Mission Improbable.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

This particular Shinichi prides himself on stealth. Discreet appearances and exits, undetectable surveillance, shadowing -- there is little about stalking he doesn't know (note: this isn't necessarily a good thing). There's just one thing.

He's not Shinichi any more.

The lack of height is in many ways a plus. Who is going to suspect a seven-year-old of following them? That's if he can avoid truant officers of course. The rest of it, however--

It needs work. And that is precisely what Conan is doing.

It's night. You might be in the library when you hear a strange noise. Have the feeling you're being watched in the kitchen. See something shift just on the edge of your vision as you make your way down the corridors to bed.

Whatever you're doing, you're not alone.

Comments

[weaponofathief.livejournal.com]

This particular Hakuba is used to stealth, not from his own self as much as from others. He's used to being stalked, and used to stalking meaning nothing good.

So he doesn't show that he realizes it, instead simply turning over another page in the mystery novel he's reading (he's gotten downright addicted to these things since he came here, trying to solve the cases before the reveal), and shifts into a slightly better position for sudden movement.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Conan is practicing being stealthy rather than using it on anyone in particular so instead of approaching Hakuba, he is going to continue to make slight scuffling noises in the shadows as he practices climbing the bookcases.

[weaponofathief.livejournal.com]

Hakuba doesn't comment on the scuffling, opting instead to return his focus to the book.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Conan is growing in confidence -- or maybe that should be over confidence. He misjudges a jump, misses his landing and ends up grabbing frantically at the edge of a bookshelf. He manages to hold on for a second before he grip slips and there is an impressive crash as he falls the rest of the way, managing to knock a lot of books after him in the process.


"... ow."

[weaponofathief.livejournal.com]

Hakuba puts down his book and walks over, crouching down beside the smaller boy.

"You might want to invest in a pair of gloves with rubber grips."

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"I've got some," Conan says mournfully, shaking the books off and wincing as he discovers that moving is not necessarily a good idea. "They're too big now."

[weaponofathief.livejournal.com]

"There wasn't an extra pair in your dressing room?" He moves the books into something resembling a stack.

"Are you hurt at all?"

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"No," Conan says immediately and to prove he's not hurt, stands up and deliberately dusts himself off. It stings a bit, but he's not going to let on that he rather wants a hug.

"I didn't look in my dressing room." It's a good idea and he's annoyed he didn't think of it.

[weaponofathief.livejournal.com]

"There might be some there. The dressing rooms are extremely customized." He studies the 'child', wanting to make sure he's approaching this conversation from the proper angle. "Are you Shinichi Kudo or are you actually seven years old?"

[shrunkenvamp.livejournal.com]

This particular shrunken Shinichi had noticed a Conan following him a while back, and had wondered at the time the exact reason why. But whatever they were trying to accomplish, it wasn't working. He turned around at just the right moment, to come face-to-face with his double.

"Oi, oi... d'you mind?"

Those footsteps were loud and the breathing was audible. He could hear his double from ... well, a long way away.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Obviously not." Conan is distinctly non-plussed. He can sneak up on Ran who has preternatural instincts. So how come this double detected him? "How did you know?"

[shrunkenvamp.livejournal.com]

"I heard you. Simple as that." Not quite, actually - there's also scent involved, but not quite so much since it's like an echo more than anything else.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Conan isn't convinced. "I was being quiet," he says, studying this double with interest. There's something different here ...

[shrunkenvamp.livejournal.com]

"Not quiet enough."

Yes, there is something different here. His glasses don't quite hide that sheen in his eyes, and he can't quite seem to hide the pallour of his skin far enough.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Guess not." Conan holds his hand out so he can confirm that his counterpart's skin is as pale as he thinks it is. New mystery get!

[shrunkenvamp.livejournal.com]

And this Conan slips easily out of reach. He'll have to try harder. Oh, great. There's a stupid version of me trying to figure me out. Joy.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Conan takes his hand back, beaming. His counterpart's reaction just confirmed that there is a difference there, one that he is anxious to keep hidden. Surprisingly, however, Conan doesn't demand an explanation or challenge his counterpart with his discovery. He's used to secrets. "I'm going to keep practicing."

[azureskiesmagic.livejournal.com]

Sneaking up on a phantom thief wasn't easy, and Aoko had heard the tell-tale noises that indicated she was being followed almost immediately after Conan started stalking her. instead of commenting on it, however, she merely secured herself a glass of water in the kitchen and padded back to her room.

Just to see how far this stranger would follow her.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Shinichi's experience of surprising his world's phantom thief clearly hasn't carried over to Conan then. Still, the only way to improve that is to practice, and practice he does, securing new hiding places as Aoko fetches her water and lurking in the shadows behind her.

At least until he is briefly distracted by something on the ground. "Aoko-neechan! Aoko-neechan, look at this!"

[azureskiesmagic.livejournal.com]

Ah... she recognizes that voice. It's Conan. Though why he would be stalking her, she has no idea...

She spins to face the source of the voice, blinking in the dark. "Conan-kun? What'd you find?"

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Over here!" Conan waves Aoko over. "I found a beetle."

[azureskiesmagic.livejournal.com]

Aoko approaches, a curious expression on her features. "A beetle? Inside?"

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. It's weird. I don't think I've seen any animals here or anything ... well that didn't turn out to be someone I knew." Conan carefully scoops up the beetle. "Do you think it looks like anyone?"

[azureskiesmagic.livejournal.com]

Looks like-- Aoko raised an eyebrow at Conan, and although she peered closely at the beetle to indulge him, she didn't say actually look for any similarities to friends she knew. "Why would the beetle look familiar?"

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Because everyone who comes here is one of a small group of inter-connected people, right? So it stands to reason ..." Conan frowns at the beetle. "... Kaito?"