Trooper Station | Saturday

[knife_bender]

Diego didn't know where it was coming from, but ever since he walked into the station Kenny Loggins' classic song "Footloose" had been playing. Loudly. None of the troopers seemed to be bothered by it. A few of them were bobbing their heads along to the tune as they worked, in fact.

Well. If it wasn't gonna bother them it wasn't going to bother Diego. It was a good song.

[I've had this song in my head since Wednesday (silly spoilers for TUA). Open!]

Comments

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie felt it was entirely reasonable for her to dance her way over to Diego's desk with her usual two iced coffees, today. Nay, not even just reasonable -- she was obligated.

"What's the occasion? We're not, like, outlawing dancing in Fandom, are we?" Considering how well the coffee and alcohol deprivation week had gone, Annie did not see a rule like that lasting long, if so.

[knife_bender]

"I would refuse to uphold that law," Diego told her with a serious nod. "But for real, I have no idea what's happening."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"It's not the worst," Annie noted, dancing her way into a seat and cocking her head. "Kinda like when Christmas music kept playing randomly, except it's 80s dance themes."

No, it was 80s dance theme, singular. She just hadn't been there long enough for it to repeat, yet.

[knife_bender]

"I like 80's dance themes way better than Christmas music," Diego said, reaching for his iced coffee. "Thanks, babe."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"More to work with, easier to dance to and sing along with," Annie agreed. "And you're welcome. It's nice to actually be around to bring you coffee on a Saturday at all."

Between work and time traveling and picnics, it had been a minute.

[knife_bender]

"It's been awhile." The song faded out and Diego tilted his head for a moment, listening. Then Footloose started all over again. "Like clockwork."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Okay, that might drive me nuts if I had to be here all day," Annie commented, blinking a little in surprise. "I didn't realize it was only Footloose."

[knife_bender]

"Yeah, been like that since I walked in here," he said before taking a swig of his drink. "Nobody is fessing up to who did it and how to stop it."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I mean, it could be an island thing," Annie conceded, "but if it's one of the guys I'd worry. Like, this week: Footloose all day, probably relatively tolerable. But next Saturday you could have to deal with, like, that song about Applebee's for hours on end."

[knife_bender]

"Oh if it turns to a song I don't like I'm gonna take one of these guys into the interrogation room and start threatening bodily harm." First Ralph. Then Calvin.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I recommend the course of action we outlined if someone ever draws dicks on you," Annie advised, like that was a normal thing to say, and took a sip of her drink.

[knife_bender]

"Good plan," he said with a nod. "...man, the odds of that happening went way up since we brought Klaus back to this universe."

Then again, the odds of Diego drawing a dick on one of his brothers' faces went up too.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Note to self: do not fall asleep around Klaus." Probably a lot easier said than done, honestly. "Though I bet I'd probably get a mustache or something instead."

Klaus was classy that way.

[knife_bender]

"You're footing his rent, he might spare you." Probably not, but there was a chance. "Any of the engagement hype die down at work?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie wobbled a hand back and forth, smiling at the way her ring glittered when she did. "Ish. Like, it's died down, but there's new stuff. I'm gonna be on Say Yes to the Dress in like a month, probably."

She lifted her cup in a toast, inclining her head towards Diego. "But on the bright side, you get to keep all choices regarding your clothes to yourself and off-camera, as a tradeoff."

There had been a proposal to start a bidding war between Ralph Lauren and Armani for the opportunity. Annie had shot that down pretty quick.

[knife_bender]

Let's hope you weren't jinxing it, Annie!

"I love you," he said, lifting his cup in return. "And I'm not supposed to know about the dress, right?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

Pfff. Annie was setting such good boundaries! How could this ever go wrong?

"Oh, you're not allowed to see it until the ceremony," Annie said, shaking her head. "But I'll show you the rejects, if you want."

Didn't seem to be a whole lot of harm in that?

"And that goes both ways," she added, unsure if that was actually tradition. "I don't get to see your suit or tux or whatever until then, either."

[knife_bender]

"Don't all suits kind of look the same?" Oh, lord. Thank god he wasn't buying his alone.

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie just kind of stared at him. "...please promise me you'll take someone with you when you go shopping. Maybe your brothers. And Allison."

No, especially Allison, maybe.

[knife_bender]

"I won't bring shame upon our family, I promise." At least not with the suit.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"You couldn't," Annie assured him with a slightly-dorky smile. "Honestly, even if you turned up in something powder blue and ruffled, I'd still be the luckiest bride ever."

But you know. He could probably do better than that.

[knife_bender]

"I'm the lucky one," he said, knowing they could argue about that all day long and make everyone in the building puke. Once again Footloose ended and started playing again a few seconds later.

"We should add this to our playlist for the reception."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Great choice," Annie declared in agreement, and now she was mentally including 'must be easy to dance in' on her list of wedding dress requirements. (Other entries: straps or sleeves, gold detailing, a high neckline, and, ideally, pockets.) "I kinda want to have the kind of reception where people actually dance. We should have, like, all the dumb party songs that come with choreography. Like the Cupid Shuffle, and the Macarena."

Even her mom and Luther could do the Macarena, you know?

[knife_bender]

"Oh I'm so down for that." He lived for all of the cheesy dancing! "And you don't have to worry about nobody dancing if my family is gonna be there."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"If one of them can get Maeve to dance, it would be like...a wedding miracle," Annie decided, thinking about it. "My side of the guest list is a lot more...subdued."

Summer might make up for a lot, though.