Boys In Not-Blue And Related Fields [Closed-ish]

[standalonehuman]

WHO: Cops, CSI, Lawyers, Private Investigators, Judges, and Emil because he blackmailed his way in.
WHERE: Togusa's Apartment
WHEN: September 3
WHAT: Info-sharing, catching up new people, and coordination of what the hell the Recolle Police Department is going to do from here.
WARNINGS: Potential discussions of all the things that happened last month, so death, dismemberment, references to setting body parts on fire.

This meeting was originally going to happen on more neutral territory. Togusa was all set to steal one of the conference rooms at the station. But after one of their members has gone through another physical change, one she is quite self-conscious about? Togusa made the decision to move this somewhere more private and pull everyone over to his apartment. He has a multitude of reasons for doing this, primary of which is information. But it's also a way to connect everyone better, especially to Cleo and Naoto, to show them that they are a part of the force like all the others.

The apartment is spacious for only one person, enough room for everybody. Togusa has pulled out every chair he can get, and he's got stacks of drinks out for people. Please don't mind the white miniature schnauzer who will sniff at the ankles of anyone. He is very calm, but has a little bit of a limp on his front left paw. He will try to climb up into any lap that sits still.

Random items throughout the apartment may still have plastic googly eyes stuck to them, either because Togusa hasn't found them yet, or (like the bottle-opener) he left it that way because he thought it was funny.

They're here to discuss business, and Retrospec, but Togusa's home is still open for them to socialize, as well.

Comments

[standalonehuman]

Togusa's cheek sharply twitches, and he looks at Cleo. For a second, the Officer is gone, and it's just Hitori looking at her, analyzing her point. "Driving us away..." He looks down.

"So. What do we do, instead? Do we keep trying to reach out to the people who aren't even- aren't seeing the city the way we are? It feels a little dishonest when I talk with them. Or maybe-" cuts himself off. Togusa shakes his head.

[cattack]

"... I don't know."

She looks down. "I have never been good at socializing with others. Nor do I have any friends aside from Retrospec. And I think if I continued to reach out to them, it would be out of spite to Retrospec, which feels dishonest as well."

[standalonehuman]

That was not the answer Togusa had expected or been prepared for. Forget the question under his question for a second, he needs to be there for Cleo, instead. "I know what you mean. But."

He is actually probably the last person to be giving this advice, but Togusa says it anyway. "Don't let this whole Retrospec thing become so overwhelming that you forget about everything else. You've still got a life to live."

[cattack]

Cleo shakes her head, looking up at him with as much strength as she can muster in her gaze.

"No, sir. All I want from my life is the chance to help others. Retrospec is causing harm, so... The life I wish to live is spent stopping Retrospec from harming anyone else." That, and... She doesn't know any other way of living. Her life is one that was borrowed, after all- Her blind eye reminds her every day that she came close to death at the same time her parents died. She could have died, and instead she was left with no one. Alone, and with a too-strong sense of justice that led to her butting heads with everyone else her age, unable to overlook even minor, childish 'crimes'... She had no friends, no one to rely on. Her life was one to be spent for the sake of others, to protect those who would be missed, unlike her.

Since she had no one, it was preferable if she got hurt over anyone else.

[standalonehuman]

There is a very strong pang of protectiveness and sympathy for a second, and Togusa's hand twitches at his side, like he's stopping himself from doing something. He heaves a deep sigh, and takes a knee to get down on her level, look her in the eye.

"Consider this- both a personal and a professional piece of advice, all right? Think of what it is you want to protect. In specifics. Because you've got something outside of the potential job. You're just not thinking of it right now. Friends, family. Doesn't have to be blood family," he knows her circumstances without the specifics. "There has to be something outside of the work. Either remember it or find it. Because there are plenty of people who probably want to be that for you, if you let them."

Pause. "The professional side comes in, because the people who get very caught up in the crusade and forget to do anything else are the officers who burn out the fastest. Valuable minds, great potential, that can't hack it when you're looking at a span of twenty years. Get lost to alcohol or other escapes. The ones who rise up the ranks really quickly but then look around one day and notice that they forgot why they're doing this."

[cattack]

Cleo goes quiet for a minute. Twenty years... She had honestly never thought that far in advance. Thinking that far ahead was like thinking of an alien world, to her.

She nods. "I understand, sir." At least, she doesn't argue, but she's not sure. Would anyone want to be that for her? But, this was an important meeting, and not the place to get her personal problems all over.

[standalonehuman]

The corner of Togusa's mouth quirks up in a not-happy twitch. "Don't have to call me that, you know. Even here."

But he'll let it alone. He knows that Cleo will think over his words, she doesn't need an answer on it immediately, but change in perspective takes time.

...And maybe Togusa needs to take his own advice. Damn. He's going to have to give someone a call for a lunch date after everybody leaves.