The January weather was chilly for Florida standards, a measly 85 degrees simmering over the idle town of Palm Hills this afternoon. Lazy clouds hung low across the sky like a plush blanket, creating an oven between the cracked pavement and the overhead covering. Rain appeared to be in the near future, but for now, only gray clouds and thick, buzzing heat.
The Paradise Apartment complex was alight with blue and red flashing lights, which was not an uncommon sight here. There were more patrol vehicles than usual though, creating a barricade across the parking lot while those vehicle occupants had begun going door to door. Heavy, confident fists banged on each teal, dirty door in the quest of gathering each resident out into the litter-strewn lot for temporary holding. Every gathered resident was led and lined up in front of the PD cars, and made to watch the unfolding as uniformed men and women dug through their apartments.
“Drug bust,” one cop or another would explain, if prompted for a reason for the disturbance.
“Cap’n’s got it,” some would dismiss, when a warrant was demanded from them.
There were no dogs, Palm Hills being too underfunded for its own K-9 unit, and the raid was too last minute for the neighboring city’s unit to be borrowed. So instead, each officer had to manually look underneath tables, in couch cushions, drawers and boxes, and so on.
Coming out of one apartment, a young officer with an ironic mullet and thick mustache carried a ridiculously huge and elaborate samurai sword, meant for display. “Check this thing out!” he chuckled to his partner, giving the sword a test swing. “Think this would look hot on my mantel?” No one would be able to see the dime bag of weed he had ‘confiscated’ from the apartment's coffee table, tucked safely in his back pocket.
Tony was pacing back and forth near the border of patrol cars, wringing his wrinkled, worn hands together. “You’ll pay for any damages!” He frequently shouted, to no cop in particular.
Some renters were shouting and some were sweating in anxious silence. A large man with a well developed beer gut hanging over his belt watched the scene before him, occasionally barking orders or showing a quick glimpse of what was supposedly the search warrant.
The Paradise Apartment complex was alight with blue and red flashing lights, which was not an uncommon sight here. There were more patrol vehicles than usual though, creating a barricade across the parking lot while those vehicle occupants had begun going door to door. Heavy, confident fists banged on each teal, dirty door in the quest of gathering each resident out into the litter-strewn lot for temporary holding. Every gathered resident was led and lined up in front of the PD cars, and made to watch the unfolding as uniformed men and women dug through their apartments.
“Drug bust,” one cop or another would explain, if prompted for a reason for the disturbance.
“Cap’n’s got it,” some would dismiss, when a warrant was demanded from them.
There were no dogs, Palm Hills being too underfunded for its own K-9 unit, and the raid was too last minute for the neighboring city’s unit to be borrowed. So instead, each officer had to manually look underneath tables, in couch cushions, drawers and boxes, and so on.
Coming out of one apartment, a young officer with an ironic mullet and thick mustache carried a ridiculously huge and elaborate samurai sword, meant for display. “Check this thing out!” he chuckled to his partner, giving the sword a test swing. “Think this would look hot on my mantel?” No one would be able to see the dime bag of weed he had ‘confiscated’ from the apartment's coffee table, tucked safely in his back pocket.
Tony was pacing back and forth near the border of patrol cars, wringing his wrinkled, worn hands together. “You’ll pay for any damages!” He frequently shouted, to no cop in particular.
Some renters were shouting and some were sweating in anxious silence. A large man with a well developed beer gut hanging over his belt watched the scene before him, occasionally barking orders or showing a quick glimpse of what was supposedly the search warrant.
Joelle was sour about the interruption, trying to catch up on sleep since she had a late shift at the diner coming up. Her schedule was all over the place so any sleep she could get was a blessing. For these jerks to rob her of that… She wore a scowl when led from her apartment. “Don’t destroy my altar or the spirits will be pissed,” she snapped at a random cop as she lined up with her fellow residents.
She shifted her weight from one bare foot to the other, hoping they didn’t find her stash of blood packets she had hoarded in a special safe under her bed. Those packets were the current shield keeping her from biting people and keeping that thirst under control. Plus, it would be rather difficult to explain unless they assumed it was for witchy business, blood rituals or something. She was spinning excuses in her head as they searched, rolling her eyes with a huff at Samurai Mullet. These guys were horrible.
“At least it’s not raining,” she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest in frustration. The woman hadn’t been given time to grab pants, but her lacy undergarments were covered decently enough by an oversized shirt. Her messy hair and sleepy demeanor probably said plenty about why she was dressed as she was, her tattoos on her legs nearly playing a role of leggings in themselves. Gods it was muggy, too, she realized rather quickly. Get ‘em Tony! She smiled as he shouted at the men, keeping her own murderous comments to herself.
She shifted her weight from one bare foot to the other, hoping they didn’t find her stash of blood packets she had hoarded in a special safe under her bed. Those packets were the current shield keeping her from biting people and keeping that thirst under control. Plus, it would be rather difficult to explain unless they assumed it was for witchy business, blood rituals or something. She was spinning excuses in her head as they searched, rolling her eyes with a huff at Samurai Mullet. These guys were horrible.
“At least it’s not raining,” she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest in frustration. The woman hadn’t been given time to grab pants, but her lacy undergarments were covered decently enough by an oversized shirt. Her messy hair and sleepy demeanor probably said plenty about why she was dressed as she was, her tattoos on her legs nearly playing a role of leggings in themselves. Gods it was muggy, too, she realized rather quickly. Get ‘em Tony! She smiled as he shouted at the men, keeping her own murderous comments to herself.
Because she was having a relatively bad day, Crystal was less-then-thrilled about the interruption, by the Palm Springs Police Department no less. And of course, the cop that led her out of her apartment had to be the one that wrote her a reckless driving ticket a few nights ago. Sure, she paid it off like the next day, but it only put more of a damper on her mood. Clad in jeans, a black t-shirt and tennis shoes, the unhappy young woman soon found herself in the parking lot, standing with her neighbors as they were lined up against the police cruisers present. What left Crystal even more uneasy was that some of her neighbors were pregnant. Four of them. So seeing them escorted out was relatively awkward on its own. Like...Shouldn't they be resting? Seriously, they all looked like they were gonna pop any day now...
Anyway, why search all of the apartments? Wouldn't it have been easier to search one specific apartment? Soon, Crystal was placed right next to one of her neighbors, the heavily tattooed girl that worked at the diner nearby. She looked particularly upset. Arms folded, looks like she hadn't slept all day...Yeah, she was definitely within her rights to be grumpy. "This is so bullshit! We're just a bunch of poor people! What could we possibly have for you to need to search through all of our apartments!?" She shouted, less then thrilled. "Aren't you guys supposed to be out fighting real crime!? Like finding out where that missing sprinkled donut went!?" She asked as her eyes landed on the larger man with the beer gut hanging over his belt.
Anyway, why search all of the apartments? Wouldn't it have been easier to search one specific apartment? Soon, Crystal was placed right next to one of her neighbors, the heavily tattooed girl that worked at the diner nearby. She looked particularly upset. Arms folded, looks like she hadn't slept all day...Yeah, she was definitely within her rights to be grumpy. "This is so bullshit! We're just a bunch of poor people! What could we possibly have for you to need to search through all of our apartments!?" She shouted, less then thrilled. "Aren't you guys supposed to be out fighting real crime!? Like finding out where that missing sprinkled donut went!?" She asked as her eyes landed on the larger man with the beer gut hanging over his belt.
This was not how Lucien planned to spend their afternoon.
The young criminal had returned to their apartment only an hour or so ago. They'd been out all morning, and they had plans in the evening - plans that would keep them out much of the night. The afternoon had been intended to do some quiet work at home - and maybe nap, if Pluto had his way. He was always so fussy about making sure Lu slept enough - although they supposed that was part of what they paid him for.
Lucien had found that this routine worked well for them, and kept them out of the worst of the Floridian heat. It was unbearable, and they cursed whatever had possessed them to try to make a name for themself here.
The knock on the door had not been unexpected - they'd heard the knocks on other doors, and footsteps outside, and voices at the next few doors - the rooms were not well-soundproofed. Pluto had answered, as always, and both carefully showed no sign of concern, merely confusion, as Pluto asked the meaning of the visit. Lu had plenty to hide, but nothing in the flat - they were always careful to keep nothing suspicious anywhere it could be linked back to them, and so Pluto just agreed amiably enough, and looked back to tell Lucien to gather their coat and their brother, as a father should.
They retrieved Æsc from the bathroom, where he'd been doing something, tinkering away at the pipes (Lu made a mental note to get Pluto to check those before anyone took a shower again) and coaxed him into putting on a jacket, while the officer grumbled at them to hurry up.
"Aye, aye, we're comin'," Æsc muttered, but had the good sense to at least keep his voice down.
"Remember, darling - we're children," Lu hastily reminded him, in a whisper low enough not to be overheard. Æsc rolled his eyes, but as he trailed out of the room first, he glanced back as if to make sure Pluto and Lu were following - a nice touch, Lu rather thought. They offered him a little smile.
The thirteen-year-old seemed to fit here at least a little better than his fifteen-year-old alleged sibling; Æsc wore jeans, a t-shirt, and trainers, all a little beaten up and worn out - nothing utterly ragged, but certainly the clothes of a teenage boy who spent a great deal more time outdoors, clambering over walls and running along streets than fussing in front of a mirror.
Lucien, by contrast, might well have stepped straight out of a runway dressing room. Their makeup was perfect, eyeliner winged just so; their hair was neat and beautifully cut; their clothes were exquisite, especially by the usual standards of the Apartments, although very casual by Lu's standards - a well-fitted, white shirt with sleeves rolled to their elbows, tucked into dark trousers, beneath a wine red waistcoat, and shined Oxfords clicking on the ground as they walked. Their right hand, in a black glove, gripped the silver handle of a black cane, and they seemed to just slightly lean on it as they walked.
They could see the rest of the residents gathering below. Their apartment was as far from the stairs as it was possible to be - one of Lu's demands when they found this wretched place; if they were forced to live in squalor for a while, they would at least do so as safely as they could.
Pluto guided them, with a hand on each of their shoulders - which Æsc would most definitely protest at, at any other time - to take their places beside the others, at which point Æsc looked up to his fake father and asked, with a trembling lip and big eyes,
"Are we in trouble, Dad?"
Pluto looked down at him, and if he was surprised by this uncharacteristic question - and even more uncharacteristic referring to him as Dad - he didn't show it. A year of dealing with Lu meant little surprised him anymore. Lu pressed quietly into his side, and he wrapped an arm around them, holding them close.
"No, kid, we'll be fine. There's nothing we have to be worried about. They're looking for drugs, so we're absolutely fine."
Æsc nodded, and said nothing more, watching the officers with something like curiosity, and just enough nervousness to keep up the act.
Lu, meanwhile, watched the woman beside them as she shouted to the police about fighting real crime. They had to agree. The police were wasting time on this pointless drugs bust when there was at least one actual, serious criminal right under their noses. Lu had an awful lot more than drugs they could be convicted for.
They looked up at the woman with a polite, almost shy smile, without extracting themself from Pluto's arm.
"It does seem there would be more effective ways to conduct this," they agreed. "We had an entire afternoon planned, too."
The young criminal had returned to their apartment only an hour or so ago. They'd been out all morning, and they had plans in the evening - plans that would keep them out much of the night. The afternoon had been intended to do some quiet work at home - and maybe nap, if Pluto had his way. He was always so fussy about making sure Lu slept enough - although they supposed that was part of what they paid him for.
Lucien had found that this routine worked well for them, and kept them out of the worst of the Floridian heat. It was unbearable, and they cursed whatever had possessed them to try to make a name for themself here.
The knock on the door had not been unexpected - they'd heard the knocks on other doors, and footsteps outside, and voices at the next few doors - the rooms were not well-soundproofed. Pluto had answered, as always, and both carefully showed no sign of concern, merely confusion, as Pluto asked the meaning of the visit. Lu had plenty to hide, but nothing in the flat - they were always careful to keep nothing suspicious anywhere it could be linked back to them, and so Pluto just agreed amiably enough, and looked back to tell Lucien to gather their coat and their brother, as a father should.
They retrieved Æsc from the bathroom, where he'd been doing something, tinkering away at the pipes (Lu made a mental note to get Pluto to check those before anyone took a shower again) and coaxed him into putting on a jacket, while the officer grumbled at them to hurry up.
"Aye, aye, we're comin'," Æsc muttered, but had the good sense to at least keep his voice down.
"Remember, darling - we're children," Lu hastily reminded him, in a whisper low enough not to be overheard. Æsc rolled his eyes, but as he trailed out of the room first, he glanced back as if to make sure Pluto and Lu were following - a nice touch, Lu rather thought. They offered him a little smile.
The thirteen-year-old seemed to fit here at least a little better than his fifteen-year-old alleged sibling; Æsc wore jeans, a t-shirt, and trainers, all a little beaten up and worn out - nothing utterly ragged, but certainly the clothes of a teenage boy who spent a great deal more time outdoors, clambering over walls and running along streets than fussing in front of a mirror.
Lucien, by contrast, might well have stepped straight out of a runway dressing room. Their makeup was perfect, eyeliner winged just so; their hair was neat and beautifully cut; their clothes were exquisite, especially by the usual standards of the Apartments, although very casual by Lu's standards - a well-fitted, white shirt with sleeves rolled to their elbows, tucked into dark trousers, beneath a wine red waistcoat, and shined Oxfords clicking on the ground as they walked. Their right hand, in a black glove, gripped the silver handle of a black cane, and they seemed to just slightly lean on it as they walked.
They could see the rest of the residents gathering below. Their apartment was as far from the stairs as it was possible to be - one of Lu's demands when they found this wretched place; if they were forced to live in squalor for a while, they would at least do so as safely as they could.
Pluto guided them, with a hand on each of their shoulders - which Æsc would most definitely protest at, at any other time - to take their places beside the others, at which point Æsc looked up to his fake father and asked, with a trembling lip and big eyes,
"Are we in trouble, Dad?"
Pluto looked down at him, and if he was surprised by this uncharacteristic question - and even more uncharacteristic referring to him as Dad - he didn't show it. A year of dealing with Lu meant little surprised him anymore. Lu pressed quietly into his side, and he wrapped an arm around them, holding them close.
"No, kid, we'll be fine. There's nothing we have to be worried about. They're looking for drugs, so we're absolutely fine."
Æsc nodded, and said nothing more, watching the officers with something like curiosity, and just enough nervousness to keep up the act.
Lu, meanwhile, watched the woman beside them as she shouted to the police about fighting real crime. They had to agree. The police were wasting time on this pointless drugs bust when there was at least one actual, serious criminal right under their noses. Lu had an awful lot more than drugs they could be convicted for.
They looked up at the woman with a polite, almost shy smile, without extracting themself from Pluto's arm.
"It does seem there would be more effective ways to conduct this," they agreed. "We had an entire afternoon planned, too."
Having had a long shift at Shirley's the previous day, expectant mother and hardworking bartender Sindy was very cranky. Sure, it was her day off today, but she didn't exactly plan on it being disrupted and by the Palm Springs Police Department no less. Although she had gotten home at a semi-reasonable time, she had trouble sleeping due to a stomachache and back pain, which actually resulted in her crying herself to sleep. Not to mention some neighbors were playing their music too loud and the insulation between walls was just poor quality all around. However, Sindy was still in no position to really complain because she knew almost exactly what she was getting into when she paid that security deposit. So when she had gotten up to go answer the door upon hearing the loud banging -not even knocking- coming from the other side.
Because she was tired not only from work, but also being very pregnant with triplets at thirty-three weeks, yeah, Sindy was very cranky and unhappy, but even she knew better then to lash out at a Police Officer for 'doing their job' despite really wanting to. In her sleep-deprived state, Sindy reluctantly followed the cop outside and to the parking lot in her robe and slippers. Straightening out her hair and yawning, she also proceeded to lean onto one of the cruisers once she was close enough to one. "Sorry officer, I'm thirty-three weeks pregnant with triplets and I can't stand for long periods of time." She sighed, even pouting. "So this'll have to do until you guys are done with your sweep or whatever..." Sindy let out a deep breath as she placed another hand on the belly, wondering when she'd get to go back into her house and go back to sleep.
Because she was tired not only from work, but also being very pregnant with triplets at thirty-three weeks, yeah, Sindy was very cranky and unhappy, but even she knew better then to lash out at a Police Officer for 'doing their job' despite really wanting to. In her sleep-deprived state, Sindy reluctantly followed the cop outside and to the parking lot in her robe and slippers. Straightening out her hair and yawning, she also proceeded to lean onto one of the cruisers once she was close enough to one. "Sorry officer, I'm thirty-three weeks pregnant with triplets and I can't stand for long periods of time." She sighed, even pouting. "So this'll have to do until you guys are done with your sweep or whatever..." Sindy let out a deep breath as she placed another hand on the belly, wondering when she'd get to go back into her house and go back to sleep.
When the knock came, Elmo was sat at the end of Felicita's bed, watching as she made them both a cup of tea. The youngest Giovanni had his knees pressed to his chest, arms wrapped around his legs, and the kind of quiet suspended in the air around him that often came after a particularly difficult seance. Felicita hadn't asked; if he wanted to talk about it, he would, and in the meantime, she'd make sure her little brother was warm and comfortable, and distracted from the torments of mortality by the horrors of her day at work.
"So of course, Angelina - you remember Angelina, right? - well, Angelina's not letting a customer just yell at her like that, so she just smiles all sweetly and-"
The knock at the door cuts her off, and Felicita glances at Elmo, and then back at the door. Neither are expecting visitors, and although Leo would knock, far too polite to just barge into Felicita's room, it's far too heavy to be their brother.
Felicita crosses the room, blinking in surprise at the officer on the other side, and at his moustache, which was really far more impressive than any other part of him. She has no fear of police; she's heard enough stories about idiot officers from Leo to have very little respect for them, but she smiles politely and folds her arms, blocking the doorway.
"Good afternoon, officer. Is everything alright? What's going on?"
"We need to search your apartment."
"And I'm going to need to see some identification and a warrant," Felicita said, simply. "I'm afraid no-one's coming in without both."
"The captain has it," the officer said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder in the vague direction of some of the other officers, although he did pull out his badge. Glancing over at them, just in time to see the officer produce the samurai sword triumphantly, Felicita narrowed her eyes as she returned her gaze to the officer before her. She committed to memory the name on his badge, before speaking again, coolly.
"And the captain has legs, does he not?"
"Miss, I'm going to need you to leave your apartment, or I'll have to arrest you."
"I'm sure." Felicita smiled sarcastically, before glancing back at Elmo, who was watching with wide and nervous eyes. It wasn't worth stirring up trouble - not when Leo wasn't here to defend them, or to keep an eye on Elmo. She was quite certain this search was illegal, but without Leo, she wasn't terribly confident to defend them, and things could risk turning nasty. It would be easier to let Leo fight this retroactively. "We give no consent to the search, though, and if your warrant is invalid, there will be hell to pay."
After ensuring Elmo was reassured and ready to go, the pair left the apartment, although Felicita couldn't help a disapproving look to the officer. At least he seemed more interested in searching the apartment than stirring up trouble with her - or perhaps just decided attacking a diminutive girl in front of her neighbours and brother wouldn't be a good look, and cause yet more trouble than it was worth.
Leo certainly wouldn't be pleased about this, though. Felicita sent him a text; he was at work, and she didn't expect him to see it particularly soon, but at least he'd know.
She marched over to the man with the beer gut barking orders, interrupting him with a firm but perfectly polite,
"May I see the warrant, please, Captain?"
This was apparently not a surprising request, because the captain flashed it at her with a practised speed, so perfectly quick that she couldn't catch more than a few words. As she'd suspected, there was something rather shady happening - and so she smiled, and nodded, and offered a,
"Thank you. Come along, El," before guiding her brother towards the gathered residents. Elmo went easily, but his gaze was lingering on one of the officers.
"He shouldn't be here," Elmo whispered to Felicita, urgently. She nodded, listening to him even if she had no idea what he was talking about. "They don't want him here."
"He won't be here long," Felicita promised. Absentmindedly, she brushed down the short skirt of her pink dress. The skirt just about brushed the tops of her thigh-high white socks, and she wore a light, cream-coloured cardigan over the top, although she'd only grabbed it as they were leaving the apartment, in case they were out here long enough for the weather to turn cooler. "Leo will be home soon, too, and all of this will be sorted."
Looking around their gathered neighbours, at the children huddled with their father and the pregnant women leaning against cars to keep the weight off their feet, she asked, "Is everyone alright?"
"So of course, Angelina - you remember Angelina, right? - well, Angelina's not letting a customer just yell at her like that, so she just smiles all sweetly and-"
The knock at the door cuts her off, and Felicita glances at Elmo, and then back at the door. Neither are expecting visitors, and although Leo would knock, far too polite to just barge into Felicita's room, it's far too heavy to be their brother.
Felicita crosses the room, blinking in surprise at the officer on the other side, and at his moustache, which was really far more impressive than any other part of him. She has no fear of police; she's heard enough stories about idiot officers from Leo to have very little respect for them, but she smiles politely and folds her arms, blocking the doorway.
"Good afternoon, officer. Is everything alright? What's going on?"
"We need to search your apartment."
"And I'm going to need to see some identification and a warrant," Felicita said, simply. "I'm afraid no-one's coming in without both."
"The captain has it," the officer said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder in the vague direction of some of the other officers, although he did pull out his badge. Glancing over at them, just in time to see the officer produce the samurai sword triumphantly, Felicita narrowed her eyes as she returned her gaze to the officer before her. She committed to memory the name on his badge, before speaking again, coolly.
"And the captain has legs, does he not?"
"Miss, I'm going to need you to leave your apartment, or I'll have to arrest you."
"I'm sure." Felicita smiled sarcastically, before glancing back at Elmo, who was watching with wide and nervous eyes. It wasn't worth stirring up trouble - not when Leo wasn't here to defend them, or to keep an eye on Elmo. She was quite certain this search was illegal, but without Leo, she wasn't terribly confident to defend them, and things could risk turning nasty. It would be easier to let Leo fight this retroactively. "We give no consent to the search, though, and if your warrant is invalid, there will be hell to pay."
After ensuring Elmo was reassured and ready to go, the pair left the apartment, although Felicita couldn't help a disapproving look to the officer. At least he seemed more interested in searching the apartment than stirring up trouble with her - or perhaps just decided attacking a diminutive girl in front of her neighbours and brother wouldn't be a good look, and cause yet more trouble than it was worth.
Leo certainly wouldn't be pleased about this, though. Felicita sent him a text; he was at work, and she didn't expect him to see it particularly soon, but at least he'd know.
She marched over to the man with the beer gut barking orders, interrupting him with a firm but perfectly polite,
"May I see the warrant, please, Captain?"
This was apparently not a surprising request, because the captain flashed it at her with a practised speed, so perfectly quick that she couldn't catch more than a few words. As she'd suspected, there was something rather shady happening - and so she smiled, and nodded, and offered a,
"Thank you. Come along, El," before guiding her brother towards the gathered residents. Elmo went easily, but his gaze was lingering on one of the officers.
"He shouldn't be here," Elmo whispered to Felicita, urgently. She nodded, listening to him even if she had no idea what he was talking about. "They don't want him here."
"He won't be here long," Felicita promised. Absentmindedly, she brushed down the short skirt of her pink dress. The skirt just about brushed the tops of her thigh-high white socks, and she wore a light, cream-coloured cardigan over the top, although she'd only grabbed it as they were leaving the apartment, in case they were out here long enough for the weather to turn cooler. "Leo will be home soon, too, and all of this will be sorted."
Looking around their gathered neighbours, at the children huddled with their father and the pregnant women leaning against cars to keep the weight off their feet, she asked, "Is everyone alright?"
Mack - the only name appearing on the nametag pinned to his vest, carried that samurai sword around for far longer than what was anywhere near appropriate, until ol’ Cap’n Beer Gut noticed and hollered from him to, “put that goddamned thing back where ya fockin’ found et!” The young man did not actually remember exactly which room he’d yoinked the sword from, so he made his best guess and left it lying on someone’s coffee table.
He was very blatantly having a fantastic time snooping through stranger’s personal items, and was also the only officer wearing a pair of the khaki uniform slacks cut roughly into shorts. The kind that ended in tatters a few inches above his kneecaps.
“Whoa! Watch out!” Mack called, elbowing the poor officer that was closest. “I think there’s somethin’ in the water around here…” He narrowed his cute, brown eyes suspiciously and nodded to yet another heavily pregnant woman being led-waddled away from her abode.
Carrying on about his mission, he slammed his fist repeatedly into the door of Room #02. As he was absentmindedly pounding away, thinking about getting a burger after this, he got to sniffin’.
“Vot ez zis?” He murmured to himself like a vampire sleuth, continuing to sniff loudly. None of the other nearby officers seemed to notice the odor, but Mack was a bloodhound when it came to sticky icky. He started to get excited about what he might find behind the door to this apartment.
“PHPD, open up!” Mack commanded to the closed door, using his Authority Voice. He suppressed a giggle, knowing those were words no stoner would want to hear.
He was very blatantly having a fantastic time snooping through stranger’s personal items, and was also the only officer wearing a pair of the khaki uniform slacks cut roughly into shorts. The kind that ended in tatters a few inches above his kneecaps.
“Whoa! Watch out!” Mack called, elbowing the poor officer that was closest. “I think there’s somethin’ in the water around here…” He narrowed his cute, brown eyes suspiciously and nodded to yet another heavily pregnant woman being led-waddled away from her abode.
Carrying on about his mission, he slammed his fist repeatedly into the door of Room #02. As he was absentmindedly pounding away, thinking about getting a burger after this, he got to sniffin’.
“Vot ez zis?” He murmured to himself like a vampire sleuth, continuing to sniff loudly. None of the other nearby officers seemed to notice the odor, but Mack was a bloodhound when it came to sticky icky. He started to get excited about what he might find behind the door to this apartment.
“PHPD, open up!” Mack commanded to the closed door, using his Authority Voice. He suppressed a giggle, knowing those were words no stoner would want to hear.
Having stayed late the previous night to help out at Suzy Q's to help out a little, Marissa was pretty angry about her sleep being disrupted by the police arrival. Although she went to bed at a semi-reasonable time, at least for the sake of the babies in her belly, being woken up in the afternoon was not ideal at all, even if she got at least eight to nine hours of sleep. But with how much of a toll this pregnancy was taking on her body and mental health, Marissa definitely felt like she needed more sleep, like the upwards of eleven hours. With all that being said, an angry Marissa would answer the door, greeted by a Police Officer, who wasted no time in asking her to vacate her apartment as a complex-wide search was being conducted. Before Marissa could ask for a warrant or outright say that she wasn't consenting to a search, she was immediately threatened with an arrest.
Not in the mood to argue, Marissa straightened out her nightgown before following the officer from her apartment down to the parking lot, where she saw her Older Sister, Sindy, sitting on one of the cruisers. Not to mention all her other neighbors were outside now too. Well, almost all of them. The police were still going door to door to vacate the complex as well as search each apartment. Sindy looked even more miserable then her. Then again, Sindy had like...one more bun in that oven. Whereas Marissa had only two buns in the oven and was two weeks behind Sindy in her pregnancy at thirty-one weeks. Like her Sister, Marissa proceeded to lean on one of the police cruisers, mainly not to put any more strain on her ankles and her feet.
Due to her hormones, sleep deprivation and moodiness, Marissa went from angry to bursting into tears out of frustration. "No, I'm not okay, I'm hungry, I'm lazy, I'm gassy and I'm tired..." She said before moving her hands to cover her tear-stained face. "And I just wanna go grab a snack and go back to sleep." She cried, followed by sniffling.
Not in the mood to argue, Marissa straightened out her nightgown before following the officer from her apartment down to the parking lot, where she saw her Older Sister, Sindy, sitting on one of the cruisers. Not to mention all her other neighbors were outside now too. Well, almost all of them. The police were still going door to door to vacate the complex as well as search each apartment. Sindy looked even more miserable then her. Then again, Sindy had like...one more bun in that oven. Whereas Marissa had only two buns in the oven and was two weeks behind Sindy in her pregnancy at thirty-one weeks. Like her Sister, Marissa proceeded to lean on one of the police cruisers, mainly not to put any more strain on her ankles and her feet.
Felicita wrote:
"Is everyone alright?"
Since she was getting ready for another busy night, expecting several customers to come by later this evening to pick up their packages, the constant knocking around the complex was certainly making hard for her to concentrate. From weighing her product to bagging them, Brianna tried her best to concentrate. However, this was probably going to be the last batch she was going to sell off before she got out of the game, wanting to go find a real job and focus on raising her son who was due in about six weeks. Brianna also did wish that the apartment had better ventilation so that she can get rid of the smell of weed a little bit better, but leaving the windows open and cracked throughout the day was her best bet. A risky game to play, yes. But there wasn't much of a choice. Just as she sealed one more bag, there was pounding on her door and that was all it took for Brianna's anxiety to shoot through the roof. As she got up and slowly began waddling to the door, Brianna began having a rather crappy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Her blood ran cold as a voice on the other side declared that they were PHPD...Palm Hills Police Department...Shaking her head, she waddled up to the door and opened it, greeted by a cop in khaki shorts and a mullet...at least those were the things that stood out compared to the usual cop get-up. "Alright, first off, I want proof of a warrant if there is one and second, I'm not consenting to a search until there's a valid warrant." She said firmly, knowing her rights. "And third...I want a lawyer."
Being in a relatively dangerous game, Brianna had to know certain laws to stay out of prison. Sadly for her, weed was still illegal in the Sunshine State. And, since she had no time to conceal and hide all the weed she currently had in the living room, she was as good as screwed if they had a warrant...
Her blood ran cold as a voice on the other side declared that they were PHPD...Palm Hills Police Department...Shaking her head, she waddled up to the door and opened it, greeted by a cop in khaki shorts and a mullet...at least those were the things that stood out compared to the usual cop get-up. "Alright, first off, I want proof of a warrant if there is one and second, I'm not consenting to a search until there's a valid warrant." She said firmly, knowing her rights. "And third...I want a lawyer."
Being in a relatively dangerous game, Brianna had to know certain laws to stay out of prison. Sadly for her, weed was still illegal in the Sunshine State. And, since she had no time to conceal and hide all the weed she currently had in the living room, she was as good as screwed if they had a warrant...
The sound of a car door shutting on the other side of the cop car barricade was potentially missed by most ears in all this chaos, the tall man in mahogany-colored scrubs blinking hard at the ongoing scene multiple times before it clicked as to what was happening. He weaved around the barrier, sliding over the hood of a parked cop car, if need be, probably at the protest of a nearby officer, but no harm had befallen said hood. "I'm a resident here," he'd called out to the cop, so they wouldn't try to tackle him or something. He spotted a familiar tattooed shorty, making his way over to her and the others that had been lined up. "Random search?" he asked her softly, hoping to confirm, "Any idea as to why?"
His hazel gaze washed over all the pregnant ladies currently riding a figurative struggle bus, and frowned as he murmured to Jojo, "This isn't good for them. The cops should at least let them take a seat somewhere. How long have they been at it?" He'd also noted that his gothic little friend had obviously been woken up from her rest, and sighed, "I'll make you some tea or somethin' after this is over, maybe it'll knock you out enough to get rested for work later. Cool?" He had leaned down slightly when speaking due to their height difference but straightened again when he noticed Felicita speaking to the gathered crew, giving her his attention, as well as waiting to see the response to her question. "Shh, easy," he cooed gently to Marissa when she burst into tears, "Here, how about this?" He dug in the lunchbox he'd had resting on his shoulder and pulled out a chocolate chip granola bar, offering it to her, "It's not much, but you can have it if you want since this might take a while." All this stress couldn't be good for the poor thing. "I have an extra bottle of water too, if anyone needs it," he shrugged lightly. Charlie was the type to give someone the shirt off his back if they needed it badly enough, though that kindness had gotten him in trouble or taken advantage of more than once in his life.
His attention turned to Mack, frowning at the lack of professionalism the local police force seemed to have. The captain had scolded him, sure, but the captain himself was no better. Those quick flashes of the warrant caused Charlie to wonder just how legit it was, too. He shoved his hands into his pockets idly as Mack pounded on yet another door. Had they already been to his own apartment yet? It was hard to tell. They weren't going to find anything in it, but it'd be a pain in the ass if it was trashed due to their little search. He'd just worked a full shift at work, cleaning up his home after a figurative hurricane on legs hit it was already feeling pretty exhausting and he hadn't even seen the damage yet.
His hazel gaze washed over all the pregnant ladies currently riding a figurative struggle bus, and frowned as he murmured to Jojo, "This isn't good for them. The cops should at least let them take a seat somewhere. How long have they been at it?" He'd also noted that his gothic little friend had obviously been woken up from her rest, and sighed, "I'll make you some tea or somethin' after this is over, maybe it'll knock you out enough to get rested for work later. Cool?" He had leaned down slightly when speaking due to their height difference but straightened again when he noticed Felicita speaking to the gathered crew, giving her his attention, as well as waiting to see the response to her question. "Shh, easy," he cooed gently to Marissa when she burst into tears, "Here, how about this?" He dug in the lunchbox he'd had resting on his shoulder and pulled out a chocolate chip granola bar, offering it to her, "It's not much, but you can have it if you want since this might take a while." All this stress couldn't be good for the poor thing. "I have an extra bottle of water too, if anyone needs it," he shrugged lightly. Charlie was the type to give someone the shirt off his back if they needed it badly enough, though that kindness had gotten him in trouble or taken advantage of more than once in his life.
His attention turned to Mack, frowning at the lack of professionalism the local police force seemed to have. The captain had scolded him, sure, but the captain himself was no better. Those quick flashes of the warrant caused Charlie to wonder just how legit it was, too. He shoved his hands into his pockets idly as Mack pounded on yet another door. Had they already been to his own apartment yet? It was hard to tell. They weren't going to find anything in it, but it'd be a pain in the ass if it was trashed due to their little search. He'd just worked a full shift at work, cleaning up his home after a figurative hurricane on legs hit it was already feeling pretty exhausting and he hadn't even seen the damage yet.
In addition to her Older Sister, who was expecting triplets, two other pregnant women, one with blond hair and another being a brunette, had been escorted out of their apartments and were soon led down the stairs and out into the parking lot to join the other residents that were already out and, like Sindy, began leaning on the cop cars to ease the pain in their backs and feet. If she wasn't mistaken, the brunette was also expecting twins, but was a few weeks ahead of Marissa herself. There was at least one more girl she knew of that was expecting, but that one wasn't out of her apartment yet, but it probably wouldn't be long. Two more residents, one covered up in tattoos almost like the goth girl, and another with black hair were soon in the lot as well. The two were pretty athletic though, given their toned bodies. The only thing everyone out in the lot had in common right now was that none of them were very thrilled about the boys and girls in blue going door to door and vacating everyone from their apartments and conducting searches. But they did have a warrant...However, it was rather off-putting given that no one was able to read it thoroughly and the document was just quickly flashed for a fraction of a second in their faces by the overweight copper that was standing nearby...
Marissa was quick to compose herself and tried to wipe away her excess tears when one of her neighbors offered her a chocolate granola bar momentarily after she said she was hungry, lazy, gassy and tired. As soon as her eyes went onto the granola bar being after it was being offered to her, her stomach let out an eager growl. Marissa grimaced at her swollen belly and was quick to accept it. "I'll take you up on that, thank you." She said, smiling as she took the bar in a semi-happy manner. "Next time you stop by Suzy Q's, desert's on me." She replied before slowly unwrapping it and then began munching on it.
Given that she was 'eating for three', it probably wasn't going to hold off her hunger for very long. Hopefully before her stomach lets out another growl, the cops would be done with their search and leaving.
Marissa was quick to compose herself and tried to wipe away her excess tears when one of her neighbors offered her a chocolate granola bar momentarily after she said she was hungry, lazy, gassy and tired. As soon as her eyes went onto the granola bar being after it was being offered to her, her stomach let out an eager growl. Marissa grimaced at her swollen belly and was quick to accept it. "I'll take you up on that, thank you." She said, smiling as she took the bar in a semi-happy manner. "Next time you stop by Suzy Q's, desert's on me." She replied before slowly unwrapping it and then began munching on it.
Given that she was 'eating for three', it probably wasn't going to hold off her hunger for very long. Hopefully before her stomach lets out another growl, the cops would be done with their search and leaving.
Felicita winced in sympathy at the woman's outburst. There wasn't a whole lot she could do about any of it right now. The food, perhaps - Elmo always kept snacks on him, because Felicita and Leo worried about him forgetting to eat, and getting hungry without having somewhere to go - but the newly arrived officer offered, and Felicita kept quiet. Better to save Elmo's snacks for if they were needed later, by someone else or by Elmo.
"Do you know how long they'll be in there, Officer?" Felicita asked the nicer seeming cop. She was still very wary of him - even the nice cops, in Leo's stories, were nice only until someone got in their way - but he seemed amiable enough to be better than the others. At least he hadn't shoved his way into anyone's home yet - and he seemed to be regarding the most unprofessional officer with some disdain. Frankly, Fel thought he could be doing a little more to express his distate, but she supposed disdain was better than nothing.
She looked down the line at the other residents, and offered, "If anyone would rather not cook after this, we'd be more than happy to host people for dinner at ours. We'd love the company." At least that was something they could do - Fel imagined that the heavily pregnant women, at least, might not be the most eager to cook later, after all of this, and if the Giovannis could lend a hand in that way, then they wouldn't hesitate to do so. Plus, of course, it would give Leo a chance to hear what had happened and offer some legal advice.
"Do you know how long they'll be in there, Officer?" Felicita asked the nicer seeming cop. She was still very wary of him - even the nice cops, in Leo's stories, were nice only until someone got in their way - but he seemed amiable enough to be better than the others. At least he hadn't shoved his way into anyone's home yet - and he seemed to be regarding the most unprofessional officer with some disdain. Frankly, Fel thought he could be doing a little more to express his distate, but she supposed disdain was better than nothing.
She looked down the line at the other residents, and offered, "If anyone would rather not cook after this, we'd be more than happy to host people for dinner at ours. We'd love the company." At least that was something they could do - Fel imagined that the heavily pregnant women, at least, might not be the most eager to cook later, after all of this, and if the Giovannis could lend a hand in that way, then they wouldn't hesitate to do so. Plus, of course, it would give Leo a chance to hear what had happened and offer some legal advice.
Mack’s eyes dropped to the swollen belly that the blonde woman carried under her breasts. His eyes narrowed again, undisguised suspicion written all over his face. “Hey, are you in a cult?” He muttered casually, but quickly waived that question away like a fly. He’d look into the pregnancy cult later, but right now, that smelly smell from behind Brianna was egging him on.
“Yeah, yeah, warrant and stuff - go check with Ol’ Captain Fatass over there. He probably knows a lawyer, probably had to use one a time or two,” Mack ‘answered’, and may not have realized he had said a few of those things out loud. He jerked his thumb behind him in the general direction he’d last seen his lead officer in, while he was actively looking around Brianna’s rounded form at the apartment behind her. It wasn’t too hard, he was nearly a foot taller than her.
He sniffed long and deep, like one of those cartoon characters following the pie scent. His voice dropped a level when he offered, “unless you’d like to just go sit in my cruiser and wait to have a… conversation… with me?”
Mack knew weed was not what they were looking for here. Frankly, they had not been told exactly what they were looking for. Only that it smelled like gasoline and looked a lot like snot, and you’d know you were close if your eyes started watering. Anything other than that, or maybe like a meth farm, was small potatoes. That didn’t mean Mack wouldn’t take this opportunity to misuse his authority for a killer pot deal. If he was going to be hanging around Palm Hills, he was going to need to find a dealer!
Why was he in Palm Hills anyway, someone might ask? Well, because this place was weird. Unusual, strange, peculiar. Things happened here that don’t happen in other places. It kept a guy like him… busy.
“Yeah, yeah, warrant and stuff - go check with Ol’ Captain Fatass over there. He probably knows a lawyer, probably had to use one a time or two,” Mack ‘answered’, and may not have realized he had said a few of those things out loud. He jerked his thumb behind him in the general direction he’d last seen his lead officer in, while he was actively looking around Brianna’s rounded form at the apartment behind her. It wasn’t too hard, he was nearly a foot taller than her.
He sniffed long and deep, like one of those cartoon characters following the pie scent. His voice dropped a level when he offered, “unless you’d like to just go sit in my cruiser and wait to have a… conversation… with me?”
Mack knew weed was not what they were looking for here. Frankly, they had not been told exactly what they were looking for. Only that it smelled like gasoline and looked a lot like snot, and you’d know you were close if your eyes started watering. Anything other than that, or maybe like a meth farm, was small potatoes. That didn’t mean Mack wouldn’t take this opportunity to misuse his authority for a killer pot deal. If he was going to be hanging around Palm Hills, he was going to need to find a dealer!
Why was he in Palm Hills anyway, someone might ask? Well, because this place was weird. Unusual, strange, peculiar. Things happened here that don’t happen in other places. It kept a guy like him… busy.
Crystal’s yelling earned her a light smile, echoing her suggestion that they focus on real crime, “Yeah, what she said!” She gave Lu and the others a nod in greeting and another half hearted smile despite the circumstances. “Exactly, this can’t be the only method available,” she agreed as well. She gave her coworker Cindy a sympathetic and tired wave, glancing over her shoulder when she heard her friend’s voice. “Careful Charlie, you’ll be IN one of those cop cars if you set ‘em off,” she warned him, regarding his sliding over one of the hoods so carelessly. “Nope, no idea why,” she answered his following question with a frown, “They didn’t say and flashed the damn warrant so fast I couldn’t get a good look at it.”
“Definitely not,” she agreed to his next comment, “I have no idea, I wasn’t the first one out here. A while, I’m guessing.” Her eyes lit up at the mention of tea, “Yes, cool. Thanks for that.” She smiled when he offered Marissa his granola bar, glancing to Felicita curiously when she seemed to perhaps mistake him for an officer.
“Officer? Who? Charlie?” she snickered at the very idea of the dumpster fire that would be, looking her friend up and down in those scrubs of his, “This loser works at the local pharmacy, definitely not a cop. Unless I’m blind as a bat and you meant someone else.. which is highly possible.” She glanced around for any cops nearby that the woman may have been speaking to instead.
At the next offer of food, she smiled, “That’s incredibly kind of you. I’m going to need to sleep after this but if I didn’t have work later I would have definitely taken you up on that offer.” The others would hopefully enjoy the good meal though, and Joelle made mental note that the woman seemed to be incredibly sweet. She frowned when she heard bits and pieces of what Mack had been saying, only due to her enhanced hearing, rolling her eyes lightly yet again. Her gaze was on his back, hopefully burning holes in it, she thought to herself. “Can we get an ETA on when this is gonna be over?” she yelled out to whichever officer wanted to answer her first. If any of them did, that is.
“Definitely not,” she agreed to his next comment, “I have no idea, I wasn’t the first one out here. A while, I’m guessing.” Her eyes lit up at the mention of tea, “Yes, cool. Thanks for that.” She smiled when he offered Marissa his granola bar, glancing to Felicita curiously when she seemed to perhaps mistake him for an officer.
“Officer? Who? Charlie?” she snickered at the very idea of the dumpster fire that would be, looking her friend up and down in those scrubs of his, “This loser works at the local pharmacy, definitely not a cop. Unless I’m blind as a bat and you meant someone else.. which is highly possible.” She glanced around for any cops nearby that the woman may have been speaking to instead.
At the next offer of food, she smiled, “That’s incredibly kind of you. I’m going to need to sleep after this but if I didn’t have work later I would have definitely taken you up on that offer.” The others would hopefully enjoy the good meal though, and Joelle made mental note that the woman seemed to be incredibly sweet. She frowned when she heard bits and pieces of what Mack had been saying, only due to her enhanced hearing, rolling her eyes lightly yet again. Her gaze was on his back, hopefully burning holes in it, she thought to herself. “Can we get an ETA on when this is gonna be over?” she yelled out to whichever officer wanted to answer her first. If any of them did, that is.
For a Police Officer, this man was rather...relaxed and nonchalant. Brianna simply gave him a look of confusion and partial repulsion when he had asked if she was in a cult. Considering that she had decided to ask for a lawyer, it was probably best for her not to answer. If anything, he was probably referring to the apartment's small collection of expectant mothers. In his defense though, quite a few of them had moved into the complex within the last six months or so. And there was no proof or recollection of any of them moving in prior to getting pregnant. Given his response when she had asked for a warrant and a lawyer, she didn't think that Officer...Mack here really took his job seriously. He proceeded to point over to the overweight police captain as well. This was extremely unprofessional. The Palm Hills Police Department must've been really underfunded and bored if they were hassling a bunch of impoverished workers. Well, maybe not so impoverished given some of the...vehicles some of them drove.
Officer Mack's behavior continued to only be more off-putting when he asked if she wanted to sit in his cruiser and have a conversation with him. Was that a threat? Brianna continued to calculate her decisions and the possible outcomes that would follow. Because the search was going to be unlawful anyway and Brianna was wagering on a bogus warrant, she smiled. "Alright, I'll go ahead and check with your Captain. Please wait here. If the warrant checks out, then okay. I'll wait outside with my neighbors while you do what you gotta do. Does that sound fair?" She asked, with a cheerful yet firm tone in her voice.
Officer Mack's behavior continued to only be more off-putting when he asked if she wanted to sit in his cruiser and have a conversation with him. Was that a threat? Brianna continued to calculate her decisions and the possible outcomes that would follow. Because the search was going to be unlawful anyway and Brianna was wagering on a bogus warrant, she smiled. "Alright, I'll go ahead and check with your Captain. Please wait here. If the warrant checks out, then okay. I'll wait outside with my neighbors while you do what you gotta do. Does that sound fair?" She asked, with a cheerful yet firm tone in her voice.
“Yeah, that sounds like whatever,” Mack accepted nonchalantly, not caring much of diddlysquat about it. He stood, thumbs looped into his belt while he waited. This man was not the most patient of men and it took hardly any time at all before he whipped around, finally giving in to the holes burning in his back. He scanned the crowd of gathered, sweaty and upset residents.
Elderly folks all crinkled up and croaking their complaints, pregnant women lounged on police cruisers looking faint, children huddled with their guardians, a handful of young adults who appeared to want to kick his ass. Hm, tough crowd, he thought.
Finally, his brown eyes met a pair of blue ones. He’d found the source of the lazer beams. A hot, tattooed chick. Mack loved goth chicks. Fun, little weirdos. He pictured a scene where she was dripping hot candle wax onto his bare chest.
Smoothly, he pulled his pair of aviator glasses from the neckline of his vest and stuck them on his face, just to pull them down his nose and peer over the top of them. He gave the gothic looking woman an obvious once over, before striding confidently her way.
He stopped a few yards from her, an odd expression flashing across his face. It looked like brief confusion, or surprise, but it went as fast as it came. Mack finished his journey to her, eyeing her in a different sense now.
“I understand your frustration ma’am,” he said in his best impression of a professional, after clearing his throat. “We’ll have you folks back to your routines in no time. I am sure you’re ready to get back to bed. It’s pretty early for you, isn’t it?” There was a very light accusation tone to his voice, the eyes behind his shades narrowed almost cartoonishly to express his suspicions. His demeanor wasn’t aggressive, more in the nature of a tease.
Elderly folks all crinkled up and croaking their complaints, pregnant women lounged on police cruisers looking faint, children huddled with their guardians, a handful of young adults who appeared to want to kick his ass. Hm, tough crowd, he thought.
Finally, his brown eyes met a pair of blue ones. He’d found the source of the lazer beams. A hot, tattooed chick. Mack loved goth chicks. Fun, little weirdos. He pictured a scene where she was dripping hot candle wax onto his bare chest.
Smoothly, he pulled his pair of aviator glasses from the neckline of his vest and stuck them on his face, just to pull them down his nose and peer over the top of them. He gave the gothic looking woman an obvious once over, before striding confidently her way.
He stopped a few yards from her, an odd expression flashing across his face. It looked like brief confusion, or surprise, but it went as fast as it came. Mack finished his journey to her, eyeing her in a different sense now.
“I understand your frustration ma’am,” he said in his best impression of a professional, after clearing his throat. “We’ll have you folks back to your routines in no time. I am sure you’re ready to get back to bed. It’s pretty early for you, isn’t it?” There was a very light accusation tone to his voice, the eyes behind his shades narrowed almost cartoonishly to express his suspicions. His demeanor wasn’t aggressive, more in the nature of a tease.
Her figurative lazer beams had been a bit too good, apparently, since she'd accidently gotten his attention with all that glaring. Her eyes narrowed slightly when he put those shades on and gave her that once over. Shit, now he was coming over. Joelle clicked her tongue against the top of his mouth and sucked in a soft breath of annoyance.
The strange expression caught her off guard, and suddenly the tattooed femme was super self-conscious. What was that even about? She shifted her weight, leaning a bit more towards her towering friend Charlie. He was a huge softy, but his overall stature intimidated some folks sometimes. She doubted that'd be the case with Mack, though. Cops don't usually get fearful as easy as random guys giving her grief. Mack's demeanor had changed after that fleeting look that he had given her, but Joelle couldn't possibly guess as to why.
"Do you?" she challenged, a delicate brow shooting up in amusement, her tone holding obvious traces of doubt, "Seriously, what is this even about?" The excuse of 'drug bust' was suspicious, mostly due to the fact that they didn't all have drugs in their apartment. Hers was squeaky clean, and she knew Charlie's was too. If they were 'busting' someone, they would have chosen that specific apartment, one would think, rather than barging in on all the innocent people living here too. She just didn't buy it, and maybe that was part of the reason for the daggers she was glaring at the police force.
"It is," she answered nonchalantly, shrugging off that accusation she'd thought she heard, "I work night shift, and I would very much like some sleep before my next eight-hour shift starts in a few hours."
The strange expression caught her off guard, and suddenly the tattooed femme was super self-conscious. What was that even about? She shifted her weight, leaning a bit more towards her towering friend Charlie. He was a huge softy, but his overall stature intimidated some folks sometimes. She doubted that'd be the case with Mack, though. Cops don't usually get fearful as easy as random guys giving her grief. Mack's demeanor had changed after that fleeting look that he had given her, but Joelle couldn't possibly guess as to why.
"Do you?" she challenged, a delicate brow shooting up in amusement, her tone holding obvious traces of doubt, "Seriously, what is this even about?" The excuse of 'drug bust' was suspicious, mostly due to the fact that they didn't all have drugs in their apartment. Hers was squeaky clean, and she knew Charlie's was too. If they were 'busting' someone, they would have chosen that specific apartment, one would think, rather than barging in on all the innocent people living here too. She just didn't buy it, and maybe that was part of the reason for the daggers she was glaring at the police force.
"It is," she answered nonchalantly, shrugging off that accusation she'd thought she heard, "I work night shift, and I would very much like some sleep before my next eight-hour shift starts in a few hours."
Although she was officially moved in, Brenda was in for a rude awakening not even a week after settling into Paradise Apartments. Like about a third of the residents here, at least the ones she has seen, Brenda was also expecting a baby and of course, had tall-tale backstory concerning her move to the small town rundown apartment complex. To her extreme dismay, the police came knocking on her door while she was relaxing after a meal. Walking on a full stomach while pregnant was very unpleasant, so there was a bit of a delay before she actually got up to answer the door. Brenda was less then thrilled when she was asked to vacate her apartment as a drug search, backed with a warrant, was being conducted...on the ENTIRE apartment complex. Escorted outside and into the parking lot to wait with her fellow residents, the young expecting Mom began analyzing her surroundings. Though by now, everyone was out of their apartments. Just about.
Brenda watched as another blond woman, who was pregnant, joining the rest of them in the lot. Given the size of the other woman's belly, there was no doubt she was further along then Brenda herself, who was at about thirty-three-ish weeks along. She then looked to her other neighbors, starting with the other expectant mothers. The woman in the purple floral robe looked extremely miserable. Brenda could not help but stare at the woman's belly. It was HUMONGOUS! Definitely carrying multiples. No way there was just one bun in that oven. Her poor back... But looks like she was hanging in there. In happier news, she looked really good in that robe and her slippers were cute. As her eyes continued to wander, it soon fell on the woman in the satin silver nightgown. She was finishing up what seemed to be a granola bar given the wrapper in her hands. Her face was also stained with tears. Damn hormones... Between the frequent peeing and the mood swings, Brenda wasn't sure what was worse. And briefly looking at the belly, she guessed that it was either twins, or just one big bun in that oven. Last, but not least, there was one more brunette. She was pretty big too. Unlike the previous three though, this brunette was the only one she saw out and about on moving day. And having overheard a conversation at least a night ago, she knew for a fact that this woman was definitely expecting twins. Brenda then came to a rather astonishing realization; all five expectant mothers including Brenda herself were all living in this apartment complex, but...No baby daddies or spouses... And she started feeling rather weird knowing that this complex was about to have a bit of a baby boom.
Finally, shrugging it off, she began wondering about when everyone would be allowed to go back to their apartments. Side conversations also took place around her as she waited anxiously. Her gaze then traveled to her heavily tattooed neighbor talking to one of the cops. Compared to the other officers on the scene, the one talking to her neighbor was rather laid back and, from Brenda's perspective, behaving rather obnoxiously. Of course, that obnoxiousness was confirmed with the way he spoke. Sighing, Brenda leaned against one of the cars in the lot to get some of the weight off of her feet while she straightened out her dress.
Brenda watched as another blond woman, who was pregnant, joining the rest of them in the lot. Given the size of the other woman's belly, there was no doubt she was further along then Brenda herself, who was at about thirty-three-ish weeks along. She then looked to her other neighbors, starting with the other expectant mothers. The woman in the purple floral robe looked extremely miserable. Brenda could not help but stare at the woman's belly. It was HUMONGOUS! Definitely carrying multiples. No way there was just one bun in that oven. Her poor back... But looks like she was hanging in there. In happier news, she looked really good in that robe and her slippers were cute. As her eyes continued to wander, it soon fell on the woman in the satin silver nightgown. She was finishing up what seemed to be a granola bar given the wrapper in her hands. Her face was also stained with tears. Damn hormones... Between the frequent peeing and the mood swings, Brenda wasn't sure what was worse. And briefly looking at the belly, she guessed that it was either twins, or just one big bun in that oven. Last, but not least, there was one more brunette. She was pretty big too. Unlike the previous three though, this brunette was the only one she saw out and about on moving day. And having overheard a conversation at least a night ago, she knew for a fact that this woman was definitely expecting twins. Brenda then came to a rather astonishing realization; all five expectant mothers including Brenda herself were all living in this apartment complex, but...No baby daddies or spouses... And she started feeling rather weird knowing that this complex was about to have a bit of a baby boom.
Finally, shrugging it off, she began wondering about when everyone would be allowed to go back to their apartments. Side conversations also took place around her as she waited anxiously. Her gaze then traveled to her heavily tattooed neighbor talking to one of the cops. Compared to the other officers on the scene, the one talking to her neighbor was rather laid back and, from Brenda's perspective, behaving rather obnoxiously. Of course, that obnoxiousness was confirmed with the way he spoke. Sighing, Brenda leaned against one of the cars in the lot to get some of the weight off of her feet while she straightened out her dress.
Lucien and Æsc were both uncharacteristically quiet as the apartment occupants gathered, the children watching with wary eyes, much as one might imagine a wounded animal to observe the world around. Æsc, Lu was fairly certain, was just bored, and they would hardly be surprised if he slipped away soon, to go and find something more interesting to do. They, meanwhile, were paying close attention to the other residents, many of whom they'd only seen in passing, and making mental notes on the relationships, personalities, and vulnerabilities on display.
They glanced up at Felicita - they'd spoken to the Giovannis only briefly, but knew that it would benefit them to be friendly with at least Leo - as she made the offer for dinner. It took her a moment to recognise that Joelle thought she was speaking to Charlie, and she shook her head with a sheepish little laugh.
"Hmm? Oh, no, sorry. I was speaking to the officer over there," Felicita apologised, nodding to an officer who had been standing behind Charlie, until he'd decided to ignore Felicita's question and wander off to do... something. Whatever it was he was doing, it seemed to involve a lot of staring into space.
As another officer strode over, Lucien tensed, directing their wariness towards him. They would speak up against him, for daring to speak to their co-resident in the way he did, except for the fact that making themself memorable to police officers was hardly the smartest idea, given their choice of career. Æsc had no such hesitations, though. He was frowning at the officer - he might not quite understand the insinuation, but he understood the tone well enough, and if he was going to be stood out here for ages, then he might as well get involved, especially now that the sweet innocent child act had got boring.
"Aye, now, that's no way t'speak to a lady, is it?" he piped up, folding his arms indignantly. Æsc, Lu was well aware, didn't particularly care about rudeness - especially if the way he spoke to people sometimes was anything to go by - but he did very much care about being a nuisance wherever he could. "You an' all these other cops're hardly settin' anythin' like a good example to us impressionable kids or nothin'."
They glanced up at Felicita - they'd spoken to the Giovannis only briefly, but knew that it would benefit them to be friendly with at least Leo - as she made the offer for dinner. It took her a moment to recognise that Joelle thought she was speaking to Charlie, and she shook her head with a sheepish little laugh.
"Hmm? Oh, no, sorry. I was speaking to the officer over there," Felicita apologised, nodding to an officer who had been standing behind Charlie, until he'd decided to ignore Felicita's question and wander off to do... something. Whatever it was he was doing, it seemed to involve a lot of staring into space.
As another officer strode over, Lucien tensed, directing their wariness towards him. They would speak up against him, for daring to speak to their co-resident in the way he did, except for the fact that making themself memorable to police officers was hardly the smartest idea, given their choice of career. Æsc had no such hesitations, though. He was frowning at the officer - he might not quite understand the insinuation, but he understood the tone well enough, and if he was going to be stood out here for ages, then he might as well get involved, especially now that the sweet innocent child act had got boring.
"Aye, now, that's no way t'speak to a lady, is it?" he piped up, folding his arms indignantly. Æsc, Lu was well aware, didn't particularly care about rudeness - especially if the way he spoke to people sometimes was anything to go by - but he did very much care about being a nuisance wherever he could. "You an' all these other cops're hardly settin' anythin' like a good example to us impressionable kids or nothin'."
The shades were watching. The blinds were pulled in one of the rooms, and Elmo could see a face pressed against the glass, pale and curious. He made eye contact, calm and unblinking. He was no stranger to the strangers who went unseen. This stranger's catlike green eyes closed, and opened again, and then they disappeared, slipping back behind the blinds. Elmo wondered what words they would utter, now that they knew he would hear.
There was the clanking of boots on the balcony; an elderly man clad in army-greens and slippers wandered through an officer. His expression was one of longing, of pining, but he'd never managed to tell Elmo quite what it was for which he yearned. Perhaps he didn't know himself, but that was quite alright. Elmo's job was sometimes just to listen. Sometimes that was enough.
The once-general hammered his fist on a door, the same door he returned to day after day, but there was no reply. There was never any reply - not to his knocks. Whoever it was he sought in that room, they were no longer there to answer - or perhaps they simply didn't know to listen for him.
"They shouldn't be here," a voice fretted, whispering into Elmo's ear. Another joined them, in discordant harmony. "When are they going to leave? This isn't for them. They shouldn't be here."
Cold hands grabbed at Elmo's shoulders like they were drowning, clinging to him like driftwood. He could feel his lungs filling with water, and the fingers dug into him, ever tighter, nails clawing at his skin. The voices were harsh at his ears, wails and cries of terror. They rose and fell, sharp and cold and burning hot.
"They shouldn't be here - they shouldn't come here - where is he? - they have to leave - they can't stay - give him back! - they don't belong here-"
Felicita's hand was warm and light on Elmo's shoulder, her thumb stroking light circles. She didn't say anything - not to him, anyway, her attention elsewhere - but she didn't have to. Elmo glanced at her, focussed on her face, and she looked back at him with a smile filled with affection. There wasn't concern in it - not because she didn't care, because she did, so deeply that Elmo could never reach the furthest depths, but because she knew that he could cope with this. The shades used to scare him, sometimes, but not anymore.
As Fel turned her attention back to the situation at hand, Elmo looked up at the woman in the yellow dress who'd just joined them. She was pregnant - as were several of the other residents, he noticed now. Some of the shades were pleased by that. They liked seeing new life.
"Hello, miss," he greeted her, politely, although perhaps the honorific wasn't so necessary. There probably wasn't very much difference in age between them, but Leo had always told his siblings to err on the side of being extra polite, and Elmo liked making Leo proud. "Your dress is pretty - it's very summery."
His dark blue eyes were intense as he regarded her, although not with the implication of staring - just that every ounce of his attention was on her - before they flicked away, as if the prolonged eye contact was a little too much. "Are you well?"
There was the clanking of boots on the balcony; an elderly man clad in army-greens and slippers wandered through an officer. His expression was one of longing, of pining, but he'd never managed to tell Elmo quite what it was for which he yearned. Perhaps he didn't know himself, but that was quite alright. Elmo's job was sometimes just to listen. Sometimes that was enough.
The once-general hammered his fist on a door, the same door he returned to day after day, but there was no reply. There was never any reply - not to his knocks. Whoever it was he sought in that room, they were no longer there to answer - or perhaps they simply didn't know to listen for him.
"They shouldn't be here," a voice fretted, whispering into Elmo's ear. Another joined them, in discordant harmony. "When are they going to leave? This isn't for them. They shouldn't be here."
Cold hands grabbed at Elmo's shoulders like they were drowning, clinging to him like driftwood. He could feel his lungs filling with water, and the fingers dug into him, ever tighter, nails clawing at his skin. The voices were harsh at his ears, wails and cries of terror. They rose and fell, sharp and cold and burning hot.
"They shouldn't be here - they shouldn't come here - where is he? - they have to leave - they can't stay - give him back! - they don't belong here-"
Felicita's hand was warm and light on Elmo's shoulder, her thumb stroking light circles. She didn't say anything - not to him, anyway, her attention elsewhere - but she didn't have to. Elmo glanced at her, focussed on her face, and she looked back at him with a smile filled with affection. There wasn't concern in it - not because she didn't care, because she did, so deeply that Elmo could never reach the furthest depths, but because she knew that he could cope with this. The shades used to scare him, sometimes, but not anymore.
As Fel turned her attention back to the situation at hand, Elmo looked up at the woman in the yellow dress who'd just joined them. She was pregnant - as were several of the other residents, he noticed now. Some of the shades were pleased by that. They liked seeing new life.
"Hello, miss," he greeted her, politely, although perhaps the honorific wasn't so necessary. There probably wasn't very much difference in age between them, but Leo had always told his siblings to err on the side of being extra polite, and Elmo liked making Leo proud. "Your dress is pretty - it's very summery."
His dark blue eyes were intense as he regarded her, although not with the implication of staring - just that every ounce of his attention was on her - before they flicked away, as if the prolonged eye contact was a little too much. "Are you well?"