Pestering seismic_sense

[allbedestroyed]

It takes a while to scour the compy pen for any escape routes, and then another while to check all the others since Muldoon can't help but be thorough. Then there are people to needle (metaphorically, of course, he's not the metalbender), and a change up in security measures to oversee. All before he does anything to step outside his workplace.

Thankfully Lin Beifong is as dedicated to her work as he is to his, so he's not too concerned about how late he arrives. It doesn't make it any less strange coming into a police station with a metal cage in hand. He can't quite tell if it reminds him of dealing with pest control or whether it makes him feel like one. In this case he supposes he is acting like pest control. Even if he would fight anyone who tried to hurt the silly creature.

After being directed to the appropriate door, Muldoon takes a moment to clear his head and remind himself to stay focused. Then he knocks on the door.

Comments

[seismic_sense]

"Upside of being the boss - I get to decide when the clock says 'time off.' Or whatever I want it to say."

She smiles, pouring out two glasses.

"Besides, I like to reward actual competence."

[allbedestroyed]

"In this case that would be your own." The corner of his mouth pulls unhappily as he watches the glasses fill. "I let this one slip by me."

Turning his gaze back to her, he pushes away that melancholy thought. "Really I should be the one pouring you a drink."

[seismic_sense]

"Hardly," she replied - "you've never dealt with our triads before. They manage to sneak into anything."

She passes the glass over to him, and without thinking:

"Well that'll be for next time."

Is that a slight reddening of her cheeks when she hides it with a glass? Maybe. She ain't telling.

[allbedestroyed]

For someone who can be so strict, Lin is also very reasonable. Muldoon can't help but be grateful for her understanding. He's not sure he'll be able to go as easy on himself, but her words help.

As for the mention of more drinks? He catches that, and though he doesn't say anything his eyebrow does twitch curiously even if he does try to hide it behind a sip of his drink.

"It's good." He eyes the glass to regain his composure before he looks at her again. "Is this how you wind down every day?"

[seismic_sense]

He's more like her than she'd like to admit - she can recognize things in him that she'd see in herself.

"Almost never," she replies. "Usually I hit the gym and get a good workout in."

[allbedestroyed]

Muldoon snorts before he can help himself. "Keeping on top of this city isn't enough of a workout?"

"I've seen what you and your team do." He shakes his head. "If I had to take down triads in full armour every day I doubt there would be anything in the gym which could push me further."

[seismic_sense]

"If they were all this city tended to get, I might agree with you. But in the past few years? Warlords, revolutionaries, counter-revolutionaries - we've gotten the works."

She takes another sip of her drink.

"If I don't push me, someone else will."

[allbedestroyed]

Muldoon watches her thoughtfully, sympathetically. It's not pity, but understanding. Though as hard as he can be on himself and his own work, he doubts it comes close to Lin. He takes pride in his work, he knows its importance, but in the grand scheme of things Chief Beifong simply does more. Saves more people, fights bigger threats, protects against more impressive dangers.

"But you do rest as well, don't you?" Adding a more practical slant to it he adds, "Taking care of tools is important, and in our case, especially yours, our bodies are the tool we use the most. Put through the most, too."

[seismic_sense]

The phrase 'our bodies' plucks at something, and she hides it behind another sip. It's been...a while. A very long while. Since she's been with anybody, and the sudden greedily intrusive thought runs as such: he understands, he is handsome, life is short.

For the moment at least, it gets ruthlessly beaten down.

"I've never been good at being still," she replies.

[allbedestroyed]

That gets a grin, though it's roped in quickly. He leans to one side to more comfortably focus on her then.

"Really? Not even when you're laying a trap for someone? Or staking a place out?"

[seismic_sense]

"Hate those parts, always have," she replies, leaning back.

"I'm an 'in the spring' and 'in the chase' kind of gal. You?"

[allbedestroyed]

It's hard not to be amused by the vigour with which she states that. So certain of everything.

"I've stayed in the same spot for days waiting for the right animal to come along. Sure, I prefer to be on the move, but I'm patient and focused when I have a goal. I'm a very determined man when I have a good incentive."

[seismic_sense]

Oh, that brings another twinge. She'd almost believe he was doing it on purpose. And she also reflects on the fact that she hasn't wanted someone in a long time.

She rotates her glass on the table, idly.

"Clearly," she replies, finally. And then silence descends, and for a few moments she considers her course of action.

"Let's get dinner," she says, suddenly. "It's been...a long time since I've had good company. And it's a poor idea to drink this stuff and leave the stomach empty. I know a great place for noodles, if you don't mind good street food."

[allbedestroyed]

Silence doesn't bother the warden. If anything, it proves that the chief really mustn't mind him all that much if she's content to sit in even momentary quiet with him. Her time is important, after all.

His eyes flick up from his glass to meet hers, eyebrow arching in curiosity without even thinking. The hesitation is only him wrangling surprise and a jolt of excitement into something more proper.

"I'll never pass up good street food," he assures her. "I'll never pass up the chance to eat something other than what's provided on the island, either."

Downing the last of his drink, he sets the glass down and gets to his feet. With a nod to the compy he says, "She'll be alright here for a bit. Lead the way."

[seismic_sense]

"Let me guess - boss goes in for the rich, exotic stuff but that's hardly the stuff a true hunter eats?"

It's a humorous guess, but not that far off. Neither of them are elaborate people in that regard, she's willing to wager as she walks to her office's coatrack and slips on a grey coat that mostly disguises that she's a cop.

[allbedestroyed]

"For himself, sure. The rest of us get the cheapest bulk-bought, quickly assembled food he can find."

There's a reason 'street food' is an easy sell to the warden. He checks on the compy one more time before following her out. It's more habit than anything that has him watching to make sure that she locks her office. He'd never dare suggest she'd be lax in her security, but keeping an eye out is a difficult habit to break.

Once they're out on the street he takes the opportunity to strike up some conversation. "How have things been?"

[seismic_sense]

"Since the Avatar rearranged the world a bit to save the city? Weirdly quiet, which usually makes me suspicious."

Said as she punches for the elevator at the end of the hall from her office.

"Crime's down, but a lot of that is because there's so much work in reconstruction. It'll bump, when that dries up."

When it arrives with a ding, she steps inside, pressing for ground.

"The upside is we got a whole new class of recruits coming, and good ones, too - whatever else she does, the Avatar inspired people."

[allbedestroyed]

"Overall that sounds good," he points out. "You need the quiet moments to train up those new recruits properly. Especially when everything has been as chaotic as it has been. Who knows what will happen next?"

He looks over at her, conceding a small smile. "At least you'll be more prepared for whatever it is."

[seismic_sense]

"All the more reason to be very sure your, uh, larger specimens stay very firmly on that island of yours."

She'd only seen pictures of some of the others and that was more than enough.

She steps out of the elevator with a sigh, nodding to the front desk staff as they stride out into the night.

"So what's it like? An island paradise, all those special challenges..."

[allbedestroyed]

As soon as they step out into the night air, Muldoon takes a deep, grateful lungful. Being outside is always nicer, but something about the refreshing evening air is just that bit better.

"Truthfully? Chaotic. All parks like that are, really," he adds in what he considers reassurance.

"I enjoy it, though. Working with animals like that is incredible. If my boss would follow my recommendations more readily it would be even better."

[seismic_sense]

She does much the same, looking up at the night sky.

"Oh, the familiarity you keep speaking into life," she says, with a smile. "The bosses never listen. Or if they do it's too little too late."

She starts to walk, the pavement beneath them slightly wet from an earlier rain.

[allbedestroyed]

He shakes his head in sympathy.

"They say they want our expertise, but really they just want our ability to clean up their mistakes."

A moment of silence stretches on then, settling between topics. So that when he speaks next his voice is a little quieter.

"You should visit sometime. I'm sure you could take your pick of excuses."

[seismic_sense]

"I've got essentially an infinite amount of vacation days stored up," she admits, hands in the pockets of her jacket.

She gives him a bit of a look as she turns a corner, moving confidently.

"Where does one stay on an island full of remarkable creatures? Are there guest suites, or are you expecting me to crash on your couch?"

[allbedestroyed]

"If you don't want to stay in one of the luxury rooms my boss has built for special guests, you could always crash at mine," he answers, all amusement. "But you won't be on my couch. Guests get the bed, no argument allowed."

To be fair, he'd much rather also be in the bed, but he won't say as much aloud.

[seismic_sense]

Another twinge, and he has to be doing it on purpose. At least, she hopes so. A hundred responses go through her head, all of them inadequate to her mind. She stops then, looking around. There's a few passer-by, but none seem to recognize her. Good.

Because the thing about Lin Beifong. The thing about any Beifong, really. They have a limited patience for beating around the bush. She steps closer to a shop window, in the bay between the windows and doors, gesturing him closer.

"So I can get food delivered," she said, "and I really don't feel like people tonight. Most nights. But a specific person..." she turns to face him, and nods, decisively.

"I think you're a good man. Also handsome. And it's been a while since I've felt either of those things. So I think you ought to kiss me now, if you're interested. And then we'll see how how interesting we make tonight. Or we can still grab food, shake hands as friends, and go."

Or you can take me back to my place and we can break the furniture, she tries to communicate with her eyes.