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Nox Alekos ([info]in_his_shadow) wrote in [info]haunted_roads,
@ 2008-02-21 18:49:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:hale, nox, serena

Week Two: Friday, February 15th
Who: Nox and Serena (and Hale joining)
When: 3:15 AM
Where: Totally awesome 24-7 Thai restaurant... yay!

Nox had been on the other line when he heard a beep of another call coming through. He couldn't switch over. He was talking to the M.E. about some autopsy results, and they took precedence over just about everything else at the moment. The second he ended the call and saw that he had a voicemail, he listened. His face had been quite serious just a moment before, not happy to learn that the cause of death wasn't blunt force trauma, but poisoning instead, making the husband look a lot more guilty than before. But now, as he listened to a chipper voice asking him about Thai food, he busted out a broad smile. That was a message worth saving... at least for the time being.

Seemed strange that she was calling so late/early, but maybe she was a night owl like him. He preferred the overnight hours, and even when he wasn't working, he could often be found up late in front of the TV just passing the time. That's where he was right now. Camped out in his boxers and a tank top, a half eaten turkey sandwich on the coffee table beside an empty bottle of beer, and the remote in his hand... he was the very model of chilling out. There was also a great deal of case work spread out on the the couch cushions to his left and right, as well as under his sandwich plate. He had yet to nail down a solid suspect in the case of the murdered seven year old from the week before. Sure, there were a few persons of interest, but not enough evidence to actually arrest any of them. Something was missing, and he was determined to figure out what it was. He couldn't get a decent bit of sleep until the elusive clue was found.

Still, maybe a break would do him some good. Nox had a good memory for numbers, typically remembering a string of them after only hearing it once. Picking up his cell again, he quickly dialed Serena's number and waited for her to answer. When she did, he couldn't help but smile again at the sound of her voice. "Hey. It's Nox. And I know a great Thai place."

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[info]aloveforgotten
2008-02-22 12:24 am UTC (link)
Honestly Serena hadn't expected him to be awake and she sure hadn't expected him to call her back so quickly. If anything she was just being dorky and making good on her promise to call him at some ungodly hour. So when the phone rang she was half expecting it to be Ryan drunk dialing her again but "Ryan" was not what was flashing on the little screen.

Pale pink lips quirked into a smile as she hit the receive button and brought the phone to her hear. "Hey," she grinned. "Oh do you now?" Laughter sounded on her end as she shifted on her bed. Tony was asleep at the foot of it, his ears barely twitching to acknowledge that she was even on the phone. Having had the most random hours ever with the internship and before with Kaden...well, she had turned into a bit of a night owl. "Are they really open this late?" A twenty-four hour Thai place? Sounded like heaven to her.

"I don't know what you're up to but I'd love some company if you're up to it. Besides, wouldn't hurt to have a man of the law as an escort this late at night." A light giggle came through the phone as she reached over to grab the remote and shut off the TV. "Awesome. Well give me like fifteen minutes to get ready and I can meet you there or...Sure, I'd love a ride thanks." The name of her hotel was given to him and it was decided that she would meet him down in the lobby in twenty minutes. "Okay see you soon. Bye."

Tony looked at her curiously when she got up and began slipping on a pair of jeans and a dark blue sweater. Since it was so late, she didn't bother with much makeup, aside from a little mascara and some lip gloss, and tossed her hair up into a messy bun rather than attempting some sort of style. When her time was up, she grabbed her purse and headed on down to meet her ride.

"Thanks for coming," she smiled as she stepped out of the elevator and headed toward him. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

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[info]in_his_shadow
2008-02-22 12:47 am UTC (link)
Again, she had a nice laugh, and her voice was just filled with a lightness that elevated his mood instantly. Such skills probably came from working with sick children. He could imagine her being silly and sweet to them, doing whatever she could to ease their suffering. The world needed more people like that. If everyone was like that, Nox would be out of a job, and that would be just fine by him.

"I do! It's not far from my place. I stop in for take-out sometimes on my way into or back from the station." Nox too turned off the TV, which he wasn't really watching anyway (some sort of old horror movie marathon on AMC). "Yeah, 24-7. And the owners know my number on their caller ID by now." It was true. Sunisa often teased Nox for his habit of ordering the exact same things over and over again. So he had a favorite, was that a crime?

"Absolutely. Yeah. My turkey sandwich is a bit dry. Can't force myself to finish it. And I'd hate for you to make a food run at this hour on your own." Much too dangerous for a beautiful young woman to be alone in the middle of the night, but he knew how powerful the munchies could be, and they often overpowered common sense. So, yeah, it would do her good to have him as an escort.

Serena started to say that she'd meet him at the restaurant, but he immediately cut her off, "I can pick you up. Parking lots are criminal hot spots. Where are you staying?" She rattled off the name of her hotel and the street. He knew the city well, and instantly had a mental image of the location.

After they said their goodbyes, Nox stood up from the couch and reorganized his paper work, filing it away in his messenger bag. Snatching up the plate on the coffee table, as well as the beer, he took both to the kitchen to clean up. No sense leaving a mess behind. Besides, it only took him two minutes to change into a well-worn pair of jeans, long-sleeved t-shirt, and a zip up hoodie. He topped it off with his wool coat, scarf, and some leather gloves. Nox didn't like the cold at all.

The drive to her hotel took all of fifteen minutes. She wasn't all that far from the Towers. If she decided to take the job at the hospital, he'd definitely recommend the building to her. There were some great tenants, and he thought the management staff did a wonderful job. Plus, it was absurdly affordable... given the building's 'reputation'. Parking his un-marked sedan under the carport, Nox stepped out and walked straight in.

Seemed the two had perfect timing, because that was exactly the moment she stepped out of the elevator. Nox offered her a sunny expression (amusing for a man of the shadows). "I can definitely eat. And thanks for calling. I suppose that's one of the perks of having a business card from the police department. I can give my number to women without them thinking I'm a criminal." Granted, even the force had its bad apples.

He walked back toward the door, opening it for her. He opened the car's door for her as well, before jogging around and hopping into the driver's seat again. "So... what's got you up so late... early... whatever? Still debating the job offer?"

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[info]aloveforgotten
2008-02-22 01:13 am UTC (link)
A dark pea coat had been pulled on while she was in the elevator and she had just finished buttoning it up as she came up to his side. "And thank you for answering." The smile she gave him was genuine and bright. "Yeah, the whole police department card doesn't hurt. Though I was afraid that I might interrupt some important police business." The gleam in her eyes clearly said she was teasing him but there was a hint of seriousness there as well. It was actually to not be on call for once.

Serena smiled to herself as the doors were held open for her. Apparently chivalry wasn't entirely dead in Seattle. This was good to know. "Um kind of," she said as she buckled herself in. More that my internal clock is still all messed up. Back home it's already six and while I was doing my internship I would have already been on the clock for a couple of hours." Dawn to well, dawn really was her schedule. Napping was key while being on call. "What about you? Why are you up so late?"

As they headed toward the Thai place, Serena tried to commit the route to memory for later. Fortunately it wasn't all that far away and so she only had to remember a handful of turns. Once they arrived and parked, her door was yet again opened for her and they quickly moved inside to get out of the cold. True to his word, the owners seemed to know him but they did seem a bit surprised to see that he had company. Interesting.

Even for it being so late/early, there were still a handful of people there which spoke volumes about the food already. Not to mention that the place smelled great. "So what do you recommend?" she asked after her coat had been shed and a menu picked up after they had been seated.

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[info]gentle_shield
2008-02-22 01:39 am UTC (link)
Hale had gotten almost the exact same phone call as Nox had. For once he'd actually been sleeping instead of at the office, sleeping on what little bit of the bed Blue wasn't currently occupying with her constantly growing form, but had been fully awake the moment the phone rang. It was out of reflex, really. Couldn't afford to be groggy when dealing with important business, even if it was just over the telephone, when it came down to it.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes as the M.E. relayed the autopsy results to him. When the revelation, that poisoning was the cause of death, not the beating, he rolled out from beneath the covers and padded barefoot across the floor, causing Blue to roll over and whine at being left alone. She didn't mourn for too long, though. Instead, the great dane just crawled up and laid her head on his pillow.

Well, now he was definitely far too alert to simply fall back asleep. It was only 3:30, but he figured he might as well go on in to the office and get a head start on collecting as much evidence against the husband as he could before the lawyers had a chance to collect themselves. He got dressed in a navy blue pants, white dress shirt, tie, and sport jacket since he'd likely be dealing with interrogation and lawyers that afternoon and wanted to look a little more professional than if he were just doing normal field work, and took Blue out for a short walk before bringing her back in, leaving some breakfast on the kitchen floor for her, and heading out the door.

He considered calling Nox on his cell, but figured he'd already heard the news anyway and might already been in the office. Hale needed food before he could work, though, and if Nox wasn't at work, there was one place he could usually find his partner. Some Thai place, he couldn't remember the name, but he knew where it was. Might as well kill two birds with one stone, get some food in his stomach and maybe touch base with Nox before heading in.

He got in his car and drove to the restaurant, immediately recognizing Nox's vehicle in the parking lot. Hard to hide from another detective, really. He walked into the joint, spotting Nox at a table off to the side. "Guess you got the call, too?" he asked, noticing the woman as soon as the words left his mouth. "Oh," he said, smiling a bit, embarrassed. "That was incredibly rude. I didn't mean to interrupt."

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[info]in_his_shadow
2008-02-22 01:58 am UTC (link)
"Uh, that would be work. I was up going over a case for the millionth time. There's something missing... doesn't make sense... so, I'm trying to figure it out." He did that with the cases involving kids. Nox would sometimes go three days without sleep, desperate to make an arrest. "I don't really have set hours. I work all the time." He was married to his job.

Nox waited for Serena to be seated before he claimed a chair to her left. It was somewhat embarrassing for the owners to give him that strange look of 'are you seriously on a date at this hour?' He couldn't even recall the last time he'd been out with a woman other than his sister (who often tried dragging him to strip clubs, insisting they offered good 'deals' to cops). Then there were a handful of women at the Towers who he was on good terms with, but he'd never gone out with any of them. So, yeah, this was fairly unusual for Nox.

He didn't bother picking up the menu. He had it memorized. There was even a take-out version of it in his glove compartment. Yeah, he loved Thai. "Um... that all depends. Do you like peanut sauce? I'm a big fan of the stuff, but I also like curry. The Pad Thai is really popular, probably the best seller. If you like spinach though, I'd go with the Emerald Chicken." He leaned over and pointed it out on her menu.

As he did so, he heard a familiar voice. Nox looked up with a nod to his partner, "Yeah, I got the call. Can't file the charges until the morning though, so I figured I'd get a bite to eat. Besides, the husband has another..." he looked down at his watch, "Twenty-one hours left on his hold. He's not going anywhere. We've got what's left of the poison sitting in the evidence room, and now the M.E.'s report. It's open and shut."

It was a bit rude to talk business, especially without making introductions, "And... Hale... this is Serena. She's a wonderfully talented doctor who is considering moving to our fine city. And Serena... meet my partner, Hale. Sorry for the shop talk." He gave her an apologetic smile.

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[info]aloveforgotten
2008-02-22 02:37 am UTC (link)
"Have you tried talking it out with someone? I mean I know you can't get me any specific details but I wouldn't mind lending an ear." Serena was actually quite good with solving puzzles and such so who knew, maybe she'd be able to help.

"Mmm it all sounds so delicious," she said as her eyes raked over the menu. "But if the Emerald Chicken is really that good I think I'll go with that." Her head turned as she moved to look at him and she smiled as she closed her menu. More words were about to form and leap off her tongue when they suddenly found themselves in the company of another.

"Oh don't worry about it, I don't mind." Serena pushed herself to her feet and offered a hand to Hale. "He really has no idea how talented I am," she said with a smirk. "But it is nice to meet you either way." Once her hand had been freed she retook her seat. "Please, join us." She motioned to the chair across from her.

Before Hale could object, one of the servers rushed over and set a place for him. "Looks like you have to stay now," she said with a wink. Their drink orders were taken a few seconds later, Serena ordering a cup of hot tea. "So have you two been partners long?"

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[info]gentle_shield
2008-02-22 02:52 am UTC (link)
Hale wasn't quite as obsessed with the restaurant as Nox was. He ate at the place now and then when he was with the other man, most of the time, but apart from that he couldn't say he frequented the place too often. Familiar enough, though.

Hale nodded at Nox's answer, still looking a bit flustered and sheepish at interrupting something with such a rude interjection of depressing work talk. "I figured I'd go ahead and stop in the office, get as much evidence against him organized as I can before the lawyers get to work in the morning. Get a head start since I'm already awake," he said, knowing that even though the case was pretty much obvious, things could still go wrong.

And Hale hated to be rude, so the introduction was appreciated. "Good to meet you, Dr. Serena. I do apologize for the shop talk. I'm normally not that rude, I promise," Hale said, taking her hand and shaking it as she offered. "And I'd hate to interrupt--" he replied at her suggestion that he join them, only to be preempted by the servers' harried preparation of a place.

"I guess you're right," he said, looking to Nox quickly as if to make sure that he didn't want this 'alone time' with Serena. Though, somehow he didn't peg 3:30 in the morning as the time of day Nox would choose to take a woman out for an actual date. He took a seat across the table and ordered tea as well, perusing the menu since he didn't have it memorized quite as fully as Nox.

"We've been partners for a little over a year now, right?" Hale said after a moment of thinking it over. After eleven years working for the Seattle PD, it got harder to discern between when one partnership ended and another started, exactly.

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[info]in_his_shadow
2008-02-22 03:07 am UTC (link)
Yeah, my partner and I are working on it. But, enough about that. It's a depressing case. You really don't want to know about it." Not that it hadn't been all over the news. The department had been taking a lot of heat for not having a suspect yet. He preferred to do things RIGHT. If you made an arrest too fast, mistakes were usually discovered later.

Nox didn't have a problem with Hale joining them, far from it. The men spent a great deal of time together... both through work and in their spare time (what little there was). They often played ball together and stuff like that. Hale and Nox were addicted to work, and spending so much time together helped them a great deal. If they got an idea, it was easy to bounce it off the other guy right away. "Go ahead and have a seat. Seriously. If you're heading in, you might as well do so on a full stomach." Nox motioned to the seat across from Serena.

"About that long... yeah. Feels longer though." Nox reached for his drink when it arrived. He'd ordered the Pad Thai, one of his favorites, and Serena got his other favorite.

"So... Serena... how much longer until you make the big decision?" He didn't have a clue how long she'd be in town while she weighed her options. Now that he was getting to know her, he hoped she would sign on with the hospital. The woman was very nice from what he could tell, and he was eager to spend more time with her. "Hale actually just moved into the same apartment complex as me. Much to my sister's delight." Nox gave Hale a 'look' that was unmistakable, "I apologize if she accosts you in the hallway."

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[info]aloveforgotten
2008-02-22 03:36 am UTC (link)
"Please, just call me Serena." Doctor was fine and dandy while she was at work but she much preferred just plain old Serena when she was off the clock. That and "doctor" away from the hospital tended to remind her of Kaden and that was just bad.

"Ahh so you two are relatively new to each other then huh? Cute." Her expression was playful as she glanced between the two men. Hmm, perhaps her time in Seattle was starting to look up after all. Sure it was three in the morning, but she was having a late dinner with two rather handsome detectives and that was pretty awesome if she did say so herself. Oh if some of the girls back home could see her now. Too bad there wasn't anything romantic going on. Well, not that she would be able to completely move on until she saw Kaden one last time.

"I told the hospital I would give them my decision on Monday. But just between the three of us," she said as she leaned in and lowered her voice. "I"ve decided to accept the position." A grin spread across her face as she leaned back into her chair. "So I guess I'll have to start looking for a more permanent residence soon." Even though she hadn't see the ex yet she had decided not to let such a great opportunity ass her by. Screw him! Not literally of course.

"Oh really? Do they still have apartments for rent? I mean as long as you wouldn't mind being neighbors of course." Blue eyes looked between the two men as she gave another smile. She didn't want to just invite herself into their building or something. "Oo sounds like someone has a bit of a crush," she teased a moment later. Although she did question the whole possibly living with his sister thing. How old was he? That was a little strange right? But she would totally live with her young brother if he needed a place so she supposed it depend on the circumstances.

"So would this be a welcomed accosting?"

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[info]gentle_shield
2008-02-22 04:46 am UTC (link)
Friendship did help things out in the field. They knew how the other worked, and it also kept things light. If all they did was work the tough cases together, Hale had a feeling even a work relationship would be strained. Shooting some hoops or going out for drinks in the evenings, it helped, even if they didn't have a whole lot of time for it.

"Doesn't feel new to each other. We work more hours in a week than some people do in three, so we got to know each other pretty fast," he said. "But you're right, Nox, can't eat out of the vending machine constantly."

Hale ordered the Pad Thai as well, sipping his tea as the rest of the group placed their ordered. "Not your fault, you warned me before I moved in. Cheap rent outweighed the risk, I guess," he said with a bit of a laugh. "But I did have a run-in with her this week. Awkward, but she didn't... accost me. Just amazes me how unlike you she is."

"Congratulations are in order then!" he exclaimed, smiling when she announced her job decision. "I hope you'll be happy there. I'm pretty sure the Towers have plenty of vacancies right now, though. I like it there so far. Interesting place to live for sure."

A crush? Oh Hesper? He laughed a little bit. "Not exactly welcomed accosting. More like avoided accosting, when I can manage it," he said, shaking his head a bit. "What does she want with me, anyway?" he asked Nox. "I honestly can't see how I'm her type. At all."

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[info]in_his_shadow
2008-02-22 01:55 pm UTC (link)
Nox grinned sheepishly and flushed a little at her saying it was 'cute' that he and Hale hadn't been partners for all that long. "I have to agree with Hale on this one... just because we haven't been working together all that long, we work an insane number of hours. I'm sure you, Serena, know how quickly you can get to know another doctor when you spend just one incredibly long shift together. Besides, the stress of the job, along with the dangers, force you to get to know the other person amazingly well in just a matter of days." Nox felt like he knew Hale better than his own parents at times.

Nox brightened when Serena announced she would indeed be accepting the position and making Seattle her new home. "Wonderful news. I promise you won't regret moving here. And, yeah, there are apartments available in our building. It's a big place... the Old Town Towers. Rent is really affordable, because the place has a bit of a past. Locals think it's haunted, but it's not." Ok, that was a lie, there were actually ghosts who made the Towers their home, but they weren't dangerous. And while there were a few dangerous types in the Towers, the management kept things peaceful for the most part. Serena wouldn't be in any more danger there than any other part of the city. Besides, Hale and Nox called the place home, and they would ensure her safety. "If you'd like to have a look at the building, I can take you there whenever."

The trio enjoyed their drinks, all of them sipping away at hot tea, and their light-hearted conversation continued. Nox hadn't actually been on a date since he and Hale had become partners (had it really been that long?), so perhaps this was a good situation... if indeed this outing with Serena could be considered a 'date'. Any woman who got involved with Nox would see a great deal of Hale. She would also have to get to know his sister, but that was a much more complicated situation.

Nox laughed at the idea of Hesper having a crush on anyone. "Not a crush. Not by any means." He looked to Hale, "And I think you know exactly what she wants. No doubt she'll remind you in some very crude fashion... her attempt at corrupting you." Glancing back to Serena, he attempted to explain his sister. "Hesper is my twin and occasional roommate. She doesn't like staying in one place for too long, and I believe the vanishing act she pulls on a regular basis is her way of trying to put me into an early grave. Same reason she's so intent on molesting my partner here, because she knows it would drive me crazy. We're polar opposites." Despite everything he was saying about Hesper, he couldn't help but smile ear to ear. Yeah, she was irritating pretty much all the time, but he loved her. Looking to Serena, he chuckled as a thought came to him, "If you want to get her on your good side, just tell her you came out with me tonight." Hess would be thrilled to learn that Nox actually went on a date, though she would likely turn sour again upon learning that he'd not 'gotten laid'. So crude. There really was no excusing the woman.

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[info]aloveforgotten
2008-02-22 04:50 pm UTC (link)
Serena laughed. "Oh I know. I have gotten to know more than my fair share of nurses and doctors over a short amount of time." Being on call had a tendency to do that. If she wasn't sleeping, studying, eating or charting, she was getting to know the staff better. Granted there wasn't a whole lot of extra time for socializing but when you spend two straight days working it tends to add up.

"You guys are the second and third people I've met that have recommended the Towers to me now. I might just have to check this place out." Interesting that Alphosine didn't mention them being haunted but maybe she was just a nonbeliever. Not like a little ghost story would scare her away if it was really all they made it out to be. She had been engaged to a vampire after all so what was a ghost? Not that she believed that they existed. Well, she hadn't believed in vampires either but look what happened. So who knew? "Thanks, I'd like that. Maybe some time early next week?" If he was going to offer might as well jump on it and get something set up.

Was this a date? Technically she supposed it was just like a lunch date was a "date" but that was about it. Little did Nox know that Serena wasn't ready to truly date yet. No, she had a bit of unfinished business to take care of and then maybe she would be. Definitely not right away though. Wouldn't be fair to anyone if she did.

"Ahh I see," she replied with a teasing grin. Serena listened as Nox did his best to explain his twin. Okay well that made some more sense then. Much better than he just lived with his sister. "Well she definitely sounds like an interesting character." It was rather amusing to think that someone related to Nox would want to corrupt anything. The thought caused her lips to curl into a smirk as she glanced at Hale. Poor guy probably wouldn't know what hit him.

Their food arrived a short while later and Serena dug right in. Hey, she could eat with the best them! "This is absolutely...amazing." The taste was nothing short of divine and there was no question that she would have to come back for more. "Thanks for showing this place to me." Who knew that a 24-7 Thai place could have such good food? Live and learn.

"So is there anything else I should know about this city before I sign any paperwork?"

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[info]gentle_shield
2008-02-22 11:28 pm UTC (link)
Hale hadn't noticed the place being haunted, at least he hadn't seen any ghosts. Populated by a couple of lowlifes, maybe. Vallis certainly fit that bill, but there seemed to be enough nice people in the building that the bad eggs wouldn't have enough time to get in too much trouble. Besides, as far as Vallis was concerned, he had his eye on him. Thinking about Adian? Maybe a little...

"The last building I lived in, my apartment was smaller, not nearly as nice, and the rent was almost double what I'm paying now. I can't say I have any complaints," Hale said, hoping he might help with her decision making at least a little bit.

A crush? "Right, a crush," he said with a bit of a laugh. "If only." He listened to Nox's affectionately annoyed description of his sister with a slight smile. "She's definitely forward, that's for sure," Hale said, shaking his head a bit.

All these thoughts about dating at the table. Hale's mind kept wandering to his evening with Adian on Monday, and he thought he should probably ask her out again. He knew he should. They'd had a wonderful time, and he definitely wanted to get to know her better, even if she did live with that Vallis idiot.

Hale dug into his food as well. He always ate at odd hours, so being hungry at 3:30 in the morning wasn't a strange thing at all. He like Thai food well enough; not his favorite, but it was definitely worth a trip out now and then.

"Hmm," Hale mused thoughtfully. "Can't say I really get out much, to tell you the truth. There are apparently a ton of things to do, though," he said. "I'm probably not the best person to ask."

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[info]in_his_shadow
2008-02-23 02:08 am UTC (link)
Nox tilted his head curiously at the mention of their being another person in the Towers to recommend the complex. "You've met someone else who lives in our building?" Nox paid close attention to his surroundings, keeping tabs on everything and everyone he came across. When it came to the residents of the Towers, so long as a person wasn't a total recluse, Nox at least knew of them. He could generally recognize faces, sometimes put a name with them. But seeing someone usually opened a mental file filled with a string of memories: who that person typically socialized with, what floor/apartment they lived in, when they came and went, and most importantly, had they ever caused a problem. He felt it was his duty to keep track of such observations. "It'd be my pleasure to show you around. Perhaps Tuesday afternoon?"

'Interesting character'... 'definitely forward'... those were polite ways to describe Hesper, and he appreciated the effort on their part. Some people lacked such decorum. Hesper definitely lacked it. But for all her flaws, she was family, and Nox wouldn't have traded her for anyone else. "I'm sure you'll meet her at some point should you move to the Towers. She's home again currently, but, as always, I don't know how long it will last. Who knows, now that Hale has moved in, perhaps she'll linger a bit longer." Nox looked at his partner with a teasing grin, "I really don't know what she sees in you." Which wasn't true at all. She only liked Hale because he was Nox's partner, and that made him 'off limits', which made him an irresistible conquest.

The group grew a bit quiet as they began eating, stopping hear and there to make more polite conversation. "Well, you've already been to the aquarium. It's one of my favorite places in the city. If you're a sports fan, baseball in particular, you should really try to attend a night game at Safeco. And, if you've never been, and aren't afraid of heights, I think a trip to the Space Needle is mandatory. The art museum is quite nice. I hear they'll soon be getting an impressive collection of Roman art on loan from the Louvre. Saw a sign along the highway advertising it. And there was a mention on the news the other day." He tried to think of other places she might enjoy. "Not sure you can accomplish all that before Monday. What sorts of things do you enjoy?"

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[info]aloveforgotten
2008-02-23 03:21 am UTC (link)
"That's not surprising at all. Back home you were lucky if you could find a one bedroom in a decent place that didn't cost and arm and a leg." Serena had lucked out since the school had taken care of her housing needs and then Kaden's apartment had also been a steal. Ugh, she really needed to stop thinking about him.

"Yeah. A blond woman who works down at the Alibi Room. Um, Ally was her name." Serena had yet to decide if she was actually going to like her. The way she had talked about Kaden just didn't sit well with her. And there she went thinking about him again! She really, really needed to stop now. "Actually I was thinking about contacting the management to set something up for Monday after I sign all of the paperwork for the hospital. Gotta get in and find something so that I can fly back and get everything packed up. Maybe you can give me a mini tour before they show me what's available?"

"Can't wait. She sounds fun." If anything it would be amusing to see the polar opposite of Nox in a female body. Made her curious. Her lips curled into a smile as he teased his partner and she laughed. "What are you talking about? Hale looks like he's quite the catch." Sure he seemed a little socially retarded but he was attractive.

"Wow, there's a lot to see and do. Guess it's a good thing that I'm staying so I can pace myself. And really it's more of a question of what things don't I enjoy. I love pretty much everything." Well that and she was open to trying new things at least once. "But I think the Space Needle will definitely have to happen this weekend."

"I am planning on heading to the Alibi Room tomorrow night for a show. Have either of you ever heard of ROARKE?" Figured she might as well see if any of the members had been arrested or something. Heh.

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[info]gentle_shield
2008-02-23 06:55 am UTC (link)
Hale hadn't lived at the Towers long enough to make as many acquaintances as Nox had, but he had met most of the people who lived on his floor, had run into some of the staff, and of course made introductions in the mail room and such. Just because he was a workaholic and a little shy didn't mean he was antisocial by any means!

As for Hesper lacking decorum, well, some things apparently couldn't be helped even by an incredibly polite, law-abiding brother. Oh well, he thought. Hale was pretty sure he could fend off Hesper's advances. Didn't seem to have too much of a problem with women crawling all over him, really. "Good to know I'm useful for something," he said, chuckling a bit at Nox's comment that he might cause Hesper to stick around longer.

Small talk was easy enough to make, even with a stranger when she was as friendly as Serena. Except for the part where she made his face turn terminally red by calling him 'quite the catch.' He didn't even know what to say to that one, so he kept his mouth shut except for something mumbled that sounded like thank you if you were listening carefully enough.

Good, change of subject.

"Nox, always with the baseball," he said, shaking his head, grinning. "Catch a Sonics game. Basketball, far more exciting. Though, he is right. You should catch a game at Safeco at least once, if you can. If you have any interest in it, that is. My sister, she couldn't care less about sports of any kind."

"ROARKE? No, I don't think I have," Hale answered, shrugging. "But I'm not really up on the music scene around here. Are they a local group?"

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[info]in_his_shadow
2008-02-24 04:37 pm UTC (link)
Nox started forming a mental image. Blond. Alibi Room. Ally. "Yes. I know her. Ninth floor, I believe. She's a bartender. " He didn't know the woman well, but as with many of the residents in the towers, he kept a general folder on the woman in his mind. He couldn't recall her ever being anything less than cordial, and she seemed to be very much a free spirit. Based on his first impression of Serena, he could see the two women getting along.

"If you'd like to have a look around on Monday, that can definitely be arranged. You have my number, just call and let me know when you're leaving the hospital. So long as I'm not in the middle of something important, I can head back and give you a tour." There was a lot worth seeing in the Towers. Nox took full advantage of all its facilities, especially the fitness area and the pool.

Nox didn't care what kept his sister from running off, anything that got her to stay put a little more often was welcome in his book. If that 'thing' happened to be his partner, and Hesper's interest in corrupting the man, then so be it. Though, hopefully she wouldn't drive the man mad. "Hale is indeed a 'catch'... I just don't want my sister to be the one to reel him in. She's not so kind to fish." Few people could handle Hesper. She was a challenging woman. Nox could barely put up with her craziness, and he was probably only able to because of his love for her.

"Yes. Baseball! Hale, it is the great American pastime, when will you learn? Besides, it's not like baseball is the only sport I follow. I just happen to love my Mariners." Nox had instantly taken to the game upon leaving Hell. It just seemed so joyful and full of camaraderie. Really, he had an appreciation for all team sports, but he was particularly drawn to baseball, because there seemed to be a great deal of finesse needed to play it. Other sports were more about physical violence, baseball had a grace about it. "And if she wants to see a good basketball game, she should just watch you and I play sometime. Though, I'd hate to embarrass you." Nox and Hale, despite being such easy going fellows, could be exceptionally competitive.

"I've been to the Alibi Room a few times as well. It's a decent pub, and I've heard a few bands and DJs that weren't totally offensive to the ears." Nox preferred classical music, jazz, blues, and what he liked to call 'intelligent' rock. If a song was going to have lyrics, the words had to be well chosen. "I can't say I know much about the band ROARKE, but I'm probably not the right person to ask. My tastes are somewhat limited." Nox believed he had heard of the band, but he couldn't be sure. "I'm not absolutely positive, but I believe one or more of its members live in the Towers as well. Though, I could be thinking of another rock band. Again, I'm not really up on the rock music scene."

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[info]aloveforgotten
2008-02-24 10:57 pm UTC (link)
"Excellent, I will be sure to do that." Nothing like a tour from one of the residents to really give you a feel for the place. That and even after only a short time of knowing him, Serena felt like she could trust Nox. He definitely didn't seem the type to be hiding something or out to take advantage of her. Nope, he seemed like one of the few genuinely nice guys that were still left in the world.

"Ahh." A nod was given to Nox's words. "Well at least he's cute when he turns red so I'm sure he'll have a replacement in no time." Another wink was sent Hale's way and she couldn't help but grin. In all honesty she should have been on her best behavior and not teasing the poor guy but she couldn't help that she felt so comfortable sitting there with them.

"Can't say that I have a favorite team but I do try to keep up with sports. It helps when I'm dealing with older patients. Gives us a little something more to talk about." Serena had been known to find out what teams were being favored by the children and going to great lengths to learn about them so that she could talk shop. "Hmm, I don't know. I bet Hale here has some game. He's probably just been letting you win." A playful smirk danced across her lips before she laughed. This was good times.

Serena nodded. "Perhaps you should see about broadening those tastes." Never hurt to try something new, right? "Wow, the Towers is just full of all sorts of people then." His words didn't exactly sit well with her but what were the chances that she would end up on the same floor if Kaden really were there? It was just highly unlikely.

When their food was finished and their cups emptied, Serena sat back in her chair and gave a sigh of contentment. "Well, I think I might have gained a few pounds packing all of that away but it was definitely worth it." Fantastic food, no question. "Oh and I really hope you boys don't have any set plans next weekend in case I need help moving my stuff into a hopefully new apartment...?" Cue a coy bat of the eyes and innocent looking smile. Oh come on, you know you want to help her out.

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[info]gentle_shield
2008-02-25 02:01 am UTC (link)
Being relatively new to the building, Hale didn't have the knowledge to offer up any useful services as a tour guide. He did enjoy the fitness center, though, and the garden. Gave him a place to take Blue to play when the weather was too nasty for the long walks she liked. He wasn't much of a swimmer, though.

"I'm a fish that doesn't want to be caught," he said with a chuckle. "Hope that'll save me. Though, she might just like the chase even more." He shrugged a bit, taking another drink of his tea. "She'd never be boring, but I see some serious compatibility issues." Not to mention he was becoming steadily more smitten with the vampire down the hall. That was a story for another time. And ooohh the teasing! He could take it, no worries there. Didn't even turn too much redder in the process.

"You'll never learn. Just because it's called 'the great Amercan pastime' doesn't mean you have to take it at face value. Basketball and football, much more entertaining." He didn't mind the physical aspect of the sports. He'd been a basketball player his whole life and he adored being on the hard court, the intensity kept him interested. Moved a helluva lot faster than baseball, too. "And she should watch the two of us. And you can talk big now, Nox, but you know on the court I'll stomp you." Competitive? Yes, but it was all in good fun! Then Serena even took his side. "See, she can tell already that you just don't measure up. It's nothing to be ashamed of," he said, trying to give a cocky smirk but laughing a bit instead. He definitely wasn't a pro at the whole macho jock routine.

"The towers do seem to be full of all kinds," he said offhandedly, could be taken as a comment on personalities rather than... well, species differences. After all, at this table alone there was at least a demon and a shapeshifter. He wasn't sure what she was, might just be human, but one could never be too sure.

"You're telling me," Hale said, sitting back as well. "I'm gonna get a gut from eating like this all the time." Helping a nice lady move in? No problem. "Long as I'm not stuck at work, I'd be glad to help you out," he said, loosening his tie a bit. Hated wearing the damn things.

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[info]in_his_shadow
2008-02-27 01:59 pm UTC (link)
Nox was a trustworthy guy. It was clear for nearly all to see. He had a gentleness about him that could put even wild animals at ease. His smile didn't hurt matters either, and he offered one to Serena. He felt they were off to a great start, and no doubt they'd come to be good friends in a short time. He was excited to have her as a neighbor as well, just as he'd been thrilled when Hale decided to move in at the Towers. Hopefully, Serena would be just as comfortable calling the complex her home.

Nox teasingly raised his cup of tea to Hale, "So very cute when he blushes. I bet if we work really hard, we can see him turn purple. Hale, how about I tell her some stories?" Nox threatened. It was actually much easier to be himself around Serena with Hale here. Nox's playful side came out when he was around his partner and/or his sister. It was a side of him that was typically seen only by those he'd known for a long while.

"Letting me win?! Serena, I'm wounded," he said mockingly, putting his hand to his chest. Turning his eyes to Hale, he narrowed them in a teasing fashion, "I'll wipe the floor with you, Hale, and you know it. Can't go crying about how your bad knee is acting up again as some sort of excuse for a poor performance." He glanced at Serena, "That's the line he uses when he's off his game, so people don't laugh at him. He just can't admit that I'm better at his favorite sport." Looking to Hale again, he joked, "Oh, and don't even get me started on your swing. You couldn't hit the broadside of a barn!" Talking trash when it came to sports was something that always got Hale and Nox a bit animated.

Nox shrugged at her suggestion he take in some new things. "I like what I like. I don't object to new things, but my tastes are more along the lines of classical, jazz, and blues. There are few rock bands that hold my interest. Still, if you're such a fan of this band, perhaps I'll check them out. I'm always open to suggestions, and you appear to be a woman of good taste." He nodded in her direction.

The check arrived and Nox quickly snatched it up before anyone could protest. He had fast reflexes, and within seconds he'd pulled out his cash and paid the waitress for their dinners. "Why do you think I workout so much, Hale? I eat here too often. We don't have to wear our blues anymore, but just because I'm not tied to a uniform, doesn't mean I'm gonna let myself go."

He took another sip of his tea and got back to the topic at hand. "Anyway, I'd also be happy to help you move." With Nox and Hale helping her out, her belongings would be out of the moving van and into the apartment in under an hour.

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[info]aloveforgotten
2008-02-29 11:31 pm UTC (link)
Serena laughed as Nox took a few jabs at his friend. "Maybe another time, I think his poor cheeks could use a break." Hale was definitely being a good sport about it all and Serena could appreciate that, especially since she was a stranger to him. Hanging out with them made her miss her brother though.

"Okay, let's calm down," she teased. "We don't need to throw down at the dinner table." It was fun how they got all competitive around each other and she would certainly have to watch them play a game of ball against each other some time. She bet that it would be pretty entertaining to watch. No question.

"I haven't seen them yet but I'll let you know if they end up being any good." That wasn't technically a lie. She did know the lead singer and had heard him before but never with this band so that counted, right? Of course it did, or that's what she was going to keep telling herself anyway. Maybe one day she would believe it. Hmm.

A frown was flashed when Nox scooped up the bill but rather than protest because it was obviously going to be useless, she thanked him instead. "Well you boys have nothing to worry about because even with a little extra cush, you guys are both attractive." What? Serena could appreciate a couple of handsome males if she wanted. She wasn't blind.

"You guys are saints. Fortunately most of my stuff is in storage down in Tahoe so I can have my brother drive it up and help out too. Any big furniture is going to have to be purchased here since back in New Haven my apartment came furnished. Now I just have to fly back to pack up some small things and clothes but I can at least ship them overnight or something." Ugh, this week was going to be busy with trying to get settled in. Fortunately the hospital had offered to give her another week to make the move if she decided to sign on with them. Only problem was that it only gave her a short time to get everything moved over.

"I'd ask if either of you would be interested in going furniture shopping with me but I think that's best to ask of another female. Now I just have to find one." A warm grin was flashed as she placed her napkin onto the table. "Well it's late and you guys need to work so shall we call it a night?"

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[info]gentle_shield
2008-03-01 07:24 am UTC (link)
"You don't have any stories worth telling, Nox," Hale said with a laugh. It was probably true, he rarely got himself into embarrassing situations. Yeah, he'd gotten sick at a few of his first murder scenes, everyone did, especially the nasty ones. He'd had a few clumsy encounters with women, of course, where his shy attempts at flirting had been completely missed by the party he was trying to catch the eye of, and he WAS prone to blushing. Maybe even turning purple.

"And thank you," he said to Serena when she suggested giving him a break. He didn't need one, he was used to the teasing, really! But he wasn't gonna complain.

"Wipe the floor with me? Right. Just like last week. What was the score, 20-12? What happened to your skills there?" he asked, laughing, eyes narrowed as well. "And I do not complain about my bad knee, even though I certainly have one. Such a heroic story," he said, directing his attention for a moment toward Serena, eyes sparkling, not as nervous now that he and Nox were sparring a bit. "It was in the playoffs my freshman year of college. Quarterfinals. I fell down the stairs coming down from the locker room, took two surgeries to fix me up," he finished, grinning.

"And you aren't better, anyhow. If I remember correctly, I dominate the number of wins. And that's all that really matters. "And my swing? You're judging me based on my swing when I'm a pitcher, not a hitter! You should see this guy try to hit my curve-ball, Serena. Swings around in a circle sometimes, nearly falls over. Funny." He was joking, of course. But he was a decent pitcher, after all!

When the check arrived, Hale tried to beat Nox toward it. Damn demon reflexes beat him out every time. "Thanks, Nox. And you work out so much because, like me, you have no life outside the station?" he asked. "Besides, if you got pudgy on me, I think it'd hurt our credibility with the criminals." And there Serena went, making him blush again. What was he supposed to say? Nothing seemed like the best plan.

"Moving is a pain, shouldn't have to try and do it single-handedly," Hale said. "I don't mind helping out in the least. " At the mention of furniture shopping, he made a slight face. "Well, if you saw my apartment you might decide I'm not the best option. I'm fairly sure it doesn't all match. Nox's place looks like it was done by a professional decorator though," he said, gesturing toward his partner. "I know because I've teased him about it."

He checked his watch and put his own napkin on the table, nodding to the both of them. "Well, I called ahead and said I'd be in before 5, so I should definitely get going. It was wonderful meeting you, though, Serena," he said, "And I apologize again for interrupting. Just have Nox round me up when you need my help moving in. Nox, I'm sure I'll see you later," he said, and stood, pushing his chair in, waving as he made his way to the door and off to what was sure to be another long day at work.

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[info]in_his_shadow
2008-03-04 06:08 pm UTC (link)
Nox grinned ear to ear through the jabs he and Hale took at one another. It was all in fun. The men were highly competitive, but they always had a good spirit about it. "You're right about the score, just wrong about who won. Has senility set in so soon?" If Hale had been sitting closer, Nox likely would have given the guy a playful punch. But the boys called it quits on the teasing soon enough as they finished dinner.

The evening was going well, and Nox only felt slightly out of his element when Serena complimented the men, causing Nox to blush along with Hale. Nox wasn't great at taking compliments, and he followed Hale's lead in being relatively mute, though he did issue a mumbled and embarrassed, "Thanks." What else could he say? Wasn't all that often women called him attractive, and it certainly wasn't something he strived to be.

Another blush came to his cheeks when Hale teased him about decorating. "I like what I like, and I keep the place clean," he said somewhat defensively. Nox could be a real homebody at times, so what was wrong with constructing a place where you felt comfortable? "I hardly think that make me a good shopping partner, but if you need help locating stores, I can point you in the right direction." There was no way of knowing if Serena had the same tastes.

When Hale rose to leave, Nox stood as well, as a matter of courtesy. "No need to apologize, Hale. I'll see ya in a couple of hours probably." He pat his friend on the shoulder and gave a nod as the man made his way out. When Hale was gone, Nox turned to Serena, "Are you ready to head back to the hotel?" he asked, offering his hand to help her up.

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