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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 4:07:30 GMT
TW: Child abuse, human trafficking
Wonderful eyelashes? This guy really is down bad. Cassie chuckled a little to herself and gave him a small wave as she watched him leave. After he was gone, she finished her statement, then looked around for something to occupy herself. She fidgeted a little with the pen, the case on her phone... her eyes wandered to his desk. She hadn't meant to be nosy, and she wouldn't have been able to tell anyone else what drew her to look into the case file on top, but it was like it was calling to her.
TZ-2, read the folder's label. She opened the cover, and nearly threw up at what she saw. A photo of a group of little kids being herded like cattle, half-naked. Another photo showed an older guy manhandling a little black girl, who was looking at the camera and crying. Cassie tore her eyes away, tears starting at the corners of her eyes. Here, too? Of course. Of course. Things like this happened everywhere.
The folder was thick with years of evidence.
Her brain began filling with white noise. Here she was, working on her silly little paintings and chatting up a police officer, when this was happening in the city she now called home?
Not as long as she drew breath. She had promised Syd that.
Cassie crossed herself, then shoved the file deep in her purse. She covered it up as best she could, and zipped her purse closed. She took a series of deep breaths, acrylic nails biting into the palms of her hands, willing herself to stop shaking like a leaf. It was mostly working. Mostly.
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 4:33:29 GMT
Nearly a few minutes later, he returned to the floor, carrying a medium-sized foam cup of coffee in one hand for her in one hand and a file folder the medical examiner handed off to him on his way back in the other. “Hey, here’s your coffee,” He set it down near where she was sitting at the desk, and glanced for a brief moment at his desk as he set the medical file down to be read later , brows furrowing for a second, before gradually sitting back down in his chair. “Take your time on that, by the way,” he said, “I don’t want you to feel rushed or anything.” He glanced at her before checking his phone he left on his desk for any messages, and then fixed his attention on his computer, with a determined expression on his face as he concentrated on the screen.
@mayhem
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 4:40:48 GMT
Styrofoam, Cassie groaned internally, shuddering as her fingers touched it. She put her sleeve over her hand before picking it up again, but truthfully was grateful for the unintended sensory disruption. She wasn't shaking anymore. Taking a sip of coffee, she said, "I'd really like to stay, but unfortunately I need to get back to the studio and keep working. Boss texted me and asked where I was."
Cassie put her hand on his shoulder. "But if it's okay, we could get dinner later, after we're both done with work? I still don't really know what's good to eat around here, so... any suggestions you have would be appreciated." She gave him a sweet smile.
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 5:12:36 GMT
Luca gazed over at her for a second before she took a sip of the coffee. She seemed to have acted weird when she noticed the Styrofoam cup and touched it, which he also noticed how there were fresh marks on her hands where her nails dug in. He blinked, seemingly curious, and was about to ask her if she was okay, when she spoke first about needing to go back to work after her boss texted her. He nodded. “Okay…that’s fine.” He vaguely tensed when he felt her hand rest on his shoulder, and fixed his green eyes on her honey-gold color eyes for a lot longer than he wanted to, mostly surprised when she invited him to dinner later. It took him a moment to respond, and before he did, he licked his lips as he found them to feel dry, cleared his throat nervously, and shifted around a little in his chair. “Um…I get off at ten, so, I don’t know…” In truth, it’s been years since he went out with anyone. His life kept him busy and he still wasn’t over his wife passing away at old age, while he stayed practically the same. Yet, when he saw her smile at him sweetly, he smiled faintly back, making a tiny noise in the back of his throat. “I, uh…sure. I’ll pick you up. I did write down your home address before I went to talk to you at your work last night since you weren’t home.” A pause. “I know a few good places, none of them are Italian, since they’re not that great. Then again, I cook my own, so I’m a little biased. What would you like to eat?”
@mayhem
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 5:29:13 GMT
"Weeeell, if you're offering," Cassie said, meeting his eyes, "I would love Italian. I wish I was kidding, but it's been so long that I've started dreaming about it. The one place I tried going to had red sauce that tasted like ketchup!"
Cassie got a little lost in thought, as she tucked some stray hairs behind his ear with a gentle touch. What better way to see what kind of cop this guy is than to visit his house? I mean, it really seems like he's a nice guy, and it's not like I'm Sherlock Holmes or anything, but I dunno. Might be worth a second look. I've been wrong before, after all.
Her teeth worried her lower lip a little. "I hope that's not... too forward?"
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 5:53:12 GMT
He laughed, looking horrified. “Oh, I know what place you’re talking about. I’m surprised it’s still open. They claim to be Italian food, but they’re really not.” He shook his head in disappointment. “I’m sorry you had such a shitty experience there. I don’t know what’s up with this city not having more Italian restaurants…well, good ones, anyway. They used to be good.” He shrugged and shook his head again. He blinked in surprise when she tucked some of his stray hairs behind his ear, but didn’t protest, or he was too surprised to say anything. Admittedly, he didn’t mind. It wasn’t like she was being creepy about it. He swallowed his nervousness hard, biting his lower lip for a few moments, while keeping his eyes on her. “Uhm...no, you're fine,” he finally found his voice. “All right. I’ll make dinner at my place. I’m making homemade ravioli in a homemade meat sauce and garlic toast to go with it.” He smiled softly. “Call me when you’re ready and I’ll pick you up.”
@mayhem
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 6:17:42 GMT
"I should have taken it as a bad sign when the L and REDO were out on the sign so it just read ITALIAN AF." Cassie laughed a little. She took another sip of her coffee, and toasted him with it. "Thanks for the coffee, it's really good."
She walked away a few steps, then looked back at him, golden eyes dancing with amusement. "See you later, Luca."
///
When Cassie had gotten back to her apartment, she'd texted her boss for real, and then fallen asleep for a well-deserved nap. After that was the uncomfortable task of reading through the file - as much of it as she could stomach at once, anyway. She knew all the main details well enough now - locations, logistics - and the rest of it didn't matter, did it? She didn't care who these people were, what positions they held in the police force, in the government. Because of course they were powerful people, almost all of them. She locked the file away in her document safe.
It was now 9:45 PM, and she was rushing to get ready. "Curse my time blindness," she muttered, "God, I hope he's not someone that shows up early." She shoved earrings in her ears and her feet in three inch heels, and zipped herself into a black dress that hugged her curves. She rushed through her makeup and was just about done, when the doorbell rang. Well, she'd almost finished in time, just one more eye to do. She took her time finishing the other eye, and double checked it. Okay, good, finally. She gathered her purse and opened the door, smiling coyly. "Hey."
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 6:59:22 GMT
He watched her leave, raising a hand and giving her a little wave with a dorky smile on his face. When she was out of earshot, some of the other Detectives who were occasionally looking in his direction and watching his interaction with Cassandra, started laughing and joking around as one exclaimed, “Yes! I won! Money up, ladies and gentlemen!” Others laughed, while there were a few groans as they gave their money away. Luca groaned, sinking as far as he could into his office chair, and wishing he had the ability to turn invisible or phase through the floor, or teleport as far away from here as he possibly could. Damn betting pool…he thought, frowning, and then painstakingly going back to finish his tasks for the day. /// After work, he quickly went home to clean up and made a few rearrangements to make himself seem normal, as he figured she’d question a couple of things he kept in his fridge he sometimes drank - things consisting of animal hearts, which he didn’t know why, but he liked to drink it as a smoothie or made blood sausages or pancakes with it. He also cleaned up around his cabin since it was a bit of a mess, unlike his jeep; which was almost at a “lived in” status from being so busy with some of his cases he was swamped with. Come to think of it, he also needed to clean his vehicle enough for her to sit in the passenger seat. He’ll do that after he showered and dressed in clean clothes. He took a quick shower, and then dressed in casual, but nice-looking clothing. Of course, he stuck with dark clothing, like black and gray, since he was color blind, but also preferred dark clothing in general. Once he was finished getting ready, he went out to clean up the vehicle enough, and headed out to where she lived to pick her up. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous. He most certainly was. /// At her house, he reluctantly went up to her door and rang the doorbell once, and patiently waited on the porch for her to answer; keeping his hands clasped in front of him as he relaxed a bit. When the door opened, he smiled back. “Hey - “ he blinked a few times, stunned at what she was wearing. “Oh, wow! You look - wow.” He laughed nervously. God, he felt red in the face from being flustered. “Wow. Amazing. You look...fucking amazing, Cassandra.” He practically beamed as he offered her his arm. “Shall we go?”
@mayhem
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 7:25:25 GMT
A slow, gentle smile started on Cassie's face at that, and she started blushing herself from the intense attention. He was being so sweet that she was already forgetting her mission. But it couldn't help to enjoy this, right?
"I don't really know what else to say other than thank you! And you look great too, Luca." His outfit, well, it did the job for an at-home date, just a button-up shirt and some slacks. More than that, it was his radiant smile she just couldn't stop looking away from. The man's happiness was contagious. She locked her door, put her arm in his, and went down the stairs and into his car.
She smiled over at him from the passenger's side as they set off. "Where do you live, anyway? Uptown?"
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last online May 14, 2024 10:42:21 GMT
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Jan 23, 2022 16:29:17 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 16:29:17 GMT
Grinning, he replied, “You’re welcome and…thanks. I mean, I didn’t think about dressing up since I wasn’t taking you to some fancy restaurant, but…here we are,” He chuckled nervously, feeling kind of bad she dressed up fancily while he elected to wear his usual casual look. After helping her into the passenger side, he quickly jogged around to hop into his driver’s seat and headed back home. He glanced over to her when she asked where he lived, and smiled a bit when he realized he never told her yet. He scratched at his cheek and the back of his neck before placing his hand on the other side of the wheel and held it tight in his hands to keep himself from fidgeting here and there. It’s been so long since he dated anyone or was with anyone, he felt as if he reverted back to his nervous teenage and early adult years, and those were such a long time ago. “I don’t live in Uptown, or anywhere in the city,” he began, “I live a few miles outside of the city in a really nice cabin I’ve been adding on to since moving out there ten years ago.” He shrugged. “I…love solitude and being around nature, which is a vast contrast compared to city life. My dog loves it, and even my cat. Are you scared of dogs or cats? Or allergic?” He asked. “My dog, Oscuro, is very friendly. He's a Blue Bay Shepherd. My cat, Lucia, is a Lykoi…they look like a werewolf.” He laughed lightly in amusement. “She isn’t as friendly as Oscuro. I mean, she’s friendly, but extremely shy around strangers. So, she hides in the basement if I bring guests over…if she ends up liking you, you’ll know.” while adding, “As for allergies, I clean them once a week to keep the pet dander down. So, you don’t have to worry about that either.”
@mayhem
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