maskormenace | ◨ 2

[ The camera does not immediately focus on the face of the man holding it; it shakes a bit, the screen showing a white shirt, black suspenders, a right hand sporting two finger splints. Finally it levels to show Harvey's normally handsome face, except there a couple of things amiss:

One thing of note is the scar that goes down the left side of his face, from eye to jaw, a clean line of a cut through his plastic surgery that is not fresh but has not yet been "fixed." Another is his blackened right eye, and his lip swollen on the right side. He doesn't look particularly in pain -- or at least doesn't show it -- but what he does look is pissed off. ]

Too far. This has gone too far. Look at me -- look at this.

[ Harvey points to his face with his splinted fingers, still looking livid. His breathing is harsh, but even. ]

It's never enough, what I do. Bad enough I have to work with and against the system, "unsettled" and working the arms of law, but the big red weight on my shoulders sees to it I'll never see a moment's peace for the rest of my life. I'm no saint -- I know. Made mistakes. So now I wake up looking like a human punching bag.

Not to point fingers. But where's the justice in that?

[ He gestures, vaguely, with his splinted fingers as much as he can move them. He takes a sharp breath, exhaling slowly, looking like he's trying to calm down though his face is still red around the eyes, the temples, the forehead. His left eye looks particularly dead as it stares forward, his weary-but-professional expression making the fact it's a glass replica suddenly more obvious. It moves in not quite perfect synch with the right eye. ]

Just my two cents.

All that aside, I had something else to say. I was hoping to look my best for this announcement, but next time I'll know better than to put it off. Never mind the state of my face. My name's Harvey Dent, and for those of you that don't know me yet, I'm a Public Defender in Heropa. If you're ever in trouble and can't afford a representative, we might see more of each other. I won't rest until I see justice is served the way it's meant to be.

That's all. Good day to you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Harvey exhales somewhat sharply, running his hand through his hair in an irritated, aggressive gesture before he nods. He looks wearily at the camera, blackened-eye narrow and the other one simply halfway lidded. ]

You know, that sounds like the best thing in the world right about now. Reminds me to be grateful that my jaw isn't wired shut, too.

[ Yeah, that's some ouch. He isn't gonna bother asking how he got it, because public defender? Hank hates those lawyers, usually, and he can think of a million people who'd want to sucker punch some.

Beggars can't be choosers, though. Somebody's better than nobody. ]

Can't help ya with the steak, uh... [ Hoping the poor schmuck's just got one in his freezer to slap over his eye. Left ranting at the communicator, though, he must not have many outlets. Hank can relate. ] But happy to spot you the beer sometime.

[ It's for the best, really; the only answers Harvey has to give as to 'how' or 'who' or 'why' would sound like conspiracy theories, at best. Regardless of who he might suspect, he personally has no evidence, and he knows how that kind of thing sounds.

Anyway, he smirks faintly, in a friendly -- or trying to be friendly -- way. ]

Yeah? Generous of you, considering the two of us are still strangers. But I'd take you up on it, if you're free later tonight.

[ Okay he hadn't expected the guy to say yes! Really?

Well shit he offered. How awkward. Well they aren't total strangers since he knows the guy's name, face, and job, but uhhh. ]

Yeah, sure, but shouldn't you see a doctor? I'll bet you've had prettier days, sunshine.

[ Harvey blinks, frowning slightly and looking a little disoriented, however briefly. Of course -- he should, for some reason actually fixing himself up keeps slipping his mind. He'd blame head trauma or something on it so as not to call his own focus into question, but it doesn't help that most of the nerves in his face are deadened to pain. ]

Yeah -- you're right, I'm getting ahead of myself. I have someone coming by with some first aid, that ought to do me for now. [ Wryly: ] Raincheck, then. Beer and painkillers don't really mix.

Not unless you want to wake up tomorrow afternoon in Chinatown, buddy. Doubt you'd be lookin' any better.

[ Gotta give props to a guy that devoted to a drink, though. ]

The name's Hank Schrader. Work in dispatch. Feel free to look me up once you're no longer seeing double.

When you work in the law, sometimes it feels like you never stop seeing double. It wasn't any different when I was District Attorney, either, except for being on the other side of the fence.

[ So to speak. ]

Dispatch, huh? Nice to meet you. You been here long, Mr. Schrader?

[ District Attorney, nice. ]

For now. Hopefully not long before I'm back where I belong: the DEA.

Hopefully not long. It took me a while to get back into practicing law, but I also had to retake the Bar.

[ A half-smirk. ]

Might be sooner if you're registered.

[ His laugh's short, almost a bark. Well, even his grimace isn't subtle. ]

Yeah yeah. Good soldier and all... Figured it would make things easier. At the time I uh...sorta needed the medical.

The-- [ Harvey pauses. ] Oh. That's rough. Good strategy, though -- working out so far?

Yeah I'd say things have improved since then. Job's only a matter of time.

Seriously though, you got your own medical issues. Better get that checked out, you're starting to look like a grape.

[ He smirks. ]

Help is on the way -- I've got someone insisting on escorting me to a doctor. Most of it's nothing a little personal time with an ice pack couldn't fix, though. Worse than it looks. At least I still have a face.

[ Har har. ]

Anyway, I'll give you a ring later. Cash in on that raincheck whenever you could use a drink, yourself.

[ Hey man, at least he's the one who made the joke before Hank. ]

That'd probably be just about any night, but I appreciate a good beer. Just make sure to demand the primo service if they're gonna play chaperone. Good luck.

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