2019-06-14 - Filing a Noise Complaint

Poor Lisa at reception was surely thinking she did not get paid enough for her job. Not when it seemed to be involving people more and more frequently who thought it was just perfectly okay to take out their frustrations on her. It's not like she could even do anything about them. Nonetheless, she was currently being subjected to the complaints of Dahlia Evergreen. Who was one of the last people who should have any right to be complaining about anything with how much grief her brothers had caused the police department over the years.

"Miss Evergreen. Like I told you already, you need to -"

"No! I am not going to do anything. YOU people need to do something! Those assholes in Lot 30 are disrupting the whole area. My mother is SICK. She needs her rest and I've already called about this twice!" Dahlia's bright green eyes flared with anger and annoyance. Clad in a pair of designer jeans with a sleeveless, magenta, silk blouse and a pair of matching flats she looked like she belonged in a high end boutique and not the middle of a police station. She even had the sunglasses on her head to complete the look. "I want to talk to your supervisor! Right now. Because obviously you don't know what you're doing."

Poor Lisa. The receptionist took a slow, even inhalation and exhalation. "One moment." And she picked up the phone.

The conversation is brief, and largely held with Lisa's back turned to her visitor, her hand cupped over the receiver. Then the phone is replaced in the cradle, and she summons a smile as she informs Dahlia that, "He'll be right down. Would you please have a seat?" The seats, of course, are all taken.

A few minutes later, the blast-proof door at the back of the precinct buzzes, and a uniformed cop steps out. It's not Police Chief Thatchery, so it must be one of his flunkies.

The man is a little shorter, Hispanic featured and compactly built under his gear. There's a weapon holstered in his duty rig, and he glances up from some paperwork to get an eyeful of whatever the cat dragged in. Which turns out to be, "Dahlia Evergreen." His tone wavers ever so slightly before settling on neutral, and he hesitates a moment as if lost for words. Then, with a forced smile, "What can I help you with?" He doesn't bother introducing himself.

Dahlia's look of annoyance didn't waver. "Fine." Was all Lisa got and she just took a step back, texting someone while she waited to get this damn thing over with. She didn't even look up initially, but she did almost drop her phone when she heard that voice. No way. Not a chance in hell. Very slowly, Dahlia lifted her head. Those green eyes starting at the man's shoes and traveling upward. Up and up until finally they settled on his face. If it was at all possible, her pale skin seemed to get paler. "What are-" She started and then stopped.

Not in this crowded lobby. Pulling herself together, she finally managed - "I want to file a complaint about some neighbors. And I've already tried to do it the right way twice. So I just want to make sure it gets done." Her tone was neutral but her expression was easy to read. She didn't really know how to process the fact that he was standing here. It was like the damn devil had just waltzed in. Hadn't she literally just been talking about him earlier? Vaguely but still.

"...So can we discuss what you plan to do about them somewhere quieter?"

Ruiz doesn't seem bothered by the scrutiny. But then, he's never really been the sort of man to back down from something. It's both one of his best and one of his worst traits. His dark eyes remain steadfastly on her bright greens. Probably because he's in uniform, and checking out civilians while on duty is questionable at best.

He's about to read her the party line about how there's a number she needs to call, and someone there will be able to help her.

But after gazing at her for a long moment, steeped in that awkwardness, and knowing full well she's already called the number and it's gotten her nowhere, "Come. We can talk upstairs." His file folder is shuffled to his left arm, and he digs out his key card as he pivots to head for the door. The crackle of Dispatch's voice on his radio cuts in every so often, then the buzz of the door unlocking, and it's held for Dahlia.

Their eyes stay locked for what felt like an eternity but was really probably only a minute at the most. Not really knowing what else to say and partly wanting to just turn tail and run. "Upstairs. Good." Is all the woman manages and shakes her head a bit as she started to follow him. Walking past him, through the door a soft 'thank you' is murmured. Then it's just silence. A tense and awkward sort of silence, at least for Dahlia. Keeping her focus forward as he leads her to his office. So many questions were rolling through her head, and unexpected emotions. It was too late to run though, so...whatever happened would happen.

"Up the stairs and to the left," he instructs from behind her, and the door thumps shut after him. His footfalls are heavier on the stairs, and his radio goes off a couple more times before it's turned down. At the top, he swings the door open for her, not quite touching her arm as he reaches past it. There's a handful of small offices, and his is the smallest; the nametag on the door reads, "Captain de la Vega." He was a Sergeant last they met. The door is unlocked, and he steps inside and settles against the edge of his desk. There's a chair opposite, and not much else in the room besides a filing cabinet.

The instructions were followed and she may or may not have held her breath when his hand almost touched her. Get a hold of yourself woman. Dahlia silently chided herself and sighed. A quick glance around at the offices and a lingering look to the sign on his door. "Captain de la Vega." Trying out how it sounded and there was a fleeting smile, but it was just that. Fleeting. Once inside the office and the door is closed she just...watched him again.

"...You look good." It had only been a little over a year since she'd seen him last, but it felt like longer. Dahlia doesn't make any moves to sit down. Standing here, near the door in the tiny office seemed better for now. "What are you doing here?" The burning question.

What is he doing here? What is anyone doing here? The man watches her steadily, dark eyes trailing her form a little more openly now that they're alone. "You.. look good, too," he confides finally, the corners of his mouth turning up in a small smile. Cautious, hesitant. He rifles his fingers through his hair briefly, and shakes his head. "They moved me out here once I made Captain. I am running the narcotics division now." Which is ironic, considering his propensity for occasionally indulging in pot, when they were briefly together.

A pen is withdrawn from a front pocket of his shirt, and a notepad follows from somewhere inside his desk. "I will speak with one of the duty officers who handle noise complaints. And make sure it is dealt with." He keeps his gaze resolutely down as he scribbles.

A fraction of relaxtion in the tension her shoulders had been holding when he gives that little smile. "Congratulations. On the promotion." It was ironic. She could recall a handful of nights that had involved sharing a joint, ordering too much take out and-Dahlia shook her head. No. Nope. She wasn't going to let herself wander down memory lane. At least, not right at this moment. "Drugs have always been a problem here. Cause there's nothing else to do." A wry smile on her lips.

Nodding when he said he would make sure the noise was dealt with. "I would appreciate it Ruiz. Mom needs all the rest she can get and people have no respect." Not that she had every really talked about her family or anything back then. "So you're...here for a while then?" A cautious sort of question.

The slight easing of tension is noted, perhaps, with a brief shifting of his gaze that doesn't quite make it to her face. Then he lowers his eyes and continues writing. Once he's done, the slip of paper is torn off and pushed across his desk. A reminder to himself, maybe. He has a few of them neatly lined up there. "Your mother is ill? I did not know." His pen is tucked away, along with the notepad, and he slides his hands into the pockets of his pants while his radio crackles softly again. "Gracias," apparently to the congratulations. "What has brought you here, Dahlia?" He tilts his head, studying her smile and then her eyes curiously.

Dahlia gave a subtle little shrug. "My mother." A beat of pause before she elaborated, because likely he wouldn't be satisfied with her two-worded answer. "This is my hometown. Mom's been sick for a while. Of course you wouldn't know. We haven't talked since, well, you know." She rubbed the back of her neck. "She was getting better, but now she's worse. And my brothers aren't around here anymore." Oh hey, she had brothers. Learning all kinds of new stuff today. "So here I am." And she really just looked like she would rather be anywhere else. Not specifically because of finding out he was here, but moreso everything in general. Her gaze slides away from him to study the small office again, not that there is all that much to look at.

Ruiz listens to all of this, and perhaps makes some mental notes to himself. Mother, brothers, hometown. He watches her a little longer as she glances around the unimpressive little box that he calls his office, and then pushes off the edge of the desk and back to his full height. And he's no giant, but he is significantly taller than the green-eyed young woman opposite him. "It is good to see you again. I will get this issue sorted out for you." He hesitates there, like he wants to say something else, but settles instead on, "I have some work to get back to. Let me walk you downstairs." His eyes crease at the corners with a slight smile, and he moves toward the door.

Dahlia's gaze turns back to him when he pushes off the desk. Quiet, and maybe hoping he would say more. But then chiding herself again when he says he has work to get back to. Because what else was there to say? "Right. Of course." A light smile given back to him. "It's good to see you too...I'm sure I'll see you around town." There was probably plenty more to say but this was a good start. To what was still out for debate. At the door leading back to the lobby Dahlia offered, "Tenga un buen día, Ruiz." Spoken softly before she headed into the lobby and out the door. Head held high and not even giving Lisa a second look.