• This section is for roleplays only.
    ALL interest checks/recruiting threads must go in the Recruit Here section.

    Please remember to credit artists when using works not your own.

Futuristic 𝑶𝑭 𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑬 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑳𝑼𝑪𝑲

Characters
Here
mangomilk

mangomilk

big oof























of
fire
and
luck







x
whw.






DISCLAIMER:
the main idea of the world of Heartbeat City and The Change is from low fidelity low fidelity . Since TheWaffleLord TheWaffleLord and I loved the vibe and our characters' connection in the group rp, we decided to keep it going! (:
 
Last edited:



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    intrigued / a little surprised
















It was a chilly, cloudy morning in Heartbeat City. The ghost of winter was still felt in the air. It consistently softened throughout the day to make room for spring. Kat loathed mornings, but was thankful for the alarm clock that interrupted her sleep. The weather forecast in the holo display predicted a chance of rain.

She reached out to her wall-mounted nightstand and shut off the alarm. The recurring nightmare made its appearance for the first time in weeks. It had been plaguing her since she was young and left her in a cold sweat again. It was almost the same sequence of events.

She was barely a teenager, sneaking into a ransacked convenience store by herself. There was a man and one remaining bottle of medicine. Then, as always, the gleam of a machete. This time, she surrendered the antibiotics and ran, but the man chased her down. After cornering her, he had done what he always did. There was white-hot, burning pain in her left arm. And blood—so much blood.

"Ugh... Shit."

Kat wasted little time getting up, as if her bed would swallow her into another nightmare if she stayed too long. She grabbed her bionic limb and reattached it to the stump of her left arm. She followed her usual morning routine with a warm shower, music, and a simple breakfast. It helped settle her nerves.

After twenty-six minutes, Kat left her home wearing her badge and uniform. She drove to the police station on her motorcycle, which was one of her favorite possessions. She was an officer in HCPD's 45th precinct. She graduated—with flying colors—from the police academy seven months ago. She'd adjusted to the work, been on the field, secured crime scenes and solved small cases. She was Officer Mercer now.

When she first started out, Chief Rahim assigned her to a partner, an older woman named Faye Thomason. Detective Thomason had been in the precinct for the better half of two decades, and it showed in her skill. Upon their first meeting, Kat thought she seemed bored of her job or almost lazy. She was wrong. Thomason was blunt, unhurried, yet painfully incisive. Working alongside her had its challenges, but it wasn't without its learning experiences.

Since her retirement party last weekend, Thomason's desk was now vacant. She didn't know her for very long, but Kat was going to her miss her snarky mentor's presence. A new partner was among the few things on her mind when she walked in.

For a short period, she had been doing patrol duty alone. Being alone wasn't bad and she didn't dislike the idea of a new partner either—as long as they were easy to work with. Chief Rahim told her she'd have another at the start of the week, and today was that. Her orders were to go to her office after she put on her gear to learn the change of assignment. Kat greeted her co-workers with hellos, good mornings and a smile of acknowledgement.

While on her way, Lucas Greene addressed her from his desk. He was a service technician and a gentle giant with a sleepy-eyed countenance.
"Morning, Mercer," he said as he fought back a yawn. "Heard you're getting a new partner today."
"That's right. I'm getting my gear before seeing the chief.”
"Do you know if your partner is new to the precinct?”
"No, and honestly I have no expectations," Kat replied.
"Oh. Well, I was just curious."
"Me too. I'll see you around."

She entered the locker room where the tactical gear was also stored. Any and all sworn officers who worked on the field had to a wear bulletproof vest and a duty belt. Being a first-responder without either was dangerous and neglectful. The equipment was a lifesaver.

Usually there were a handful of officers in the locker room at the beginning of their shift. Kat was nearby a man who's back was facing her; she didn't get a look at his face. After she donned her gear, she closed the locker and started to walk away, but paused.

The man was struggling with his bulletproof vest. Kat noticed the vest's straps were faulty and determined that was why it couldn't stay on properly. She found it strange how it wasn't disposed of before or how it made its way into the storage. Now seeing a profile of his clean-shaven face, she realized he was quite handsome.

Tall and toned with muscle, he was around six feet tall. It was necessary to lift her chin when looking at him. He had a warm, peachy complexion with dark hair parted to side that reached the nape of his neck. His hair looked tidy and sleek, giving Kat the impression that he was often well-groomed. His brows were thick and expressive, and they furrowed with an intense focus on his gear.

The man's eyes were a stunning dark brown, almost perceived as jet black under indirect light. Something about them was self-contradictory; mysterious yet honest. Shadowy, but bright. She also noticed the beauty mark below his left eye. The man looked Kat's age but didn't strike her as a newcomer. After all, she didn't know every person in the building.

"Need some help?" Kat offered.

He looked up and met her eyes, almost startled to hear her. His expression passed into a calm one. "Yes, please."
She stepped closer then opened a locker that held an extra bulletproof vest. "Here, this one's better." The man took off the defective one and she strapped the other onto his chest, making sure it was snug and secure.
"Thank you kindly," he said.
Kat grinned. "You're welcome. Good luck out there." As she walked out, she placed the flawed vest into the recyclable bin.

Their exchange was short, but pleasant and quiet. A part of her wished she had asked his name, but didn't think too much of it. She went to the chief's office door, which was ajar, and knocked with one knuckle.
"You may enter," said Rahim. She stepped in and scanned the room, but saw no one else except Chief Rahim behind her oaken, U-shaped desk.
"Ma'am," she began, "I'm here for the new assignment."
The chief nodded. "Of course. Your new partner should be here in any moment, but—" There was a knock on the door. "Ah, and speaking of which... You may enter," she announced.

Curious, Kat looked over shoulder to see who it was. Her eyebrows raised in slight surprise. It was the man she encountered at the locker room.

































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    motivated, awake

















The alarm chimed once only. His hand was quick to shut off the chastening war cry of each morning. Although he usually was up on his feet early, today his waking before the clock stroke 6 had different reasoning. The slight tension in his stomach reminded him of the feeling that was closest to welcome nervousness than anything else. While the edges of his bedroom window painted a frozen frame on the glass, Noah rose from his warm bed to cure his tired body with caffeine. His days in the military had passed as he’d step into something new today with the Heartbeat City Police Department.

After devouring his breakfast consisting of leftover pita with hummus and dates, he left his apartment complex. The neon city lights illuminated his path to his motorcycle as well as his face, tinting him in shades ranging from indigo blue to amethyst purple. The fresh morning winds made him squint his eyes before he secured his helmet on his head, now shielded from the frosty bites of early spring air. He had been allocated to the HCPD one week ago and was introduced to his superior officer Chief Rahim already. Due to several personnel changes, he hadn’t done much, but signing forms for his commencement.

Upon his arrival Noah took off his black shimmering helmet and fixed his hair. He tended to dress effortlessly chic to each occasion and work was no exception. In the building he greeted the security guards at the entrance to the personnel entry. "Welcome Mr. ...," the guard paused before he was able to pinpoint the last name on his ID, "Galinsky" Noah nodded and a slight smile crept upon his lips as he passed them. He was formally instructed about the order of events within the Police Department, especially since his first task consisted of joining the unit to whatever was on their schedule today. After storing his few belongings at the designated place, Noah proceeded towards the locker room.

His hand opened the cold metal door of the locker. Its advanced age was evident due to indentations and chipped material. He was surprised to be a witness such old-school furniture, it revealed the harsh contrast to the rest of the inventory and modern outlook of the building. He geared up with a duty belt and secured it on the rim of his pants. Setting up the bulletproof vest on his torso felt more tricky than usual though. He was accustomed to the use of such vests in his military days, even though the HCPD supplied different models; for more mobility, he supposed. As he fiddled with the straps of the vest, his dark brown locks fell into his face. "Need some help?"

The mellow voice beside him, pulled him from his engagement with the gear. For a moment he was startled, he hadn't noticed anyone approaching. His savior in the current situation was a woman who seemed to be his age. She was smaller in height and her left arm was made of cybernetics. "Yes please," he agreed after a moment of silence. He watched her purposeful movements with his eyes as if there was something to miss, and noticed he had a bad pull with his vest.

Noah wouldn’t consider himself especially lucky, for some reason though, he had a feeling it might just change. He stripped down the faulty gear and was assisted with the new. "Thank you kindly." Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. The curls melted with each other, their color darker than his own. The short glimpse of her eyes revealed the striking honey brown in all its glory. They were something to get pulled into, almost mesmerizing. "You’re welcome. And good luck out there." The newcomer nodded and smiled wholeheartedly. "Same goes for you."

He did not have the luxury to follow her steps with his eyes. He had to head out himself. Noah closed the door of the locker only for his feet to carry him to the large black door with blue LED lights on top. Knock. Twice. The muffled words of his permission to enter on the other side of the door made him step into the room; fully geared up and ready. Noah had to admit to himself, he didn’t exactly know what he was here for. He guessed it was a short briefing about his first task (back) in the force.

He appeared in Chief Rahim’s office and held the USB memory stick with his information that were left to submit in his hands. They felt warmer than normal but he was experienced enough by now to not let his saved forms on the stick smolder. "Good morning." His voice was modulated and silvery – a pleasant and controlled sound that made calmness come and stay. It was not low or raspy but not high or smooth either. His eyes wandered towards the woman he had a short interaction with moments ago before stepping into the room completely. Once he positioned himself next to her with some distance, Chief Rahim watched him closely.

Dalia Rahim held the position as superior officer – captain for three years now. In her forty-five years of age she took initiative in several schooling programs for lieutenants and sergeants in the field of communication and negotiation. Chief Rahim’s uniform appeared to shine in every light, even on her seat, she was tall and present. Her hijab wrapped around her face and brought out her defined features, such as her jawline and cheekbones. Her eyebrows were thick and took a high arch on her brow bone. She appeared polite and powerful, a first impression that stayed true to her persona.

"Good morning, Galinsky. I welcome you in the 45th precinct of the HCPD, now officially." Chief Rahim demanded the forms and received the USB flash drive. "To your left is Officer Mercer. She is one of our experienced officers. Mercer, this is our newest member of the precinct, Officer Galinsky. He served in the military before joining us." She looked at the two of them side by side and nodded. Rahim cleared her throat and made a humming sound of approval as if the view confirmed her thoughts and plans. "I ordered you here to declare you two as partners." Noah glanced over to his partner to be and exhaled quietly. A slight feeling of relief coated him, based of first impressions, he was satisfied. He has had his fair share of unpleasant teammates and could use a fresh start. "As much as I would like to give you time to get to know each other, the job does come first. I have a new case to assign." Chief Rahim pressed a button on her device which activated an interactive holographic screen in front of them. It shone in bright blue colors while the lights in the office dimmed down for better visibility.

"Officer Rivera just called in for assistance on Marshall Street. An unidentified body was found this very moment, he needs another team for further investigation." The screen displayed all necessary information that were available until now. A large amount of information was not yet gathered, for example when and who, but Noah was sure they'd find out on the scene. "I will send Crawford and Weber in another car. You're dismissed." After being given small pods with information saved on their case, they left the office.

Crawford and Weber were already waiting for their turn to be briefed by the captain. "Take good care of the fresh meat, Mercer," said Crawford as they passed by. He laughed, alone. Weber did not join into his partners' unnecessary remarks. Instead of acknowledging the words just expressed, he took their thoughts elsewhere. "It's nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you," he said as they approached the exit towards the police cars, their steps swift.

































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    prepared

















"Good morning," the man said. Their eyes met again for a fleeting moment and the quirk of Kat's brow introduced a subtle grin. Then it was gone as she looked straight ahead, retaining her professionalism. He entered the room with a long-legged, purposeful yet quiet stride. He stopped to stand at her right.

"Good morning, Galinsky. I welcome you in the 45th precinct of the HCPD, now officially." She received the USB form from him, then continued. "To your left is Officer Mercer. She is one of our experienced officers. Mercer, this is our newest member of the precinct, Officer Galinsky. He served in the military before joining us."

Kat had already inferred her last statement when Galinsky walked in. With the way he kept his chin up and his back straight like a soldier, it wasn't so far-fetched to guess that he was one. Chief Rahim's eyes flickered between them, then nodded to herself in approval. Whatever the chief was thinking, Kat couldn't quite tell. But she trusted her.

Respecting someone like Dalia Rahim felt instinctive. She had a commanding presence and a sharp mind that matched her eyes. She earned her title after years of dedication fortified by integrity and aptitude. It was evident she became chief of police for a reason.
"I ordered you here to declare you two as partners."
The subtle grin returned again, followed by an affirming nod. If first impressions were anything to go by, working with Galinsky seemed promising.

Without missing a beat, Chief Rahim began the briefing and Kat listened intently. The lights in the office dimmed as a wide holo-display activated above the desk's surface. An unidentified body on Marshall Street, called in by Officer Rivera. Most of the vital information was not there yet. It was up to them and the rest of the investigation team to uncover the remaining clues and evidence at the crime scene. Chief Rahim gave them each a copy of the case file, which fit in the size of her palm. She said, "I will send Crawford and Weber in another car. You're dismissed."

They left the office and found the mentioned officers waiting outside for their turn. Weber was the more pleasant, affable man between the two. He stood like an unmovable guardian and had a flat expression on his face. He was sturdy and wide, with a chestnut brown complexion and tapered fade haircut. Weber's eyes were lined with fatigue. It was either due to a lack of sleep or his partner sapping away his patience where he stood. Either was likely.

Crawford was closest to the door and no doubt listening in. He was leaning back, had his arms folded across his chest and one foot raised against the wall. He was a blond, thirtysomething man with a sun-kissed tan and freckled face. He was thin but sinewy, his smile mocking and sardonic.
"Take good care of the fresh meat, Mercer," Crawford quipped as he brushed past. Kat hid her distaste well. He laughed at his own joke, but Weber didn't join in. He followed after his partner in silence, offering only a sympathetic glance before disappearing behind the door.

Ugh. Crawford, Kat thought, a vexed sigh leaving her lips. She empathized with Galinsky. Fresh Meat was the nickname given to her by Crawford during her first two weeks in the precinct. It wasn't appreciated. A suggestion to disregard him was on her tongue, but her new partner had the right idea by ignoring him altogether.
"It's nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you," Galinsky stated while they walked on.
Kat flashed him a smile. "Likewise. And thank you for your service. I mean that, really."
He looked surprised; the slight raise of his eyebrows told her as much, but it wasn't without gratitude. He replied, "Oh, I appreciate it. I also mean that, really."
Her smile stayed, and her response was a contented hm.

They exited the building and descended the steps. She led the way to one of the police cars and entered the driver's seat. Most vehicles nowadays were equipped with self-driving technology and needed little to no human input on the road. Navigation was hands-off and traffic safety laws were regulated in autonomous mode. Not everyone used it; it was more of a preference depending on the person. But during times of pursuit or response calls, driving manually was protocol.

All right, let's do this.

Kat knew the way to Marshall Street already. She started the ignition after the click of their seat belts. She drove out of the area, sounding the siren as she did. She had a question in the back of her mind, and chose to speak it.
“So, you’ve been put on a case on your first day. How do you feel?”
"I don't mind it. I always liked the action of the force."
She nodded. "Then you'll do just fine. We should prepare for any and all possibilities." They reached their destination in less than ten minutes.

Marshall Street was within one of the commercial districts of the city. There were neon signs on every business and a lofty web of telephone wires between them. It wasn't special or very noteworthy; it was like any street of similar purpose. People with thin wallets frequented these cheap eateries and stores of questionable quality. For that reason, there was a decent amount of foot traffic on a day to day basis. But the officers who arrived before them cordoned off the area with yellow tape. There were no civilians in sight for now, at least, not until they analyzed and cleaned the crime scene.

After parking a good distance away from the crime scene, Kat exited the police car with Galinsky. Officer Rivera was speaking to a member of the forensics unit. He was a man in his early forties, with light brown hair styled in a pompadour shaved at the sides. He had a roundish face and his eyes were as dark as coffee without cream. Rivera looked solemn as his conversation ended. His mouth was set tight into a frown that held a hint of chagrin. Kat pointed Rivera out and they walked to him with haste. He noticed them approaching when they ducked under the caution tape.

"Ah, good. You're here." He glanced at Galinsky, then back at Kat. "Is this your new partner?"
"Yes. Rivera, this is Officer Galinsky. Galinsky; Rivera." said Kat.
"A pleasure. But let's not waste time, so I'll walk you through it. It's not a pretty sight."

































timeless



Floreyyy










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    on edge

















Their feet lifted them to the police car. Despite his ability to drive, he got in on the right. He did not know the errors and horrors of the Heartbeat City rush hour traffic and put trust into his more experienced partner. Seated on the passenger side, Noah rested his head against the car seat. He huffed, inaudible for Katalina to hear, nervous and excited for his first case and new colleagues. "So, you’ve been put on a case on your first day. How do you feel?" His eyes traveled towards her hand, watching her operate the stick shift.

"I don't mind it. I always liked the action of the force." He did not come off as someone who needed the rush of the moment and the danger that came with it, at least not from the way he presented himself. Always polite and calm, Noah Galinsky didn’t ever crack in anger or frustration, but he had never dealt with the situation to come. "Then you'll do just fine. We should prepare for any and all possibilities.“ He could only agree.

As they arrived at the scene, the area was already secured with yellow tapes all over. A view that was utterly terrifying for most, but a daily inconvenience and source of work for Mercer and now for him as well. Upon the introduction to Officer Rivera, Noah nodded when they exchanged a short but firm handshake. "A pleasure. But let's not waste time, so I'll walk you through it. It's not a pretty sight…Our victim is male, thirty-two years old." Rivera held onto his headpiece as he broke eye contact for a moment. "As we speak I get the information the victim’s name is Robin Cole. You will see shortly, the incident is classified as murder due to unusual signs of deliberate wounds."

Noah furrowed his brows and opened the holographic file on his HCPD wristband. His eyes raced left to right, grasping the words on neon blue. The file automatically updated on name, age and sex as well as presumed time of death. "You’re saying unusual. What are we talking about?" Rivera pressed his lips together and nodded as if it was too early for gore – which it certainly was. "Let me show you. That’s what you’re here for after all." The officers exchanged a glance, their faces filled with purpose and tension. Rivera guided their way upstairs on the rooftop of a parking garage. On the very top floor, several detectives as well as the scientific investigation division were on the scene already, however they seemed to have arrived only minutes before Mercer and himself.

"We haven’t moved the body yet. Forensics are still taking photos and collecting evidence." Before the corpse was visible even, something else drew Noah’s attention and consumed him whole. Graffiti sprayed on the asphalt of the roof-parking lot. In off-white he followed the words, sloppy in looks but refined in content.

Different lights make me stranger, for each one my size will change. What am I?

Noah pursed his lips and crossed his arms. What was that supposed to mean? A game? Or a riddle? "Mercer, would you look at that?"

Rivera guided them to the body next which was surrounded by staff from forensics. They cleared the path for the officers and granted them a look. The victim was pale in the early morning light, maybe it was the gloomy clouds that predicted rain in the next hour, at least that was easier on the stomach. It did not reek yet, he noticed. The first look revealed a huge scar in form of an X that was cut– no... sliced into the chest of Cole as if he was marked as finished. "Not only the wound is interesting. Look at this, officers."

Rivera bowed down next to the body and pointed towards the area of the scar with his pen. "This is what we found on the victim’s torso." Noah stepped closer as his eyes widened in surprise.
"A flower? A single one." – "Precisely," Rivera answered. "We do not have any further information or leads yet to what could be the motivation of this crime or the perpetrator."

His gaze could not let go of the lone flower. Its leaves puffed up into an elegant ball. Their colors a vibrant burning yellow, melting with deep reds of Robin Cole's blood. Marigold.


































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    apprehensive, deep in thought

















"Our victim is male, thirty-two years old." Rivera paused to listen in to his earpiece, to whomever was talking on the other end, then continued. "As we speak I get the information the victim’s name is Robin Cole. You will see shortly, the incident is classified as murder due to unusual signs of deliberate wounds."

Unusual. That choice of the word could translate to plenty scenarios. A person could have an "unusual" means of harming another if they had a power. The Census reduced the rate of unknown factors by keeping a record of any power that surfaced. It measured what was common, uncommon, or rare and could link them to someone's identity. Although, not everyone among the estimated thirty percent was in the system. An uncertain amount of people flew under the Census' radar with powers that were easy to conceal. Kat knew that all too well, and thought Rivera was suggesting there was a power involved.

Galinksy opened the file from his HCPD wristband. Being next to him, Kat could skim the new information that filled itself in with neon blue text. Above it was a photo ID the team undoubtedly obtained from Robin Cole's wallet. He had a brown pair of downturned eyes and a head of thick blond hair arranged in a curly quiff that touched his temple. Bewhiskered by a faint stubble, his rectangular face appeared mature and astute. The presumed time of death was not long ago.

Galinsky closed the file, his attention shifting back to Rivera. "You’re saying unusual. What are we talking about?"
"Were the wounds caused by a power?" Kat asked.
Rivera's mouth tightened again, not wanting to elaborate in detail. He said, "Let me show you. That’s what you’re here for after all."
She exchanged a firm, leery glance with Galinsky. They both could expect it to be ghastly, but not in what way.

As they walked, Kat caught a glimpse of an older gentleman with a blank, unfocused stare. His weathered face looked subdued and despondent. At least in his fifties, he had greying hair and rimmed glasses sitting on his small nose. She could tell by his clothes that he was a civilian. A detective was speaking to the older gentleman, but his lips were barely moving in response—if at all. Kat presumed he was a person of interest in this. His faraway expression suggested he had seen the body already. They kept walking.

Rivera escorted them to the roof of a parking garage where a bundle of CSIs were diligently working.
"We haven’t moved the body yet. Forensics are still taking photos and collecting evidence," Rivera explained.
There was a contained hum in the way the forensics carried the process along. The thin, sharp sounds of cameras that clicked with the press of the shutter button. Footsteps that were careful and methodical. Hushed exchanges of words that were too indistinct to discern from afar. Kat scanned the rooftop for every evidence marker placed on the ground, starting from her right. Galinsky called her attention to something on the far left.

"Mercer, would you look at that?" he pointed. Her eyes followed and fell to graffitied words on the asphalt.
Different lights make me stranger, for each one my size will change. What am I?
Kat furrowed her brow at the white lettering. A riddle left behind by the perpetrator? She didn't know its answer. The spray-paint was fresh; she knew by the odor. It could be a clue, she pondered, but to what? Dammit. Whoever wrote it is trying to toy with us. This wasn't the first time she faced a riddle at a crime scene.

They moved on to Robin Cole's body. Those who stood around him stepped aside, allowing them to see without obstruction. Robin's skin had changed to a waxen pallor since his death. His unscathed face looked sickly under the brewing clouds. There were no buttons missing on his blue dress shirt; it was not opened by force, but by meticulous hands. It brought focus to the blood that once leaked but now stiffened from his torso and pooled beneath him. There was a deep incision starting at his shoulders and crossing diagonally across his chest to his hips. A clean, grisly gash in the shape of an X. His fingers interlocked together on his stomach as if he were a body in a coffin. The perpetrator posed Robin after he died.

Back when Kat started, inspecting the scene of her first murder case didn't nauseate or horrify her like it would any rookie. She'd seen her fair share of dead bodies during the Change. Anyone older than twenty years could say the same. Many people were gruesomely maimed and left to bleed out in alleys and streets. Some had wounds that made their faces unidentifiable. Kat's experience didn't mean it was any less saddening to look at. She pitied murder victims and their families, friends, and those who cherished them. Robin Cole was someone's son and possibly someone's brother. For Kat, seeing the body wasn't the worst part; delivering the news to the next of kin was, or to any of their loved ones.

"Not only the wound is interesting. Look at this, officers," said Rivera. He then kneeled down and pointed with his pen. "This is what we found on the victim’s torso."
What Kat saw shocked her more than the state of Robin Cole's body. It was a delicate marigold with an intense yellow hue, placed where the X intersected on Robin's chest. Scarlet red blood stained its soft and overlapping petals.
"A flower? A single one."
"Precisely."
"It's a marigold. But...why?"
"We do not have any further information or leads yet to what could be the motivation of this crime or the perpetrator."

The sight of the flower made her hairs stand on end. For what reason was it placed? Her mind was racing for answers. One thing she knew for certain: this was a premeditated murder. All evidence indicated so.
Kat questioned, "Were there no signs of a struggle? I don't see any bruising on his wrists that would suggest he was bound."
"None. The cause of death wasn't from excessive bleeding; look closer at the eyes," Rivera informed. She did so with Galinsky and noticed clusters of tiny, red spots on his eyelids that would've been easy to miss.
Galinsky appeared confused and unfamiliar with what he was seeing. "They show red spots..."
"Petechial hemorrhaging," Kat clarified. "He died from asphyxiation."
Rivera nodded solemnly. "Correct. It's worth noting that his eyes were already closed when we arrived."

“Did forensic investigation find any tools used in the act?“
“Not quite, although there are indications. Any weapon was presumably taken by the perpetrator when they left the scene. Given the clean incision, a knife was in play. A white fiber of cloth was in his shirt and we're led to believe that might have been used like a garrote wire.”
Kat mulled over other necessary queries. She asked, “What else have you found? Any personal belongings?”
“Besides a wallet and house keys, the victim had a phone in his pocket. Zhang is going through call logs and recent messages for any clues." Rivera then gestured for them to follow.

He led them to the forensics van off to the side, where the team processed all secured evidence thus far. The back doors were open wide and revealed two analysts working in tandem. One was examining a blood sample. There was a portable table standing next to the bumper. On it, was a wallet and a set of house keys both handled with care and labelled in plastic bags. It all belonged to Robin Cole. Zhang was standing by the van, focused on a screen. She was wearing the same nitrile gloves as the analysts while she scrolled through a phone.

"Zhang, do you mind updating them on what you've found?" If Rivera was feeling more fatigued, but he was hiding it well.
“Not at all," she replied. "The most notable activity is from a Janette. Five missed incoming calls since last night, along with a slew of unread texts, all apologetic and concerned. It seems she's Robin Cole's friend. From what I gather, they had an argument of some kind."
"I see... A person of interest, then," Kat uttered. She looked to Galinsky and suggested, "If no one else is going to already, you and I could question her for more insight or a lead."

































transformation



vince pope










♡coded by uxie♡
 



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    on edge

















The corpse looked like a sculpted painting; still but come alive. It did not reek of much yet. Robin Cole did not reek of much yet, Noah reminded himself. As the investigating team took notice of the wounds and marks, the questions developed further. "Did forensic investigation find any tools used in the act?" – "What else have you found? Any personal belongings?" Everything was considered an important question if it led to usable answers.

Rivera spoke of the usual personal belongings found and walked them to the unit van. It was a big vehicle with shiny deep black varnish. Inside, the team was busy identifying evidence. They looked like a mad team of scientists with their safety goggles and robes. Dr. Zhang especially seemed to be a skilled addition to the forensics team. She wore her chin-length hair slicked back with gel, only single strands peeked through still. She was a rather small woman as she had to look up to Katalina to meet eyes. Her hands presented the phone with a cracked screen, showered in dirt and dry blood.

"The most notable activity is from a Janette. Five missed incoming calls since last night, along with a slew of unread texts, all apologetic and concerned. It seems she's Robin Cole's friend. From what I gather, they had an argument of some kind.“
He nodded and wondered if Jeanette was to be a witness or a suspect. "If no one else is going to already, you and I could question her for more insight or a lead," Katalina said. Noah did not hesitate to agree to her. "The case is fresh. We might as well bring tragic news to someone and gather more information, huh?"

Even though Dr. Zhang had worked a few years in the department already, she always felt like she was eavesdropping when Officers talked in front of her. She raised her brows and pulled a small object from her pocket. "If you two are handling that, let me give you this." Her free hand that wasn’t wrapped in a glove dropped an oval chip into Noah’s hand. "This is all we have and all you should need. At least for now," she nodded and reassured herself. After a short examination, Noah pressed the chip’s surface which activated the holographic window. Like a message popping up on a phone, the officers were provided with a name, address and photo.

The name was Jeanette Ambruglio. 442b on Vernon Ave, Heartbeat City was her registered address. The picture selected was the one she had on her ID. The young policeman’s utter fascination of technology flourished. It was relatively easy to find people, everyone who possessed an ID also was legally obliged to agree to the condition of allowing their ID photo being used in public services. His parents shared stories of protests and uprisings within the whole country about twenty years ago. In fact people feared the increased surveillance by the government and saw their rights threatened, which was true.

Jeanette Ambruglio was supposedly in her mid-thirties. She had renewed her ID two years ago. Her face was wide, her nose defined and her brows naturally arched. Her olive-toned skin contrasted her blue eyes. Her hair had kinky curls in a dyed shade of brown, Noah could see where her natural color regrew. Appearance could change a lot within the span of two years, they were about to find out certainly. So much information compressed in a small window, Noah knew more than enough for the start. With a little personal investigation he'd be able to find out about her workplace, her family, her daily whereabouts even. Privacy had become a precious but lost good in the golden age of technology.

"We have everything we need, then. Let’s get going." The sun did not reveal itself fully this day. Rather than that, it was recognizable behind a thick layer of milky clouds that would soon burst out into persistent rain. They were yet not struck by it. With nods that spoke for themselves, the new team left the crime scene with a new aim ahead. Once back in the car, Noah took a short pause from conversation just to breath and reconsider. "It's a shame what happened to Robin Cole... He was still young." He could hear her sigh. "That riddle was strange though–do you have any clue what it means? I couldn't figure it out." Noah’s eyes darted towards the street. "Different lights make me stranger, for each one my size will change…" He shook his head. "What reacts to light?" Rather than asking the question fully to Katalina, Noah asked himself. He furrowed his brows and bit his lip in thoughts. "Shadows are created by the influence of light…" But what kind of clue could that be? Was it even supposed to be a clue?

They made their way through town, the traffic became thicker during lunch hours and the heaviness of clouds increased. 
Jeanette lived in a busy neighborhood, many small shops and restaurants existed on the first floor of the tall buildings. China Town was just around the corner and it smelled like roasted herbs and alcohol.


































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    calm, sympathetic

















"The case is fresh. We might as well bring tragic news to someone and gather more information, huh?"
"Part of the job," Kat responded.
Taking only one of her gloves off, Zhang retrieved an oval chip from her pocket. "If you two are handling that, let me give you this," she told them. She handed it to Galinsky then added, "This is all we have and all you should need. At least for now."

The chip contained information about Robin Cole's friend, Jeanette Ambruglio. Zhang had perused through the database and uncovered her full name, photo ID, and address. There was more listed about her, but Kat doubted it would be necessary to know unless she was not at home. Most civilians weren't hard to find with the help of technology.
"We have everything we need, then. Let’s get going."
"Right," Kat said, then regarded her other colleagues. "Rivera, Dr. Zhang. Be seeing you."
"Good luck, you two," Rivera concluded with a wave. He added, "My partner and I will find his next of kin."

They left the crime scene together and went back into their vehicle. Kat claimed the driver's seat again; Galinsky sat in the passenger's side. Once closing the doors with finality, there was a brief respite. Silence between the two partners. A frigid chill had returned to the car's interior while they were gone. It was somehow less biting than the outside and refreshing to Kat's skin. She looked off to the side and collected her thoughts before speaking.

"It's a shame what happened to Robin Cole... He was still young." She let out a deep, somewhat muted sigh. Her breath spilled out into the air as white, wispy plumes that quickly faded against the window. She turned her head toward Galinsky. "That riddle was strange though—do you have any clue what it means? I couldn't figure it out."
His eyes turned to the street, gazing in rapt contemplation. "Different lights make me stranger, for each one my size will change…" he recited. He shook his head then muttered, "What reacts to light?"
They pondered.
"Shadows are created by the influence of light…"
"While that's true and could be the answer, what does that give us?" Kat mused. Neither of them knew. "You know what? We can think about it on the way."

She set their destination to 442b on Vernon Avenue in the GPS then started the car. It remained in manual mode; she found driving quite therapeutic and stress-relieving. Kat drove away from Marshall Street. More traffic trickled onto the road as she followed the GPS and drove through main streets. They soon reached a neighborhood close to Chinatown that was brimming with activity. Kat then noticed a blue light blinking from her HCPD wristband.
“Our case file updated; would you mind reading the new info out loud to me?” she asked.
”Not at all,” Galinsky replied. He opened the file. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the blue holographic screen hover above his wrist. He summarized, "The blood sample has been analyzed. Robin Cole's blood shows large remnants of Vivopirone. Three times the amount than statistics results for the common use in other crimes."

Kat's eyebrows pinched together and she gave a quick glance at him before looking to the road again. She experienced and saw that drug’s effect firsthand when she was a teenager. At the time, the pain from her left arm was too much to bear on a day-to-day basis, so she needed painkillers to withstand it. Vivopirone was the first one prescribed by her doctor. It was always at a low dosage—no more than fifteen milligrams. The least it would do was make Kat a little drowsy, but it made her life-changing injury tolerable.

She remembered how she'd run out of her pills earlier than expected and wasn't sure how. Until one day, she caught her mother taking them from the prescription bottle. Kat would try her best to hide them in their home, but her efforts weren't enough. Her mother eventually wanted stronger, unauthorized dosages and bought Vivopirone from drug dealers. She'd swallow them with her alcohol. Kat's father was too consumed in his work to address or notice it until after it got worse. The memory was a somber reminder of Georgina Mercer's last seven years of life. Suffering from illnesses. Rejecting professional help. That was a long time ago. Kat didn't need nor use Vivopirone anymore, but she saw it involved in other crime cases. She always felt a pang of heaviness in her heart with it.

"Vivopirone..." she brooded. "That explains why there wasn't any sign of a struggle. He was too sedated to fight back." Her last statement hung heavy in the air. It lasted until they reached Vernon Avenue.

Vernon Avenue offered more of the decent, affordable homes in Heartbeat City. The buildings were old but sturdy. They held a historical value because they were structures that survived the Change. There was some damage sustained back then, but it was all repaired and didn't collapse. Kat made a right turn into Slatewood Apartments and slowed to a stop in an empty parking spot. Before Galinsky turned to open the car door, she shared the importance of how they'd proceed. He didn't interrupt.

"Okay, before we go in, here's the plan: I'll give the death notice to Jeanette Ambruglio. Be prepared for any kind of initial reaction—she may even go into shock. While I lead and ask questions, I need you to be my support person, Galinsky. Watch very carefully for her body language and how she answers because she may or may not be a suspect. We have to handle this delicately, but in a clear and concise manner. Alright?"
"Understood. I will keep a close eye on Ambruglio. At this point we know too little to let any possibilities out of sight,“ Galinsky answered.
Kat nodded. She was appreciative that they were on the same page. "Exactly. Let's do this."

They walked out of the vehicle and into the main lobby. It was a clean environment with warm lighting and plenty of modern seating for guests. The industrial design was charming with its exposed brick wall and hardwood flooring. There was a wide-screen TV sitting on the mantel of a faux fireplace. Security cameras were set between ceiling corners, covering each angle of the lobby. Kat presumed the security guard was elsewhere on the floor, watching the live feed of cameras. The apartment's receptionist occupied the front desk.

The receiptionist was reading a digital book behind the front desk. When he heard them enter, he looked up from his screen. He was a man likely in his forties, and had dark brown skin, a buzz cut, and a full beard. The brass name tag pinned to his shirt read Roy. His eyes glanced between Kat and Galinsky, then at their uniforms and badges. There was a hint of trepidation on his face; police rarely had to come into this complex for anything.
"Good afternoon, officers," Roy greeted. "Is there a problem?"
"No. We're only here to speak to one of the tenants, so we won't be long," Kat explained.
"Then I won't stop you," he said, looking back down at his book.
"Thank you. Have a good day."

They continued on and took the elevator to the fourth floor. Once reaching Jeanette Ambruglio's door, Kat knocked three times. She gave an encouraging nod to Galinsky.
The woman who opened the door was in fact Ms. Ambruglio. The difference from her ID was her hair, now dyed with magenta undertones. She dressed comfortably in beige loungewear and white, fuzzy slippers. She wore a light amount of makeup on her face. Her eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Jeanette Ambruglio?”
“Yes?”
She flashed her badge and introduced herself. “I’m Officer Katalina Mercer of the HCPD, and this my partner, Officer Galinsky. We’d like to speak with you about Robin Cole. May we come in?”
Ms. Ambruglio paused, confused but obliging anyway. “Oh. Yes, of course.” She allowed them to step into her abode before shutting the door behind them.

The apartment smelled like lavender. The cozy furnishings and decor were a mix of dark and neutral tones. There was a computer, a coffee mug, and a half-eaten sandwich on a work desk against the wall. The computer was still powered on and had a dual monitor setup. There were lines of code on one screen Kat didn't understand, but she didn't look too long to ponder why. Ms. Ambruglio was a programmer; it was among the information Zhang gave. She took a seat on the couch and clasped her hands on her lap. Her shoulders were tense. Kat remained standing.

"You said you wanted to talk about Robin...? What's happened?"
"We have unfortunate news, Ms. Ambruglio," Kat said solemnly. "Your friend, Robin, was strangled to death early this morning."
Ms. Ambruglio was silent, at first. She stared while her lips parted and her hands tightened around each other. Something flickered in front of her—a fleeting, translucent shimmer.
"No... No!" she croaked, tears welling in her eyes. "That's not true! He—he was just here yesterday! He was here!"

More shimmers appeared. They lingered in the air and formed a protective, spherical shape around her. Her power manifested; comprised of psionic energy and invoked by her emotions. Ms. Ambruglio tried to speak again, but the words failed to escape her mouth and tears ran down her face. She wailed, and Kat pitied her. Her trembling hands clutched at her chest as her cries grew loud and raw. A supportive hand could not touch Ms. Ambruglio; the force field wouldn't allow it. All Kat or Galinsky could do was offer their patience and compassion.

































escape from chicago



brian reitzell










♡coded by uxie♡
 



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    concentrated

















His fingers tingled against the touch of his uniform. They were radiated warmth as usual but wanted to let their sparks ignite. The young Officer craved a drag of nicotine in between the workday. It was a guilty pleasure he couldn’t quite get rid of from his late high school days. He had left the package with his personal belongings in the precinct. He didn't think of bringing them with him. Taking a smoke on duty in his very first week seemed unprofessional. Instead, he fiddled with the handcuffs attached to his duty belt. Noah’s thoughts focused on the cuffs, hence he did not notice the soft flashes and colours of his wristband. "Our case file updated; would you mind reading the new info out loud to me?"

Noah blinked and nodded. "Not at all" Thank goodness. He opened the holographic window and scanned the content. The stinging blue of the hologram painted their faces as if a current had sucked them under the surface of a pool. "The blood sample has been analyzed. Robin Cole's blood shows large remnants of Vivopirone. Three times the amount than statistics results for the common use in other crimes." Reading the words out loud felt heavier once they left his lips, as if now they had become true officially.
"That explains why there wasn't any sign of a struggle. He was too sedated to fight back." Noah could not add anything. It reminded him of the limits of their own flesh. The greatest will power, the most otherworldly strength could not crush the effect of drugs. Neither powered nor non-powered individuals would be able to do much against that. Spiked drinks in club settings had always been a problem, old and new age. Numb tongues and heavy eyes stalked by terrifying grins.

As they arrived near Miss Ambruglios apartment, Noah had prepared himself mentally. The first reaction of the painting of a corpse has washed away like the rain about to come. He pressed his teeth together as his face appeared sharper. His head leaned to the right where it cracked delicately, the other side alike. Katalina explained her suggestion– No, her plan. He listened to her words, mellow but strict. He could not say that he would approach the scene much differently, but he knew himself. There often were situations not able to prepare for. It brought him back to when his team mate was killed in an ambush in Colombia. They were not supposed to be at that ally that night and yet they were. Noah let the soldier’s wife know after. The wife of Yusuf Kayali. It was a painful video call across several nations. Yusuf had a little girl which loved the Tooth Fairy more than Santa. Noah knew as much as that and it made him feel like crying that day. Thinking back, he wished he had.

"Understood. I will keep a close eye on Ambruglio. At this point we know too little to let any possibilities out of sight," he nodded. Once they passed the receptionist and had taken the elevator upstairs, there weren’t much words to share. The uncertainty of Miss Ambruglio being a possible suspect needed both of their concentration.

Noah crossed his arms in front of him and checked his tech gear for a moment. Since a few decades it was protocol for everyone to wear a dictating device to keep track of conversations like these. Upon introduction and entry, Jeanette Ambruglio came across like a normal citizen, hard working, paying her bills and every now and then buying herself something nice. "We have unfortunate news, Ms. Ambruglio. Your friend, Robin, was strangled to death early this morning." Katalinas words came almost out of the blue, it made him side-eye her and drop out of his close look on Ambruglio. Noah laid his eyes on Katalina, as if something had displeased him. He just didn’t mouth it as of now. He furrowed his brows and watched Jeanette again. She seemed shocked, confused, hollow. Her reactions was what appeared to be the natural course of indescribable grief.

Noah’s eyes didn’t deceive him when he made out a flicker of light in front of them. When the warm sphere formed and swallowed Miss Ambruglio whole, her raw emotions filled the whole room. It was as if her cries sucked up the heat the apartment provided, leaving behind the bitter cold and the cold bitterness. Noah, however felt like the frigidity couldn’t touch him. "Miss Ambruglio, we are terribly sorry to let you know this way." He stepped a bit closer in hopes she would become more aware of her awakening power. "We need you to help us solve the murder of Robin Cole though." His voice was soft. "If you can tell us everything you know about Mr. Coles whereabouts last night, we could find the perpetrator very soon."He wasn’t too sure if Miss Ambruglio even registered his words, her wails echoed in her home and the force field pumped like a heartbeat, like it was alive.

Jeanette Ambruglio’s loud cries filled the room for a couple more minutes before she was able to calm down. The force field was still visible but it didn’t vibrate to her whimpering anymore. Noah hadn’t seen a power like that before. Legally they were obliged to fill out a form and let the department of Change Management know about this case of a found powered individual and their ability. "I- I can’t…" Her voice was hoarse and quiet. "This can’t be. He was here yesterday…Robin," she coughed. Another tear streamed down her tanned cheeks. "We had a fight…more or less." Jeanette slowly stood up and held her hands to her head. Everything must hurt by now, Noah could imagine. "I can’t imagine anyone who’d have reason to harm him, to…murder him." She sat down on her couch and looked at Noah, then at Katalina like a lost puppy. "What happened, Officers? Where was he?"

He was about to pull the position of the questioning to himself before he realized they had agreed on a plan. It was not his turn. "He was on the parking garage rooftop on Marshall Street. We have evidence that he was heavily sedated before the murder took place. Do you know if he had a history of using opioid drugs?"

"My poor Robin..", she shook her head and wiped her face. "Robin took some LSD from time to time or some weed but never such things. He just liked to party a little. He would never do such drugs!" Jeanette seemed overwhelmed but sure. Noah watched her and kept his arms crossed. "What did you fight about," Noah splurged out. "He was falling head over heels for this man. I don’t know his name or anything about him. He was a total mystery man to me which is why I told Robin not to meet him. I didn’t want anyone to hurt his feelings." Miss Ambruglio’s lower lip still shivered. "I wish I asked more about him. I have no idea who he could be. Maybe he killed him? Or maybe if he didn’t…he saw something?" Noah nodded and pressed his lips together.

































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    sympathetic, somber

















The first raindrops of the day struck the window. Ms. Ambruglio was inconsolable for several minutes, her breaths sharp and shallow. Kat recognized a panic attack when she saw one. She wasn't sure if the shiver down her spine was from watching her or from the room seeming to grow cold. She swallowed hard and briefly felt Galinsky's eyes on her. She never liked bearing the news; it was heart-wrenching to witness the effect it had on people.

Deep in the alcoves of her mind, she accepted some irrational blame as the messenger. However, she understood that being direct about how the victim died was more appropriate than vagueness. And while being forthright, Kat was not supposed to be too detailed either. Ms. Ambruglio didn't need to know that a large X was carved into Robin Cole's chest. Nor did she need to know that he was deliberately posed after his death.

As Kat parted her lips to summon the words that needed to be said, Galinsky took a light step forward. "Miss Ambruglio, we are terribly sorry to let you know this way," he said softly. "We need you to help us solve the murder of Robin Cole though. If you can tell us everything you know about Mr. Cole's whereabouts last night, we could find the perpetrator very soon."
She would've thought he read her mind by the manner in which he handled it. In a gentle tone, she added, "That's right. But, please, take your time. You're justified in how you feel. It will seem difficult, but you can overcome what you're going through right now. We're here to help you, Ms. Ambruglio. Think about five things you can see in this room. Then focus on four things you can touch, then three sounds you can hear. Repeat. All right?"

It seemed both of their words helped. After more time passed, Ms. Ambruglio's sobs turned into whimpers and quiet sniffling. Her force field somewhat diminished and stopped pulsing like a heart. It was still there, and she hadn't seemed to acknowledge it formed around her at all. Kat found it more likely that she noticed or felt the presence of her power emerge, but chose to ignore it. It was hard to believe that Ms. Ambruglio wasn't aware of her undocumented power until now. Extrinsic or not, a power remaining dormant two decades after the Change was unheard of. Kat didn't condemn her for hiding it.

At last, Ms. Ambruglio spoke again, but in a rasping voice. "I-I can’t... This can’t be. He was here yesterday…Robin. We had a fight...more or less," she struggled. She stood, slowly. In a moment of dizziness, she held her head in her hands and decided to sit back down again. "I can’t imagine anyone who’d have reason to harm him, to…murder him." Ms. Ambruglio glanced at Galinsky, then at Kat. She looked exhausted, but her eyes were pleading. "What happened, Officers? Where was he?"

She learned quickly that people wanted an explanation more than anything first. Still, there was a different reaction to grief between every person. Some shouted in anger. Many wept like Ms. Ambruglio. Others went into shock or fled to another room. Kat remembered a father whose teenage son was shot and killed during a robbery. He attempted suicide while she and Detective Thomason were still present in the room. Moments like those were ones she wouldn't forget.

"He was on the parking garage rooftop on Marshall Street," Kat answered calmly. "We have evidence that he was heavily sedated before the murder took place. Do you know if he had a history of using opioid drugs?"

In her lament, she told them Robin took LSD and marijuana for recreational use on occasion. She insisted that he never touched opioids, ruling Vivopirone out of the question. Kat realized what that statement meant then. When Galinsky asked what they fought about, the remorse in Ms. Ambruglio's face was painfully clear. A mystery man that Robin had fallen in love with, she said, was the kindling to their argument. She claimed to know next to nothing about him; Kat believed her. The two officers had to consider the likelihood that the mystery man was the perpetrator. The motive to the crime was still vastly unknown.

"And I wanted to apologize after it happened," she croaked. "I figured he'd be home by ten, so I sent him a bunch of texts and tried to call him. He didn't even leave me on read... I thought he was ignoring me."
"Did Robin mention where he and this man were going last night?"
"To the man's home. He told me it was going to be their first date. He was...excited. He said no one had ever offered to cook him a nice dinner in their own house, but I thought it wasn't safe. I don't think they knew each other for very long," she sniffed. Her hands trembled.

"Had he described the man in any way before the argument?"
"No; he couldn't say much without risking his job. Robin, he...was an escort. The kind of escort that got paid by people with good money. This mystery man was one of his clients. As you know, the job demands confidentiality. He had a habit of becoming infatuated with people too quickly a-and trusting people too easily. I was worried he'd get his heart broken again. He just wanted me to be happy for him, but I was harsh... Stubborn."

"What time did Robin leave yesterday?" Kat asked.
"Around 6:40 pm, I think. He was angry with me after what I said, then stormed out to go on his date...to prove me wrong."
"Were the two of you roommates?"
"Neighbors, actually. He lives...lived a few doors, down—sorry, I—" Ms. Ambruglio stammered as her tears spilled again and reduced her to silence.
"Take your time," Kat assured.

Within that stretch of stillness, the patter of rain was most prominent. She drew her breath then let out a shaky sigh that melted the force field around her. Her eyes were puffy and her nose had grown red. The subtle makeup she put on this morning was unable to withstand the tears. Jeanette Ambruglio was leaving herself to be truly vulnerable with them, and that much was enough. Now able to hand her a tissue box, she continued to speak after clearing her nose.

"He was my first friend after the Change, you know... The first one who gave me hope after I lost my only family. And now...now he's gone," she muttered.
A long pause followed. It felt as though she wasn't finished. Kat could see the effort she was making to stay mentally present and shape coherent sentences.
"The way he could cheer people up and make them laugh—make me laugh—it was a real gift. For a while, I thought that was his power...but he didn't have one. And he never judged me for mine." She had a sad yet nostalgic grin as she appeared to recall a fond memory of her friend.

Kat wanted to promise that they'd find the perpetrator and put them behind bars for life. But there was no way of knowing that would happen. If their leads went nowhere, Robin Cole's murder would get filed and, in time, become a cold case. She didn't want to give Ms. Ambruglio false hope.
"Ms. Ambruglio—"
"Jeanette... Please."
"Jeanette," she said, "Do you have someone in your contacts who can come visit you before we leave?"
"Yes. My girlfriend should be back soon since she was just running an errand."
"Good. I believe that's been enough questions, yes?" Kat looked to Galinsky, who was in agreement. She stepped closer to Jeanette and offered her a business card. It displayed HCPD's emblem, her name, department, and occupational contact information. "Here. If you recall any details at a later time, please contact this number."
"Thank you," she uttered, taking the card in hand.

It wasn't long until they heard Jeanette's girlfriend unlock the door and come inside. She was a tall, dark-skinned brunette with Ghana braids, a snake bite piercing and tattooed hands. She and Jeanette looked to be the same age. She spared the officers a fleeting glance, then her attention went to Jeanette. She noticed the tissues, dropped her store bag on the floor, and hugged her tight.

The couple stayed in each other's arms for a while, and even when they parted, they held hands. Kat and Galinsky briefly told the girlfriend why they visited. There was pain in her eyes too, but she assured she would take care of her. They left the apartment after expressing their deepest condolences.

Once reaching the elevator, she said to Galinsky, "I do hope she finds peace someday, because I believe she's innocent in all this. If that mystery man is the murderer—or a culprit—we have very little leads... We should talk to the receptionist. We could access the security footage from last night, to see if Robin left with anyone. Cameras were at every angle."

































2.0_6



mac quayle










♡coded by uxie♡
 



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    mentally exhausted

















With each word that Jeanette pushed out of her mouth, Noah lowered his gaze of the mourning woman. In the meantime, still paying close attention to his partner‘s questions and the answers they received, he clicked on his wristband. The neon blue case file opened in holographic texture but it was clean and sharp. Jeanette, who seemed surprised at the ray of lights for a moment, looked towards the file but for her eyes it was a mere blank space. The police force software was carefully programmed to shield sensitive data from the unauthorised. Only this morning he received his scan for the authorisation process. "You said Robin was an escort," he chimed in. It was a thought he did not want to lose. "Where did he work? Do you have an address?" Noah‘s instinct whispered to him it might be a good spot to find out more about this mystery man. He was hoping, even though Jeanette and Robin seemed very close, that his coworkers might know more about Robin‘s date.

"Uh, yes. I never visited him there, he liked to be in his own world when he was working. But I have the address somewhere." Jeanette‘s eyes shot through the room like in an arcade. She got up from her seat and went to the kitchen counter where she had a few notes pinned. She came back in a quick strut and handed Noah a business card. The paper was thick and smooth. It was grim black and had a rosy glitter carving saying "Cupid‘s Arrow". On the back there was an address in the south of town, maybe an hour from here. "Thank you kindly," he nodded and put away the card into the pocket of his pants. They might as well visit the place one of these days.

The questioning was ended by his partner soon after. Yet it was protocol to wait for the arrival of another person to make sure the devastating news didn’t have devastating consequences. Jeanettes girlfriend appeared on edge when she stepped foot in her home. Learning about the event resulted in a tight hug that left no space for the wicked. It was something to be cherished. Already on their way out, Noah turned back towards the couple. "Jeanette?" She looked up from the hug and slowly delegated from her girlfriend. "Yes?"
"What were Robin‘s favorite flowers?"
"Marigolds."

The officers said their goodbyes and exited the apartment as they made their way back to the lift. "I do hope she finds peace someday, because I believe she's innocent in all this. If that mystery man is the murderer—or a culprit—we have very little leads... We should talk to the receptionist. We could access the security footage from last night, to see if Robin left with anyone. Cameras were at every angle."

Noah watched her from the side and stood tall, leaning slightly against the metal wall. The doors of the Lift closed. "Ambruglio is not a suspect indeed," he determined. "Once we’re back at the precinct, we should give Zhang a call. The mystery man could be reaching out to Robin after all, that is, if he is not the perpetrator." On their way out, they passed the reception named Roy again. He stood up, a bit taken aback. "Officers. Is everything okay?" It seemed that he wanted to know if any of the habitants had been in trouble yet he knew it was not his place to put the questions in his head to words. "There’s nothing to worry about." Not for him. They approached his black desk and leaned over. "However we do need the security footage of an apartment next door in this complex. Tenant Robin Cole."
"Oh, yes. Give me a second." Roy’s fingers were twitching as he let them slide over the minimalistic keyboard as if on a piano. After a few moments, he found the file. "What date do you need?" Roy’s blonde lashes batted at Officer Mercer. "That would be all of yesterday and today’s early morning hours," Noah answered. The receptionist was quick and printed out a brand new hard drive. If plopped out of the printer like a mini factory product. "Here you go." The two of them thanked him and made their way back to the car. As Katalina took a seat on the driver’s side, Noah looked at the business card again, that Jeanette gave him. "We should head there one of these days. Maybe Robin’s colleagues know more gossip." It was a stereotypical guess but Noah was usually right about things like that. Just when the tires started going, the dense rain kept coming. The sky was heaving.

•••

It was a busy morning and afternoon. Besides visiting more places and collecting evidence and theories on a huge interactive screen, there was a virtual mountain of what was called paperwork in the old days. It's only been about seven days since the murder on Robin Cole was committed and yet there was an unspeakable helplessness to bring the case forward really. Everyone was focused on their work today, there were deadlines to meet, meetings to be planned and plans to be executed. Just like that by seven in the evening, Noah had spread handwritten notes all over the large desk in the conference room that he had claimed indefinitely. He liked to evaluate the clues on written notes before he would put them on the screen plastered on the wall. His eyes grew small like raisins, they felt just as dry. "Why the flowers…why the puzzle pieces?," he murmured to himself. Was the choice of flower just a lucky match or was there more behind it, he wondered. He was starting to feel the fog spread in his head, making his vision blurry. One pen between his fingers, Noah spun in the office chair as if it would shake off the exhaustion.


































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    sluggish, running on sheer motivation

















"Ambruglio is not a suspect indeed," Galinsky agreed. "Once we’re back at the precinct, we should give Zhang a call. The mystery man could be reaching out to Robin after all, that is, if he is not the perpetrator."
"Very true. Nice work back there, by the way. You calmed her and asked the right questions." Kat knew when to give credit when credit was due.
They reached the ground floor and spoke to Roy, the receptionist, again. Their exchange was swift. He produced a copy of the surveillance tape, gave it them, and they thanked him for his cooperation. The light drizzle was turning into a heavy rainfall as they walked out and entered the vehicle.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Galinsky examine the Cupid's Arrow card. It was sleek with a scarlet red color and elegant, golden typography. He said, "We should head there one of these days. Maybe Robin’s colleagues know more gossip."
"Let's hope so," Kat replied as she turned on the ignition. "We need all the information we can get."

🍀​

A week had gone by since they questioned Jeanette Ambruglio. They investigated and solved other incidents of theft, assault, car accidents and the like. However, Robin Cole's murder remained unsolved. They gathered what few leads they had and retraced Robin Cole's footsteps as well as they could. Kat and Galinsky scrutinized Slatewood Apartment's surveillance footage, but found nothing conspicuous. Fieldwork entailed a visit to Cupid's Arrow, among other places Robin Cole frequented. The madam there was about as taciturn as Kat expected. She, too, didn't know which of his clients he was meeting outside of work. He also led an online presence that coincided with his evidence of character, yet not much else.

Their work was a joint effort with other officers, many of which she had introduced Galinsky to since his first day. Together they amassed a plethora of evidence for this murder case. Ironically, it wasn't enough because the mystery man was the link they were still missing. Their inability to find him—despite the technology at hand—caused frustration in the precinct. Even worse, they discovered the public surveillance cameras from Marshall Street to the scene of the crime were all disabled at the time of the murder. They were not damaged nor broken, and became functional again many hours afterward. The perpetrator's vehicle wasn't captured on footage, and this attributed to the current standstill.

It was seven o'clock. The sun had long since dipped below the horizon for darkness to seep through the sky. Familiar colleagues left to go home; officers who worked the night shift already clocked in. Kat had been doing filework with Galinsky since the afternoon and they lingered for an hour later than usual. She felt the need to push through the uncertainty with more diligence. If they could do that, they might grasp an answer they weren't seeing in Robin Cole's case.

She had stepped out from the conference room to type a report at her desk. It was a necessary—albeit tedious—part of the process. As her fingers danced and tapped across the keyboard, her mind wandered to the riddle and the flower. She considered the theories they created as a group.
Are any of us right? she pondered. And how do we move forward with what we have? She held her hand over her mouth and yawned. Her eyes felt strained after staring at screens for so long. Kat had to face the facts; if she kept at this any longer, her body would soon feel stiff and heavy with exhaustion.

Focusing once more, she finished her report and turned off the computer. She returned to Galinsky with two unopened water bottles from the break room. He looked fatigued and weary-eyed as he idly spun in his chair. His handwritten notes were strewn across the table. The evidence board that was lit up against the wall was an interactive, holo display. It contained the clues he'd been analyzing and transferred from his notes. Kat handed him one of the water bottles.

"Let's call it for the night since we're both running low on energy. It won't do either of us any good to come to work tired," she said, piling the notes into a neat stack. She took a moment to drink the cold, refreshing water, then she perked up from a sudden idea that inspired her. "Wait. I have an idea. Come on, follow me."
Looking confused and somewhat intrigued, her partner complied to see her mysterious plan. They clocked out and she led him to the floor above them.

Though they were still on a surname basis, they were getting along without difficulty. Kat began to regard Galinsky as a cordial, efficient, and principled person. She realized he was a fast learner, too. She didn't need to repeat anything twice while teaching him the ins and outs of their department. Besides Crawford being Crawford, the rest of the officers gave him a warm reception.

Once they reached their destination, Kat pushed open the double doors. The gym facility was inside. It was full of clean equipment suitable for many types of exercise and each one had great quality. Off-duty officers used them at any given time, but currently, the room was empty. She'd taken advantage of its simple convenience to do strength and endurance training before. Kat made a slow, wide gesture with her arm as she stepped in.

"And here's my idea: we could do a workout. I was thinking of sparring drills to get us moving because we have that kind of gear. There are spare gym clothes of every size in the locker rooms, too." She took a few more steps forward. Regardless if he agreed or not, she was going to exercise. She found that doing so when she felt listless did wonders for her energy. Kat looked over her shoulder with the hint of a smile on her face. "Of course, you're not obligated to join me, but...I am curious to see your hand-to-hand combat up close."

































tea in the evening



bert










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    active

















As his mind tumbled dry, he took a glance out the large clean window. The last fluorescent clouds were about to vanish from the dark tinted sky. By the sight of the neon lights taking their respective spots in the streets, he had to wonder if it was dark still or again. The officer took a last spin until coming to a halt. While proposing the question of staying or heading home in his thoughts, his partner entered the room. Her hair was tied in a ponytail. He hasn’t realized how long her hair really was. What Noah did notice was that Mercer seemed to be just as beat up from the day as him.

He accepted the water bottle with a tired nod and opened it immediately. He drank almost half right away while listening to her preposition. The unnoticed dehydration faded slowly. "Let's call it for the night since we're both running low on energy. It won't do either of us any good to come to work tired." She had a point. Noah thought about the poor state his fridge was in. He remembered some beers and veggies gone stale. He would have to drop by a late night market before heading home, he thought. The older ladies there were always quite a charming bunch, some even knew his mother since she liked to frequent the market grounds on her days off to buy freshly baked Ash Tanur.

"Wait. I have an idea. Come on, follow me." As he stretched his muscles in the chair, everything cracked a little. He raised a lonely brow and expected an explanation, but Mercer was a tease. "Alright," he got up from his seat and followed her. He didn’t think about anything in particular, hence it was too much of a hassle to guess what Mercer had in mind. Despite being shown around on his very first day, the building looked identical with its layout of floors and rooms. They entered the gym and the cold lights turned on sensing their movement. "And here's my idea: we could do a workout. I was thinking of sparring drills to get us moving because we have that kind of gear. There are spare gym clothes of every size in the locker rooms, too. Of course, you're not obligated to join me, but...I am curious to see your hand-to-hand combat up close."

Noah stepped further into the room and approached the other side, where the wall consisted of large windows only. He liked the height and being able to look down on the city he loved. He watched people, small like ants, roam through the streets with full shopping bags and their friends close by. It was friday after all. "I won’t let that opportunity slide," he turned back towards her and showed a quick smile. "Let’s do it." He put his hands in the pockets of his pants. "I’ll meet you back here in a few." He nodded and made his way to the men’s changing rooms. The sports clothes came in different sizes, the precinct offered three colors for the cause of team sessions as well. He went with the black HCPD hoodie, the logo was printed in blue on the back. After putting on the shorts and shoes, Noah was headed to the bathroom and let cold water run over his face. If he wanted to take down Mercer in combat, he should wake up a bit. After all, he hadn't seen her combat abilities yet.

Once he stepped back into the larger gym section, Katalina had already returned. He watched her stretch her arms. "We should stretch before we begin." The gym felt less cold now, even some music was playing in the background. "I wasn’t aware this gym is so spacious," he commented while starting to warm up his body from bottom to top. With each small exercise his senses sharpened, his muscles grew warm and the color rushed back to his face. For the last drill they sat facing each other and holding onto their arms. While one tugged, the other gave in to the pressure and leaned forward. None of them paid attention to how much time they were taking warming up. The strange feeling of comfort unfurled in his gut by taking their sweet time.

Once he got back up, he tugged his hoodie back in place, giving Mercer a slight nod. The cabinets next to the entrance provided the gym with several training tools, such as belts, boxing gloves and helmets. He bowed down towards the last box that was filled with fresh bandages and turned his torso to throw one of them towards his partner. One thing he had not realized until his training for the force was that it was very skill-improving to take hits. Taking sparring to the level of a real fight was more than necessary to not feel overwhelmed by the act in true action. "Let’s make a pact. We won’t go easy on each other." She looked at him with amusement written on her face. "Hmph," she almost chuckled. "Sure. I wasn't going to go easy on you, but you should be warned that my left hook hurts."
"It’s settled then."

They parted and so it began.



































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    agile, focused, gratified

















She didn't have to wait long for Galinsky's answer. Neither did she see a trace of hesitancy or indecision emerge in his eyes. "I won't let this opportunity slide," he said, flashing a smile. "Let's do it."
"Ah, good! I was hoping you'd say yes," Kat enthused.
He agreed to be a sparring partner so readily that she was a little surprised by it, but still pleased that he did. Most people would have declined and gone home, being as tired as they were. It was good to see Galinsky had some vigor left in him.

"I'll meet you back here in a few."
After an affirmative nod from the both of them, Kat diverged to the women's locker room. A few days prior she packed a clean ensemble of her own sportswear for the next time she exercised in the precinct. Now was a better time than any to wear it. She pulled out the duffle bag from her locker and changed clothes. Her loosely curled hair remained bound in a ponytail.

Kat returned to the gym's open space before Galinsky. She took a couple gulps from her water before setting it down to stretch her arms. The metallic, solid black sheen of her cybernetic limb gleamed against the lighting. It moved intuitively, as if her real arm was still attached a few inches above her elbow. Her partner walked out of the men's locker room wearing an HCPD hoodie and shorts.

"We should stretch before we begin."
"Way ahead of you," she said with a slight smirk.
"I wasn’t aware this gym is so spacious," Galinsky mentioned.
"I know, right? Sometimes I work out here after work. It's nice."
They began their stretching exercises together. Kat readied her mind and body. Regardless of the role he had as a soldier, she knew it was wise not to underestimate him.

Though there was music in the background, the silence between them was comfortable. Their last warm-up entailed physical contact while they sat on the floor. During it, she noticed something. Galinsky's skin emanated warmth like the way a mug of freshly brewed tea did. He didn't look feverish and his skin didn't feel clammy when she clasped onto him for the stretching. She thought she imagined it before in moments where their hands brushed together, but those were so brief she didn't know for sure. Kat chose not to say anything about it, noted the little detail in her mind, then shrugged it off.

With the warm-ups done, they moved on to the sparring gear. She caught the roll of bandages Galinsky tossed to her. She began to wrap her right hand in the material with practiced ease, covering her knuckles and wrist. As she finished, he made a proposal.
"Let’s make a pact. We won’t go easy on each other."
Now it was going to be even more interesting. Mildly entertained by this, she made a noise that was half of a chuckle and replied, "Sure. I wasn't going to go easy on you, but you should be warned that my left hook hurts."
"It's settled then."

They put on the rest of the gear then they began. She settled into her fighting stance and stepped forward with her fists raised. Kat looked up at him with determination in her eyes and never broke her gaze. There was an eight-inch difference between their height. What she lacked in size and reach, she had to make up for in speed.

After a minute or two of gauging his movement and trading blows, she determined he had heavy defense and preferred to use his fists. He was not as quick, but he was strong. To play the ace up her sleeve, she needed to reserve her stamina by not striking at full power. Catching him off guard then overpowering him before he had a chance to react was Kat's best bet. It was going to be difficult, but not impossible. To an onlooker, they seemed evenly matched despite their drastic differences.

Galinsky would try a low kick on occasion. Kat would raise her leg so the hit connected right below her knee. If not for their shin guards, it would've reduced the damage done to her and hurt him with his own force instead. This was a common technique of someone trained in mixed martial arts. She liked to alternate between two styles depending on the situation and opponent. For now, she was displaying she knew only Muay Thai with her form and attacks.

She waited for a while—waited for the perfect opportunity to take the risk. Then she found it. After evading one of his punches by ducking underneath, she moved in close and fast. Kat grappled both his knees and mustered all her strength, all her weight and momentum into his chest. The element of surprise worked in her favor. She lifted Galinsky off the ground, then a loud boom sounded through the gym as she slammed his back onto the mat.

Kat sprung on top of him while he was still down. She wrapped her legs into a triangle around his head, pinning one of his arms across his chin and the other locked behind her knee.
Galinsky's brow furrowed. He struggled and tried to twist and writhe his way out in vain. Once he realized he was only straining himself until Kat released him, he conceded and let his arms go limp. They both stopped. Adrenaline still coursed through them as they caught their breath. She didn't know why she began to study the depths of his eyes, but Galinsky returned her gaze nonetheless. He didn't seem to be embarrassed or bothered.

"Not bad," he rasped.
She smiled faintly. "Thanks. If this were a sanctioned match, this first round would belong to me."
Her successful jiu jitsu takedown and submission hold made Kat feel proud of herself. She unhooked her legs from under his head, rolled away, then stood to her feet. She offered to pull him up from the mat by extending her hand. They were far from finishing their sparring practice; Kat was ready to go at it again.

































MONTERO



Lil Nas X










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    active

















Her movements were swift, executed proficiently without unnecessary maneuvers. It didn’t take long for him to understand her skill was undeniable in close combat. It was to his satisfaction, Noah wouldn’t have settled for less. She was quick on her feet, more agile than he could keep up with and the second he realized, she was already making this small advantage his doom. Noah was a solid fighter, an excellent one even, but his tactics were old-school and at least somewhat predictable from what it seemed. He had to learn that the hard way when Mercer used a moment of no cover as she pinned him down on the mat. The sound of his back on the floor gave a loud thump upon impact. No mercy were the terms of agreements and here he had it, trapped between her legs.

Her leg was wrapped around his neck and his arms could not help him now. After a few attempts, with furrowed brows, his eyes stared into Mercer’s hazel ones. They had an interesting pattern, he noted. Then he had to resign - his arms gave into gravity, signaling his partner he found no fast way out. “Not bad,” he admitted with a slight nod when she released him from her tight grip. “Thanks. If this were a sanctioned match, this first round would belong to me."
“Oh, this round does belong to you. You took me out cold..” He shook his head in disbelief and bit his lip. His assertiveness clenched the muscles in his arms. This was going to be more interesting than first anticipated. More importantly, it freed his mind from the case that seemed helpless.

“I’m not trying to explain your strategy to you. However,” he began, “if you lean your weight more into your grip, you could have even more control.” He positioned himself in front of her. “You had me right here” He lifted his hands to his neck. “But if you move your legs and hip a bit lower, you’re really inhibiting me from moving at all." He did not realize how talkative he became once something really struck his attention. Mercer had great technique that he was not used, nor he had learned. They grew focused, discussing ways to improve their technique. After a minute or two of catching their breaths, it was time to resume.

This time around Noah took initiative to attack first, moving more freely through the room and forcing her to follow his lead as if in a ballroom. He was to prevent her from getting a grip of him to pin him down, she was certainly strong enough to pull his weight down. His hits were forceful and faster then the ones before, attacking her vital points to slow her down. Once she grasped his left arm, he kicked her backwards with his leg, widening their surface. Fights that required concentration always heated him up inside, quite literally. the palms of his hands were as hot as a freshly lit candle, despite his efforts to cool himself down. He didn’t stop there and closed their distance fast, going in for a jump and spun in the air, landing the kick on her left shoulder and forcing her closer to the wall.

His left fist lounged out and came flying back in her face’s direction. Just before his own momentum hurried forward as well, Noah held his right hand on the back of Katalina’s head to prevent her from banging her head against the wall. His left first landed on the wall, right next to her face. If he had gone for her face he would have knocked her out completely. Even a hit on her upper body would've resulted in a big coughing fit. He saved his remarks on how this made their wins even, instead he released her from his grip and backed off, racing for his breath to match his pulse. He could sense she was taken by surprise as her eyes fluttered the very moment he appeared in front of her. As he turned his back on her, he pulled the black HCPD hoodie from his torso, revealing the black tank top underneath. His physique was well trained. His skin was paler than in the summer months, the lack of sunlight was traceable on his skin. They did not exchange a word this time. They built up a hunger for victory now that both of them got to taste it.
Noah recollected his stance, waiting for Katalina to do the same.

































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    agile, focused, ambitious

















“Oh, this round does belong to you. You took me out cold..” He looked a little rattled that she was capable of doing what she did to someone his size. The praise was not unwelcome either. Kat was stronger than most people would give her credit for at first glance. She had a subtle six-pack in her abs and lean muscles in her arms and legs that she maintained with a zealous regimen. It wasn't quite distinct unless she wore an outfit suited for workouts or warm weather. Rather than feeling indignant, she relished the fact her appearance was often deceiving. She paused when Galinsky stepped forward with no intention of sparring quite yet. He had something to say.

“I’m not trying to explain your strategy to you. However, if you lean your weight more into your grip, you could have even more control. You had me right here.” He gestured to his neck. “But if you move your legs and hip a bit lower, you’re really inhibiting me from moving at all."
His words were coming from a place of constructiveness and respect, so Kat didn't reject his input. She nodded and said, "Hmm, good catch. I'll remember that."

They spent their small interlude giving useful tips for each other. Kat mentioned how he could apply his offense more and exploit the advantage he had in reach. When they continued sparring, she realized Galinsky had taken her advice to heart. He became relentless. The onslaught of his punches and kicks gave Kat no choice but to bolster her defense. She could block and evade some of his attacks, but the ones that connected made her grimace. He advanced forward while she stepped back and around in circles. They moved throughout the gym without staying in one spot. Kat believed she saw a window of opportunity and grabbed his arm to attempt another takedown. Galinsky didn't let her.

She felt a kick to her stomach, and—despite the protective gear—it knocked the wind out of her lungs. She remained on her feet, but the blow was enough to make her stagger backward. The moment she took to recover was when he made his move to close the gap and kick her again. She felt a sharp pang in her shoulder then felt the presence of the wall near her back. His fist flew toward her face, but the impact didn't come. Instead, Galinsky veered his fist at the last second and landed it on the wall. She found warmth cradling the back of her head and recognized the form of fingers in her hair.

Kat's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she looked up. The expression on Galinsky's face was nothing short of austere. In this closeness, she could smell an aromatic, earthy musk and a trace of sweet tobacco. They were both breathless; neither of them said anything. Rather, there was nothing to say. Galinsky released his hand from her head, stepped away, and turned his back to her. Beads of sweat had emerged on Kat's temples and another trickled down her shoulder blades. She stopped herself from grinning. It impressed her how he made the "second round" belong to him. He was more than sheer power—he was quick to adapt and learn about his opponent.

Her heart was a rapid beating drum in her chest. She leaned down and put her hands on her knees to help herself breathe. She glanced at Galinsky while his back still faced her. He removed his HCPD hoodie, showing a black tank top underneath. She'd seen the vague silhouettes of his muscles before and was not astonished to find he had a robust body. Still, it was a testament to his dedication.

Focus, Kat thought. She allowed herself a few more seconds to stand upright and prepare. Galinsky stood ready in the middle of the gym. With a sparring partner of his skill, it was easy to ignite the competitive spirit in her. She went back into her fighting stance in front of him. A renewed fervor was in her eyes, eager to rise to the challenge. It wasn't about bruised pride; it was about honest sportsmanship. They resumed their sparring, staying relatively fixed to one small area.

Galinsky seemed intent on stopping her from grappling again. After he figured out her prior tactic, Kat kept her guard up to follow her new course of action. She prioritized her attacks with kicks to his ribcage and shins to slow him down. She had more strength in her legs; every hit that connected was sharp. Galinsky still resisted aggressively, but she countered his punches with rapid strikes of twos and threes. With enough blows, the throbbing pain was bound to set in and whittle away at his endurance.

His movements started to drag behind him. Kat could tell he was trying to bear through it, but the crack in his defense revealed itself. The distance between them was his doing—perhaps to further protect himself and use his reach. Her next move happened in a blur. Kat shifted her feet and launched herself into a spinning somersault. She twisted midair and trapped her partner's neck between her knees. By then, it was too late for him to stop it. She turned her body toward the floor to let gravity act against Galinsky while she outstretched her hand onto the mat. She caught herself and landed on her feet.

Another loud thud. Galinsky was on the ground again, but she didn't pin him this time. Instead, she let her arms fall to her side, shifted her weight to one leg, and placed one hand on her hip.
"I gotta say...it's pretty clear you have great offense. You did well preventing me from grabbing you, too." She let out a long exhale and a tired but enthusiastic smile. "But I know more than one way to close the distance."
The score was two to one now.

































Daisy



Ashnikko










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    hungry

















Noah pressed his hands against his thighs and the muscles in his arms tensed. They showed their interwoven pattern like a thick braid. He scrunched his nose, feeling the sensation of an incoming sneeze. It didn’t come. Katalina was quick to act in this next set, fast enough so he’d have trouble catching up and catching her. While she relied more on forceful kicks, he could only hold off a few of them. Realizing how his rib cage started aching with every new point of impact, he focused on his defense.

He backed off to recollect himself. In a boxing match he’d hold onto her body and close the distance fully to allow himself a moment of pause before he’d land his next hit. This was not a sole boxing match though and Katalina read him like a book. Before he knew it, she was close again and his brows raised in her mid-jump. When he landed on the ground, his lungs failed to inflate for a moment and he let out a cough as he fought for air.

He stayed on the ground for a moment until he felt a bit more alive. She did startle him a bit with that move, it was more like a stunt. "I gotta say...it's pretty clear you have great offense. You did well preventing me from grabbing you, too." Slowly he raised himself back on his feet. "But I know more than one way to close the distance." "I could see that," he exchanged a tired smile and grabbed his water bottle as he took a large sip. His adam’s apple dropped and raised.

After taking a break for a few minutes they resumed sparring. He was able to land a few rounds for himself, but so did Mercer. In the end he had to realize, she made this match her own and dominated the court he was standing on. In the end she was always able to tackle him on the mat.

He caught his stomach growling like an aggressive warning of a feral cat. He took that personal. "You won." He circled back to her and stretched out his flat hand. She displayed a warm smile on her face and gave him a firm handshake. His hands were as hot as a candle that's been lit hours ago. "I had a good time but you were right.." She released herself from the burning grip and collected her few belongings as well. He could not fail to notice how she shook her hand lightly after the touch.
“Right about what?"
"Your left hook really hurts." He smiled the pain away and picked up his water bottle. “Although I'll be bruised tomorrow, the fun was worth it.”

They were on the way towards the changing rooms. "You know what? You were a good sport; let me treat you to a meal. I've worked up an appetite at this point." Noah gave a strong nod to that proposal. "I won’t say no to that! We worked for it." They agreed to meet in front of the gym again to leave the building together. In the changing rooms, he took a hot shower and let his dark hair become the color of the void. He steamed comfortably. While pressing on the aching spots, colorful bruises were not yet visible. In a few days he was sure to witness a live painting on his skin where each day a new color would fade and rise.

About fifteen minutes after they parted, he was the first to be in front of the gym. He wore a dark green hoodie and the rest of his working clothes. The shirt and tie was too much of a hassle to put back on after a long day. Noah checked his wristband and his missed messages. The clock struck 21_30.
He caught Katalina opening the door and he put his hands in the pockets of his pants. "I have a place in mind. Follow me." He shouldered his slim bag and they exited the building. "I’m here with my bike. I could take you."

































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    famished

















Kat watched Galinsky with a trace of interest as he remained on the floor and squinted against the light. The moment was fleeting. He steadily rose to his feet and replied with a tired smile, "I could see that."
In some manner of impish humor, she shrugged her shoulders. Once again, they followed their unspoken pattern of time-out intervals. Kat began to do a lunge stretch for her hips and hamstring muscles. She viewed the cityscape through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

She always maintained the opinion that Heartbeat City looked prettier at night. Its neon rays and holoprojections ornamented the buildings in ways she found comforting. Calming. It glossed the city with a nice luster that colored its streets below with many hues. It still remained dark along the edges and underside, as all big cities did. This was where an untold number of transient shadows deemed it a sanctuary.

She furrowed her brow and focused her mind on stretching. After their short rest, they continued to spar for yet another round. This pattern of trading blows and taking a break to then repeat the cycle went on for a period of time neither of them gauged. Kat mentally kept track of who had won each round. She was able throw Galinsky onto the mat on more occasions—in different ways than she'd done before. She applied an array of submission holds that he was not used to breaking out of. Kat was the presumed victor by the end of it, with an unofficial score of six to two.

"You won," Galinsky admitted. He outstretched his right hand. She had forgotten about the unusual warmth exuding from his skin, so she smiled and shook his hand firmly. The warmth was now hot and intense. Inch by inch, it seared through the fabric of her glove and bandage wrapping underneath. There was a burning sensation, as if hot coals were being pressed into her palm, and she pulled away fast. She shook the pain away and gave Galinsky a discerning, sidelong glance.

There's no way he doesn't have one.

"I had a good time but you were right."
"About what?" Kat questioned.
"Your left hook really hurts."
Within an exhaling chuckle, she muttered a "I told you" that was too indistinct to hear in the same breath. “Although I'll be bruised tomorrow, the fun was worth it.” She thought for a moment. She added, "You know what? You were a good sport; let me treat you to a meal. I've worked up an appetite at this point."
Galinsky nodded with wholehearted enthusiasm. "I won’t say no to that! We worked for it."
"True! I'll meet you back here in fifteen."

Good food that was rich in carbs and protein was well-deserved for the both of them. They separated and went into their respective locker rooms. Kat took a cold shower and thanked her past self for packing another set of clothes to change into. It was 9:30. Knowing it was due to be chilly outside at this hour, she donned her brown leather jacket. She let her hair down and shook it loose as she walked out of the locker room. Her wavy mane was quite thick, soft, and cascaded to her shoulder blades. It was nice to wear it down, if only for a short while.

Galinsky was waiting in the middle of the gym, his hands in his pants pockets. "I have a place in mind. Follow me."
"Sure. Lead the way."
They left the building together and reached the parking lot. Galinsky then said, "I’m here with my bike. I could take you." The offer surprised Kat. Moreover, there was visible delight in her eyes from learning he owned a motorcycle, too.
"Oh, no, that's okay. Thank you," she answered, "I'll follow on mine. It'd be less of a hassle to get her back tomorrow. Maybe next time, though."

The public transit in Heartbeat City was unreliable and inconvenient. With frequent delays and overcrowding, an efficient commute was hard to come by in that system. She simply liked to avoid public transit as much as she could. They walked further and she noticed they parked near each other without knowing. Only one police vehicle separated their motorcycles. Kat smiled when she recognized the model her partner owned.

"A Musabi M6! You've got good taste."
She walked toward her sportbike, a black Komodo Dragon she affectionately named Irena. The indigo and violet gradient that ran along both sides was a tasteful splash of color.
"I almost bought an M6 myself, but then I found my Dragon. How long have you been riding?" While she spoke, she twisted her hair into a low bun with swift and dexterous ease so it wouldn't get tangled in the wind. Her beach wave tresses formed like a dark rose at the nape of her neck.

Galinsky seemed to be in thought. “Hmm. I’ve been riding five years this summer, but this one I only have since two years.”
"Ah, nice. It's been four years in total for me—with the same bike, too." She placed her hands on one of the two saddlebags and glanced back at him once zipping it open. "So, any chance I can get a hint for where we're going?"
“You’ll see. Trust me.”
Her stomach growled in protest, but she remained nonchalant about it. "Alright." She reached into the bag and pulled out a full-face helmet inlaid with purple LED lights. A pair of pointed cat ears made of fiberglass sat at the top. The helmet was a gift from her father that she thought it was both cute and funny. She donned it with pride.

They started their engines. The roar of two motorcycles tore through the air and, like brazen remarks, eclipsed the nightly sounds of the city. Irena's wheels glowed with purple LED lights that matched Kat's helmet. Galinsky cruised away, and she followed after him to converge on the street. She watched all forms of luminescence tinge the shape of Galinsky as he drove on, painting his back with moving blots and splotches. Kat imagined what kind of food she'd be eating and effectively made herself hungrier. It wasn't long until he started making a slow path in some backstreets. They maneuvered carefully since there were a handful of people walking about. Both walls harbored small shops and restaurants—none of which Kat had visited before.

Galinsky planted his foot on the ground as he stopped. She went to the same wall, stopped a few feet away, and popped out the kickstand while she dismounted. Kat followed his gaze and took off her helmet. Wedged between a pawn shop and a dive bar, there was a restaurant called The Story of the Bowl.

































Kerry's Song



xm1racl3x










♡coded by uxie♡
 



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    hungry

















The wind was lashing like a wet whip that tore on his clothes. In the gym upstairs it had looked much more peaceful with all the people crowding the streets. The sudden mention of his motorcycle made him blink a few times. "Huh?" He was surprised that a) Mercer knew how to name the model he was driving and b) that she was the owner to an honorable bike as well. "A Komodo Dragon...," the words left his lips just when he saw it. It was beautifully black and slick, with a nice detail of a color gradient that reflected the neon city lights like a fantastic mirror. His eyes widened in excitement. Noah took a step towards her machine and inspected it carefully. He let his fingers run over the shiny gradient as if he expected a certain texture.

"I almost bought an M6 myself, but then I found my Dragon. How long have you been riding?" He had to rummage around in his head to give a true answer. "Hmm. I’ve been riding five years this summer, but this one I only have since two years." Noah felt the effects of his physical exhaustion fade from his mind. When Mercer told him about how long she had her Dragon for, he smiled and watched her tie her hair in a loose bun. "That’s funny, I always liked the design of the Komodo Dragon Line more than Musabi’s but in the end the swift motion of the Musabi always convinced me." It almost sounded like an invitation to who had the better bike. He could chew Mercer an ear off about motorcycles and what he looked for in his models but he was sure she could too. "So, any chance I can get a hint for where we're going?"
"You’ll see. Trust me."

He took his black matte helmet and turned it in his hands before he set it on his head. The ventail was pushed up so his face was still partly visible. Mercer’s helmet had the appearance of a cat’s head with the pointed ears and he had to admit that it looked quite adorable. It fit her well, he thought, pushing his ventail down as his cheeks burned up a bit.
He swung his leg around his Musabi and pushed his foot down, starting his bike soon after. The machines accelerated and they roared through the cold night. While still on the main road, they created some curves, forming a helix shape with their bikes whenever there was enough space in the line between the cars. The colors illuminated the path ahead, they could not escape the tesselating shapes wherever they’d head in the city, which seemed to be a blessing and curse.

As the buzzing of the bikes got calmer, they approached an alley that wasn’t too busy. Noah stopped his engine and swung his right leg over his Musabi and parked it on the side of the street. He assured himself he was standing in front of the right place and smiled when he read the sign in neon yellow. The Story of the Bowl was what the sign read in an elegant font, while the S-Letter seemed brighter than the remaining ones.

"I drove by this place twice already, never went inside though." He could’ve thought of other restaurants or bars to get himself treated by his new colleague. However, this small diner sat in a small dark core in the city where for once one did not feel the heat of the overloaded city. In his mind, this diner could be a place where time transcended into fine dust and was of no importance like a land in-between.

He opened the door and a light-hearted ring jammed through the diner. It didn’t have many customers at this hour. Two groups of two sitting at the counter; four other customers split across the restaurant by themselves, just working late or having a break. "Good evening!" A sweet voice chimed from the counter where a freshly tapped beer foamed and the tiny bubbles reduced one by one. "A table for two?," the voice that belonged to a middle-aged woman added. She reminded him of his mother. He thought it was the narrow calm eyes but really it was the hearty smile. "Yes. Thank you kindly." They were led to a table in a corner where they could watch the events of the alley well. It seemed they were followed by luck itself today. Just as Noah sat down on the shiny red leather bench, outside it started pouring.

The lady came back with a small device with cute stickers on it. Customers must've decorated it. "Welcome. We have a rather small menu, I hope you two don’t mind." She put the device in the middle of the table. It had three buttons. "Here at The Story of the Bowl, we still appreciate the analogue written word. We have a collection of classics and all time favorites over there on the shelves. Be our guest and read as many as you want." Her tanned arm was showered in a milky way of small moles. She explained how the service operated in the diner. They were to push button one to show the menu via hologram and skim through. Button two was for signaling the wish to order and button three was for informing the staff for the wish to pay. It seemed like a family owned business on a closer look. The walls were decorated with personal photographs of what seemed to be their waitress in younger years with her husband and their children.


































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 



katalina mercer.





































  • mood



    playful, bold, scolding herself

















The Story of the Bowl was a white one-story building with a wide window and patches of grey brick. Its size was a tad smaller than other restaurants in the city. Though simple and rustic, the cohesive colors that adorned the exterior drew Kat's eyes to it. The restaurant's name was in neon yellow and glowing against the dark. Its logo was more of a mural; a decorative bowl facing up with a woman's profile in the center. The spiral of colors bursting from within were like kaleidoscopic sun rays. She noticed two barrel planters by both sides of the door that were full of yellow and orange flowers. Her nose wrinkled slightly when she realized they were marigolds.

A raindrop landed on her shoulder. She stowed her helmet away then turned her attention to Galinsky, who smiled at the sign. She asked, "Have you been here before?"
"I drove by this place twice already, never went inside though," he answered.
Kat had to admit that his optimism was a little infectious—even if it was for a place he'd never dined at. After all, she wasn't opposed to eating somewhere new either. They walked in together.

The interior was cozy, home-like, and felt clean and refreshing. Pendant fixtures illuminated the space, showing tasteful accents of red, teal, and yellow. The customers were sparse but attributed to the ambience with calm, indistinct conversation. The square tables and dark brown chairs comprised of repurposed wood framed by metal. Each booth was along the window and had cherry red leather in its upholstery. She saw a section of family group photos—the same members throughout—on the left wall. There were lovely elements of the decor that celebrated their Hispanic heritage. On the farthest end, opposite from the door, stood a white bar and a visible kitchen pass.

A curvy waitress in her fifties or so approached them and flashed a radiant smile. She had kind eyes. Her tawny skin was dewy and her brown hair swept away from her round face into a Dutch braid updo. A few grey strands fell loose from it during the hours she'd been working. She owned a thin pair of rectangular glasses, but they hung unused in her breast pocket. Her name tag read Angela.
"Good evening!" she greeted while filling up a carafe with water. "Table for two?"
"Yes. Thank you kindly," Galinsky replied.
They were then seated by the window in a corner booth—Kat always preferred those. She looked outside, hearing the light drizzle of rain turn into a downpour.

Angela placed the menu device on the center of the table. One of the stickers on it was a frog wearing a spotted mushroom for a hat. Cute, she thought. With a press of a button, two menu holograms appeared to float an inch above the table's surface.
"Welcome. We have a rather small menu, I hope you two don’t mind." She started to pour water into their empty drinking glasses.
"Oh, not at all. If anything, it's a good sign," Kat assured.
Angela looked pleased to hear it. She continued, "Here at The Story of the Bowl, we still appreciate the analogue written word. We have a collection of classics and all-time favorites over there on the shelves. Be our guest and read as many as you want."

She followed her gesture to the wall on the right and saw the floating shelves she hadn't noticed before. Her eyebrows raised in surprise. Physical books were an uncommon sight since most text came from a screen nowadays. Kat was thankful for the bibliophiles who ensured their treasures didn't become obsolete. She enjoyed the subtle, earthy scent of books and liked the feeling of pages on her fingertips.

It was nostalgic to her. She read quite a lot of romance, classics, and mystery novels to cope with a painful time in her adolescence. In some ways, it helped her through it. She didn't do a lot of leisure reading anymore—not as much as she'd like—even though she owned handfuls of books at home. She hadn't made it a priority to finish them lately.

"My name's Angela and I'll be serving you today. Could I get you started on drinks?" she asked. She donned her eyewear then readied the mobile POS system she had clipped to her belt.
"Water is fine for me. Actually, wait..." Kat skimmed over the menu that was facing her. "Charlie and the Chocolate Milkshake sounds amazing. May I have that, please?"
She nodded while tapping the screen. "Of course! And you?"
“I’ll have a large beer. Thank you, kindly," added Galinsky.
"Alrighty. I'll let you go over the menu and come back with your drinks." Angela walked away, leaving the two to peruse and consider their meal options.

The food was reasonably priced. Everything on the menu was either the name of a famous book or a reference to one. She thought it was charming. There was a dish named the Don Quixote burger that caught her attention. The description read, "Juicy beef patty topped with Jamón ibérico, a fried egg, Manchego cheese, and spicy aioli spread on toasted buns. Side choices include hand-cut fries, coleslaw, or salt and pepper kettle chips." It sounded more than promising, but there were others that piqued her appetite, too. Her contemplative eyes eventually drifted up to Galinsky's face. The silence wasn't uncomfortable—any lack of conversation seldom disturbed her. But for some reason, watching him read caused a realization she felt compelled to say aloud.

"Huh... I just noticed something," Kat began, "we haven't exchanged our first names since we met."
They locked eyes again. From the way his expression appeared, he hadn't made that observation either.
"So let's change that. I'm Katalina, but I prefer Kat." She outstretched her real hand for a proper handshake.
He reached out and shook her hand. His skin wasn't searing hot like before; it was a tolerable warmth again. He shared, "I'm Noah. My second name is Aviram, after my father. But Noah is fine."
"Noah it is then."

Angela returned with their beverages in hand. "Okay! Here's your beer," she chimed as she set them down, "and your chocolate milkshake."
"Thank you," Kat smiled. The chocolate milkshake had a swirl of whipped cream and a cherry on top.
"Do you both need more time to order?"
She glanced at Noah with uncertainty, then turned back to Angela. She answered, "Yeah, I still haven't decided yet. It's our first time here."
"That's okay! Just press that middle button when you're ready to order and I'll be right with you. Let me know if you have any questions about the menu." They nodded, and while she stepped away once more, Kat finished her thought.

"I think we should get to know each other better since we're partners. We can do that the old-fashioned way with questions or...we can start off by playing a classic game of Two Truths and a Lie. What do you say?"
Noah sipped from his tall glass of beer. A bit of froth from its head lingered on the curve of his upper lip. He briefly licked his lips and her inner voice warned her not to pay attention to it.
"I accept, then, Kat."

She mustered a half-grin. "Good. I'll go first. One: when I was a little girl, my dream was to become a space princess. Two: I never learned how to swim. Three: I was born in Seattle, Washington." Her voice didn't shift and neither did her deep, inscrutable eyes. Even as she dunked the straw into her milkshake and took an ample sip, her gaze didn't leave his. Kat had confidence in her poker face—the times it failed her was very little.
"Being born in Seattle is super random so it must be true. There's no way you don't know how to swim...that's a lie. And at last, space princess sounds like a niche occupation but the childish mind is full of creative surprises."

"Oh, wow. I thought for sure the space princess would throw you off. But you're right; I do know how to swim. I've met a few people who haven't learned as adults, so it happens." She visualized Taylor and Jasmin, two of her friends. She shrugged her shoulders. "Your turn."
Noah looked pleased with himself and she didn't blame him for it. "Alright, alright. Number One. I was adopted when I was a child. Number Two. I have to fight the urge to throw up when I'm in a new car. Number Three. I'm a pretty good dancer."
She put a hand to her chin, thinking for a moment as the cool metal touched her skin. "The first one...I'm not sure. But I get the feeling you don't get nauseous easily, from a new car smell of all things. I'll say that one is a lie," she decided.
"Good call. However, that one is the truth. I am a horrible dancer though, even if my life depended on it."

"Ah, damn!" Her poker face fell to reveal her genuine shock and amusement. In a mischievous tone, she prodded, "So, wait, what's your go-to dance move if you can't dance well? Or do you take a 'I'll be sitting this one out' approach?"
Noah chuckled. He leaned forward, made a beckoning gesture, and pretended he was going to share a secret. Kat played along. She placed her elbow on the table to match his movements.
"I call it the step-tap repeat," he explained. "I take a step, then close the gap with a tap. If I'm having a good time, I sprinkle some head bopping in."
She cupped her hand by her mouth as if to tell him a secret, too. She said, "That almost sounds like line dancing, cowboy. No judgement, though." She leaned back and smiled. "My turn. One: I was a part-time model for my first job. Two: math was my best subject in school. And three: panda bears are my favorite wild animal."

Her partner's eyes remained fixed on her. She knew he was searching her face for any hint of a lie, even if it were a flicker. She didn't look away.
"That's tough. I'm not confident in this, but two is a lie," Noah said.
Hm! He thinks I could've been a model. At that, she attempted to hide a flattered smile by pursing her lips. A trace of it still showed. "I was never a model. My first job was being a waitress in a diner much like this one."
Noah leaned back and nodded to himself. "I'm next. One. I'm not a good cook. Two. I can do a split. Three. I actually enjoy country music a lot."
"Ooh. Tough one," she admitted. She tilted her head to the side and stared, assessing his proud smile. "I think...you can't do the splits. Final answer."
His smile grew. "I can. Country music, on the contrary, should be banned."

Kat's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Really?!" she exclaimed. "That's impressive. A man able to do the splits is kinda rare, so I had my doubts. Well played."
"Next time we're practicing together, I'll give you a presentation of my skill."
"Oh yeah? I'll keep you to that promise."
The two continued their game. Their conversation went off in lighthearted tangents without breaking the rhythm. Talking with Noah was effortless and pleasant. She learned surprising little facts about her partner and vice versa. She revealed that she was a terrible baker, had braces in elementary school, and failed her driver's test twice before getting her license. Among a few other facts, she didn't reveal too much beneath the surface. But it felt refreshing not to talk about work for a change. During that time, they each decided what to eat—Kat chose the Don Quixote burger in the end. They had made their order and were now waiting for their food.

"Alright, I have one more," Kat told him. "Let's see if you get this one... I can tie a cherry stem with my tongue. I know how to speak conversational Russian. I once had blue tips in my hair."
"You've got to be kidding me..." He then contemplated, letting his hand hover in front of his mouth. "You seem to be more of the experimental type, I could see you change hair colors."
As he spoke his thoughts aloud, Kat picked up the cherry she had laid on a napkin. She used her teeth to tear the fruit from its stem. It was as sweet as the milkshake but with a simpler, more vibrant aftertaste.
Noah continued, focused on making his guess correct. "The other two are a close one. Maybe one of your parents had Russian roots...that's not too far fetched. The cherry stem hypothesis is a lie then!"

Kat twirled the long, detached stem between her index finger and thumb. She looked at it, said to Noah, "Well. Let's test it," then placed the stem on her tongue and closed her mouth. He watched with undivided, curious attention. After twenty seconds, she pulled out the cherry stem and revealed a knot in it that wasn't there before.

"Xорошая догадка, but it's true."
Noah had been drinking his beer, and when he saw the knotted stem, he sputtered into his beverage. He set the glass down as he was overcome by a flurry of coughs. He turned his head away.
"You okay?" Kat asked. She noticed his cheeks and ears had become very flush.
At last, he croaked, "Really didn't expect that."

Ooh, that was dumb of me. I've only known him for a week and we're co-workers. Jesus. I shouldn't have done that—that was a blatant innuendo and it wasn't professional. Good fucking work, crossing the line like that. Keep it together and dial it back to a four—no, a three.
"Here we are!" a familiar voice sang.
Like the godsend she was, Angela came walking toward them to deliver their food. She was glad for the distraction but even happier for the fact that they could fill their hunger. Kat flashed an identical smile to the waitress, if only to brush away her own thoughts.

































Back to the Streets



Saweetie feat. Jhené aiko










♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



noah galinsky.





































  • mood



    relaxed

















"Huh... I just noticed something…We haven't exchanged our first names since we met."
It made him lift his chin up before his eyes stuck to the menu could follow. The rain pushed against the window and filled the silence between their sentences. The winds grew harsher around that time. Noah’s head gave a slight nod at her observation, surprised and almost embarrassed he didn’t catch it any sooner. Her introduction was swift, it made him smile. He read her first name on the schedules before. He raised his arm above the table and took her hand in a firm handshake. Seconds before he took a deep breath to reduce the heat his palms liked to give off. "I'm Noah. My second name is Aviram, after my father. But Noah is fine."
"Noah it is then."

Their drinks arrived and the waitress requested their food orders, however it had been such a brief moment that Noah was much more busy trying to figure out which dish names he could sort to some of the books he had read in the past. He scanned the menu again, but Merc- Katalina took initiative to buy them more time for their orders, for which he was thankful for. He wasn’t going to bring it up but he felt relieved she wasn’t shying away around him and the waitress. Noah often found himself in situations alike in which he had to lead the evening, come up with topics for conversation and talk to the staff. Despite not minding that, it made him feel at ease like it was really after hours for once.

Katalina proposed her idea of a session of Two Truths One Lie and he wasn’t opposed, it sounded interesting, especially since Noah felt competitive. He drowned his mouth in a large sip of his cool blonde drink, the fluid shrunk in the glass with each gulp of his Adam's apple. The white foam stuck to his cupid’s bow when he set the tall glass back in front of him. He could feel the small bubbles tickle his skin and he licked his lips. They were now shimmering with clean moisture. "I accept, then, Kat."

While he thought of own cunning lies about himself and surprising truths, she had ideas about her own already.
"One: When I was a little girl, my dream was to become a space princess. Two: I never learned how to swim. Three: I was born in Seattle, Washington." He followed a certain strategy: intimidation. His eyes clung to hers and would not let go as she let the milk of her shake vanish up the straw. The wanted result was not accomplished by analyzing her face as Katalina did not break. "Being born in Seattle is super random so it must be true. There's no way you don't know how to swim...that's a lie. And at last, space princess sounds like a niche occupation but the childish mind is full of creative surprises." He listened to her explanation about her choice of facts and nodded. "Yeah, that’s also true." He knew a few people who couldn’t swim as well. However as an active officer he was guessing it could be disadvantageous to lack in swimming.
"Your turn," she mouthed and he escaped her looks.

"Alright, alright," he hummed and tried to come up with something fast. "Number One. I was adopted when I was a child. Number Two. I have to fight the urge to throw up when I'm in a new car. Number Three. I'm a pretty good dancer," he said without letting his voice dance on his tongue.
He was sure that the first fact could confuse her given they had not shared many private stories yet. Her prosthetic arm moved swiftly to her chin. She did pick up a lie as a truth but the adoption did not seem to distract her as much as he expected.

They exchanged their small bits of knowledge about one another piece by piece and every now and then a chuckle was audible when a "No way!" followed.

"Alright, I have one more," Kat told him. "Let's see if you get this one... I can tie a cherry stem with my tongue. I know how to speak conversational Russian. I once had blue tips in my hair."
– "You've got to be kidding me…," Noah threw his head back slightly and focused.
His hand hovered over his mouth where it landed and rested. "You seem to be more of the experimental type, I could see you change hair colors," he noted without yet deciding. The game had grown on him and now he wanted the win after losing to her before. "The other two are a close one. Maybe one of your parents had Russian roots...that's not too far-fetched. The cherry stem hypothesis is a lie then!" It was his final guess, like solving a difficult math task in front of an audience.

He hadn’t noticed her game of giving the cherry stem of her milkshake one twirl after another between her fingers. When she proposed the following, he was confused: "Well. Let’s test it." He then felt drawn to watch. Her jaw moved slightly, her lips pursed and popped. She demanded his attention in a way, not that she asked for it but he felt compelled. He drank from his still sparkly beer. The white surface had cleared by now. When she pulled the cherry stem with a perfect delicate knot from her mouth after a few seconds, the bitter liquid hurried outside back in the glass. A sheepish coughing fit followed and the warmth of his embarrassment shot to his cheeks and ears. Noah whacked his fist in his chest a few times and hid his glowing face as he leaned more and more into the table. He hadn’t paid attention to what she said before but then heard her say: "You okay?"

"Yeah,” he took a breath, "Really didn't expect that." He grabbed his hoodie by the collar and fought for some fresh air. Did I seriously just lose it like that? Can I be more embarrassing? She does something pretty and I spit my drink like a child. Now I made her uncomfortable, great fucking job, really.
The food arrived just in time to focus on something else. He had ordered the Fahrenheit 451 classic, a peruvian dish also known as Lomo Saltado in American Diner style. When Angela carried their plates, the beef still sizzled like an igniting fire. It was served with Yuka fries and peppers as the marinade of soy sauce made his mouth water. He picked up his cutlery and stole a glance at Katalina. "Let’s enjoy. We had a full day," he noted. The beef was soft and melted in his mouth.

"So…how do you know russian?"
"Well... This is probably surprising, but I was obsessed with Russian punk rock bands when I was in high school." He looked up from his food and noticed a smile of almost forgotten memories as she added: "I bought merch clothes, posters, watched their concerts online--I even dyed my tips red because of a female singer from one of those bands. Mind you, I don't have Russian roots in my family, so I didn't grow up hearing the language. But my school offered it as an elective so I jumped on the chance," she shrugged, "I just wanted to know what they were saying." Noah bit his tongue and shook his head. "That’s…interesting. So you also did dye your tips, just not that color. You’re cruel." They had a laugh. "I’m kind of impressed though, it’s pretty cool."

He tried more of his beef and it was just what he had craved during the day.
"What kind of music do you like? If you’re not listening to Country Music, that is," she said in impure sarcasm. He laid down his cutlery, acting hurt by her words and shook his head. "Ahhh, come on! You’ll never let me forget that, will you?" He then finished chewing and started to think. "When I’m not listening to Country, I like Indie Bands like Moth Babe and Lazy Twins. Hmm, I like Rock Bands too," he explained. "I enjoy music that has guitars in it. I can play guitar a bit," he said.

Their plates were licked clean and their drinks had had more than one refill. At the time of night fewer customers came in and one by one left for a few more hours of sleep. As Katalina went praising her milkshakes, Noah was convinced at last to try one as well. He had chosen the blueberry flavor and was not left with disappointment. Noah too, grew tired as the food made his body feel a bit cooler and his eyes felt heavy. "We should head home," he said and took a first glance at his phone after hours, "It’s getting quite late," he smiled and felt at peace with that. They proceeded to pay and leave Angela and her family a good tip. The service had been very welcoming after all.


· · ·

​

A week had passed and the leads in the murder of Robin Cole were faint despite many riddles. The precinct drowned in paperwork and the officers' faces seemed more wrinkled than usual. It was yet again a day in which the sky was dusted in thick dusky clouds. Noah held his hands on the steering wheel as he patrolled the streets with Katalina. He used the manual mode of the vehicle as well and indicated a turn to the right at the large crossing between the Heartbeat City bridge to the port and the health institute. The car caught an incoming signal of officers nearby. "Officer Nanhal here. Robbery reported at St. Clairmont Street 692, Jewel Store. No information if armed. Requesting backup."
Noah didn’t know the the speaking officer. He looked back on the street and realized they were only two blocks away from the scene. A glance between him and his partner was enough to hit the gas pedal as Katalina grabbed the speaking device. "Copy that; this is Mercer and Galinsky heading east from Oak Street. We're on our way."

Noah took a turn to bring them back on the course to the location of events. He turned on the siren, which he loved to operate. The heads of the passengers lifted and turned as they dashed by. They wore their patrol attire which consisted of a rather thin layer of bulletproof vests and their HCPD jackets as well as their duty belts. "I know a shortcut," he proposed and took another turn to the left where the fog of the traffic lifted in an instant. The manual mode was much more practical for hectic maneuvers. They parked on a street that lacked space and rushed out. As they approached the Jewelry Store, two officers had arrived before them and secured the space with yellow tape. More and more people gathered around the clogged road as well as the sidewalk.

"HCPD. Everyone distance yourselves from the site!," Noah called out as they pushed through the bystanders - gentle but ordaining. The two officers nodded at them and thanked them for coming quickly. "I’m Officer Nanhal, my partner is Officer Ludvianci. We will continue to secure the evidence. The perpetrator is not here anymore and supposedly left an hour ago. The staff is inside, they are not injured. Please go ahead and take their statement." Noah looked around. The Jewelry Store was the level floor of a skyscraper. The outside of the store did not look messy, no shattered glass or skid marks of cars. St. Clairmont Street was part of the wealthy areas of the City. Jewelry Stores, Boutiques and expensive classy restaurants resided on the streets. Noah agreed to Officer Nanhal and opened the door to the Jewelry Store. In the numerous transparent showcases many kinds of diamonds and other glowing pieces of gold and silver glittered the room like a collection of disco balls.



































seoul



Jaysen










♡coded by uxie♡
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)

Similar threads

KeraSoCool
Fandom From Eye To Eye We Meet - 1x1 Pokemon RP
Replies
21
Views
139
Juneberry
Juneberry
Lucyfer
Fandom Devil May Cry: Cold Day In Heaven [Closed]
Replies
3
Views
123
Ghost Orchid
Ghost Orchid
Garului
Fandom Just a simple PMD roleplay
2 3 4 pokemon mystery dungeon
Replies
84
Views
368
Garului
Garului
moonrise
Fandom ATLA: Archive of Water [Closed]
Replies
3
Views
110
Lucyfer
Lucyfer
moonrise
Fandom ATLA: Archive of Fire [Closed]
Replies
3
Views
124
Lucyfer
Lucyfer
Back
Top