#gettin jigen with it

[lpn3rd]

[catchyhuh]

terms of endearment. aw.

take this however you want, ship wise, self-insert wise, whatever, i’m just tired of reading fanfiction and going “NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! goemon would NOT say babygirl!!!!” like i'm the roger ebert of ao3. THAT’S ALL A JOKE BY THE WAY, I LOVE MY FELLOW CREATIVES I JUST HAVE TO SPEAK MY TRUTH,

lupin: lupin uses every name under the SUN if he personally deems it cute enough. nothing is too cutesy, too stupid, too overdramatic. do you know many people who unironically still say ‘lover?’ oh you do. my bad. but you get the point. it’s to the point that he rarely even doubledips. one day it’s darling the next it’s cutiepie and then some shit like. morning dove. mon petit chou-fleur.  the funny thing is that when he’s actually being sincere and truly one hundo percent overcome with love he tends to just say the person’s name. go figure

jigen: more a believer in the sarcastic petname than anything else. but i mean you knew that just look at how he talks to people when he knows he’s winning against them. that said it wouldn’t be hard to pull like, “baby” out of him. Babe. he’s not going too sugary though. sweetheart is his hard limit. AND DON’T GO GETTING TOO SAPPY ON HIM EITHER! he’ll accept petnames thrown his way. in private. keep that shit locked down he can’t have outsiders knowing he doesn’t gag when someone calls him handsome. unless it’s like a bit then he’s fine. he’s always down for the bit!

fujiko: ALSO uses a shit ton of them but has more standards for being taken seriously than lupin. so she’s not really getting POETIC with it, even if she does truly like the other person, she just keeps it nice and cute. honey usually comes up the most, both sarcastically and genuinely. she also strikes me as the type to have little names for someone based on their appearance, like… trying to think of an example. like… big… guy? or like. blondie? YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT point being she keeps it very standard.

goemon: sorry. he doesn’t have too much fun with it. goemon’s idea of an affectionate nickname is just outright saying someone’s name as it is, no honorifics, no formalities. it’s like, intimate to him! more romantic than using some common term of endearment. however, on the opposite hand, as long as it wasn’t overdone he’d would be okay with, and eventually grow to LOVE being called cute names. again, won’t stand for anything too ridiculously silly, but he just melts internally when someone calls him darling or some shit.

zenigata: sorry he’s also boring :( i think part of it comes from just the total disconnect he has with. anything remotely romantic but unless he’s just. drunk? if he’s drunk it probably just slips out but OTHERWISE you’re not pulling a lot outta this guy. like goemon he thinks it's cute when someone else does it to him IF. if he likes them and it’s not in front of certain people. otherwise it's embarrassing. actually it's probably embarrassing for him either way he just tends to be very defensive about things. play your cards right you might get a cutie. and then he’d be mortified he said it

[loopspoop]

Chapter 19! What will happen to our silly little guys after what I put them through in this one 👀

TW: general violence, explosion, electrocution, hostage Lupin

“Pops? Pops, hey? You with us?”

Zenigata groaned softly, cringing. His head felt like someone had whacked it with a sledge hammer a good few times and then turned to do a dance on his ribs for good measure. Who the hell was trying to wake him up?

“Pops, where the hell did they take Lupin?”

Oh shit-

Eyes opening, Zenigata blinked a few times. Too bright..he remembered being with Lupin. They had been in a cave? Right..the tree had fallen on him and then..shit! Someone took Lupin!

Jigen frowned, struggling against the ropes binding him to a chair nearby. “What the hell happened out there?!”

“I..someone took him..” Zenigata glanced around, vision swimming with the movement. “Clocked me over the head with something…”

“Shit! How’re you doing over there, Fuji?” Jigen glanced across the room.

“Trying..” Fujiko mumbled, trying to use her nails to file against the ropes around her wrists. Damnit all…

“Mmm..” Zenigata closed his eyes, cringing. He couldn’t believe Lupin had gotten caught when he was right there to save him..

“Well, well, good morning, inspector!” A figure walked into the living room, smirking. “Long time no see.”

Zenigata opened his eyes, glaring angrily. “Alarie. I guess I shouldn’t have given you the benefit of the doubt when I thought you had a shitty personality. Pretty telling of what type of person you are.”

Alarie glared, walking over quietly before he kneed Zenigata in the ribs roughly. The inspector gasped raggedly, wheezing in pain as Alarie grabbed his hair firmly and slammed his head back against the wall. “Say it again. I dare you.”

“Pops-!”

“Y-You couldn’t pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel..I know you’re not the brains behind this..” Zenigata wheezed, vision swimming as he tried to stay alert.

Alarie narrowed his eyes, slamming Zenigata’s head against the wall again before kicking his chair over roughly. “I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, inspector. Figured I would give you the option to pick a side worth more than just a common lawman’s work.”

“And what side is that exactly, jackass?” Jigen growled, leaning forward in his chair. He knew Pops was concussed..he didn’t need the extra head trauma.

“Human advancement.” Alarie glared over at Jigen, smirking a bit. “Not that you would know anything about being advanced, cowboy.”

“Sir! We weren’t able to locate the samurai!” Another man called from the front door, frowning as he looked in. “Should we continue searching?”

“No. We need to get back to the lab to begin further testing. I’ll torch the place. I doubt a samurai can stab an inferno enough to kill it.” Alarie smirked, looking back at Jigen. “Have fun in hell, assholes.” He placed an explosive device on the coffee table, strolling out of the house as he laughed.

“Damnit! We should’ve listened to Lupin when he told us what he was hearin’!” Jigen struggled, wincing at the rough ropes digging into his wrists. “Where the hell is Goemon?!”

Fujiko bit her lip hard, nails breaking as she finally managed to cut the ropes. Hissing, she got up quickly and ran over to Jigen. “Forget it. That thing has less than a minute. You get Pops out of here, I need to get the journals from upstairs if we want any hope of future repairs on Lupin.”

“Fuji-“

“Just do it, Jigen!” Fujiko snapped, running upstairs quickly. She had to get that information or they were all totally screwed

“Pops! Hey, keep it together alright?” Jigen hurriedly tried to untie him, glancing at the timer anxiously. “We’re gettin’ out of here so just keep your eyes open!”

10…

9…

8…

“Jigen-“ Zenigata glanced over at the device. “Jigen, just go-!”

“I’m not fuckin’ leavin’ you!” Jigen snapped, biting his lip hard.

7…

6…

5…

“Jigen!!”

“Shut it, Pops!” Jigen jerked the knots free, glancing over at the timer as he paled. “Kitchen- go, go, go-!” They wouldn’t have time to get to the front door from here.

4…

3…

2…

Jigen grabbed his arm roughly, sprinting through the kitchen as he threw Zenigata belly down onto the floor under the table. It was the best chance he had to not be blown to bits escaping. Hopefully Fujiko had gotten out somehow.. going to get on top of Zenigata to shield him, Jigen was caught off guard.

1…

The house went bright for a split second before fire erupted through the place faster than any of them could comprehend. In a white hot flash, Jigen was blown backwards through one of the kitchen windows, crashing in a heap with burnt debris and broken glass on the grass outside. As the supports gave way, the house crashed down in a burning heap, smoke filling the air as the fire roared and raged.

~~~~~

Alarie walked through double doors into a well lit lab, smiling as he approached the glass case at the far end of the room. His prize was inside, none other than famous thief, Lupin the Third.

“What a pleasure it is to see you, Lupin.” Alarie smiled sweetly, leaning in for a better look.

“Shove it up your ass.” Lupin snarled, glaring. His head hurt and he didn’t remember coming here but..he knew a rat bastard when he saw one.

“Now, now, you should know better than to talk to me like that.” Alarie’s smile strained, eyes narrowing.

“I’m not playing kiss ass to someone who wants to play human science lab so fuck off back to whatever hole you crawled out of.” Lupin growled. “My partners are coming for me right now, no doubt, and they won’t be pleased to see you. I suggest you quit while you’re ahead.”

Alarie growled angrily, slamming his hand down on a button nearby as the floor of the case became electrified. Lupin jumped, screaming out in pain as his back arched and his body twisted through the painful jolts. Letting off the button, Alarie glared at him as he crouched down to his level.

“I blew that hideout of yours to bits with them tied up inside, Lupin. Nobody is coming for you. They’re dead. You’re not worth that trouble for them anyway.” He smiled, standing.

Lupin panted, trembling as he looked up at Alarie weakly. No…they had to come for him..right? They cared enough to come for him.. and they wouldn’t let something as small as that take them out..not after everything they had all been through!

“Solitary will do your attitude some good.” Alarie glared, turning on his heel as he walked to the door. “We won’t make the same mistakes Mad made. You’re here until you die, Lupin. Learn to behave and it’ll go smoothly.”

[formlessvoidbeast]

List of Lupin III Part 2 Episodes (that I liked enough to make my partner watch them)

Part 2 of Lupin III has Many Episodes, but overall I found it fun and charming (in a dated kind of way). Please be aware that this is a very old show, and there are still instances of racism/sexism/etc in these episodes (though the worst have not made this list).

I have decided to share the whole list of episodes I noted down to make Partner watch with me as I have been devouring the show entire, much like a snek, but I have also bolded a couple of my Extra Favorite ones.

I cannot speak to the quality of the dub versions, as I have only watched with Japanese audio and English subtitles. I don't think Part 2 is a bad place to start if you want to get into Lupin. It is a very silly show full of shenanigans, which has been bringing me a great deal of joy over the winter.

11 - "A Gift for the President" / "The Sleight Before Christmas" 12 - "The Great Chase in San Francisco" / "I Left My Mind in San Francisco" 20 - "Goemon's Revenge" / "The Last Mastery" 25 - "A Rose and a Pistol" / "Shot Through the Heart" 32 - "Lupin Dies Twice" / "Lupin the Interred" 41 - "Search for the Treasure of Princess Kaguya" / "Heroes and Vixens" 44 - "The Vanished Special Armored Truck" / "Lion, Cheatin' and Stealin'" 48 - "Lupin Laughs at the Alarm Bell" / "Vault Assault" 57 - "Computer or Lupin?" / "Alter-Ego Maniac" 58 - "The Face of Goodbye at the National Border" / "Gettin' Jigen with It" 61 - "The Flying Zantetsuken" / "The Yam Is Mightier Than the Sword" 66 - Order: Shoot to Kill!!" / "Beauty and the Deceased" 72 - A Skateboard Murder Mystery" / "You're Sapphired!" 79 - "The Lupin Funeral March" / "Baton Death March" 80 - "The Last Gift in Prison is Cup Ramen" / "Everybody Loves Ramen" 81 - "Fujiko, Men Are a Sorry Lot!" / "Fujiko, Men Are a Sorry Lot!" 82 - "Rescuing Pops" / "Hostage Rescue Operation: Daddio" 84 - "Leave the Revenge to Lupin" / "Leave the Revenge to Lupin" 98 - "The Day Pops Was Gone" / "The Day Without Daddio" 99 - "The Scattered Magnum" / "Fighting Jigen" 102 - "Lupin, Do You Like Chanel?" / "Lupin, Do You Like Chanel?" 110 - "Fujiko's Candid Photo" / "Sharp Shot! This is Fujiko" 112 - "Goemon's Close Call" / "Danger! Goemon" 116 - "When's the 108th Bell?" / "Has the Bells Rung 108 Times?" 129 - "In Jigen, I Saw the Gentleness of a Man's Soul" / "The Kindness Of Jigen is Seen" 134 - "The Climactic Lupin Arrest Operation" / "The Surrounded Summit Strategy" 137 - "The Magnificent Team-Play Operation" / "Team Work" 142 - "The Big Favorite Disappeared at the Grand Race" / "The Disappearing Favourite" 143 - "The Miami Bank Raid Anniversary" / "The Miami Bank" 145 - "Wings of Death - Albatross" / "Albatross: Wings of Death" 148 - "The Target Is 555 Meters" / "The Target is Five Hundred and Fifty Five Meters Away"

If you only watch one episode of Part 2 -- make it 145/Wings of Death- Albatross, but if you are going to watch more than one episode for the love of the gods don't watch that one first it will set your standards much too high for the rest of the show.

edit to add: a number of these episodes after 98 can be found on youtube! And in fact youtube has much better subtitling on their subbed episodes than crunchyroll, so I recommend watching them there instead if possible.

[experthiese]

@pr0tur0 asked: ❛ you wanted the truth. i’ve given it to you. it’s up to you what you do with it. ❜ / time 4 crime (always accepting!)

There's a long, long moment where Lupin doesn't react. Doesn't even seem to breathe, trapped motionless slouched over an uncomfortable metal café chair. The moment's soon broken when he tips his head back towards the sky, exhaling his latest lungful of smoke and kicking his chair back onto two legs.

❝ Y'know, doing what I do gives you a lotta knowledge about a lotta different things. You need to be a jack of all trades if you wanna succeed. Did you know I can swordfight? Yeah. I'm no Goemon, but if it came down to it, I know how to keep myself alive. Pretty good trickshot, too, though Jigen's skills blow me outta the water. Even played detective once, if you can believe it. ❞

He's gotten around, is the point. Knows what he's talking about no matter how far removed the talent in question may seem from his more criminal proclivities. All this to say, that when he shoots to sit bolt upright again with an observation of--

❝ You haven't got a single pore on your face. It's like a mask. ❞

--he's not just pulling accusations from thin air.

❝ So I thought you might be a little like me. As unparalleled as mine are, I'm well aware I've not got a monopoly on disguisin' myself. Anyone can do it, given enough time and artistic capability. You'd even have the motive, given how secretive Area Zero is. Stealin' the face of its authorised personnel would be the perfect choice. But then I noticed something else. ❞

That signature blue jacket is pulled to one side, allowing Lupin just enough leverage to slip his hand inside and pull out a scrap of paper. Nothing scientific or important - even if he had gotten into Area Zero, he knows better than to start pocketing classified research notes willy nilly - but good enough to prove his next point.

He tosses it onto the table between them, pinning it down with the cracked sugar pot the waitress had so generously provided.

❝ You recognise this, right? You should: it's your writing. But d'you wanna know something interesting? I can't forge this. ❞

Those dark eyes are blown wide with wild excitement, the filter of his cigarette crushed between a grin splitting his face from ear to ear. He's on a roll now.

❝ I can forge the Professor's. Some of his old work's displayed back in Uva-- ❞ or it was, for now it's also being pulled out of Lupin's jacket and thrown unceremoniously on the table ❝ --and they've yet to notice my switch. They're perfect replicas. But this? ❞

❝ I can't forge this. There ain't a human alive who can write like that freehanded. Do you understand what I'm gettin' at? ❞

What he's getting at? Of course, what he means is...

There'd never been any need for Tur0 to reveal the truth.

( Lupin had already known. )

[narhinafan]

The girl screamin gettin attacked by code's jigen clone looks like trashkura🤣 and boruto helpin salad evens out salad ms crying to sasuke for bolt help.🤷‍♀️

Yeah Sarada not being able to defend herself even after getting the MS is just bad. When Sasuke got it he would fighting all five kage and Sarada has had years to train with it.

[model19]

❝ What's up with the smudges you left on my card, Jiji? You scared to commit to the idea of gettin' pampered once in a while? Too tough to give out some praise? ❞

" I said I was bored, not desperate for attention."

" and You got too big of an ego to say anything. If I thought I needed to bolster it even more with a compliment, you should check your back for a knife."

Clearly, it's time to pull for a cigarette, and be out of the immediate vicinity for coffee, late in the afternoon. Though, there's no incoming splash coming for him, even as Jigen turns with the lukewarm pot.

" ... I won't say no to a professional Swedish massage. But take out any thought you got in there about telling them to add in a 'happy ending.' "

[jigensass]

@jigenshat

English dub doesn’t do him much more justice

[the-golden-ghost]

jigen/goemon and uhmm 'bait'

"All right, Goemon, now reel 'er in nice and steady," Jigen said, leaning over to see the shadow looming beneath the surface. "She's a big one, all right. I can feel it." Goemon began to wind the reel, his face impassive as the rod bent under the weight of his catch. She was a big one all right. "You're luck's gonna turn, buddy. There's no way a fish could resist my best spinnerbait." Goemon pulled up with strength to reveal - a soggy old boot, dangling from the line. His face fell.

"Again?" Jigen exclaimed. "Damn, man. Five in a row. I'll give you this - that takes some real talent. Any fool can catch a fish."

[lupincaps]

[model19]

zenigatakeibu​:

⚖️ ❝ – YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE best things about letting you idiots underestimate me is getting to see the looks on your faces when I actually try. ❞ That grip is unrelenting no matter how stubbornly Jigen writhes. He’s used to unruly company and it shows. Just another perk of the job, thanks to Lupin.❝ You are easy, Jigen. You rely too much on weaponry. ❞

A scuffed shoe sends the magnum skidding across the pavement, far enough out of reach should the gunman somehow manage to make a dive.

❝ .. And you’re gonna hurt yourself if you keep squirming around like that. ❞

Were Zenigata anymore ticklish he might start laughing with all this movement. Jigen wasn’t exactly known for his physical prowess, though, was he? And even if he were you’d be hard-pressed to find someone– anyone– stronger than Lupin’s prized inspector. His voice drops another octave, rolling like a purr the further he presses.

❝You’re goddamn lucky I know how to sew. This is my favorite coat. ❞

“  Pressin’ so damn hard against me!” There were chills. They were multiplying. They were  traveling along his shoulders and making them tight to his body, like an ice cube had been dropped perfectly along his spine at lightning speeds. This was a cascade of a few small decisions making very little difference to the detective now. *Easy,* murmured close, close enough to feel what was certainly warm air and not skin. It was enough,  there were hairs raising like spikes as far as his knuckles. Another miss with his leg,  and his ankle feels the punishment for landing awkwardly when he misses his mark.

“ Ah, damn it...” His hands can ball into fists, but that’s nearly as uncomfortable as trying to claw out against the brick with his nails.

“Quit, gettin’ into my ear- what do you want, an apology-?” There’s a lot of short little hairs, right behind the shell. His battle is losing strength, or at least, losing the resolve to spend all of it at once.

[catchyhuh]

It's flu season. How would they live through the sickness + would they take care of each other? Bonus: how did they survive the pancemic / quarantine situations?

you know the funny thing is the only time i’ve ever had the flu (which was miserable and lasted a full week WITH the vaccine already in my system so remember to ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH YOUR SHOTS) i had been into lupin for about a yearish, and i watched fuma AND napoleon’s dictionary in one night to pass the time and only at that moment did i truly understand the. variety of animation quality present in the lupin the third franchise. i can still taste that medicine in my mouth whenever i see either of them. but anyway

lupin:

lupin has two sick modes: not feeling too peachy but will act like he’s dying to exploit special treatment and being pampered, and actually very, very sick, but will deny he’s that sick because he feels weird having people truly, honestly, sincerely worried for him. 

would he take care of others? well. yes. not in a very tender way, but he doesn’t want them DYING at least. like, if jigen is bundled up on the couch, red nosed, blanket over his head, and pathetically asks for the remote, lupin will get up and give it to him, but he’s not holding his hair back when he’s vomming lol. he WILL offer a hairtie though. you see? it’s about that level of care. you’ll be far from miserable, but in all honesty, he COULD do more

would you believe people standing multiple feet away from you in a museum makes it twice as easy to plant secret tracking devices and tiny bombs and shit? would you believe? would you believe masks made facial recognition tech twice as easy to crack since most people turned it off anyway? WOULD YOU BELIEVE?

jigen:

jigen feels this weird defensive embarrassment about being sick. people like jigen don’t GET sick. or so they all tell themselves. so when he’s actually like, SICK sick, miserable and nauseous and coughing, it bothers him MENTALLY more than it does PHYSICALLY

as a result he doesn’t want people taking care of him. it’s going to happen anyway, usually from lupin, so he doesn’t waste energy fighting, but he’ll only barely acknowledge the fact he’s the picture of death right now

his usual personality is in full play when he’s taking care of someone ELSE though. you’re only getting the help if you beg or if he can immediately tell you’re going through it, but if you DO get his help, he’s going to talk and talk and talk about how you KNOW better than to hang around after someone tells you to your face they’ve been sick. you’re lucky he gives enough of a damn to get you the big stack of tissues with the special lotion in them so you don’t rub your stupid nose raw. you’re welcome btw,

fujiko:

oh the emotional turmoil of being “too perfect to get sick” but also LOVING getting whatever you want under the guise of “please? i’m sick :(“ it's so hard to be her. so difficult to have her lavish life

fujiko is not. the most doting person. you wanna talk about someone who will just stand in the next room over while you’re hunched over a toilet bowl all pitiful and green in the face. it’s not that she doesn’t care! she just. would rather never ever ever see that shit lol

fujiko’s usual targets are selfish, hateful, yet unbearably idiotic and easy to manipulate. so… she kinda loved when covid was at its full peak, because she got an IMMEDIATE visual shorthand for who was deserving of her sugar baby schemes. ESPECIALLY if they constantly made a big deal about how they refused to mask up. so… yeah, made her life incredibly easy!

goemon:

actually gets the sick the most out of them because he forces his body to withstand extremes that NOBODY’S BODY SHOULD REALLY BE WITHSTANDING. gets the flu almost every year despite getting shots and the like, but he survives. 

all of them WOULD take care of him, but he rejects the help. it’s not fully a pride thing; he’s heard many times that you heal faster by working your body as normal, so it can readjust quicker. but… he doesn’t really question why they’ve already got some warm soup lightly simmering on the stove so it doesn’t get cold before he pours himself a bowl, or why they just HAPPENED to have the nausea medicine right on the coffee table…

the same “get better faster by getting off your ass” technique is in full swing when he’s watching OVER somebody sick though, so… very much a tough love approach. but if you act even a smidgeon MORE miserable during the process you might get him to back down a tiny bit

zenigata:

(sticking the DO NOT EMULATE sticker on his forehead again) zenigata could stand sopping wet in negative degree weather with the patient 0 covid guy standing right in front of him, breathing right into his nose, and there’s ONLY a 50% chance he’ll actually get sick. and even if he does get sick, IT WON’T STOP HIM IN THE SLIGHTEST.

zenigata is weird because if he’s taking care of one of the gang, first he gets this HAHA IDIOT YOU SHOULD’VE KNOWN YOU’D GET SICK but when they actually start paling and getting weak he’s like “oh my god you lost a shit ton of electrolytes. we need some gatorade” so once you get past that initial gloating stage he’s not bad. just. very overwhelming, as he usually is

gets touchy about being taken care of depending on who the caretaker in question is. for 85% of people, he’s brushing off the help, insisting he’ll be back on his feet, and really, you shouldn’t hang around him either or you might catch it too. but if it’s somebody who’s already seen him drunkenly sobbing over the smallest act of kindness or quite literally jumping out of windows in a lupin-filled blind rage then. yeah, he’s a little more accepting of the help. 

[loopspoop]

Here ye, here ye, welcome to Chapter 6! Lots of good conversations :3 will Lupin and Jigen be able to get the information they need?

TW: anxiety, self depreciation, mild burn mention, Goemon gets another bath

Later that night, Lupin sat on the edge of the sofa as Jigen changed into some lounge pants and an old shirt. Head resting on his hands, Lupin stared at the grooves in the wood flooring. Goemon had decided to take some time to himself for an unofficial self care night, which he was more than glad about. However, the events from earlier continued to nag at Lupin’s mind.

“….was this all my fault..?” He asked quietly after a moment, catching Jigen off guard.

The gunman turned toward the thief, studying him quietly for a second before slipping his shirt on and sitting down beside him. Lupin knew he was in for a therapy session with Doctor Jigen. Maybe he needed it? He wasn’t sure he would like the answer.

“You know that this isn’t your fault, Lu.” Jigen frowned, lighting up an old cigarette from the ashtray nearby.

“But isn’t it? It was supposed to be my job to make sure everything was in order. Mawson’s notes, the plan, contingencies, backup plans…I just…I thought I was prepared but I wasn’t, Jigen. Goemon nearly died and it was my fault. Now all of this ice stuff is going on…” Lupin frowned, running a hand through his hair as he glared at the floor. “I was missing something.”

“So you missed somethin’.” Jigen shrugged. “It happens to everyone at some point, man. Gettin’ hung up on it, though? That’s where people keep fuckin’ up. You spend so much time fixated on what you did wrong that you can’t ever do anythin’ right afterwards because you’re all stressed out.”

Lupin hummed, sitting quietly as he replayed the events of the last few days over in his head. The explosion was what started all of this…but it didn’t sound like their normal run of the mill explosion. Normal ones were much deeper…this one sounded lighter in tone, almost like if someone had blown out a bunch of storefront windows… and surely there would’ve been more signs that someone had been down there if an explosive had been planted? Even then, it didn’t really explain the ice manipulation…

“Jigen.”

“Hm?”

“..That explosion on the shelf..did it seem odd to you?” Lupin looked back at him, frowning.

“…Well…at the time I wasn’t thinkin’ about it but..yeah, actually. It didn’t seem like an actual explosion, yknow?” Jigen frowned, nodding a bit. “What’re you thinkin’?”

“Honestly? That I missed something really important. It isn’t like we haven’t encountered weird stuff before but this is…” Lupin frowned, grabbing the map and paperwork from his bag nearby as he spread them out on the coffee table.

Studying the paperwork quietly, Lupin chewed the inside of his lip as Jigen watched from over his shoulder. After a moment, Lupin fished his lighter from his pocket and held it under the paperwork quietly.

“What the hell are you-?” Jigen leaned forward, eyes widening a bit.

“Easy, I won’t light it. Look.” Lupin frowned, watching as writing appeared along the margins of the papers.

“What the…?” Jigen watched the ink appear, surprised.

“Invisible ink. Guys like Mawson with secrets liked to use it to hide information they don’t want found.. Lucky for us, I know every trick in the book when it comes to hidden information. I just need to use it on our intel from now on, I guess.” Lupin sighed, reading through the margins.

‘AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Contact made with the stone has proven it too dangerous for extraction! Details recounted in Expedition Log 2, pages 468-470!’

Lupin frowned, looking at the words quietly. “We need to find Mawson’s expedition journals..”

“Fuck, and where are those supposed to be at?” Jigen frowned, looking at Lupin quietly.

“If I remember correctly, a lot of his stuff was donated to the Australian Museum in Sydney.” Lupin frowned, grabbing a local map he had tucked away somewhere. “Yep. Guess we have another job to do, then.”

Jigen frowned, looking at the map quietly. “It’s a four day drive…”

“Or a four hour flight.” Lupin looked at him, smiling a bit. “We need to do this so we know how to help Goemon.”

“What are we gonna do with him though?” Jigen raised an eyebrow, frowning more.

“What do you mean?” Lupin tilted his head curiously.

“Well, we can’t just lug an unstable ice wieldin’ samurai across Australia, Lu. He’s stressed as it is, what do you think a four day drive and a heist will do to him?” Jigen gave him a look. “He’s better off restin’ here.”

Lupin frowned, nodding a bit as he looked toward the loft bedroom. He didn’t want to cause any extra stress to Goemon right now. He was probably already dealing with a lot of complex feelings regarding this and his inability to control it. Goemon liked to be precise in everything he did, so Lupin knew this was stressing him out a lot more than he was probably letting on.

“I guess I’ll go let him know what we’re planning to do.” Lupin sighed, standing as he made his way to the bathroom.

~~~~~~

Laying back in his bath, Goemon sighed softly. The heat of the water made him feel like he had a lot more energy compared to earlier when he was cold. He was concerned about any further ice incidents…but he was trying to avoid thinking about it while he was trying to relax at least.

“Goemon..?” A soft knock at the door announced Lupin’s presence outside it.

“You can come in.” Goemon looked over, sitting up a bit.

Lupin stepped inside, smiling a bit as he leaned against the wall across from him. “Feeling better?”

Goemon nodded faintly, glancing away quietly. The heat from the bath helped but it did little for his anxious thought process or the occasional hissing whispers of the voice in his head. He wasn’t sure what he was going to tell Lupin and Jigen..or if he would even be able to tell them. Would it all spiral out of control before he could? Would he hurt them? Would they ditch him here to deal with it alone in order to not be held back?

“Goe? Hey.” Lupin sat beside the bath, frowning. “It’s alright.”

Taking a breath, Goemon nodded as he looked toward Lupin quietly. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Well…Jigen and I have been talking..” Lupin looked at him, taking his hand carefully when he noticed the way Goemon’s body barely twitched with anxious energy. “We don’t think what happened at the shelf was something someone else left us to find.”

Goemon bit the inside of his cheek, listening quietly. “Okay..?”

“My leading theory right now is a curse..and I should’ve checked before but I found hidden notes on the maps Mawson left. He’s left hidden information in his expedition journals that we’re going to have to snatch from the Australian Museum in Sydney if we want any actual answers.” Lupin smiled a little. “So we have that to look forward to at least.”

“That is good news…when will we be leaving?” Goemon tilted his head, looking at Lupin curiously.

“Jigen and I will be leaving tomorrow. The flight will take about 4 hours each way, so it’ll take us all day basically.”

“…You and Jigen..?”

See? They don’t find you useful anymore when you’re too much of a mess for them to bring along~

Looking away quietly, Goemon tried to steady himself. He could hide disappointment easier before this had happened. Now, he could feel the bath temperature cooling around himself the more upset he grew.

“Just because we don’t want to put too much on you right now.” Lupin frowned, leaning forward a bit. “Hey, listen.” He cupped Goemon’s face gently. “I would love to bring you. I wanted to bring you. It’s important to me that you’re involved with this because it’s impacting you the most. I just don’t want you to take on too much though. I think you should stay here and rest so you don’t put too much strain on your body. Once we’re back I promise you’ll be included in everything, okay?”

“…You give me your word..?” Goemon blushed faintly at his touch, glancing at Lupin hopefully.

“You have my word.” Lupin nodded, smiling at him with that confidence he got before a heist. “We’ll sort this all out together.”

Goemon nodded faintly, smiling weakly as he watched him. He would trust Lupin with that, then. He knew that he shouldn’t entertain any doubts the voice brought into his mind, especially with Lupin right here counteracting the very foundation of most of them. He wasn’t sure why it was so hard now…

“Your hair needs a good wash..here, c’mere.” Lupin gently moved him closer, grabbing some shampoo before dunking his hands into the water. “YOWCH-!!”

Jumping back as he cried out, Lupin shook his hands off quickly as he blew on them. Eyes wide, he quickly held a hand over the waters surface before pulling it back before looking at Goemon incredulously. Goemon frowned, looking from the water to Lupin’s hands, which were a nice pink now..was the water that warm to him?

“Goe, what the hell? That water is scalding! How are you not burnt??” Lupin lifted his arm, frowning at the red where the water had been. “Goemon, you’ve gotta make the water cooler before you burn yourself.”

“It..It feels like a normal warm bath to me..?” Goemon frowned quietly, biting his lip. “Anything less feels too cold..”

“Seriously..?” Lupin looked down at him in concern, sitting back beside him as he looked him over. “What all have you been feeling since this started?”

“Ah..cold, mostly..and tired.” Goemon frowned, glancing away. “It hurts sometimes..deep inside, the cold goes past the surface of my skin all the way to my soul almost…it feels worse the colder it gets. And-“

You really think he wouldn’t send you off the first chance he gets? Tell him you hear me and when he asks what you really think deep down he’ll cast you aside faster than you can blink. ‘Oh, Lupin, the voices in my head are telling me to freeze you solid’, that’ll go over well!

Cringing as the water temperate dropped to lukewarm, Goemon pulled his knees to his chest and took a shaky breath. Lupin deserved his honesty but…he did want it to compromise their friendship either. He didn’t want these thoughts, yet they kept coming. He wanted nothing more than for them to stop plaguing him.

“Goemon…” Lupin rubbed his back gently, frowning at the temperature change. “Does it hurt right now?”

Nodding faintly, Goemon squeezed his eyes shut quietly. He wanted nothing more than to say what was actually going on. But what would happen if Lupin did throw him aside? He wouldn’t be able to handle this on his own…

“I’m right here.” Lupin said softly, frowning as he continued to try to soothe him. “You don’t need to tell me everything right now if it’s too hard, okay? We can take it slow.”

“It’s just…so much…” Goemon mumbled quietly, glancing at Lupin anxiously.

“I bet it is.” Lupin nodded, helping him stand. “Come on, let’s get you one of those heated blankets Jigen grabbed for you and we can talk about it more if you want?” He offered gently.

Goemon nodded faintly, biting his lip as he held onto Lupin quietly. He was used to doing so much on his own…but now Lupin was even getting towels and blankets for him and he wasn’t sure how to navigate that either..

~~~~~

Sitting with Goemon, who was now wrapped in a heated blanket with another blanket on top, Lupin passed the samurai a cup of tea as he sat across from him. He wanted to be open with Goemon, because he knew Goemon wanted to tell him something he felt like he couldn’t safely share. Years of being together had taught Lupin how to read even the more subtle of cues any of his gang presented.

“Look, Goe, I’m not going to push you to share anything you’re not comfortable sharing, but I want you to know that I’m not going to judge whatever it is that’s going on. This is something completely new for all of us and I want you to know it’s okay to tell me anything that’s going on.” Lupin looked at him gently, studying him quietly.

Goemon looked at his tea quietly. “I…am afraid of what will happen if I share what’s going on…” he mumbled softly

Lupin nodded, frowning a bit as he took Goemon’s hand in his own. “Why? Is it that you’ll think we’ll be upset or…?”

Goemon flinched away, biting his lip hard. “I am dangerous.”

“You’ve always been dangerous, Goe. You wield an all powerful sword with better precision than a laser cutter.” Lupin smiled gently, leaning forward to meet his eye.

“…I…I-I am hearing a voice..” Goemon bit his lip harder, curling in on himself as he closed his eyes tightly.

Lupin frowned deeply, looking at him quietly. Poor Goemon seemed so small again…so uncertain..he wasn’t used to seeing him this way. He wasn’t sure what was going through Goemon’s mind but..he wasn’t going to let whatever he was thinking would happen come to fruition.

“And I’m figuring that the voice is probably freaking you out a lot, huh?” Lupin nodded, looking at him gently.

Goemon nodded a bit, glancing at him anxiously. “Yes..”

“We’ll sort this out, Goe, I promise.” Lupin took his hand gently. “But I’m not worried about you hurting us or whatever it is you’re thinking. I know you would never do that, just like I know you’ll be able to control all of this soon. We’ll be right here with you every step of the way.”

Goemon nodded a bit, relaxing slightly. Lupin was sure that Goemon was probably concerned about his reaction..but he knew that he couldn’t help most of what was going on right now so he had no good reason to have any negative reaction to Goemon for that. It wasn’t his fault, after all. He and Jigen would get to Sydney tomorrow, get the book, and then they’d find a way to break this curse so things could get back to normal.

[nicomrade]

puts on the clown nose. im reopening my file for the jigen essay to try to restructure it so its more focused wish me luck lupintuals

[justplainsimon]

Jigen’s handsome face

[thievinggentleman]

// if that ain’t a ‘come get me’ stare...