[open - BLACKOUT - SCPD / Patrolling]

[jamesthorn]

Halloween. 

SCPD's worst night of the year. It's busy. It's exhausting, and it makes James want to quit being a cop. It isn't just the people that wander out into the woods every single freaking year, looking for God only knows what out there near Old Attwater Chapel, getting lost, and needing rescue. It isn't the pranks and the tricks and the toilet paper. Or the stupid tricks by the witches. Or even the costumes. 

It's the Grimhildes. 

Sometimes they don't do anything, but you never know that. You have to plan for the worst, and this year comes in over-the-top, face-palming fashion. At 7pm sharp, the entire town loses power, electricity, the whole shebang. The sky goes black, and a few minutes later once it's certain that yes it is the entire town, the chief comes out of his office and tells everyone they aren't going anywhere until this shit is over. 

James is sitting at his desk. With all the power out, work is pointless now. He sighs, pinching his nose. It's going to be a long night. 

Comments

[jamesthorn]

James turns on his flashlight, rolling his eyes in the darkness at his fumbling partner. Someone probably just got drenched in hot coffee. "Over here," he calls back, turning on the flashlight he kept in his desk. He needed it anyway if they were going on patrol. "Every year it's something. Let's go," he says. "Maybe we should check on Alex? You think?"

[grantmiddleton]

He finds his way to James' desk, brushing a few splashes of coffee off his slacks with a frown. "Dude, she and Michaela are probably all honeymoon mode right now. She's fine." With a nod toward the direction of his own desk, he has James lead the way with the flashlight so he can grab his own supplies--a flashlight, fresh batteries, a notepad, and his gun. A fleeting thought about Val crosses his mind before he brushes it off, mostly because if anyone's going to be okay during a blackout, it'll be Val and her sister.

"I guess we'll need to encourage people back into their homes. Freaking kids are going to be a nightmare tonight."

[jamesthorn]

He considers Grant's assessment about Alex. He's probably right, and that's one less person to worry about for now. They grab all their supplies and head out to the patrol car behind the station. Tossing Grant the keys on the way over, he smiles. "Your turn to drive tonight. I already have a headache from this," he says.