he probably shouldn't know that, you know, on account of the blind thing. it's always an uncanny balance, trying to juggle what he should and should not know. this might be a bit of a pot calling the kettle black, considering he has unannounced intentions of sneaking past the police tape himself, but still. the intruder doesn't need to know that... not until he has a better idea of what she's after.
it's only after she's started thumbing through drawers that he raps his cane on the doorframe, more than loud enough to get her attention, though not loud enough to draw attention to the officers currently working their way through a box of krispy creams in the stairwell. )
Looking for something? ( he inquires conversationally, leaning over the police tape that she certainly wasn't supposed to cross. he pads at it with a hand, as if he had no idea it existed before he ran into it, before staring off in her general direction as he waited for her reaction. would she answer? or run? it'd be interesting to see which it'd be. )
[ she turns over a pair of jeans in her hand, inverting the pockets while she looks him over. the noise came from a walking stick. she's not worried about what he sees her with. that affords an opportunity, but ... why the hell was he here? she frowns. which, to be fair, not that different from her general resting expression. ]
You lost? Live around here?
[ she forgets the jeans in the drawer and strides over towards him. if he was a neighbor, he might have — okay, not seen something obviously, but he still has ears. ]
Do you usually find those in dresser drawers? ( she's absolutely right, he can hear, and a little too well at that... though, he didn't need superhearing to hear the rattle of wood and the ruffling of fabric. he wonders if they're looking for the same answers, though the likelihood of that does seem admittedly narrow.
he can tell she's coming closer just by the smell of whiskey, and that too could explain someone breaking in and rifling through things that weren't theirs, but she doesn't seem drunk. ...wildly drunk, anyway. )
Next door. ( absolutely a lie, but Jessica isn't the one that can hear those, so Matt doesn't have a problem giving her one. ) I was hoping Rebecca was home, but... did something happen? ( he runs a finger along the police tape, tilting his head slightly as the plastic gives slightly under his touch. )
[ She explains. Glancing at the dresser, then back at him, she stuffs one hand into her jacket pocket, then pulls it out. In her hand is her cell phone, but the sound of pulling something out of her pocket should suffice to imitate a badge, right? Can't be this hard to fool him. ]
You tell me. Have you seen anyone new coming around? A boyfriend maybe? [ Beat. ] Feel free to interpret 'seen' as figuratively as you need.
All things considered, sure. ( since he's blind, and everything. fact of the matter is, Jessica doesn't have a clue exactly how observant he can be, and for now that's probably playing into his favor. he stares a little past her as she shows him her cell phone, and frowns only for a moment as she gives him a lie that's certainly passable...
for now.
he nods at her claim, pulling his hands back from the police tape as if he's been spotted trespassing like a good concerned neighbor would be. ) Of course. Is your partner Officer Mullen, downstairs? I thought he just stepped out to give you a call.
( he'll dangle that information before considering her question. he might be able to sense a lie and that she's used her cell as a badge alternative, but he can't just sense what she's doing in Rebecca Gray's apartment. or why she's asking questions about her. shockingly, he manages a laugh about the blind jab, though he doesn't bother to comment on it.) No, I... I don't think so. She's been coming home later than usual, and she... she hasn't been as talkative, always went straight into her apartment and locked the door. Like she was scared. ...We've all been worried about her. Do you have any leads on where she could have gone?
( because that is what he's looking for, too — if he can get those during her play at law enforcement, then by all means. )
[ There's a brief internal 'yikes' at the mention of Mullen calling in back-up. ]
I was in the neighborhood. [ she brushes aside her too-quick arrival with earnest. ] As for your neighbor, she could already be in a ditch for all I know. That might even be the upshot, depending on who she got involved with. [ A beat. She interprets his questioning as concern, and she fumbles on the emotional landing. ] ... Sorry.
( she's sure steamrolls past his hint, and while he already has her number, Matt is at least mildly impressed by her lack of attempt to sell the lie. usually that would have earned more of a stumble... she's used to this.
he's also surprised by her brunt appraisal, not quite commenting but the way his eyebrows rise is perfectly genuine. )
She's involved with someone? Something? (that's exactly the information he's here to find, and it's starting to seem like she might have more than she's letting on. ) Work. Right.
( no more information than that, because honestly... he doesn't know much more. )
[ it's obvious by her flat, unsympathetic tone that 'dead' was the end of that. she looks him over, seemingly in pity, and tries to reframe. ]
You should talk to Officer Mullen about getting someone to keep an eye on this place.
[ because she can't help giving 10% of a damn, and if something comes up, she can always hear it down the pipeline. ] And if anyone else comes looking for her, don't talk to them. Call me. Not 9-1-1, me.
( that's clearly not news he wants to hear, even if he's not who he's claiming to be. his dread at the news is perfectly genuine, though — as always, he gets invested in whatever he devotes himself to. this girl is no exception.
he hangs his head, pressing it against the rough wood of the doorframe. he wants to badger her for more information, why she'd assume that, but what grounds does he have? the idea that she's already given up is not promising, to be sure. )
All right. If I hear anything, I will, but I'll need a number, first. ( if he wants to check in with her again, that'll be handy. )
[ she hates this part. the people part. the needing to nurturing and act like a goddamn human being part. she curses in her mind, looks up at the ceiling as if she's going to take this up with whatever higher power might be listening.
the trouble with people asking for numbers is that they can find out if you are who you say you are pretty easily. ]
Yeah. Good idea. [ agreement buys her time to think, at least. ] Let me give you my personal number so you don't have to go through the station. [ she's not at all bothered by how easy this is, in part because she's just so distracted by wanting to get out of comforting him over his neighbor's death-by-bad-choices. ] I guess a pen won't do it. Do you have ... ? [ she waves her hand as if to fill in the gap, huffing when she realizes even the gesture is insufficient. ]
( he's troubled by the information, yes, he can't help it. not as a neighbor, but as someone looking for her. he can't tell if they're on the same track or not, that she's looking for the same reasons he is, yet she certainly knew more than he did.
there was no glimmer of a lie in her slip that she was probably dead.
Matt is silent, then nods. he pulls out his phone to unlock it, and hands it to her. there's not much to be found on it, and why would there be? he's blind, remember. ) I'll need a name, too. I have to know it, so I can dictate the call. (technically true, as far as the adaptive features on his phone are concerned. ) Unless your name actually is NYPD.
[ she looks at him, then at the phone. she huffs as she snatches it out of his hand and starts plugging the number in.
it's a real pain, giving a damn. ]
Jessica.
[ does it matter that an officer of the law would have introduced themselves as officer or detective and used their last name? not to jessica. she's bothered at having to fuss with this in the first place, and the chances of this guy actually being able to make her life difficult with the nypd are low.
( she's got him there. he can't really identify her as anything other than a little gruff, and scented with whiskey. that could be half of Hell's Kitchen, honestly. his wonder nose isn't quite talented enough to instantly recognize someone, and thank god for that, but even if it could there'd be no way to use it against her without giving too much away.
does he live alone? yes, he does, a handful of blocks south of here at that, but it isn't a lie when he nods. )
Just me. ( there's a tilt of a question at the end of that sentence, like he wants to know why she's asking without asking properly. )
If you have family in the city, I'd stay with them for a while until this gets cleaned up.
[ she hands the phone back to him with her number saved. there's a bit of awkward fumbling when she closes his hand around it — too much help. she's not used to dealing with the blind. it gives a little bit more info, at least. leather jacket. fingerless wool gloves.
and she pulls her hands back quickly. this caring thing makes her jittery. ]
( yes, it is a bit more help than he needs. his nerve endings still work just fine, shockingly, considering the damage he takes on with little thought. it's a rarity that he's not wearing some evidence of that when she takes his hand — bruised knuckles would look awfully out of place on a blind man.
when she's closer he picks up on a few more details, and certainly things she might have preferred to hide. the smell of alcohol on her breath, maybe even still on her somewhere. the flutter of a heartbeat that is clearly quite nervous. for being near him? for what she thinks happened? something else?
she pulls her hand back suddenly, and without a better reason to try and convince her to talk more, Matt nods. ) If you think that's best, ( he reasons slowly, though her attempts to protect him aren't going to go anywhere. in fact they only make him more resolved to run into danger. ) I'll let you know if I hear anything else.
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no subject
Date: 2017-07-29 07:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-09 06:05 am (UTC)he probably shouldn't know that, you know, on account of the blind thing. it's always an uncanny balance, trying to juggle what he should and should not know. this might be a bit of a pot calling the kettle black, considering he has unannounced intentions of sneaking past the police tape himself, but still. the intruder doesn't need to know that... not until he has a better idea of what she's after.
it's only after she's started thumbing through drawers that he raps his cane on the doorframe, more than loud enough to get her attention, though not loud enough to draw attention to the officers currently working their way through a box of krispy creams in the stairwell. )
Looking for something? ( he inquires conversationally, leaning over the police tape that she certainly wasn't supposed to cross. he pads at it with a hand, as if he had no idea it existed before he ran into it, before staring off in her general direction as he waited for her reaction. would she answer? or run? it'd be interesting to see which it'd be. )
no subject
Date: 2017-08-18 03:45 am (UTC)[ she turns over a pair of jeans in her hand, inverting the pockets while she looks him over. the noise came from a walking stick. she's not worried about what he sees her with. that affords an opportunity, but ... why the hell was he here? she frowns. which, to be fair, not that different from her general resting expression. ]
You lost? Live around here?
[ she forgets the jeans in the drawer and strides over towards him. if he was a neighbor, he might have — okay, not seen something obviously, but he still has ears. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-08-19 02:41 am (UTC)he can tell she's coming closer just by the smell of whiskey, and that too could explain someone breaking in and rifling through things that weren't theirs, but she doesn't seem drunk. ...wildly drunk, anyway. )
Next door. ( absolutely a lie, but Jessica isn't the one that can hear those, so Matt doesn't have a problem giving her one. ) I was hoping Rebecca was home, but... did something happen? ( he runs a finger along the police tape, tilting his head slightly as the plastic gives slightly under his touch. )
no subject
Date: 2017-08-25 04:30 am (UTC)[ She explains. Glancing at the dresser, then back at him, she stuffs one hand into her jacket pocket, then pulls it out. In her hand is her cell phone, but the sound of pulling something out of her pocket should suffice to imitate a badge, right? Can't be this hard to fool him. ]
You tell me. Have you seen anyone new coming around? A boyfriend maybe? [ Beat. ] Feel free to interpret 'seen' as figuratively as you need.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-01 10:57 am (UTC)for now.
he nods at her claim, pulling his hands back from the police tape as if he's been spotted trespassing like a good concerned neighbor would be. ) Of course. Is your partner Officer Mullen, downstairs? I thought he just stepped out to give you a call.
( he'll dangle that information before considering her question. he might be able to sense a lie and that she's used her cell as a badge alternative, but he can't just sense what she's doing in Rebecca Gray's apartment. or why she's asking questions about her. shockingly, he manages a laugh about the blind jab, though he doesn't bother to comment on it.) No, I... I don't think so. She's been coming home later than usual, and she... she hasn't been as talkative, always went straight into her apartment and locked the door. Like she was scared. ...We've all been worried about her. Do you have any leads on where she could have gone?
( because that is what he's looking for, too — if he can get those during her play at law enforcement, then by all means. )
no subject
Date: 2017-09-02 12:36 am (UTC)I was in the neighborhood. [ she brushes aside her too-quick arrival with earnest. ] As for your neighbor, she could already be in a ditch for all I know. That might even be the upshot, depending on who she got involved with. [ A beat. She interprets his questioning as concern, and she fumbles on the emotional landing. ] ... Sorry.
[ She huffs out a breath. People suck. ]
Home from where? Work?
no subject
Date: 2017-09-03 10:43 am (UTC)he's also surprised by her brunt appraisal, not quite commenting but the way his eyebrows rise is perfectly genuine. )
She's involved with someone? Something? ( that's exactly the information he's here to find, and it's starting to seem like she might have more than she's letting on. ) Work. Right.
( no more information than that, because honestly... he doesn't know much more. )
no subject
Date: 2017-09-03 10:14 pm (UTC)[ it's obvious by her flat, unsympathetic tone that 'dead' was the end of that. she looks him over, seemingly in pity, and tries to reframe. ]
You should talk to Officer Mullen about getting someone to keep an eye on this place.
[ because she can't help giving 10% of a damn, and if something comes up, she can always hear it down the pipeline. ] And if anyone else comes looking for her, don't talk to them. Call me. Not 9-1-1, me.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-16 07:40 am (UTC)( that's clearly not news he wants to hear, even if he's not who he's claiming to be. his dread at the news is perfectly genuine, though — as always, he gets invested in whatever he devotes himself to. this girl is no exception.
he hangs his head, pressing it against the rough wood of the doorframe. he wants to badger her for more information, why she'd assume that, but what grounds does he have? the idea that she's already given up is not promising, to be sure. )
All right. If I hear anything, I will, but I'll need a number, first. ( if he wants to check in with her again, that'll be handy. )
no subject
Date: 2017-09-19 09:23 pm (UTC)the trouble with people asking for numbers is that they can find out if you are who you say you are pretty easily. ]
Yeah. Good idea. [ agreement buys her time to think, at least. ] Let me give you my personal number so you don't have to go through the station. [ she's not at all bothered by how easy this is, in part because she's just so distracted by wanting to get out of comforting him over his neighbor's death-by-bad-choices. ] I guess a pen won't do it. Do you have ... ? [ she waves her hand as if to fill in the gap, huffing when she realizes even the gesture is insufficient. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-30 11:32 am (UTC)there was no glimmer of a lie in her slip that she was probably dead.
Matt is silent, then nods. he pulls out his phone to unlock it, and hands it to her. there's not much to be found on it, and why would there be? he's blind, remember. ) I'll need a name, too. I have to know it, so I can dictate the call. ( technically true, as far as the adaptive features on his phone are concerned. ) Unless your name actually is NYPD.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-08 01:12 am (UTC)it's a real pain, giving a damn. ]
Jessica.
[ does it matter that an officer of the law would have introduced themselves as officer or detective and used their last name? not to jessica. she's bothered at having to fuss with this in the first place, and the chances of this guy actually being able to make her life difficult with the nypd are low.
after all, it's not like he can describe her. ]
You live with anyone else?
no subject
Date: 2017-10-14 03:33 am (UTC)does he live alone? yes, he does, a handful of blocks south of here at that, but it isn't a lie when he nods. )
Just me. ( there's a tilt of a question at the end of that sentence, like he wants to know why she's asking without asking properly. )
no subject
Date: 2017-10-14 07:26 pm (UTC)[ she hands the phone back to him with her number saved. there's a bit of awkward fumbling when she closes his hand around it — too much help. she's not used to dealing with the blind. it gives a little bit more info, at least. leather jacket. fingerless wool gloves.
and she pulls her hands back quickly. this caring thing makes her jittery. ]
I gotta go.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-19 07:01 am (UTC)when she's closer he picks up on a few more details, and certainly things she might have preferred to hide. the smell of alcohol on her breath, maybe even still on her somewhere. the flutter of a heartbeat that is clearly quite nervous. for being near him? for what she thinks happened? something else?
she pulls her hand back suddenly, and without a better reason to try and convince her to talk more, Matt nods. ) If you think that's best, ( he reasons slowly, though her attempts to protect him aren't going to go anywhere. in fact they only make him more resolved to run into danger. ) I'll let you know if I hear anything else.