(no subject)

[theyregooddogs]

[tired, oh so tired:] Akira, what is your plan?

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[theyregooddogs]

[blinks then slowly shakes his head, a few small laughs]

Sure.

[purrtagonist]

[heh]

I've been called stubborn plenty of times before. The kind of person who, once he puts his mind to something, doesn't back down.

[a breath]

I'm not about to give up on that now.

[theyregooddogs]

[man, children are so dumb nowadays, i hope he doesn't get shot]

Akira, I appreciate that you are young and hopeful, but it inspires people who are old and bitter to be mean to you. As a kindness.

[purrtagonist]

[I hope he gets shot. personally. Akira doesn't, though]

Am I inspiring you to be mean to me at this very second?

[theyregooddogs]

Oh, very mean. As in I am considering sharing old cases with you.

[purrtagonist]

Why? Do you think they'll break my spirit?

[SO WRY]

[theyregooddogs]

I would have serious doubts about your humanity if they didn't.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . yikes. . .]

You don't think someone can still be horrified by the awful things happening around them, and yet still move forward?

[theyregooddogs]

[softer . . . ]

Some can. Actually, many can. But I don't move forward out of hope, only fear— Terror. So, I try to give space to the many reasons why people push on. Or stop and even retreat.

[purrtagonist]

. . . I see.

[he mulls that over, because as a force inspired by determination, conviction, and in some cases, anger? he hadn't really thought about that]

[but it makes sense]

What are you afraid of, Graham?

[theyregooddogs]

And am thus moved by? . . . What happens if and when I don't act. It took a lot to push me into retirement.

[purrtagonist]

[another lengthy pause, and then a quiet response]

Me too.

[theyregooddogs]

Don't over-identify with me. My situation was simple; if I didn't help catch these murderers, then someone else would would end up dead. It was very clean and dangerous circumstances.

You— You, however, worry about the hurricane that is caused by the butterfly's wings. There are a thousand different threads to follow, so you are gathering them all up rather than cutting any of them because of what could come.

[purrtagonist]

[tilts his head to the side, grinning slightly]

You don't know everything about what my life was like before I came here. Maybe it isn't over-identification, but something I've been afraid of ever since I was arrested.

[he stands up a little straighter]

. . . I will keep things under control. That, I can promise you.

[theyregooddogs]

What things? Everything?

[purrtagonist]

Everything within my power to control.

[Akechi. he mostly means Akechi]

[theyregooddogs]

[that's what he was hoping]

Mm. Good luck.

[purrtagonist]

Thanks.

[glancing back at his lock picks]

Still a no on that hot chocolate?

[theyregooddogs]

[. . . sighing]

I prefer coffee.

[purrtagonist]

So do I.

I thought I'd change it up when you commented on my coffee habits, though.

[theyregooddogs]

Unlike you, I can control how much coffee I drink, though. Unless you're trying to say you can't make coffee and not drink it?

[purrtagonist]

I can, but I see no reason why I should in these circumstances.

[theyregooddogs]

And do you normally drink coffee like water?

[purrtagonist]

No.

Here, it's good at calming my nerves.

[theyregooddogs]

It's a stimulant. You're associating the context in which you previously drank coffee which did calm your nerves with the sensation of drinking coffee.