solitude

            Priscilla knew all too well how some of the people in this city reacted with a little liquid courage in their system, way too many times had she picked up almost everyone in this bar, but still, what more is there to do in a town this size? ❛ I’ve seen worse, don’t you worry. ❜ the deputy laughed softly and offered her glass towards the woman. who was she to turn down a free drink? besides, she didn’t have a shift the next day anyways.

            now that there was a voice to the unknown blob in her peripheral vision she was sure that she had made a mistake. tired eyes lifted to confirm her suspicion and a small smile tugged at her lips. ❛ sorry, I didn’t really realize who it was. ❜ not that she really knew who he was, but she did know he didn’t work here. she was just on autopilot, an unfortunate side-affect of her job sometimes, and far too often had it ruined someone’s day. ❛ -- I promise I’m not usually a robot. ❜ the deputy laughed softly and shifted in her seat, hoping maybe she could turn this interaction around.

            who’s idea was it to have team bonding at the drive-in? how exactly are you supposed to bond with your teammates in the dark at a movie where you’re, technically, supposed to be quiet? despite every fiber of her being telling her that something was just off with the whole thing Priscilla still decided to go. how bad could it actually be? there were plenty of people within the department that she enjoyed hanging out with and whoever she didn’t like she knew they would be easy to ignore. the blonde settled into the seat of her car, eyes scanning for any familiar faces. she didn’t think she was that early, but maybe she was, maybe she didn’t read the memo right. -- but then her eyes settled on that oh so familiar pickup, she wasn’t alone at all. Priscilla popped over the door to her car, taking a moment to zip up her jacket before stepping out and crossing her arms over the door frame. ❛ where’s everyone else? ❜ Cain had been the one that had set this whole thing up anyways so he’d know better than anyone else, right?

            his brow furrowed and a huff passed through his lips as he rounded the edge of the counter, heading down the isles. ❛ why didn’t you tell me you had raccoons earlier? -- ya gotta wash your trashcans out with ammonia and then spray some of this around, that should get rid of them. ❜ he could only imagine the damage they had been causing, especially if they had gotten into her attic or under the porch, let alone all the trash that’s probably scattered through the woods. he snatched a bottle off the lower shelves and passed it over to her with a sigh, hoping she would take his advice, if not he’d get rid of them on his own.

            Priscilla was groggy, actually, groggy wasn’t even the right word. she was exhausted. two twelve hour shifts later and she found herself here, at the Swann Diner staring quietly into a mug of coffee. she traced her finger slowly around the rim of the off white mug, captivated by the swirls of cream mixing with dark coffee within. she was barely present in the moment, only aware that there was now someone standing by the end of her table. ❛ I’ll have two eggs, sunny side up, ham and home fries. -- please. ❜ at least she remembered to be polite. all she needed was a bit of food and a couple more cups of coffee and she’d be right as rain, ready to climb back into the saddle... or the police car rather.

            a huff passed chapped lips as he pulled the warm paper cup out of the tray, popping the black top off to take a peek at the color of the coffee. he’d never been one for just plain, black coffee, the one aspect of his father he didn’t emulate in some way shape or form, he instead opted for something lighter and sweeter. ❛ she’s around here somewhere, probably in the back. ❜ Abel glanced around briefly as he fitted the lid back on his cup, pausing his effortless search to take a scalding sip. he wasn’t surprised that she was here to see the dog instead of him, people tended to gravitate more to the pup than himself anyways. as the cup lowered from his lips he gave a quick whistle, eyes focused on the open office door as the mutt trotted out b-lining for their guest.

            shitty? -- sure it was old, but shitty? the pickup had been a gift from his father back in the day and being as sentimental as he was he just couldn’t bear to part with it. though, deep down in the pit of his stomach, he new one day it would become irreparable and he would have to either give it up or leave it to rot. ❛ -- like I said, you don’t have to fix it if you don’t want to. ❜ lips pressed into a firm line and he reached for the bagel, picking at the edges. aside from cereal Abel had never really been partial to breakfast, but it’d be a waste to toss it and it’d be even ruder to decline. ❛ I got bear mace for actual bears, but nothin’ for men. -- thanks though, for the bagel. ❜ a slight smirk crawled onto his lips and he settled back down onto his stool behind the counter still picking at the bagel.

               Abel had never been partial to purchasing other people’s things, maybe it was the sentiment he felt for his own things that held him back from taking that same feeling from others. a calloused hand came up and ran through long, dark locks pushing them back off a furrowed brow. ❛ -- depends on whatcha got. ❜ it’s what his father would have said back in the day, he’d heard it a million times from the office where he sat doing his homework all those years ago. ❛ I’m here everyday if you want to bring ‘em with you next time, little hard to make an appraisal on air. ❜ he laughed hoping it would dull the edge of his sharp tongue which got him into trouble more than once. it’s not that he ever meant to come across rude, he just didn’t see the need in sugarcoating his words.

            Abel inched out from behind the counter, eyes shifting to the rack of jackets he had pulled out of the back just last week. ❛ depends on what you plan on getting yourself into there, miss. -- I’ve got a good down jacket that I just brought in if you maybe wanted to look at that. ❜ he didn’t really think he had anything for her or her plans as most of his gear was tailored for outdoor activities, not so much walking around town and besides they weren’t exactly fashionable. he stepped over to the wrack and pulled one of the hangers out, holding it at an arms length for the woman to observe.

               he sat perched upon a stool behind the counter, aimlessly thumbing through a new catalog he had collected from the mail. maybe it was time he brought in some new inventory... climbing ropes? bear mace? more guns? the ringing of a bell pulled him out of his trance and he glanced up eyeing the person that stepped into the store. ❛ what can I do you for? ❜ his voice was gruff, heavy from the weight of not being used yet this morning. Abel placed the catalog down and pushed himself to stand, large hands coming to rest on the glass counter top as he leaned forward patiently waiting.