7007
Something like that:

[Felix, Adam, and Charlotte walk through the mall]

Charlotte: You know, you really didn’t have to come with me.

Felix: [covered in bags of candy] [cheeks stuffed with half-eaten candy] Yeah, but Mason said he’d pay for all my junk food if I switched babysitting times with him.

Charlotte: [glares at Felix] Uh-huh… [ignores him and turns to Adam] Anyway, how am I supposed to get you the perfect birthday gift of you’re right here, Adam?

Adam: By consulting with me before a purchase.

Charlotte: Aw, but where’s the surprise in that?

Adam: I don’t like surprises, and you rather fill my time with them already.

Charlotte: I…do?

Adam: Yes, every day I wake up and wonder where you’ll be that you shouldn’t.

Charlotte: [rolls eyes] Wow, between this and the babysitting, I feel so cared for.

Adam: Good. You do make it rather difficult, but it’s good to hear our efforts aren’t in vain.

Charlotte: [pouts] Make it difficult?

Adam: We’ve been here for four hours.

Charlotte: It’s a mall!

Adam: Yes, and it’s an enormous cesspool of danger. You’re surrounded by hundreds of people you’ve never met, might never identify, for hours on end; sight, sound, and smell are on constant attack—someone could come up behind you and you’d never even notice.

Charlotte: Oh, they would not!

Adam: And worst, you came here without telling anyone.

Charlotte: Because I was trying to get you a surprise birthday gift!

Adam: You’ve already given more than enough surprises today, please don’t consider anymore.

Charlotte: Fine, whatever. No surprises. So what would you like for you birthday? Come on, it can be anything.

[beat]

Adam: Peace of mind regarding your whereabouts.

Felix: [mouth scrunches up because of sour skittles] Oh! Maybe you can get a leash so she doesn’t wander off?

Charlotte: [super offended] I—!

Adam: No, she’d probably chew through that. Perhaps a tracking device?

Charlotte: [scoffs and walks faster to keep up with Adam] Um, excuse me but I am a detective, I don’t need a tracking device, and I sure as hell am on alert at all time— holy jeez!

[runs headfirst into Adam]

Salesperson: [laughs charmingly] Sorry to bother you sir, but I couldn’t help but overhear your need for a tracking device for your…dog?

Charlotte: Um—!

Adam: She is a bitch.

Felix: [laughs and chokes on his doritos]

Charlotte: [strangled, indignant noises]

Salesperson: Well, I represent a chip company that specializes in tracking devices for pets. [hands Adam a brochure]

Adam: [very seriously] Interesting.

Charlotte: Don’t you dare!

Adam: You did say you would get me anything for my birthday.

Charlotte: …you can’t be serious.

Adam: [stares unflinchingly at her] Deadly.

[later]

Nate: Happy birthday, Adam! [hands him a book with a ribbon on it]

Mason: I got you beer because I figured you’d need it after four hours at a mall.

Adam: [takes both] Thank you, I am grateful.

Felix: [enters carrying large bag and balloons] I got you highly reflective helium spheres, extra loud tissue paper, and a new scarf is buried somewhere underneath all the paper!

[Adam and Mason both groan]

Felix: [snickers] So, Charlotte, what did you get for Adam’s birthday?

Charlotte: [turns pink] I—uh…

Mason [sniffs and scrunches up his nose] I hope it wasn’t a dog, because you smell like one.

Charlotte: [holds her head in her hand]

Adam: [smiles and sips Mason’s gift] She gave me her gift earlier, no need to bother her.

Nate: Oh? What was it?

Felix: Yeah, Charlotte, tell us what you got Adam!

Charlotte: [sinks further in her seat] I am never going back to the mall.

Adam: Now that is a welcome birthday surprise. [claps her shoulder]

Charlotte: [winces in pain]

12 Likes
7008

I don’t know if I should be offended. To be honest , it seems out of character for Adam for this. Mason sure but for Adam… :thinking:

1 Like
7009

Oh, that’s definitely out of character for A.

As out of character as them trusting a dog gps service to keep tabs on the detective, lol

also i just really like the stupid joke, i use it all the time because im terrible :rofl:

edit:
So who else wants to bet that the Agency put a tracking device in the MC while they were convalescing?
Because on the one hand, that makes too much sense for them to want to keep tabs on the MC, on the other, privacy and consent issues, on the third hand, i think dog gps jokes like this are hilarious.

1 Like
7010

I’m… not sure if Rebecca would let that happen. Potentially without her knowing? Because holy shitstorm batman if she finds out someone inserted a gps into her precious child without proper consent and without informing her.

ON THE OTHER HAND: Rebecca knowing and allowing the Agency to put in a chip without MC’s knowledge? Hello angst and drama when they one day find out.

I could definitely see them tracking MC’s electronics/car without asking though.

4 Likes
7011

Lucas would ordinarily go and have either lunch or dinner with her, possibly in the city. As he got older, he might opt for cooking her something at home. He’s not exactly the best at gift-giving unless he has a shopping list, so that works for him. After Book 1, the same, but probably at home; he’ll be interested in catching up on what was really happening at work.

(This would probably be somewhere around Book 2, so…) He’d ask Nat for advice as to what kind of wine Ava is a fan of, and just go ahead and buy a bottle or two. And be stuck between wanting to spend time with her and feeling that she’d rather be alone (and trying to figure out why his subconscious had to remind himself not to take it personally).

As for any tracking devices… On the one hand, he was accustomed to being without adult supervision at least by 6th grade (or close to age 12), and the idea of the team “babysitting” him is awkward at best. If a tracking device was implanted while he was unconscious, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of betrayal, if only based on the implication that he’s seen as too incompetent to do his job(s) properly. On the other hand, he’d rather not have to go through another Murphy-level Incident again. He’d be okay with a compromise of them tracking his car and electronics (with his written consent), though.

7012

Sounds fun, looks fun. Gave me another idea for my next “Subtle or Not-So-Subtle” Thread-Game :grin:

Maybe if the Detective went home after seeing the Dunk Tank, printed a “pretend flyer for charity”, shows the same “fake flyer”, then N says something like:

N: You know I can hear your heart racing, right, Detective?
MC: … It’s racing because I’m nervous that you might not agree.

Or does it seem like a bad example, morally and something else?

This takes the GOLD!!! :star_struck::fireworks::sparkler::medal_military::trophy::medal_sports::1st_place_medal::medal_military:

Maybe, but then A would still probably be worried because, after all, how could they not help the Detective when they (referring to the Detective) start screaming to let them out.

MC: So Adam/Ava, remember you once told me back at the bar that I should show you how to relax someday? (From Book One, when you choose to join Tina at the bar)

A: (Sweats profusely)

MC: Oh, you’re always not sure.
MC: :smirk:

Ava: :confounded: (Inwardly)

MC: Anyways, Happy Birthday to you. :smiley:

3 Likes
7013

From Book One, in the bar with Unit Bravo, there’s a part there where it said that Ava takes a sip from her deep red wine.

7014

Zoë isn’t dating/interested in Ava (she’s quite done with closed doors, thanks), so she wouldn’t be super concerned about her birthday this early in the friendship. But she’d want to try and give them a goodwill present because their friendship is off to a bit of a rocky start, and near-death experiences aren’t the healthiest bases for any kind of relationship. The logical thing would be to ask Nat.

She’d probably ask Farah. Which would go as well as you’d imagine.

Firstly, the wordplay is great. Classic shift of meaning. I lost the capacity for speech at this line.

Secondly, Adam doesn’t deserve Charlotte. She is too good for him. (Though it does seem more like a Mason move, but hey, comedic effect.)

Ah, gee. There’s so many ways this could go.

A detective with a poor relationship after the reveal doesn’t feel betrayed. The betrayal came when their mother lied to them for years and years for their own good. This is just something else to add to the list.

A detective who warmed up to Rebecca after the reveal can’t trust their judgment anymore. A small voice in their head tells them they shouldn’t have forgiven her. They allowed this. They’re angry.

A detective who always had a good relationship with Rebecca would have the worst time, I think. Not telling them about vampires and demons and etc. was one thing, but this. This is an invasion of their privacy worse than sending UB to babysit them under the guise of helping with the investigation. This is treating them like the Agency’s possession for their own good.

8 Likes
7015

That would be bloody awful if that happens but judging from Book One Rebecca, I couldn’t find her to consent to such situation. I wouldn’t get past the Agency to do this though behind Rebecca’s back.

1 Like
7016

That’s true.

Were that the case, a detective who only warmed to Rebecca would have the hardest time because, on one hand, they don’t really trust Rebecca yet, but on the other, they don’t want to believe she kept this from them. It’d be the uncertainty that was painful, rather than betrayal.

2 Likes
7017

Hmmm… Since vampires don’t need to sleep as much as humans imagine when the MC and their RO move in together.

On one hand it might be lonely only sharing a bed, like, once every few days… but on the other hand you get ALL THE BED. And if its N you know they gonna insist on getting a super big, comfy bed especially Nate since he’s so tall and fancy sheets. So when N is off doing whatever nerd thing they do in their free time the MC gets to just enjoy all that space.

F would 100% get bored during their nights awake. MC goes to bed asleep and wakes up with F snuggled up to them like “geeze, finally! Let’s do something!”

A will have to be dragged to bed, even when they are clearly exhausted. Even then they are probably awake before the MC is. Though imagining them trapped because the MC is cuddled up to them and they can’t just wake them! That would be rude!

M would also probably want soft sheets. Something that wouldn’t be too aggravating against their skin. MCs living with M probably have to learn to change quickly since M would be trying to get a peek. Also, I don’t know why, but the MC taking a nap and using M as a pillow is one of my favorite things. Its just really cute to me idk why.

18 Likes
7018

I got a very vivid image of N “nesting.” They move in with the detective and they want to buy them nice things (or in the case of apartments covered with tech, maybe some more old-fashioned things like a needlepoint kit). And then should there ever be children…They buy so much for the baby. This wouldn’t even be limited to their own baby. Every time they were out and about, they’d end up with a bag of baby supplies. Expensive baby supplies. The detective is just grateful they don’t get out that often. More so that they don’t know how to shop online. N is the person who prices High to Low.

12 Likes
7019

MC: holding their baby N, could you go to the store and pick up some milk? We’re out.
N: Of course, Dear!

20 minutes later

N: walking in with 6 bags I’m home!
MC: Um…
N: Look at all the things I found! takes out bag I found some really nice baby clothes! And some good books to read them! Oh, and-
MC: Where’s the milk, N?
N: The what?

21 Likes
7020

Ahhh, I’m now picturing MC snuggled up across one side of A’s chest/arm, one of their cats on the other side, and one more cat snuggled up on A’s stomach. A cannot move at all without disturbing someone and feels conflicted. Jk they love every second even if they’ll never admit it outloud.

Also N insists on buying the cats cute/expensive things because fur-babies count.

8 Likes
7021

They had to go themselves/ask A to go to the store in their stead, because sending N back would be a mistake. They already have two mobiles. They don’t need a third, regardless of how cute it is.

Most cats can wear baby clothes sized 0-3 months. A’s boring and thinks clothes don’t belong on cats. The MC tells to stop being a killjoy.

Also, so much catnip.

5 Likes
7022

I needed this mental image of A covered in kitties. Thank you so much.

N needs to be gently told that if they have another baby they can reuse some things. They don’t need to buy all new stuff.

N doesn’t listen.

8 Likes
7023

I think both A and M would be world class cuddlers. :ok_hand: But things would probably move beyond that pretty quickly if M was in the mood.~ And M usually seems to be in the mood.~

Once they accepted their feelings I don’t think A’d mind much.

7 Likes
7024

I finally wrote some fanfiction! I figured I’d write something for Adam’s birthday. Posted in the Fanwork thread!

As for when the Detective is asleep, I can imagine N would probably spend a lot of time in bed anyway. They’d probably kill the time by reading. M might enjoy the quiet but I’m not sure what he would do. I think A and F would be great cuddlers if they could sit still for a minute.

5 Likes
7025

I think this is a good time to bring attention to these important facts:

All the tiny MC’s big spooning N!

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7026

That would be a fun attempt for small MCs. N is quite huge either a man or woman.

I am only 5’4 and 1/2 I think… I will have our annual physical exam soon so I will verify it again.

4 Likes