keeping pests in their place [Cody]

[jagger]

Mirrah returned to the kitchen, sliding a shotglass out of the cupboard, grabbing the bottle of cuervo about the neck and wandering back into the living room. Setting the glass and the bottle on the coffee table, her legs curled under as she collapsed onto the sofa, eyeing him. "Just toss your jacket on the chair, there." She pointed to a wide overstuffed chair, kittywumpus from the sofa. It made a nice little rectangle; her living room. She preferred to keep her taste simple and elegant. In a far corner of the room was a nice mahogany bookshelf, converted into a cage with a wire front; housing a pair of very large, very fat Russian Blue rats. On a table behind the sofa was a fish tank housing an African Leaf fish and a small Japanese catfish; and if one explored, in her bedroom was yet another terrarium, this one housing Indian Stick Bugs. She was a virtual zoo.

Kalli grew bored of being confined to her bed and stood up to wander over, giving Cody a wide berth until she was safely behind him. Sitting in the entrance to the room, she was the silent sentry, still evaluating this Strange Man. Mirrah chuckled, watching her dog with a bemused look. "Mutt." Uncapping the bottle of tequila, she poured a shot, downing it and refilling it to pass it to Cody. The booze hit her like a freight train after their brisk walk home; her stomach filled with warmth and her face went red in a blush. Sighing, she leaned back. All the alcohol of the night was catching up to her. "Help yourself.."

Kicking her feet out, she propped them on the coffee table, patting the cushion beside her. "So, you got horses, Officer Cody?" She swept one hand up behind her head, finding the hat she had discarded earlier and pulling it onto her head and low over her eyes, gazing at him from under the brim. "Seems like everybody's got horses in these parts; so I bet you do."

[jay]

Cody tossed his chair obediently into the chair that Mirrah had indicated. It landed with a soft thump before lightly folding in on itself. He watched that for a moment before allowing his gaze to sweep over the room. He had to admit he was impressed. "You must spend a lot of bucks down at Valley Feed," he teased, looking around at her menagerie. "Rats, fish, a dog. Hiding an elephant in the closet?"

He took himself around the table to park on the couch. He smiled at Kalli before extending his hand toward her. "Hey pooch," he called softly. "Here girl. Come on. I'm not gonna hurt ya." He sat back to take the shot glass from Mirrah. He slammed the shot back easily, enjoying the slow burn the cheap alcohol left in his throat. It took the edge off of the headache that had slowly been creeping in on the edges of his consciousness. "Ahhh.... that it the spot," he said, leaning back against the back of the couch.

He grinned at her when she put the hat on, and gently tapped the brim before answering. "Yes, as a matter of fact," he said, "I just recently bought myself a little two-year-old Paint gelding. I'm hoping to train him as a police horse and use him to monitor trails and crowd control. We've got a long way to go, though."

[jagger]

Kalli had been sidling over whilst he ignored her, freezing in place and looking in the opposite direction. Finding the auspicious moment to approach was her specialty, and she much disliked having attention given by those she was sneaking up on. As soon as he went back to speaking, she crept forward again, nose outstretched to snuffle at him. She dropped her nose to his feet, sniffing up his pantleg before deeming him acceptable. With a huff, she flopped on her spacious rear-end beside him, her tongue lolling out of her mouth in a pant. Mirrah growled audibly, swatting his hand as he tapped the brim of her Stetson.

"Got yourself a friend. Six o'clock." She nodded to the dog without looking at her - Kalli was such a private animal. "Oh, a paint, eh? Lovely animals. I miss my boy." She smiled ruefully. Suddenly, the need for music was overwhelming. She jumped to her feet and carefully stepped over his knees, weaving through furniture to the stereo on the wall. Tapping the power button, music flooded the room - some twangy nobody who couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. Flipping through stations, she found a classic rock channel, cheering triumphantly and barreling back toward the sofa.

"And for the record, I don't like elephants." She grinned slightly, collapsing over the back of the sofa, one hand flying up to catch her hat before it careened off her head. Mirrah - always happy.

[jay]

Cody could hear Kalli trying to sneak up on him, but he decided to ignore her and let her acclimate herself to him on her own time. The only thing he did was to let his hand hang off of the couch at a good sniffing height to encourage the dog to acquaint herself with his scent. He loved dogs, had grown up with them, and missed having one. But mistress Tasha would not hear of him bringing home a pup or even a full-grown pooch. She was quite content ruling the roost, and for now Cody was quite content to let her.

He smiled when Mirrah mentioned that he had a friend. "Yea, I noticed," he said, "She likes to sneak up on people, eh?" He watched as she suddenly jumped up to go to the stereo. "Yeah, Paints are great. Nice and quiet, willing to work. You got any horses?"

He laughed as she flung herself down again with the comment about elephants.. "Duly noted," he teased, "So, what's in the closet? Ostriches? Lions, tigers, or bears? Oh my! Or is that were you put the people you don't like?"

[jagger]

"Nah, a mop and the body of the last sucker I convinced to walk me home." She grinned, flashing him a wink before snatching the tequila bottle up. Dropping all need for a glass, she unscrewed the top and took a swig, gulping as the fluid burned a path from her throat to her stomach. She gasped, sliding it back onto the coffee table. "See, I do that, you know. I kidnap unsuspecting police officers, drag them home, get them drunk, and then do devious things to them." She nodded as if relaying some grave truth.

She dragged the brim lower over her eyes, grinning wickedly at him. "With the help of my specially trained Holder Downer Dog." As if on cue, Kalli leapt - all four feet - and planted her mass on Cody's lap, obviously mistaken and thinking she was in fact a Chihuahua and not an eighty-pound Shepherd. She laid her head on her paws, curled into a polite C-shape, yawning once before staring at her mistress. Mirrah exploded into laughter, falling over as she giggled, her head thwaking against Cody's shoulder and a hand dropping to stroke Kalli's forehead lightly. "See? She's perfect." Another raucous giggle.

[jay]

Cody laughed at her answer. She had a nice quick wit and a sharp sense of humor. He liked that, reminded him a lot of himself. When she sat the bottle back down he arched one brow playfully at her as he swiped the bottle up himself. "Well, I'm up for devious things sober," he said, tone serious. "But, if you insist on getting me drunk, you might have to try harder than having me spend some time with ol' Jose."

He took a long swig of the tequila and had just replaced the bottle on the table when Kalli practically dive-bombed into his lap. He grunted slightly when she landed, but he quickly circled his arms around her just in case she wasn't fully balanced on his lap. "Kamikaze dog," he grumbled, trying to sound gruff. He kept one hand gently scratching around Kalli's neck and ears as Mirrah literally fell over laughing. He swooped the other arm around her shoulders, putting her in a gentle headlock. "I'm so glad you're amused," he growled playfully.

[jagger]

She continued giggling, the fit intensifying as he draped an arm around her. "Told you she'd get used to you.. she's a nut." Kalli ignored them both, feigning sleep. Mirrah leaned back, resisting the headlock for a brief instant before giving in and allowing herself to be mashed against him, bare feet monkeying onto the coffee table to retrieve the tequila. Slowly she inched it into reach and then pinned it between her heels, legs folding, frog-like, to bring the bottle within arm's reach.

Mission accomplished, she took another long swig, this time holding the bottle protectively on her lap. If anything, she was in danger of getting completely smashed tonight - but that was alright, she was here at home, if nothing else she'd wake up robbed and in a puddle of her own drool with the door standing wide open. No, not robbed, he's a cop, remember? Oh, yeah. That.

"Sober and devious is fun but drunk and devious is just... dirty fun." She ran a finger around the mouth of the bottle, shuddering slightly as goosebumps erupted on her upper arms. Another quick swig off the bottle stopped that in it's tracks, flipping her hat off to throw it on the table and leaning her head back on his shoulder. "I'm almost always amused, darlin'." She took a deep breath, letting it out in a ragged sigh. "I'm too damn stubborn to be anything but happy."

[jay]

Cody laughed when Mirrah called Kalli a nut. The dog certainly was different, but she was still adorable. "Oh yea? A nut, eh?" he said, a teasing tone creeping into his voice. "Like mother like canine daughter?" He laughed and gave her shoulders a quick squeeze before reaching for the bottle again. "Give us a swig, love." He should probably call it quits for the night, but if she wanted to get drunk, Cody was all for it.

He shook his head at the dirty fun comment. Oh the things he could think of that people would describe as dirty fun. Still, he couldn't think of an adequate response. When she took another swig of the bottle, Cody held his hand out again. "Didn't your mother ever teach you to share, little lady?" he teased lightly. He grinned down at her when she said she was too stubborn to be anything but happy. "Good plan, keep it up, makes for pleasant company."

[jagger]

His mention of share and share alike sparked a scream in the library moment; her tongue flicking out to wrap around the entire mouth of the bottle; thoroughly coating it with saliva before politely handing it over. She did this sort of thing on all types of items - sweets, car keys, you name it; if she was trying to discourage someone from touching it but still obligated by the Share rule, she employed her mouth.

She had a feeling it probably wouldn't phase him much.

Grinning with that smart ass, cheshire grin, her head tilted and she gazed up at him with a cheeky expression. She had many things rolling through her head at once; with great effort, she quieted them, eyes darkening slightly as she demanded silence of her incorrigible thoughts. After a moment of this turmoiled silence, she popped to her feet. Her psuedo-tourettes took over and she darted over the coffee table - bare feet light and quick over the glass-and-oak antique - landing on the throw rug singing. "I don't ask why.. I just, fall into the meadow.. I close my eyes and I wait to die." It was hed pe; a favorite. The tequila dangerously low, she made quick work to the kitchen, retrieving a bottle of Ballantine Ale and popping the top off on the edge of the counter. "Yes I am a liar, yes I am a sinner, please forgive myyy brok-eeen soul..."

Pointing to Kalli's bed, she cleared her throat. The Shepherd moved immediately; padding back to the bed to kerflumph enthusiastically. Mirrah took the opportunity to throw herself back onto the couch, feet landing in his lap. "So, Mr. Surly; why were you at the bar drinking yourself into a stupor, hmm?"

[jay]

Cody made a bit of a face as she liberally coated the bottle with her saliva before handing it over. "Oh, we are the epitome of maturity here, aren't we?" he teased, taking the bottle from her and at least drying the spit on it. The fact that there was saliva all over it didn't bother him, it was just the whole wet thing that was like... ew. "Clearly your mother taught you to share, but not how to share nicely," he added before taking several long swigs. The slow burn of the alcohol made its way down his throat before returning to his head in a small, but decent buzz.

He watched her with an amused expression as she got up and promptly started singing. He jokingly put his hands over Kalli's ears. "You don't wanna hear this, pooch," he teased. He took another quick swig of the dwindling tequila as she disappeared into the kitchen. He shook his head at her as she came back, still singing, with more alcohol.

He got a quick pat in before Mirrah ordered Kalli off his lap. "So... I go from being a bed to a footstool?" he quipped, "What's with the demotion?" He fought the sudden urge to see if her feet were ticklish on the notion that if they were he might just get himself kicked in the face.... or more sensitive areas.... "I was at the bar attempted to drink myself into a stupor because I've had a long ass day," he said truthfully. "Between a rather unsuccessful training session with Shift and a fistfight and subsequent in the diner this morning, I just needed to chill out."

[jagger]

"These are practically royal feet, you should be pleased to be a foot stool." She beamed at him briefly before taking another swig of her Ale, head cocked as she listened to the rundown of his day. Why had she been there drinking? She couldn't really remember. Doubtful she even really had a reason. She pretty much just liked to get absolutely shitfaced and annoy some people. Tonight had been a bonus - fights were always a bonus. Particularly when she was the cause of them.

"Drinking generally riles me up instead of chilling me out.. but I suppose that's the difference between men and women. Tell me 'bout Shift." She paused, then tilted her ale at him with her next statement. "I trained my own stud colt back in the day, and Cherokee has a lot of training left under her belt. Maybe I can help." She shrugged, poking him in the stomach with her big toe.

"Either way, maybe it would be good for our furry kids to work together. Cherokee seems to jump at shadows, having another horse there may be a good thing for her." She loved her little mare, but the dun was a bit of a hard case. Performed like a dream, and tried very hard to please; but she always acted as if she'd been beaten. Most likely she had. Mirrah considered this, face screwed up in a bit of a frown.

[jay]

Cody laughed and shifted once again to lessen the pressure on his right butt cheek where Shift had butted him into the electric fence earlier. "Only practically royal?!" he exclaimed, pretending to be shocked. "That's hardly something to feel privileged about! Practically royal. Years of service and this is what I'm reduced to, a peasant's footstool." With another laugh, Cody shoved her feet gently. He didn't really mind her putting her feet on him, it made it seem like they had known each other longer than only a few hours.

He took a small swig of the remaining tequila, pulling a face as she poked him with her toe. "That's not very nice," he mumbled, flicking the offending toe gently. "Shift's pretty solid. He's still growing so I'm waiting on backing him. I figure he'll end up close to 15.2 or 15.3. True to his Paint nature, he's stood for just about everything I've thrown at him to date."

Cody paused for a moment, looking at her face with confusion. He wasn't sure what to make of the look she was giving nothing in particular. "Except for this morning, of course," he continued, "when a sparrow flew up under his nose as I went to turn him out and he spooked into me and sent me ass first into the electric fence." He shook his head with a laugh. "So what about your little flightster? What's Cherokee like?"

[jagger]

Mirrah was suddenly starved. No, more than starved; her blood sugar was through the roof with this lovely amount of alcohol she had in her system and was beginning it's rapid descent. She sat up, rigid, a glassy sort of look about her. She was still bubbly and chipper, but it was more... scattered. Almost as if she had just ingested a stomach full of mushrooms and topped it off with an acid tab. "Well, I bought Cherokee on a whim..."

Her hands shook a bit and she hauled herself to her feet, patting Cody absently on the head. She made her way to the kitchen, rummaging through cupboards. Snatching an apple out of the fruit bowl, she crunched into it, throwing cans aside as she hunted for something that sounded good. Her body was telling her to eat, but as always, Mirrah was ultra picky. She unearthed a bag of cheetos, tearing into the bag ravenously with the apple still held in her clamped jaws.

Returning to the living room, she used her free hand to hold the apple, crunching through her large bite of fruit. "She's young-ish, around 6 I think. Registered but I don't care about papers, they're pretty useless for my intentions. She's very responsive, doesn't wear her toe down in the front properly for whatever reason; and everything is like, brand new to her. She just... jumps. Doesn't flat out spook, just jumps. Never offers to hurt me. Raise your hand to her and it's the end of the world."

She twitched from foot to foot as she spoke, alternating a bite of apple with a cheeto. Tossing the bag of cheesy treats on the coffee table, she flunked on the couch again. "S-s-sorry, I'm a little jittery. Food? Help yourself."

[jay]

If Cody noticed any difference in Mirrah's behaviour, he said nothing about it. He would have chalked it up as the alcohol kicking in anyway, like it was starting to do for him. His head buzzed softly and every movement seemed numb and as though he was moving through water, although he knew for a fact that he was moving normally. It was a feeling he savoured, when his thoughts drifted away like so many wisps of smoke in the wind but he was still in full control of his actions. If he were at the bar, he'd likely keep going until he fell over, but being in the presence (and house) of a near stranger made him decide to keep it at this pleasant level.

He blinked slowly as she patted him on the head. Not what he was expecting at all. He shot a glance at Kalli with a grin as Mirrah headed to the kitchen yet again. "I think I just got demoted to your level, pooch," he said softly. With a soft sigh, Cody tilted his head back to drain the bottle he was holding of the last burning drops of liquid fire that it held before setting it down with a satisfyingly empty think on the table.

He looked up when she came back with an apple and Cheetos. Wow, what a collection. Healthy and junk. Nice. "Hmm.... sounds like some time around Shift would do her some good," he confessed after a moment. "He hardly spooks or jumps at anything. It might be just what she needs to gain some confidence." He grabbed a handful of Cheetos as she plopped herself back down on the couch. He crammed a few into his mouth as she said she was jittery, and he shot her a look of concern. First aid training was mandatory for all members of the force. "You got prior issues with blood sugar inconsistencies?" he asked.

[jagger]

"Don't go all em-dee on me, Officer." She elbowed him, inhaling the rest of her apple with a satisfying crunch. In a few minutes, the jitters would subside -- but it was getting past that initial rush, and she still had that spacey, out-there sort of feeling - that ravenously hungry, Eat Now Or Die sort of ache that demanded placation. More than likely, her drinking spree had ended - although the thought of such made her nose wrinkle in disdain. "I'm m-m-mildly hypoglycemic, which isn't a problem, because I do nothing but eat." That was true. She was pretty much a garbage disposal.

Throwing cheetos in her mouth, she sucked the residue - the cheetle, as it's official name was - off her fingertips, brushing hair out of her face. "Well, then, I say it's a date. Sometime s-s-soon. Have your people talk to my people and we'll get the furries together." She paused, shooting to her feet to begin a rapid pace around the living room, legs winding around furniture fluidly as her barefeet hit the floor in a hollow thump thump thump thump, pause, thump thump thump thump. She was sweating mildly, her metabolism kicking in to burn off the calories she had just eaten.

"Holy crap, is it hot in here? It's hot in here. Are you hot? Damn." She paused long enough to jump onto the back of an arm chair, sliding the older windows up and handing her head out of it for a moment. "T-t-this requires clothing removal-l-l." And suddenly she commenced stripping, hauling her belt off and chucking it - spiking it, more like - on the chair she still stood on, and in a split second her tank top was off as well. She stood unabashedly in a white bra covered in black skulls and crossbones -- with little pink bows. Yes, she was an interesting one in her underwear choice.

Throwing herself off the chair, she resumed pacing, chewing a thumb nail. "So, you going home tonight or would you rather crash here? You're welcome to crash here. Kalli likes you now." The dog had lifted her head to watch her mistress curiously, furry eyebrows raised in interest.