1/5AM Occult Acculturation (open)

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru rolled his eyes a bit, irritated at Nate’s comment mainly because he was probably right. “You don’t know that. I keep telling you that I am not some sulky little prince with no sense what so ever.” He glanced toward Nathaniel with a warning glare, daring him to say or even hint otherwise.

He ignored Nate’s scowl as he continued talking with the police. However the moment his friend spoke up Mamoru couldn’t help snapping, “Well if all that happens Nate, you’ll be right there next to me considering when they get here they will want to question you right alongside me. Besides, I gave them your name as well when they asked about that friend with me.”

Mamoru shifted a little uncomfortably as Nate went on. It didn’t exactly sound pleasant, perhaps he should have listened a little more when Nate had been standing there warning him not to do just what he had done. Still when Nate went on to say that he had a massive ego Mamoru couldn’t help glaring irritably at him again and muttering, “I didn’t do any of this because of ego Nate. I told you it was the right thing to do.”

He sighed after a moment’s silence before reluctantly saying, “Maybe it was a bit of ego actually. It’s just that I hate the stories that have been in the press lately. I hate the fact that my reputation has been so throughly ruined as of late. I had always prided myself on having a good reputation, but now ...”

Mamoru waved a hand in a dismissive manner before adding, “I just thought maybe if I did something good like this, just maybe the stories would be different.”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

"All evidence to the contrary," Nate retorted. Mamoru could say whatever he wanted, but he was proving Nsthaniel right by his actions. And he knew that Mamoru knew it, too.

However, his expression lost it's irritation and simply grew numb as Mamoru told him that he had given them Nate's name. He hadn't listened closely enough to catch that, and fought to control an onslaught of emotions and memories concerning the police. A cold sort of anger boiled at Mamoru, but he squashed the urge to lash out defensively. He had this under control.

He wouldn't expect a betrayal like that out of his own prince. Nate couldn't quite wrap his head around it. A small voice told him that Mamoru was just being petty in the moment and wasn't aware of the consequences, nor of Nate's past history with the police, though he had made his feelings on them abundantly clear. Mamoru obviously knew that he didn't like them, he shouldn't have given them his name.

Nate fidgeted nervously, glancing around, already feeling his anxiety sharply increase. However, he turned his head back to look at Mamoru as he sheepishly admitted that part of it was ego, about the press...

...The press. He had been sold out to the cops because Mamoru didn't like the tone of the attention he received in the media. Nate couldn't believe what he was hearing.

He locked his jaw, eyes stormy. He was beyond annoyed, beyond worried for Mamoru. Now he was just angry.

"I have nothing to say to you. Guess I'll save my words for the police when they arrive, my liege."

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru fell silent, noticing the fact that Nate was simply staring at him numbly. Now what had he done? It had to be about the cops, after all that was the only thing that Nate had been truly against this entire time. More then likely it was the fact that he had given them Nate’s name as well, but why would that make him angry? Sure he had said he didn’t like the police, had made it abundantly clear how much he thought of them, but all they would want to do was talk to him. Even if everything Nate said was true, the police couldn’t be that bad to speak to . . . could they?

He watched Nathaniel closely for a few moments, easily noticing the nervous fidgeting and the anxious glances. For the first time since this conversation began Mamoru wondered just why Nate didn’t like the police. In all honesty he didn’t know very much about the man standing next to him. He knew more about Nephrite in his past life then he did about Nathaniel in this current one.

Mamoru shifted warily at the anger in his companion’s expression. Just when was he going to learn not to listen to his own stubborn pride? Hadn’t he had enough of that already?

“Look, I’m sorry I gave them your name. It was . . . petty and unnecessary.” He was silent a fraction of a moment before asking, “Is there any particular reason you didn’t want me to call the police Nate? Other then the fact that you thought they were corrupt and that it would be wasting my time?”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nate just held his glare. He was not a generally forgiving person. When Mamoru confessed to it being petty and unnecessary, he simply looked at him as if to say: 'ya think?'

He bristled a bit at the question, staring out across the street for a moment, before growling out in response: "Did it ever occur to just how I would come to know what I do about the cops? Did you think it was second-hand information?" He had plenty of experience with the cops, and Mamoru obviously didn't.

He glared again, this time his attention was focused on a scooter that zoomed by and pulled over next to them. A photographer started snapping away, and much more traffic was beginning to flow to the area.

"Well, you got your wish. Here comes the paparazzi," Nate commented with evident distaste.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru frowned. He was trying to apologize here and Nate apparently wasn’t planning on giving an inch. True, he supposed that his apology hadn’t been that great of one and he really had done something that was going to inconvenience them for awhile. Still, Nate could at least attempt to see that he was trying. Mamoru didn’t find apologies easy, though he seemed to be making a lot of them recently.

He sighed when Nate growled his response, attempting to remain calm. No it hadn’t occurred to him, but now he had to wonder just what kind of experience Nate did have with the cops. Mamoru shrugged a little uneasily and simply replied, “There are a lot of people that don’t care much for the police Nate and they all have various reasons. Some of those reasons are second-hand information, or things they get out of the movies so no it never occurred to me to wonder just how you had come by your feelings of the police.”

Mamoru glared at the photographer that started snapping pictures, irritated that his conversation was being interrupted. He was very much aware that he had asked for anything that came next, but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t get irritated once he got it. Turning his attention back to Nate he did his level best to ignore the flashing camera, a task that he had actually gotten good at over the last few days.

Keeping his tone low so as not to be heard by anyone other then his companion, Mamoru shrugged in annoyance and said, “I got my wish and I deserve everything that comes from it, but you didn’t ask for this.”

He hesitated briefly before asking, “Are the police going to be a bigger problem then I’m anticipating Nate? If there is something that I’m not aware of then ... can you not just leave? I’m the one that made the call.”

It really hadn’t occurred to him that there might be something more then just idle dislike of the police that had Nate not wanting him to call them. Perhaps there was a bigger reason that Nate didn’t like them. Mamoru didn’t want to get Nate in trouble and so he desperately hoped that it wasn’t something like that. It did occur to him that if that had been the case, well Nate could have said something more definite about it instead of just going on about how they were corrupt. However, he didn’t dare bring that up because he knew very well that if the situations were reversed he probably wouldn’t have said anything either. Besides, maybe he was misreading the situation and it really was that Nate simply didn’t like the police.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nate snorted at Mamoru's 'logical' response about why he hadn't considered it. "Oh, come off it. You didn't get that far. You weren't thinking about anyone but yourself. I shouldn't have to elaborate to you why I have the impressions I do of the police; the simple fact that I don't like them should be enough for you to know not to go bandying my name about, to respect my boundaries."

He was far more angry about this than he initially thought. Mamoru was behaving exactly like the spoiled, naive prince he claimed not to be. "Of course it never occurred to you... You just assumed. After all, you know everything, right?"

He was probably pushing it too hard, and once more Nathaniel was glad that Kunzite wasn't around to listen to this conversation. However, Mamoru was crazy if he thought that Nate was going to tell him the specifics of how he came upon his impressions of the police.

"There's not a warrant out on me, if that's what you mean," he replied dryly. "And even if I did walk away, it wouldn't do me any good now that they have my name. They'd just show up at my apartment and ask to speak to me anyway, that's how they work. Or I could subpoenaed, potentially... Welcome to the system, man. Besides, I'm not leaving you hear alone. Especially not with them, even if that's what you want." He glared as cars pulled up, full of reporters and paparazzi. They were much faster than the police.;

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru’s frown darkened. He was definitely beginning to feel angry once again, though he tried hard to remain logical in the face of Nate’s own anger. He couldn’t afford to loose his temper here and so he simply said neutrally, “I didn’t say you had to tell me your reasons. I simply said that just because you were saying those things doesn’t mean that I would realize you had problems with the police.” He took a deep breath, attempting to remain calm as he added, “I realize that I was only thinking of myself at the time and I’ve admitted it. I’ve already apologized for giving them your name Nate. There isn’t anything else I can do other then to say I was sorry.”

His gaze hardened as cold as ice at Nate’s next words. His grasp on his temper fading fast. This wasn’t fair. He had already admitted that what he had done was wrong and he had apologized for it. He had never claimed to know everything and it wasn’t fair for Nate to insinuate that he did. So he had assumed something, people did that every day. He wasn’t the only one that did that and he had already apologized. What more did he want from him?

Mamoru was very much aware of the growing number of reporters and paparazzi. He couldn’t afford to allow them to see him yelling at his companion. If he allowed himself to strike out because he was angry it would only make their previous stories worse. Besides, he was also very much aware that not only was this his fault he also didn’t really want to lose Nate as a possible friend. He needed to fix this somehow before things went to far. Swallowing down his initial response, Mamoru did his best to keep his voice calm though he wasn’t able to get rid of the cold tone.

“What more do you want from me Nate? I made a mistake. I can’t take it back, but I have apologized. It doesn’t make it better. I know that, but there isn’t anything else I can do.”

He sighed irritably before adding, “I was only asking to be certain. I didn’t really think there was a warrant out on you, otherwise I doubt you would have been able to get into the palace. Contrary to popular belief I do know how the police work. I knew that you wouldn’t be able to get out of talking to them, but at least you wouldn’t be standing here waiting for them.”

Mamoru directed his glare over to the reporters and paparazzi as he muttered, “As for them, I don’t need to be protected from them. I keep telling you, I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it just fine all of these years. You are right I was the one that asked for their attention and I’ve got it, whether I really want it or not. It isn’t fair to force you to be under their scrutiny just because I was an idiot and asked for it.”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nate declined to respond. He had done enough arguing with his Prince for one day, why exacerbate the problem? He wanted Mamoru to not do it again, but that was probably wishing for the impossible. He needed time to cool off, but that wasn't going to be happening anytime soon. And it only pissed him off that Mamoru could apologize one moment and then get huffy that he wasn't instantly forgiven the next.

"I'm not leaving you here," came the stoic response. Whether Mamoru liked it or not, he had Shitennou to look out for his safety. If he had 'always taken care of himself' the why even have guards? Obviously they were awakened for a reason, and he wasn't about to be dismissed when something was going down.

The press were effectively blocking traffic now, and curious citizens were joining the throng, Nate set his jaw, arms crossed, glaring back as the cameras were set up. Even an FNN van pulled up, extending its tower for live coverage.

He was surprised that they weren't mobbed, but it appeared that some of the citizens were taking it upon themselves to effectively control the crowd. One moment those guys were blending in, next they were taking control of the press and keeping them back... bizarre. "What's with them, anyway?"

Finally the police arrived, lights circling in the car, but the siren wasn't going, at least. Nate stood his ground, but this was Mamoru's circus.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru shrugged irritably and muttered, “Fine . . . stay then.”

In truth he was actually glad that Nate was staying. Now that he had the time to actually think about what he had been doing Mamoru was aware of how stupid he had been being. While he didn’t have anything against the police, he didn’t want anything to do with the media, paparazzi or otherwise.

Mamoru glared over at the cameras as they were being set up, sighing a little in irritation as citizens began to join the crowd. He had only himself to blame for getting both of them into this situation and so he really had no cause to be angry.

He blinked in surprise when he noticed some of the citizens beginning to do crowd control. That certainly wasn’t normal citizen behavior, so then why? Mamoru glanced Nate’s way when his companion spoke up and was about to shrug again when he realized just who those citizens probably were.

Mamoru groaned and muttered, “Idiot, that’s what I am . . . an idiot. Those guys are probably the detail Lucan set to keep watch over me. I forgot all about them.” Instead of calling the police he could have just located one of them and told them about the problem, let them deal with it as they would. He could have solved this entire problem without inconveniencing himself or angering Nate.

He bowed his head just a little when the police arrived before glancing back over at Nate, any hint of his previous anger entirely forgotten. “For what it’s worth, though I know it’s not much, I am sorry. You are right, you shouldn’t have had to do anything more then you already had done. I was being a jerk and for that I do hope that eventually you can forgive me. I wouldn’t want to lose that friendship you offered last week.”

Mamoru took a few steps toward the police before adding, “I’m glad you stayed Nate.” He then made his way over to the police.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nate looked away from Mamoru as he began to shrug to his remark on the citizens, but then his head snapped back as Mamoru said something about a detail.

"What?!" Nate yelped. Had the whole world gone crazy?! What was going on today?! Was Mamoru sick? He just wanted to crawl back into bed and start all over. This couldn't be happening to him.

"You let guys that work for Super Cop follow you around all day?" Nate demanded. He noticed that his outburst had sent a murmur through the crowd, so he lowered his voice. "Just a moment ago you were giving me this crap about how you can take care of yourself, and yet you have a detail?! I'm your Shitennou." He still hadn't managed to talk Mamoru out of getting into this mess, but this was just ridiculous!

His ire, however, faded considerably at Mamoru's words. He waved them off, feeling a bit sheepish about being so reactive earlier. "Please, like I'd stop being your friend over something like this. I just need some time in the man cave, and I'll be over it." Mostly.

He followed Mamoru over to the police, though his anxiety increased with each step, especially considering they had such a large audience.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru blinked at Nate’s reaction, not having expected the outburst. He had momentarily forgotten Nate’s first meeting with Lucan. “Yes, I let them follow me around all day. I just told you that I forgot about them. They keep themselves hidden fairly well and unless I’m actively looking for them I rarely ever spot them.”

He glanced at the murmuring crowd for a fraction of a second before returning his attention to Nathaniel. Mamoru wasn’t sure how he felt about his next words and so he simply said, “I gave Lucan permission to let them follow on the night I ended up in jail. I can take care of myself and I thought so then as well. I told him that but he gave me a long speech about the dangers of walking around without protection.” He gestured toward the crowd of paparazzi and said, “If for nothing else, they make great barriers against them. I’d rather not be mobbed by a reporter right now. As for you, when I gave Lucan that permission you weren’t even awake yet. Technically speaking I’d trust you over them any day and I’d certainly prefer your company.”

Mamoru gave Nate just the faintest of a grin as he added, “If you want to follow me around in the shadows all day you are welcome to. I just didn’t think it would be very amusing for you. I don’t tend to go very many places other then work, home, and the occasional walk or visit to Usagi. I’m sure you have much better things to do with your time then to sit there and keep an eye on me all day long.”

He nodded, glad to know that while angry Nate wasn’t going anywhere. “Just the same, I won’t do it again. You have my word . . .”

When Mamoru arrived at where the police were standing, he looked them over cautiously. He was pleased to note that none of the officers that had arrived today were any of the ones that he had dealt with while in jail. Mamoru quickly gave them his name once more. He had already given it to them and now he was stuck following through on whatever procedures they had. He pointed out the store and repeated what he had told the officer on the phone, though he did his best to not actively point out Nate’s involvement.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nate frowned at this, letting a out a sigh. "Actually... I didn't notice them at all," he admitted grudgingly. He was far too preoccupied with the stuff in the store, he told himself, but he still hated the fact that he hadn't noticed.

He hated that he had to agree with Super Cop, but disagree with Mamoru at the same time. "Well he's right about one thing, you do need protection... our protection," Nate insisted stubbornly. He was slightly mollified when Mamoru said he would prefer them and had given the permission when he wasn't awakened. "I would quit my day job anyday to follow you around," Nate insisted, but even as he said the words he knew the futility of such a venture. Mamoru couldn't support them all; the fact was that the government was paying for his protection right now. And Nathaniel was more than confident that should something really go down, he could use his powers and his not-inconsiderable physical prowess to hold them off, at least until Mamoru could get away. The problem with that was there were many things, such as the paparazzi, that he couldn't go around blasting no matter how good it would feel. And he didn't know the first thing about how to deal with them... "But you need more than just me. And I can't be with you 24/7, even if I did quit my job. He would need to shower, eat, sleep...

He stood and fidgeted as Mamoru gave his statement and the various officers questioned him, while others investigated the store. He was eventually questioned himself, and Nate gave short, curt answers.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru shrugged a little and just muttered, “Like I said, they hide well. They do exactly as I asked ... I didn’t want to see them unless necessary.”

He couldn’t help glaring just a bit at Nate before relaxing again. He had agreed to needing protection for some things, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. Briefly he wondered how much protection he had to deal with in the past. Where the Shitennou constantly there, or just there whenever he needed them. Mamoru put the thought aside, he didn’t have enough memories to know that and now wasn’t the time to be wondering. Besides, whatever had occurred in the past wasn’t the same as what was needed today.

Mamoru glanced at Nate in surprise for a moment as he went on before giving him a wry grin. “You know Nate, I was just kidding. I didn’t expect you to quite your day job. I certainly wouldn’t ask it of you. You like doing what you do right?”

What felt like hours later, the police had were finally done with them at least for the moment. They had arrested the guy inside and hauled him off somewhere. Mamoru and Nate were allowed to leave, especially as the police knew how to contact them if they needed anything later. Which just left the press to be dealt with, something that Mamoru didn’t particularly care to do anymore. He was tired and irritable again, though he wouldn’t say so. He had asked for this and so he would deal with it, though he did glance at Nate and mutter, “Now would probably be a good time to leave don’t you think?”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nate shrugged. "It was always a means to an end, that end was, not to sound cheesy-- you. You're what's important. So I sure as hell would quit my day job, only reason I won't now is because I can't expect you to pay my bills, and I don't have the fortune of having taxpaper money to keep me afloat while I do my real job," he said with a slightly mocking tilt, that it was barely noticeable. It really should be Mamoru, then they wouldn't even have this problem.

"Fine by me," Nate replied when Mamoru said it was a good time to leave. He had been ready a long time ago, and was definitely read the leave this place and the crowds behind. He wished his car instead of just having walked and used the metro.

The press got more excited as the police seemed finished with them, straining forward to get closer and get better pictures.

"Chiba Mamoru! You're a hero again! How does it feel? Do you have a statement to make? What prompted you to do this?" They all badgered him with questions, lightbulbs popping off, though thankfully the effect wasn't quite so dramatic as it would be at night.