That Wasn't What I Meant ((8))

[qualapec]

Vala watched him go. He was...different. Exhausted, definitely. But he gave her good-guy vibes. Unfortunately, if that was true, then he was a good guy in a bad, bad world.

She decided to focus on the file folders in front of her. Something didn't feel right, she just didn't know what yet.

((exit Vala))

[havlockvhett]

Running on little and restless sleep was second nature to Franz, one of the more useful holdovers from the warA little nip of bourbon and a walking breakfast began what he hoped would be a productive day. Arriving a full half hour early, Franz grew more irritated as his pocket watch ticked away all of the time he was wasting. He would not resort to tapping his foot, he wasn't six. At least thats what he kept telling himself, but there was a point that glaring at the opposite wall and any unfortunate bystanders just ceased to satisfy.

[victoriousscarf]

Sonya slowed when he approached his office, stopping to grab two new cups of coffee before approaching. He was going to be polite if it killed him at that point. He had tried to arrive early, but once his body actually met sleep, it had been quite unwilling to part. Plus, the new transfer had distracted him. Finally he rounded the corner to face his office door and indeed, there was the Pinkerton. "Good morning," he murmured, walking to the door and unlocking it. Picking up the cups from where he had sat them down, he entered the office.

[havlockvhett]

"So nice of you to make an appearance." Franz followed him into the office, unceremoniously dumping his coat onto a chair. "If you can make time in your busy schedule, I'd like to get to work immediately."

[victoriousscarf]

"Yes yes," Sonya muttered, placing the second cup of coffee in front of Franz. If the other took it as a peace offering, so much the better. If he did not drink it, Sonya would have a second cup for when he finished his first. "I was detained on some official business. A new transfer, things like that." He turned to the papers. He had had an entire speech planned out and could remember none of it.

"Last night I went through some of the files, and pulled out any reference to grey tabbies I could find. There weren't many. There was one lawyer who fit the description, and a desk clerk at a hotel, as well as a fisherman down by the docks, that were all minorly involved in some problems or another. But all minor. The files are in roughly chronological order, but I can make no promises."

[havlockvhett]

Even annoyed as he was, Franz wasn't going to turn down free coffee. He grimaced as he took a swig. Even police station swill, another long habit of the war. And if the chaos of paper around him, and the commissioner's own failure were any indication, he'd need more than one cup of the vile stuff before the day was out. It wasn't even noon and he'd already murder for a decent cup of tea.

"I've noticed." Franz picked up the specified files, glancing around the room for somewhere to monopolize for a work area.

[victoriousscarf]

Sonya quietly pointed to a side counter that was relatively clean of files and papers. He almost mourned the lost cup of coffee, especially considering the other tom's reaction to it. Jerk. Though the station's coffee had nothing on real coffee, such as that found in cafes, it still did not deserve such a reaction as that.

He sat down behind his desk, working through last nights reports as well as glancing through some files, trying to work on organizing them. He glanced over at the filing cabinet, finally starting to write up dividers and shoving files inside it.

[havlockvhett]

Franz went through each file with a fine tooth comb. Then he sat back, stared at his now room-temperature coffee and bent to go through them each again. He didn't touch the coffee again until noon, and more than sixty files later. The vile taste made him cough in surprise, snarling as he spilled it all over his favorite tie. A few choice German invectives were spit out as he slammed his fist down on the counter hard enough to make it creak ominously. This was getting nowhere. But he couldn't leave. He couldn't risk missing that one tiny bit of information that he wouldn't know he'd needed until later.

Research had never bothered him before, even the marathons in the depths of the Cook County Library. It was work that calmed itself, lent itself to patterns and order. It was predictable and always felt like a well deserved breather, like watching the mechanics work away on the planes. Today though, today the inaction burned in his gut like acid, adrenalin making his missing fingers itch like bed bugs.

[victoriousscarf]

Sonya jumped at the loud sound, turning from the filing cabinet where he had been standing, finally making progress on his files. He blinked through the German cursing and handed some napkins over when he noticed the spilled coffee, since he kept a supply in his desk drawer.

He turned back to the cabinet, not saying anything to the Pinkerton.

[havlockvhett]

Franz snatched the napkins and dabbed at his tie. His favorite goddamn tie. That Robert- the rough fabric slipped through his fingers and he swore he could smell the older cat. Uniform starch and musky cologne, he could almost feel the thick brown fur he'd turn to rub his cheek against. 'Can't have my favorite suicide jockey walking around without his white scarf.' His ace's scarf, a crap tie that Robert could barely afford on his crap salary. His favorite.

Franz ground his teeth, forcing himself to breath through his nose. Forcing himself to toss the napkins and the cup away without any undo force. Forcing himself to take of his tie, fold it oh so carefully and tuck in into his jacket pocket. Forcing himself to pick up a new stack of files, and start this insanity all over again.

[victoriousscarf]

Sonya turned to him several hours later. "I'm very sorry," he said, tilting his head to indicate that it was dark out. "But I am going home for the night and must lock the office up. Are there any files you need to take with you? I can look them over if you really need them and see if I can allow them out," he offered, hoping to pacify the other a little. He had looked frustrated all day after all.

[havlockvhett]

Franz pushed himself up with the counter, cracking his sore neck and reaching up to massage his jaw, sore from hours of grinding his teeth unconsciously. "If you're sorry than just fix this excuse for police work." He waved a paw at the scattered files. Barely a useful thing in any of them. He wondered why anyone had even bothered recording things.

To tired to storm, he tugged on his coat, and brushed past the Commissioner. "I don't take my work home with me. It clouds your mind." Something an...old friend had taught him. You had to find other distractions or you'd just pound away at the same pieces and never let your brain get a fresh eye on it all. "What time tomorrow Commissioner?"

[victoriousscarf]

Sonya barred his teeth at the comment about the files. Well that very well was not his fault now was it? His damn reports had been filed correctly when he was a beat cop, but he could hardly account for everyone. "I'll try my best," he forced out through gritted teeth. "Come back at the same time tomorrow." It looked like he might be getting a good night of sleep the second night running. How amazing.

[havlockvhett]

So late, again? Short of breaking and entering that was what he would get, and these reports weren't even worth the paper they were written on, much less that sort of risk. "Try for punctuality tomorrow Commissioner." With that Franz did his best to walk briskly off, managing more of a desperately enthusiastic trudge. He would've sold his apartment to have spent the day doing some honest work, to feel a burn in his muscles instead of in his stomach, and that tired, beaten feeling in his breast.

Maybe he could fall asleep tonight without a drink. He hoped, but wouldn't have put money down on it.

[victoriousscarf]

Sonya had to restrain himself from slamming the door on the way off his office. "Damn Fritz," he muttered. "Goddamn Pinkerton." He locked the office and went on his own way toward his home. It did not help that he hated this time of year so much. He just wanted to curl up in a ball and hibernate until it was over. Now he had to deal with this on top of everything else.

[THREAD END]