(Untitled)

[dale_cooper_fbi]

The IBI offices in the compound had long since been relinquished for more useful purposes-and no one would argue that the children's office and quarters weren't more important-which meant that today Dale was scouting the area around the compound. It really was like a veritable little town now, an orderly assemblage of homes and businesses centered

Comments

[stormweathered]

After the jaunt back to New York City, Castle felt like he had a kind of connection with Mr. Cooper. Not that he didn't before, but there was something to be said for the bond that comes of solving crime together. Castle thrived on that feeling, regardless of who it was with, and so, Dale became closer.

"And what are you doing out here on this fine day?"

[dale_cooper_fbi]

"Investigating real estate," said Dale, trying to do some mental measurements. Not that there wasn't enough space. There was enough space for anything he wanted. "What do you think of this location?"

[stormweathered]

Castle took a step back and used his hands to frame the location with both of them, closing one eye to look at it. "It...looks like land," he finally admitted. "Which! Admittedly is why I'm a writer and not a real estate developer. I really only see land for land."

[dale_cooper_fbi]

"It's rather nice land," said Dale, "but not so nice that I'd feel bad about building something on top of it. Fairly level, no trees that we'd have to clear out. And so far as I can tell, it's not being put to any other use, though we might want to put a little side street in. Or boardwalk, as the case may be."

[jdick]

"That's a good clearing," Joe said, approaching Dale with his hands in his pockets, looking at the same plot of land that Dale seemed to be studying with great intent. He had sort of an idea about what Dale might be thinking, especially after getting to actually solve a crime like he had, but he didn't know how it would happen or where it would start.

Unless it really would start here.

"Thinking of building?" he asked, coming to a stop beside Dale and giving him a grin. "A love shack for us, maybe?"

[dale_cooper_fbi]

"While I cannot deny that it might sometimes be put to...alternative uses," said Dale, grinning back at him, "I was thinking that this might be an ideal location for the new headquarters of the IBI. What do you think? Is this a good spot, or should I keep looking around to see if there are better options?"

[jdick]

Joe smiled at that, unable to stop himself even if he'd wanted to. "I think it's a good spot. Close to the Compound, but separate enough that it'll be obvious that it's here." And he liked the idea of Dale starting something up like that, a place where he could work, especially without the Council office at their disposal now. "You gonna build it with your bare hands?" he asked, teasing.

[dale_cooper_fbi]

"I'd just as soon not have it fall down around my ears," said Dale, "so I think I'll call in the professionals when I feel ready to proceed. You won't mind that I'd have an office to come to every day again?"

Or maybe not every day. With any luck, there would turn out to be field work.