InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Mah spoon is too big"

playing the game -- rick austin (takingsides) wrote in bellumlogs,
@ 2010-02-15 12:47:00

Entry tags:

cheshire cat

Who: Rick and Daisy
What: Leftover Valentine's Day cookies!
Where: The lobby.
When: After this!
Warnings: None. I bet it's going to be cavity-inducing. IN A GOOD WAY.

There were no less than seven pink pastry boxes laid out on the unmanned hotel reception desk that dominated the Bellum Letale lobby. Each lid was open, and the sugar cookies inside--all of moderate quality, shaped like hearts, and dusted with pink sugar crystals--were stacked in untouched layers on themselves.

Rick was sitting on the curved sofa, one ankle on the opposite knee, staring at his blackberry and scrolling through text messages and work-related emails. He was still in his work clothes, a clean gray suit with long lines, but he'd unlaced his tie and unbuttoned the oxford shirt at the throat so he could breathe a little. It had been a long day for him, since around holidays people got crazy, and when people got crazy, it made homicide detectives work overtime.

Like the lady that used her ex-husband's blood to paint hearts all over her living room walls. Oh well. At least he wasn't going to have to do much detecting on that one.

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takingsides
2010-02-17 10:17 pm UTC (link)

He chuckled. Rick's chuckle wasn't very much like gravel, like most men. It was more of a hum. A purr, even. "No, by the time I came along, she already knew not to bother. And I already knew not to try, if I valued my skin."

He grew serious, and though he still sipped the coffee from the pink mug, it wasn't Rick the Neighbor talking anymore. His voice took on a rather professional, distanced lilt. "The 'murders' they're talking about were two unfortunate accidents and one equally unfortunate suicide, all of which were investigated and accordingly dismissed." He took a breath, and his eyes narrowed a little in thought. Claws and teeth. "The threats... are something else. James is taking them seriously." He looked sideways at her. "You should too. Precautions don't have to be paranoia." Then, a little more reassuringly, "You can always come down the hall, if you like. Or, call me, if I am not there."

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mostloyallover
2010-02-17 10:44 pm UTC (link)

She listened intently to every word Rick said; not just because it was Officer Rick saying them (which helped) but because Daisy greatly admired authority figures. But as he said You can always come down the hall, if you like...she started to feel a little faint.

Did he just say he would rescue her, if she were in need of reassurances?! Swallowing, her throat dry with cookie crumbs and anxiety, Daisy sipped her coffee in a frantic attempt to reply without croaking like a frog.

"We should exchange numbers," she finally managed, voice wobbly. "Just to be safe, you know? For, like, if you had a plant you wanted me to water or...something." Or, if, you wanted to ask me out on a date.

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takingsides
2010-02-18 12:01 am UTC (link)

"I don't have any plants," Rick said, still thinking about what it might be like if he had to deal with a body in the building, which he would undoubtedly do even if the department would immediately shut him out afterward. Personal connections to a case meant someone else would have to do the investigating--not that he wouldn't make it his business anyway. Part of his job. The other one. "But yes, if you like." He recited a number, his work one. He was not entirely oblivious--Rick was too observant to be oblivious--but a little crush wasn't going to hurt her, and he was not planning on being exceptionally encouraging. Personal entanglements...

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mostloyallover
2010-02-19 01:38 pm UTC (link)

She tried to look casual as she entered his number in to her phone, like she didn't really care one way or the other about the whole thing; but she still grinned like an idiot when she looked up at him and recited her own number.

Even though she didn't really want another cookie, she reached for one, unwilling to leave yet. Still, she couldn't really think of anything to talk about so she stared at Rick's shoes for a moment, then his hands, then his shoulders. She knew if she tried to look at his face she'd blush and she was pretty sure anymore sudden rushes of blood would make her lose consciousness.

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takingsides
2010-02-20 02:13 am UTC (link)

Rick entered her phone number under the name "D-BL." All of his names were entered under similar codes, though usually he took more time to obscure an identity than he did hear. Mostly he was just concerned with keeping people from reading off-hand who he was calling if they got hold of his phone; it was an easy precaution to take, and versus the risk... well. No harm was going to come to her through that route, anyway.

As soon as he hit save, the phone buzzed enthusiastically in his hand, and he lifted it out of her view to inspect the message. First he frowned, then he sighed. "Work," he said, tipping it from one side to another. "Will you guard the cookies for a while? I've no idea if anyone else will be interested, but just in case." He smiled at her to take the sting out of the abandonment.

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mostloyallover
2010-02-20 02:48 am UTC (link)

"Oh, sure..." Daisy nodded eagerly, feeling faint with swoon-y excitement. She was curious about what kind of case he was working on but didn't ask; instead, she gave him another admiring smile.

"It was nice to meet you." She paused and bit her lip, then offered: "Keep the mug and finish your coffee. I'll come by sometime and get it later?" The effect was ruined by her blush and the vaguely questioning tone, but overall, Daisy thought it was a success.

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takingsides
2010-02-20 07:45 am UTC (link)

"I'll drop it by some day when I'm up and home at a decent hour," he said, firmly. Rick didn't like unexpected visitors, be they oh-so-unassuming as Daisy. Territorial, he liked to know who he was coming and why and how. He liked being several floors up, and having access to two exits (the stairs and the fire escape). "It was nice to meet you, Daisy," he said, in a tone of relaxed affection. Someone that was sane, unassuming, and positive. Daisy had three up on half the world. Rick lifted his hand in a final little wave of farewell, and climbed the stairs at a natural, unhurried two at a time.

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