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Kim Kitsuragi: It’s been weeks since you’ve solved the case of The Hanged Man. Tensions have eased slightly since the resolving, but nothing is ever perfect. You both have been handling much smaller cases since then. But for now, a moment of peace for the both of you, as you sit on the bench looking out to the sea where the old men used to play shotput. It’s gotten colder.
Inland Empire: You close your eyes slowly and feel the world around you, the wind whispering softly against your ears and lips and through your fingers.
Kim Kitsuragi: “Detective?” The lieutenant’s voice breaks through the calm stillness. But you don’t mind that.
Perception (Sight): You open your eyes and turn to see the lieutenant. He’s flushed, a rare thing to see. The blood fills his face to keep it warm, making his cheeks and nose slightly red. His bomber jacket is fully zipped up and his sleeves are at his wrists. More rare sights. Warm breath exits his nose, forming a small cloud.
Conceptualization: A cloud of life. The vapor is created in his uneasy lungs and travels through him and is born into the world for you to see. That he’s still breathing.
- “… Hello.”
Kim Kitsuragi: “Hello.” the lieutenant nods to you, a bit off-put by the awkwardness of your greeting. “Is something the matter?”
Composure: A harsh breeze flies between the both of you. He does not react to it, clenching his jaw to keep from any possible chattering.
Perception (Touch): The cold bites at your face and palms and fingers. Your cheeks sting and your nose feels ready to fall off. You feel your hands shaking, trembling in the bitter cold.
- “It’s cold.”
Kim Kitsuragi: “Well, yes.” he pauses to look around at the snow-covered grass and trees. “Anything else?”
Reaction Speed: Yes, but-
- “Can we hold hands?”
Reaction Speed: Do you seriously have to say every thought that pops up in your old, fragmented mind?
Kim Kitsuragi: There is silence for a moment. Then the lieutenant raises an eyebrow in his usual inquisitive way, “Why?”
- “My hands are cold. And you’re wearing gloves.”
Suggestion: Easy there, we don’t want to scare him off now by being so demanding.
Kim Kitsuragi: “Don’t you have gloves of your own?” His eyebrows lower into a concerned furrow.
Empathy: He believes everyone should have gloves by now, given the long and snowy days.
- “No.”
Kim Kitsuragi: “Why no-…” The lieutenant stops himself and sighs, his face changing to compose himself. “Y’know what? Fine.” He looks away from you and puts his hand out towards you, as if he were gesturing in conversation.
Composure: His face expresses slight annoyance, but he’s clearly hiding something.
Empathy: He always is.
- “Thank you.” [Take his hand.]
Perception (Touch): Warm, like a nice crackling fire. From a distance, obviously. You feel your hand start to relax from the shaking. His grip is firm, but not tight. His gloves are almost soft. He handles your hand with care, resting it on his. How long, exactly has it been since you’ve held someone’s hand? Over six years, likely.
Kim Kitsuragi: “There, happy?” he glances at you for a moment before looking away again.
Empathy: He’s a bit embarrassed.
Suggestion: It’s kind of cute, in a way.
- “Yes. This is much better.”
Kim Kitsuragi: “Well, that’s good.” A slight smirk grows across the lieutenant’s face. “Anything else you want?”
Suggestion: Well, he *is* offering.
- “A hug?”
Kim Kitsuragi: “Hah, are you really *that* cold?” he finally turns to face you. The lieutenant sees your other trembling hand and unbelievable pale complexion only rounded out by your own flush. His lips curl downwards for a moment before composing again.
Suggestion: No, you aren’t *that* cold. You’d live. But you are immensely touch-starved.
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant sighs. “One hug won’t hurt.”
Composure: His face remains rigid, but something tells you it’s been a long time since he’s hugged someone and is a bit embarrassed about it. This is especially because he watched the way you hug and are somewhat touchy. Not hesitating to hug the working-class woman while she was reading or pressing your face against… What was his name? Lamby. You could feel his eyes follow your every move.
Empathy: Not necessarily with the same frustration of halting progress to hug or touch something, but with intrigue and a hint of envy.
Kim Kitsuragi: “Well?” The lieutenant’s torso shifts towards you and his arms spread widely.
Conceptualization: Like a bird gracefully spreading its wings, ready to embrace the wind that is you.
- [Hug Kim.]
Kim Kitsuragi: Your arms find their way under the lieutenant’s and around his lean and thin torso only made bigger by the puffy bomber jacket. And your face finds itself buried into the shoulder of said jacket.
Perception (Touch): God, he’s so warm. Warm and the jacket feels nice against your fingers. And you can feel him breathing. His heartbeat. His hands on your own back. Stroking it gently. As if you were a dear friend, or a dog.
- [Stroke his back as well.]
Perception (Smell): You can almost smell apricots. But it is overwhelmed by pine needles and motor oil.
Kim Kitsuragi: “Is this okay?” The lieutenant’s voice is low and soft.
Empathy: He shows confidence in his movements, but something tells you he doesn’t believe he’s very good at this.
- “This is amazing.”
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant pauses. Then, “Thank you, I’m very flattered.”
Empathy: He is.
- [Hug tighter.]
Kim Kitsuragi: You feel his muscles tense up. He was not expecting that.
Composure: What are you doing? If you don’t stop now, you’ll-
- … [Sniffle.]
Composure: Oh, god…
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant stays silent. He only continues hugging you. Still and nonjudgmental.
Empathy: It’s alright, he thinks, I’m right here.
Perception (Touch): Your eyes squeeze tightly and you feel the tears sting your face and wet the shoulder of his jacket, seeping into it.
Composure: You surprise yourself by managing to *not* whimper. Let’s reel it back before we end up crying so hard we vomit on the lieutenant. If not for yourself, then for him.
- [Sniffle and breathe.]
Kim Kitsuragi: “It’s okay. Take your time.” his voice is soft. The softest anyone has spoken to you with in years.
Composure: Please don’t crumble again…
- [Breathe slowly.]
Composure: You manage to catch your breath, albeit shakily.
- [Slowly pull away.]
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant follows your movements. Once you both are no longer embraced, he speaks up a bit, “Do you need a handkerchief?” He puts a hand up to his neck to unzip his jacket.
Empathy: He’s unsure if you still have the one he’s given you.
- [Pull the handkerchief from inside your pocket and wipe your face.]
Kim Kitsuragi: He lowers his hand without another word. A small smile appears on his face.
Empathy: He still has it, he thinks.
Composure: The lieutenant is doing his best to appear only slightly amused. But his eyes tell you that he is incredibly happy that you kept the handkerchief.
- “That was a good hug. Thank you, Kim.”
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant takes your hand again, not forgetting what he agreed to, “Thank you, too, Harry.”