keeping pests in their place [Cody]

[jay]

Needless to say Cody was a little surprised when she took another wet rag from the bartender and started cleaning the cut on his forehead. It was a pretty small wound and he hadn't even really noticed it until she started to wipe up the blood around it. Not that he didn't appreciate the attention. Being a hero always had some sort of perk after it was all said and done. And having the girl's clean the blood off your face was definitely one of them. Though, admittedly, in his line of work, Cody rarely remembered the girl who cleaned the blood off his face. Generally it happened while he was out cold in the ER. Thankfully that was, so far, a one-time deal.

He grinned at her comment of writing checks her ass can't cash. "You might want to watch that habit a bit closer," he teased, trying to keep as still as possible to avoid accidental whackings of his bruises. "After all, I'm not always going to be here to take the beatings you get lined up for yourself."

He hushed suddenly as she grabbed his chin and pulled him closer to her. Well well well, this was getting interesting...... or not. Geez, Cody knew he wasn't drunk yet, not even close, so could adrenaline really be hiding the feeling of the two cuts on his face that he hadn't noticed?! Stupid bastard must've had a ring on his hand when he punched Cody or something. Great. Oh well, chicks dig scars, and it wasn't going to be big enough to mess up his features. "Is that the official prognosis, doc?" he teased her as she released him.

As she dug in her pocket for change, Cody finished off his whiskey and slid the glass to the bartender. "Just slide me a bottle of Rickard's would ya?" he asked before turning back to Mirrah. He laughed at her plight about the song and fished around in his own pocket for change. He pulled out a quarter and flipped it to her. "Some classic rock, like something by KISS, would be nice, if you're taking suggestions," he said with a grin.

[jagger]

"Knights in Satan's Service, gotcha. Anything for my Hero." She saluted briefly and headed to the jukebox, poking a buzzed barely legal young man in the process; who stepped sheepishly aside and avoided her gaze. Apparently she was now something to be afraid of - thank you, Bodyguard Cody. Grinning slightly to herself, she dropped the quarter and selected the two-song quarter; Calling Dr. Love and Rock n Roll All Nite.

She waited the intro - thirteen, fourteen acoustic riffs? of Dr. Love; leaning back against the jukebox with a slight smirk as she watched Cody at the bar, gaze drifting from him to the other patrons and back again, stealing glances carefully. Noting the wide birth around her, she shrugged, stepping away from the Juke and heading back to the bar. Popping up on the stool beside him again, she began her work on drink number six. This would be her last - she was sufficiently pain-free, had made - seemingly - a new friend and a new enemy. Score one for a good night. She would need some pain killers in the morning; but it was all good.

"Well, this has been one helluva exciting night." What an understatement that was. Folding both arms on the bar, she stared at the head on her beer. "So, tell me something - anything - 'bout yourself, Cody. Any jealous woman going to come torch my house?"

[jay]

Cody watched as everyone glanced at Mirrah and then nervously back at him as she made her way to the jukebox. It was almost funny. Almost. He wasn't quite drunk enough for that yet. With a sigh, Cody tilted his head back and chugged the nearly full bottle of beer and set it down with a clunk on the bar. "Bean me," he quipped dryly to the bartender, who willingly obliged one of his best customer's with another bottle of Rickard's. With drink nine making it's way down the hatch, both Cody and the bartender that the officer would not be getting his keys back tonight.

A grin spread across Cody's face as the acoustic riffs that could only belong to Dr. Love burst forth from the juke. "Is that supposed to be a hint?" he called teasingly as Mirrah leaned against the jukebox and smirked over at him. Deciding that he'd drunk enough to start getting away with acting a little stupid, Cody pulled a few riffs on air guitar. GOD he loved this band! What he wouldn't give to see them live someday.

He watched as she made her way back and parked herself onto a stool. "Exciting? That's one word for it," he said with a dry laugh before taking a long draught of his beer. "I'd've picked something else, but that works too I guess." He looked at Mirrah incredulously when she asked about jealous women torching her house. "Uh, I guess my mom might if she thinks we're sleeping together, but she moved to Canada three years ago, so I think you're safe," he teased.

[jagger]

Mirrah clamped her teeth down on her tongue to quell her barking laugh; the muffled sound a bit pained as she giggled. "Oh you're one-a THEM? A mama's boy?" She grinned brightly, expression letting him know she was just teasing. "I don't think I'm quite the type to take home to Mama anyway, so just forget to mention tonight to her." She didn't need the drama of having another woman scrutinize her - she had never had good luck with parents. Actually, scratch that, everyone's father loved her; saw her as "the perfect girl for their son" - even when she wasn't. Mothers saw it how it was. She was too reckless, too clutzy, not a lady, and far, far, far too prone to trouble. She drank, she burped, she spit, she swore, nothing was ladylike about Mirrah.

She was okay with that.

Eyebrows raised as the song switched from Calling Dr. Love to Rock n Roll All Nite, she swigged another long sip out of her glass - she always drank what was on tap, not the domestic bottled.. she could drink it faster that way - before letting the conversation lull, zoning out as she considered her own mother's whereabouts. She hadn't kept track of her family, that left her feeling guilty, and in short time her natural grin had faded and her gaze was boring a hole through the bar. Snapping out of her stupor as abruptly as it had started, she leaned over the bar to steal a pickle - getting swatted by the bartender in the process - crunching into the dill spear with a ravenous bite.

"So no crazy woman's going to torch my house; you're a mama's boy and you're a copper. Humm. So that makes you possibly the most interesting man I've met here in Indian Valley." She winked, crunching into another bite of pickle. Although she knew he'd probably turn it down, she held up the other half, wiggling it. "Stolen pickle, Officer?"

[jay]

Cody laughed when Mirrah called him a mama's boy. He finished his beer a little slower, caught up in thought. Yeah, he kinda was a bit of a mama's boy. But, it was more like the kind that was embarrassingly smothered by a loving mother. It was definitely not by choice. Shaking his head with a grin, Cody finished his beer and signaled for another. "Trust me, this mama's boy ain't a mama's boy by choice," he admitted, finally beginning to feel that familiar little buzz churning in the back of his head. "I'm an only child after a couple miscarriages, so my mom always felt this overwhelming need to protect me from everything. I guess it was that protectiveness that made me feel the need to protect the people around me, which led to my becoming a police officer." He sighed softly with a bit of a shrug. "She always meant well, I guess."

Thinking about his mother made Cody feel a slight pang of guilt. He hadn't spoken to her in quite a while and hadn't visited in even longer. He always meant to, but things kept coming up. He'd have to call her when he was sober and make plans to take a few days off work to go see her.

He tuned back into the conversation just as Mirrah spoke again. He half raised his glass in a salute to her. "I'll take interesting," he said, "I've been called worse." He wrinkled his nose as she offered him a pickle. Strange as it was, he simply did not like pickles in any shape or form. Heck, he didn't even like relish. "No thanks, I'm a pickle person," he said.

[jagger]

Sidetracked slightly by the sullen drop in conversation, Mirrah hesitated before finishing her pickle; the juice sliding down the inside of her wrist before she snapped back to reality. Popping it into her mouth, she chewed rambunctiously and swallowed, wiping her wrist on the inside of her t-shirt. Though she was somewhat modest about it; the cotton fabric rode up enough to display an innie of a bellybutton; unpierced and staying that way. She wasn't anti-piercing. She was anti-Mirrah-piercing.

Choking down the last half-masticated bite of dill, she licked her lips and wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, in turn brushing her hand on her jeans. She studied him a second before a scream-in-the-library moment overtook her, a delighted grin sparking to meet her cheeks as she leaned forward. Grabbing his chin gently but fiercely, she hauled his face forward to meet hers and planted a soft, moist kiss square on his mouth, relinquishing him after a moment. Her tongue behaved itself, tucking into her cheek, and she quirked an eyebrow, sliding off her stool and retrieving her necessary items - wallet, hat, anything else?

"Later Samuel, it's been fun, it's been real..." She paced toward the door, turning to walk backward a few steps. "Can't say it's been real fun." She snickered and the bartender laughed, mentioning the previous activities of the evening as evidence against the contrary. She shrugged, eyes dropping to Cody momentarily. "I'm off like a Prom Dress. Unless anyone cares to walk me home..?" Her eyebrows waggled and she pivoted on her heel to leave the bar, a satisfied smirk on her face. Successful or not; sore shoulder or otherwise - this had been one fantastic night.

[jay]

Try as he might, Cody couldn't resist allowing his eyes to dart downward as Mirrah's shirt lifted slightly. Still, he tried to act as though he didn't look by signaling the bartender for yet another beer. He really should call it quits before he scared the crap out of her. Not many women liked men who routinely drank their faces off. But, it was a habit once started that was very hard to stop.

The lull in conversation was actually a nice break for Cody. He wasn't used to being so social. Being able to simply sit and work on his drink in silence felt pretty nice. Not that socializing with Mirrah had been bad, it was just his nature. So involved in his silence was Cody, he barely noticed the cat-who-ate-the-canary grin that had plastered itself on Mirrah's face. Needless to say when she grabbed his chin, Cody was completely lost. It didn't take any convincing for him to kiss her back though, his own tongue obeying rules of propriety of a first kiss.

Just as suddenly as it began, the kiss was over. Cody would be lying if he said that it hadn't left him wanting more. So when she walked away, it was Cody could do to keep from jumping up and following her like a lovesick puppy. He decided to play it cool and leaned back against the bar, watching her. Sure enough she turned to announce her exit and throw out a subtle hint about wanting some company. Pretending to sigh heavily, Cody threw some bills on the bar. "That should cover it, and then some," he said before downing the rest of his beer. "I guess that's a subtle hint that the lady needs an escort through the dark streets."

Cody tipped a cheeky wink at Mirrah before collecting his jacket only from the bartender. He didn't think it'd be all that cold out, but just in case a jacket would be nice to have. He casually slung the leather jacket over his shoulder as he slipped his other arm around Mirrah's shoulders. "Shall we?" he said teasingly, opening the door.

[jagger]

Mirrah paused a half-step as he caught up, her outside arm drifting up to weave her fingers through his in simple contact. Her other arm looped around his waist, snuggling into the crook of his arm as they stepped out the door and onto the sidewalk. "We shall." She bumped him with the inside of her elbow lightly for emphasis. Blinking briefly at the change of gloom from inside to outside, she looked in all directions before finding the one that tingled her sense of direction. Convinced of her path home, she dragged him north.

"Thanks for saving my ass in there." She said it in passing, not really expecting an answer. She used her free fingers to rub a thumb against the base of his spine, musing to herself as they walked. Her delightful little buzz was fading quickly, the curse of having such a fast metabolism was her inability to truly ever get flat out, balls over drunk. Although, she was fairly happy about that most days.. she'd be dead by now if it were otherwise, given her propensity to acting a bit larger than life.

"So, tough guy, mama's protective and hen-ish.. how's papa? Like you, only older?" She grinned slightly, imagining Cody - only 30 years older - beginning to weather with age and experience. It wasn't unattractive, though her mind instantly added a pair of highwater pants and a "Retiree" hat. Giggling slightly, she leaned her head back to look up at him. "Only a bit more grouchy?"

[jay]

The simple fact that she snuggled deeper into his embrace instead of pulling away made Cody feel like he was on top of the world. He followed along willingly as she dragged him north. Despite the amount of alcohol in his system, Cody still walked as though he hadn't consumed a single drop of the intoxicating liquid. It made nights out drinking where he was actually looking to get plastered pretty damn expensive. Tonight had been worth the bucks blown on a mere beginning buzz.

Cody gave Mirrah's shoulders a gentle squeeze when she thanked him. "No need to thank me, ma'am," he teased, "just doing my duty." He laughed gently, knowing that his actions in the bar had nothing to do with duty. Duty would have had him simply escort the man from the premises and bar him access, no pun intended. Then again, after taking a hit, that would have upgraded the charges from disorderly conduct to assaulting an officer, which was a much more serious offense. "And who said there was no reward for doing the right thing?" he asked with another laugh.

However, at the mention of his father Cody's laugh and smile faded fast. He fought to keep his face neutral, but he could feel the ghost of a scowl forming on his face. "I have no idea," he said tersely. "I've never met the man."

[jagger]

Her eyebrows shot heavenward at his tone and she blinked, again glancing up and craning her neck to see his expression - this was accomplished only by leaning out and away from him for a moment, frowning slightly. "Sorry to strike a chord." But of course, never
leaving well enough alone, she continued in short order. "Maybe it's better that way." There we go.. always find the silver lining, Mirrah, good job.

She had nothing similar to relate to within her family, so instead she went silent, pausing at a crosswalk to punch the button and hauling him to a stop next to her. The hand turned to a green walking figure and they moved onward, this time heading Eastbound. They had nearly reached the edge of the city; the suburban-y, well constructed area would be just around the corner. Mirrah made a point to slow her pace.. short of dragging her feet, she was drawing this walk out. It occured to her he really hadn't asked anything about her; she knew more of him than he did of her - and what we they going to do when they got back to her house? She hadn't thought that far ahead.

A wry smile cracked her face as she mused over Kalli's reaction at a stranger. The big Anatolian Shepherd was a mite protective over her mistress and tended to be more bark than bite - which while a good thing, was a little unnerving when the visitor was a welcome one. Did Cody have pets? She hadn't asked.. but somehow she doubted it. "I think I just might be your polar opposite, Mister Walker." She quipped, kicking a pebble with one foot as they walked.

[jay]

Cody couldn't help but smile when Mirrah said it might better that he'd never met his father. He sighed softly into the cooling night air and shrugged lightly. "Probably," he said, "We had it good, me, my brother, and my mom, that is. She made sure we never went without."

Another smile curled across Cody's lips as she hauled him to a stop at the crosswalk. "What about you? Any older brothers I ought to be worried about?" he teased, "Or sisters that I should watch out for? Or maybe more crazy boys you've got tailing you?"

He'd noticed the slowing of the pace, though he pretended not to. There was a good chance that Mirrah hadn't really expected him to follow her home. Which was perfectly understandable, as they'd only met a few hours ago. Still, Cody knew that if his presence wasn't welcomed, he would simply return to the bar. Probably not the wisest thing to do, but he'd set out to get drunk and he wasn't quite there yet. So, unless he was actually invited in, Cody had every intention of saying goodnight and going back for round.... whatever.

He glanced down when she spoke again, arching one brow curiously. "My polar opposite, eh?" he commented with a smirk. "So, what? You Daddy's little girl, are you?"

[jagger]

Mirrah laughed sharply - oops, a little too sharply. She flung a hand up and clamped it over her mouth, stifling the sore giggle before it started again. "Mmh. No. Sister, yes, but no brothers. And my sister is hardly a threat." She rolled her eyes. Myrna was such a pain in the ass, but a thread she was far from. "No men. Met one and only one when I adopted my dog.. Speaking of which, Kalli may give you some trouble. Hope you like dogs." She chuckled slightly, tucking cold fingertips out of his pocket and up under his shirt, pressing the icicles against his skin.

She left the statement at that. Let him meet Kalli later, no sense in talking about her when they were a block away from home anyway. Chuckling grimly, she shrugged her shoulders when he mentioned her father, rolling her eyes heavenward. "Well. I was a daddy's girl at one time. Myrna's got that role now I guess. I did something really foolish when I was 21.." she paused, then clarified. ".. on horseback. He over-reacted in a big way.. basically forbid me from everything I want to do. I was an adult, ya know? A big girl. So I packed my shit and left a couple days later. I haven't talked to him since, and it's been two years." Her lower lip came out instinctually in a pout, though her face was cast toward the cement. The situation was a nasty one, but of her own doing; she really had no room to be upset over it.

Glancing up again as they reached the next street, she fumbled in her pocket for her keys, swinging out from under his arm as they entered the fenced in front yard and pausing to latch the gate behind them. Darting up the steps and onto the wrap around porch, she swung the screen door open, unlocking the front door. She paused before entering, flicking the lights on. Like a battle cry, the insecure "Wooooo!" was heard from the back of the house and the clatter of toenails on tile sounded as Kalli flung her way to the foyer. Catching the big Shepherd by her collar before she could dart out, Mirrah grinned. "This is Kalli. Ignore her, pretend she doesn't exist. By the end of the evening she'll be curled up in your lap and you'll be my prisoner forever." She winked, using her knees to shove the big tan dog back inside. "Coming?"

[jay]

Cody grinned when Mirrah tried to stifle her laugh. He let his own soft laugh fall when she assured him that her sister wasn't a threat. "Good," he teased, "I mean, I know I'm irresistible to all you women, but it can get nasty with siblings!" He had been about to make a reply about dogs when she slipped her icy fingers under his shirt. "YOW!" he gasped, twisting away form her. "That wasn't very nice! And for the record, I love dogs."

He listened silently as she related her tale of her and her father. Not that it was much of a tale, it left him curious as to what exactly she had done. And now that he knew that she had a bit of background with horses, Cody made a mental note to invite her out to see Shift someday. He was in the middle of desensitizing the Paint colt with the hope of someday using him as a patrol horse. It just seemed fitting in this town with all the ranches and what-not. It would be much quicker to patrol the trails that wound around the whole place on horseback than on foot.

Pulling himself back to the conversation at hand, Cody gave Mirrah's shoulders a quick squeeze when she looked at the ground. "Parents over-react out of concern," he said gently. "But, at the same time maybe it was time you struck out on your own anyway and that was just the push you needed to do it." Having never known his own father, Cody couldn't really say he knew how falling out with your father felt like. Still, he couldn't imagine it was something she wanted to dwell on. "Besides," he teased, "if you had stuck around you never would have met me!"

Cody sauntered slowly after Mirrah as she ducked out from under his arm to unlock the door. He grinned as he heard Kalli howl and barrel for the door, clearly pleased that Mirrah was home. "Nice to meet you, Kalli," he said with a grin before joining Mirrah at the door. "All in good time, little lady. All in good time."

[jagger]

While her knees shoved, the dog shoved back, her black ears laid back in blatant distrust as she eyeballed Cody, a low growl rolling out from the back of her throat. Mirrah rolled her eyes and choked up her hold on the wide nylon strap, hauling Kalli along with her. "Knock it off, mutt. He's allowed to be here, I invited him in. Go to your spot." She half-dragged, half-led the skittish dog into the living room, pointing to a big suede pillow to a far corner of the hardwood floor. Kalli paused, glancing back at Mirrah with an almost guilty look. "GO, Kalli."

Sulkily, the overgrown puppy padded to her bed and flopped down, head on her paws with a imploring look. Mirrah ignored her, dropping her keys and wallet on the coffee table, her hat on the back of the plush suede sofa. Propping a foot up on the glass and wood antique, she went to work unlacing her Ariats, kicking them off and leaving the black, dusty boots to rest under the table. "Make yourself at home. Care for a drink? I've got beer - Ballantine Ale - and some tequila. Cheap shit, it's Cuervo, but it's a drink nonetheless. Or of course.. coffee, water, I may have some milk but I doubt you'd want to drink it..." She smirked slightly. Mirrah was lactose intolerant, despite that she tortured herself and tried to drink it anyway - thusly, every gallon she owned usually went rotten about half way through.

Padding barefoot into the kitchen, she pawed through cupboards. "Oh, I have wine, too.. if you care for it. It's a Red." She pulled the dusty bottle out and set it aside, standing on her tiptoes to continue her search. Finding nothing she cared to eat, she sat back on her heels and huffed, sliding the cupboard closed again and padding back into the living room, pausing to lean against the doorjamb. "So, what would you like, Cowboy?" She grinned cheerfully, eyeing him with a mischievous, nearly seductive stare.

[jay]

Cody smiled down at the dog. He loved dogs. If he thought Tasha would behave herself, he'd of liked to get a puppy. But, he had the feeling the little doll of a cat would view the new addition to the family as a chew toy. Best wait until she either mellowed out or had finished her stint on the planet. A bit of a morbid and sad thought, but hey, we all have to go sometime, right? "Well, so long as she doesn't bite I don't mind," he said, grinning as Mirrah tried to get the dog to clear off while he was bent over untying his boots. Combats, go figure. How manly. He then turned his attention to the dog. "Who's a good puppy?"

He straightened up again, shrugging his jacket from his shoulders. Not entirely sure where to put it, he settled for hanging onto it for the time being. He slowly made his way into the living room after Mirrah. He laughed when she called Cuervo cheap shit. Well... it was, but that didn't mean it wasn't any good. He actually had his own bottle of it sitting in the pantry at home. "Heh, I haven't had milk in ages, but thank you for reminded me that I've got some solidified in my fridge at home that needs to be tossed," he quipped.

Cody made a face when she called out about wine. He liked alcohol, no doubt, but he'd never really acquired a taste for wine. "Well, I wouldn't say no to some of that tequila," he said with a grin as she stood in the doorway. "It may only be Cuervo, but I'm not picky. Jose and me are good friends."