all aboard the welcome wagon [attn: ikarus]

[JACK WINDSOR]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 2px; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; background-color: #E54404; color: black;]all my bridges have been burned, but you say that's how this grace thing works[/style]

[STYLE=float: left; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; width: 110px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 5px #E54404 solid;][/style] [STYLE=font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -2px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom: 5px #E54404 solid; margin-top: -30px;]words[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-top: -35px;]XXX[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -2px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom: 5px #E54404 solid; margin-top: -30px;]tags[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-top: -35px;]ikarus[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -2px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom: 5px #E54404 solid; margin-top: -30px;]notes[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 9.5px; margin-top: -35px;]--------[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 9.5px; margin-top: -25px; font-style: italic;]Made by Amb. Tanz of PRE & BTN & OTE[/style][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; padding: 5px; width: 400px; margin-top: -30px;]One of Detective Windsor's off-the-book nicknames was the "Welcome Wagon". There was a really good reason for that. See, when you worked in one of the largest police forces in the world, you tended to get a bit lost if you weren't mentored within the thousand-strong family that centered itself in Police Plaza. Having experienced the disorientation of being alone in New York and alone in a new job, he didn't wish that on anyone else. He'd spent weeks feeling dazed and alone, since most of his cohort from the Academy hadn't gone to OPP. They'd gone to smaller stations, in the boroughs, and Jack... well. He'd unfortunately scored too high to stick with his friends. While they had drinking nights, things at OPP were different. So when he caught wind of a new kid in the ME's office, he took his lunch break and went down to make the kid take his, too. (Everyone, if they were younger than Jack, was a kid. Even if they were older, as long as they were new to the NYPD, kid.) And once he'd lured the skittish guy out of the morgue, out of Police Plaza, and out to the street, Jack introduced himself. "Detective Third Class Jack Windsor," he said, offering a hand to shake. "Actually, the name on my badge is Jonathan Windsor, but I like Jack better." Introductions done, and finding seats at the Cosmic Diner--what Mattie would've called a "greasy spoon", with a name that never failed to make Jack chuckle a little--he said, "So, where're you from? You look a bit shell-shocked." Or maybe that was just Jack's bombastic personality? Haha. Maybe.[/style]

[IKARUS RICHARDS]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=style, width: 110px; background-color: #dadada; border-top: 20px solid #447799; border-bottom: 20px solid #447799;][style=width: 100px; height: 100px; margin: 5px;][/style][classy=ooch]words | 227[/classy] [classy=ooch]tags | jack[/classy] [classy=ooch]notes | sorry for the delay! work has been craaaaazy exhausting[/classy]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=style, width: 340px; background-color: #eaeaea; border-bottom: 20px solid #447799; border-top: 20px solid #447799;][style=background-color: #dadada; border: 1px dashed #c0c0c0; margin: 5px; padding: 5px; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;]As far as Ikarus was concerned, the New Yorkers cold, excessively busy stereotype had rung true. Until recently. A few days prior, a perfect stranger had comforted him mid-breakdown in Central Park – a wholly unexpected, but hugely welcome occurrence. For Ikarus, it was a strange experience to coexist around so many people who chose to ignore everyone around them unless they were forced to acknowledge someone; and stranger still to feel weird when people so much as made eye contact – let alone offer a lunch invitation. “Ikarus Richards,” he introduced, taking Detective Jack Windsor’s offered hand shake in a firm grasp. Regardless of what the detective’s intentions might have been, Ikarus wasn’t about to pass up on another kind display from a New Yorker or work on building his repertoire of restaurants. ‘Besides, it can’t hurt to try and make nice with one of the detectives.’ Ikarus slid in the booth seat across from the detective and casually rested his forearms on the table. “That obvious, huh?” he asked rhetorically, with a slightly nervous laugh. “I’m from Portland. Oregon. But honestly, it’s just been a really rough couple of weeks.” He grabbed a sweetener packet and idly twisted it between his fingers. After a short silence he decided to sate his curiosity, “So… Do you usually invite the newbies to lunch, or am I a special case?” [/style]

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[JACK WINDSOR]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 2px; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; background-color: #E54404; color: black;]all my bridges have been burned, but you say that's how this grace thing works[/style]

[STYLE=float: left; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; width: 110px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 5px #E54404 solid;][/style] [STYLE=font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -2px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom: 5px #E54404 solid; margin-top: -30px;]words[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-top: -35px;]XXX[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -2px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom: 5px #E54404 solid; margin-top: -30px;]tags[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-top: -35px;]ikarus[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -2px; font-weight: bold; border-bottom: 5px #E54404 solid; margin-top: -30px;]notes[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 9.5px; margin-top: -35px;]--------[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 9.5px; margin-top: -25px; font-style: italic;]Made by Amb. Tanz of PRE & BTN & OTE[/style][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; padding: 5px; width: 400px; margin-top: -30px;]"Ikarus, like the myth," wondered Jack aloud; weird and/or unusual names weren't uncommon in New York (he'd just finished a case involving a girl named Creeaytyve, for god's sake) but he'd never met anyone who was named for a Greek god. Or, well, that he knew was named for that, there were a ton of people he met in passing whose names he didn't know. When Ikarus mentioned where he came from, Jack broke out into a grin. "Portland's great, isn't it? I grew up there, haven't been back for…" He frowned, trying to remember. "Must have been years. I came out here for school." He reached across the table to clap a hand on Ikarus's shoulder, a friendly grin back on his face now that he'd remembered exactly how long he'd been gone. Nine years, which meant it'd be a decade soon, and that whole time Mattie had been-- Well. "Everyone I invite out to lunch is a special case," he said, friendly grin going a bit crooked. No reason for him to apologize for looking after the new kids on the block, really, but it was a bit sad to get called out on it like that. "But yeah, when I notice someone looking lost or alone I ask them out for friendly lunches. The city's a big place, and I remember what it was like to have nobody at all around here." He paused, rubbing his chin a moment. He'd had it easy, compared to people who moved here from work. He'd had a roommate, and classmates, and he could attend NYU's social events if he wanted. That sort of vanished for those who came as adults, for work or the promise of it. "Not that I know for a fact that you're alone, but you looked like you might want a friend anyway." The waitress came around with water, and Jack placed his order before giving Ikarus his expectant so do you know what you want look.[/style]

[IKARUS RICHARDS]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=style, width: 110px; background-color: #dadada; border-top: 20px solid #447799; border-bottom: 20px solid #447799;][style=width: 100px; height: 100px; margin: 5px;][/style][classy=ooch]words | xxx[/classy] [classy=ooch]tags | jack[/classy] [classy=ooch]notes | xxx[/classy]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=style, width: 340px; background-color: #eaeaea; border-bottom: 20px solid #447799; border-top: 20px solid #447799;][style=background-color: #dadada; border: 1px dashed #c0c0c0; margin: 5px; padding: 5px; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;]“I’m impressed. Most people just associate my name with Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song album,” Ikarus replied with a slight laugh. “Not that I’ve got anything against the Zep’. Brilliant band.” He took a sip of water, adding afterward, “Probably better than being named after a guy who melted his wings and then drowned.” Jack was easy to converse with; Ikarus liked that. He wasn’t exactly expecting to be besties with the detective in the future, but he could see them being slightly better than mere acquaintances and maybe exchanging work-related favors. “You’re kidding!” What were the odds of that? Was he lying? Even if he was, Ikarus wasn’t sure he cared. He was just happy someone around there even knew about the place. “You should go back and visit sometime. I don’t know about you, but I swear, every time I go somewhere and come back, Portland is a little bit crazier than when I left it.” Ikarus chuckled and shook his head, remembering some of the cases he worked when he was first employed at the medical examiner’s office there. He had not meant to come off as blunt as he clearly had. At least Jack didn’t seem to be offended or feel too awkward about it – and hey, at least he gave an honest answer. “No, you’re—” Ikarus cut himself off as the waitress refilled their waters and took Jack’s order. He understood the look the detective gave him and nodded slightly, immediately following with a simple, safe order of his own. When the waitress left, he picked up where he left off. “You were right: I am alone, and I could use a friend. So, this is really kind of you, and I appreciate it more than I can say.” He paused briefly for another sip of water and to get a piece of ice to crunch. “Mind you, if I find an ounce of pity in this lunch, we can’t be bros,” he said with a slight quirk of his mouth, venturing a joke. [/style]

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