detectivetroll | [Commentlog] | [closed] - backdated to earlier in the human event

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[Commentlog] | [closed] - backdated to earlier in the human event

[After talking with Julian and Kagerou on the journals and promising to drop by their rooms with dinner, Nick heads down to the kitchen. Monroe isn't really coming out of his room at the moment, either, which means Nick is pretty much just a food delivery service tonight.

Maybe he should try to get tips.

After grilling up some chicken, potatoes, and bread, and slicing up tomatoes and cheese, Nick brings the lot up to the barracks. He stops by Julian's room first, knocking on the door and announcing his presence.

He picks up some ale before he goes to Kagerou's room, because hell, if Kagerou's human, he might as well have some beer, too. Even if it isn't an Oregon microbrew.]

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That's a good idea.

[Although he'll have to figure out what he's going to say carefully, since he doesn't want to out Monroe.]

You could call him. Email him, find a go between?

[His expression flickers. The barest of smirks. Not even a real smile, but, hey. It's a start.]

I have them, from time to time.

[As for the question, he shakes his head.]

Doing that... I would need a way to do all of that. I don't think there would be any humans willing to help someone like me.

[It's good enough for Nick, man, he's used to dealing with someone whose default expression is 'ridiculously cranky.' He counts that as a win, and gives a bit of a smirk back.]

Shouldn't have said that, now I'll expect more.

[Nick bites the corner of his lip lightly, thinking.]

There must be someone. Hell, I could help.

[It vanishes abruptly, as the ninjabot ducks his head, as if embarrassed.]

I'm used to high expectations.

[After all, he had to outdo Shadowmaru, didn't he? In order to better train him.]

Wouldn't that require you coming back with me, rather than going to where you were meant to be?

[...aww, Kagerou.]

I was joking, man, my friendship isn't contingent on any kind of expectations.

[Though Nick does tend to have fairly unflappable faith in people.

Also, quit with your logic, Kagerou. Logic has no place here.]

I don't know, I've always wanted to visit Japan.

[He's not sure he buys this whole 'other worlds' thing. Especially given what he recently found out about his own world, that he never knew.]

You don't expect anything of your friends? Nothing at all?

[Was it wrong, then, to expect things of Shadowmaru? He'd never expected anything the other 'bot hadn't been capable of... but still.]

[He regards him, silently, from where his chin rests on his knees. Despite looking and sounding like someone fresh out of Japan... he has very bright green eyes. Weirdo.]

[It's a long silence.]

I didn't think there was anyone like me, where you came from. No AI.

I have faith in them, trust them to be what they can be and to do what I know they can do. But everyone makes mistakes, everyone thinks they've failed or let people's expectations down. I'm not going to stop being friends with anyone because of that.

[Nick's let himself and other people down too much to ever hold it against someone else. He's much harder on his expectations of himself than of his friends.

While Kagerou watches him, Nick looks back, silently observing. When he finally speaks, Nick smiles a bit and shrugs one shoulder.]

I didn't think fairy tales were real where I came from, either, but I found out recently I was wrong. I wouldn't be surprised to find there was AI there, too.

... I'll try to remember that. In case either of those things happen between us.

[He's trying, here. But he's only a prototype. What can he offer?]

[But then he shakes his head. While he and Shadowmaru hadn't been made public, the others certainly hadn't made any effort to hide themselves.]

The others aren't a secret. If they were present, I would think you would have heard.

I trust you, man.

[So basically don't worry about it, Kagerou. They're friends, and as far as Nick's concerned, Kagerou's already proved himself. Plus, he has that whole Grimm instinct thing.

That last bit kind of deflates his theory a little, though.]

Maybe. But I haven't exactly been paying attention to any news that isn't related to homicides in Portland, lately.

[Or Grimm stuff in Europe, but even that, only when it's brought over to Portland.]</small.

Trust me...

[He's more repeating it to himself than he is questioning it. He pulls his knees a little closer to his chest. Trust. He's only been trusted by one other person before.]

[... there's a lot of things he's only experienced with one other person before.]

You wouldn't have noticed discussions of AI, or homicides caused by robotic criminals?

Yeah. You're not going to tell me that I shouldn't, are you?

[Apparently that's a pattern of Nick's, trusting people who aren't used to having it.

But that doesn't mean they don't deserve it.]

...all right, good point. You sure they're known overseas?

You've already made up your mind. Trying to change it would be foolish.

[Even he can tell that much.]

[He regards him for a long moment.]

Everyone in Japan knows of the Brave Police. How could that many people keep such a secret?

Smart man. The last person I told that to, I'm pretty sure he's still trying to let me know it's not a good idea to trust him.

[But then, Monroe's just like that.

Nick shrugs slightly.]

You'd be surprised, actually, at how large of a number of people can keep a really big secret. But in this specific case, yeah, it'd be hard.

Maybe he thinks he has good reason for you not to.

[He's just making a guess. He has no idea.]

[His head shakes again.]

Then what you propose is likely impossible.

Yeah, he probably does. One day I'll get him to see that he's wrong.

[It was a good guess, Kagerou pretty much hit it right on.

Nick's shoulders sag.]

Yeah. I guess so. But there has to be some way, even if I can't help.

... The one who's important to you. Right?

[He can make pretty good guesses. Sometimes.]

If there is a way... I can't think of it.

Monroe. He's - yeah. That's him.

[His tone of voice is fond, there, if a little bit exasperated.]

I'll think of something. There's always a way, man. There has to be.

... You care for him.

[It's less of a question. He's responding to the tone of voice. Honestly... he'd sound the same way, if they were talking about his most important person.]

Not always.

Yeah, of course.

[The response is automatic, but Nick's brows furrow a bit. Kagerou's comment wasn't what Nick expected, and he's partly wondering where he'd been going with that.]

When it's that important, there has to be.

Your friend... the closest friend? Someone you have a connection to?

[Nick can you see where he's going with this yet? Hopefully, you do. You led him in a similar circle earlier.]

I... we'll see.

[...how did this conversation somehow circle back around to connections. Nick thought he'd steered it safely away.

Nick's eyes widen slightly as he figures out what Kagerou's implying, but then he just smiles, giving a soft, slightly amused exhale and shaking his head.]

Monroe and I - yes, we have a connection. Given the circumstances, probably one of the strongest ones in my life. But not what we talked about earlier.

[He's just. Not going to think too much further into that one.]

We've got some time, it seems, to try to figure something out before we get out of here.

[Because you put the idea in his head, Nick. This is all your fault.]

[His head tilts to one side, and he blinks.]

... Really? Why not?

[This is an honest question, man. Hope you don't mind awkward subjects.]

Yes. I... guess that's true.

[Nick will forever regret saying the word 'sex' around him.

There's an even longer pause after that question, mostly because it'd... pretty much never occurred to him. He doesn't have any ready made answers to that, other than 'we don't think of each other that way.']

Honestly, I've never thought about it. We just don't have that kind of relationship, and I - I'm with someone else.

[There's a hesitancy to his tone on the last part, though. With recently finally telling Monroe everything that's been going on between him and Juliette, Nick's not sure how much longer he can really say that.]

[As you should, Nick.]

[His head tilts, listening to that. He was only just introduced to the concept of a relationship, Nick, you're sort of confusing the entire subject now.]

... someone else is more important to you?

[It's just a confusing subject, man. Even Nick's confused, now.]

No. I-

[And Nick cuts off right there. It'd been his first response, to the suggestion of someone being more important to him than Monroe, something he'd said without thinking. It's not something he should be thinking about, rating the people of his life in terms of who's most important to him, who he can't live without more.

But now he's thinking about it. And he's not sure what the answer really is, doesn't know what he'd do with the answer.]

People are important to me in different ways. It's - it's complicated.

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