Open for Business

[dekillerqueen]

Who: Open to all!
Where: A nice little bakery in the Virgo district.
Summary: There's someone new working at the shopping ward. He looks a little weird, but his sweets seem pretty appetising...
Warnings: None that I can think of, save for Shelly being kind of creepy as usual Probable Dual Destinies spoilers in the thread with Bobby!

Maybe you're a regular at this bakery. Or maybe you've never noticed it before. Either way, there is a new face selling baked goods here! A kind old man with a white streak on his hair is taping a few flyers to the window, announcing some appealing new deals and brand new desserts for sale.

Come a little closer, and you may catch his eye. You may also notice the line of stitches running down his face.

But with a smile like that and delicacies like these, who wouldn't want to come right in and buy something?

Comments

RAMPANT HEADCANONS DISCUSSED IN PRIVATE GOOOO

[dekillerqueen]

[And the baker catches the detective's eyes.

It must be him. He looks different - older, perhaps, if that's possible, but that sense of aesthetics is unmistakably the same. Shelly wonders if the detective has finally recognised him, too.]

Ah, would you like to come in? We are having a sale today.

[There is no hostility in his voice, though.]

Vroom vroom

[spiritofjustice]

[He's definitely older. Probably a little broader, too. The incident that Shelly's thinking of took place quite a few years before Bobby's point in time. Not that it matters either way. Anything that didn't take place within the past year and wasn't properly recorded in Bobby Fulbright's files is something that he's blissfully unaware of.

He shakes his head when 'John Doe' speaks up, as though he got pulled out of deep thought. Then he grins in an apologetic manner.]

Right! Yes, of course. [He'll just come in then. Nothing weird about a baker with stitches running down his face. Nnnnope.]

mmmaybe I should put a spoiler warning in the OP

[dekillerqueen]

[And John Doe will kindly guide the detective into the shop. Before he starts calling him "detective", though, maybe he should play it safe.]

If I may say so... your voice seems familiar. Could you be one of the young people who greeted me on the network last week or so?

M-maybe

[spiritofjustice]

[He could tell Bobby's voice sounds familiar from those few words he just spoke? That's a little odd in his opinion, though he supposes his voice does have a distinct ring to it.]

Oh, hey, you're that candy salesman?

theeere we go

[dekillerqueen]

[HE IS A GREAT LIAR]

Indeed. You must be... the Detective, then?

[spiritofjustice]

That's right! Bobby Fulbright's the name.

[He's pretty sure he introduced himself during their conversation last week, but he can't expect this guy to remember his name. He probably had other things on his mind.]

[dekillerqueen]

[Oh, he remembers Fulbright's name, alright. But not because he introduced himself.]

Anyhow... What may I interest you in, Mr. Detective?

[spiritofjustice]

Hm... What would you recommend?

[There's a lot of new pastries and sweets in the bakery that weren't there before, and all of it looks appealing.]

[dekillerqueen]

Let me see...

[He goes behind the counter and, after a brief moment of thought, shows Bobby a cake.]

A chocolate-dipped strawberry cheesecake. Almost painfully delicious, if I do say so myself.

[spiritofjustice]

[His eyes widen at the sight of that cake. Wow, that's impressive. Better suited for a birthday party, probably, but impressive nonetheless.]

That does look delicious! It's just... I was looking for something a little smaller.

[dekillerqueen]

Are you quite sure? I would say this is perfect for sharing with your co-workers.

[spiritofjustice]

[The co-workers he doesn't know that well? Hm... Tempting offer, but he probably shouldn't bring cake unless there's a special occasion. Successful conviction of a murderer or something like that.]

Hm... No. No, thank you. Perhaps another time.

[dekillerqueen]

So, you are looking for something you can enjoy on your own...? A freshly-baked sweet roll, perhaps? I dare say they are exquisite enough... to knock one unconscious in surprise.

[Did his monocle just glint...? No, surely, that's a trick of the light.]

1/2

[spiritofjustice]

[Knock one unconscious? Well, that's an odd expression. Then again, for all he knows it's a perfectly normal thing to say in other worlds. Different cultures and all that.]

2/2

[spiritofjustice]

{He'll just dismiss it with a very loud laugh. Can't go wrong there.]

Is that so? Then, they must pack quite a wallop!

[dekillerqueen]

[... Is this detective playing dumb, or is he genuinely clueless? Shelly doesn't think he hit him hard enough to cause brain damage back then.]

Would you care for a free sample?

[spiritofjustice]

Hm... [There's a moment where he seems to be considering the offer. That is, Bobby Fulbright is wondering whether this would be bribery or not. A very ridiculous thing to wonder, because it's not like the baker's committed any crimes, but a member of the law enforcement needs to always think twice before accepting anything for free.]

Sure, why not?

[dekillerqueen]

... Is something the matter, Mr. Detective? You seemed unsure for a moment.

[Shelly will squeeze something out of him today. Whatever it is.]

/fighting very hard to avoid an awful joke right now

[spiritofjustice]

Oh, no, I was just wondering whether it'd be the just thing to do.

don't fight it... GIVE IN....

[dekillerqueen]

The... "just" thing to do?

Shelly can squeeze something out of Bobby any d- GODDAMMIT

[spiritofjustice]

Of course! Every police officer needs to follow the path of righteousness. That's why every decision they make has to be just.

>8]

[dekillerqueen]

And how would accepting my free samples be unjust...?

Mr. Detective, do you suspect me of anything?

[spiritofjustice]

[Oh, did he accidentally insult the nice baker? That wasn't what he was going for at all.]

No, not at all! It's just that I can't let myself become biased. You know how it is.

[dekillerqueen]

... Is that so.

[It barely sounds like a question. Shelly doesn't like this - either the detective is lying, or something is wrong. He needs to figure out which is the case.]

I am curious about something, Mr. Detective... What sorts of cases have you dealt with in the past?

[spiritofjustice]

[The problem with having very little emotion and empathy is that he has trouble reading other people's emotions too. The way he perceives a person's reaction is very analytical and superficial. That's why most of Shelly's suspicion is going straight over his head right now.]

Homicides, for the most part! It's my job to find killers and make sure they face the iron fist of lady justice!