[003] [Video/Voice]

[needabourbon]

[The camera clicks on while he's moving to prop the journal up on a table. The ashtray in view has a burning cigarette, sending a trail of spoke over the right edge of the camera's view. Jigen is grabbing a glass from the table and walking out of view, coming back with an empty bottle of bourbon. Whatever is left in the bottle, he's trying to poor it into the glass.

His fedora his lower over his eyes than usual and when he glances to look at the camera, dark cicles under his eyes make it seem like he was in a bad fight. He obviously hasn't been sleeping well. Last he had heard, his buddy Goemon might have been lifted by the Malnosso... After reaching up to scratch his goat-like beard, then taking the small swallow of what bourbon was in the glass he begins to speak with gravel in his throat.]

I know Goemon isn't dead but... Lupin and I... We're both a little messed up. [He falls silent again, staring at the camera. He takes his cigarettes from his pocket to light a new one, letting the one in the ashtray burn. At this rate, his room would have a sort of fog with the scent of his Pall Malls.] I've been drunk. Lupin's been drunk and angry. Seems like a really immature way of handling the situation but there's nothing else we can really do for him if he's really been picked up.

[Jigen removes the smoke from his lips and lowers his head, a shaky hand holding his fedora to his head to keep it from falling off. The hand with the cigarette reaches forward to the journal to turn off the camera and leave the audio running. The gravel in his voice shallows out, not that he's maybe about to lose it--but he's calming down in a way. For now.] If anyone knows anything about where Goemon might be, please let either of us know right away... 

[He'll be at the bar later. If you find him there, he'll be drinking a couple of Dry Manhattans and want some quiet company. Also... Could someone possibly walk the old fool home before (or after) he passes out?]

Comments

[fleurdesel]

[If there was one thing Adele understood, it was helplessness. Waiting. Between Giles, Helios' current circumstance something she didn't understand and was able to change, the sudden spike of individuals going missing from the village...were she less pressed to do something productive she would have very well joined Jigen in his drinking. After a few hours consideration she makes up her mind.

Instead she bundles up in her coat and scarf, jogging out to the bar inch by painful inch through the snowstorm. She didn't know him well, but she knew this grief borne of uncertainty. It takes longer than usual to make it to the bar and to dust herself off once there, but once inside she's sliding into the stool next to him and ordering coffee. One of them needed to be sober.]

...He will return in time.

[Action - At the bar!]

[needabourbon]

[It wasn't so much the fact that Goemon was free from Luceti that was upsetting to Jigen, but the fact that he wasn't and was in the hands of the Malnosso. Had Goemon been returned to their world, then Jigen would be confident that everything would be fine. Now, the thought of some Malnosso side-effect was more concerning...

Every time the thought crossed his mind, he took another large swallow of the next Dry Manhattan lined up for him.]

At what cost...? I don't want something horrible to have happened to him.

[Action - At the bar!]

[fleurdesel]

Anything done is temporary. Whatever his condition it will fade in time. As his friend you need to be there for him should it be something distressing.

[Action - At the bar!]

[needabourbon]

[He gives Adele a glance, holding the next drink close to his lips. If anything bad ever happened to Lupin or Goemon, Jigen knew he would be there for them. They were the closest to family he had.]

Of course I would be.

[Action - At the bar!]

[fleurdesel]

Then whatever may happen is surmountable. If he returns injured, contact me. No matter what the price, it can be made manageable. [She sips her coffee and looks over to Jigen, voice pitched to sooth.] No matter what, he'll survive it.

[Action - At the bar!]

[needabourbon]

Goemon's a tough bat... [A small chuckle. They have all had their physical tortures before... He knew what Goemon was capable of handling. If the Malnosso would do anything worse than that if Goemon returned, then Jigen would worry.

His words are getting a bit lazy now. He gulps another shot of his Dry Manhattan and leans to press his hand against his eyes. It wasn't often that he let himself get drunk like this in front of anyone other than Lupin. It didn't feel as embarrassing more than it felt careless of himself. Jigen didn't really care at the moment and wouldn't let it get much further.]

I have a lot o' faith in tha' samurai...

[Action - At the bar!]

[fleurdesel]

He is a contemporary of Lupin. There is no way he could be anything other than exceptional. [She discreetly orders a glass of water for Jigen and reaches over to rest a hand on his back. It was...strange for her, but he shouldn't have to suffer this alone. He or Lupin. When the water comes she nudges it in his direction, very quietly hoping he'll take that up instead of ordering another Manhattan.]