Season 2 / Hikaru Suzuki - "Smooth Operator" [The Second Trial Projection]

Andrew Edgeworth

Andrew glares at the intruding man before gesturing to Sylas to hand him the phone, having seen far too many of that type in his line of work. He’ll probably leave the sooner this projection progresses, right?

When he gets a better look at the screen, his mind goes back to the dartboard. Hmm…20-19-12.

Hikaru Suzuki

Andrew Edgeworth

The phone seems like it’s loading for a moment, but then rejects Andrew with another “Incorrect PIN”.

Robert McCay

The young woman gives a big beaming smile when Robert hands her the drink. You get the impression that no matter what you get her, she seems happy. It’s also definitely not her first drink, from the way her voice slurs. “Thanks, babes. I know I’m a total mess… but, like, it’s kind of not going really well for me right now? Like. You remember I had a good thing going with that guy, right…? Well, looks like he’s dropped me for some other girl. Um, this is on the house, right? I’ll pay you back later, I promise.”

The businessman is drumming a coin impatiently on the table, muttering under his breath.

Sylas Grey

Sylas hands it over for a guy with Proper Noggin Power to do the heavy lifting.

Robert McCay

Robert flinches for a second at the man’s outburst, but– no, Hikaru didn’t know, of course. No, just coincidence. Like that whiskey, which was one of the kinds of booze he could identify, for related reasons, but he wasn’t gonna touch it. Fuck this guy, give him The Hose, Sylas.

He does feel a little bad about also offering The Hose to the young lady, but she looks like she’s looking for something to knock her out cold, and this thing looks like it’ll do the trick. Ignoring the man, he tries to pick up their conversation again.

Sylas Grey

Sylas takes a big swig of his The Hose and creates another The Hose to give to the businessman. It is unclear what effect The Hose is having on Sylas’ state of mind.

Hikaru Suzuki

Sylas Grey

“Are you crazy? This isn’t whiskey, you idiot!”

The man shoves the glass back at you, sloshing liquid over the top onto the bar. “Is everyone conspiring to let me down today?!”

Andrew Edgeworth

Andrew’s probably the last person here who’s qualified to be giving emotional consolation, so he figures Robert is the best of the three to take care of woman.

“Do either of you know how dartboard scoring works-?” His question (really only aimed at Robert) is punctuated with a fierce glare at the businessman before raising the phone above the now-drenched bar before a bunch of people could potentially get fried. He points out one of the bottles in his sight-line that he recognizes as whiskey to Sylas.

“Just get him quieted.”

Sylas Grey

Sylas knows how dartboard scoring works but I, Scylla, have no idea. Uh oh!

Anyway, the businessman gets whiskey served in a beer mug, because it’s entirely possible Sylas is unsure of how to pour liquid into anything less delicate than a beer receptacle.

Hikaru Suzuki

Sylas Grey

The businessman glowers, but snatches the mug and downs the drink in one, clearly more interested in the alcohol than its presentation.

“There some fuckin’ gambling ring rigging how shit you’re performing, too? Next time I see him I’m telling your father he’s lost a customer.”

There’s another person waiting behind him as he storms off, and they pull a funny face at the three of you, as if second-hand embarrassed at the whole scene.

Sylas Grey

“If you see my dad, can you ask him why he never came home like twenty-four years ago? Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks!!!!”

Sylas waves cheerfully and turns to the dartboard.

“Uh… hm. Hmmm…”

“…Damn! This guy rules at darts!!!!” Oh no, he’s not helpful at all.

Andrew Edgeworth

“…how do you know the scoring is good, Sylas? As specific as you can be, please.”

Sylas Grey

Andrew Edgeworth

“The photo of one guy is in the triple 20, then two guys in the triple 19, and three whole guys in the double 12. That’s like, the best finish you can get for a game of darts. Big skills. Very impressive for The Lads.”

Hikaru Suzuki

Andrew Edgeworth

Sylas Grey

Teamwork makes the dream work, and with that code the phone finally unlocks! It opens straight to the photos app - looks like someone’s been taking snaps of the backs of those credit cards…

With the phone now unlocked, it suddenly begins buzzing with notifications. Geez, how many messages is this guy getting?

Robert McCay

Judging by the way they look curiously about, it’s probably this person’s first time here. Still, their fashionable bodysuit means they fit in comfortably. “I’m in town to report on that bill they’re trying to get through the Diet. My colleagues said I should come here - is it true you have the best margaritas in Tokyo? I don’t even mind if you serve it in a beer mug.”

Andrew Edgeworth

So he has exactly one braincell for dart scoring, great. “…thank you, Sylas.”

It doesn’t take Andrew long to do the mental math in his head - wish his mun could say the same - and puts 60-57-24 into the phone.

Robert McCay

Robert’s only half aware of Sylas’ and Andrew’s antics as he focuses on the patrons, attempting to console the young lady with an “ohh I’m so sorry of course it’s on the house dear” and shooing the businessman away with a gruffer “you get what y’pay for.” It’s not as though he knows anything about darts… though if they do manage to get the phone unlocked, he’ll want to take a peek at that.

As the woman sinks under the influence of Sylas’ technicolor concoction, Robert turns to the third (and possibly a fourth?) patron with an apologetic smile. “And how can I help you tonight?”

Andrew Edgeworth

Finally, the phone is open! Andrew scrolls while passively listening to the customer reveal quite the bit of gossip. Seems a certain art critic was on the money and then some. He’s about to show the screen to Robert and Sylas, but jumps in his seat a bit at the sudden burst of activity.

Ugh…he pushes the déjà vu jumpscare out of his mind to look more closely at what the notifications are saying.

Hikaru Suzuki

Andrew Edgeworth

Some of the texts are from named contacts, but the majority aren’t. They seem to be about… a lot of different things.

“soooo where have u been? cant believe u bailed on me n the girls AGAIN, miss u xoxo”

“I dont care if you block me after this I just wanted you to know that you really hurt me and …”

“if i catch u talking to her again ill make u wish you were never born.”

“Remember to get it to me by next Thursday or there will be trouble.”

Sylas Grey

Sylas is sticking his head over to look at the texts.

“……………Wow, haha, that third one kinda sounds like my ex!” Dude

Robert McCay

Robert nods and smooths his mustache, pretending he knows what they mean by a “diet” in this context. “I see, I see… I’m afraid we’re not the usual staff here, but I’m sure whatever this feller whips up for ya is gonna be– worth reportin’ on! Huh?”

Not the most professional response, but eh– these people weren’t real anyway, right? Mildly alarmed by Sylas’s proclamation, he turns and glances down at the phone.

“Say, do y’happen t’know how to make a marg– oh.”

Sylas Grey

“A margarita? I think that’s, like, pineapple juice and…. gin.” No it isn’t. “And then you tip a bunch of salt in it.” No you don’t.

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