FAKE Triple Drabble: High Cost Of Living
Feb. 4th, 2026 04:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
badly_knittedTitle: High Cost Of Living
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Like Like Love.
Summary: Everything is getting more expensive, but Dee and Ryo are managing, even on what they’re earning.
Written For: Challenge 413: Wage at
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anythingdrabble.Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters.
A/N: Triple drabble.
“Y’know, with inflation and everything, I’m not sure either of us could afford to live on what we’re gettin’ paid if we weren’t sharin’ an apartment.”
“I know. But we’re doing alright for ourselves.”
“We’d be doin’ a whole lot better if our wages were keepin’ pace with the cost of livin’. The city expects us to keep the peace, investigate crimes, protect and serve, and this is how they reward us? Private security work would pay better.”
“There are a lot of things that would pay better, but the force can’t afford to lose more cops.”
“Especially not two honest ones,” Dee agreed. “Fact is, we’re too honest and loyal to the badge to quit in favor of a better payin’ career. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look into possible side gigs to bring in a bit more. You’ve got a kid in college.”
“On a full scholarship, so tuition and housing aren’t coming out of my savings.”
“Yeah, I guess, but you’re still helpin’ him out, and I have Mother and the kids to support. They need every penny they can get.”
“I know, and we’re helping as much as we can. But we’re working fulltime, plus overtime, so I don’t know where we could fit a side gig into our schedules and still leave time to sleep. Besides, when you think about it, we already have one that takes up all the free time we have available.” Ryo gestured at the classic car they’d been working on for the past several months. “This one will be ready to go up for sale in a couple of weeks, there’s really only the fine-tuning left to do.”
“That’s true.” Dee patted the ’59 Chevy Impala. “This beauty should turn a healthy profit.”
“Nothing like having a lucrative hobby, is there?”
The End
“I know. But we’re doing alright for ourselves.”
“We’d be doin’ a whole lot better if our wages were keepin’ pace with the cost of livin’. The city expects us to keep the peace, investigate crimes, protect and serve, and this is how they reward us? Private security work would pay better.”
“There are a lot of things that would pay better, but the force can’t afford to lose more cops.”
“Especially not two honest ones,” Dee agreed. “Fact is, we’re too honest and loyal to the badge to quit in favor of a better payin’ career. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look into possible side gigs to bring in a bit more. You’ve got a kid in college.”
“On a full scholarship, so tuition and housing aren’t coming out of my savings.”
“Yeah, I guess, but you’re still helpin’ him out, and I have Mother and the kids to support. They need every penny they can get.”
“I know, and we’re helping as much as we can. But we’re working fulltime, plus overtime, so I don’t know where we could fit a side gig into our schedules and still leave time to sleep. Besides, when you think about it, we already have one that takes up all the free time we have available.” Ryo gestured at the classic car they’d been working on for the past several months. “This one will be ready to go up for sale in a couple of weeks, there’s really only the fine-tuning left to do.”
“That’s true.” Dee patted the ’59 Chevy Impala. “This beauty should turn a healthy profit.”
“Nothing like having a lucrative hobby, is there?”
The End
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Date: 2026-02-04 10:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-04 10:53 pm (UTC)Thank you!