Immediately Oliver remembered why he had not seen his friend in so long. Just looking at the Professor standing there alone, mingling with a woman he knew didn't hold a candle to...

Fuck, he couldn't even say her name. 

The Detective's shoulders slumped, and he stared back at Shou knowingly. Solemnly, he nodded his head and, placing a hand on his chin, rubbed it thoughtfully. This meeting had indeed stirred up some old feelings he never wished to experience again. 

Guilt.

Regret.

Sadness.

What was once a joyful occasion of meeting an old friend now grew into a haunting recollection failures he had committed in the past. Shou, to him, was like a little brother.

And family never lets down or dissappoints their family, right?

But he had.

Oh so much. 


He knew that look in Shou's eyes. And still, after four long years, he couldn't erase it from his mind. Despite it only being a fraction of a second, Holland could tell they were the same eyes that greeted him on the rainy November evening. The night that...

Well, no sense in ruining the mood. 

He glanced at Ryoki, shuffling his cards and silently watching her. 

[i]Bold, emotional, hidden maturity, possibility of using boys as a way to escape...[/i]

He turned his attention to the bunny waitress. 

[i]Young, innocent, doesn't know what the hell she's doing...[/i]

Taking a sip from his drink, he rested the glass down and began to play some Blackjack.

....


"And I win again!" Oliver stated happily, pulling in the chips he had collected from his friend and co. 

He had a little buzz going on, as well as a winning streak. Fortune, for once, had smiled upon him. 

But not for long.

Shou brought up [b]that[/b] topic, sobering up Holland a little before frowning. 

He couldn't tell him that it was because of [b]that[/b] case he quit the force. That no matter how much time had passed or how many leads he had acquired, all lead to a dead end. 

Luckily, his friend was distracted by the woman that was currently sitting on him.

[i]Wait, what?[/i]

"Do you two need a moment? Head off to the bathroom to do a little hanky panky?" Oliver inquired smugly. He was not nearly as drunk as the other two. He already saw himself driving them home.

[@Delta44]
[@MyCatGinger]
[@Takashi]
[@KoL]





[color=9e0b0f]-----------------------[/color]


[i]Breathe in.

Breathe out. 
[/i]

[i]Biding time.[/i]

[i]So very patient.[/i]

[i][color=9e0b0f]What a good thing to do.[/color][/i]

[i]Soon.[/i]


Rain can make you feel less alone. The fractured pieces of a whole part, that's all it was. Pouring its shattered pieces down on top of you. It makes it feel good to know it's not the only thing that's falling apart.


It made it feel better to know other things in nature can shatter.

[i]Like the mind.
Like the spirit.
Like the heart.
[color=9e0b0f]Like the fragile vertebrae of a child.
Like the cranium of a physics professor.[/color][/i]

[i]What naughty thoughts![/i]


Perhaps that was why it enjoyed the otherwise miserable weather.

[i]Breathe in.
Breathe out.[/i]

Perhaps that was why it was so eager for the next evening shower.

It would bide it's time, as always. No need to shout or complain.

[i][color=9e0b0f]Not that he'd have use for a tongue, anyway.[/color][/i]

Maybe the reason why people talked so much was because they were afraid of the silence.

The lenses of its gasmask grew wet and thick on the inside as it exhaled softly.

[i][color=9e0b0f]Maybe it was time to find out. [/color][/i]