Conversation · Jean Vicquemare

"Look what the tide brought in," the man says in a measured tone. Suddenly, his expression changes and he tilts his head...

"I wanna call you a teapot, but I'm honestly kind of impressed... no idea where you got all that gear -- but there's no doubt in my mind that some bad, bad people are looking for it..."

"Also, you look like a fucking idiot."

Whatever this is, it is completely unimportant compared to what you've just seen.

This is the Man with Sunglasses from the Whirling-in-Rags! But where are his sunglasses?

"Forget about all this, there's a giant..."

"We're not forgetting about anything -- look at you!" He points at you with both hands.

"Wait... you're the Man with Sunglasses."

"That's right -- and you're some kind of... murder machine."

"That's right, and you're some kind of a... urban scarecrow thing."

"That's right, and you look like you got twenty STDs."

"That's right -- and you're bleeding."

"Yes-yes... What's wrong with you?"

He's still dwelling on that jacket.

"Yeah, fuck the world. No one else seems bothered by that."

"Harry, that's because you're a cop with 'Fuck the World' written on his back."

Now that you start thinking about it -- maybe they were afraid of you...

No one has been afraid of you without you knowing. They all felt perfectly safe.

"Oh... that explains it."

"Yes, that has always explained it."

This is not the first time he's seen you all decked out in wacko.

"Vic, calm down..."

"Yes... I am a goddamn cop."

"Actually -- are you? Are you still a cop? There's so much disco going on, it's hard to tell."

"I know when people are uncomfortable around me. They haven't been."

"Believe me, they felt uncomfortable."

Everyone felt perfectly safe in your company. He doesn't know what he's talking about.

Kim recruited

"No one else seems bothered by the bleeding."

"Bothered by it?! Harry, you look like you need a fucking organ transplant!"

He takes a deep breath. "Fuck it, let's not get into that."

"Cuno, you still have my back, right?"

"We're all pigs here." He nods to you, then straightens his back.

Even though we're all pigs here, you and Cuno are more pigs than the rest of the pigs. He'll have your back -- only later.

"Who are you people?"

"Hello, I'm Trant Heidelstam. I believe we've met on several occasions."

"I'm your goddamn partner Jean Vicquemare, and this is your special task force," he says, gesturing toward his companions. "Or what's left of it."

"Special Consultant Trant Heidelstam, Patrol Officer Judit Minot."

"Hi."

"We've come to scrape what's left of you off the pavement."

The kid's about to say he's Cuno!

"Wait..." (Elbow him in the ribs.)

"Wait for fucking what? I'm Cuno. We come from Death Island."

...aaaand he's said it.

"Listen... Cuno." The man assesses the kid like a strike team leader about to kick in a door.

"Harrier and I are old friends... from way back. Mind letting us have a moment?"

"Won't be long. I just need to talk to Harry about some of the things I think he's done wrong lately."

"Good luck with that." He turns to you. "Sounds like you're in some shit."

Let him.

"Task force. Cool. I'm the Cuno. We just came from the fucking island." He points to the seafort behind him.

"Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi, Precinct 57. We've just come from the island..." He points to the seafort. "Where our investigation led us."

The scene is making even him feel as though he has to justify your actions.

"We might need your help with something later," he adds, suddenly regaining his confidence.

As if he recalled that he's, in fact, a decorated police lieutenant, and not a naughty boy.

The two aren't mutually exclusive.

"But this is clearly a departmental matter, so I'm going to leave you to discuss it among yourselves."

"Thank you, lieutenant."

"It's good to meet you, Lieutenant Kitsuragi," she says warmly, flashing the lieutenant the tiniest of smiles.

Letting the lieutenant know he shouldn't feel embarrassed over the shitstorm that's about to befall you.

"Way to feed me to the wolves..."