(no subject)

[amstrdm]

WHO: NPC detective (Riko Satou), Heine Rammsteiner, Hei, and Jake Muller
WHERE: New Amsterdam's 12th Precinct Jail
WHEN: January 3rd
WHAT: Arrests and interrogations. No motive, still murder, etc.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Loss of autonomy, consent, references to nonconsensual surgery. Any additional warnings will be added.

[ It isn't difficult for the officers to bring in the three men, what with two of them doing exactly as they're hold with little argument. The weird part is that two of them just don't exist. It was clear as day to the officers when they first encountered them. It's even clearer now that they're sitting inside of the station waiting for processing. There are no fingerprints on record, and no damn clue as to who they are or where they came from. The third man – Heine – isn't unique in any way. There is no record on him. But the other two? It's strange. Impossible.

Murder is a hefty charge, but it's hard to charge someone who doesn't exist. It's especially hard to investigate a murder when someone doesn't have a life to look at. Motives. Anything like that.

Riko's assignment on this is a headache. To say the least.

It's time to question the men involved. See what happened. Figure it out.

So much weird ... everything has happened lately. This is just one big steaming crap to add to it all.

They give it a few hours before they start the interrogations. They make sure the two men don't exist. Scour records. Do facial recognition over and over. But nada. Nothing. Hell, they don't even come up on anything recently in the city. It's strange.

By then, the drugs would have worn off for Hei and Jake. ]

Comments

[amstrdm]

Tak. [ She repeats it. As good of a name as any. ] You were a bit of a mess when we brought you in. It almost looked like you didn't care. [ Maybe he didn't. It's hard for her to get a read on him.

Riko leans back, crossing her arms loosely over her chest. ]

I know what you did out there today. What I want to know is why. The festival's not exactly a low profile sorta place to lash out.

[dipolar]

Don't I get a phone call? (it's a joke, despite how prosaic his mood is — his expression remains unchanged.

what else is there to say, when her guess is as good as his? hei knows he was drugged and he knows he was brought in on a bus. that seems to be the start and end of the story, even if there's obviously more.)

You won't believe me, so it's pointless for me to talk to you.

[amstrdm]

Pointless? Let me be the judge of that. [ Part of the reason why Riko likes her job is this aspect. She's good at keeping a cool head. Easy going enough to manage this. ]

You took a man's life. We're looking into him, but I want your side first. Only seems fair to ask.

[dipolar]

(how much trouble could this get him in? a better question, does he care enough to answer or refuse to?

she was right about his complacency, but the drugs are what secured him — not the police officers who found him. or many more would be dead and the citywide hunt for him would be far, far from over. that's not something he can say. so partial truths, not whole truths.

fingers settle over busted knuckles and press in against purpling skin.)

Next you'll tell me it's in my best interests to talk to you, that a judge will look favourably on my cooperation. (it's wry.) I was fucked up on something heavy. He wanted a fight. That's it.

[amstrdm]

[ "Fucked up on something heavy." After a beat, she raises a finger, putting in a call. Time to see if they can figure out what that was. Not that it explains taking someone's life – that's not just taking a fight. That's finishing it. ]

Right, someone will come in to escort you to verify that in a bit. It'll give us an idea, at least. But I want to finish here first. Let's say that I don't believe you on that. I can't. Because it looks like you're meant to have something to hide. Hell ... Tak. You have been hiding. It's a little mindblowing, if you ask me.

[ No identity. For a reason, right? But what reason? They can't even call this in, see if the UNA has something. The UNA can be a little fucked, but they don't kill civilians on the street. What do they say? ]

Why don't you recount how you got fucked up for me? Say, I don't know. The last 24 hours.

[dipolar]

(urine or blood sample, huh? hei's eyes naturally find the door, not to pleased about the idea of having another needle inserted into his arm. he has enough track marks as it is, visible in the dark tank top he lifted from the man he murdered.

looking like a junkie's currently better than anything else he could be.)

I can't remember. (the honest recollection in translated korean.

she's sharp enough, he's not going to lead her on a wild goose chase when he barely knows a thing. but being taken in for more experimentation, should he reveal too much, is a strong no.) I was partying with some randoms and they had some new shit I must've taken too much of. I woke up in an alley, started puking my guts up on some guy's art, and he picked a fight.

(his pause is weighty, but in no way is he taking his time to honour the fallen. he's picking at flesh found beneath his nail.)

Guess I went too far this time.

[amstrdm]

You left out the part where someone slapped you with a brand new implant. Made it so that you don't exist. Who were you partying with? How'd you get there? Why would your randoms leave you in an alley?

[ On the surveillance, there had been a strange moment – brief, fleeting, bits that seemed to be missing. Cut away, or cameras malfunctioning, or whatever. These cameras aren't always ideal, but there are a lot of them. They're all over the place.

They cut in late enough to confirm that Tak here killed a man, that the puke story matches up.

Before? There's nada.

Nothing. ]

If you can't remember 24 hours, give me a bit more. We saw you fight. You're trained.

[dipolar]

I don't know anything about that.

(the implant, being fitted with a new one, going under the knife without permission or being aware of what was happening — an impromptu surgery, fitted with cybernetics. christ, he doesn't know.)

I didn't exist to begin with, what the hell does it matter now? (a scoff.) I fight to pay my bills, detective, not everyone's on the fast track to commissioner.

[amstrdm]

"Didn't exist to begin with." [ It's repeated quite ... incredulously. She leans forward, taking in his pupils. ]

To fight you had to exist. You're contradicting yourself.

[dipolar]

I was always a nobody, (hei clarifies, meaning it,) but somebody out there must've disagreed with that. They could've messed me up and swapped my implant out to take my match winnings; I'm good enough at what I do.

(a rough sigh, as though inconvenienced. it's impossible for him to look penitent, so he settles for tired.)

Never actually killed anybody before, though.

[amstrdm]

Where do you fight? Generally. [ The fight clubs are a thing around town, a known "secret." Since they move, it's hard to pin them down. It doesn't help that some of the men and women she works alongside get some extra cash there. It makes it a little difficult to shut them down. ]

And ... humor me. What was your name before they magically wiped you and then did this? I wanna put a name to your face. Full name.

[dipolar]

All over.

(a raise of his chin, the first obvious defiance he's shown — hei's not supplying where and wouldn't even if he knew. this is a closer shave than he'd like, but there's nothing he can do about it. he can't wind up under the knife again, he can't risk getting caught again.

palm up, trying to be placating, he gestures between them.)

You gonna run me through the system? It's Tak Seo-joon. Think you can you get my money back?

[amstrdm]

[ Someone on the other end looks into it — swiftly, too. He doesn't exist. The name doesn't show a face. Doesn't show anyone. Riko breathes out, pressing her hands flat to the table. This isn't how she wanted to spend her day.

And this – this is fucked up. In the worst way. ]

Try again, "Tak."

[dipolar]

(lets that wash over him, eyes narrowing a fraction. well, of course there's no tak seo-joon. even in his world he doesn't exist. not with this face.)

Tak, not "talk" like you're speaking to someone. (ah, wait—) Seo-joon. That's with the hyphen. Got it now?

[amstrdm]

[ Surprisingly insistent. Unusual. Riko expected another go at it, but no – no, not a new name. None of that. ]

I had it the first time, champ. Stop playing games.

1/2

[dipolar]

If you want to mock what I do, you're entitled to that. I haven't made good choices and I messed up. Bad.

(the cooperation practically drains out of him, leaning back in his chair. his cuffs scrape along the interrogation table's surface, until only his fingertips linger on the edge.)

But I'm not making up my own name.

2/2

[dipolar]

...

If I don't exist, does that mean I don't have anymore debt?

[amstrdm]

Tak, can you at least pretend to be a tiny bit remorseful? For me?

[ And stop lying. Riko doesn't bother to say that part. ]

It would make me a lot less frustrated with you.

[dipolar]

I've been fighting a long time. (might be the most truthful thing he's said all night.) You see many things you never wanted to see. You get used to things you never thought you could get used to.

Don't mistake my lack of howling and crying for remorselessness.

(a nod with his chin, indicating her.)

You've gotten my recollection of events. Anymore questions?

[amstrdm]

Yeah, just one.

[ He claims he's no one, that no one would miss him. Maybe that's true. He certainly strikes Riko as the run of the mill guy who's used to messing around in the fighting rings. ]

Where are you from?

[dipolar]

(and for the first time since arriving, hei smirks.

it doesn't reach his eyes.)

Anywhere I want to be.

[amstrdm]

Cute. But if you wanna prove that you're the real deal and not be worked over by some UNA guys? I need a real answer.

[dipolar]

(una, huh? well, there's only so many things that acronym could mean.)

Why would the government be interested in a junkie from the underground? (a quirk of an eyebrow.) I'm sorry, detective, but it sounds like you're questioning the wrong Tak. I'm the one who — allegedly — killed a man.

[amstrdm]

Tell me, Tak. Ever heard of a guy with a neural implant replacement? Least of all a guy who shows up with another guy like him? This isn't some small fry deal because you punched a little hard. This is big. So. Tell me.

[dipolar]

I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't "show up" with anyone.

(he looks away.)

I'm going to need a lawyer.