crime fighter

It must have happened late at night, after Jun had closed up and gone home. He'd passed by the display-- pumpkins piled high in wooden carts outside-- and patted them fondly. Pumpkin season was a big winner for the Moon Market, after all! And their pumpkins this year were plump and healthy, with quite the vibrant orange colour. Sure to be a hit!

But when he came back the next day... smashed! Who would do such a thing?!

Obviously, he'd made a detailed police report, ranting about how much money the crime had just cost the Moon Market. But the police had their hands full with "more important" crimes. BAH! This was very important! So he called up Perry's Investigations and down came one Kim Possible to work with him personally.

He'd invited Mu-yeol as well, because of course, he had closed up with Jun last night before heading to a shift at Pixie's. Perhaps he could narrow the time frame of the attack!

"Here is the scene of the crime!" Jun pointed dramatically at the pumpkin guts still strewn across the sidewalk. He was too depressed and traumatized to clean them up yet. And it was evidence!

So, with all that in mind, she had to take a moment to step into her private investigator shoes and be professional when dealing with the situation at hand.

Kim could see the scene even before she'd fully reached outside the Moon Market. She grabbed her reporters notebook to start taking notes. "I see, Mr. Moon." She nodded in acknowledgement of what he'd just said before continuing to look at the scene. "Now, what time did you close at last night? I'd like to start establishing a timeline of events so that I can narrow down the time the crime occurred."

"That's okay." She took his hand and shook it, "Happy to be here. Of course, I'm good with working on my own when necessary." Obviously, she might have her own sensitive cases she'd want to work on by herself. "I can't wait to start on my own cases."

Well, she did have some ideas on how to get rid of a certain nemesis now that she had this job, but she knew she would have to build a case before trying to get a certain board member put back in jail. But that was something to think about for another time.

"Thank you. I will keep that in mind, and you bet I'll just ask. No point beating around the bush as they say."

So this was new, that was fine. It was Kim's first time being a detective at an agency, too, so they'd have empathy on their side at least. "I'll admit, I think it will be good to have a female agent, I'm sure there are problems some people simply don't want to see an old man about." Perry chuckled, "I have handled a few 'catch my cheating partner' kind of cases though, so if something like that comes your way I have tips." He held his hands up for a moment in a sort of 'surrender' motion, rethinking his phrasing. "Not that I'm asking you to work on only-- you know, I just think you'll expand the client pool, is all, your input during your time as an intern was helpful on a range of cases." Yeah, he was already making this awkward. Oh well.

"Good, absolutely. We'll make it work, then. We should talk hours- you've probably seen that I'm in and out of here at hours far beyond what are printed at the door, but I obviously wouldn't expect that of other people, and as far as the rates I charge people, it..." He clicked his tongue, "I can give you some rough numbers if you like as a frame of reference, but I have a habit of not sticking to them myself, if I think a person really needs help."

Kim had plenty of hands-on experience when dealing with criminals and crooks, but she knew private investigative work was more paperwork than action, so that would take some getting used to for her. Other than that, she was happy to take on any cases, even the 'catch your partner cheating' ones. "I'll be taking on whatever cases find me. I just can't wait to get right down to it."

Kim was happy to work whenever as long as she had two days off. She didn't care if they were two days together or separate, but she just wanted some good work-life balance. "I don't mind what hours I work, but I'd like at least two days off just so I can do personal things. As for any information on rates to charge people, anything you can give me I'll take because I don't want to charge too much or too less. I want to get it right for the client and for myself."

Well, she hadn't expected that. She thought it would have taken a bit more to convince him but she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. "I can do that and thank you for the opportunity." Kim was thankful that Perry was going to take a chance on her and she'd prove just why it was the best decision he'd made.

"I will. It's on my list of things to do." Also, get first aid training. Plus, any other qualifications like Perry had just said.

Did this mean Perry was her boss? She wasn't sure, but she would take any advice he could give her, given his history and the fact he'd been doing this for a while. She wanted to get this right, and if it meant learning from someone with experience and listening to them, then she'd do it.

"Of course, I've got a lot to think about, but I'm happy to work with you or anyone else on cases. I'm used to working with someone but more hands-on." That's when she was using her crime fighting skills, and she knew with this line of work she might need to scale back on that, but if she was subtle then maybe she could still use those skills from time to time. "So am I right in thinking that I'm hired?"

She had a list, good. "That's more than I had when I opened the place." Perry chuckled, sipping his coffee. He had some of the good qualifications, sure, thanks to his previous job, but he had no connections and no reputation and barely the money to make the agency happen at all.

"Aha, that's another thing I'll have to figure out-- onboarding paperwork, all that. I don't have anything for you to sign." He shrugged after a moment, offering out his hand to shake, "welcome to the team, Kim. Well- I guess it's a team now you're here, anyway." He nodded, "if teamwork is what you're used to we can certainly work together for now- though I'm sure there'll be cases you can tackle without my input down the line. I guess- I have to be honest, I had a partner back when I was on the force, obviously, but I'm no five star tutor, so if there's anything you need to know your best bet is just to ask. Not that I have any reason to doubt you'd speak up."

"That's okay." She took his hand and shook it, "Happy to be here. Of course, I'm good with working on my own when necessary." Obviously, she might have her own sensitive cases she'd want to work on by herself. "I can't wait to start on my own cases."

Well, she did have some ideas on how to get rid of a certain nemesis now that she had this job, but she knew she would have to build a case before trying to get a certain board member put back in jail. But that was something to think about for another time.

"Thank you. I will keep that in mind, and you bet I'll just ask. No point beating around the bush as they say."

Perry nodded, glad her family situation had started to settle, watching her over the top of his mug as she chatted on, reminded of her first marching in here and letting him know he should take her on for her placement over the summer. If it was her attempt at subtle, it was... A commendable effort. He was still surprised she'd chose this place-- but then, given her background and law enforcement being off the table, there wasn't much else.

Kim was smart, she'd gotten used to the flow of the office fast enough, and if she worked her own cases she'd be bringing in money. He considered her for a moment, then glanced past her to the receptionist desk he'd just dragged back to its original spot in the entrance after finally getting a proper desk for Errol, heaving a faux put upon sigh. "You're helping me move the desk back." Perry groused, chuckling. "I'm starting to run low on space here, three or four detectives is probably the limit." He wasn't sure how it had happened, he hadn't expected his little agency to fill up when he'd first opened the place, but he wasn't going to turn away a sharp mind. "And you should look into getting a proper private investigators license- they're not legally mandatory, but it gives you access to other qualifications if you're ever interested, and clients like it too."

He wasn't a very hands on sort of boss- was he her boss? How did Perry want to run this place with multiple people involved? Errol was obviously capable of working under his own steam, but still came to Perry for help or discussions on cases. And didn't officially work for him at all right now, just out of the office on occasion. "We should talk logistics at some point- if you don't want to work solo yet, I can help you find your feet with things-- course, a big enough case we might want to pair up on."

Well, she hadn't expected that. She thought it would have taken a bit more to convince him but she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. "I can do that and thank you for the opportunity." Kim was thankful that Perry was going to take a chance on her and she'd prove just why it was the best decision he'd made.

"I will. It's on my list of things to do." Also, get first aid training. Plus, any other qualifications like Perry had just said.

Did this mean Perry was her boss? She wasn't sure, but she would take any advice he could give her, given his history and the fact he'd been doing this for a while. She wanted to get this right, and if it meant learning from someone with experience and listening to them, then she'd do it.

"Of course, I've got a lot to think about, but I'm happy to work with you or anyone else on cases. I'm used to working with someone but more hands-on." That's when she was using her crime fighting skills, and she knew with this line of work she might need to scale back on that, but if she was subtle then maybe she could still use those skills from time to time. "So am I right in thinking that I'm hired?"

Prom itself had been uneventful too, she looked hot, she hung out with Maddy and said hi to other friends who looked just as hot. But there was no chase, no prowl, just vibing.

She was on her way out to the gym to get a workout in and inevitably bother Hercules once again to try to get him out of paperwork when she was greeted at the door to the building.

She gave a friendly grin. A new neighbor. She knew probably at least half of her neighbors at this rate. An objectively attractive, athletic redheaded neighbor as well. Fuck a duck.

"Yeah, 4D. Me and my roommate Maddy, you'll likely meet her at some point, she's always out and about." She smiled a bit to herself on that one, her roommate was a character. "Welcome to the building." She looked at the items, "You need any help with those? I'm sure you've had to make quite a few trips already."

[outfit]

Easy on the eyes is what first came to Kim and the fact she already lived in the building was good for booty calls if the need did arise. She seemed like someone Kim would want to get to know and the fact she looked like she was on the way to gym was another tick for Kim.

"Thank you! I should be okay but if you have the time, I've only got a couple more boxes then I'm sorted." Kim would be able to cope her on own but she was beginning to take the help if needed and if offered. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of your plans."

Returning, Jeremy folded some more bubble-wrap away and then unpacked some more things (those looked more like regular mugs, in his humble opinion, so he set each one on the side).

"Yeah, I mean, how cool is that! You're done with uni! Absolutely bossed it!" He praised her. It was so cool to see his friends starting to graduate and move on to the next cool thing in their lives. "Obviously you'll be missing my fabulous mug cakes, for sure, but it's not like you've moved far from everybody." It would be super easy to drop by, even if Kim would have different work hours.

"And then you can throw fabulous parties," he joked.

@sonotthedrama

"I still can't quite believe it but now I need to figure out my next step." Well, she knew what she wanted it to be but just had some moves to make in order for that to happen.

"I'll definitely be missing them, so you'll just need to come over and make them here." Kim would love the company, and plus, she'd want to hear all about the uni gossip like, who's dating who or who's kissing who now or who's fallen out now.

"That's a definite," Kim laughed.

Wasn't it the best to have keepsakes like that? It was like... holding memories, and to be able to unpack them was a whole new side to Kim.

"Me? Oh I'm good, you know?" He explained as he set the mug aside safely, before beginning to unwrap some more bubble-wrap. "Been doing some more songwriting these days - or, well, shifting more into performing them. I've been doing some open-mics, which has been super fun, trying out different material and getting new feedback." Plus he was starting to feel more like himself again, after a weird winter. Summer was almost here!

"How're you doing? Glad to be back?"

@sonotthedrama

"That's good, I'm glad you're doing something with your talent as it would be a waste if you didn't." She actually sounded like her mom just now but she hoped that Jeremy saw it as her being a supportive friend rather than a mom friend.

She started to unpack the box she knew was all her kitchen stuff because if she was going to have a housewarming at some point then she'd need to make use she had enough glasses to drink out of for everyone.

"I'm doing good. Can't believe I won't be staying in the dorms but it's a relief to finally say I have a degree. I'm glad to be back in Swynlake, don't think I'd want to be anywhere else for now."

Of course, much as she had found her way to him to get her work experience, Kim just marched herself back into his office when she was ready. He was ambling out of the little kitchen with a coffee when she called out, "kettle only just boiled, if you want a cup." Perry moved to lean against his desk, sipping his drink, "is your grandma doing better?"

Kim felt so bad lying to Perry but she knew she couldn't tell him the real reason. Even though she was pretty sure he'd understand that too in some way or another. "So I felt it was time for me to come back to Swynlake."

Kim wanted to get straight to the point because there was no point beating around the bush. "As you know I've graduated and I've just moved into my own place. The only thing is I don't have is a job." Perhaps a little ambiguity wouldn't harm, and it would give Perry the option to offer something other than what she was asking for. She'd ask if she had to, but this seemed more appropriate and mature, which was something she was aiming for as a recent graduate.

Kim had went to Hatter's on the way and grabbed both their usuals. Even if it had been two months, she still remembered what he liked to drink and she needed that on her side especially if she was going to ask him something important.

"Hey!" She called out as she walked in, "Perry, are you here?" She breathed in the familiar smells of the office and couldn't believe she was back here. It was where she was meant to be or so she thought.

"Nah, I don't, actually- you new to town? Me too, although I'm actually just visiting. Visiting my best friend," TJ added proudly.

Kim smiled at him before asking, "Who's your best friend? I might know them."

"Ok Kimmy P-" Jeremy turned around from the box he had been slowly working his way through, and holding up a mug. "Kitchen? Bathroom, or decorative bedroom mug?" He quirked an eyebrow, unsure where he was going to put it. That was part of the problem of helping someone unpack, he guessed - never being entirely sure where they wanted things.

Still, it was nice to be able to hang out with Kim again after she'd like... dropped off the face of the earth, even if he was a little worried about that whole thing. But the main thing was that she was back, baby!! And moving into a whole new flat like a proper grown up!

@sonotthedrama

Kim was glad she had Jeremy helping her unpack her stuff because after a long conversation with her mom. She'd send Kim some of her stuff from Middleton and there was no way she'd be able to get through it as quick if she didn't have any help.

"Oh, that's definitely a decorative bedroom mug." She remembered making that in kindergarten during arts and crafts. Guess her mom didn't want to keep it. Oh well. Her mom could have her strop and let her know when she wanted to get over it.

At least Jeremy wasn't mad at her for disappearing for two months, well she'd understand if he was but she couldn't take it back. It happened so now she needed to deal with the fallout. "So how have you been?"