❝ c a r r o t s. ❞

🔮— ‘ do you know of goblins , hm? interesting little creatures they are… filthy && disgusting though. ‘

“ sure do... i used to read about them all the time in fairytales when i was little --- good thing they aren’t real, huh ? “

“Hate to bother you but uh, you mind moving out of the way? I’m trying to hit the target on that tree and I don’t want to accidentally shoot you.”

" ----- sure, after you show me a license for that weapon you've got there. "

   “ that’s my girl. ”    gah, that line is gross and he cannot believe he just used it. too bad he can’t just shove that sentence back into his mouth. he can however, busy himself with grabbing his own beer and guiding them away from the bar.    “ twenties, dark-hair, and male —-hmmm? ”    he inquires unnecessarily in a barely muttered undertone into her ear.    “ what else do we know of our mystery subject? ”    he’s close enough, arm still slung around her that to an outsider it looks nothing more than a sweet exchange——    “ —–oh, and laugh like i just said something funny. ”

    “ huh? “ give her a second, “ ----- oh ” cue the stream of obnoxious giggles after a delayed moment of realisation. she’ll even go that extra step further and give that little, playful whack to his chest which she’s seen girls do before ----- light flirtation, that’s what they called it. it stops when violet orbs catch a glimpse of a particularly rowdy crowd, one her gaze can’t quite get to the centre of because she’s so darn small.  suddenly she’s turning so that her back is to them, forcing nicks gaze upon them in what could easily be perceived as a move to dance with the boy ( dancing was something she could do ). hands link to his as she pulls him flush to her chest for another quick exchange, “ behind me, try and get a good look at them. “ it could very easily be a false alarm, but she hopes not, meaning that this close embrace was entirely unnecessary. 

   “ yes, yes, so you’ve said. ”    exasperation that colors tones is still more mock than anything. he can see her doubt, of course — it would be hard for green irises to not read it in the lines around her nose, the pitch of her voice, and the way her eyes flicker around in a way that suggests she’s not just looking for their man in question ( speaking off, he should be doing just that, looking, but the night is young and the seedy sorts don’t like to come out til the sun has surely died ).    “ loosen up, sweetheart — they’re going to think i’m mistreatin’ you. ”     the endearment is partially because he’s CONCERNED, mostly because the bartender has finally come around with his requested beers. ( and yea, that arm around securely around her bare shoulders, that’s totally just for show — totally ). 

  shoulders drop from their tense state ( with thanks to his comforting touch ) and lips stretch to flash that infectious smile of hers, a small show of gratitude to the bartender as she takes a beer ( she could just pretend to drink that, right ? ) “ sorry, sweetie. you’ve gone out your way to take me out tonight and here i am sulking in the corner “ ----- so they were a couple now, apparently. she supposed she could work with that; i mean, how hard could it be to act completely smitten with the guy ? ( after all, he did have his redeeming qualities, and his face wasn’t all that difficult for judy to look at ) hey, she even had that look of love down to a t, already ---- you know the one, glimmering hues, bashful smile...

“ you’re going to have to be a little more specific, dear.“

“ judy... my name is judy “ she told him politely to avoid being referred to as ‘dear’ again --- she wasn’t particularly fond of pet names. “ specific, okay, umm --- he has this carrot pen, that he always carries in his shirt pocket “ stolen from her, of course “ and, ummm... you know what, never mind. if you had came across him, you’d have known --- he’s that annoying ! “

❣ — ‘ oh…  you see– love is just… it’s so precious to watch. even the elderly look like puppies when they’re in that little hissy fit of love. isn’t just great? ‘

“ ----- yes, love is wonderful... “ cue the dreamy sigh as she looked upon the elderly couple, “ i hope to find it myself one day. “

   a chuckle is her only warning before hands land in a firm, friendly grip on her shoulders and he adds in words low and mockingly hushed,     “ but carrots, sunshine, pessimist ——how are we supposed to fit in if we’re not having fun? “     cue that smirk that’s always lingering just under his lips, easily called to the surface in the way that clouds always part to reveal the sun.      “ c’mon, lighten up!! ”     okay well, maybe it’s a little easier for him to say that, comfortably clad in jeans and a button down left undone at the top.

     lips part & she gasps as if the worst has happened --- pessimist ? no, judy prided herself on being anything but; she would not be negative nancy. “ we don’t need to in amongst all the sweaty, drunken... “ ( get to the point, judy ) “... people to have fun... we can tons of fun standing right here ! “  --- there, that was smidgen of positivity, wasn’t it ? but not enough to keep him happy, she imagined. cue the eye roll, folded arms and the drawn out resistance of surrendering to him. “ ...okay, fine. but no shots ! we’re still working, remember ? “

         “right.” hands moved to rest at his hips, eyebrow quirking as he tried to keep a straight face. “you know, if you need any help, i can offer my assistance.” 

        “ i can assure you, sir... i’ve go- “ turning from the task at hand to look at the male saw a quick end to her words ( anyone who knew judy would tell you how difficult shutting her up could be ) as she instead stood rendered silent & wearing a baffled expression. what a way to greet a person, eh ? “ --- nick? “ no, no, no... he wasn’t nick, she knew that herself. she had spent enough time looking at him. but he looked so eerily similar --- dreaming, maybe? but keeping him around just that little bit longer to get to the bottom of this seemed like the best only plan. “ actually, yes --- help would be... great. “

The ginger’s brows furrowed as she cocked her head curiously at the girl, gnawing on her bottom lip, “Are you sure? It doesn’t LOOK like everything is under control.”

“ i’m a police officer --- if everything LOOKED like it was under control then there would be no need for me to be here, would there? “ she quipped, cleverly; thought it was nothing more than a chance to buy a little extra time to think. 

“Looking for someone?”

“ uhhh --- yes, actually... extremely tall “ ( that hardly helped, everyone was tall to judy ) “ fair-ish hair, obnoxiously over-confident, got this annoying ‘lil smirk... “

     using his suave ex-conman abilities on a crazy cat lady isn’t exactly what he had in mind for this afternoon’s entertainment ( perhaps he’d have to have yet another conversation with the chief about giving them more lucrative cases beyond cat ladies ). and this very thought shows, that smirk flattening into a grim line ( very much the same expression from ’ actually, it’s your word against yours ’ ).    “ uh…i think ‘ trying ‘ might be the keyword in that sentence. you see —–wait, wait, can i just ask a quick question here—- ”    head turns slightly, back bowing as he mutters into her ear.    “ who even has ten cats? that’s not normal. ”

    now there’s an expression that judy could enjoy a whole lot more ! --- and yes, she took a mental picture every time. ( that was sure to teach him for putting his two pence in when it wasn’t needed. ) she was grinning like a fool now; an amused fool, and even more so when his hushed comments come, quick to offer her discrete reply back, “ why the crazy cat lady, of course ! “  & before he’s got another chance to speak, she’s chiming up once more. “ --- don’t worry, m’am... my partner here is perfect for the job. he’d love to help you find your precious kitties “ after all, he did want to be of assistance.