Daryan, Iris and Diego in "Anger Management" Part 2
Daryan: *It's Monday afternoon and Daryan steps out of the bus with a scowl on his face and a duffel bag over his shoulder. He looks around and sees a signpost reading "Kurain Village" with an arrow pointing straight ahead of the station accompanying it and starts walking in that direction.* Stupid Gumshoe. Sendin' me off to some kind of hippie anger management...Man, if they try to do some kinda huggin' session, I'm gonna deck somebody!
Iris: *Iris is out in the garden clipping branches from a tall camellia bush. The traditional Japanese porch seen behind her is already lined with four or five ikebana style floral arrangements she's completed. She's in a quite good mood and working outside to enjoy the sun*
Daryan: *As Daryan goes down the path, he sees the village in all of it's rural Japanese glory* Oh yeah, definatly some kind of backwater hippie joint... *He sets off to where he is supposed to get his "treatment", which he remembers from the pamphlet as the biggest building out of the entire village.*
Iris: *clips some daffodils, humming softly -- and somewhat vacantly -- to herself as she does. By the time Daryan arrives, there are now seven or eight completed floral arrangements sitting on the porch*
Daryan: *Daryan slides open the door, after a few seconds realizing that it doesn't swing open much less have a handle and steps right in, not bothering to take his boots off.* Okay, I'm here! Let's get this crap over with!
Iris: *turns around, blinking at the stranger who entered the building. She puts down her things, takes off her sandals and steps up onto the porch, walking past the open sliding doors and towards the front entrance. As she approaches, she tries to make out his strange silhouette* Hello...May I help you?
Daryan: *Turns to see a little woman greeting him.* Yeah, I'm here for that spiritual thing. My boss told me I had to go, so make with that "inner peace" or "calm within" junk 'cause I wanna get outta here ASAP, man. *Daryan claps his hands as if to say "get to it already."*
Iris: *smiles* So you're here for a channeling? Do you have an appointment with Master Maya...?
Daryan: *Confused* Channeling? What the hell is that? I'm here for some stupid anger management thing!
Iris: Anger management? *tilts her head* I'm afraid we don't offer such a service here, sir.
Daryan: Whadd'ya mean you don't offer that? Man, I came all this way 'cause my boss said that thing was here in this hippie village. I got the pamphlet he gave me right here too! *Daryan opens up his duffel bag and digs out the advertisement and thrusts it in Iris's face.*
Iris: *flinches a little in surprise when he does; her brows furrow with confusion* How odd... The only place I know of that offers spiritual anger management is Hazakura Shrine.
Daryan: ...Ya mean to tell me that he sent me to the wrong place?! *now irate* I'm gonna punch that damn idiot Gumshoe right in his ugly mug!
Iris: *frowns, taking pity on the angry stranger* You poor man... *brightening* Well, you're just in luck. I was a nun at Hazakura Shrine for over 25 years, and I've lead the anger management course many times. I can try my best to help you here.
Daryan: Really? You ain't yankin' my chain? *calms down a bit* Well, great! The sooner I can do this thing, the sooner I can go home and do some actual work!
Iris: The heart cannot be rushed, sir. *gestures to the row of identical slippers by the entrance* Please take off your footwear and use these. Comfort of the body leads to comfort of the mind.
Daryan: Nah, I'm comfortable in my boots, I don't need any slippers. Let's do this thing already.
Iris: O-okay. Please follow me, then. *moves to the hallway* I've helped many people just like yourself. In today's stressful society, it's easy to become -- and pardon my French -- an "anger junkie."
Daryan: *Follows Iris, leaving bits of dirt all over the floors* Not sure why "anger junkie" needs a "pardon my French" but whatever.
Iris: *slides open the the door to one of the guest rooms and steps aside to let him in* Anger is a powerful energy source you feel compelled to tap into in order to relieve stress, to feel like you are powerful yourself, to make yourself believe you are better than others -- but it's destructive and hurtful, and it can take decades off your life span.
Daryan: *Steps into the guest room, still half-listening to what Iris is saying except for that last part.* What? Ya mean I could croak the next time I could get stuck in a traffic jam or somethin'?
Iris: *sits down on a circle straw mat on the floor* At your age, the probability is low, I imagine...but you all this rage inside you is harming your blood and organs. It is poison for your body and soul.
Daryan: So what can ya do to fix this? Is there some kinda silly hippie ritual I gotta do?
Iris: *unfazed by Daryan's attitude, she continues to speak with calm and politeness* There are many ways to do this, but first I'd like to hear more about your situation. My name is Iris. *gestures* Please, have a seat, mister...?
Daryan: *Sits on a straw mat, guessing that it's probably more comfortable than sitting on the floor* Detective Daryan Crescend. I assume that even a place like this has some kinda confidentiality thing to keep this from gettin' out.
Iris: *a straight look* Of course. All therapy is a hundred percent confidential. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Crescend. Now, please tell me: what is it that makes you so angry?
Daryan: Well, like I said when I got here, this thing ain't my idea. I get sent up to my boss's office last week and the big idiot is jawin' at me about how people have been whinin' about my attitude and pulled out this box he said were all complaints. One thing lead to another and he sent me here, man.
Daryan: I mean, I get ticked about stuff like everyone else, like when people act like idiots around you. I can't help it if the entire department is full of morons!
Iris: *nodding slowly* I see... It sounds like you're very troubled by your environment.
Daryan: Yeah, I'd say so. Between that joint and my other job, it's enough to drive a man crazy, man!
Iris: "Crazy," you say... *brings a closed fist to her lips, pondering* There may be an imbalance in your body's cosmic alignment. Do you feel your inner harmony is being disturbed by the forces outside?
Daryan: *Confused* I don't know about any "cosmic alignment", "inner harmony" or any other of that mumbo jumbo.
Iris: *gently* If you don't feel attuned to yourself, it's all right -- you aren't alone. Let's do some light meditation. Close your eyes, and breathe in deeply.
Daryan: *grumbles a bit before closing his eyes and doing so.*
Iris: *closes her eyes and does the same* Now, breathe out slowly....and listen.
Daryan: *breathes out and waits for whatever he's supposed to do next.*
Iris: *remains sitting with her eyes closed, moments passing by with nothing but silence*
Daryan: *does the same, but now he's starting to get agitated for sitting around and doing nothing.*
Iris: *after another few moments, she opens her eyes* ...Well? How do you feel?
Daryan: ...Like I just wasted a good minute or two.
Iris: *nods* So you believe a lack of activity amounts to a "waste of time"?
Daryan: Not all of the time, I mean I do pretty much nothing when I have a chance to be home...but sittin' with my eyes close when I'm supposed to do somethin'? Yeah, I'd call that a waste of time, man
Iris: *tilts her head* What do you think could have been done to fill that time instead? *serious* Would you rather have harmed someone?
Daryan: *outraged and slams his hand down on the floor* What the hell does that mean?! That I go around beatin' people up for kicks?!
Iris: *looking straight at him, firm* I wasn't accusing you of anything, sir. I'm attempting to understand your mind frame so I can see how this problem of yours should be approached.
Daryan: Well, askin' questions like that ain't the right approach, wouldn't you say?!
Iris: Only you can tell me if it's the right way or not, Mr. Crescend.
Daryan: Well, don't ask any of those stupid questions again! Try a different one of your lame hippie things!
Iris: *frowns* I'm not a "hippie," but a former shrine maiden. Please, if you'll just co-operate with me, I can help you to conquer your emotions...
Daryan: Co-operate with you?! You should be co-operating with me!
Iris: *unsure of what to say* H-how do I do that...?
Daryan: *throws his hands in the air* I dunno, do whatever you people do that isn't this thing! And make it snappy, man!
Iris: *looks at him with sad eyes* I-I'm trying, sir, but banishing your rage takes patience and...
Daryan: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Patience and whatever junk you people blab on about. Less excuses, more effort, lady!
Iris: *blinks rapidly, her eyes beginning to sting* I'm doing all that I can! I'm sorry if I'm agitating you. This...this is all I know.
Daryan: Aw great! I get sent here and happen to find someone that thought she knows what she's doin' and I get this! Thanks, man! Thanks for NOTHING! *Daryan starts to get up*
Iris: *watches him helplessly as he rises* Mr. Crescend, please.... *a single tear rolls down her cheek and stops idle at her jawline for a second before it falls, hitting the tatami floor with the volume of a pin drop*
Diego: *there is a CRACK as some weight hits the door - then after a second the door slides open, and Diego Armando is standing there, two mugs in one hand and a pot of coffee in the other*
Daryan: *Looks at the guy who just appeared as if tears summons him* Who the hell are you?!
Iris: *looks back at him, blinking*
Diego: *slides the door open the rest of the way with his foot* Iris, there's a fresh pot of tea ready for you in the kitchen. I think Mr. Crescend would be better served spending some time with the Doctor. You *and with this he points at Daryan using the hand holding the mugs* should sit back down.
Iris: A..all right. *gets up on her feet and stops to glance back at Daryan before hurriedly exiting the room*
Daryan: Oh yeah? What are ya gonna do if I don't? Pour me a cup of coffee, man?
Diego: *slides the door shut behind him - it's not clear how he slams a sliding door shut with his foot, but he does. Then he sits on the floor and sets the mugs down before pouring coffee into them - it's foully strong stuff that looks like it could be used to melt bricks* Sit down and drink your coffee. *looks up at him, and grins* Or it will be the good Mr. Edgeworth who delivers my complaint to your boss.
Daryan: *Stunned after hearing Edgeworth's name* N-No way! You can't know that guy! You're just some hippie bumpkin, man!
Diego: Ha! *picks up his own mug and takes a sip of it* This family is intimately connected to our favorite prosecutor. There isn't a member of it who doesn't know him: it doesn't matter whether I do or not. Now sit down if you want to be out of here before sundown.
Daryan: God dammit. It's just my luck...*gives up and sits back down on the cushion.*
Diego: Better. *takes another sip, then sets his coffee down* So how many jaywalkers have you punched this week?
Daryan: *crosses his arms* I don't punch any jaywalkers. I don't even handle that stuff anymore, man.
Diego: You miss the point, Sharky. *sits up and takes a breath* Look, I don't care what it is that burns your buns, and I don't think you care either. Right?
Daryan: I just want this thing to get over with, so pretty much.
Diego: Ha! About what I had you pegged for. Good enough. *picks his mug back up, tilts it, and chugs the rest of it all at a go*
Daryan: *Silence fills the room until Daryan gets impatient again* So what happens now?
Diego: *puts down his mug* You drink your coffee while I talk.
Daryan: *grabs his mug of coffee and takes a sip...and grimaces strongly as it's too bitter for him, usually prefering to dump sugar and cream in his coffee.*
Diego: Heh. Now, look, I know you're here for anger management. You get mad, you might make somebody regret walking across your path. Right?
Daryan: ...Somethin' like that.
Diego: Now, the little woman might tell you that it's best to try to get at the source of your anger and get rid of it. *looks off to the side, as if listening* But between us, that just isn't the case. Sometimes you just have it, and it has to be dealt with.
Daryan: *points at Diego* See? That's what I'm talkin' about! You get it.
Diego: Better than you realize. *pours himself another cup of coffee* Anger's a Hell of a thing. It can make a man into a small, petty, ugly creature. So it has to be channeled. Understand? *sips, and sighs contentedly* You have anything you really want out of life?
Daryan: *setting the cup aside, not interested in drinking anymore* Yeah. I mean, who doesn't?
Diego: Who indeed. *grins, setting his mug aside too* But you? You're not like most men. I know your name - you're an internationally renowned musician, as well as one of the best-connected detectives in the state. You have connections that would make a man twice your age and ten times your level of experience weep in bitter jealousy. That is going to be the key to controlling your anger.
Daryan: *becoming less infuriated as Diego appease to his ego* Oh yeah? Lay it on me on how you think that's the key.
Diego: Well, you've got something you want out of life. I'm willing to bet that you have what it takes to get whatever it is, too, if you put your mind to it. *looks off to the side again, for a moment listening, then continues* What you're going to do is, every time you're angry, put that energy toward getting what you want. When someone crosses you, work for what you want. Let your triumph be your revenge.
Daryan: *Lets that whole thing sinks in until he bangs the table with his hand* Dammit, why didn't I think about that?!
Diego: Because hurting people feels good. *looks back at him* But revenge, real revenge, feels better.
Daryan: Man, that's perfect! That's all I need to hear!
Diego: ...Yeah. *picks his mug back up, but doesn't sip from it* Make up something to tell your boss about what I told you to do. Or pretty up this conversation. I leave that in your hands.
Daryan: I'll think of something when I take the next bus outta this dump. *gets back up, this time to leave*
Diego: *sips, then rises to walk him out, opening the door and heading through the main hall* One more thing, Crescend.
Daryan: Yeah? What's that?
Diego: *makes his way to the front gate* Don't get into the habit of making virtuous women cry. *looks over his shoulder and grins wide* Bad karma.
Daryan: Yeah...Tell that one girl sorry or whatever. I'm sure she has some kind of new age way of gettin' over it.
Diego: *grimaces beneath his mask but reins it in - the son of a bitch is nearly gone, now, and ruining that would be bad* No doubt. Have a safe trip back, officer.
Daryan: Later...whoever you are. *Daryan starts walked back to the bus stop to go home, far sooner than he expected and starts making up the story to tell to Gumshoe.*