Trooper Station: Wednesday

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

The troopers have replaced the coffee that Dale usually drinks with Folger's crystals. Let's see if he noticed.

*PFFFFFFFT*

*click*

"Diane, it has come to my attention that someone has tried to poison me with inferior coffee. I'll shall not rest until the culprit has been found and properly punished."

Apparently he noticed.

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Comments

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Pouring herself a cup of the poisoned coffee, Renee rolled her eyes.

"It's not that bad."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale just shook his head as he picked up the pot and headed to the sink. "Clearly inferior and not remotely drinkable. I wouldn't inflict this brew on my worst enemy."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

She took a sip.

And made a face.

"Okay, it's not the best. I've had worse." Usually on stakeouts when it was just the caffeine that was important, but that wasn't the point.

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale poured out the coffee pot and began to clean it with an intensive amount of scrubbing. "Yes. But not in this station," Dale said as if it were a matter of pride. "We need to have some semblance of quality here."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"You are obsessed," Renee told him, sounding more amused than annoyed by it.

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"There are many things I'm willing to live with. Inferior coffee is one of them," Dale said not quite admitting to Renee's assessment.

He started a brewing a new pot and was finally able to relax a bit.

"Surely you have your own standards of quality?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," She replied, thinking back to Gotham. "But not about something trivial like coffee."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale grimaced a bit at the comment. "Oh? And to what ideals to you hold to?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"I'd rather someone be a good cop than worry about the quality of the coffee."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale bristled a little at the comment. "You have doubts regarding my abilities as an officer of the law?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Renee turned to look at him, putting the coffee down. "Cooper, if I did, I don't think I'd ever be talking to you." She shrugged. "It was something you had to worry about back in Gotham. Who was on the take and who would watch your back."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Corruption was a big problem?" Dale asked quietly. "Is that one of the reasons you came here?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"That's--" She shook her head. "Putting it mildly. And yeah. One of the reasons."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Was there any kind of recourse for you?" Dale asked. "Surely you had an internal affairs department."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

She sighed , sitting down at her desk and rearranging the files there. "They couldn't do much usually. Half the damn force was so corrupt it was almost a joke."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale frowned. "It's unfortunate to say the least that we are unable to depend upon those who are also supposed to protect. Is there anything we can do about the corruption now that you are gone?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Renee laughed, low and bitter. "Take a miracle to fix that place."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Not necessarily," Dale said leaning against his desk. "In the early 1970's the Knapp Commission was responsible for cleaning up the corruption in New York City that were based mostly on the testimony of two police officers and some other victims of corruption. It's just a matter of bringing it to the public's attention."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"Cooper--" She closed her eyes, sighing. It was hard to explain to someone not from Gotham. "Gotham it's self is rotting. The whole damn city is rotting from the crime and corruption and apathy. The only people who give a damn end up killed or worse."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale held up his hand in a conciliatory manner. "I understand. I have no idea of the scale or the situations that might abide in Gotham. I was just pointing out that similar cases have existed and that there is alternatives."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"I know." She sighed again, giving him a very small and slightly forced smile. "It eats people alive. I've given up on that city."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry to hear that," Dale said with genuine sympathy. "But on the bright side you are now in a solid law abiding community. It may be a tad... boring at times but it certainly helps the mindset."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"Yeah." The smile was a little more genuine. "So, where'd they hide your real coffee?"

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Well judging from the slight bulge on Ralph's utility belt? I believe I have an idea," Dale said as he went back over to the coffee station.

Ralph was quickly making a beeline for the door.

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Poor poor Ralph.

Renee picked up her coffee, hiding a smirk by sipping it. "You'd think they'd know better."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale poured himself a cup of real coffee and shook his head. "You would think that. However he shall eventually see that it is never a good idea to mess with one man's coffee."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Renee shook her head, opening a file to read it over. "Take away their donuts out of revenge yet?"

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Let's just say my revenge will take place when he least expects it," Dale said returning to his desk.

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor Ralph indeed.

He was never going to sleep easy.

"You have an evil streak, Cooper. I like it."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"That should be a warning to all who try to contaminate the sanctity of the coffee bean," Dale called out loud as the rest of the troopers pretended to look busy.

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Renee chuckled again, shaking her head. "Ruling the office with a iron fist. Better not let Mustang know who has the real power around here."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure the sheriff will allow me a little latitude when it comes to the brewing of coffee," Dale said with a smirk.

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"Of course." She smirked and wrote a small not in one of the files. "Of course."

[neverfaithful.livejournal.com]

Faith made a face as she sipped a mug of the coffee. "Who made this shit?"

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"An unholy act which will never occur again," Dale replied.

[neverfaithful.livejournal.com]

Must be bad coffee, if he didn't even call her out for swearing. Faith set the mug down and lounged in the nearest chair.

"Least it's not decaf," she shrugged. And then reconsidered. "It's not, is it?"

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"God forbid," Dale replied as he poured a cup of real coffee for himself and another for Faith. "Some travesties should just not occur in this building tasteless and stimulant free coffee should not be one of them."

[neverfaithful.livejournal.com]

"At that point, why even bother?" Faith said, taking the mug from him with a nod of thanks. "Think I'd take a cup of bad coffee over decaf, though. If I had to pick. Least you're getting something out of it then."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Miss Lehane? As part of your rehabilitation you'll need to learn how no one on this world or the next ever deserves to drink a bad cup of coffee."

[neverfaithful.livejournal.com]

"I'll keep that in mind," she grinned. "Does it help with parole if I say I can brew a hell of a cup myself?"

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Preferably not with demonic influences but yes a good cup of coffee will at least show me you learned patience and respect for the brewing process," Dale replied almost looking serious.

[neverfaithful.livejournal.com]

"Should come over some time. Aren't you supposed to do some kinda home check? See, really do have an apartment, not selling crack out of it, and I'd brew you a cuppa joe." She smirked. "Wait till you see the mood-ring walls."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"That will be a surprise check, Miss Lehane," Dale replied. "So it should happen at some time so you should be prepared for brewing of said coffee."

[neverfaithful.livejournal.com]

"I'll make sure I keep some French roast handy," she grinned. "How's your week been?"

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Uneventful," Dale replied. "And yours?"