buttcentral | THE DISCO COP

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? ]

Well, yeah. I can't exactly go searching for someone without information. Asking around is just...normal.

I do that all the time. Besides, the village chief was the one asking me to do it so I couldn't exactly refuse.

[ You can't say no to the leader. There are some jobs that are difficult for Nier to turn down and this was one of them. He'd been searching for a long time on his own so it reached this point. ]

What, does it bother you?

[ HALF-LIGHT [Challenging: Failure] - Of course it *bothers* you! He didn't come to you because he knows the guy, he did it so he wouldn't have to do the hard work himself! He's making you his bitch, you bitch boy.

COMPOSURE [Challenging: Success] - You take hold of your emotions. It bothers you, but you don't crack. ]

No, it's fine. As long as we find the guy. That's what matters most.

[ that much is sincere, even if he does feel like... whatever. what the fuck ever. ]

Yeah, I agree. Sometimes people just go missing. Look, how about this. I'm asking you to help me with my job so I should be paying you in return for your time.

[ Nier's starting to wonder if this might take longer than he initially thought. It's not fair if Harry gets dragged too deeply into this.]

I can offer you some silver or anything else you might need.

[ HALF-LIGHT - YOU DON'T NEED HIS MONEY, FUCK HIM!

VOLITION [Medium: Success] - Calm down, you're getting worked up over nothing. Accept the offer. Sometimes an olive branch is just a branch. ]

How about this: I'll take half of whatever you earn off this. Finder's fee. Sound good?

[ a part of him feels bad for even asking for money. the other part likes money and hates being broke. he likes to think kim would at least be proud of him for not asking for money from every person he meets like back in martinaise. ]

That will work, thanks. I owe you for now so...remind me when we're done. I'll have to give what's due.

[ Some of the jobs that Nier does is really shady at times. If Harry accepts Nier's offer there might be some blood money mixed in there somewhere. Of course, it's not something that he says out loud but given his appearance and background a lot of his activities might be seen as illegal. Yikes. ]

There should be a decent amount of coin for you. Are cops getting paid well?

Hah. No.

[ a wry smile creases up on his features. what did kim say? twelve hour days, barely 5000 annually, and most of their funding is donation based. it's a broken joke. ever since he woke up he's certain he must have been an insane man to take this job and stick around for nearly two decades. he's even more certain he's currently insane for staying. ]

But hey, all that means is the ones who stick around are the most dedicated!

[ wait what why do a job that doesn't pay well? Dedication doesn't guarantee anything. Nier just looks very confused so much that he stops sprinting and has an expression of utter bewilderment. ]

Why do it then? I know you want to help people and do the right thing but it's not that simple. Nothing ever is.

[ There's got to be something more to this. Nier wonders what could drive someone to go to such lengths and willingly work with a job that has poor payments.]

[ he's quiet for a moment, letting the night overwhelm them in silence. then- ]

At the start, I did it for love. Now, it seems to be all I have.

[ SHIVERS [Challenging: Success] - Far away, in another land, in another world, a woman stands at a balcony. She stands over the scattered lights of Mirova at night, a hand on her stomach. In three months, she will give birth. It will be her first child and she is truly, truly happy.

INLAND EMPIRE [Trivial: Success] - It isn't yours. ]

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