Soldiers [Detective Conan] [Crow series 1/2]

for a long night,

29 July, 2010
Berlin-Mitte, Berlin, Germany

a phone conversation.
cast: [the cinema owner] & [the femme fatale]

"Konbanwa, hello-hello darling!"

(audibly tense)
"Ah... good evening."

"Haha! Always a stick up your derriere, Monsieur Kim."

"How can I help, Mademoiselle Chanterelle?"

"Would you believe me if I told you that I was just in Europe and caught a breeze of nostalgia?"

"Not exactly."
(grinding teeth... then a resigned sigh.)
"Europe, was it? I imagine you had a few festivals there..."

"Oh yes – marvellous, simply marvellous! Cannes in May, Moscow in June, and even Odesa had her first one just last week! It's a lovely city, have you ever been?"

(slightly discomforted noise)
"No. And... that's not where you are right now, is it?"

(cheerfully)
"Nope! Can you figure it out, darling?"

"Given your manner of calling, I imagine it's not public work. And in Europe... oh. It's you, who's picking up the goods from that Dionysus exhibition?"

"You really are still so sharp, Monsieur Kim! Yes, that is exactly right. It's all so fascinating: the mythologies, the reinventions – drunken deaths, returning to mad life..."

(impatiently)
"Pft. Keep that superstitious drivel far away from me."

(a delighted laugh)
"Hah! Say no more, say no more. I know you're not a fan on the Occult."

"You even say it like it means anything. It's 2010, not 1936."

(laugh dies instantly. In a much lower, older voice:)
"As if you'd know the difference, young man."

"...I see."
(after a moment)
"I apologise. I forgot the exhibition was in Berlin, too."

(abruptly brightly, in her normal voice once more)
"That's right, it was! January this year, but then there were a handful of private showings to secure some deals, and it was used in a few film shoots too – so we're only getting the last odds and ends back now. But this city..."
(soft inhale, like she's breathing the sweet air along a certain linden tree boulevard)
"...she really does bring back memories, you know?"

(hesitation.)
"...which year?"

"Take your pick. Noriaki."

(sharply)
"What the fuck do you want."

"Hah, what makes you think I want anything?"

"People only ever call me that name when they want something."

"Is that so?"
(lowly threatening)
"Did your beloved Comrade call you that, too?"

"Wha-?!"
(catches himself – scoffs.)
"Oh, that's your game."

(with mock innocence)
"Game?"

"There's no point, you nosy old bitch. The Cold War is over, the Civil War is over."