LET'S [test] DRIVING

[cava]

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN, YOU KNOW THE DRILL. Here's a few options, all stolen shamelessly from previous iterations.

> The Park. Man, what a nice day out. Why not enjoy it? I'm sure -- shit, yep, there's some echo monsters or whatever they're called.
> The Mall. Exactly what it says on the tin! Dodge the hordes of teenage mallrats or take part, whichever suits your tastes.
> Rainy Day. Agh, it's fucking awful out. And is it raining those vermilion things?? Now you've got an Echo to contend with on top of everything else. Find some shelter, quick!
> Arts and Crafts Fair. WILL THE KITSCH OVERWHELM YOU


or make up your own whatever this is basic and just for the purposes of getting a new test drive up.

Comments

[detectivetroll]

[Hey there partner.

Guess who's also at the park on his day off, sipping a cup of coffee as he cuts through it on the way back from the stand with the really good croissants.

Then he spots Yuji, and changes course to slide up next to him.]

No karaoke bar today?

[sassymaru]

[And of course, he's going to assume that coffee is for him, and snag it. He'll give it back after a sip or two, don't worry.]

[He does, however, give a slight bow of his head, all demure in posture, while he grins a little wickedly.]

Alas, no. I'm afraid they've instigated a song limit.

[detectivetroll]

[Of course he is. Nick's pretty much expecting it, though that doesn't stop him from giving a sigh and a 'really?' look.

Yeah he's not buying that demure thing at all, man, especially not with that grin. Nick chuckles.]

Is it a permanent one? I'd hate to have to find a new bar.

[sassymaru]

[He just arches an eyebrow. What, no cream and sugar? Please. As if he'd finish that.]

[And then he sighs, waving a hand. Dramatically.]

It's only permanent until the owner can be convinced I've learned my lesson and am truly sorry for the tabletop performance.

Which I am, of course.

[detectivetroll]

[It's entirely possible that Nick takes his coffee that way just to keep his partner from stealing it.

All right, no, he's a coffee purist. But still, that helps.]

Oh, of course you are. I'd work on being a little more convincing than that, though.

[sassymaru]

Ah, but it doesn't have to fool you, however. Merely the owner of the bar.

[He waggles his eyebrows -- yes, he did just go there.]

Never fear, we'll be back in before you know we were ever expelled.

[We?]

[detectivetroll]

I'm pretty sure that was a vague implication that the bar owner is less intelligent than I am, so I'm going to take that as a compliment.

[Of course he just went there.

Nick doesn't even question the we, man. Like he'd go there without his partner, anyway.]

Oh, good, because what else would I do with my Saturday nights?

[sassymaru]

The bar owner isn't a detective, and certainly not my partner. Intelligence isn't required of him.

[He just beams, slinging an arm over the back of the bench and crossing his legs.]

I wouldn't know. Maybe I'd have a better idea if you developed a social life.

[detectivetroll]

I'd leave statements like that out of your apology speech.

[But secretly he's pleased. Or maybe not so secretly, since he shakes his head with a grin and drops onto the bench next to him.]

I'll develop a social life when people stop murdering each other so often.

[sassymaru]

Saa... if you say so.

[He doesn't bother moving over when Nick sits down, smirking at him out of the corner of his mouth.]

Sadly, those same murders do keep us in business, so to speak.

[detectivetroll]

Is this going to be one of those times you listen to me? Awesome.

[Of course he doesn't move. Nick nudges him with his shoulder slightly, leaning back and stretching out his legs.]

And we'd have no purpose without them. Which is pretty morbid, when you think about it.

[sassymaru]

There you go, getting your hopes up again. Such a shame they must be dashed.

[Neon floodlights have less watts than his grin.]

[He doesn't nudge back, but leans, instead. Heavily.]

There, there. We could always turn to petty crime. Rounding up missing dogs. Charming things like that, yes?

[detectivetroll]

I'm eternally optimistic.

[It's as dry and sarcastic as a human voice is capable of sounding.

He'd remind Yuji again that he's not furniture to be leaned on, but he knows it'd fall on deaf ears. Well, and he's used to it by now.]

Hmmm. Rounding up missing dogs does have a nice ring to it.

[sassymaru]

So I've come to notice. Anata wa, zetsubō-tekida. Shitte iru na?

[He doesn't bother translating. Or even giving a hint. He's said that so many times, it's probably already memorized by the other man.]

[Good, because not only his shoulder is pressed against his partner now. Most of his entire side. Like a dog, leaning on their owner.]

I do like dogs. So much more companionable than corpses.