With a good criminal heart, hinting at things best left unknown.

[underachiever]

Who: Shikamaru and Seras
When: night of Saturday, January 28
Where: Fangtasia
Summary: Shikamaru takes an old friend out for dinner. (And you thought he was lying about feeding vampires...)
Warnings: Blood, I guess. Unpleasant conversation, maybe?


[He told her he'd meet her here. It isn't as if he's got a car, after all, and he'd only slow her down by foot. But he arrives at the club early, arranging a more private booth for the two of them that'll put some distance between them and the loud dancefloor. It's not difficult. He's practically an employee, if under-the-table.

He orders his usual (vodka tonic) and waits for her to arrive, keeping an eye on the front entrance.]

Comments

[bloodthirsts]

[At that she nods, glad she's not the only one.] Names and faces, it's like they became blurred. When I tried to remember details it's, um, fuzzy.

[underachiever]

[He nods.]

Don't worry too much about it. Whenever someone from that place turns up, it seems to jog our memories. I don't think we have to worry about something nasty sneaking up on us.

[bloodthirsts]

That's a relief at least. [Since she's sure there's at least a couple she'd want to know to rip to pieces if they appeared.] How many of us from Neo Genesis are there, here?

[underachiever]

For a while it's been just me and Nill. Yosuke's here, but he died last summer and forgot everything about us when he came back. Naruto just got back and he seems to remember everything. Itachi-sensei didn't know me when I first arrived, then he disappeared for a while and remembered when he returned, but he's gone again now. And my brother's been here a few times, but... well, it's complicated.

[bloodthirsts]

Yosuke... [She recognises Naruto and Nill's, feels like she should know the others. Seras nods.] I remember he was a little difficult to get along with sometimes.

Do you live with them?

[underachiever]

I did... Don't anymore. It's too dangerous, with the way the companies keep coming after me.

[bloodthirsts]

Where are you staying now? Why do the companies want you?

[underachiever]

Got a place of my own out in eastern Sector 4. Looks more like a factory than an apartment, but it's nice inside.

[He pauses for a sip of his drink.]

...AGI's been coming at me for a while. I was arrested for attempted murder a little over a year ago. They pulled me outta prison and blackmailed me, forced me into service. Had me working as a slaver 'cause of my powers. Then last summer these guys Edgeworth and Armando brought up an anti-slavery case against the company. I testified against AGI in court, AGI lost, then I was killed a couple days later when they botched an attempt to capture me.

When I came back, I started working for Edgeworth so AGI didn't risk another attempt. More trouble than I'm worth, maybe, but I haven't written off the risk completely. I was good at my job. They'd probably jump at a chance to force me back into work.

SERO's kinda a new problem. I hadn't thought much about them, with all the AGI trouble. I actually kinda unintentionally did them a favor, testifying against AGI. But I got on the wrong side of one of SERO's scientists. So that's why I was kidnapped last month. This guy just wanted an excuse to torture me.

He's in jail now, but that's never for long around here. I dunno if it's even worth the effort of testifying against him. Either way, he'll come after me again. I'd rather avoid the media circus and have the privacy to deal with him myself.

[bloodthirsts]

That's good. You know if ever want to I'm sure Mister Van Hellsing wouldn't mind if you came by the manor.

[A variety of emotions cross her face as he recites the problems he's been having. Even though she knows it wasn't her fault she still feels a little guilty that it took her so long to get here.]

... bleedin' hell. You really have been through some times, Shika.

[underachiever]

[He shrugs.]

Story of my life, right?

[bloodthirsts]

Got that in common. [She smiles sympathetically.] Good thing we have each other.

There must have been some good stuff though, right? You seem to have made some friends around here.

[underachiever]

Yeah, there's been good stuff. A lotta people who make life worth living. Lotta people I probably wouldn't leave behind even if I had the chance. Despite all the shit this place gives me, I've kinda stopped looking for a way home.

[bloodthirsts]

That's great, Shika. [She really means it too, smiling at him.] Though I'm surprised to hear that... well I suppose that's what you get when you're two years behind someone. Do you have a job here?

[underachiever]

[He shrugs.]

I did. Worked with the police 'til I went to prison. Now they won't let me back on the force, since I'm a convict. But I'm not working with Edgeworth anymore, either. And since I was a slaver, most Newcomer businesses don't want me. There's just... not much of a place for me. In this world, people like me are usually slaves, since there's no legitimate work for us. So I haven't really figured out where to go.

[bloodthirsts]

[Picked a bad subject again, good job, Seras. Her finger draws circles on the tabletop.]

You'll find something, I mean, you have a home and friends, you seem healthy, you have things going for you.

... I'm not really sure what to do here myself, either.

[underachiever]

[He doesn't look upset by it. He's had plenty of time to come to terms with his situation.]

Not gonna get back into law enforcement?

[bloodthirsts]

I've thought about it. Maybe third time would be the charm? [She grins haplessly.] I don't seem to have much luck with it.

[underachiever]

You're a good cop. And this place really needs good cops.

[bloodthirsts]

[Maybe he's right, maybe in this place where a vampire could walk openly and honest about themselves...] I'd like to, I think. I like being in a position to help people, protect them.

[underachiever]

Yep. Seems like the right place to be.

Or maybe I just have trouble picturing you anywhere else.

[bloodthirsts]

[She laughs.] My Master did keep calling me police girl even after he changed me. I like it, can't say different.

What's the force like, here?

[underachiever]

...Corrupt, honestly. I mean, the Chief's a good person and she's real good at keeping the force as a whole outta company hands, but you know a huge percent of the officers themselves are in someone's pocket. If you don't watch your back, you end up like me.

But that's all the more reason why we need good Newcomers on the force. There's Re-l Mayer and a couple others, but we really need to build a presence.

[bloodthirsts]

[She frowns] That really does sound bad...

It's horrendous that it got like that. I really, I mean... I guess that seals it. If I can do something good, I will.

[underachiever]

[He smiles at that.]

It's good to have you back.

[bloodthirsts]

[She blinks, then smiles back brightly.]

Glad to be here. [Seras picks up her glass with what blood is left in it.] To good company?