recolle | open

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WHO: Tatsuo & OPEN
WHERE: various locations around the city
WHEN: throughout February
WHAT: regular, everyday stuff
WARNINGS: n/a

monday, tuesday, thursday, and friday evenings -- utsuki dojo
After taking a couple weeks off from teaching at the end of January, Tatsuo is back for his classes in February. Monday night is for himself, the black belt class, as he continues preparing to test for his next rank. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday he teaches, first the adult beginners and then the self-defense class. He's noticeably restrained in his movements, whether participating or teaching. The observant will pick up on the fact he's favoring the left half of his abdomen.

most wednesday evenings -- deadeye shooting range
Most Wednesdays after work, Tatsuo is at Deadeye for about an hour. The consistency of his aim has steadily improved over the several months since he acquired his other-self's ability to use firearms. But that doesn't mean he doesn't still need to practice. Those that encounter Tatsuo at the shooting range will find him working with a couple different hand-guns, a pair of S&W Model 36 revolvers and a Beretta 92 Vertec. He's more comfortable with the revolvers, as he's had them for longer, but his aim is a little bit better with the Beretta. He's also apparently an ambidextrous shooter.

However, those who've seen him shoot before will notice he's actually having a little trouble. There's an almost imperceptible twitch whenever one of the other range users fires their weapon. And any time Tatsuo puts down the gun he's using, his left hand trembles slightly. Most noticeably, his aim is off. Though his consistency is good, his shots keep pulling to the right.

a few mornings a week -- recollé recreation + fitness center
Tatsuo's gym attendance has been rather sporadic the last several months. First the shoulder dislocation in September. Then getting his other-self's bullet wound in January. Honestly, it's probably still too early for him to be back at the gym, but Joanne's ominous message at the beginning of the month meant there was no time for taking it easy. All the same, he's careful. He's walking a fine line between maintaining his strength and aggravating his still healing injury. ~~Maybe he should stop being stubborn and go find a healer.~~

the occasional morning -- a coffee shop somewhere in town
Tatsuo could make his own coffee. Often he does, for the sake of his wallet. $40+ for a month of cafe coffee or $8 for two months of homemade coffee? Single serving coffee makers are the best. But sometimes he rolls out of bed a few minutes too late or he doesn't want to go back home after going to the gym in the morning. On those days, he joins the throngs of bleary eyed individuals in line at a nearby coffee shop. Once it is his turn at the counter, he orders his usual, small dark roast with two sugars and soy milk. Usually, he doesn't get anything else, but this morning, he spots a chocolate hazelnut croissant and is suckered into spending another $3.

mid-mission breaks -- tatsuo's apartment in tisse
For his friends currently on away missions, Tatsuo has extended an invitation of pizza and their choice of liquor whenever they happen to get back into town, whenever that is. If they take him up on that offer, he'll order up their choice of pizza to be delivered to his place and pop down to the liquor store on the corner for the libations.

Don't mind the owl cage, or the large eagle owl for that matter, sitting in the corner of his living room closest to his balcony. He's watching him for a friend.

[ooc: If you want to use any of the Feburary effects, jlmk!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"His city?"

The particular phrasing catches Tatsuo's attention.

"You said before that Carlisle is like us, getting memories of another him. But he didn't undergo this process here in Recolle? If that's true, that blows a couple of our theories out of the water."

Togusa flat-out stops and blinks a few times at that. "Aw, hell."

"Yeah, actually. He made it sound like he had come from somewhere else. Which might answer some of our questions about how Retrospec does their recruiting."

Fuck. Togusa hadn't thought of that, and now the very idea is throwing him off his train of thought. Is there a chance that they're doing this to other groups of people?

Tatsuo sips on his Coke.

"So between Wendy saying she's from a destroyed world and Carlisle saying he's also getting the memory treatment, that's two individuals working for Retrospec that are supposedly like us."

Slice one disappears and Togusa chews thoughtfully before he speaks up. “All right. That leaves us with two employees who are descendants of the Founders. Mahoney and Cavendish. I’d be willing to bet they’ve been in the city the whole time.”

He points with one finger. “Mister Baroque, Security, was described as having enhancements that are closer to what people expect me to be seeing. Fifty-fifty shot on whether he’s someone like us or if Retrospec is borrowing technology.”

“Joanne and Maurice sounded like they grew up with the company. Which complicates things in regards to Janet. Maybe she’s just another person from this city, because of the need to bring her sister along.”

“ and that leaves everybody’s favorite jackass Jim as,” Togusa finishes the statement by giving an exaggerated shrug.

"Well, no one cares where Jim came from," Tatsuo says as he goes for another slice. "And maybe Janet is like Joanne in that she also grew up with the company. Retrospec was a 'family' business from the onset after all."

"But I am curious about this Carlisle guy. What brought him out of the woodwork. Since he's their Hiring Manager, does that mean he works under Janet?"

"He said he got brought on because we needed a more 'personal' touch. Which means nobody already on the job wanted to actually bother to talk to us. But it also suggests Retrospec has some kind of external source to hire people from."

"Other than, well, us. I think that's their game here." Togusa shakes his head. "It's my job to put every one of them in jail, not fucking play along. Yeah, I know, I have to work with them in some capacity, until things get stable. But the long-term goal hasn't changed. I'm not losing sight of this." There's a quiet anger brewing under Togusa's skin about this problem, even though this isn't the time to bring it up.

Tatsuo lets out a wry 'hah!' at the phrase 'personal touch.'

"I dunno if none of them wanted to talk to us, but at least for some of the employees who've communicated with us in the past, their time could be better spent from on other tasks, from Retrospec's perspective. Joanne on R&D and Maurice on the mail. So maybe that means we'll still be able to contact Carlisle after this current assignment is over. Especially since this does feel more like an overt recruitment effort. Too bad putting a proper mole in there is nearly impossible."

He's a little doubtful they'll be able to bring charges against anyone associated with Retrospec, let alone the company itself, but he's still game for trying.

"I think that's what they're going for. Hell, the man posted office hours. I don't know where he is yet, haven't had the time, but once this assignment is over, I'm tracking him down."

"One thing at a time, but it's a priority." He sighs deeply. "I don't even feel up to hiding my own intentions from them. They're breaking the law and they know it, they're flaunting it, even, but they seem far more desperate for our help than the other way around. Another thing I don't understand." Even talking about this seems to be draining the energy out of Togusa, the hopelessness of what's ahead of them.

"You and me both. I have a few personal questions I'd like to ask him."

Like just what was up with his gunshot wound. And does that mean everyone with serious injuries are in danger of having something similar happening to them.

"Like you said. One thing at a time. Let's get through what's in front of us right now. You and the mission Carlisle has sent you on and me with the kidnappings."

The difference between Tatsuo's injury and his own is something that Togusa has kept silently worried about. It was a massive relief to know that Tatsuo had survived it. Was it the difference between the treatment they received? Did the microsurgery make that much of a distinction?

Or, if Retrospec could just do this to everyone painlessly, why weren't they?

"Even more questions, why are they bothering to help with the missing people? I know I've already asked it." Togusa shakes his head. "We won't get an answer until we talk to them."

Pause. "But what if. Okay." Just ask it. "What if the Chief comes out of this remembering Retrospec this time? What do we do?"

Tatsuo takes out his phone and pulls up his short exchange with Zee.

"I asked him that, but maybe in a slightly different way."

The notion the Chief could end up remembering Retrospec... Tatsuo has his doubts. Surely Retrospec would just do a wipe? But on the off chance...

"Well, I guess it would depend if she takes our side of things or the Mayor's."

Togusa leans over to read the exchange, and he frowns slightly. Both? "It's something we were thinking of in Pesgare. There has to be a third faction out there. Someone who knows about Retrospec, and about these cities."

But Tatsuo's idea there is confusing. Togusa fixes him with a curious look as he goes for more pizza. "What do you mean the Mayor's side? Do you think the Mayor already knows-"

You fucking idiot. Togusa's whole face falls as he remembers something. "Oh, son of a bitch. The very first time we got any of those Retrospec blueprints, they were smuggled out of City damn Hall. Of course Mayor Mayer knows."

"Not to mention his fingerprints were on some of the photos found in the history museum. Granted, not on the ones of the Retrospec building going up."

Either way, the Mayor knows something. Who's to say the police chief doesn't as well?

"Didn't Retrospec imply there was a third party back in August, when they said they weren't responsible for some of the shit happening with the unreality storm? My money is on Vanderweele, or someone who sided with him against the Founders and Retrospec."

Togusa's self-recrimination quickly morphs into irritation at the Mayor, himself. "Of course. God damn it, why, though?"

He sits back down, and his brow is furrowed tight. "It means we need to put him on the same list as the Retrospec employees. Is there a chance the Mayor is someone else remembering things? If so, Retrospec's control over the city is a lot deeper than I thought," and it slims the odds of being able to prosecute Retrospec in-city, but Togusa quashes that thought with a huge irritated bite of pizza.

A deep breath after he swallows. "I am not. Not. Getting paranoid about the Chief. She gave me a chance, when she didn't have to. She's been nothing but loyal to all of us. I will try to talk to her when she gets back, and if all it does is make me look like an idiot, then I will look like an idiot for her."

"Just..." glances at Tatsuo. "Get her back."

"Considering Retrospec and the Founders go hand in hand? That is an interesting idea though, the Mayor also getting memories. But if so he must be from a previous batch or a different batch like Carlisle is."

Could all important city positions be Retrospec plants?

Tatsuo nods in response to Togusa's request. "I will. Soon as Carlisle gives us the green light, I'm not coming back without her."

Or the rest of the kidnapped city officials, of course.

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