Conversation · Kim Kitsuragi

"What happened to you?" the lieutenant asks as he leans in, eyes mapping your frozen face.

Better keep the lieutenant in the dark about the whole 'Icebreaker' thing. He's not gonna get it.

"This is what I am now, Kim. What I was always meant to be."

"And what is that? A walking mask?"

"He Who Withstands All Temptation."

"Including drinking?"

"Excluding drinking. And drugs."

"What temptations is He withstanding then?" asks the lieutenant with a puzzled look.

"You know what? I don't even want to know. Let it be one of your internal side-cases. I just want to get back to work."

"Shall we?" He looks ready to go.

"Including drinking."

"Hm." The lieutenant seems almost impressed. "Admitting a problem is the first step forward. Perhaps now we can finally get some work done."

"Excluding drinking."

"He Who Stares Straight into the Eclipse."

"So now you want to go blind as well?" He shakes his head. "How about we become Those Who Solve Murder Cases instead and get back to work?"

Neither was an actual question.

The lieutenant is not loving the new look.

"The last kingsman."

"The last kingsman..." he repeats pensively, inspecting your face. "That's fitting, I suppose. Almost as if you did manage to turn back time. If only for yourself."

Face of a millipede trapped in amber...

But somehow it doesn't scare him, like it scared you. Doesn't make him quiver with cold. Poor guy...

"Alright, detective," he reaches out and pats you on the arm. It feels strangely encouraging. "Let's get going, we've got a killer to catch."

"I am Icebreaker."

"No, you are not. What you are is an RCM lieutenant conducting a murder investigation."

"I plough my way towards the frigid lands of Katla and Vaasa, smashing every ice sheet in my path..."

"No, but you see, you don't," the lieutenant explains patiently, although his voice is suddenly very tired. "You're not an icebreaker or a firewalker, or even Tequila Sunset."

"Nothing, nothing can stop the Icebreaker..."

"Are you fucking insane?!" the lieutenant snaps at you. "Don't answer that! And STOP doing it! Let's go."

The lieutenant's command instantly lets all the wind out of your sails, like he overrode your mind or flicked some secret master-switch.

Suddenly the whole Icebreaker concept seems... just lame.

It's like he re-conditioned your brain.

"It is a powerful metaphor, lieutenant. For my resolve."

"Okay, that's all right." He looks visibly relieved. "As long as you understand it is a metaphor and don't build a persona around it."

"I understand. It's not gonna become a thing."

"Oh, good." The lieutenant's posture relaxes. "Thank you! And sorry I asked about it. It's none of my business. Let's just get back to work."

"They say you can hear the ice crack from a..."

"I understand nothing."

"I'm sorry, Kim, I don't know what came over me."

"It's okay," he says quietly. "We're both under a lot of stress right now. Let's just try to not let it get to us and remember what we came here to do."

"No, but you see, you don't," the lieutenant explains patiently, although his voice is suddenly very tired. "You're not an icebreaker or a firewalker, or even Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau."

"No, but you see, you don't," the lieutenant explains patiently, although his voice is very tired suddenly. "You're not a firewalker, you're not an icebreaker."

"No, but you see, you don't," the lieutenant explains patiently, but his voice is very tired. "You are not Tequila Sunset and you are not an icebreaker. Stop, please!"

"No, but you see, you don't," the lieutenant explains patiently, but his voice is very tired. "You're not Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau and you're not an icebreaker!"

"No, but you see, you don't," the lieutenant explains patiently, but his voice is very tired. "You're not an icebreaker, Harry. Please stop."

"No, but you see, you don't," the lieutenant explains patiently, but his voice is very tired. "Your name is Harrier Du Bois, not 'Icebreaker'."

"No, but you see, you don't," the lieutenant explains patiently, his voice suddenly tired. "You don't plough anything, you help me solve this case, please remember."

"No, you are not. What you are is an officer of the Revachol Citizens Militia conducting a murder investigation."

"A noble sufferer."

"I don't think you are supposed to call yourself that." A fleeting smile crosses his lips. "But I appreciate the honesty. Now let's get back to work."

"Oh, this?" (Point to your face.)

"Yes, your face." He nods, looking worried. "Looks like you're having a stroke. Can you even move it?"

That's a negative, lieutenant.

"I don't need to 'move it', this is my final form."

"I just don't understand, officer." The lieutenant just stands there, looking perplexed. "Please, help me understand."

"There's nothing more to talk about, only to endure." [Leave.]

"Absolutely." (Lift the corners of your mouth with index fingers.) "See?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about it."

"You don't look fine and I'm very worried about it." He crosses his arms on his chest.

Should I contact his station's lazareth? Behind his back?

"What do you mean, lieutenant?"