Takigawa whistled softly as he headed home, taking his time as he walked around the square. It was almost the perfect weather for it. It was cold, with winter building on the horizon. They were right near the end of October. The leaves were already well on the way to being golden brown, a few already falling around the modest square. Shoppers were still out in force, enthusiastically going between shops to stock up on supplies for the coming Halloween. Stores were already luring them in with promises of deals and discounts, though the biggest bargains would come after the holiday. Bargain chocolate and discount candy. It was the best part of the holiday.

It was as he walked that he noticed a familiar figure standing by a shop window. She was perhaps a little underdressed for the weather, hands buried in the pockets of her body warmer as she peered into the store. The wind was tossing her long red hair, blowing it over one shoulder with long strands whipping her face. Takigawa didn't even realise he'd stopped walking. He was curious. There was something about her that drew him, and it wasn't just because she was gorgeous. He'd noticed the moment he saw her how attractive she was. How could he not? Her figure was eerily perfect, all curves and delicate lines. Beyond that, he couldn't help but notice something lingering in her eyes. It seemed like she was worried and somewhat vulnerable. He couldn't help his police instincts kicking in, the urge to help deeply ingrained after years on the streets. He put on his best approachable smile as he headed over.

"Good afternoon," he greeted cheerfully, surprised as the redhead almost flinched away from the glass. She looked scared, wide hazel eyes staring at him as if she expected him to do something. He stopped short, giving her the space she clearly wanted as he softened his tone. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you..." he apologised in his usual open manner, watching the woman nervously look for an excuse to leave. There was something so familiar about her, but he couldn't place it. He was sure he'd seen her somewhere before. He'd felt it at the café too, a sense of déjà vu he couldn't shake. He kept his approachable air as he grabbed at something to keep her talking. "Are you shopping for Halloween supplies? I haven't even started yet!" he added in a friendly tone as he joined her in looking through the window.

"No, I'm...just looking around," she replied in a small voice. The voice was small, but very pretty, very mature. He had no doubt she'd sound downright sultry if she was a little more confident. She seemed to shrink into herself, looking small and vulnerable. She was timid and uncertain. It's like she's just been caught doing something she shouldn't...He also noticed that she was a little dirty. It wasn't that she looked unbathed, but her clothes were a little battered from the weather. She hasn't been inside for a few days at least...Despite that, there was no particular smell that suggested she was unclean. Maybe she cleans up in public restrooms? Or is it something else? It bothered him a little, but he didn't let it show as he remained at her side.

"Looking around to keep warm?" Takigawa asked gently, the woman raising her head in surprise. "It's pretty cold out here," he added, his breath puffing small white clouds in the air. The redhead nodded her quiet agreement. Takigawa's eyebrows raised as he observed her. Despite the cold, she didn't seem to shiver, and her breath...That's...unexpected...If the woman noticed his sudden probing, she made no show of it. "Almost enough to freeze your insides," he added with a joking tone, remaining relaxed as she turned her head to look at him.

"Sometimes it is," she replied simply, and Takigawa nodded his agreement. Plenty of rough sleepers died each year from exposure. He knew from experience that androids like Charlie were much hardier, but he was pretty sure their bio components could still freeze up. The woman now had her arms folded, the body warmer providing her a little protection. Most people her size would be shivering, but it seemed she was quite hardy. Hardly surprising...He was beyond suspicious at this point. He was wise enough to know after all this time.

"I'm Takigawa Houshou...I'm a police officer, well, detective. What's your name?" he asked kindly, watching her stiffen at the news. Considering her position, it may not have been a good idea to link himself to law enforcement, but he was pretty sure he could win her over. He remained open and assuring, hoping she'd relax a little. As a man of the law, she at least knew he wasn't some maniac about to kidnap her off the street, but she was nervous, deep eyes flicking between the square and him as she weighed up whether to answer.

"Ayako..." she replied after a few moments, watching the man beside her beam at the news. He was kind, for a human. She quietly wondered if he would act the same if he knew she was really an android. She stayed for a while, slowly settling into his presence. He was the first person she'd spoken to since leaving John's shop. The android haven hadn't been what she'd hoped. The group had been small, full of barely active units clinging to life. It had been more like a hospice than a sanctuary, so she'd taken to wandering the streets. She wasn't sure what she'd do now. She had a couple of thirium packets left in her pockets, but after that she'd begin slowly shutting down unless she found a way to resupply. She knew she could return to John and ask for help, but she needed to at least try by herself. She didn't want to be dependent on a human, even if John was sweet and kind.

Takigawa didn't exactly remind her of John, but he had a similar kindness in his demeanour. He was far more roguish than John, too. He was clean shaven, but his carelessly tied up hair gave him an impish quality, as did his charming smile. His title and larger size should have made her more cautious, but his demeanour was so casual and so open that she couldn't bring herself to leave just yet. He was nice. She found that she enjoyed his company despite his status as a human.

"See anything you like?" Takigawa asked curiously, startling Ayako as she realised she'd been staring at him for the past few seconds. "In the store," he added hastily, his expression somewhat sheepish. Ayako found her lips pulling in the smallest of smiles as she joined him in looking inside. She hadn't really stopped with any great purpose. She was mostly trying to pick up on human nuances. She'd examined the women, the way they walked, their gestures, the way they spoke and interacted. As a Traci, she'd had little human interaction besides her clients, and the majority hadn't exactly been looking for conversation. To blend in, she needed to figure out what was normal. People watching gave her that baseline.

"Not really, I've just been looking around," she excused as she took in the displays. The shop wasn't really anything special. It was a clothing store. Countless rails of warm, earthy coloured materials hung within as women wandered between. A few were alone, their eyes carefully picking out prices and feeling materials, holding up items to measure. Some were in pairs, showing items to their friends and speaking in animated tones as they decided what to try. One lady was patiently trying to shop while her skirt was pulled by an insistent small hand, the young child clearly wanting to go elsewhere. It was fascinating to watch. "What about you?" Ayako asked in return, watching as Takigawa's lips quirked.

"I wouldn't mind this skirt, but I just don't think it would match my eyes," he chuckled as he pointed out a long, flowing red skirt on one of the models in the window. Ayako smiled as she took in the pretty material. It was a deep wine colour and would almost reach her ankles, sewn in three separate panels. The material seemed a little heavier than regular cotton, warm enough for the autumn while still feeling quite light on the waist. "I was just in town to buy a few new suits. I got promoted this morning, so I won't have to wear my uniform anymore," he added, enjoying the quiet little laugh that Ayako had let out at his comment.

"Oh, congratulations! You must be quite a hard worker," Ayako complimented in return, knowing a few social graces despite her relatively sheltered existence until this point. She noticed that Takigawa almost seemed a little bashful at her praise, his grin just a little more wolfish. He ran a hand through his tied up hair, a few loose strands floating on the breeze against his cheeks.

"I was just doing my job. It was more the shortage of staff with the rise in cases than anything else. Things are getting a little out of hand with all these new deviant android cases, especially since the incident in Detroit," he replied in an almost self-deprecating manner. Ayako seemed a little troubled at that, and it was a feeling he seemed to share to a certain extent. "No one really knows what to make of it so far. Cyberlife says it's just a malfunction and the androids need to be rounded up for safety reasons. I get it...androids are a product and when an appliance breaks you send it in for repairs, it's just..." he trailed off with an almost bitter look. Ayako was nervous as she waited for him to complete the thought. At the very least, he seemed to doubt a little of Cyberlife's service pitch.

"They seem so human?" Ayako suggested gently, watching as Takigawa huffed out a breath of agreement, nodding his head as he looked at the window with a far off look. He smiled again, almost amused, as he looked at her.

"You can say that again. I have this partner, he's a CH200. They're a policing android made to help beat cops, you know, chasing down suspects, simple interviews, things like that. When I was first paired with him, I didn't know what to think. I was sceptical, you know? Going out on the street with an android watching my back? I didn't know what to make of it. He didn't even have a name when I got him, and he was so robotic. He always quoted the rules and questioned everything I did like a rookie, so that's how I treated him...I named him Charlie. It was way easier than his model number. Once he accepted the name, I just started treating him like a fresh graduate, you know? Explaining shortcuts, rules you could bend, how to spot a suspect in the crowd. At first it didn't seem to stick, but as time went on he just...he got me, and I got him. We've worked together for about a year, but it feels like a lot longer...It might just be because I'm so used to him, but sometimes I could swear he's alive. He's so real, so authentic..." he trailed off, leaving Ayako somewhat touched by his story. It didn't necessarily mean that this Charlie was a deviant, but Takigawa's view pleased her somewhat. It reassured her that there were perhaps more people like John in the world. People who could see past the blue blood and artificial shell to the person beneath.

They both paused as a service android passed by, Takigawa's smile of greeting surprising Ayako somewhat. The AX400 was clearly undeviated, so it was unusual for a human to greet it as a person. The AX400 was a female model built to run the home. They cooked, cleaned and had the capacity to care for children. They had a kind and approachable face that children would trust while also looking plain enough to blend into the background of the home and remain unnoticed and unobtrusive. Ayako wasn't even sure the AX400 acknowledged Takigawa's kindness. Not all home owned androids were programmed to respond to outsiders at random. Ayako couldn't help the slight bitterness at the thought. They didn't even have the freedom to say hello.

"You know, I considered getting one of the new AX500 models...For housekeeping, you know, but I figured it wasn't worth the price. I had a human cleaner for a while, but then she started working in her parents' old café," Takigawa said once the AX400 had passed, unsure how long he'd been talking to Ayako. It was long enough for his hands to go cold. He glanced back at the AX400 as she walked up the street, shivering at her state of undress. It seemed cruel to send anyone out in this weather, even an android, particularly when they were wearing just a mini-dress and thin slacks. They didn't consciously feel the cold, but he was sure it would penetrate her hardware all the same. They could at least have given her a jacket...

"You're looking for a housekeeper?" Ayako pried hesitantly, wondering if this could be a potential way out. She wasn't programmed for it, but she was capable of learning how to do things the way humans did. With a little money she could buy more thirium, and with Takigawa working for the police she could probably hide out in his house for a few hours to keep her systems running smoothly. If he shared his working hours, then she may even be able to get in a few hours of stasis and sneak the occasional recharge. It shouldn't affect his electricity bills too noticeably, so long as she didn't do it too often. It would be nice to be inside, to give her systems the chance to warm and recover from the harsher weather of autumn and the upcoming winter.

"Sort of. I didn't post an ad for it or anything yet...I just figured I'd get around to finding one at some point, you know?" he added sheepishly, trying not to lead her too hard. He knew she'd been outside for a few days at least, so she likely needed shelter. He doubted she'd simply go home with him if he asked. She was a woman. What would it even look like if he asked her something like that? He cringed to even think about it. She probably wouldn't want the pity if he openly offered either. She didn't seem like the type to accept a handout, but a job offer? Maybe. He was surprised as Ayako turned away from the window to face him. She looked serious and determined, an expression that sent heat between his legs. He could have sighed at himself. He'd been talking to her for a maximum of an hour, and he was already smitten. She's a hot redhead with molten eyes and cherry lips. Of course I'm smitten.

"I could do it," she offered seriously, watching Takigawa turn it over. She knew it wasn't exactly safe to allow a stranger into your home, and Takigawa did have a few fleeting thoughts along those lines. Anyone who heard this would likely think he was insane. Inviting a potentially dangerous person into his home? Offering them shelter and access to everything he owned? I don't exactly have anything I couldn't replace if it disappeared though. He'd already dismissed the possibility of her harming him physically. There were far easier targets than a police officer, if that was what she was going for.

"Are you sure? It doesn't pay much," he replied sheepishly, but Ayako seemed satisfied. She also requested to be paid in cash. Technically, he knew he shouldn't. Cash-in-hand jobs tended to get ignored when taxes came around, but since it's impossible for her to have a bank account anywhere anyway, it's a moot point. He agreed. "I guess I should show you the place...Do you have time?" he asked, delighted when she agreed. He continued to talk as they walked, assuring her it wouldn't take long. His house was barely fifteen minutes away, and the walk would give Ayako time to look around the area and map out the route.