iron_chief | (no subject)

(no subject)

Lin loathes going to the bending stadium. There's too many benders being too desperate and too showy all in one space, surrounded by those that are attracted to that sort of thing.

Bleh.

However, with that many people in a tight space, security is a concern, which makes it her concern. So once a week (or more frequently when popular teams are playing), she has to come down and make sure her town isn't going to suffer because of all this lunacy.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Hey," Tahno drawls, sauntering up to her. "What's a classy dame like you doin' in a place like this?"

Lin's stare is immensely unimpressed with Tahno's charm, her arms crossing firmly across her chest. The metal of her uniform gleams dully in the overhead lights.

"Tahno - what do you want?" He has to want something. No one just hits on the chief of police.

"I just wanted to drop ya a compliment in the hopes that it would brighten yer day," Tahno replies, as innocent as a bumblebutterfly. He flutters his eyelashes at her to that effect.

Lin isn't buying. Her expression becomes more stony, her gaze calculating.

"Who's daughter did you get in trouble with this time?"

Tahno laughs, a deep, rich sound. "Oh, c'mon, I'm not always in trouble," he drawls, tilting his hip into his hand rather than the other way around. "I mean, I might be in a little bit of trouble with the Triads, but it's not a big thing. I just owe them some money."

She raises an eyebrow - see how you're perfectly illustrating her point, Tahno?

"Because you need more money."

Tahno scratches his cheek thoughtfully. "Nah, I'm good," he drawls. "Good of ya ta care about me, though."

Lin's derisive snort is expressive.

"Borrowing money from the Triad? Are you trying to give me more work?"

"Nah," Tahno drawls, picking imaginary lint off of Lin's sleeve. "I'm just tryin' ta get ahead in the world, that's all. Can't fault a guy for that, can ya?"

"Yes." She replies flatly. He's... touching her.

She resists the urge to hang him from his ankles using the light sconces.

Tahno backs off. "Man, why ya always gotta be such a hard-ass, Chief? I mean, that has to get old day in and day out."

"Not nearly as old as people doing stupid things and encouraging criminals in my city." She drawls dryly.

"Yeah, awright, ya gotta point," Tahno drawls, folding his arms. "Ya gotta a lot on yer plate, don'tcha?"

"Are you volunteering to join the police force?" Lin asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Hell no!" Tahno drawls, laughing. "I like my life without a stick up my ass. No offense, but havin' ya as a boss would put a cramp in my style. I'm sure yer a good boss, but damn if I don't wantcha as one."

"I'm sure I'll find a way to survive." She sighs. "Has the sergeant been by to review safety protocols?"

"Yeah, one of yer lackeys came by earlier to chat us up," Tahno drawls, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't pay much attention, honestly. Sorry 'bout that."

He really, really ought to have expected what comes next.

Her heel shifts against the floor, and with a quick flick of her hand the metal grating of the floor reaches up and swallows his ankles.

No, he isn't going anywhere until he understands the damn security protocols. She does actually have all day.

Tahno windmills his arms, falling flat on his ass with a yelp. "I said I was sorry!" he protests. "Whaddya want from me?"

"A complete knowledge of the security protocols. I'd really rather not waste my time saving your sorry ass." Lin retorts, crossing her arms over her chest again.

"I know 'em," Tahno drawls, struggling to get to his feet. "I didn't pay attention 'cause I already know 'em."

"Prove it. The risk level has gone up with the finals." She doesn't pretend he won't be in the finals - she's seen how the referees respond to his team.

Tahno counts his points off on his fingers. "One, no headshots. Two, no streams of water or bursts of fire over thirty seconds," he drawls. "Three, no ice. Can ya let me go now?"

Lin will deny that the expression on her face is a smirk until the day she dies. But she waits, patiently, because he seems to have forgotten something.

Tahno frowns up at her, petulant. "What?"

"You have no manners." Notes the unrepentant metalbender.

"Neither do you," Tahno drawls, tilting his chin at her. "Trappin' me like this ain't too mannerly of ya."

"This is my job." She retorts, unmoved. "And I do enjoy my job."

"Job, nothin'," Tahno drawls, wrinkling his nose. He folds his arms. "This is you trappin' me because ya got annoyed about somethin'. You've got a bug up yer ass about somethin' or other and yer takin' it out on me."

"You seem to have a bizarre fixation on my ass." She notes, dryly.

"It's a nice ass, I'll give ya that," Tahno drawls, raising a brow at her. "Now are ya gonna let me go? I ain't done nothin' to ya."

"I will as soon as you learn some manners. I have no doubt you didn't manage to be polite to my sergeant either, considering you didn't bother to listen to him." No one disrespects her officers.

"I can sue ya, y'know," Tahno growls, pointing a finger at her face. "Yer holding me in contempt for absolutely nothin'. I ain't done nothin' to ya - I haven't even presented myself as a threat - and yer holding me here."

"You stated that you did not listen to the required safety debriefing. Do you not want to play?" She asks idly.

That tempers his attitude real quick. "I wanna play," Tahno drawls, frowning. "And if I gotta listen to yer lackeys, well, I'll do it."

She thought it might.

"My sergeant will be expecting your apology." She informs him heavily, the floor smoothing out again (since it seems to be a pipe dream that he'll actually remember to say 'please').

Tahno bounces on the balls of his feet, testing the solidness of the floor. "Yeah, yeah," he drawls, waving a hand. "I'll apologize. Not that they need it, but sure, whatever."

"Before your next match." She emphasizes. "Wouldn't want that hanging over your head when you're playing, after all."

Tahno reigns in his first impulse to tell her to get off his case. "Sure," he drawls, scratching his nose. "Whatever, man."

He starts to wander off.

She resists the urge to hurry him along with a crack from her cables. After all, he was almost a respectful human being just there.

She supposes she ought to encourage such progress.

...

Maybe this year he'll be defeated in the finals. She's not holding out hope.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only