calloperators (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
calloperators) wrote2019-01-14 05:25 pm
calloperators) wrote2019-01-14 05:25 pm
TEST DRIVE
> Hello, you have reached the 1-800-HOTLINE Test Drive. We are currently unable to take your call. Whilst we put you on hold, feel free to play around for a while...
Waking up
Go downstairs, to the lobby. Meet the others. Don't get attached, and don't mention this call.
The AC is busted and in this hot summer, you probably won't want to stay in your room forever.
Of course, there's much more around here than just the motel. Stepping out and hitting the town will give you plenty to do. There's stores aplenty, but that's nothing to say of the good residents of the stores; your friendly neighborhood bodega cats. They're content to laze around the aisles, though the more playful sorts may swat at your wayward accessories as you pass by.
Don't mind that they seem to disappear - and reappear - with a blink. That's just something cats can do.
Of course you are! There's plenty of places to eat here, but why go to some no-name joint when you can go to McDonalds? They've got burgers, they've got fries, they've got McPizza, and they even have a playplace! ...Though you're probably too old for the ball pit.
Regardless of what you order, if you even order, the cashier presses a small toy into the palm of your hand. Don't you feel a pair of tiny eyes on you?
For fuck's sake, someone only went and killed a guy in the McDonald's parking lot. Maybe his head is smashed in under that chicken mask, or maybe you'll want to check? You could do the right thing and work out who did this, or you could make off with his baseball bat. The choice is yours.
What good's a city that goes to sleep? When the sun goes down, the lights go up. The city becomes aglow with every colour of the neon rainbow, with bowling alleys, nightclubs, karaoke bars, arcades and soon-to-be-extinct roller discos competing for your attention until the sun comes up. You're here, there's no curfew, it's time to make the most of it.
Have something else in mind? Go wild, and party like it's 1989.
no subject
Whatever the case may be, it's clear that this guy is fucking bonkers.
Juno shoves his hands into his pockets (and subsequently the burger), his eyebrows furrowing as he looks at the McNugget toy.]
I mean, I guess? Like, I've got enough grudges against the cops, but don't you think that you're reading too much into what's obviously a mass-produced kid's toy? [A pause.] Actually, why do you have that? I thought they only gave those to whoever ordered the...Happy Meal things.
[He says the name like it's poison in his mouth. What a sad attempt at yet another company trying to market happiness to its young consumers.]
[cw: smoking]
[Tonegawa did find the whole thing rather perplexing. He was clearly no child, and didn't arrive with any children of his own. In fact, given just about everything about the way he acts, one certainly wouldn't assume this is a man with any kind of family whatsoever. The image he cultivated just gave off the wordless impression that he was never born and raised, but rather... sprung out of the ground, fully formed, already a wrinkled, graying old man working middle management. It was unsettling to put that idea into words, but it was far easier to comprehend than the alternative of imagining a man like this had ever been a child himself.]
We live in a society of mass-production, ma'am. You can't simply discard a gold nugget of wisdom for being factory assembled. In fact, given the sheer predominance of such mass-made commodities within the sphere of public consciousness, the creation of such commodities is paramount to our identities and understanding of the world. Are people, too, not simply brought into this world as crude, unrefined materials- pressed, twisted, and molded into a serviceable shape as our manufacturers see fit for us?
[He inhales deeply, breaking the slimy, callous smirk plastered on his face, rounding his mouth and allowing the smoke to unfurl from his barely-parted lips.]
no subject
He takes a tentative step back from Tonegawa's table, eyeing him carefully. A covert threat, huh? Either this guy's also been receiving phone calls, or he's regularly in a position in which his life is in danger. Juno hadn't told anyone about the phone call he received--yet. He's been trying to piece together as much as possible before revealing that he was also contacted. When it comes to skirting around people like this, information is a precious commodity.]
If I'm being entirely honest, sir, I don't give a shit about what you think people are molded into being. I'm not a goddamn philosopher, and I sure as hell don't plan to be one anytime soon.
[Tonegawa's inadvertently touched a nerve with that. Not that he's going to tell him about...well, everything, but it certainly puts more bite into his words. He wrinkles his nose at Tonegawa smoking.]
You mind putting that thing out? A lady's got sensitive lungs.
[cw: smoking]
[At Mr. Steel's request, Tonegawa firmly presses the lit end of his cigarette into the Sarge's face and ruthlessly grinds until it's been put out. He lifts his hand to find the chicken nugget cop's facial features rendered utterly unrecognizable, smothered under the burnt ashes.]
All metaphors aside- as convenient as it would be otherwise, human beings are far more complex than these plastic playthings. If being processed through the system alone was capable of turning every individual into a functional, upstanding member of society, I wouldn't have the job I do. [The corner of his lips tense up into what could very charitably be defined as a "smile".]
[Tonegawa stands from his seat and approaches Juno, opting to take a walk in order to relieve the tension acutely rising in his system, as he could now no longer smoke his stress away. Pacing in a line adjacent to the detective, he continues to speak with an overbearing sense of smug self-assuredness and condescension.]
I know you may claim disinterest in what I have to say. That's perfectly fine. You can join the club, with the countless legions of desperate scum that came crawling to my feet begging for a second chance at a life they wasted through their own negligence- and still manage to muster the audacity to cry cruelty when I tell them salvation is only guaranteed to those that accept the risk and put in the effort to attain it. They're uncomfortable with having to confront that truth because they want to convince themselves that they had nothing to do with their own mistakes. They want to believe it was simple misfortune, something they couldn't have possibly influenced. They've grown so used to roulette wheels and horse races that they view their own life circumstances as just another game of chance and not a beast of their own making.
[He abruptly stops right next to Steel, spine straightened in stiff ramrod posture supported by arms folded behind his back. With his head lowered and eyes shut, it seems he truly is just talking for the sake of talking to himself.]
I didn't stumble into my position by accident. I didn't accomplish becoming the man I am through anyone's designation for me aside from my own. I rightfully earned every reward and reprimand I received. The reason I am where I am now is because I possess that awareness.
[His eyelids lift open to reveal his pupils already in position, shooting a sly sideways glance at Juno.]
We practice philosophy in order to better understand ourselves and others. What do you think it says about you when you decide to reject it?
all of this drama and it all started over a nugget man
He lets Tonegawa's question linger in the air for a moment, his nostrils flaring as he glares daggers at him.]
And I bet you pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps, huh? [He lets out a single, sharp scoff-laugh. There's no humor to be found in it.] Full offense, but I think it says a whole lot more about you than it does about me.
You wanna know what I do for a living, asshole? I'm a goddamn private eye, which means it's my job to help the people in this city who can't be helped by anyone else, when the system takes and takes and takes and never gives anything to them. And, sure, you can blame it on them all you want--maybe they did a wrong move somewhere or had one too many sick days, but that doesn't mean that they're broken or can't be helped, and that doesn't mean they need to be punished for being human.
[He jabs an accusatory finger at Tonegawa--and, holy shit, he looks fucking pissed.] But you--you can't wrap your head around the idea that maybe these mistakes get worse when the people in charge do nothing but stroke their own egos and throw money at each other so they can look down at the people dying in the streets and shrug their shoulders and say "well, it's their fault for not being rich". You--You moron, all you've told me is that you don't have a shred of empathy for anybody who's not actively kissing your goddamn ass!
[Juno pauses for a moment, trying to collect himself. When he finally speaks again, his voice is a low growl and gradually crescendos into a vicious snarl.]
So, sir, do you mind shutting your goddamn MOUTH BEFORE I DO IT FOR YOU?!
[He just wanted to sit here and eat his goddamn burger, but if Tonegawa wants to throw down, this detective is 100% ready to deck him in the face.]
i can't believe tonegawa's gonna get his ass kicked in a mcdonald's
[Sneering at the accusative finger pointing in his direction, he moves to envelop Juno's hand in his palms so he can direct them into a familiar position: held low at an equal distance between the two of them, mechanically bobbing up and down in a shrewd businessman's handshake. He addresses Juno in a softer affectation he reserves exclusively for difficult guests he can't afford to offend- but without bothering to sand off the harsh edge of insincerity to his false civility.]
Yes, yes, what a noble cause you've chosen to gain revenue from. But for what it's worth, detective, us upscale socialites aren't all so cold and callous as to casually turn a blind eye to human suffering-
[He snickers lowly, body quaking from the hiccup-like convulsions stirring in his chest.]
...after all, it's such a delight to spectate.
[juno voice] come to the mcdonalds parking lot in the next 5 mins if you want an ass kicking
There's barely a moment's pause when Tonegawa feels a fist connecting with his lower jaw, fueled by sheer overwhelming rage. When you're a scrappy private detective, you learn ways to end fights before they even begin and target people right where it hurts the most. Juno steps back, nostrils flaring and rubbing his knuckles. Juno's previous expression has been swept aside, replaced by a scowl holding nothing but fury and hurt for this absolute asshole.
The cashier seems to have noticed the disturbance and looks vaguely alarmed, but, frankly, they're probably not paid enough to deal with this. It would probably be smarter to just stay quiet and leave, but...he can't help it, he has to get in the last word somehow.]
What's the matter, buddy? Not so fun when you're not spectating, huh?
[Juno lets out a growl of contempt and shoves his hands into his pockets, starting to storm off towards the exit.]
tonegawa found dead in (hotline) miami
[...not as though he didn't expect the detective would clock him- oh no, the possibility of that happening was achingly obvious, even to someone as self-absorbed as Tonegawa. Given how much he was goading Juno on, he would've been surprised to find a lack of hands being thrown in his direction. ...but it all happened so fast that by the time he even began processing that he'd been hit, he was already resting uneasy on dislocated knees, collapsed face-down with a cold hard tabletop pressing firmly against his nose.]
[The disorientation wore off long enough for him to hear Juno's final words- face tensing into an aggravated wince over someone else getting the upper hand on him- but he at least possesses enough sense to stay his tongue and not to incense Steel further than he already has. Or maybe being coldcocked in a McDonald's was embarrassing enough that he's no longer cocky enough to tempt fate any further.]
[So... he's just going to lie low like this while Juno's leaving. As they say, you've got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, and know when to let the lady walk away.]