Count D (notunderarrest) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-07-02 21:06:00 |
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Entry tags: | count d, veronica mars |
WHO: Veronica and Count D
WHAT: An encounter and sweets
WHERE: A coffee shop/bakery in Anaheim
WHEN: Saturday
RATING: Lowish
STATUS: Complete upon posting
Next to the Ranch Market in Anaheim lived a small coffee shop that specialized in a delicious rubus tea. The Count could purchase this tea anywhere near him, but what he could not purchase was a special combination of chalk candy and donut stuffed with durian. Only this particular bakery sold it and, with a slow day in the shop, D promised his animals he wouldn’t be gone long and caught a bus to Anaheim.
He received the usual stares when he walked through the door, but he paid no attention to them and ordered his durian stuffed treat, excited to have the rare sweet on his tongue. It was D’s plan not to open the box until he arrived back at his shop so he could share it with Rat-Chan. As he waited, the Count looked around the shop, picking up a bag of purple tea leaves. A good lavender tea. Perhaps it would help the Detective find calmness. This tea would be coming back to the shop as well.
It was Veronica’s meeting day. Whether it was delivering news to clients she already had, or meeting with new ones to discuss their cases, it was not a day Veronica looked forward to. She much preferred to be out in the field, doing actual private detective work. Even if that met sitting outside some sleazy motel waiting to get the money shot.
One thing was for sure, before meeting and dealing with people she was going to need coffee. And maybe a donut or something too. She deserved a treat after all. Yes, she was aware the coffee and donuts were kind of a cliche. But she wasn’t a cop so it didn’t matter. Not that she really cared anyway.
She walked in prepared to make her order when someone caught her eye. There was just something different about her or was it a him? That Veronica couldn’t exactly place. Other than the fact that she couldn’t tell the gender that was. She just had a feeling that the person was up to no good. Something in the way they looked. And Veronica was pretty good at reading people. But she had nothing to go on other than her gut so she ignored it walking up to place her order for a mocha and an old fashioned glazed donut.
While she waited for her drink her eyes fell on the other person again. Watching as they examined the tea. Shrugging Veronica figured why the hell not and approached the person. “You know,” Veronica said picking up a bag of tea to look at herself not that she really drank tea. “There aren’t enough places like this.”
Oh. Someone was speaking, to D. This was nothing new. Often, strangers, especially those outside of Chinatown, would comment on his hair or nails or his ‘dress’ as they called it. This one was at least making and idle, but pleasant remark.
His head turned slightly, just enough so he could see her past the falls of his dark hair. She was a pretty girl with California kissed hair and lovely skin. D thought she was likely less vulnerable than people might take her for. “Quite,” the Count agreed in smooth diction, leaving no room to wonder about his gender as he was, most assuredly, a man. “Have you tried their honey muffins?”
When the person spoke that at least answered one question for Veronica. The voice was too deep to be a woman’s. Not that it really mattered to her one way or another, well other than her general curiosity. Veronica’s curiosity got the better of her sometimes, came with the whole PI gig.
“No,” Veronica replied. She hadn’t been here that many times but by the guy’s comment it seemed like he had. “You come here often?”
“Is that what you ask all the young men who come in here?” the Count inquired in a sinisterly sweet tone, a smile that wasn’t quite a smirk or a smirk that wasn’t quite a smile on his lips. He held the tea lightly between his fingertips, but his attention was on her.
“Come to think of it,” he said after a pause for consideration. “A honey muffin wouldn’t go well with the tea you’ve chosen. Might I make a suggestion, Ms…?”
“Oh yeah,” Veronica replied smirk on her face. “It’s my best pick up line.” Of course she was well aware of what a line it was. But for Veronica she was just putting information together. Even though she had already figured out the answer.
“Go for it,” she replied in reference to his suggestion but then corrected him on the name. “Veronica.” No one called her Ms. Mars. She was not a Ms. or a Mrs anything and she never would be. Even if her boyfriend somehow convinced her to get married some day. “And you are?”
“Pleased to meet you, Veronica.” A long name, to be sure.
That she not only understood that D was making a joke but went so far as to play along was well appreciated. D’s smile grew, never showing teeth, but reaching his eyes. Long red nails ran over her tea package. “Cherry cordials,” was his purred suggestion. He intoned a hum of thought and tapped his finger against the Lavender tea in his hand, then took a bag of the same tea Veronica held.
“I think I’ll have some of my own,” he decided, having not had cherry cordials in an age.
It was a long name. But there was nothing that fit her better. And most of her close friends called her V half the time anyway. But no one called her Ms. Mars. She did get Veronica Mars a hell of a lot though. Especially in the dreams.
His suggestion did sound pretty damn good. Veronica wasn’t about to turn down chocolate. However Veronica had noticed that he had evaded her question. And as good as cherry cordials….
“The thing is,” Veronica began. “I don’t take suggestions from strangers.”
An attempt to get his name, an entirely transparent one at that. She was far too interested in it for his liking. Another officer perhaps? Why would they look for him here?
“Very wise of you,” he replied innocently enough.
When he heard the name “D!” called from the counter, D looked at Veronica. That should answer her question. “Lovely to meet you, Veronica,” he said and took his two teas and a box of cordials with him as he all but glided over to the counter to accept his prized sweet, clearly excited about it. He tipped the bakery tip jar generously, then headed out the door, his purchases tucked protectively in his arms.
Veronica’s question, or well statement was actually innocent. However the fact that he kept evading it? It was suspicious. Who the fuck didn’t give out their name? Especially after asking the other persons. But then she heard the name D called and the man responded.
D.
Well shit.
Blue eyes stayed on him as he made his way out of the shop. Had Veronica really just met D? The D? The one Leon wouldn’t shut up about. That might very well just be a serial killer. At least in his dreams. Here she wasn’t getting that vibe from him. But she still felt as though he was hiding something with his evasiness.
If Veronica wasn’t on board to help Leon prove something was up before. She definitely was now.