When Richard came barging into Ally's office that afternoon he was literally bouncing. Like, jumping, off the floor repeatedly and shaking his hands up and down like a little child. Ally had seen many weird things from her boss but this had got to be one of the weirdest.
He met her eyes as he came in and just kept bouncing, going up and down in front of her desk. She was vaguely reminded of a kangaroo. Deciding that he was going to break his ankles if she didn't bite Ally finally set her work aside and leaned her chin on her hands.
"Yes, Richard?"
Her boss gave an excited sort of squeal and then stopped bouncing to lean forward on Ally's desk, getting right up in her face before spilling the news.
"We. Have. A. New. Case." He said triumphantly. Ally rolled her eyes slightly.
"We. Get. New. Cases. All. The. Time. Richard. What is so special about this one?"
He seemed to wilt a little at her disinterest but soldiered on valiantly.
"This is a crossover case, a serial killer."
Ally's eyes widened.
"A serial killer?! I thought we were a civil law firm?"
"We are, for the most part. However, when I created the practice I technically registered us as both criminal law and civil suits. It's just coincidence we have only been called upon to deal with civil cases up until this point."
Ally sighed. Just another reason why Richard was incorrigibly unpredictable.
"So," she quipped. "This serial killer."
"Yes. Well, the case is special because the killer began his work in L.A. That was where all the motive and all the background comes from, however, the spree finished in Boston with a special twist from the usual killings. The man was caught and while practically everyone," Ally didn't trust Richard's assessment of everyone, "knows he's guilty, he still claims to have been victimized by the people who he killed and has actually preemptively sued them! The case was too high-profile to miss so we are currently working together with the L.A. Defense firm to get the man's argument trashed and hopefully to uncover his guilt in the process."
Against herself Ally was actually getting kind of excited.
"Which L.A. Firm are we working with?"
Richard squealed again.
"That's just the thing Ally! We are working with…..are you ready for it?"
Ally nodded.
"TNT&G!"
Ally's jaw dropped.
"TNT&G!? But they're one of the best L.A. Law firms around, they're legends in the business!"
"I know!" Richard yelped. "They are very busy with other equally important cases so they can't send their best trial lawyer but they are sending several dozen of their paralegals and their evidence specialist. One of the very Ts that make up the name!"
Ally whistled and sat back in her chair.
"Wow. I think I may need a breather for this one. What's his name?"
Richard shook his head rapidly at her.
"Not a he, Ally. You should know better than that, you're a woman in this business."
Before Ally could retort all the childishness went out of Richard and he said two words.
"Alden Tuller."
Ally squinted at him. She had seen Richard in many lights, mostly negative, rarely favorable, yet now, something about his personality just lit up, something she'd never seen before until he'd said those two words. Huh. She'd have to put some thought into what it was.
"That's a pretty name."
"Indeed, and Ms. Tuller will be arriving today, in about fifteen minutes by my estimate."
Ally stood up.
"What?! Richard why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I didn't know earlier. She just texted me saying she was coming and gave a single time."
Ally narrowed her eyes.
"She texted you?"
Richard shrugged.
"I don't know how it happened either. I've never met the woman."
There wasn't time to worry about it. Ally stuffed her many law related papers into her bag and closed the latch before following Richard through the door to meet their new associate.
Precisely fifteen minutes later, minus the few seconds Ally took to get her papers together, the elevator dinged and the golden doors slid open to the astonished faces of Richard's entire firm. It was like a movie entrance; Ally could imagine smoke machines laying a layer of mist across the blue tile.
The black stiletto that stepped out was quickly followed by another, clacking harshly against the floor as they made their purposeful walk into the room. The staff's eyes followed the clacking shoes up to a sensible black skirt, a fashionably cut black suit jacket and a white and orange blouse, topped by a simple gold chain necklace.
But as their eyes continued up the women felt a surge of hatred coat their hearts and the men felt a rush of awe fall out of open lips. Even Ally felt a little self conscious.
The woman was pretty. No, very pretty. No. This woman was drop dead gorgeous.
Her pink lips were just demure enough to bring out her pale blue eyes that were just vibrant enough to be only the more noticeable surrounded by languid curls of red-gold hair. Ally glanced over at Richard and it looked as though his heart had stopped.
Without pausing to take in the reactions around her, the mystery woman walked straight up to Richard and held out her hand.
"Alden Tuller," she said, in a pleasant but business-like voice. "Nice to meet you."
Richard grasped her hand and shook it once, not breaking eye contact.
"Richard Fish. Welcome, Ms. Tuller."
Their hands separated and they stood toe to toe. There was nothing in the logical, law-based part of Ally's brain that could possibly suggest it, but Richard and Alden seemed to already know each other all too well.
There was a flash of light in front of Ally's eyes, and suddenly Richard's grey tie was a black ascot and Alden's gold necklace turned to silver with a giant emerald in the center. The vision remained for only a couple seconds, but Ally had more difficulty than usual shaking it. Instead of disappearing, it faded, slowly.
Richard, with his grey again tie, waved Alden to his office, presumably to talk about the case, or so it seemed from the mixed up mumbling that seemed to be issuing from his mouth.
The minute they disappeared behind the wooden door the women of the office grouped up and the men shuffled around awkwardly, running their hands through their haircuts, and smiling at the ground. Elaine sidled up to Ally and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Did you see her?"
"Yes, Elaine, I believe I did."
"But did you really see her? I don't say this ever, but she has got to be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Ally couldn't help but nod, Alden's supernatural confidence second in her mind to the strange vision. Rarely did the visions mean nothing but often they weren't much. She couldn't be sure with this one though, and its unusual disappearing quality. Resolving to keep a closer eye on Alden, Ally retreated from the office talk to her newest cases.
The day was winding down slowly and Ally was shocked to notice that it was only just as she was leaving that Alden and Richard finally exited his office. They had been in there for hours. Albeit, Alden had just arrived, and surely the case had much that needed discussing, but they were much too comfortable with each other to have stayed in without even a lunch break.
Ally tapped Elaine on the shoulder as she passed.
"Did Richard or Alden take a lunch break?"
"No, didn't even ask for coffee. I think it's weird too."
Both women turned to watch Alden and Richard walk into the elevator. Ally had to blink as another flash of light passed as the doors closed and suddenly Richard's large cream trench coat became black, slim, with a high wrapped collar, while Alden's black suit jacket grew a furry half boa.
The doors were shut before Ally could get a better look but there was definitely something going on here. Rarely did she have more than one vision per person and even rarer did the visions apply to a pair of people. She would have to see if Renee would humor her that night to talk about it. Renee treated the visions on a case by case basis that often depended on her mood. She was always supportive but Ally could see Renee didn't believe in the visions much.
The taxi ride home was slow as traffic wasn't great but when Ally did get to her apartment, Renee had already made dinner, which was a great sign. After quite a few pleasant pieces of small talk with the curly haired woman, they switched to the couch, wineglasses, and low television.
Renee leaned towards Ally, swirling her glass, and gave her long time friend a knowing look.
"Something happened at work that you aren't telling me about. Was it Billy again? I swear, I'm gonna beat that boy someday."
Ally held up a hand.
"No, not at all. It wasn't Billy."
"But something did happen."
Ally sighed.
"It's complicated."
Renee swept her hand across the room.
"We've got time."
Ally set the glass down.
"We have a new case, and it's a big one; so large that L.A., the other city that is involved, sent one of their lawyers to take it on with us."
Renee quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh, I get the feeling the news is related to this person."
"Renee that you could have been there, she's amazing. I've never seen a more beautiful woman in my life."
"A woman? How nice, it's too bad she'll be facing nothing but rampant testosterone in that office."
Ally rolled her eyes.
"I don't think that'll be an issue. She doesn't seem the type who will take any crap. Also, and you're not going to believe me on this, Richard is serious about this case."
"You're right, I don't believe it. Richard? Serious? Never."
"You wouldn't think so but I've never seen this side of him."
Renee laughed. It was time to introduce her visions. She'd have to be careful about it so Renee would tolerate the topic.
"You know my visions?" Dang it.
"Y-es. What about them?" Good, she was willing to listen.
"Well I generally don't get them multiple times for multiple people and not often for pairs but today I had two. For both Richard and Alden."
"Alden?"
"Alden Tuller, the one from L.A."
"That's a cute name."
"I know right?"
Ally grinned then leaned her elbows on her knees.
"But seriously. I had two visions for the two of them. It's unprecedented."
"Well, often they mean something. What were they?"
"That was the weird part, it was just their clothing. Alden's necklace and suit jacket changed while Richard's coat and tie changed."
Renee sighed.
"Into what exactly?"
"Well for Alden her coat grew a boa, and her necklace turned from gold to silver. For Richard, his coat changed design and his tie became an ascot."
"An ascot? A little old fashioned, even for Richard."
"I know. It was strange."
"Well until you see anything more concrete, we can't even try to start interpreting them. But I'm actually kind of interested in this one, keep me updated."
Ally nodded gratefully. The conversation from then turned to other mundane events of the day before the two of them went to bed. Ally couldn't imagine sleeping after the surprises she'd had that day but sheer exhaustion pulled her relentlessly under.
Author's note: I don't know quite what this is. Some weird fever dream I had after watching Once Upon A Time, Ally McBeal, and Justice. Please R&R.