001 | { VIDEO }

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

[When the video turns on, it's pointing to the side, where there's a man slouched again the stone wall, a cigarette hanging from his lips. He breathes in deeply, and then lets it out slowly, holding the cigarette between two fingers.]

Pretty crowded for a place that needs life brought to it.

[Says absently as he continues to people watch, and he taps off some ash, bringing it back up to his lips and sucking in, the ember burning.]

I have a few things I need to know. First, I'm looking for a little girl, brown hair, pigtails. The maid said new people are arriving every day, and they're being sent to all these different houses. So I'm asking if anyone has seen my daughter. Her name is Nanako Dojima. She's seven years old.

[He glances into the communicator.]

If you see her, tell her to stay where she is, or head over to the Heimdall House. That's where I'll be. Second, if you meet a bunch of kids from Yasoinaba, Japan, tell them Souji's uncle is looking for them. [More smoking.]

Third, could use some more cigarettes. Anyone who has any extra... I'd appreciate it.

Comments

[video]

[metaleyedgirl.livejournal.com]

Souji Seta? He's here!

[video]

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

[Looks at, tilting his head slightly.]

Did you meet him?

[video]

[metaleyedgirl.livejournal.com]

Yep! He's in Freyr's house.

video;

[verifies]

[ there's a lot he could say, and he feels a great deal of relief at seeing his uncle... though he doesn't show it much. but still, might as well deal with the most important issue right away. ]

Nanako is here. She's in the Sigyn House.

video;

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

[Thank god. He was really worried for a second there, and he gives one of those super rare smiles.]

Is she with you? [Pause.] ...Are you okay?

not here;

[foggiestidea]

[How to approach... It was easier with Souji. He knew Souji as the type to keep things quiet when they needed to be. After all, the kid had gotten so long keeping the TV World a secret from his uncle and at least knew how to keep his mouth shut if the answer had been an affirmative - which it was - and now Adachi isn't sure how to even talk to his partner. Ex-partner... They aren't on the police force anymore, since this place doesn't seem to have one. Even if it does, or is going to once they establish it, there's still the aftermath of the events that had happened prior to Adachi's arrival. Does Dojima-san know...? It's gripping at him, keeping him from commenting right away.

He's scared, and for a moment he lets that paranoia overtake him. But then he stops to notice a good sign: Dojima neglected to mention him. If Dojima was in the same situation he was, he'd be asking for Adachi, wouldn't he? To square things away, make sure they talk before Adachi could run away... which he would do, had been doing for quite a while until those brats dragged him out. Is it worth it to go in blindly and respond? Dojima doesn't seem riled up now, not like he had been, could've been, and he's asking for Nanako. Not surprising there, she's pretty much his reason for living now. Adachi knows that much.

Maybe he should wait and see what comes out of the woodwork for now. He can't be too careful, right? So instead of responding right away like a good little gofer, he sits back and waits and watches. When he feels the need to comment, he will, and if he doesn't feel the need, then he won't. He does plan to, tentatively, once he gets a better idea of the situation between Dojima and the Investigation Team. And Nanako, too.

Strange how he first thought coming here would be like a second chance, but everyone he knew from Inaba followed him. Things are different, sure, and the timelines are up in the air, but it's still enough of a strange happening that these gods seem to be pulling people from the world at random and yet get significant key players of a single incident from rural Japan.

What it does give him, however, is a sense of importance. It feeds his ego, and he even convinces himself that maybe the reason the gods are so interested in bringing those people here is precisely because of what he's done, what they've done in return. It makes him smile crookedly, smugly. Suddenly something that happens makes sense, and to think those annoying little brats had called him worthless. Shows what they know, right? These are gods, after all, you'd think they'd know their stuff when it comes to importance.

Dojima's here because Adachi's here, and Adachi's here because he stirred up the pot a little. He broke the order in that wretched society and made things happen. If there's any consolation for having to go through that troublesome encounter with those brats, it's this: a confirmation that he'd gotten someone's attention. Multiple someones, even.

He can do this. All he has to do is wait a little and see how his partner is doing, and then react to that accordingly. If all goes well, he won't know anything. If he does, then fine, Adachi doesn't have to let Dojima know he's there. He can just hide. Of course, Souji's seen him, now, and Rise too, which means Dojima will eventually find out about his presence, but waiting for that to happen gives him time, and that's just what he'd like.]

video;

[foggiestidea]

[And that's it. He's done enough waiting, done enough watching. In hindsight, it doesn't really take him very long to gather the courage to bullshit his way through things again, to get into old habits. His fear is being distracted by impatience. It's not even clear when Dojima would get around to getting back to him, since he's going out to look for Nanako, now, who is apparently here too. Sure is nice of the gods to bring both Dojima and his daughter. Then again, it makes sense to anyone who knows the two well enough.]

Cigarettes? I could look around for some, but I can't make any promises on what I'll find. [Gofer habits die hard?]

[ video ]

[unifying.livejournal.com]

[ OH NO HIS DAUGHTER...! ]

I-If you need any extra help looking for her, I'd be more than happy to lend a hand! Or a pair of eyes!

[ video ]

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

I'd appreciate that. The last time I saw her was a few days ago, and I need to make sure she's okay.

video

[willblossom.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I'll try to look for yer daughter! [well... she's not really allowed to leave her house district, BUT DARN TOOTIN' she'll get to looking!]

And what's a cigarette? [PONIES DON'T SMOKE ASGDAH]

video

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

Thank you. [Any help is appreciated.]

...It's something you smoke, with tobacco in it.

[video]

[agoodfamily.livejournal.com]

Oh - ! They're all here! If it's Souji Seta, anyway... he mentioned a seven year old cousin, so it's probably him. And he's got lots of friends here, so there'll be a lot of people you know.

[Now she's getting a little jealous. An uncle, too...? But Souji is nice, so he deserves it. It's unkind to envy him.]

[video] hnnnnn Bokurano people <3

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

Souji Seta is right. I'm his uncle, Dojima, and Nanako is my daughter. Looks like the entire town showed up in this place.

Voice.

[departing]

I've heard the name Souji before.

He should be around, I guess.

[Shu's never met the person before so he can't be certain.]

This isn't very helpful, is it?

Voice.

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

Lots of kids named Souji back home, you're going to need to be more specific.

[Lets out a barking 'ha'.]

Not helpful at all, kid.

video

[thaumatic.livejournal.com]

[HMM. Probably should say hello, it's the polite thing to do, even if he's pretty sure Dojima will forever remember him as that idiot that got his nephew arrested...]

H-hey, Dojima-san! Nanako's just fine, did anyone already let you know?

video

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

[... Yosuke. Disapproving frown is a go.]

Hanamura. Souji told me she's okay. Did you check in on her?

[Video]

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Yasoinaba?

Ah, I haven't met Nanako yet, Dojima-san, but I did see a girl about t--my age the other day! I didn't catch her name though, sorry!

[Video]

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

It's in Japan. Little island, and it's up to the north of it.

I hope there aren't too many little girls here.

video

[exposes]

Ah, Sen- Souji-senpai's here. Nanako-chan too. Don't worry, Dojima-san, we've been looking after her since we all got here.

video

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

Kujikawa? You're here too? Your grandmother must be worried. You okay?

[Video]

[geminidol.livejournal.com]

Uncle's...uncle?!

The plot thickens! Mami knows where Soujin is, though! He prefers to be called "Ojisan," though!

[Video]

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

Uncle's uncle? I think you've got the wrong uncle, kid. I said Souji, not Soujin.

[video]

[designerchild]

So you're the hero, huh? Nice to meet ya, buddy. Your daughter has a pretty high opinion of you!

[video]

[fogdetective.livejournal.com]

The hero? Sorry, you might have the wrong person. I'm not a hero. Just a detective.