video;

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji's in the diner, sitting at one of the booths. At the edge of the shot is a half-eaten order of french fries, because sometimes he actually eats the things he cooks. Quality assurance. You know how it goes.

He looks thoughtful as he addresses the network.]

I've been here a while. Over time, I've kind of come to like it. I don't feel like it's urgent to go home anymore.

[He frowns.]

I miss home. But I don't really mind being here.

[The words Stockholm Syndrome come to mind, but he's not going to say them.]

So...why is it you want to leave? Or stay, if you'd rather do that.

Comments

[video]

[eatsyourscience]

There are a few people who feel that way. I'm glad this place can give you something like that.

[video]

[tattooedredheads]

How long have you been here anyway? Can't remember if you told me.

[video]

[eatsyourscience]

Seven years today.

[video]

[tattooedredheads]

Sounds like you should have a celebration. [Let him snag something from the bar and he'll be in the diner right after.]

[Wait a minute. He peers a little harder at the screen.] Does that put in you somewhere in your mid to late twenties?

[video]

[eatsyourscience]

[He's not sure if he'd say celebrate is the right word, but he will definitely drink what Kay brings him.]

Yeah. If time passed, I'd be 24.

[video -> action]

[tattooedredheads]

[So, he should probably avoid calling Souji "kiddo" or anything similar in the future.]

[Kay shows up with two bags full of beer, to be sure that there's enough drink for the both of them. He finds Souji, takes a can from one of the bags, and holds it out.] Here ya go. One beer, free of charge.

[The rest are also free of charge.]

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji takes the can and pops it open while Kay makes himself comfortable.]

I drink sometimes. But every time I do, I still feel like my uncle's going to walk in and yell at me.

[action]

[tattooedredheads]

[He's helping himself to a can of his own and to one of Souji's fries. He takes a seat on the opposite side of the booth.]

He wouldn't make an exception for special occasions? Maybe not enough to get a hangover, but at least a few.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

He's a police detective.

[Like that explains everything.]

[action]

[tattooedredheads]

I'm a police inspector.

[More explanation please. Ignore the unexplained career change for now.]

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

You are?

[What.]

[action]

[tattooedredheads]

Yep. Well, was. But no one cared if I had a few drinks when I was your age as long as I had the money.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

My uncle's pretty strict.

[About some things...as long as he's there to see it.]

[action]

[tattooedredheads]

Sounds like it would get annoying. [He makes a face. Kay grew up without parents. The closest he had was the police commissioner or the junkyard salesman and neither could be as involved in his life as an actual guardian.] Was he the one looking after you?

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

Yeah, for the last year. Before that, my parents were really...permissive.

[That is to say, never around to know if he did something wrong or not.]

[action]

[tattooedredheads]

Sounds like you'd have preferred it if they weren't.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

I'd have preferred for them to be around.

[He shrugs.]

It was really different with my uncle, but not in a bad way, most of the time.