Trust me...

[noteasytobepink]

Who: Clarice and some kids! And maaaaybe the sheriff's department.
When: Some time after the first year of being stuck on Bill's world, just after she joins the sheriff's department after her florist job.
What: Being a deputy does NOT mean that she can't lie about things a little!

"Hey, you gonna be alright out there rookie?" The snickering was definitely something she could do without. "Those streets get tough about this time of day!"

She glanced up mildly at the rest of the desks around her before leaning down to tighten the straps on her boots. They were tight and double knotted, good. Same for the slow check of her belt and gear, then the brush of fingers up her buttons as she straightened. All in order, picture perfect, and even better everyone's gaze was shying away from hers as she looked around. Better. It was always easier to make the 'senior' people in any business uncomfortable than to try to start shit. Better they avoid ogling the sheriff's girlfriend than have her toss one or two out a window.

No matter how tiresome their joking got. "I believe I can handle myself," she noted mildly as she checked the end of her braided hair. Yes, still secure. All was well with the world. And Jamie was even blushing. Wasn't that cute? "Stay out of trouble oldsters, I won't be here to save you." Okay, maybe a little tail tweaking? A tiny bit.

Yeah, they were totally going to steal her desk chair or something. Or throw pencils at her. Or any number of non-lethal things that tended to make her giggle. Giggling was easy in Wheelsy. She made it out the door while the rest of the crew were arguing over who was actually 'old'. Rather than dwell on the minor victory she glanced up at swore. Almost out of time! "Nice one Clarice..." she muttered, stretching out into a run.

She'd make it.

Barely.

The school bell was ringing as she hopped the last fence across from the bus lot, and she barely beat the munchkins to the cross walk.

She'd laughed when Bill told her it was a necessary job. Really. Cross walks were kinda self explanatory and everyone in town knew where the crosswalk was. They wouldn't mow down kids on purpose, right? This world just...wasn't like that. "Alright, line 'em up kiddos!" she darted across the street to make sure they sorted into lines (lines were easier to handle, right?).

...did they even KNOW what lines were?! "NOT SO FAST!" She snapped, snagging one kid by his hood as he tried to dart across. "Police lady says she WILL dangle you if you try to ditch her!" JUST SAYING!

"BILLY STOP PUSHING!"

"I'M NOT YOU'RE JUST A SLOWPOKE!"

"YOU'RE GONNA GET ARRESTED!"

"Hey, hey Clarice?" She looked down, bemused as one of the youngest stopped in the center of the street to tug on her arm. "Hey, my brother says you're not really pink! No people are really pink!"

...right. "We're in the road," she pointed out. "Tell me that again when we're on the sidewalk okay?" Anything to keep them moving? Besides, that had been...unintentionally stinging. Real people COULD BE PINK. Or Blue. Or Green. Or any other color. Mutants were people too after all, no matter what various realities claimed!

Sidewalk, blessed sidewalk.

"So why are you pink?!"

Right. She sighed and sank down on her heels so that she could be on eye level with the kindergartner. "Well, can you keep a secret?"

"Yes!"

That was good. "I'm only a cop during the day," she admitted.

"So what are you at night?"

"A fairy princess. I'm hiding from an evil king who took away my castle so it's important you don't tell anyone okay?"

"Not even my brother?"

"Not even him. The evil king has spies everywhere and you don't him to hear you telling your brother right?"

The little girl dug her sneaker at the sidewalk for a moment then nodded firmly, "I don't want that. Can you do magic tricks?"

"Only at night." Vampire fairy princess? Sure.

"Do you have wings?!"

"...no. I was hurt and lost my wings. That's why Sheriff Pardy had to take me to the hospital."

"Ohhhhhhh...did it hurt? Did you get a shot?"

"Yes and yes, but it's okay, I'm still alive and that's what matters right?"

"If I'm really good can you show me some magic? I can stay up until eight on Fridays and Saturdays!"

"We'll see kiddo. I may need to do other things to keep everyone safe okay? But we'll see." She spotted the munchkin's mom coming up the walk and grinned, "remember, it's a secret."

"Okay!" And off she went.

Well then. She was betting it was only going to be a few hours before the sheriff's office got calls about corrupting the children or something but it had been fun! Show her some magic tricks indeed...all the tricks she knew weren't good for kids in a world like this one.

It was barely past school letting out so she decided to hang around and escort EVERYONE who wanted to cross the street. Why not after all? It was a SERIOUS job and such.

Wheelsy. Had to love it huh?

Comments

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Bill had quite enjoyed the past year, and gotten used to having Clarice around. He didn't even think about the possibility of her disappearing anymore.

Having her at the station now made his days that much better.

And, when she wasn't at the station it was nice knowing where he could find her so he could stop by in his cruiser, which is what he did while she was at the crosswalk.

"You thinkin' 'bout goin' permanent duty with the cross walk thing?" he asked with a smile, pulling over to the side of road she was working and stepping out of the car. "Probably cut down on jaywalkers, at least."

[noteasytobepink]

"Dunno, seemed the thing to do. Adults are just as hittable as kids?" she chuckled, stepping over to lean on the hood of his car. "You got a problem sheriff? I swear I was doing good!"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Adults should already know the look both ways thing, though," he countered, leaning beside her.

"But nope, no problem. Didn't get any roadkill calls while you were out here, so I'd say you did good."

[noteasytobepink]

"Are you kidding? Kids pay attention to the looking both ways thing much better than adults! Adults are above that and stuff!" she laughed, leaning against his shoulder.

"Seriously, you guys have it easy compared to most police forces I've run into. How do you keep from getting bored?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Yeah, but adults should know better." If an adult gets hit in a crosswalk it's pretty much their fault, right?

"Shh!" Bill said quickly, putting a finger to his lips. "You'll jinx it."

Because that's what happened when you questioned the peace!

"I happen t'Like when things are easy."

[noteasytobepink]

She nipped his finger and grinned, amused, "Yeah, but what about little action me?" she teased. "Here..." she snagged his hand and laid it on her belly, amused, "Feel that? I have soft spots! Soft spots! I've never had those..." she was by no means going to seed but the chance to be somewhere long enough for proper curves instead of muscle?

Weeeeeird.

"I may have to start chasing your desk boys out on runs or something..."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

For one moment Bill felt his gut clench and he had himself a minor heart attack as she led his hand down to her belly.

Yeah, he was thinking something totally different when she did that.

Catching his breath and recovering, he forced a chuckle to cover.

"Your 'soft spots' make me look like a bum, y'know that?"

[noteasytobepink]

She watched his face then laughed, amused, "Implants babe. Still running good on implants. I may want kids eventually but certainly not yet!" Even though se was kind of thinking she may be stuck here for for good.

"I like how you look. Gary on desk though? He can use some jogging."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He laughed at that, shaking his head embarrassed, "No, I know, I wasn't... "

Coughing, he gave her a sheepish smile, "That's good t'know."

Because yeah, someday maybe, but definitely not yet.

"I'm glad y'like my looks, but the only way you're gonna get Gary joggin' is if you dangle a donut on a stick in front of him."

[noteasytobepink]

"Hey, we've been dating....almost a year now?" she grinned, "I totally get to say you're hot. Longest I've dated anyone, honest!" IT WAS! The 'we bang when we can escape certain death' thing just...didn't count.

"I can always tell him last in line on jogs gets tazered!"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"You are totally allowed to say I'm hot," he agreed. It was his longest relationship, too! Though he wasn't quite going to admit that.

"That might do it. Pretty sure he'd believe you'd do it, too." Gary was kind of afraid of Clarice, though he'd never straight out admit it.

[noteasytobepink]

"I probably wouldn't be lying," she admitted thoughtfully. "And there are physical standards for the force, it's in the handbooks I had to read. At all times they need to be healthier than most of them are babe." Just saying!

"And you're hot. Cute ass too."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"But see, if you start bringin' that stuff up we're all gonna have t'start followin' it. Do you know the last time I ran a timed mile?"

YEARS, Clarice! YEARS!

He still had a cute ass, though. No denying that, was there? So, he just smirked about it.

[noteasytobepink]

"I get you running with me sometimes." Which was better than most the precinct had? "And it wouldn't be a bad thing to have them in fighting trim right?" Just in case?

There'd be more survivors in case of weird event that way!

No one on the street minded watching the deputy pinching the sheriff's ass right? Right.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Yeah, but you don't ever carry a stopwatch." He had no idea what kind of time he made these days.

"It wouldn't be a bad thing unless I started losin' folks to not bein' qualified." If they tested and failed he might lose deputies to being 'unfit' for duty!

He hopped at the pinch and swatted her hand. "I'll remind you I'm a superior officer," he teased, heat rising to his features.

[noteasytobepink]

"...because I grew up in a post apocalyptic wasteland!" she pointed out. "You learn to keep track of time in your head! You'll make reqs, not by much, but a week or two of real practice and you could pull that time down. And you know they have three months after a failing mark to pull their health up!" It was in the book!

"Oh, hey, what if we tied a giftcard to a deer? No shooting, have to run it down!" That might get them moving too!

"Yes sir Mr. Superior sir! I'm aware! That's why I haven't dragged you into the backseat yet..." Not that she would right here but he always blushed so nicely!

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"I think you overestimate me and my men," Bill chuckled. A couple weeks probably weren't going to be enough time to whip them all in shape.

"Gift card, though... that ain't a bad idea. Minus the deer. If we make it a contest folks might actually get into it." It was an idea.

And he was going to focus on that idea instead of her last words, which still didn't help so much with the blushing.

"Ain't smart t'fool around in the back of a car that'll only open from the outside," he pointed out.

[noteasytobepink]

"No, babe," she noted, oddly sober, "I think they made a vow to protect people and need to be able to do so. People like to say lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place but that's just a comforting lie." As she could attest!

Granted, this was a constructive brainstorming session! "Gift card to where though? I'll abstain from competing." Naturally. Better that way all around.

Ah. Time to lean into him again so she could tease "Tele-e-port-er..." against his lips with each touch of lips right? Right.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Bill wasn't always a head in the sand guy, but on this subject he always turned away. He refused to even entertain the thought that something like the slugs could happen again.

Partially out of fear that if he did, it would.

He'd argued her as much as he was going to about it, so instead he just glanced over that part and focused on the rest.

"Any one of 'em would lay down for this town," he said, sobering as well. He didn't doubt that fact at all, and so he had to state it. "But I get what you're sayin', an' maybe we could all stand to get a little fit."

He pondered the question and gave a small chuckle.

"I guess a big steak dinner would kind of be against what your goin' for, wouldn't it?" Get fit and then stuff yourself did kind of send a mixed message.

He smirked at those kisses and her words, and damn if she wasn't a tempting little trouble maker. He knew a few spots they could probably park and might be considering those now thanks to her suggestive moves and tone.

"You're wicked, y'know that?"

[noteasytobepink]

"I know they would," she admitted. She'd NEVER questioned that. "I just want to make sure that that isn't the FIRST option!" Because they should have better abilities than that!

It was a thing.

Yes.

"And no. Maybe a giftcard to the sporting good store though? Some nice new rifles people have been talking about..." she grinned inched just close enough to be fully leaning on him AND the hood. "And yes, I know. I'm terrible for you."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"You sure you don't just wanna torture folk?" he teased, because that could be a motive, she did say she was bored.

"Hmm... maybe. Or maybe I could swing tickets to a game or somethin'." Something affordable, since this would be coming out of his pocket. "A brand new car ain't an option, but I'm sure we could come up with somethin' nice."

His smirk grew, and he rested one hand on her hip above her belt.

"I didn't say you were terrible for me, just called you wicked, is all."

[noteasytobepink]

"You're actually suggesting I torture other people?!" She gasped softly, amused. "But I thought we were going steady!" What? IT SEEMED THE BEST RESPONSE OKAY?!

"I'll spring. You won't let me pay rent, so, let my paycheck to go to incentives." Equitable right? What did she need money for besides groceries at this rate? And if they got a decent freezer she could hunt enough to cut those costs as well!

And well, "I told a kid I was a fairy princess today, and the fae are terrible, fickle, and horrifying folk..." She crossed her leg over her other knee and grinned, TOTALLY FLIRTING WITH THE SHERIFF IN PUBLIC YES.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Bill laughed at that, shaking his head. "If torture is that big a thing than as your boyfriend I'm gonna have to say no to you dishin' out to anyone else."

He started to shake his head to her offer, but, well, it was her idea, and he had the feeling arguing with her wouldn't change her mind, and letting her do it might make her happy, so he nodded.

"Alright. Just don't go overboard, okay?" He wanted to motivate his men, not spoil them.

"See, wicked, but ain't none of that terrible to me," he grinned, content to flirt right back probably until his brain caught up to the fact that flirting in public (and uniform) was what they were doing.

[noteasytobepink]

"Thought you'd see it my way," she chuckled easily. "I'm a one target kinda gal you know, only taunting and teasing one man in my life." At a time at any rate. She tainted and teased other people with COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INTENT!

"You get veto power on motivational prizes. And I get a taser." That was where negotiations started, right? Right.

Bah, they were consenting adults more than willing to point that fact out! What was there to be ashamed of? "Mmm, I see I'll have to try harder to keep my fairy princess badge," she laughed. "What would you consider terrible?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"That's good to know," he said with a chuckle. He rather liked being her target and wasn't really willing to give that up or share.

"Technically, if you get issued a taser you've gotta go through trainin' for it," he said, and winced. "An' that means gettin' tazed yourself."

In someone who made up the rulebook's mind that made sense. It was kind of why some of the other deputy's didn't carry one themselves.

"I don't see you doin' any of those things, an' I ain't gonna say just in case it gives you ideas," he replied, smug.