[detectivesayed]

ameliasanchz​:

Amelia looked back at him and shook her head at the jab. “You’re never going to let me live that down, will you? But I can assure you that I’m much more confident with animals than I am behind a car.” She wasn’t the best driver and she knew that. Mainly, she wasn’t confident due to a big accident she’d gotten in as a child and if it wasn’t for her parents — she would have never decided to drive in the first place. “A good instinct to have.” Her head nodded as she stepped closer to peer down at the cat. “Yes, Amelia. Naeem, right?” She hadn’t forgotten the name of someone she’d almost killed who’d found kindness in his heart to buy her coffee afterwards.

“I’ll let it go. Eventually.” Naeem’s lips parted in a good-natured grin. He wouldn’t mention the incident again after this encounter. He figured that her help with his precious kitten would make up for it. “Yeah, that’s right. And this little angel is Yara.” He said, indicating to the pink nose poking at the cage door. “How’ve you been since coffee?” @ameliasanchz​

[detectivesayed]

ameliasanchz​:

Amelia smiled at the male who seemed to turn into a puddle of tenderness in front of her while he interacted with the kitten. “She’s a very beautiful kitten. We’ll take very good care of Yara, but it’s normal for her to be nervous. It’s a new environment.” Leaning forward, she paused when the male turned back towards her in a bout of recognition. Laughter billowed then, nodding her head. “I’m hoping that perhaps I look better than I did in that instant. It’s still not my proudest moment and I had hoped that perhaps you would have miraculously forgotten about that instant.”

“Aw, thank you.” Naeem beamed over the cute ball of black and gray fur. While he had nothing to do with Yara’s birth, he certainly felt like a proud dad anyway. She’d made his seaside home cozier and for a cat, Naeem found her to be rather affectionate and sweet. “You’re right. I trust she’s in good hands.. somehow.” He grinned, making a little jab; he absolutely held no grudge about that day. “Nope. I make it a habit not to forget near death experiences.. call it detective instinct.” He laughed softly, hoping to portray that he was merely joking. “Amelia, was it?” @ameliasanchz​       

[detectivesayed]

alexdavenport​:

“But we could have stopped there!” Alex protested as they walked by the pizza truck. The pizza there was cheap, and she’d lie if she said she wasn’t frequenting it whenever she had absolutely no time in her busy schedule. “And it’s almost decent there! It’s a million times better than that seafood truck, and there’s no way I’m stopping there.” @eastcliffopens​

Naeem didn’t even give the pizza truck a second look. “After that case we just closed together, I think we can do better than pizza.” He smiled confidently, the news of their big bust still fresh in his mind. “No, no trucks today.” He waved a hand dismissively as Alex tried but failed to figure out where they were headed for celebratory lunch. He didn’t keep the fellow detective in the dark for long though as they neared the restaurant. “I was thinking Seabreeze. You know, where people actually sit down to eat? My treat.”  @alexdavenport​

[detectivesayed]

ameliasanchz​:

Amelia lifted her head to peer up when the sound of the door rang out across the animal clinic. Dark hues moved towards the male that she immediately recognized. A second later, a small gasp escaped when she remembered from where she knew him. Ending someone’s life via vehicular hit wasn’t something one forgot. Though it hadn’t actually happened, it was enough that it had permanently etched itself into the back of her head. Standing up, she smoothed down the front of her dress and placed a smile on her face. Maybe he wouldn’t recognize her and she could get away with not having a weird conversation. “Hello, and who do we have here?” She asked as she looked at the cat. “What seems to be the problem?”

Naeem smiled softly when the little cat nudged her nose against his finger, quieting for just a moment. He looked up at the vet tech who approached to help them and replied, “hi. This is Yara and she’s here for her second set of vaccinations. She’s a little nervous, I think.” As if on cue, the frightened kitten mewed loudly between the bars of her tiny cage. Naeem exhaled, feeling guilty but knowing that the visit was necessary. “Hey, it’s you.” He realized that the vet tech was familiar, teasing gently, “you look different when you’re not behind a steering wheel almost running me over.”  @ameliasanchz​

[detectivesayed]

Location: Creekside Pet Care @ameliasanchz​

Upon setting foot into the veterinary clinic, Naeem was mindful that his new pet was unusually vocal. He could tell that she was nervous about being in this place and rightfully so since he’d initially brought her here for her first set of vaccinations two weeks ago. Now here for round two of them, Naeem felt a little guilty about his part in this set up. Lifting the pet carrier up on the nearest counter top, Naeem bent down to peer into the cage, gently pushing a finger in between the bars to the little cat. “It’s alright, Yara. I’m gonna fill your bowl with so many treats when we get home,” he cooed in hopes of calming the kitten, though she obviously had no way to know what he was talking about.    

[detectivesayed]

[detectivesayed]

hayleysdavenports​:

“Yes, yes, you can have the pink cupcake if you behave.” Hayley told Heather as they stood in line at the coffee shop. It was a few minutes before she got her hands on the cupcake for her daughter and a coffee for herself and naturally the little one had gotten progressively impatient during the wait. On having the cupcake finally handed to her, Heather squealed and ran to the nearest table and climbed onto the chair. Hayley hurried after her, looking at the other who was seated at the same table sheepishly. “Sorry, I hope we aren’t bothering you.” @eastcliffopens​

Naeem was taking a break from investigative duties to enjoy a caffeinated pick me up at the local cafe when the increasingly familiar sound of a screeching youngster broke his peace and quiet. He blinked in surprise as a little girl proceeded to join him at his table, pink cupcake in hand and frosting bits on the tips of her eager fingers. An apologetic brunette followed shortly after and he relaxed, glad that her caretaker was close by. “It’s okay. It was starting to feel a little too quiet here.” He replied, offering a kind smile to both girls. “You’ve got an awesome-looking treat there, young lady. You must’ve been really nice to somebody to earn that.” He said softly to the little one.    @hayleysdavenports​

[detectivesayed]

athenalewis​:

“Perfect.” She nodded, pushing the door open a little wider as she stepped inside and then stepping aside to allow him inside. Once he’d come in, she processed to close the door behind him, grabbing the very keys she’d left behind this morning and locking the door behind them though she left the keys in the door. Her head quickly turned towards him as she’d finished. “Sorry, I have to, it’s just I still don’t feel one hundred percent safe here yet.” She felt herself needing to explain as she moved away from the front door and towards the kitchen. “Do you, er, prefer standard coffee or decaf? Or I could make you a cup of tea?” She quickly moved to change the subject as they made their way through the house. @detectivesayed​

Naeem stepped into the house and moved aside to permit Athena to close the door. He was confused temporarily when she proceeded to lock the door once they were inside. “Oh, okay.” He nodded in response to her explanation, though it probably made less sense to lock herself inside with a stranger (regardless of said stranger being a detective). He wouldn’t split hairs; people had their hang ups for whatever reason. She didn’t give off a threatening energy, so he wouldn’t make a thing of it. “Why’s that? That you don’t feel safe here yet, if I might ask?” he couldn’t help but ask. “Tea would actually be great. Thank you.”  @athenalewis​ 

[detectivesayed]

irismason​:

Meteor showers made her feel nostalgic, and most nostalgic things were never positive in her case, but this was an exception. Iris was giddy thinking about seeing the sky light up, and she knew that she would likely find herself occasionally wishing on a star. Old habits die hard. As the man offered her a snack, she looked back over at him and smiled brightly. Though most knew not to always blindly trust strangers, Iris always found herself doing just that. Growing up in a small town in the south made her that way, so she took up his offer in a heartbeat. “I’d love one, actually,” she said as she moved to face him more. “I’m Iris, by the way. I don’t believe I caught your name.”

Naeem realized that it might appear odd to someone who didn’t know him that he was offering to share food, but it was just in his nature to be giving. His parents had always taught him to be generous, even when he had very little. There was always someone out there with less, after all. He nodded, opening the snack cake package as he reached the table. “Naeem Sayed. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Iris.” He grinned, offering the open end of the package to Iris so she could grab her own snack cake. “And I promise this snowball is legit. It’s Turkish but it tastes the same as the domestic stuff.. so I’m told.” @irismason​

[detectivesayed]

adriannaknox​:

“I think we would’ve found ourselves in the same predicament as earlier with the honey.” Adrianna chuckled as she watched him unload his items onto the conveyor belt. “I’ve been your situation so many times before so I was happy to help, maybe next time it’ll be the other way around.” Once he’d sorted his items out, she unloaded her own. “I suppose this is where we part ways and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” @detectivesayed​

Naeem simply nodded in agreement with Adrianna. Their mutual politeness would’ve had them going around in circles. The cashier rang up his items as he fished out his wallet to pay. He turned to Adrianna with a warm smile and nodded once more. “Yes. Bright and early.” He paid for his items then gathered his grocery bag at the end of the belt. “In fact, if I’m not there at 6:30 sharp send help,” he teased, sliding his bag straps onto his forearm. “See you tomorrow!” With that, he turned to leave the supermarket and head back home. @adriannaknox​

[detectivesayed]

claytonxbaker​:

Clayton had decided to meet up with Naeem, knowing he had been running late it wasn’t surprising to see the male finding a way to entertain himself as he waited. He walked over and leaned up against the crane machine, his head turned to watch the claw drop down and drop the bunny before it had gotten to the hole. “You know… I would say keep your dignity but I know someone who wouldn’t stop putting money into one of these,” he said knocking on the glass with his knuckles gently. “Until he won one, so… Whatever you decide to do, I won’t be the one judging you.”

Naeem bit his lip, spending another few moments debating about whether to re-open his wallet. Ultimately, he sighed and decided to leave the machine alone. If he was going to waste anymore money, he might as well just go to the store and buy a stuffed animal himself. “I appreciate that, man.” He chuckled, giving his attention to Clayton now. “What happened with you friend in the end? How much money did he burn through before he won?” @claytonxbaker​

[detectivesayed]

irismason​:

The woman perked up as he mentioned the meteor shower and she couldn’t help but wonder. Most people these days didn’t pay attention to little worldly events like that or simply didn’t have the time for it. Iris always made a time for it, remembering the days of laying in fields back in Tennessee where she’d just look at the moon. “I think it may be just you and me,” she told him before glancing around at the nearly empty area. “I was starting to get convinced that I’m the only one who finds these sort of things fascinating.” 

Naeem stole a glance around the vicinity and nodded in agreement that it looked like no one else would be joining them. It was late, but if anyone knew anything about meteors they would know that darkest hours gave the best visibility. “Not a bad thing. That means more spectacle for us.” He replied with a smile, approaching closer to the picnic table and consequently the brunette on top of it. “It’s nice and dark up here. I think we have a good shot of seeing some awesome vapor trails.” Since they were going to be watching the show together, he thought it might be considerate to share his snacks. “Care for a Snowball?” He asked, brandishing a package of the halal snack cake he’d gone back to his car for. @irismason​

[detectivesayed]

adriannaknox​:

“Well I think you definitely picked one of the best places to settle down.” Adrianna smiled, she always admired the places down in Rockport whenever she went for a run down that way. The thought had even crossed her mind about looking to move down there now that she was on better money than when she’d first moved out. “Yeah, I think I’m all good.” She nodded, her eyes glancing down to her basket; filled with both her items and his. “Do you want to go first?” @detectivesayed​

“I’m very fortunate to have gotten the Rockport house when I did. I thought briefly about moving into an apartment in Coral Reef, but I don’t know.. I guess I wanted a little room to grow. Feels like I’m putting down some sort of roots this way.” Naeem nodded when Adrianna said good things about Rockport. Thus far, he had zero complaints. When she offered to let him pay for his groceries first, he agreed and headed to the counter. “Sure. I think if I say ‘you go ahead’ we’d just get into a polite debate about why the other person should go first, so I’ll save us some time. This once.” He chuckled, freeing his hands of the items he had been carrying, then unloading his things from Adrianna’s basket also.  “Thanks again for letting me borrow some space in your basket.” @adriannaknox​ 

[detectivesayed]

irismason​:

@detectivesayed​ ​ | location: sunset lake

Ever since she was a child, Iris’s eyes were always on the sky. There were times she’d spend hours laying in the field next to her childhood home looking at the stars and the glowing moon. The view from her apartment was too consumed by the city’s light, so once she got word of a meteor shower that night, she made her way to the coast. No one seemed to be around at Sunset Lake, so she laid down on top of a picnic table and looked up at the sky, waiting patiently for a show. She laid there for a while until she heard rustling nearby. Iris glanced over and noticed a figure approaching. As she went to sit up, she realized she had been laying her head back on a jacket that didn’t belong to her. Ah, this probably seemed strange… Her light complexion reddened. “I’m sorry. Is this your jacket? I, uh, didn’t see it and definitely didn’t mean to use it as my pillow.” Of course that didn’t necessarily explain why she was lying on that table to begin with, but she figured the less she spoke was for the better.

Naeem couldn’t pass up the opportunity to appreciate the natural phenomena promised for the evening. While it didn’t often come up in general conversation, he was a bit of a nerd when it came to weather and space. When he returned from a short trip to his car to find a woman reclined on the picnic table he’d left, he smiled politely. “Yeah. That jacket would be mine.” Naeem shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s alright. You didn’t cause any harm. In fact, if it makes you more comfortable, you’re welcome to keep using it. I imagine we’re both sticking around for the meteor shower anyway.”  @irismason​

[detectivesayed]

adriannaknox​:

“Why wouldn’t I be friendly to you off the clock? That’s absurd to think anyone would treat you differently outside of work than inside work.” The paramedic questioned as she looked up to him, a puzzled look washing over her features. “Day twenty-three?! Is that all?” She was sure she’d seen him around the city for more than nearly a month, though they hadn’t bumped into other too much it still felt like she’d seen him around longer. “I’m guessing you’re down in Rockport then with the beach houses and cottages? It’s really nice down there, I considered it when I was moving out from my parents but it was a bit out of my price range back then.” She chuckled with a shrug. @detectivesayed​

“Kindness isn’t a given. So I don’t take it for granted when it’s shown to me.” Naeem smiled warmly at Adrianna, appreciating her positive outlook. As much as he saw the world in a positive light, he understood that there were some nefarious people out there too. He didn’t like to dwell on it, but he had to acknowledge it as part and parcel of his job. “Yep. So far, so good though.” He nodded. “Right. Rockport. Ah, it’s beautiful. I don’t like to brag, but the view doesn’t hurt.” He chuckled lightly as they approached the register line. “I think I’ve gotten everything I need. You?” @adriannaknox​ 

[detectivesayed]

athenalewis​:

“The very near future.” Athena informed the detective, mentally adding it to her to-do list for the night, even if she wasn’t planning to use it for driving it would be better to have something with Orion address on whilst she was living with him. “I still should’ve checked.” She muttered, more to herself, as she took the license from him and proceed to put it back into her purse and then away in her bag as she stepped aside to give him more room. The brunette couldn’t stop herself from biting at her nails as she watched him try what she’d fail to do and soon enough he was successful which made her sigh with relief. “Thank you, detective.” A smile tugging at her lips. “Can I offer you a cup of coffee as a thank you for being my hero?” She asked, it was the least she could do to repay him for helping her out. @detectivesayed​

“Good.” Naeem nodded, glad to hear that Athena had plans to get her ID updated. It wasn’t the type of thing he would follow up on, but he felt that she was being sincere when she said that she would work on it. Naeem was grateful that he was able to unlock the door for her so easily. It might have been slightly embarrassing for him otherwise. He turned from the door and returned the hair pins to Athena with a humble smile. “Not a problem.” He opened his mouth to start declining on the coffee offer, but then realized that he could use a little boost. “You know what? That would be nice. Thank you.”   @athenalewis​

[detectivesayed]

Location: Southside Pier  @claytonxbaker​

Naeem pressed his lips together in a thin line as he eyed the small stuffed animal inside of the crane machine on the pier. He knew that these things were  a money trap meant for tourists, but he couldn’t help but give it a try anyway. He stooped down to get a better view, anticipating the best manuever to get the crane in optimal grabbing position before putting the coin into the slot. When the machine came to life with a sugary melody, Naeem narrowed his eyes and focused, holding his breath and shifting the bubble gum pink joystick this way and that way until he was poised over the plush toy. “Alright. Let’s go,” he cooed to the blue bunny, hitting the retrieve button and watching intently as the crane tendrils curved around the bunny’s arm. It lifted the bunny from its corner burrow and began to inch toward the drop box, swinging lightly as it went. At the last moment, the bunny slipped from the crane’s grasp and plopped back into the pile of adorable toys. Disappointed, Naeem accepted defeat and turned around. “Six dollars in the hole.. should I go for seven or keep my dignity?” he jokingly asked, noticing that Clayton had approached while he’d been playing.