runs across an artist

Who: Neku Sakuraba, Richard Locke
When: August 25, evening
Where: By some alley.
What: A 'teacher' catches a kid in the act of decorating the town.

[An evening free from paperwork and the like has Richard strolling around the town. Despite the impossibility of it, all this week's paperwork had been conquered. What the brave, paperwork warrior deserved after such a battle was a well earned break. A nice walk outside sounded most relaxing and it indeed is. The evening might be a warm one, yet the wind makes it feel especially pleasant. It's a perfect sort of evening to help someone unwind, in Richard's opinion. A cup of water or something of the sort might normally have gotten brought with, but best to err on the side of caution given the water situation which popped up a while back.

Maybe he ought to consider squeezing himself some juice. It would greatly reduce the chance of any possible effects and the nutritional benefits were nice, too. He continues down the street at a relaxed pace all while thinking about various alternatives to tap water.]

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[Neku, on the other hand, had a similar goal but an entirely different way of going about it.

Art had pretty much always been Neku's chosen form of escape, and he'd found himself employing it more often recently. And it helped to be doing more than little sketches, so this wasn't his first graffiti mural. Bandanna over his lower face and spray paint in hand, he was trying to be careful that it wasn't his last. Obviously, he didn't want to get caught and have to argue his point, but he didn't really feel like what he was doing was vandalism either. He's actually trying to create something, not just spray swear words and general vulgar messages.]

[Distracted as the musing might be, it isn't enough to miss the kid with the spray paint and bandanna. Most people might have walked by without second notice (honestly, Richard almost did if not for a lucky glance down that way).

A heavy frown crosses his face while momentarily observing from a distance. Graffiti had to be one of the most irritating things. Those who had talent with it were admirable to a degree; those who could scarcely print their name deserved to banned from ever picking up an artistic tool again.

No matter which of the two this boy may be, permitting him to continue defacing public property simply wouldn't do. With that in mind, Richard approached and fully intent on lecturing (cause, really, this didn't seem worth arresting over, especially on a day off).]

[There was, obviously, no way for Neku to know this. So when he hears the footsteps his head whips around to see someone approaching him looking not at all pleased. Neku didn't know if he was a cop or not, or whether or not he'd care that the mural (though still in progress) was very clearly meant to be artistic, so he did what any teenager in this situation would do- he dropped his spray can and start running. Track team, don't fail him now...]

[Maybe the kid sprinting away flairs up an old police instinct. If they run? Give chase. If nothing else, maybe a pursuit would instill a bit of fear about his little hobby (with Richard not taking notice of the fact the graffiti actually looks nice).

With that in mind, Richard follows. A mental note gets made to not actually jump the kid and pin him whenever caught up, said catching up happening rather shortly. Being 6'1" and a seasoned captain in the force allows for the distance between them to quickly decrease.]

[Track team is apparently failing him. Fuck.

Yea, Neku might be in shape and a fast runner, but he's has finished his growth spurt nor is he a police officer. He keeps away maybe a bit longer than a lot of kids would have, but it's not too long before Richard's right on his heels and well within grabbing distance.]

Edited 2013-09-11 16:56 (UTC)

[The chance at shoulder grabbing gets taken the instant it becomes available. Applying a bit of force, Richard jerks the kid back so he stops running. This hadn't been a bad chase, honestly. Someone with less athletic ability wouldn't have been able to keep up.

Rather then dwell on the boy's running ability, he focuses on the reason why the chase had happened to begin with. With hand firmly on shoulder and a stern expression in place, a nice little lecture begins.]

Littering is not an admirable act, you realize, although litterers are more respectable than vandals.

[A 'woah--!' escapes Neku as he's pulled back, not having been expecting that. He does expect the lecture though, which is great with an irritated sigh and a glance up at the skies. He doesn't say anything (yet), but with any luck the lecture will be the end of it...]

[Just how dull this little lecture seems to the kid is blatantly obvious. It's also extremely irritating, said irritation shining through on Richard's face. Clearly some motivation for listening needs to be present. Very easily done.]

If my words bore you that much then perhaps you rather hear whatever words a cop might have to say?

[As for whether he would or wouldn't actually do this, well, he probably wouldn't unless the kid slugged him. The threat, however, doesn't sound anything less than serious.]

[Yea. Yea, that does it. Though maybe not for the reasons Richard would think... the paranoia flooding the network does not exactly have Neku wanting to be near the police at all possible. So while he still doesn't look terribly invested in the lecture, he'll at least seem to pay attention. ~~And possibly be reaching for the pin in his pocket to scan this guy and make sure he's not actually a cop himself.~~]

[The reaching gets taken to have an entirely different meaning for Richard. As soon as that inching hand catches his eye, instinct does kick in this time and he grabs Neku by the wrist. Too many perps have done the same slow reach. What had they been reaching for? Something more than likely unpleasant and better off never actually reached.]

I will say this now: being caught by a civilian and lectured is not nearly as bad as being arrested for attacking a civilian with a weapon.

((ooc: Hmm if Neku manages to get the pin out, can Richard be too hard to read with the being cop thing? Fine with thoughts being read, just not with the cop part cause undercover. xD))

[Yea, ok, maybe not the best plan. Neku just groans, glaring at him.]

I was reaching for my phone. [If Richard wants to check, there is in fact only a phone and a pin with a skull motif in his pocket. But if he picks up the pin and presses it things could get... interesting.]

[ooc: He can only read surface thoughts, so as long as Richard is not thinking 'I AM A COP' we should be good. XD]

[Maybe the reaction is justified, but no chances are getting taken.]

Allow me.

[Richard reaches into said pocket, pulling out a phone just as the boy had said. While grabbing that, his finger had brushed against something small. Anything that small is unlikely to be of threat in the hands of a kid.

Once satisfied with proving the kid had been telling the truth, he holds the phone out to be taken back by its owner. Maybe that glare on his face had shifted into a calm expression. Honesty successfully scored the kid some points.]

It seems you were being honest. Might you use that honesty in explaining what you were doing before and why?

((ooc: perfect~ feel free to read away then cause he won't be thinking that too easily.))

[Neku's relieved when the pin doesn't make it out as well, not that he thought it would. He's not thrilled when he takes back his phone, but at least this guy has called down a little. For... some reason. He'd check, but now that his phone is out he doesn't have a good excuse for sticking his hand in his pocket. Actually, what is he even going to with his phone now?

Well he can start by turning it on and checking the time... yea, that works, right? And then maybe after this he can put it back and get his pin.]

I was painting. [yes this is what he calls it. Shut up.]

[An unamused eyebrow gets raised at the reply. Is that what the kids call it these days? ...The fact he completely sounded like an old man just now gets ignored in favor of focusing on the situation at hand.]

You mean vandalizing.

[Very bluntly said. To the kid it may be painting; to everyone else it's vandalism. Even if by some chance the graffiti was not too horrible, vandalism is still vandalism.]

[The word 'vandalizing' gets a definite frown from Neku. He knows what the guy is thinking of, and honestly it's kind of insulting that graffiti gets such a bad rep. It's probably better that he doesn't actually reply to that, turning off his phone and putting it back in his pocket to grab the pin. Time to find out something about this guy.]

[The frown comes off as little surprise. There are those who see nothing wrong with their graffiti antics. Any law enforcement official, however, will view it in the worst light. It's a simple truth and one apparently necessaru to get across to this boy.]

You do not view your actions as such, I take it?

I know how you view it. Is that enough? [He doubts it, but seriously. He's heard the lecture.

Hands now officially shoved in his pocket, he takes the time to try and read the guy's surface thoughts. Hopefully it... wouldn't be the lecture he was about to receive.]

[This attitude does little to make the frown vanish. Hubris is never an endearing trait, especially in kids.]

No, as my view matters little. The only view which should concern you is that of police officers who may catch you in the act.

[Which is the point that will shortly and thoroughly be drilled home. He means this. Kids being overly cocky about being invulnerable leads to said kids getting into trouble they cannot escape. Not to mention, with the increased look out for suspicious behavior, this boy is best off staying as far off the police radar as possible.]

[He's not trying to be arrogant. He knows it's a bad idea, with everyone on the lookout. He just really needs to get it all out somehow.

Given this, Neku should probably at least act like he's taking in it. But... well, he's not the best actor so why bother?]

Ok, well I have a pretty good idea of what they think too.

[Richard is hardly impressed by the reply. Knowing but ignoring that knowledge can only be deemed foolish, as kids sadly tend to be. Given the current police situation, however, such foolishness can get this kid killed.

This is why Richard doesn't let up. He WILL get out everything that needs to be said if only for this kid's benefit.]

Do you?

[...Huh. Is it really public knowledge that the police are getting that harsh? He wouldn't be surprised.]

Yea, I do. [...he's trying to look like he's taking this in. He's probably not doing a great job.]

[ooc: also i had an idea that I'm not sure if it would work to get them to talk about network things. Maybe Richard has to sub one of Neku's classes, and then Neku is fiddling around with his new pin and accidentally catches something on fire? XD That might be too dramatic.]

[That comment gains a small hmph. Obviously, Richard is not impressed by that reply.]

Then you are not only reckless, but a fool. You are intelligent enough to know the risks and yet knowingly expose yourself to them.

[Maybe his words are harsh, but he will not treat a child any differently than an adult. Whatever can be said to someone in their 40s can be said to someone in their teens.]

(ooc: xD i am game for that, honestly. though chances are richard would not be able to get neku out of getting a detention or something for the fire.)

Maybe I weighed the risks and the benefits and made my own choice. [Basically: fuck you, he does what he wants. ~~Nope this is not teenage behavior HE IS AN ADULT!!!~~]

[ooc: Well it probably wouldn't be obvious that Neku caught something on fire since... it would be the pin and pins don't cause fire right?? But Neku would look hella surprised and a bit sketch which could give Richard cause to pull him aside.]

[Richard is obviously not satisfied with such a reply. Getting through to someone like this will require more than just words. Very well, more than just words it is.]

Your decisiveness is admirable, if nothing else, so perhaps you can put it to good use now. You have one of two options: have me take you down to the police station regardless if you kick and scream like an infant or we can return to the scene of the crime and I can help you clean it up.

[...ngh, yea, this guy is obviously serious. And Neku can't get shipped off to the police for any reason... he doesn't have enough confidence in his lying skills to think he'd ever get out of there. But he's obviously upset about the choice he's being forced to make, and probably not for the reason Richard thinks.]

...I'll clean it up.

A wise choice, as expected.

[Maybe the teeniest hint of sarcasm can be heard in that last part. If nothing else, the ultimatium gained the desired effect. The kid may not be happy about it, but at least he'll gain a lesson from it.]

Come along, then. You've cleaning to do.

[Richard waits for him to start walking first. Leading the way posed the chance of the kid running away behind his back. Best to err on the side of caution.]

[Yes, he did gain a lesson. 'Don't get caught.' Excellent job teaching that to him, Richard!

He glowers at the sarcasm, moving past Richard to head back to the alley. Neku stops in front of the mostly-finished mural, not moving forward to clean it for several moments. He... really doesn't want to.

After a minute, he'll glance at Richard, not completely looking him in the eye.] ...Can I at least get a picture of it first.

[Yeah. He's legitimately upset over this.]

[Being so cooperative now is a welcome change from earlier. Why couldn't this have just happened from the start? Ah well, better late than never.

Once they arrive back at the scene of the crime and the kid is close to getting started, Richard gets a good look at it for the first time. Huh, it's honestly not bad. Vandalism of property, but not hideous vandalism, at least. Getting a good look at it gets cut short when a question comes from Neku. Richard blinks and looks down at him. Oh, the downcast expression... Maybe it makes Richard feel bad, though not because of what he did but because of how invested the boy appears to be over the destruction of the art.]

...I've no opposition to that.

[Well you sort of threatened to throw him over to the police. He doesn't really want that.

Neku doesn't say anything, pulling his phone out and carefully lining up the camera before taking a picture of the mural. Realistically, he knows someone would have cleaned it up eventually, but he doesn't want to watch or be a part of it. ~~He's really attached to art ok.~~

He sighs as he lowers his phone, moving back over to the mural and pulling all the spray cans back into a bag. He might be delaying the actual cleaning part.]

[The slowness doesn't escape notice. Richard permits it for a moment while tossing around a few thoughts in his head. No way can this be permitted to remain, however punishing a child for expressing themselves in an artistic manner feels wrong. Hmm... Maybe some compromise can be made. This artwork won't be salvageable, but...]

Difficult as it may be to destroy your work, public property is not your personal canvas.

[A harsh statement, possibly overly so. It may make him seem more cruel than he is, that is, until he shortly speaks again.]

However, there is an organization which can make it so, legally.

[Neku has a very, very strong urge to flip this guy the bird after the first comment. He barely manages to restrain it, and he's not expecting the turn around and it throws him off.]

Really? [Whoa, ok Neku, try not to sound interested in this. He turns away from Richard, face slightly flushed thanks to his outburst.]

[It seems the suggestion had been a good one to make. Really, colorful artwork IS nice, just done legally.]

Yes. The name escapes me, however there is a group who decorates various walls and the like in the city with artwork.

[Information shouldn't be too hard to find with a quick google search. They seemed a large enough of an organization so them having a website is highly likely.]

If you're interested, I can look up the name and relevant information for you.

[...yea ok that does sound really appealing, even though Neku's trying (and failing) to not show it.]

...That would be cool.

[The fact the boy is interested and admits as much feels a good sign. Legal graffiti wouldn't get him arrested. Plus, him listening to the uh, painful as it is to use this term, old man who'd caught him shows quite a bit about his character.]

Very well. You begin cleaning and I'll search in the meantime.

[True to his word, Richard pulls out his phone (a smartphone to be precise) and gets to googling.]

[Neku still is a little hesitant to clean it up, but eventually he does actually turn and carefully starts scrubbing at the edges.]

[A few moments later and Richard provides all the details google pops up: the name, the location of their office, etc. Technology really proves useful at times. Should Neku require it, he'd be more than happy to actually write down the name.]

How should we set up this new log thing~?

Maybe like towards the end of class Neku sets something on fire? Like just as people are leaving so that Mr. Locke is the only one who sees and he puts it our before the fire alarm gets set off?

Sure! Want me to start? I could just have a lead in (he's subbing, right?) and the FIRE!

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[closed] a cop runs across an artist

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if scanning/reading surface thoughts isn't ok I can pretend neku didn't think of that. XD

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should i take what richard's thinking from the brackets or do you want to specify?

yup yup brackets work~

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want to do the other log now? c:

Sure thing~

ooc

Re: ooc

Re: ooc