circle7 | I guess that makes this AUjima 02.

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I guess that makes this AUjima 02.

[It's been weeks since he sent that letter off. Technically, nothing has really changed. Every day, he still wakes up to the same ceiling and is shuffled off on the same schedule, every hour, every week passes into a blur. It is all the same. Still, something slight has shifted in that time - a sense of relief somewhere in the back of his head, like a sigh and a 'Oh, made it through that one.' The only thing is, Adachi has no idea what 'that one' is. He doesn't even know why he thinks it.

The monotony is only broken by one of two things. When it gets too much - all that disappointment and suffocating mundaneness (and maybe, just maybe, a pin prick's amount of guilt), Adachi thinks about rooftops and television antennae, and maybe just ending it somehow. But no, it always comes back to the same thing - he failed at that too, and he can hardly bring himself to try something now. Figures, he always thinks, I can't even end things properly without someone telling me it's not allowed. His life consists of You Are Allowed's and You Are Not Allowed's these days. It feels like kindergarten and the tightening of a noose.

The second thing is more surprising. Every once in a while, he gets a request for a meeting. He always accepts them, because otherwise, it'd drive him mad. Usually, it's people he doesn't know - the faces of the lives he's ignorantly hurt. That makes today an oddity. Adachi sits down, rubbing his wrists as the guard uncuffs him, and tilts his head at the man across the interrogation table.]

To what do I owe the pleasure, Dojima-san? I thought the investigation'd be over by now, or do you guys really work that slow even without me trying to get in your way?

[ooc; AU!Dojima who joined the Investigation Team, take 2!]

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[A wry smile.]

And it worked? I never knew you to be the type to not worry about it when someone told you to.

[For a moment, Dojima almost forgets that this isn't the partner he knows, with a statement like that; like Adachi knows him well enough to say something like that. It causes a look of discomfort, suddenly, turning his attention to the end of his half-burned cigarette.]

Not cut out for that sort of thing anymore.

So you just came to beat me up, had your fun, and called it a day?

I went to put a murderer to justice.

[It's a rather unexpected outburst, almost surprising Dojima himself. After a second or two though, he frowns, leaning back into his chair.]

My job was done. The rest was in his hands.

Edited 2010-01-02 08:16 (UTC)

[The smile doesn't waver. Maybe that outburst is just what he was looking for, just the perfect reaction, because it was the reaction he expected, and as long as things went the way he thought they would, it was safe. He was still in the game.]

So then, what is it you came for, if your job's done?

[He still looks irritated, despite the supposedly good news he's supposed to relay.]

Just giving you a message. From Souji. 'It's taken care of,' he said.

[There it is again - that expression, caught between relief and discomfort, as if he isn't quite sure which to feel first. What was he supposed to think? He didn't even really know the specifics to begin with, just that there were loose ends out there, slowly wrapping themselves around Inaba's throat, and if no one stopped them...]

Oh. That's...great, I guess. Whoopee.

[His voice is quiet when he speaks. Well, now he really had no significance at all. Would they forget him? He'd become another gossip fad, replaced in a month by the latest Junes sale and the next idol sensation. Fifteen minutes, they say, after all, but fifteen is hardly enough. Adachi has an entire life to live out, here, behind these bars and these walls.]

[For sarcasm, even that lacks enthusiasm. Not to mention the expression on his face, that's all too unfamiliar for him to interpret, and too quick for him to figure it out.]

Sheesh, you can sound a little more upset. I thought you wanted shadows to take over.

[If Dojima didn't know better, he'd call that a joke. But at the same time, his voice has a tinge of harshness. Because hey, isn't it what he wanted? Why help 'those self-righteous brats' to stop it from happening? He's still not happy that his question was sidestepped so casually before, with something like "I felt like it."]

Edited 2010-01-02 08:45 (UTC)

[Adachi's eyes lower, and either his knees are awfully interesting, or he's trying to hide something again. Maybe it's the look of confusion, or maybe he's worried that if he keeps on looking up, soon enough Dojima will see right through him.]

...Me too. Heh. Sheesh, guess I just can't make up my mind.

[I was afraid.]

[Dojima stands, putting his cigarette out on the table and shaking his head. He doesn't get it. This visit and the last, he still doesn't understand his ex-partner. Still can't get into his head. Shouldn't it be easy, considering it's his job? But really, it's not so much that which bothers him, but the fact that a part of him wants to understand, if just to know why he's done the things he has. Blaming the world for his misfortunes, then suddenly saving a small piece of it, because he feels like it? It doesn't make sense.]

Still don't understand you.

Edited 2010-01-02 09:00 (UTC)

[A sound of laughter, but it doesn't sound amused.]

You were trying to?

My job, isn't it? Guess 'm not done after all.

[It's more than that, though, and the tone of voice says as much. Dojima has that bad habit of not letting go, after all, and you'd think it'd be enough that Adachi's behind bars where he belongs. But no, his mind still isn't at ease. It's more than putting some criminal he never knew in the slammer then forgetting about it; and that's enough to put Dojima on edge. He won't be satisfied until every wrinkle is ironed out of this case, no matter how closed the precinct says it is. Even if he tells himself to drop it, there's no promising his resolve will last long.]

You're pretty uncooperative, too.

[It's not a bribe, or a reward, but the gesture is something none the less - Dojima tosses a cigarette box across the table. There's only a few left in there, but they're a rarity in prison, anyway.]

Uncooperative? Hey, now, that's insulting. I told you guys everything you wanted to hear when you questioned me.

[Adachi stares at the box for a moment - the carton is slightly bent, the corners wrinkled from being in Dojima's pocket. He doesn't like trades, but surely, this is an offer, and those he takes, because he hardly gets them. Slowly, he reaches out and draws the box towards him. He half-expects it to be empty, and half-knows it not to be. Dojima is too much of an honest brute for that. He slips one cigarette out into his palm, rolling it around with his fingers before wedging it between index and middle.]

Say officer, can I have a light?

I'm not looking for what I want to hear.

[Pulling the lighter from his pocket, he circles to the side of the table, flicking the flame on and holding it out. (Rules say he can't give him anything potentially dangerous.) At this proximity, the differences between Adachi-the-Partner and Adachi-the-Ex-Partner become even more obvious. That bruise from last time is gone, but his face is thinner, and black lines the bottom of his eyes. Even at rest his expression differs greatly, but Dojima's not sure how to describe it.]

And it's detective.

[It's exhaustion, and defeatism, and it's dropping a mask and pretending to be nothing but himself. Hey, he can't help it if the real thing's uglier, you know, twisted and black and being acutely aware of it, entirely unapologetic for it. Adachi leans his face towards the flame, lighting the end of the cigarette as he draws in a breath, and consequently, leans back when it lights with a short-lived fire red, burning out a second later. It gets its fifteen seconds, even less than his fifteen minutes. Adachi looks up at Dojima, eyes large because his face is hollowing.]

What do you want, really, detective? I'm playing by your rules, so if I've got it, I'll give it to you.

[If he has it, it's not worth holding on to.]

[For once, Dojima keeps his eyes on Adachi's face, not looking down at a cigarette or his watch or an unimportant detail on the table. Maybe he is trying to see right through him, but it's to no avail, anyway. A trouble look crosses his face as he considers the question.]

Just wanted to know why you suddenly stuck your neck out for a town you hate. I don't believe this 'I felt like it' stuff.

[Adachi shrugs - and as reactions go, the first is always the most trustworthy. It's likely that he himself doesn't know why he did it - maybe he just needed something to do, maybe he'd been thinking about it so much, that if he didn't tell anyone, he'd go mad. Sadly enough, the people who were closest to understanding him were the ones who put him here in the first place. He couldn't tell the rest of these hicks about the TV world or shadows or the voice in his head. As if prison wasn't bad enough, he would've been sedated and medicated every few hours in addition. No thanks. He'd take jail.]

I wasn't sticking my head out. I was just thinking about stuff. Thought you guys might be interested. Don't think too hard about it. You might hurt yourself.

[Dojima sighs, but he seems to accept the answer this time. Whether he accepts it as Adachi hiding something or Adachi telling the truth, though, even he's not sure.]

...Guess I'm done here.

[Adachi looks up.]

That's it? That's all you came for?

What, want me to stay for a cup of coffee and chat?

[He crosses his arms, looking towards the door.]

I just came to relay Souji's message, at his request.

[Adachi lowers his eyes then, and that's a familiar gesture - it's the same type expression he gets whenever he is duly scolded by his superior, the sort of abashed, "Oh I should've known that" look. He puts the cigarette back to his lips, and when he speaks again, the words are fettered by the obstruction. He can already see the guard on the other side of the door looking up, getting the cuffs out.

That was what, maybe fifteen minutes? It was enough.]

Oh. All right.

[It's probably the only gesture Dojima has recognized thus far. He blinks in disbelief, though; that can't be right. It's enough to cause hesitation, looking between Adachi and the guard, before he holds a hand up through the window - a "hold on a sec" gesture. The guard leans back against the wall, but cuffs still in hand.]

...I'll wait 'til you finish that. It'd be a waste if he has you put it out.

[If it surprises the guard, it surprises Adachi just as much. He snaps his attention up as he hears the clinking of the cuffs stop, the footsteps never quite reaching his side. Adachi turns his head to Dojima, expression disbelieving. He stares at the man for a second, cigarette hanging from his mouth, before another look Dojima doesn't recognize flashes across his face. For a split second, it looks like something hurts, like something is incredibly sad, and it's so fast he hardly has a moment to let it sink into his features before it disappears again.]

...Ha, how considerate. Thanks for that.

[His head lowers, face out of view.]

I like this brand.

[Dojima catches the look, and for a moment he thinks he knows what it is; but the assurance that he does is just as fleeting as the expression, gone when Adachi looks back down. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it again, leaning against the table before he speaks up.]

Yeah? It's not bad.

[It's a little awkward, carrying on a conversation without looking at the party. Is it just you, or is Adachi going through that cigarette rather slowly?]

...How's Nanako-chan?

[It works both ways, anyway; Dojima seems awfully interested in the boring, gray floor.]

...Good. Better.

[The guards are probably wondering what they could still be discussing, and Adachi's eyes linger on the handcuffs at their belts, half focusing and half not paying attention at all. Nanako was not his fault, so he feels no need whatsoever to apologize for that. Adachi classifies events as completely individual phenomena to begin with; it's doubtful he'd recognize even a mention of blame. Still, as he watched her frail, tiny body withering on the hospital bed, even he could sense that there was a heavy atmosphere of sorrow in the room.]

So it's just you two in the house now?

Edited 2010-01-03 02:35 (UTC)

[Dojima easily blamed Namatame before; up until he understood just what it was that made him do all the things he did. There's still some blame there, but he doesn't quite think Adachi's completely innocent of the incident pertaining to her. After all, if he hadn't convinced Namatame in the first place...

Brushing the thoughts aside, he gives a nod.]

Yeah, just us.

[Dojima's silent for a moment.]

Been quiet.

Edited 2010-01-03 02:48 (UTC)

[Adachi laughs a little, under his breath. (It may or may not be covering up a small cough, since he's not that avid a smoker.) He remembers the handful of times he visited the Dojima household, and it had never been 'quiet' then. Loud dinners, even drunken stupors, everything about it had seemed so lively - but it's distant now, like recalling a play after the final curtain has fallen. How dramatic, he thinks, mentally laughing at himself. The cigarette is almost done.]

It was like that before, right?

[Before Souji came, before Adachi did, before everything started turning into this terrible spiral.]

[Adachi's not wrong, certainly - it was awfully quiet before, in a much less pleasant way. Dojima didn't pull as many late nights back then, but even with the extra time he spent with his daughter, he still couldn't face her. Not with guilt still riding his shoulders so heavily, and the giant hole cut into their family. Nowadays, though, it's a comfortable quiet. It's just adjusting to another missing presence that's familiarly sad, even if it's not permanent this time. Souji's impact on them resounds still.]

Mm. Guess so. It's a little different, though.

I'm sure you'll get used to it, detective.

[Technically, the only things that have changed are things that were new to begin with - no extra person in Dojima's spare room, no extra person to pass coffee across his work table. More accurately, it's like the surface of a pool calming again once ripples have spread across it. It's all the same.]

You'll forget there was even a difference soon enough.

[You'll forget me, Adachi knows, because people rush to forget the most unpleasant things first. As soon as these fifteen minutes are over.]

[His brow furrows, eyes still fixed on the floor. It hasn't been a forgettable year in the least, but people do adapt and adjust; remember and forget. Just as Dojima still remembers being called 'Dojima-san' by this person, rather than the distant, barricading detective. It reminds him that maybe this whole small talk business is just silly, maybe a waste of time, maybe better forgotten. But there's more he wants to know - not on the level of detective to criminal, but partner to (ex-)partner. Dojima watches as the last bit of ashes fall from the cigarette to the table, like the last of sand in an hourglass. Looks like it won't be this time. Dojima leans off the table, glancing at his watch subconsciously. Sixteen minutes.]

Don't smoke 'em all in one day, yeah?

They'll take 'em away from me.

[Adachi slips a hand into his pocket, taking the rest of the carton with him, and he runs the pads of his fingers over the softened edges, the bent corners. The dying cigarette spins a line of smoke into the air, disappearing before it gets anywhere. Adachi doesn't bother to get up, but he watches Dojima with an unreadable expression as he goes. For once, he doesn't look sly or cunning, just blank, and tired.]

But I appreciate it, I owe you one.

Edited 2010-01-03 03:56 (UTC)

[It's not something he expected to hear from Adachi. He owes him for much more than a few cigarettes, after all, but he's not about to bring it up. Not this time, anyway.]

Thought you didn't like trades.

I like debts even less, which is why I'm owing you instead.

[He can hear the guard approaching, but he doesn't turn to look.]

...hm.

[Dojima gives a curt nod to the guard, heading toward the door.]

See you around, then.

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I guess that makes this AUjima 02.

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