realityshifted | (no subject)

(no subject)

[There's a kid on the floor of the kitchen, making himself a sandwich. Nothing unusual about this, especially since it's this kid. Conan's house-trained, after all.

... then again, he is making the sandwich right there, on the floor. Sure, he's making it on a plate, so that's not as bad, but he's left one discarded banana peel behind him, and the lid of the peanut butter container has not been put back on. The kid's concentrating hard as he drizzles honey over his sandwich, but he's got peanut butter on an elbow, and a smudge of honey on his chin.

And he's not wearing glasses. Okay, so maybe this is weird.]

((ooc: age-down experiment for Conan! He's no longer 17 in a 7-year-old body -- he actually is Shinichi, aged 7. Be warned -- he is a brat.))

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[The sound of impending scolding is very recognisable, and Shinichi scowls, readying himself to fight back.

When the expected telling-off doesn't come, he's non-plussed but still mutinous.]

I can make a sandwich by myself.

What happened to your eye?

[she raises an eyebrow] Yeah, looks like it. [forgive the sarcasm, Shinichi]

[unfortunately, that didn't tell her what she wants to know, so she answers a bit more specifically than she would otherwise]

Bloke thought he could avoid arrest.

[she doesn't look particularly concerned about it, though]

[Shinichi takes a deliberate bite of banana-peanut-butter-honey-sandwich. So there, bossy stranger!

Menzies answer is interesting though.]

You're a police officer? What was it -- aggravated assault? Burglary?

[she's amused by that move, but she doesn't comment. and his answer is interesting, too--it seems he doesn't know her]

I'm a D.I. He was saying he was innocent of assaulting his girlfriend, but I don't think he did much to 'elp his case. Not to mention he's got new charges for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer!

Know much about the law, then?

Ha, what a loser! I hope he gets the book thrown at him -- assaulting a police officer's about as dumb as it gets!

[Shinichi nods, cheerful now.] Yup! My best friend, her Dad's a police officer even if he's not very good at it, and my Dad's knows everything about the law and murders and stuff!

[she chuckles] You know, you'd be surprised 'ow many people don't realise that. [trust her, she speaks from experience]

Does he now? And he's teaching you? [she leans against the counter, relaxed, crossing her arms over her chest. she's debating how to handle this. by this point, she has a feeling she's right with her assumption, and she's thought of a way to test it; she's just not sure if it's entirely a good idea. she doesn't want to spook him, after all. then again, with this kid, maybe that's not much of a possibility]

[off-handedly] Hey, it's Kudo, isn't it?

Yeah, some criminals are really stupid!

Well, no ... he says the best way to learn is by doing stuff yourself, so I'm teaching myself! I'm going to be a great detective, just like him!

Yeah -- you know him? [Shinichi tilts his head curiously.] Are you in Interpol?

[she smirks at that] I'll just bet you are.

[that surprises her, and she blinks, confused. then she realises that Kudo must be his last name. really, Asian customs are confusing, but she supposes this works to her advantage at the moment--although she's not entirely happy about the implications. Conan has been so determined to keep his cover, even on the Plane, and now he's stuck in a form where he might easily give out his name. and unfortunately, she's not sure what she to do about that]

Ah, no. But I've 'eard of 'im--I've worked some, ah, special cases in the past.

So what's your name, then?

[not that she doesn't already know what he's going to say, of course]

[Shinichi grins.] I want to see some ID first!

[It's not that he doesn't believe her -- that black eye is all the ID you need really -- but he knows that police have to show you their ID if you demand it and he's curious. If she's not Interpol and not Tokyo Metropolitan, he won't have seen the ID she's using before.]

[she scoffs at that. then again, if he's going to be that way with everyone, maybe she doesn't have so much to worry about when it comes to giving out his name]

Sounds like you know what's what.

[again, forgive the sarcasm. despite her words, she pulls out the ID card she often wears around her neck, which identifies her as Detective Inspector Patricia Menzies, with the Greater Manchester Police]

'appy now?

[she just hopes he doesn't try to touch it because the last thing she needs is sticky hands all over it. after all, she'll be on duty when she drops from the Plane]

[That sarcasm goes over Shinichi's head entirely, and he inspects the ID smugly -- yup, Greater Manchester Police -- that's a new one.]

I'm Kudo Shinichi. Hey -- what are you doing in this weird place anyway?

[she can't help but smirk at his eagerness. still, she doesn't want to miss the opportunity to discourage him from giving out his name] All right--ah, Shinichi. Good to meet you. But it's not a bad idea to ask for ID before giving out your name. There are all sorts round 'ere; you never know.

[wryly] Well, I was 'ere to get something to eat--assuming I can handle the obstacle course. [she eyes the banana peel and wonders if there's honey on the floor, too] But I take it you just got 'ere? [in a manner of speaking] Has anybody told you about this place yet?

[Thus praised, Shinichi nods. Anyone asking his name after this is going to be in for a treat.] Yes, sir!

[Shinichi does take the hint and picks up the banana peel -- unfortunately he gets distracted by Menzies next question and instead of putting it in the bin simply leaves it next to him.]

I guess so. I'm still investigating ... tell me what?

[sir? must be a cultural thing. but she's relieved by that answer. not that she's happy to inflict trouble on everyone who comes in contact with him, but hopefully that will help to prevent his cover from being blown with too many people]

[inwardly, she's rolling her eyes at his behaviour. but she raises an eyebrow at that question] Uh, where you are, for a start? Not to mention how to-- [but she cuts herself off. she was about to say "leave," but if Shinichi running around the Plane is bad, surely Shinichi running around back home would be a million times worse] How to, ah, get to the other places 'round 'ere.

[she really hopes no one else tries to send him home. this situation is starting to go from amusing to dangerous]

I'm in space, of course! But it's not normal space. Normal space there's no oxygen and it doesn't have a floor.

I know how to get to places around here already! I found a forest and a beach and a bar and this kitchen.

[she smirks at him, amused. he's obviously still quite the detective--although rather focused on discovering things for himself rather than asking about them] Right. Well, that's a start.

'ave you now? There's a bathhouse, too, if you're looking for somewhere to stay. [she's actually not sure what to do about that problem. he obviously can't go to his home. she'd take him to Manchester, but she can't just take off work, and she's not at all comfortable with the idea of leaving him in her flat alone--especially considering what he got up to the last time she let him out of her sight in Manchester. and that was his mentally older version! so for the moment, showing him where he can stay on the Plane is the best plan she can think of]

[and since he's clearly not planning to ask...] This place is called the Astral Plane. It's a sort of...meeting place between worlds, which is why there are so many different people 'ere.

[curious] So, what else 'ave you found so far in your "investigation"?

A bath-house? Really? [Shinichi's got conflicted feelings about that. It does sound like a better place to stay than a kitchen, but is he really going to be there long enough to need a place to stay?]

Who called it the Astral Plane?

That's mostly it. Some people came in here and tried to tell me that they knew me but they didn't!

[she nods] Yeah. I, ah, could show you where it is, if you want. [because even if she's not going to take him to Manchester, she can at least keep an eye on him for now]

Good question. [she smiles a little. it's interesting to see how analytical he is, even at a young age] Guess it came from the people who run the place, but nobody knows much about them.

[...uh-oh, he's already been talking to people. she tries to keep her expression neutral] Yeah? What'd you tell 'em?

[Shinichi considers the offer a moment before deciding that it's worth taking up. The sandwich gets pushed into his mouth (attractive) and it's a few moments of furious chewing before it's dealt with sufficiently that he can nod and stand up to put his dirty plate in the sink. Chew. Swallow.] Let's go!

What's known about them so far?

That they were wrong.

[she gives him a look at his table manners. and when he declares that they're going to leave, she gives a rather meaningfully "hmm," nodding in the direction of the banana peel. forget something, Shinichi?]

Not as much as we'd like. [she makes a face] Far as we can tell, there are two groups--one run by Meredith and one run by Jed. I 'aven't seen much of Meredith. And far as Jed goes, he gets 'is employees to do what he wants whether they like it or not.

[she's relieved to hear that, mainly because it implies that he hasn't worked out what's actually going on at all. she only hopes it stays that way. still keeping her tone neutral, she comments:] There are other kids 'round 'ere. They must be confusing you with someone.

[Why the pause? Shinichi waits expectantly, but when it becomes clear that they're not going anywhere, he glances in the direction she's looking -- oh right. The banana peel gets put under the sink and he rinses the worst of the toast crumbs off in the sink before joining Menzies again.]

Now let's go!

Meredith and Jed. I haven't met either of them.

[Shinichi scoffed. That was an elementary conclusion.] Obviously! It's still annoying though.

[she can't help a smile at his...well, compliance is probably the best word. she nods, leading him out of the kitchen]

Yeah? You're not the only one. I don't think anyone's met Jed. He seems the sort to have 'is employees do all the legwork. And Meredith shows up when she wants to, far as I can tell.

[unfortunately, she's having trouble thinking of something to say that wouldn't just encourage him to reveal his identity. then again... she's quiet for a moment as she walks, debating whether this is a monumentally bad idea. it probably is, but since she's fairly sure she's one of the only people on the Plane who knows his real identity, she's determined to try whatever she can to protect it. she just really hopes this is a short experiment] Ever thought about not telling 'em? See what you can find out from 'em while they think you're somebody else?

[not that she's ever done anything crazy like that before, of course...]

That's not fair -- I guess Jed's kind of like Tanaka-sensei then, huh. [Shinichi's thoughtful, digesting all this.] Ne ... what does Meredith look like?

[Blink.]

Why would I do that? I'm not investigating them -- oh, you think they're part of the case too?

[she scoffs] Did you think it would be? [not that she knows who Tanaka-sensei is, of course, but she thinks she gets the idea. her lip curls at his question about Meredith] Oh, she keeps herself all covered by a robe. 'aven't got a clue.

[this idea is starting to sound even worse, but she hopes Shinichi won't get up to too much mischief just because she's made him suspicious of people. it seems the lesser of two evils, at least. she gives a curt nod] They might be. Hard to say--you'll 'ave to use your judgment. [after all, she doesn't want him to feel like he can't turn to the others for help if he needs it. but she supposes at this point she should feel lucky he still trusts her at least...]

... no? [Theorising without having all the facts -- he should know better!] A woman in a robe ... I'll look out for her.

[He nods seriously, listening to Menzies' advice.] I'll do my best!