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IC Contact Post [audio/text]
You have failed to reach Justin Pendleton. Please leave your name, contact information, and query after the tone.
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You have failed to reach Justin Pendleton. Please leave your name, contact information, and query after the tone.
[beep]
[Justin makes no objections to smoking. He does, however, give Freddy A Look that is difficult to interpret.]
We barely have functional departments. If you join, you do what you can.
[Which isn't quite like saying, "Due to turnover rates, nonexistent funding, and a force of approximately one-hundred in a city that requires a force of three-thousand, we can't be picky," but it's close.
Freddy won't see many uniformed officers. Some of the beat cops and old-timers wear them, but they're not mandatory. Justin has never worn one.]
We barely have functional departments. If you join, you do what you can.
[Which isn't quite like saying, "Due to turnover rates, nonexistent funding, and a force of approximately one-hundred in a city that requires a force of three-thousand, we can't be picky," but it's close.
Freddy won't see many uniformed officers. Some of the beat cops and old-timers wear them, but they're not mandatory. Justin has never worn one.]
[Puff puff puff. Freddy here is definitely an addict and not one of those self-proclaimed tobacco connoisseurs.]
How'd you get into it?
[Being an officer so to speak in a seemingly lawless sort of place with a face like that, he means without really specifying, not how Justin inherited the station.]
How'd you get into it?
[Being an officer so to speak in a seemingly lawless sort of place with a face like that, he means without really specifying, not how Justin inherited the station.]
Accidentally. In 2008, a friend encouraged me to put my knowledge of forensics to use and taught me what I didn't already know. At some point, I started patrolling and responding to calls.
[Because knowing how to use is gun? Also a handy skill.]
I just never left, and now I'm in charge solely by virtue of being here the longest.
[Because knowing how to use is gun? Also a handy skill.]
I just never left, and now I'm in charge solely by virtue of being here the longest.
A lab rat huh?
[Freddy says with a small amount of amusement. No offense to Justin or anything either, the relationship between science cawps and foot cawps has always been one of friendly rivalry for Freddy.]
When I started out on patrol all that DNA stuff was brand new. [Dating himself with that remark 8(] I've been a cop for six years.
[It's kind of weird and yet totally refreshing to be able to talk like this in a police station even to a guy who's not exactly what he considers an old beat cop but counts for the city nonetheless.]
[Freddy says with a small amount of amusement. No offense to Justin or anything either, the relationship between science cawps and foot cawps has always been one of friendly rivalry for Freddy.]
When I started out on patrol all that DNA stuff was brand new. [Dating himself with that remark 8(] I've been a cop for six years.
[It's kind of weird and yet totally refreshing to be able to talk like this in a police station even to a guy who's not exactly what he considers an old beat cop but counts for the city nonetheless.]
Exactly, but a content one.
[There's been some of that in the City, too. Less so now that even the scientifically-inclined cops are expected to respond in an emergency, but it lingers. Justin's a special case.]
Six years... when did you begin?
[The City's standards are low, okay. Even an academically-inclined murderer can be chief of police if he hangs around long enough.]
[There's been some of that in the City, too. Less so now that even the scientifically-inclined cops are expected to respond in an emergency, but it lingers. Justin's a special case.]
Six years... when did you begin?
[The City's standards are low, okay. Even an academically-inclined murderer can be chief of police if he hangs around long enough.]
1986.
[SHRUG. Yeeeep, an 80s guy right here. Well, 90s guy too, because Freddy is totally up with the times. SMOKE.]
[SHRUG. Yeeeep, an 80s guy right here. Well, 90s guy too, because Freddy is totally up with the times. SMOKE.]
[Thanks for the age reminder gosh.] I'm not that kind of cop anyway.
[What kind of cop he really is in terms of division, unit, assignment...he'll keep that to himself. It's still a somewhat sensitive subject.]
I patrol. [Even though Freddy wants to be a super detective forever. He has to make concessions sometime.] I prefer partners but I can work alone.
[And it's not just because he's 5'7 and some change with only 155lbs to his name.]
[What kind of cop he really is in terms of division, unit, assignment...he'll keep that to himself. It's still a somewhat sensitive subject.]
I patrol. [Even though Freddy wants to be a super detective forever. He has to make concessions sometime.] I prefer partners but I can work alone.
[And it's not just because he's 5'7 and some change with only 155lbs to his name.]
I'm not a cop at all. No one seems to care.
[Justin respects privacy. If Freddy wants to keep the sordid details to himself, that's fine.]
We could use you there. What kind of people do you prefer to work with? [Shuffling through papers, looking for someone suitable... preferably taller.]
[Justin respects privacy. If Freddy wants to keep the sordid details to himself, that's fine.]
We could use you there. What kind of people do you prefer to work with? [Shuffling through papers, looking for someone suitable... preferably taller.]
Anybody who can do his job right.
[Or her job. Another LAPD officer is ideal. An LA County sheriff is tolerable. A federal agent is DO NOT WANT but he can deal with it. Also no rookies because he doubts he's any good at being a PTO. Freddy keeps all this whining to himself. Oh wait no there's one little thing!]
...Somebody who remembers when you could smoke during roll call.
[If they even do roll call and watch commanding here.]
[Or her job. Another LAPD officer is ideal. An LA County sheriff is tolerable. A federal agent is DO NOT WANT but he can deal with it. Also no rookies because he doubts he's any good at being a PTO. Freddy keeps all this whining to himself. Oh wait no there's one little thing!]
...Somebody who remembers when you could smoke during roll call.
[If they even do roll call and watch commanding here.]
[Ew. Paperwork. He puts his now spent cigarette out then slides the rest of the form towards himself.]
How long do you think it's gonna take? After I finish this.
[The paperwork. He doesn't expect the three months it would back home or even three weeks, but three days or a single week would be nice...seeing as how he hasn't quit his other job yet. Oops.]
How long do you think it's gonna take? After I finish this.
[The paperwork. He doesn't expect the three months it would back home or even three weeks, but three days or a single week would be nice...seeing as how he hasn't quit his other job yet. Oops.]
How about a week from today? I'm guessing I gotta outfit myself.
[As in his own guns (check), his own flashlight (check), his own cuffs (check...but they're not really the kind for detaining suspects oops). Also it'd be nice for him to finish out July so he can collect his last paycheck at Stark's. Yep yep.]
[As in his own guns (check), his own flashlight (check), his own cuffs (check...but they're not really the kind for detaining suspects oops). Also it'd be nice for him to finish out July so he can collect his last paycheck at Stark's. Yep yep.]
Sounds fair. I'll keep in touch with you.
[He waves the form then offers Justin his free hand to shake.]
[He waves the form then offers Justin his free hand to shake.]
[Just because it is getting to Christmas, and Justin seems like he appreciates something a little old fashioned, Dulcie sends him this one..]
[Do you hear that quiet tapping on your door, Justin? You might mistake it for the cat, except it's a bit too persistent. And, okay, maybe a bit too loud. And if you don't answer for a moment, Neil will quietly call out:]
Hey, Justin?
Hey, Justin?
Not at all.
[And he smiles, though truth be told he looks a little on edge. Not unhappy, just antsy. Which, in all fairness, is not entirely out of the ordinary for Neil; he's often got too much energy to sit still.]
Can I come in? I wanted to ask you-- something. [Not a favor, just. Something.]
[And he smiles, though truth be told he looks a little on edge. Not unhappy, just antsy. Which, in all fairness, is not entirely out of the ordinary for Neil; he's often got too much energy to sit still.]
Can I come in? I wanted to ask you-- something. [Not a favor, just. Something.]
[Normal jumpiness or not, Justin prepares himself for unpleasant news of some kind. Not that his friends aren't allowed to talk to him except when there's news to relay, but still. Neil and Todd are usually very considerate when it comes to leaving Justin alone.]
Sure. [He gestures for Neil to take a seat on the edge of the bed and sits in his desk chair.]
Sure. [He gestures for Neil to take a seat on the edge of the bed and sits in his desk chair.]
[Well, he's half right, on the news front, and unpleasantness is in the eye of the beholder. Which is why Neil's a little jumpy; there are things one doesn't talk about, and from time to time things come to pass that necessitate... well, talking about them.]
If you want to say no... it's okay, but. [He takes a breath. Starts again. Manages somehow not to look at his feet.] This is in strictest confidence, all right?
If you want to say no... it's okay, but. [He takes a breath. Starts again. Manages somehow not to look at his feet.] This is in strictest confidence, all right?
[Not talking about things is, in general, infinitely preferable. But there comes a time, Justin. There comes a time.]
For Christmas-- I had this idea, for Todd, and I was talking to Rosella about it and.
[Here his composure fails a bit. Neil grins with simple, embarrassed brilliance, coloring noticeably. It's a pleasant kind of embarrassment, as much as any embarrassment can be. Out loud it all sounds ridiculous, like little kids playing house.]
On Christmas morning-- if you're not busy, if you want to come-- I'm asking Todd to marry me. Not in a church or anything-- nothing big, [or legal, but what is legal here?] it'll be me and Todd and Rosella, is all. And I'd like you to come, too.
For Christmas-- I had this idea, for Todd, and I was talking to Rosella about it and.
[Here his composure fails a bit. Neil grins with simple, embarrassed brilliance, coloring noticeably. It's a pleasant kind of embarrassment, as much as any embarrassment can be. Out loud it all sounds ridiculous, like little kids playing house.]
On Christmas morning-- if you're not busy, if you want to come-- I'm asking Todd to marry me. Not in a church or anything-- nothing big, [or legal, but what is legal here?] it'll be me and Todd and Rosella, is all. And I'd like you to come, too.
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