-

It's a rather spacious apartment - in the sense that it had one of those modern open floorplans. The kitchen and living room spaces were merged together. To the left were two doors- one, presumably leading to Cade's bedroom. To the right, down a narrow hall, was another door attached to one side; flat against the wall was an ornate chest-drawer. On it is a little shrine in the form of a platter and a framed photograph, with offerings placed on the platter. Incense sits steeply pointed up in an ashy pot, unlit. His living room comprises of a long black couch, coffee table, TV table but no television set. Instead, a small radio sits propped on the TV table, next to a laser disc player and sound system. There are very little personal effects. The framed pictures on the wall are generic, and you get the sense they came with the apartment. There is a single framed photo on the TV table. Across from you are large windows looking out across Cantilados.

What a strange (interesting?) man indeed. Mr. Kinoshita approaches you as everyone gets situated. Now's a good opportunity to take a look around his house - after all, that may as well be a glimpse inside of this man's head. "How are you feeling, Mr. Doyle?" @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

He’s sized up the apartment, of course. A habit of his, even if it makes him appear rude. In particular he finds himself staring at the frame on the TV table. Surely he wouldn’t keep stock photos in his own house, right? -# The ones on the wall don’t count. He understands — artwork is expensive. “Hm?” Oops, was he staring too hard? “Me? Um.. I should be asking that of you, Mister Kinoshita. Ahaha.” So he does. “How are you feeling? I hope we weren’t too rowdy.” -# @li 🚭 five (kazik)

Of course there's framed stock photos in his own house. They're just elsewhere. But this photograph Arthur finds on the TV table is real. It's a younger Mr. Kinoshita, clearly. He doesn't look different at all. Still wearing a blouse and tie, even, with a blank expression. There's a teenaged girl next to him, wearing plastic sunglasses, throwing a peace sign at the camera. She's hugging his arm with her other hand. Black hair, obscured eyes. -# Roll SHARP.

"I feel fine," he answers easily enough. Unhelpfully enough. @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

He figures Cade won’t tell him not to touch anything — or if he does, it’ll sound more like a suggestion. Even so, some self restraint. He stops up the photograph and gives it a proper look. “That’s nice, I’m glad. After all, dinner was rather spicy, aha.” 🎲72

@li 🚭 five (kazik)

J.J. @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

"Did you think it was spicy?"

“Not particularly — my mother’s family is from Chengdu, so I’m quite used to spicy food.” He turns now, to face Cade directly. “You know J.J?” -# Fuck… fuck! He’s probably mistaken, right? @li 🚭 five (kazik)

No pretense. He answers uncomplicatedly. "She is my niece." .... He tilts his head thoughtfully. "In the asian sense." Not blood related. @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

“I see.” He laughs. It’s not like the other laughs. No sheepishness, no wavering, no awkwardness at all. A bite to it. A touch of incredulity. The kind of laugh that sounds when you’re in an argument and your interlocutor says something offensive. “Small world. JJ’s something like a niece to me too. How did you meet, if you don’t mind me asking?” -# This guy… this guy…-!! @li 🚭 five (kazik)

Yes. "I was employed under her grandfather for some time." "So in a sense, I became a family friend. And babysitter." "She has spoken well of you." @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

-# ~~IS IT TOO LATE TO K#LL MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~ — He does not say. Because that would imply too much. Or give off the wrong impression. He instead says: “I’m glad.” He instead says: “You seem close.” He instead — takes a deep breath. “… The person over there -“ he says, pointing toward the shrine - “Family?” He asks to change the subject, because he knows Cade probably won’t give a shit if he asks outright. -# Which makes Arthur a little cruel, but who cares? He certainly doesn’t. -# @li 🚭 five (kazik)

You can be as cruel as you want to me, Arthur. No one will see. But let's just take it slow first, then. I don't want to push you too hard. You're nicer than you realize, even if it's for pretend. He doesn't need to look at the shrine to know what he's pointing at. "Something like that." @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

He walks over, to take a closer look. He doesn’t care how this looks to Cade. He doesn’t care if the others happen to see his blatant snooping. “Is that so? I’m sorry for your loss.” He doesn’t even try to sound sorry. -# @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I see." He knows you're not sorry. He lets you go look.

It's a butsudan, a shrine for a dead relative. The frame has no photo in it. Instead, just a pressed orchid flower on a piece of cardstock, with an autograph beneath it to the side. @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

Orchids. He remembers being told that they’re particularly appropriate for funerals. Enduring memory, eternal love, sympathy — the deadliest sin. — Love for someone who’s gone. The fact that the flower is pressed gives him the creeps. -# I don’t ever want to end up like this. “What are we doing tomorrow? You said to wear clothes we wouldn’t mind getting dirty.” He minds all of his clothes getting dirty. They cost (good) money, after all. -# @li 🚭 five (kazik)

He's a traitor to his own philosophy, a hypocrite. That's true. At least he knows what he is. It's something he has reconciled with himself. "Waste disposal." @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

“Waste disposal.” He repeats. “… How did you get mixed up in all of this?” General question. Cade can answer however he wants. @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"Waste disposal." "Voluntarily." Unlike you. You could say that the situation I am in is in my fault. If it'd make you feel better to resent me. "It comes with the work." @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

“What work, you kill somebody?” he says it reflexively, like he forgot who he works for. Like he forgot who he’s supposed to be. -# Shit. It doesn’t matter anyway. After all, the fact that you are here, in Cantilados — the fact that you are acquainted with her — the fact that you admitted to doing these things, of your own volition— … Coincidence really is the product of malice, isn’t it? @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"Yes." "Are you scared?" @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

“No.” A bit of honesty. “Not of you, at least.” He thinks back to the photograph. His jaw sets. “… You mind if I take a call? My fiance calls in the evening to say goodnight. The conversation never runs long,” he says, pivoting. “Also, is there anywhere more private to sleep? I’m worried someone might snore.” Frankie or Hotaru if he had to make a guess. @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I don't mind. Take longer if you will. There's a phone by the door." He'd ask you if you needed to simply leave for your own sake - weasel out of this and go home to someone who loves you. He won't fault you for that. But he doesn't ask, because he assumes you would've, had you wanted to. "You don't need to put yourself in danger for my sake." Not like he thinks you will. But you have someone you care about. "You could run away, and I won't get you in trouble with the Cartel. I'm not going to write negative reports regardless." You don't know if you can trust him. It could be a trap. But... .... He also doesn't seem to really respect the authority figures in his life, from what it looks like. Even though that could be an act. "If you don't mind sleeping in my room, that's a possibility. I can put a futon out on the floor." So they'd be separate, anyway. "Or you could sleep in the bathroom." On the floor. Ha ha ha ha ha. @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

“It’s not for your sake.” He rarely does this — clearing the air. Usually it’s better to let people think whatever they want. Let their own assumptions bite them in the ass. When that happens he says, Well I never said that. When that happens he says, Not my fault you misunderstood. “I don’t half-ass my jobs. Even if they’re a pain.” Even if he has to be here, babysitting a salaryman who isn’t his salaryman. “… I’ll sleep in the bathroom.” He doesn’t know if Cade snores. @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I see." —Perhaps his most appropriate usage of the phrase, this time. He thinks he understands Arthur a bit better. "Your honesty is refreshing, Mr. Doyle." He doesn't tell him to be more honest. He just says it as it is. @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

That gives him the creeps. Even if he's being honest, there's no reason to point it out. Being liked means being not taken seriously. "Sure." What else is there to say. "Well, I wouldn't want to keep you awake, so I'll make myself sparse." .... ... "Which room is the restroom?" -# @li 🚭 five (kazik)

The key to happiness is knowing how to let go of seriousness. There's some sort of freedom that comes to you when you realize nothing truly matters. He nudges his head towards the door beside the shrine. @Jade .⚯̫ Arthur

You expect a guy who named himself Arthur Conan Doyle because his oomf said No one will believe that's a real name to unclench?? Be serious. "Thank you. Good night, sir." He doesn't know he's about to have the second worst sleep of his life. -# @li 🚭 five (kazik) THANK YOU FOR RP SORRY. drags you back in here to do 2 replies and then waits patiently for session