i_s_l_a_n_d_backup | (no subject)

[And somewhere in the jungle, there is a wandering detective in a drab tan suit, currently following something that might be a path, and might be a game trail, but should at least go somewhere sooner or later. His current mission: See if there's signs of other human life!
He may have been wandering off the beaten path for a while now.]

[While he can do quite a bit if he finds tracks in the trail itself ... wilderness tracking is not his strong suit; city boy is a city boy.]

[Besides that, he's weathering it rather well, if coping via resigned indignation.]

[Disturb/flag down/attempt to stalk/get tracked, stumbled across, or found?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

I suppose so. It usually is safer, since then the killers don't try to kill us. [Like he'd point it out. The 'Edogawa's' don't even call when their son almost dies.]

.... [Smiles. Those are points in your favor, Hakuba.] That's true.

I suppose with Kaito-niisan around...still, she's acting dangerous. You need to get evidence before she kills someone.

From:

stalking_horse

Indeed. The police with badges and guns will be the much bigger and more immediate threat; the worst I got threatened with as long as I stayed within sight of the cops was hostage value. [Not saying anything about the times he went dashing ahead of the cops...]

[For all his ego and frustrating points, he's very protective.]
[And very quietly, with a bit of a "making sure nobody's around, you never heard this" glance...] And really, the uncatchable, invisible, and actually dangerous would be the bigger case ... so if being two feet behind Kid's heels gives me a shot at them...

[Nervous laugh >_>;; ] I think that if she honestly wanted to kill people, I'd be chest-deep in murder cases - but it's not that I haven't been trying to investigate her. Just... [Witch. :| Did you not catch the "not the age she looks, no clear background that can be found" part?]

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

[Chuckles.] We learned how to deal with that pretty quick. We can usually get out pretty quick. At least we have the past couple of times.

...they're not in this place. Just don't ever let Kid hear that or he'll start to worry about you. I think he's just as protective of his detectives as we are of him.

[Silent for several moments.] Have you ever started to wonder if she was a witch?

From:

stalking_horse

Well, you have to learn, or else. [small chuckle] I imagine having a team probably makes it easier.

Heh. Well, it is a truism, the way he looks out for the law enforcement, that if anyone gets hurt on a heist, it's more likely to be him than anyone else; he doesn't allow anything else.
... I'm not sure he realizes that I've noticed them, even; as I've said, it's ... not something said out loud normally, back home.

[....... >___>; Will you call him crazy if he says yes?] Well, she certainly does a damn good job making normal explanations difficult...

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

Yeah! That's why we solved the first case we were on all by ourselves. And...probably why we survived...

...he probably does. He's not the type of guy to not notice. [And...because he told Kaito people have noticed so even if he didn't, he does now.]

[Frowning and there's a look that decidedly un-kid-like on his face.] ...Hakuba-niisan, you want to get evidence against her as fast as possible. A person like that, you don't want to just walk free.

From:

stalking_horse

[Small eyebrow raise, but he just nods...] It's something you're lucky for. I had a few incidents where I'm still not sure how I got out of it.

As sharp as he is, I wonder sometimes. [He did just ditch Saguru out in the middle of the jungle - going the wrong way. :| ] I think I left a bit of an impression on him.

... ... ... [Well hello this is unusual.] You say that like you know something?

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

[They were documented. Pointless to hide what's there.] Luck, probably. Part of it is that, in the end.

That's how he is. If he let's himself show how serious it is, it'll be harder for him to act like it's all okay. [That might...be a bit much for a kid.]

[Shrugs.] A friend on the island. She's....kind of strange, but she has some people from home that aren't too nice. If Koizumi is clever enough to make tricks seem real, able to create documentation like that, and not leave evidence, she could be incredibly dangerous. If you put in the possibility that Kaito-niichan might be Kid and a group after Kid, wouldn't she be incredibly suspicious and very dangerous?

From:

stalking_horse

Pretty much. [And Hakuba cannot blame any of you, considering that he pulled just as bad by himself.]

True. [And granted, it's not like Saguru doesn't get entertainment out of razzing him to watch him flail. >.>; ] And I suppose that we've been bad enough about fighting like cats and dogs that if we were to stop razzing each other, it'd be suspicious in and of itself. [Pushing luck a little - the phrasing and talking to someone that grew up with Mom's criminal psych/abnormal psych is giving you a little buffer for it to not quite register as "Okay that's NOT a kid" yet. Some of it might Fridge Logic on him later, though.]

...I've considered that possibility, and been watching for that angle, but - I don't think she's connected to them. She's shown signs of knowing too much regularly, to the point that if he were Kid and she were connected to them, it would've already been over.
[Chagrined :| face -] And there's a couple cases where I think she's intervened, unasked for, to give alibis and cover. She might occasionally fill in as an accomplice. [Really he's almost sure of that one, because who else would cackle like that and fly off on a broom? :| ]
That, and the only times I've felt like I should honestly fear for my life around her, all involved certain harassment and potential real evidence against Kid. I'm not sure how much of that files under instinct, and how much is her behavior and body language, but ... I doubt she serves anyone's agenda but her own, and being with them would mean giving someone else claim on the people she's decided to be possessive about.

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

That too. The best way to keep anyone from suspecting anything is to act completely normal. It's always the little abnormalities that give things away. [Cursed Fridge Logic.]

All things considered, that doesn't guarantee she wouldn't be with the group, sinc- [Oh shit. Shutting his mouth. He was saying too much. Why did 'witches' have to give him such Vermouth vibes?] Still, be it just her being a psycho or not, it would be better to keep her away from Kaito-niichan. Maybe he could file a restraining order?

From:

stalking_horse

...[And for a moment, before he says anything, he's going to pause and give Conan one of the ODDEST looks, right about a half-minute after the "little abnormalities" comment processes, along with the weird sudden cut-off. It's the sort of "...Wait - what?" bewildered face that Conan's probably slightly used to as a warning sign by now.]

Since? ... [No really that was a really ... bizarre time to cut off your sentence and something isn't right here that he can't put his finger on, besides that you just pulled one of the most obvious "You Are Hiding Something" moves EVER.]

[Somehow, there's a moment of half-stifled laughter at the image of a restraining order on Akako.] I think we'd have to first be able to solidly prove she's stalking him, and not just being creepy at him in class.
[Also, how DO you say that technically she's protected Kid from YOURSELF? >.>; ]
[...And that expectant look. No really. What was that again?]

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

[Oh shit. He knew that look. Hattori gave him that look. And some various police officers.]

Neh, don't worry about it! It was just something I saw on Kamen Yaiba, but that's just a TV show. I shouldn't use that with a real case. [Have happy kidlet smile.]

Witnesses might be enough for something like that? I've never gotten a restraining order, so I wouldn't know.

From:

stalking_horse

[And that was the worst possible reaction. No really. He did something like that a few times when he was a kid and didn't want people asking questions, only you pretty much cranked it up to eleven.]

[It's not hard to guess it was the wrong thing to do by the rather irritated "Oh you have got to be kidding/What kind of idiot do you take me for?" look you get shot.]

Please tell me that doesn't actually work - No, no, nevermind, I did a pale, ghostly shadow of that when I was little. Only I knew better than to try to blame it on a children's show and hope the adults wouldn't know enough about it to not realize something was up. And you're the first kid I've met who can pull that kind of deception that sharply and blatantly. Oh, and the sudden shift from dead serious to brainless and cheerful? Is a little too obvious. [This is the warning look.]

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

[Oh shit.]

....

W-what are you talking about, Hakuba-niisan?

[Plan B: Deny, deny, DENY.]

From:

stalking_horse

[Wrong plan. You just cemented the suspicion that something is Very Wrong here.]

I am not an idiot. I remember playing the stupid kid to throw people off; what you just did was that taken to an extreme. You were having a perfectly intelligent and serious conversation not thirty seconds ago - whatever you cut off, it was something important and something you want to hide so thoroughly that you don't want me thinking there was even something to ask about.
Besides that, you didn't even make the transition between acting like you might not understand and following perfectly; it's like you threw a switch and are hoping the sudden unnatural behavior will just get handwaved off as "a kid thing". [>________> ]

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

....

[Oh shit, shit, shit. Most people blew it off! They did and it...it's probably why so many people suspected on the Island.]

[Damn it.]

[Change of plans. And there's a pout.]

Why would I put on an act, Hakuba-niisan? I really don't know how people get restraining orders and it was just a kamen yaiba thing. Sometimes they tell useful things, but for people, it doesn't work. Just like goblins don't drive cars.

From:

stalking_horse

[... that hasn't helped. In fact, you might get the impression he's ... a little... irritated. Why, one would get the feeling he doesn't like being lied to, almost.]

Do you honestly expect me to think that a children's action show is going into legal issues, stalking, and restraining orders? Honestly, if you're going to lie, at least make it something believable, like hearing it on a crime drama you saw someone else watching. [And the goblins do drive cars when they're masquerading as people. What? You try being used to always having something to focus on and being stuck in an airport lobby where the only noise to listen to is the TV running for the kids and your music player died.]
The least you can do is stop patronizing me by pretending your IQ has suddenly dropped and acting like you don't understand the things you've admitted to living in and around constantly.

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

Sometimes they'll talk about poison. I met something more for a bad group! I was referring to that, not the restraining orders! I just know restraining orders are to keep people who make others feel unsafe have to stay away!

[Y-yeah, gonna keep lying through his teeth here.]

I'm only there for the...the actiony sort of crimes, so I don't know a lot about the other kinds!

From:

stalking_horse

.............[Good god this is almost getting painful.]
And was the Koushien case, or the Sunset manor, "actiony" kinds of cases? [...there's enough acid there to eat through a ship hull.]

[And there might be the feeling that you're rapidly losing what respect you'd earned.]
Do you actually have any dignity left? And what on Earth is so important to hide that you're willing to keep digging yourself a hole like this when it's not actually working?

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

I... [Shit, shit, shit, Hakuba had way too many good points.]

[Mind was on over drive, trying to think of a solution. No, he was forcing this as a kid. He had to look at it from a detective point of view. Find the flaws and errors. He'd changed too quickly. He needed a reason. Something that could be explained without giving too much. So what...?]

I... [And looking down at the ground, making his voice softer.] I just.... [He trailed off deliberately. Some might even take the tone as being quite tempted to cry.]

[To answer his question: Dignity? That was shot all to hell a long, long time ago. He just pretended to have some occasionally.]

From:

stalking_horse

[....Well, you're not digging -deeper-. This is at least something. Somewhat.]

Just? [Think very carefully about how you finish this sentence. You may be "a little kid", but you are also involved in life and death situations and have proven that you understand perfectly well what that means and how easily people could end up dead - Saguru's not a heartless bastard, but hurt feelings > Dead bodies, and he does not appreciate being lied to.]

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

[He was silent a good minute, just standing there, staring at the ground, looking the very picture of an upset child.]

[However, his mind was instead putting together a story. Looking at all the clues, determined what sort of child Conan 'was' where his reasons made sense without giving out the truth. It was such a bipolar attitude, when he looked at it. He couldn't make up anything Ran or Kazuha could contradict later. So what...?]

[Ah, and then it clicked. And putting on his saddest kid voice, he lied yet again.]

When I help, it's fine...when I can be helpful, people don't think I'm some sort of...of freak or something. Because I helped, so they don't think I'm weird.

But if I can't help, then people...people get weirded out and they act distant and I just...I just don't want that, especially from a niisan I like. I wasn't being helpful, so...so I just...did that.

[Anyone close to 'Conan' knew his 'parents' weren't around much. It would make sense that he'd probably crave positive attention. Children were either very accepting or very unforgiving of 'oddities.' Combine together and it would make sense that 'Conan' might have some sort of complex about seeming weird.]

[Or at least he hoped Hakuba would buy it.]

From:

stalking_horse

.......[Well, at least he's not feeling patronized anymore.]

Except that you were being helpful, and you suddenly clammed up in the middle of what had to've been something important, so you're still not exactly making sense.

[You are making him want his mother's bookshelves and to go digging through developmental psych studies to see if there's any clues to figure you out. :| Or put his finger on what's not right with this picture. Parents distant, but does have peers he gets along with well enough to be cooperating under pressure small children normally weren't exposed to, and some surrogate family, granted Saguru's never actually gotten to see how they interact-
It does seem like the kid has a lot to hide, which, if he DOES know more than he's claiming he knows, and is having to hide more than someone his age would usually ever have to think about sitting on -]

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

[And will look up with a look of surprise.] I was?! I...it sounded like I wasn't... [And now Hakuba is getting the hopeful puppy dog eyes look because clearly he's just a little kid that wants to help.]

[Of course Conan had considered that. But if he had too, he planned it play it off for why he was more willing to show his intelligence. While things would be good for 'Conan' here, it might have been back home and it was only the good friends and family that he improved.]

[But habits and complexes were hard to conquer. It all made sense. A tricky ground and he'd have to watch himself around Hakuba, but if he got it to work, it was worth it.]

From:

stalking_horse

[Upside about Saguru for Conan's lampshade disguise: He does give children credit for intelligence and being able to understand things.
Downside: He gives children credit for intelligence and being able to understand things. >__> ]

.............. :| Of course you weren't. That's why I was stopping my train of thought to ask you for further input and commenting that it sounded like you actually knew something. [ /sarcasm.]

If you're going to hide something? I can accept some vague explanation of why something has to be kept secret, or why you don't want to answer a question, and at least a token effort to not leave me so far in the dark that I make things worse...

Don't.
Lie to me.

Particularly not where lives are concerned, and especially not when it's the lives of people I care about.
I'm sure your patience would vanish just as quickly if you were lied to about things that could mean Ran or your fellow little detectives getting killed.

[Granted, he has done nothing for Saguru's impression that Conan is -VERY- deeply involved.]

From:

17-going-on-8.livejournal.com

[Curse you and respecting my apparent age group.]

[And looking away again because he wants to hide how much that stung and look like a scolded child.]

....I don't even know Koizumi. I didn't even know about the people going for Kid. How could I know anything that would get people you care about hurt?

[Of course, the problem was, he didn't KNOW Hakuba. He didn't know if he was trust worthy. He didn't know if he should get involved. Even if another detective would be helpful, he couldn't just go to ANYONE.]

[Especially with the idea that maybe there was something deeper about Vermouth apprenticing under Toichi. If there was, to even think about involving Hakuba without talking to Kaito about things would make it difficult for him without meaning to do it.]