#fooledjustice

Fulbright perks up. Oh? …He doesn't recognize this person. That won't stop him from trying to be his usual chipper self, however! He puts on one of his bright smiles, moving his arm up to offer a salute in greeting!

"Why, I'm your local champion of justice, Detective Bobby Fulbright! Was there something you needed, good citizen?"

"Oh, so you're a Police Detective!"

The canter of the redhead's tone immediately rose at that declaration, but more from hearing the title than the stranger's actual name.

"I apologize, I probably should have realized--" she added, offering a sincere expression as she waved a hand nonchalantly. Not that there seemed to be anything about him to specifically identify him as his given profession.

Just as sunny as that file had mentioned, a trait so pronounced that even in a document meant for professional, not personal opinion, no one could miss how he shined. If that detective hadn't already gotten this far, someone might mistake that for being too new to this world, freshly dropped from the clouds of idealism.

This, he mulls on until they're sat a few tables away from the café. The menu, as entrees went, leaned on bagels to act as the foundation for a variety of sandwiches, and not much else. Coffee was not in short supply, sipping and observing, polite greetings exchanged.

Shi Long had opted for just the meat options apparently, not a speck of bread to seat the sausage, eggs,slabs of deli cuts,or bits of grilled chicken. These, he stabs with a fork while speaking. " You're young, for someone who made detective. " Indiscriminate while he eats, it doesn't seem to matter if he gets more or less with each bite; just that he's determined to do so blindly. Shi-long gaze roams enough that he isn't staring him down like food.

reception is granted at last, a palm extended in peace.   ❝ i'm aware! no, i don't need anything... necessarily. i'm making my rounds, ❞   with a nod, the detective supervisor continues.   ❝ mentally checking up on the detectives here. was wondering if those thoughts that kept ya might need some clearing. ❞   at last, his smile widens.   ❝ soren serrano. lieutenant, but i prefer sergeant. sounds better. ❞   it also let him escape mountains of paperwork, but he wouldn't admit that.

"... ... oh." palm meets forehead as he squeezes his temples; cold sweat on his fingers dissipating somewhere between brows and rogue strands of hair. "you're here for anthony," or so says the voice beneath the furniture before its owner's face rises up to the edge of the table, cautious eyes peeking at the unknown man by the door.

     ‹ The name is what made the shorter detective's face light up. Right! That's why he recognized the man! ›

    ❝ Ah yes! Detective Fulbright! That's why I recognized you; I've worked with your precinct a few times and your colleagues always had good things to say. ❞

     ‹ Only good things, it seemed; either that, or this new man wanted to look past the other infamous reason. Either way, Shuuji offered a bright grin and a genuine warmth to his eyes that at least made him seem sincere about his intentions, as strange as "being sincere to a man accused of heinous crimes" was. Both hands would now come to rest on the shorter man's waist in turn, though his stance felt so loose and casual that it did not carry any tension or hostility. ›