[WEEK 2: Saturday evening post-trial, lounge and elsewhere; Andersen]

[nowyouseeit]

[as promised, after the trial Kaito can be found at the lounge! if it's still a mess he's totally ignoring the blood, thanks. he's got his typical chocolate milk in hand and is already blowing bubbles into it via the straw]

[when Andersen arrives, he gives a wave]

Yo.

How're you feeling?

Comments

[nowyouseeit]

[oh my god Andersen]

It helps calm my nerves. Plus, it tastes good.

And the trial wasn't what I was talking about.

[he nods at the missing arm. THAT'S WHAT HE MEANT, GENIUS]

[nowyouseeit]

Better this than cigarettes. Or alcohol.

[places his glass on the counter before reaching out to take the bottle from Andersen. he arches an eyebrow, because he's noted that non-answer, but opens the vodka nonetheless]

Here.

[nowyouseeit]

[and they are walking! Kaito's keeping a close eye on him though, in case he. idk. gets tired or passes out from pain? losing an arm kind of sucks, dude]

You put that so casually. . .

[sheesh]

Whatever kinda monster you and Jake ran into down there, it sure did a number on you both.

[nowyouseeit]

Not "human?"

[he asks, obviously looking for some sort of elaboration on that]

Wait, his fiance? Since when was that guy engaged?

[nowyouseeit]

[cut him some slac he didn't know what that meant at first!! but. . . he guesses he can go along with it as he lets out a thoughtful "huh"]

Portal? Sewers? And you were only down there for five hours? What the heck kinda place is this?

[what the hell this place keeps getting weirder and weirder]

. . . do you need someone to scribe for you, maybe?

[nowyouseeit]

[pfffft. he snorts and gives Andersen a flat look]

Why? You think I'd write something other than exactly every word that comes outta your mouth?

[nowyouseeit]

I s'pose that's for the best. I dunno how I'd feel about working for an old man like you, anyway.

[takes another sip of his milk, and arches an eyebrow]

I thought we were talking about your missing arm.

[nowyouseeit]

[. . . oh. oh. oh. . . he sees what's happening here. and after last week, after Andersen caught him in the lounge sulking after Jason's death and Hana's false conviction, he finds it oddly appropriate]

. . .

Her death hit you pretty hard, huh. . .? You were roommates, so s'only natural you two were working together.

[he says that quietly, and his words are laced with empathy. he lost one of his roommates during their first week here. he knows how that feels]

[nowyouseeit]

[laughs lightly, but it isn't at Andersen, just. kind of at himself? it's a wry laugh]

I don't feel sorry for you. I just. . . empathize.

[a beat]

Losing the people you care about, no matter if their a friend or family or a roommate or even just a comrade in a stupid game about murder, sucks.

[he puts it so blandly, but. loss is something he's dealt with his entire life]

[nowyouseeit]

[WOW]

[putting it like that strikes a chord somewhere deep in Kaito's heart, and his hand tightens around his glass, knuckles white. it is a sense of a responsibility. it. . . always has been. back home, and now here. for Hana. for Jason. for everyone else who has been killed]

It may not be your style, but. . . heh.

Sometimes it's kind of nice to try new things every so often, right?

[nowyouseeit]

[welcome to do-gooder life, Andersen]

Go big, or go home, huh.

[tilts his head to the side a bit]

I don't intend to disappoint. I hope you don't, either.

[nowyouseeit]

[he shakes his head]

Then take this chance to punch life in the face and make something better of it, yeah?

[that's]

[so shounen]