(~~) Ribbon (~~)
There are two new Christmas additions to the DPD bullpen. The first; a single sprig of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling by a bright red ribbon. Whoever put it up was clever. It's pinned in the center so everyone must walk under it at some point. Consequently everyone has been taking rather circuitous routes in vain attempts to avoid being caught under it with another person.
But that can be shunted to a lower priority. He doesn't participate in human traditions. Running into someone else under the plant doesn't matter to him.
The second, though Christmas themed, could also possibly be an office prank; the rest of the ribbon has been weaved through and around the chair, desk, board, and terminal of the empty workspace across from Gavin's. He's done research. He knows that in an office environment humans occasionally coordinate a plan to annoy a coworker while they are away from their desk. But ever since the evacuation no-one has sat there.
Except him yesterday.
This has to be related to that somehow. They aren't getting any new officers to fill that space. It must be directed at him. But why? What is it supposed to mean? Is it a metaphor? Humans love those. The closest he can find is the red string of fate. That doesn't apply here. He scans the space one more time. A yellow marker indicates he missed something important.
Ah. Excess ribbon on the terminal has been tied in a small bow. Like a gift. Had someone really decided to give him the workspace? Was this approved by the Captain? Who had suggested it? And who was to blame for the ribbon?
He runs the data again in his mind palace, slowing everything down to find all the important parts, then circles the bullpen to add more data. Anything that stands out.
A pair of safety scissors tucked away behind Officer Miller's terminal. A roll of tape on the floor beside Gavin's chair. Ribbon clippings scattered on Officer Chen's desk. That seems to be everything.
That accounts for decorating participants but not who had spoken with the Captain to get him the desk.
The desk across from Gavin. The detective may be out right now but it's still the desk across from Gavin's. Something in him goes wrong at that. He locks up as his thirium pump rate increases. Why? A quick diagnostic. Nothing out of the ordinary. Shit. What is the problem now?
"Are you alright?" Connor asks after a minute of him simply standing and staring. The Lieutenant looks his way as well, awaiting an answer.
Be honest. No advantage to lying here. "I cannot move and my pump is racing. I don't know why."
Connor pauses, likely trying to assess the glitch. It's the Lieutenant who answers first. "Sounds like you're scared, kid. Or nervous."
He quirks a brow. At least his facial movements are unrestricted. "Regarding what?"
"Your new desk is across from Reed. That'd be enough to worry anybody. 'Specially an android."
Connor nods. "Yes that would make sense. Those emotions are often known to cause freezing. Think about something else maybe?"
He can't. They've just confirmed his theory. "So it is for me? Who authorized that?" The Lieutenant and Connor share a prideful smile and that's all the answer he needs for part one. Part two: "Why were the others participating? Why wrap it at all?"
A fond laugh follows from the Lieutenant before, "Cause Connor here insisted he had to try. Didn't go great so we enlisted some help."
"Gifts are meant to be wrapped if possible!" Connor enthusiastically adds.
The other officers must have noticed his hesitation because Officer Chen chimes in with a shout of, "C'mon RoboCop! Give it a whirl!" Oh no she's taken to using Gavin's nicknames…
Then Officer Miller adds a cheerful, "Hey if we've got the room there's no reason you shouldn't have a desk. You're a cop too."
It's all a bit much.
At least he can feel his systems start to function again. Unexecuted commands building up finally go through and he steps toward the desk, his desk, to begin the process of opening another gift.
Unwrapping the ribbon is a chore but it's necessary. Unfortunately he doesn't realize that some of what has fallen on the floor has become stuck to a shoe.
It trails behind him as he makes his way to Connor's desk to pick up his Tin Man figurine and thank him. That smile is all that need be said. Though he doesn't thank Lieutenant Anderson he does offer the man a genuine smile, the first he's ever given him. When he heads back to his new desk, thirium pump still racing, and places the figure beside the terminal the red ribbon has fallen off to stay behind, leaving their spaces connected by it.