The streets were crowded before noon and the climate was warmer. Though the stone and metal structure of the city made the afternoons colder than they actually were. Which meant Finn could wander the city without someone watching, the cool air meant he didn't have to always puff out steam like kettle in between hours.
They were on stand by until the autopsy report comes in and Johnny thought it'd be good for some down time since they've been in the station so late. Finn didn't understand why he needed down time, he could always recharge his battery at his desk but he wanted to believe it was the human way to enjoy company.
But today was different, the cafe was full and everyone wanted a little kick to start the day to celebrate Sebrion's independence. The streamers were a dark green and white to represent the country's flag and the ceiling was covered in balloons. Even down to the coffee was decorated by a thin layer of mocha in a heart shape with the cream in the middle.
John looked a whole lot younger the way he savored his beverage, the cream of his coffee coating a considerable amount of his mustache. He swallowed with a groan, "that's the stuff. If you ever get to my age you realize food is more important and feels better than anything else imaginable."
"We all have our unique ways of prioritizing primary needs in life." He pulled the laptop closer to his body, reading through each article about the reaper he could find. Searching NA corp database is useless when it came down to stories about the boogeyman. Finn should know.
The cafe barely kept out the cold and despite the layers of healthy fat on his bones, Johnny wore his SLE jacket today. His hair was trimmed nicely and combed away from his face, courtesy of his wife, Barbra. He was sprawled in his booth like he built the Ferguson cafe hut and invested lattes.
Johnny hummed, wiping the excess cream off his stash. The serenity was nice but everything they were doing was aside his programming. He was always supposed to be assigned a task because the work never stops. But Johnny made sure they always had rest days and breaks in between. Though he never knew what to do with the free time John gave him and always opted to people watch.
The bell above the door dings and two women walk in with their arms linked. They look like best friends whispering and giggling about something. The blonde talks more than her friend, her excitement clear as day with her wild hand gestures. Usually people watching doesn't entail getting caught while watching. Her friend who listens notices him first, her features twisting in an inquisitive way letting the blonde be aware of his presence.
He looked like them, he's well aware but often times he forgets NA corp. did not give him eyelids. They both wave timidly and he immediately waves back because it's the polite thing to do.
"Huh. Do you know them?" John waves as well before looking towards Finn.
"I was caught people watching."
"Ah." He sips his coffee, watching the bot from the rim of his cup. "In that case, be better at it next time cause she's coming over."
Sure enough, the blonde is by the counter while her friend approaches their table. Finn isn't authorized to hold extremely long conversations with humans and from what Johnny says about Barbra, women like to talk. When she reaches their table, she slides into their booth right next to Finn. Her hair is hidden behind a baby pink turban and her eyes are a deep chocolate color. But her smile is what puts Miss world to absolute shame.
"You see what you like?" There's a teasing smile on her lips and Finn won't look away.
"Yes. You have very straight teeth."
She blinked, smile faltering a bit. "I meant my friend, Emily. You were staring at her when we walked in."
"I was observing her mannerisms, she seemed ecstatic about something she was telling you."
Her brown eyes narrow a bit but keep Finn's stare, though he notices the underlying blush staining the top of her ears and cheeks. "Ecstatic... that's one way to say she loves me so much she wants me to be her maid of honor but yes."
"Congratulations to her. He must be a lucky man."
John drops his cup a little too loud on the saucer and she makes a noise. "Oh how rude of me. I'm so sorry... officer."
"It's John." Maybe Finn should tell him he had some cream on his mustache but he was too busy trying to figure out her ethnicity. "Sorry about my friend, he's all work sometimes when he hasn't had his morning coffee and donut."
"No it's fine." She bumps shoulders softly with him. "I get all robotic too when I'm neck deep in jobs."
Tick. The tips of his ears warm a bit as he finally narrows down where she could be from. The curly hair that escapes her turban just by her ear is a dead giveaway and he's curious. "What do you do for work?"
"Are you just asking to be polite or you actually want to know?" She turns her attention to Finn and if he had a working nose he'd liken her scent to something sweet like confectioneries, specifically anything chocolate. "And what is with the staring." She giggles and Finn can't look away from the light her eyes and the way her shoulders shake. He feels heat flood his body trying to pinpoint a reaction to her existence.
The moment elapses when Johnny clears his throat loudly and she looks away long enough to notice her friend wave her over. "You know it's easier to walk up to someone and compliment them next time. It's easier today anyways because of the freedom festival. Nice meeting you both and I'll let Emily know she would've had a chance with robo cop over here if she was single."
"I don't like your friend. I was merely observing—"
"Of course. By the way you'll make a great maid of honor." Johnny smiles in that fatherly way as she backs away from the table.
"Nice meeting you officers." She smiles and motions to her upper lip before joining her friend.
Johnny blinks, touching his mouth and groans loudly. He wipes his stash with the sleeve of his jacket. "You could've told me but no." He pauses, checking his reflection in the window to make sure all the cream was gone. "You can't be talking to people for long, your voice lacks emotion. And most people would find that unsettling."
He watches turban girl leave with her friend. "How do I add emotion to my words?"
John shares a side glance before leaning back in his seat. "That's something... human. But I'm sure there's a way around it, we'll visit the company to inquire tomorrow but now," He pats down his jacket and stands. "we stick to the Marian case."
They've spent a good amount of time here, there was paperwork that needed filling out, j walkers to bust and Marian's case that needed an update. Finn closes his laptop and tucks it under an arm as they head out, it was getting warmer out.
He processed the articles he'd skimmed through and even blogs about its sightings. And he'd come to the conclusion that the reaper was the shape of a woman with red eyes and a broken gear box that witnesses say sounds like music.
Impossible considering he just heard music, as the voice from turban girl's mouth. He's not sure he deserved her kindness after she caught him watching her, she must've thought that was rude. But he'd risk her thinking he was odd if he meant he could look a little longer at the sway of her sundress, mud covered converse and red painted lips split into a smile that reached her eyes.
Inside the car Johnny takes the wheel, occasionally glancing towards his partner who's ears were turning a considerable shade of red. "For fucks sake, stop having thoughts about your thoughts."
Steam erupts from his joints and his ears cool. "I would like eyelids too."