that's why you sleep with one eye open

[lucycoded]

Who: deathlessness, fragmentsoflucy, and later proxysearch
When: Starting mid-day on April 25th.
Where: The warehouses near the docks, moving to police station.
Summary: Shinji goes to meet with the famous Urick with only a vague idea of what is going to be waiting for him or what's to come.
Warnings: Shinji and everything that comes with him. Struggle, guilt, disturbing conversation,

Comments

[deathlessness]

[Urick had arrived early- Much earlier than was necessary, giving himself time to scout the area. He couldn't be sure why Shinji wanted to meet with him, but the man was a friend of Yaha's. That alone was reason enough to be cautious. Even so, there was nothing unusual to be found. No tricks or traps. Nothing lying in wait. So he would lie in wait, instead. Picking a position where he wouldn't be seen, but could see any comings or goings to the docks, he sat in silence until the time for their meeting drew near.

The docks were all but abandoned, so it wasn't hard to spot Shinji as he approached. The man's posture is casual, unconcerned. So much confidence, especially for one who was injured as he was. Either he honestly believed that Urick would do nothing against him, or he had something up his sleeve. Or perhaps he just didn't care either way. You never could tell, with people like that.

He makes his approach as soon as Shinji disappears into the warehouse, reaching the door just in time to catch the tail-end of his sentence, clearly not directed at him. Amamiya? A name? But not one he recognised. Well, he could think about that later.]

Ah, hello. I'm not late, am I? [His tone is cordial, friendly, light-hearted; the kind of tone one would use when discussing the weather with an acquaintance after bumping into them on a street corner. Such a fraud. But then he always had been a fraud, hadn't he?] And here I was hoping to make a good impression. For shame.

[lucycoded]

[Kazuhiko turns immediately to meet the voice, not at all stunned by the face (or rather the helmet) that it is coming from. Although he had heard substantially less from Yaha than Shinji, he knows enough. There's the threat that this man could be an impostor, someone trying to get to him because of Yaha, because of what Shinji did; but he would wait to draw that conclusion. There is good in everyone, and everyone deserves that chance for their good to be seen. He would spare nothing less for this man. Glancing down at his watch, he simultaneously confirms how much time he's lost and easily denies that Urick is late.]

No, I haven't been here long. [His voice is even, not exactly devoid of emotion, but rather reserved and unwilling to show it. He doesn't smile, but there's not a heaviness either. Simply being, a numb and detached state of existence.] Punctuality doesn't denote a person of back character in my opinion, as it were.

[Introductions. It would be rude for him to wait, and the need to extinguish himself as his own person always rules out most other initial subject. He bows curtly, in the way of his culture, and speaks firmly.] I am Kazuhiko Amamiya. Thank you for coming.

[He knows very well the reaction that could be coming, especially if this man had agreed to meet Shinji.]

[deathlessness]

[Amamiya... Not for the first time, Urick is glad for the helmet that obscures his expression. The man he'd seen approach the docks had been Shinji, he was sure of it. This man, his attitude was entirely different. What had been said before he'd entered the building? What had happened?

Only the briefest of pauses gives away his uncertainty. His voice certainly doesn't, with not even the slightest change in tone.]

Not a problem. [And he nods, ever so slightly awkward, in response to the bow.] My name's Urick, though I suspect you already know that. I was under the impression I was here to meet Shinji. I suppose he couldn't make it after all?

[lucycoded]

[A comment that Kazuhiko knows is coming, but it still hits him hard. His expression barely flickers, showing only the briefest instant of something pained, maybe shame. It's gone before the emotion behind it is made clear. His tone is just as even as it had been at his introduction. What to say? Admit? Lie? Both are painful thoughts.

Evasion seens to be the best option.]

I do know your name. I've heard a lot about you, Urick. [Slight tone of awkwardness. It fades as he moves to business, or rather, what he thinks is the business involved. It doesn't matter what Shinji wants.] I need your help.