[New Uni-Stripper-Verse] // Donuts and Coffee

[arloscales]

This week had been rather tame compared to the end of last year.

He’d just ended an early shift and to start the year he’s headed to the Club <i>without</i> having to arrest anyone! Yeah, there are a lot of places he could go. Home for starters, a different bar, anywhere <i>but</i> here but and yet Arlo pulled onto the street a few car lengths outside of the club and headed inside.

At the door he holds his hands up in mock surrender and heads inside. The club is on his usual route so anytime there is a disturbance he’s one of the units that ends up called out. He knows most of the faces, but not all of the names. Bishop, Daeshim, yes. Sungki is mostly just a very pretty face. He’s never in the. Back of the car, just at the station signing papers.

He makes his way towards the bar and sits down out of the way. Some people recognize him but the badge is MIA so no one seems to care. He orders a beer and Hunter pulls out a different container of nuts; cashews, and slides them over which is surprising but earns Trouble Maker #3 a smile.

And now— he drinks, he snacks and he just absently watches the show and the people, shutting his brain down for the day. 

Comments

[bubblewrap]

Saiph probably could have done something else with his time than what he does. Like play tennis with his aunt or getting dragged on a shopping trip with his cousin, or god forbid, having to endure yet another annoying blind date set up by his mother because she's adamant on him tying the knot with someone and Saiph really isn't all that interested in that.

The bracelet in his pocket though, that is interesting. Not because it's bracelet or jewelry, but because the security system protecting it had been fun to slip through. It even had laser sensors and five different doors... all that cliché stuff you only see in movies.

He's avoided a patrol car with cops checking the robbery out and made sure to slip away into the back streets, change his clothes and now he really wants a drink. So what better place than the strip club? He's been there a few times, and he likes the place.

It doesn't stop him from noticing Arlo as he steps into the room, and he only pauses briefly as he heads up to the bar and slides into the chair beside him.

"Evening, officer. Didn't expect to see you here."

[arloscales]

The Club seems to be a sort of Safe Haven for a lot of people. By now, Arlo knows Bishops story and Hunters (if only for the fact that he had been involved in some of it). Baein has always been pretty good, for the most part. Daeshim…well, he’s been at the station more than a few times. Jasper’s been on his radar but he’s never really been lucky enough to get a hold of that one. Well, each one of them are interesting. He may or may not be trying to collect them all like Pokémon cards but…shhh.

Arlo pauses lifting his drink to raise his brows, “And the magpie has landed,” he states, takes the drink and half twists towards him, “I’m off duty so don’t tell me if you’ve had sticky fingers this evening.”

[bubblewrap]

Saiphael blinks at him, eyes wide and innocent.

"You have so little trust in me. I'm just here for a drink, like half the people around."

He gestures towards the room at large.

"Either way, why would I tell you, off duty or on?"

[arloscales]

Arlo is idly munching on his gifted cashews while his gaze slides around over the patrons as they’re mentioned and then finally fall back onto Saiph.

There is a baited pause and he sighs, “You did didn’t you.”

He know’s he did.

He did. It’s just the way magpies are.

There’s another sigh and he slides the can of nuts over, “Want some?”

[bubblewrap]

"Did not. You're off duty, you shouldn't be giving me an interrogation."

He reaches for the nuts though, face lighting up a little, though he keeps somewhat out of reach of the cop. Occupational habit and all.

Or he's just being difficult on purpose.

[arloscales]

“This isn’t an interrogation, Magpie,” Arlo chuckles softly and just casually tucks back into his drink. It’s nice to just relax after dealing with idiots all day.

He arches a brow as he watches him from the corner of his eye, “Relax. Even if you told me you had you’d be safe tonight. Eat some nuts and stop playing with what’s in your pocket.”

[bubblewrap]

"No?"

Saiph smiles despite the topic, though he can't help the way his movements still for a second. He hadn't realized his hand was in his pocket, but he pulls it out alongside his house keys. There's a little cat charm attached to them, with soft ears.

"Just keys. Who's the one who needs relaxing?"

[arloscales]

“Nope. I’m off duty,” he says and looks over, “and I’m in a strip club.”

There’s a slow blink. He does need to relax. Hence the drink and the nuts.

He looks at the keys and his head tips a little to one side before he reaches over to briefly tap one of the ears, “cute.”

But he knows that’s not all that’s in your pocket. It just doesn’t matter at the moment. If you managed to snag something and not get caught, maybe you deserve it. But he does wonder why you have sticky fingers when you’re obviously well off.

No, never mind. He knows why.

He goes back to snag a palm full of nuts and leans against the bar, “you like cats?”

[bubblewrap]

"So you are. I'm still mildly surprised."

Saiph tugs the keys back and stuffs them into his pocket again, looking up to find Hunter's eyes and order a drink for himself too. Turning back, he gives Arlo a little smile, genuine.

"I love cats. Don't you?"

[arloscales]

Arlo is a cop.

Which is basically a dog.

And he smirks softly, “I do like things I can chase, yes.”

But to be serious he chews a cashew thoughtfully, “I had one as a kid. Sweet little thing. I’d thought about getting another one but I didn’t think it was fair with my hours…”

Which is also why he’s single.

In a strip club.

Eating nuts.

[bubblewrap]

"Chasing cats is rude."

He isn't dumb, and his smile turns a little more slanted as he tilts his head in turn.

"Ah, then perhaps cat ownership isn't something for you."

[arloscales]

“But it’s so much fun,” Arlo smiles, takes a sip of his drink and turns his body more towards Saiph.

“I don’t know. I think if I found the right cat, it might work out actually,” he tips his head thoughtfully, “As long as it was…mostly independent, but enjoyed quality snuggles…wasn’t one of those overly snooty cats…”

[bubblewrap]

"That's awfully specific."

He takes a sip from his drink as it arrives, though he doesn't look away from Arlo.

[arloscales]

“Well, I did say it would have to be the right cat,” Arlo feels around in his palm for a good cashew.

“Do you have a cat?” He finally asks.

[bubblewrap]

"Mm, but didn't you know, it's the cat that chooses you, not the other way around."

Stealing a few more cashews, Saiph sits back, leaning against the bar.

"I have three."

[arloscales]

“How do you know if you’ve been chosen?” Arlo asks, reaching for his drink and he lifts one foot to perch it on the little bar at the base of Saiphs stool.

“Can I see?”

[bubblewrap]

"They tolerate you and let you feed them."

His eyebrows raise at the request, but Saiph just takes a moment to search Arlo's face before he decides it's good enough and he takes his phone out.

His cats are all black, three voids in different sizes, besides one that sticks out like a sore thumb like an orange little fluffball.

[arloscales]

Arlo can’t help it but he almost smiles. His eyes flicker between Saiph and the cashews. Does that count? It has to count. Right? Maybe? Maybe he’s teasing you.

He’s patient, waiting until Saiph does decide to pull up some pictures. Leaning in he looks them over and chuckles quietly; the voids are cute but, “I like the orange one. What’s that ones name?”

[bubblewrap]

Saiph ignores the look. Whatever Arlo is thinking, he can think. And Saiph is stealing the cashews, make no mistake.

"Saffron. She's the baby."

[arloscales]

Thief.

But Arlo doesn’t mind. He’s busy looking at someone’s kitty cats and they’re adorable.

He smiles, “She’s cute. Thank you…”

[bubblewrap]

"Thank you? For what?"

What if he steals the whole bowl?

[arloscales]

“Sharing that with me,” Arlo chuckles and sits back, twirling his drink between his fingers. He reaches for more cashews.

Look, Magpie, if you want his nuts just say so.

[bubblewrap]

Maybe you should voice your thoughts outloud.

He shrugs, letting the bowl stay between them, as if it wasn't Arlo's to begin with.

"You asked."

[arloscales]

We’re not there yet, Magpie. Soon.

“Didn’t mean you had to humor me,” Arlo points out, finishing the cashews in his palm before leaving them be to enjoy his drink. He waves down for one more and then just lets himself relax more.

That’s the point of being here after all. Relaxing after dealing with bullshit.

He manages to catch Sungki and Hunter, and smiles a bit back at the blond before his focus slides back over to Saiph, “You can have my nuts if you want.”

There.

[bubblewrap]

"True. But you asked about the cats."

Clearly, this is some rite of acceptance, in as much as acceptance goes when you're a thief having a conversation with a cop. A hot cop, of course. Still someone Saiph would consider running from in most other instances, or trip up. Depends on his mood.

Saiph blinks for a second before his lips purse into a vaguely amused smile.

"Oh? I thought I already had them."

[arloscales]

A thief and a cop walk into a bar…

There’s a joke somewhere.

This had to be one of the biggest cliche’s , Arlo thinks to himself because he can’t deny that that little smile is the cutest thing he’s seen all day.

He bites the inside of his cheek but his own smile sneaks its way up again, “…I have a weak spot for cats.”

[bubblewrap]

Maybe they should work on that joke one day.

Saiph doesn't drop his smile, but it stays small and amused.

"Mhm, everyone should be."

[arloscales]

One day.

Arlo isn’t sure what’s going on but this is nice. It’s a nice way to end a typical day for him. And he might even enjoy the next time he gets called out on a theft call.

He hooks the toe of his boot around one of the legs of Saiph’s stool and tugs him a little closer. Someone else sits down on the other side of Saiph and maybe that’s the reason. Or he just wanted the cat closer.

“So why do you do it? Thrill?”

[bubblewrap]

Saiph wouldn't admit it, but successfully avoiding the cops and escaping is a thrill in it's own right, besides the actual stealing something part.

His smirk curls up a little, and he shifts on the stool as Arlo pulls him closer.

"Do what, officer?"

[arloscales]

“You know what,” Arlo leans into his hand and watches Saiph as if he has no cares in the world.

Right now he doesn’t.

“You don’t need any of it. So it has to be thrill, right?”

[bubblewrap]

Saiph shifts on his stool to sit more comfortably, meeting Arlo's stare with his own, mouth twitching up into a vague smile.

"Tell me officer, what would you do with your life if you had everything at your fingertips?"