2022-01-05 - Do You Want Fries With That

Their vehicle is outside, Dani is designated driver since she's old and had more time on the force. Plus it's a hot vehicle. She'd gone to the bathroom to wash her hands and is coming back out, glancing around to see if her partner had chosen a table or a booth, or was even seated yet.

The end of a shift was always good, no one had died.

Four wheels are two too many anyway, at least according to Rick. He hasn't chosen a table or booth yet, looking around at the various places available a bit thoughtfully.

Dani approaches him and shoulder checks him once she is there, "Let's just sit at the bar. Better service that way." Without waiting for agreement, she walks over, straddles a stool then has a seat. "So what are your plans for the day? Too damn cold for much of anything lately."

"Bar works," Rick replies, with a bit of a chuckle, after recovering from the shoulder check. Moving over to take a seat as well, he shrugs. "Not really any plans. You?" He shrugs a bit as he glances around once again.

"Oh I don't know. Was thinking about the gym or something, but that just seems like overkill after the workout we got on the job. So, food and then I don't even know what. Crashing in front of the tv with a beer? Doesn't seem like much fun does it?" Dani glances over the menu, debating things. "What sounds good?"

Rick looks a bit thoughtful as he considers that. "Ah, the gym. Sounds a little tempting, to be onest. As for the TV, how is it that there are so many channels on the TV, yet so few interesting programs?" He shrugs as he considers the menu as well. "Some say the chicken is always good," he remarks, light1y.

"I've heard something about staying away from the eggs. Or the omelets or something. Chicken sounds good, but I think maybe just a good burger. Loaded with everything and fries." The last part, the actual order, is given to the wait staff person. "Large glass of milk." Because milk does a body good or something. "I don't really watch much tv, just leave it on for white noise. Part of living alone and drowning out the weird noises."

"Now that you mention it, a burger sounds good," Rick replies, ordering one of them as well, along with a bottle of fruit juice of some kind. He shrugs at the mention of the noises. "I can't get away from the weirdest noises anyway," he replies, with another shrug. "It's usually in here." One hand going up to his head.

Dani tilts her head curiously, "Care to talk about it? I admit to knowing little about you, but I do know what happened to your last partner here in town. Glad we got paired up, you seem pretty sane. Compared to some in this town," she adds the last with an amused twist to her lips.

Rick shrugs a bit. "Not that much to say. Close family died, back in the days. Which is why I left NYC and went around the country, trying to escape the memories. Somehow I ended up bere." He's unable to hold back a grin as he hears the last part. "Thanks... I think."

"It has to be a compliment. I've lived here all my life and left my old friends in the past when I joined the force and forgot to make new ones along the way. Makes for a lonely existence, Rick. I advise you make friends as soon as you can before everyone's lives are too full to fit in more people." Dani smirks, "At least we have our job."

Rick nods a bit slowly. "Most times, people are more like people I know than as friends," he replies, before he offers a brief smile. "But then again, I tend to enjoy just going out on my motorcycle and drive somewhere I can sit and fish..."

"Fish. What do you do with them once you catch them? Do you throw them back or clean and cook them for dinner? Camping out and going out on the trail would be a fun way to spend a weekend off I think. I know what you mean about friends though. Or lack thereof." Dani reaches for her milk once it's delivered and takes a sip, licking the white film off her top lip. No milkstaches here!

"Depends on the fish, really. If they're too small, I throw them back in." Rick replies, before he adds, "It was a good way to get some food during the time I was drifting around. the country. And I found it to be a good way to relax too." He offers a brief grin. "Some would say, the least important part of fishing, actually catching fish."

"I guess that's not far off the truth at all, is it? The fish aren't the important part. So is that where you take the moments for introspection?" Dani watches as the food is delivered and places her milk glass down and reaches for the ketchup, squirting it over the fries before placing it down within his reach. Once she's done that, she sprinkles pepper over the ketchup and fries before taking a fork and digging in, leaving the burger for now.

Rick nods a little, "At least it gives me peace and quiet to relax. Some times I just lean back and rest." There's a smile offered as he looks to his food, putting ketchup on one side of the fries and mayonnaise on the other part of it, before he starts eating some of the burger, a bit thoughtfully.

"So fishing is your favorite pasttime? Fishing and riding your bike? Is that what the head docs call your destressing time?" Dani smirks before taking another bite of her fries, making sure there's plenty of ketchup and pepper on the bite. Watching his movements, she raises a brow at the mayo and ketchup. "You like to dip your fries in mayonnaise?"

"Also photography," Rick replies, before he raises an eyebrow. "How about you? Any interesting hobbies?" It's offered a bit lightly, before he nods a bit. "Someone got me to try it once, and it's actually quite nice."

"I like to swim and shoot guns. I also like to gamble if there's ever a good card game. I've not been to the casino though. Have you?" Dani hmms before putting some mayo on the side too and dipping her ketchup and peppered fry in it before taking a bite. "Holy hell," she says after swallowing. "Good stuff." She eats another one that way before asking. "So, you dating or anything?"

Rick shakes his head a bit. "Haven't been to the casino yet either," he replies, dipping some of the mayo-side of the fries and eating it. He shakes his head a bit at the question, "Not really, no. You?"

Dani says, "Nahhh, I've had a date or two in the past several years but nah. We should go to the gun range sometime though. Definitely. Maybe even the casino on our off time." Totally not a date. Dani bites into another fry with mayo and ketchup and pepper, eating it before taking her knife and cutting the burger in half for easier eating."

Rick finishes eating the piece of the burger he was chewing on, before he nods a bit. "That sounds like it could be fun," he offers, with a smile, before he drinks some of that juice.

With her burger cut in half, Dani lifts it, looks at it, dips it in the mayo also before taking a bite. She chews and swallows, gives a nod of approval before taking a sip of her milk to wash it down. "Mhm, mayonnaise, the new Ranch Dip." She ponders him a moment. "So is that a yes?"

Rick eats some more of the fries, befroe he grins as he hears the part about the the mayonnaise. "See, it's good," he offers, before he nods again. "Yes, that's a yes," he replies, with a smile, before taking another sip of his juice.

"You're right, it really is good. And good, we'll have to go to the shooting range after our next shift then. See if I can give you any pointers," Dani jokes. "Or if you can give me any."

Rick nods as he hears that, eating some more of the fries. At the part about the shooting range, and pointers, he grins. "Bring it on," he offers rather lightly.

"Deal." Dani continues on her burger much the same way, dipping it in mayo and eating. "Are you any good at gambling?"

Rick shrugs a bit. "Well, depending on the kind of gambling, right? I mean, the kinds that mostly involve luck could work, other kinds takes some learning." It's offered a bit lightly, before he adds, "I know that one should not bet more than one's allowed to lose, though."

"That's a smart rule to live by. Cops pay ain't much is it?" Course it's par for the course that beat cops complain about their pay but there's no heat behind the words, just paying homage to the habit. Dani finishes off her burger then swipes a couple more fries through the mayo. "What other kinds of gambling are there? You wanting to make a wager on the results at the gun range tomorrow?"

"Which is probably why some take security jobs on the side, right?" That to the part about cops' pay, before Rick shrugs a little. "Some of them are just skills games in a different packaging. Take poker, for example," he offers, before he raises an eyebrow. "What kind of a wager?"

"Yeah that's true, both about security jobs and other skilled games. I like shooting hoops too, but mostly swimming." His question has Dani countering. "Name your poison, we'll go from there."

Rick hmms, "My poison, huh? You mean, vodka?" It's offered with a grin as he finishes off his meal as well. Of course, there was a slightly Russian accent on the word vodka.

"Name your stakes." Dani corrects, noticing the accent. "What accent was that?" Curious, of course. "I don't mean alcohol though. Name what you want to wager."

"Never been good at naming the stakes," Rick replies with a shrug. "Got any suggestions?" He then shrugs. "The accent? Russian. My mother's side of the family were from Russia, so she made sure I learned the language."

"Oh that's interesting. I grew up in the trailer park. Still live there, actually. I know Spanish but not Russian." His shrug and question have Dani considering. "I don't know, you get lunch run next week during patrols? You get to wash the patrol vehicle? Or you have to take a dare?" The last has her grinning.

Rick nods, "I know some Spanish too. Was useful to know when I worked back home." There's a few moments as he considers the suggestions, before he grins. "You know what, let's go for the dare, shall we?" It's offered with a grin.

"Deal, a dare each, depending on who wins." Finished with her food, Dani follows up with her milk before offering a hand for a handshake. "It's on."

Rick raises his glass of juice to drain it all, before he shakes the offered hand. "It's on," he replies, with a grin.

"Catch you in the morning for patrols, then afterwards we'll drive over to the gun range. I'm pretty competitive. Hope you are too." Dani slides money on the counter for her own meal. "Ready? I'll drop you off at home."

Rick nods as he hears that, placing the money for his meal on the counter as well, before standing up. "Ready. And as for competitive, we'll just see who's the most competitive, huh?" It's offered with a grin.

The banter remains pretty easy going as they leave, Dani in the drivers seat of course. Cause she insists anyway.