Needful Things [closed]

[abhors]

Who: Shinya Kogami abhors & Otome Yanagiya mombastic
When: IC 4/27
Where: Novus/Replea Bar
What: After dealing with the disasters and everything that's been thrown at them lately, a detective and a doctor decide to take some time out and get to know each other outside of work.
Rating/Warning: None!

---

[ It's rare for Kogami and Otome to meet in person given their busy work schedule, or rather, it's difficult for them to arrange a meeting. There's usually something getting in the way, but even then, disaster seems to keep bringing them together. However, there's no doubt that they've grown closer ever since their first encounter, and while Kogami had some reservations about letting himself be close to anyone, he's ultimately found Otome's presence comforting. They seem to have a common understanding, and above all, Otome can carry a good conversation.

This is a date they agreed to go on a while ago, and now they finally have a chance to get to know each other better away from work.

Kogami showed up early at the bar, having never went home after finishing his shift, but thankfully a suit is still appropriate for the occasion. Should Otome spot him at a lonely bar stool, she'll see the man pressing a cold glass of whiskey against his bruised cheek. Cheers, Gino! ]

Comments

[mombastic]

[ Otome can't recall the last time she went out on an actual date. There had been outings, of course, and the occasional JP's function that neither one of her chiefs had ever chosen to attend. When she'd had Koharu in the other world, of course she hadn't had the time to date, and in the one CERES had yanked her from, she'd... had a few, she thinks, but then she was usually being called in to work and no one had ever been too happy about it.

Kogami's no stranger to work and other priorities, though, and she's comfortable with him; there's no need to tread too cautiously here. Also, she'd admit he's attractive, because. Well. He is. Even if the smoking habit is still concerning.

Thankfully, she doesn't show up in her medical scrubs for once, she's actually wearing a cute little dress and legging number, and she's very grateful that the symptoms that have been plaguing here are starting to recede.

But the greeting when she spots him dies on her lips when she gets a better look at his face. ]

Shinya-san?? What happened?

[abhors]

[ He pulls his drink away from his cheek and looks down at it, wondering what that dramatic reaction is about... oh yeah, this is Dr. Yanagiya who is known for fussing over everything. At least he doesn't look upset about the bruise, and that's not because he's trying to put on a brave front, but because he feels like he made some progress with Gino today. ]

Occupational hazard. [ ... ] You look good. [ It's not just a diversion, her appearance is garnering some looks from the other patrons, too. As far as compliments go, though, that's probably a little too generic for a first date. He's rusty-- ]

[mombastic]

... Thank you. Bruise aside, so do you. [ Is she setting her bag on the counter and rummaging through it, yes she is-- ] I should have something like an ice pack or a compress to help with the swelling, at least...

[abhors]

[ Wow, calm down!! ]

If you're gonna bring your work with you, then at least save it for someone who might need it. Besides, it's not that bad, is it? [ He turns to give her a better look at it. ] It makes you look nicer when next to me. [ That was a joke. ]

[mombastic]

[ Otome slowly lifts an eyebrow, pulling a compress free and lightly pressing her fingers to the bruise-- someone may be yelling "STOP FLIRTING" from across the bar, but she's ignoring that.

As well as Kogami's comment, because please. ]

Did you have to subdue someone? A fall wouldn't damage the blood vessels like this...

[abhors]

You're not going to buy the "I fell into someone's fist" excuse that I had prepared?

[mombastic]

[ And there goes the compress, as she settles herself onto the seat next to him. ]

Press that down. I can't even give points for creativity if it's an answer like that.

[abhors]

[ OKAY he presses, though he still doesn't think he needs it. The cold drink was fine enough. ]

My friend and I were working out some issues. [ He half raises a hand, calling for the bartender to serve them as soon as he can. ] This may come as a surprise, but not everyone thinks as highly of me as you, Otome.

[mombastic]

No, I'm well aware... [ RIGHT, LEON? ] Although I'm not entirely certain what you've done to deserve that.

[ This was a man who hardly ever talked about himself and where he'd come from, after all. ]

[abhors]

Isn't that why we're here? I'd like to tell you some things about myself. [ He's just not sure where to start. Perhaps this Gino thing makes for a good beginning... ]

You met my friends at Tsunemori's get-together, didn't you?

[mombastic]

Well, I knew Akane-chan... but I got a chance to meet Kagari-san and Nobuchika-san, yes. And a couple of others.

[abhors]

[ Look Otome, he's lighting cig number 1 out of his 2 cig limit. ALREADY USING IT ]

They were all my co-workers back home. Gino and I were friends long before that, though.

[mombastic]

[ Wow, Kogami, you're doing great-- ]

From friends to coworkers? That's a rarity.

[ It makes her smile, though. ]

[abhors]

We got into this business because we wanted to protect people. That's when I used to believe that the law could keep people safe, anyway.

[ These days? Not so much. ]

[mombastic]

Used to...?

[ Interesting thing for a current police officer to say. And didn't he say he'd been a detective? ]

Something happened to make you believe differently, then?

[abhors]

There was a case, it changed everything--

[ He looks like he's about to go on, but turns quiet when the bartender interrupts them, asking what Otome would like to drink. ]

[mombastic]

Ah, a martini is fine-- [ And she'll flash the bartender a smile. But no, don't interrupt, she wants to hear this! ]

[abhors]

[ He decides to reframe this in the form of a philosophical question, since he doesn't want it to be a conversation entirely about him. ]

Otome. If a man came to you and insisted to have his arm amputated for no valid reason, would you still do it? All the scans show that the arm is perfectly healthy and he's of sound mind, but you know that in order to cure the man's affliction, you must do something that goes against what society expects of a doctor.

[mombastic]

[ That's... a very heavy question, and Otome frowns down at the counter, turning that thought over in her mind. ]

There are symptoms and afflictions that machines and technology can't always diagnose. [ She'd stayed up all night trying every single test she could think of to figure out what was wrong with Hiro's body, before they'd ever stumbled upon the actual answer. ]

That aside, I'd try to learn as much as I could, scans or not, to make sure that amputating really was the right choice.

... If a doctor makes a wrong choice, after all, it's very rare that they can correct it.

[abhors]

Even if you do it with absolute certainty that it was the right choice, and the medical board still doesn't agree? After all, there are procedures and rules to follow, and cutting off perfectly healthy arms isn't one of them.

[mombastic]

If I, as a doctor, find it was absolutely the right choice... then I'd follow through with it, regardless.

[ But the medical field is so tricky to navigate in the first place, and it's obvious that it's a question that troubles her. ]

[abhors]

[ Yeah, he got his point across. ]

In our world, Japan had the perfect system. With a simple scan of one's mental state and history, it could determine whether someone is a criminal or likely to commit a crime. The eyes of the law were everywhere, a metaphorical Panopticon, if that makes sense.

"By monitoring and recording people's actions and activities, it'd prevent crimes before they happened and guide citizens towards the best way of living."

It's something that worked in theory... hell, even I bought into it.

[mombastic]

[ Otome's silent as she listens, only offering a grateful nod when the bartender brings her drink over before she's back to studying Kogami's face. ]

A system that judges humanity...

[ Like the Administrators. Only it was something Japan had willingly implemented? ]

[abhors]

Like I said, it worked largely, and Japan prospered because of it. [ It certainly did better than the rest of the world... ]

However, there was a man that changed everything. One who, despite his depraved actions, couldn't be judged by the system for some reason. According to the law, he was a perfect citizen... much like your patient's arm in our scenario.

[ Ah, the point the emerges. ]

[mombastic]

[ ... ]

If the law couldn't judge him, but you couldn't let him get away with it... you'd have to take action outside of it, wouldn't you?