buttcentral | THE DISCO COP

[ ELECTROCHEMISTRY - What's with this *light* piss shit you have in your hand? Call the bartender over, get her to give you some vodka. It will make your insides warm and numb your defective heart.

VOLITION - His heart is not defective, it is in pain. You won't find salvation on the other end of the bottle, Harry. ]

[ harry du bois sits at the counter with a beer, a light one that does nothing for him as he drinks from it every few minutes. the taste disgusts him, but he is fighting off the urge to get anything stronger. he's trying to get sober, trying so very hard, but it's so hard. for now one hand holds onto the glass and the other cares for a cigarette between his index and middle fingers. it is half-smoked and right below is an ash tray for the smolders to drop into.

he turns his head when addressed by some young-20 something kid. the mention of missing people piques his interest. as it should - he is a cop. ]

How many people? What do they look like?

Edited 2021-08-10 01:49 (UTC)

I'm looking for two people. One of them's a girl around my age that has white hair like me and the other is an older man. He's always carrying a red bag with him.

That other guy didn't show up at his post so I was sent to go and look for him.

[ People go missing all the time. Nier can only check so many places on his own before he runs out of ideas and needs to inquire again.

He's wearing an outfit that looks like it's made for hunting and traveling. Maybe if Harry takes another look at Nier he might find some bloodstains on the kid. ]

Have you seen anyone like that?

[ COMPOSURE [Challenging: Success] - Despite the situation, he is calm and collected as he speaks. He carries himself confidently and with a level-head, in control.

HALF-LIGHT [Challenging: Success] - There is blood on him. ]

[ harry takes another huff of his cigarette as he looks the man over, taking note of the red stains without drawing his eyes to them. he turns his head to exhale and clears his throat. ]

No, not in here. Are you sure they're missing? Did you check their home, or lodgings? Try to call them?

[ he assumes the answer to all these is yes, but he has to ask. ]

Yeah, that's the first thing I did. Believe me, I would have noticed them immediately. The girl has a peculiar way of speaking and always uses profanity.

[ Nier always gets blood on him for one reason or another. It's an every day occurrence so he doesn't appear to be overly concerned about it. He could have gotten himself hurt in a skirmish earlier. While he may be young and less experienced than Harry he doesn't seem to be telling any lies so far. ]

What about you though? Are you alone here?

[ HALF-LIGHT [Formidable: Failure] - DO NOT ANSWER THAT TO THE BLOOD-STAINED MAN!

DRAMA [Impossible: Failure] - Why does he want to know if you're alone? This is most suspicious, sire. May I advise a bold lie? ]

No, I'm not. [ he takes a beat then waves his cigarette toward the back of the tavern. a couple men chat at the table over beers. ] Those are my buddies. We're off duty right now. Even cops have to take a break.

[ a lie, but one he hopes this guy will buy. ]

[ You know, Nier just wanted to be polite. He doesn't want to hold up Harry for so long. He's not getting anything out of this other than wasted time. It's possible that Harry could have had other companions waiting for him. So in the end, Nier just accepts the lie. ]

Sorry for bothering you so suddenly then. Excuse me, but what's a cop???

[ The ignorance is as plain as day here. They had guardsmen and watchmen for security back in Nier's village but he's never heard of a cop before. ]

[ CONCEPTUALIZATION [Challenging: Failure] - What *is* a cop? When you really think about it, your head spins with more questions than answers.

AUTHORITY [Trivial: Success] - Shut up, you know what a cop is! Assert your dominance. You are the law. ]

A cop is someone who keeps the peace. Maintains things, keeps law and order. If you have a missing person's case on your hands, then a cop can help you. [ he drums his fingers against the counter, thinking with them. ] Are you absolutely sure they are missing? If so, do you have an idea where they could be?

I checked the usual places and asked around. Someone said something about seeing the older man at a tavern so I came here.....only to find you.

[ well, it might be fortunate that Harry can help or assist with a missing person case. ]

A cop is a keeper of peace? That would make you a good person wouldn't it?

[ Debatable. Nier comes from a small village with very little education and understanding. Words go over his head but he comes to understand that maintaining peace is good. ]

The guy with a red bag has been missing for over a week. I'm more worried about him than the white hair girl.

....I'm Nier. My name is Nier.

And I'm Harry.

[ he pauses, contemplating, then crushes the bud of his cigarette against the ashtray. fuck it. even if this guy may be trouble, he can't just base that off seeing some blood on him. if someone is really missing, then isn't it his responsibility to help find them when someone comes for help? he's making it his responsibility. ]

Ok, let's focus on the guy. When and where was the last time you saw him?

Edited 2021-08-10 18:50 (UTC)

Almost a little over a month ago. He lived in some costal city so I asked his family members for information. Supposedly he got into some kind of argument and then vanished.

[ Nier knows this guy so he can't say he's entirely surprised. Still, he holds the side of his chest as if he's in pain. Perhaps Nier might not be telling the entire truth or omitting some details about his previous actions. It doesn't seem like he's just looking for people at any rate. Harry is entirely right to be suspicious. ]

Your name is Harry, okay. I got it.

An argument? Do you know what it was about, and who he got into it with?

[ an argument could be a reason for running away, but he can't tell if nier knows what it was about. at the very least if an argument is involved, then this is likely not a kidnapping situation. ]

An argument with his wife. They always argue all the time though. I didn't think much of it at first.

[ Sometimes couples just bicker for no reason. It looks like it might actually be serious this time? Oh man.]

I'm not in a relationship so I have no idea what could get them so worked up like that.

[ love drives people crazy sometimes. ]

[ INLAND EMPIRE [Trivial: Success] - A wife. It's always a wife. Why can't it be something else? Like a child, or an uncle, or the family dog? No, it *must* be a wife.

EMPATHY [Medium: Success] - The argument must have been terrible if he ran away. ]

I can make a few guesses. [ he responds tersely and stands from the bar stool, pulling on the lapels of his jacket to smooth them down. ] Ok, so in cases like these the person who ran off would likely go somewhere they're familiar with. A place they know or find comfort in. Do you know of any places like that for this guy?

Some place familiar... The guy works as a ferry men during the day. Is it possible he took off on the ferry?

[ It would explain a lot if nier just couldn't find this other man because they were on bodies of water, not land.]

Where would you go if you wanted to run away?

[ ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Trivial: Success] - To the nightclub.

ESPIRT DE CORPS [Challenging: Success] - To a crime scene.

INLAND EMPIRE [Impossible: Success] - Into the sea. ]

Anywhere but where I was. [ he shrugs. ] Ferry sounds as good as any place to start. If nothing else, we can check the place out and see where that takes us. Do you know where the docks are?

The docks shouldn't be too far away from here. We can get there on foot.

[' Anywhere but where I was? 'That's kind of vauge. Maybe Harry really hated his old place before. Nier can't even begin to understand the other man's circumstances or why he would respond like that. ]

Are you alright, Harry?

[ Kinda funny that a guy covered in blood is asking that kind of question right now. ]

[ harry's brow presses down. ]

Yeah, why wouldn't I be?

[ he's fine, just fine, fine as one can be when you're him. it is what it is. he reaches into jacket and fishes out some cash, enough to close out his tab, and sets it on the table. he's about to leave but then realizes one thing he has to do. harry turns over his shoulder- ]

See you boys later!

[ -shouted at the men sitting at the table, his "cop buddies", who look up and seem bewildered for a few seconds before returning to their conversation. ]

Lets go Nier.

Well, if you're okay then we can go.

[ Nier just gets up and heads toward the exit. There's nothing he needs to do before they need to leave. Maybe he should conceal the bloody knife hidden in his armor better. It's a thought that might have occurred to him. He still stands at about six feet in height.

Though young, Nier is quite tall for his age. ]

The sooner we get back the better. I've...never traveled with a cop before.

[ he is tall, but harry is just a couple inches taller. this detail is only relevant to say he doesn't feel emasculated in the moment. they get out the tavern and harry spits to the ground. ]

Nothing special about it. I just like to run, if you're ok with that. [ he grins. ] Ok, lead the way.

I can sprint. Running should save us some time too.

[ At least they wouldn't have to spend thousands of years just to reach their destination. ]

The docks are just to the south of here. If we keep going straight and then turn left we should be there in a flash.

[ He waves towards Harry as they leave the tavern. ]

Do you just help people because it's the right thing to do???

[ and so they begin the sprint, nier taking lead. he's more than able to keep up despite appearances. ]

Yeah, mostly! It's also my job. If you really came to me for help, then I figure I should take on the task.

[ he likes taking on interesting tasks, getting them done, helping others along the way. ]

Thanks for your help. I might not know cops but I know the village guards. They're kind of like you.

[ People who work to help the citizens. Nier just thinks they might be different titles in the end. ]

The guards are responsible for keeping everybody else safe. It's a tough job.

[ ENDURANCE [Medium: Success] - It is. The years have raged on, and your body is breaking apart at the seams. The average life expectancy is only about seventy, but you? Brother, you would be extremely lucky if you even make it to 50. ]

Yeah, well, someone has to do it. At least that's why I do it.

[ he likes to think all cops have some drive to help others, but the reality is people join the force for their own reasons. those reasons are not always so pure as the profession presents them to be. ]

And what exactly do you do, Nier?

Odd jobs. I'll do what people ask me to. It doesn't matter what it is.

[ Nier has killed people for work before so that might seem a little suspicious. Bottom line is, if he's getting paid he'll be compelled to do it. ]

It's hard to find work so I'm not picky. This time it's just looking for missing people.

[ RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - It doesn't matter? How very specific and yet incredibly vague all at once.

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Godly: Failure] - Fixing pipes. Painting rooms. Pulling out the weeds. He can do it all. ]

So wait, you took a job to find these people? ...And you're asking me to help with your job?

[ his tone isn't judgmental but very curious, looking for an answer more than anything. was he struggling that much? ]

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