vivarium | The Wounded Detective

Heiji was quiet for a brief moment, then nodded. "Yeah... maybe."

Then he began his story: "I was on the bow of this large ship, the Symphony... it was a cruiseliner, and it was nighttime. We were in the middle of the ocean. Normally, with a ship that big, there'd be plenty of people around even in the evening. But for some reason, it looked like there were almost no passengers. The deck was empty except for me, though there were lights on in the control room. It had to be manned, because I could feel the boat speeding up. I climbed over the safety rail and aimed my flashlight down. That's when I spotted it -- the body of a man who'd been tied to the front of the ship, like a figurehead.

His name was... Kinoe, or maybe Kanoe... it was the suspect I'd been looking for, only I'd been expecting to find him alive. I started to climb over the railing and back onto the deck, and that's when someone clocked me from behind. I think it was with a steel pipe. Anyway, that's when I lost my grip. I fell off the railing and into the water below. My flashlight caught the body for a brief moment just before I hit the ocean.

I remember sinking into the water. It was freezing, and my clothes sucked in the moisture in an instant and started dragging me down. The bottom of the hull passed over me, and I could see the propellers coming up right behind, but they missed. Somewhere around that time I think is when my head started to clear a little. I ditched most of my clothes to get rid of the weight and swam toward the surface. Since I'd managed to keep hold of the flashlight, I started signaling with it, hopin' I could get the attention of one of the ships in the distance. I had to get back to the Symphony and tell the others what I saw."

*Snake is struck speechless by the story until he finally says* ...Jesus Christ, Heiji, what is your life about exactly?

Well... he didn't really have an answer to that. Two, maybe three bodies so far?

"So much for the tour guide idea. If I am one, I must be like that lady on that old TV show." You know. Jerrica Fletchling or something like that. The one who wrote the mysteries.

"But I guess it explains why the stuff that happens in here doesn't bother me so much. None of my memories so far explain the scars, though."

You have to be some kind of detective or a cop. Or some special designation in Japan. It's a good thing your skull is made of rock; most hits like that would kill a man. *Because no really, what is your life, Heiji?*

Heiji wasn't sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult. Well, he supposed being hard to kill was a good thing...

"That's what Hershel said, too. Too bad I don't have a precinct here to back me up, huh?" He gave Snake a wry smile. "So what did you remember? Anything good?"

Oh so Hershel agrees that you have a thick skull? Good to know that my hypothesis is shared. *Because seriously, that kinda makes him worried that you aren't freaked by this. They must breed cops tough in Osaka.*

What I remember? *When posed with that question, Snake's expression changes abruptly. It changes into something very warm, with the most genuine smile he's ever had since coming here.* I know who she is, Heiji.

Heiji looked annoyed and almost opened his mouth to make some retort when Snake made that crack about his skull, but his face instantly cleared when when he heard those words. He had no idea Snake could even smile like that.

"The woman in your memories? Well, don't keep me in suspense! Who is she?"

Her name is Clover. *How to really describe what he felt in that brief little memory? That she had such faith in him was because he had such faith in her.* She's my younger sister.

It wasn't like Snake really had to say that much. After all, that smile of his basically spoke volumes. In fact, seeing Snake that genuinely happy made Heiji feel a little shy -- like maybe he'd glimpsed some chance secret. He shook it off because weird.

"Well, then, ya got someone waiting for you on the outside, after all! I'm glad." He stopped himself before he could add maybe she could do something about that personality of yours.

After all, he didn't want to ruin the moment...

*She would probably agree with Heiji. To a point.* You're right. I'm sure she's working with my parents trying to find me. But I think...maybe she lives with me? I'm not certain about that entirely but I got the impression that she was just starting college so perhaps we live together and go to school nearby. She worries about me too. She was worried about a past relationship with a ... *He'd been about to say "guy" but stops himself just in time* ...unfortunate ex of mine. I'm not sure what the story is there but I did not have kind words to say.

An 'unfortunate ex'? Now that was interesting. What kind of person was she...?

"Is there anything else you remember about it? Like why your sister was so worried, or what you said about your ex. There must've been some reason why the subject came up, right?"

*It was an enlightening memory, one that showed he was apparently attracted to men and women. Which made sense as he did have a genuine fondness for Ema, in spite of that stabbing thing.* ...I think she was worried that I was keeping to myself too much and thought it might be because of the ex. Then I said I didn't have time to date anyone else because I need to work on my thesis. Which, of course by now has been massively derailed and I would probably pick a different subject anyway.

Heiji laughed a little. Yeah. That sounded just like Snake. "Well, ya know what they say. If something's important, you make the time."

"I kinda wonder, though... they really going to penalize you for being kidnapped? I mean, I'm sure you could make a good case for why they should let you resume your studies after ya get back. Assuming you don't wanna switch fields and go into criminal psychology."

Perhaps if I were to get a second Phd, I may go for just that very subject. *An interesting thing to ponder.* I think they'll give me time to restart my thesis, one would hope. I'll pick something less insane than string theory. Maybe narrow it to one kind of resonance.

((OOC: I'm reading about string theory now. It sounds pretty damn made up.))

Heiji smiled. "Oh, I dunno. I think string theory'd add gravity to your thesis."

...Think about it.

"Anyway, I'm kind of envious. Sounds like you were a pretty lucky guy. Wish I could remember more about what I did when I was on the outside. Or maybe that kinda thing is what I did with my time." It was still weird that he didn't really remember that much about his family, though.

*Now THAT little off the cuff remark did get him to chuckle.*

Well, if you're doing all that, you're probably not in school anymore. Or there may be another reason. *But yes, Clover is awesome so of course Snake is lucky.*

Also, I am glad you're feeling better. I guess having you just fall asleep on me and telling you a story somehow helped. *It had been...kind of nice, actually.*

Heiji just sort of froze up for a second. Dammit, Snake, stop bringing it up, okay?

He looked away and fiddled with the fabric of his sleeves. "Y-yeah, well... like I said, thanks for that. It really helped."

It was a good thing Snake couldn't see how red his cheeks were at the moment. Ugh, god, if word of this ever got out to Hershel, it would be a gossip bloodbath.

*Snake can't see what Heiji looks like but he certainly picks up on that tone. He grins. Quite evilly.* Why, Heiji, feeling a little flustered? It was all perfectly innocent. I can't imagine why you'd be flustered.

"You..." Snake was enjoying this, wasn't he? He was taking advantage of the situation. UGH.

"Are you messing with me? Listen, you're the one who pulled my head onto your lap! You did that all by yourself!" Heiji was just a helpless bystander in this scenario! He couldn't help it if Snake was some kind of... lap vigilante, ruthlessly manhandling feverish poisoning victims who couldn't defend themselves!

*He chuckles a few more times.* I did that so you'd be more comfortable than passed out on the ground or half in the water. But fine, fine, I'll let it go. I also promise not to breathe a word to Hershel. *Although that would be utterly delicious.*

Heiji eyed Snake with extreme suspicion before seemingly accepting this answer. He could trust Snake about this... right? Snake wasn't that vindictive... right?!

"Well... thanks for that, I guess."

*Just listening to him verbally squirm a bit satisfied his need for revenge on that stunt with learning Japanese.* I am glad you are feeling better. Did you want me to get you some water?

"No," Heiji said, hauling himself to his (slightly wobbly) feet. "I'll do it myself." Damned if he was going to give Snake more ammunition. He was going to haul himself over to the cafeteria if it killed him.

It was a bit difficult to negotiate his own current weakness with his new sandals, but he was not going to give in and take them off, Snake would be able to hear that.

P.S. Was that a snub?

(Spoilers it was totally a snub.)

*With Heiji gone, Snake indulged himself a few more chuckles at Heiji's expense. His revenge is complete. Of course, now it meant that Heiji would try to get him back with something, but that was all right. Sharing that little experience was worth it.

Except why? Just because he had a memory confirming that he liked men and women didn't mean that he'd...

And just as soon as the thought entered his head, he realized what all those stupid stomach flipping sensations meant.

Well. Crap.*

The Wounded Detective

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