Party Patrol (Jack)

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

There was probably not a single police officer in Scriptor Bay attending the masquerade. Rebecca learned quick that public events like this often required most, if not all, of the force to be on duty. She had been told ahead of time not to bother trying to get tickets since she would be guarding the event, but she didn't need those sorts of instructions. Rebecca had no desire to attend the formal function, and even if she did it wasn't like she had a date. She had dreamed about going as a girl and had always been curious about the ball, but now that she was older and weathered to life, petty things like adult proms just didn't interest her.

Instead she walked the perimeter of the museum looking for trouble with some of her fellow officers, several of them inside and others spread around the city looking for mischief. She had met up with Jack earlier in the evening when they arrived but she had insisted they go their own ways for a bit. She enjoyed his company, but she was also very aware that others were around and she didn't want to give anyone the wrong impressions concerning their new found camaraderie, but as the evening ticked on she found herself growing bored and lonesome and when she saw Jack patrolling down by the steps she made her way over. She figured no one would think anything of it considering she had seen a few others pair up, and it wasn't like there were loads of women hanging round for her to stand with, so Jack would more than suffice.

"Wishing you were in there sipping champagne and dancing, Jack?" Rebecca teased as she came up from behind him, her arms folded low over her chest as her pale eyes scanned the steps for anything out of the ordinary, but so far that evening nothing had struck her as strange. She stood beside him trying not to look at him. He was a well built guy and though she was independent and could take care of herself, there was a certain amount of reassurance standing beside a hulking man, though Rebecca would never outwardly admit that.

"When I was younger I dreamed of coming to this thing. I said as soon as I was twenty one I'd find myself a nice boy and sell my soul to the devil for tickets." She offered with a little laugh. "Doesn't seem like so much fun, now. Seems like a lot of work to get that dolled up." She rolled her shoulders, peering up at Jack for a moment. "And I don't do dolled up. Obviously." She knew Maxi was inside, and Maxi did do dolled up. Very well. "Your sisters here or anything?"

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack didn’t mind working through a great party. He wasn’t one for fancy events like the masquerade, preferring to keep things low key when it came to going out. But just because he didn’t partake didn’t mean Jack couldn’t appreciate the event. He liked watching the people walking into the museum, admiring their costumes and amazed at how many different masquerade masks there were in the world. Jack made his rounds, since he was being paid to do so, but in the moments he was at the front of the building, he liked to watch the couples going in. No one seemed unhappy, but how could you be at an event like this? At least walking in, everything was perfect.

Earlier in the evening, he had spent some time with Rebecca, chatting and getting ready for a long evening. He had long since come to grips with the fact that he had a crush on her, though he didn’t show it. She would certainly become uncomfortable, and that was the last thing he wanted. They hung around together for a while before Rebecca insisted they go their separate ways. It was for the best, really. He couldn’t be around her and not constantly think about how pretty she was, how interesting, how great…It was distracting and it was hard work playing down what was going on inside his head. Still, there was a big part of him that regretted they wouldn’t be spending more time together; not just because she was nice to look at, but because he was going to be bored standing there all alone. And bored he was, waiting for somebody to pass him by, maybe one of the guys to come and start chatting. Anything to fill the time, though with as quiet as it was, he could hear the music inside. He took up his post at the stairs, watching as couples walked in and nodding to the few that acknowledged his existence.

“Wishing you were in there sipping champagne and dancing, Jack?” He turned at the familiar voice, the one he had been waiting to hear, and he smirked down at her. “Sipping champagne sounds nice, but I’m not sure about the dancing. I don’t think I’m coordinated enough for it,” he teased back. She sidled up beside him, and while she wasn’t looking at him, he was looking at her. He wondered why she didn’t just let her hair grow back dark, like it obviously naturally was. It would make those blue-green eyes of hers pop more… “When I was younger I dreamed of coming to this thing. I said as soon as I was twenty-one I’d find myself a nice boy and sell my soul to the devil for tickets.” He laughed, looking back out at the street. “Doesn’t seem like so much fun, now. Seems like a lot of work to get that dolled up. And I don’t do dolled up. Obviously. Your sisters here or anything?” He pictured her in a beautiful dress with a mask revealing only her lovely eyes. It was quite the sight in his mind.

He shook his head at her question, though. “No, my sisters live in Portland. Andie talked about bringing her boyfriend to the event, but she never got around to getting tickets,” he explained. His grin was lopsided as he looked down at her. “But I think you would look nice all dolled up, Detective Taylor. It might suit you more than you think.” His tone was playful, just trying to get a rise out of her, but he really did have to wonder. He glanced up to the top of the steps where the doors were. “I’ve never been good at these things, though; the pleasantries and all of that. I was best man when my youngest sister Izzy got married, but I think that’s the most I’ve been dressed up since prom. And dancing…well, it’s not really a dancing; it’s just hobbling around in circles constantly, trying not to look too awkward doing it.” He gave a shrug and a grin. He nudged her gently and playfully with his arm. “You’re the dancer. Maybe you should teach me how to ballroom dance. And how does a dancer not like getting dolled up, anyway?” His tone was lighthearted, feeling comfortable with her enough at this point to joke with her and tease her freely. They were friends, even if he secretly wanted to be something more. It was enough for now and he had a good feeling Rebecca was beginning to trust him just a little bit more.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca imagined Jack probably wouldn't be much of a dancer. He was big and muscular, but that meant he was probably awkward when it came to dancing. The men Rebecca was used to seeing dance were smaller. Muscular, yes, but not like Jack. Jack was just a different breed of ripped, and not even she could deny being curious about seeing his chest. She saw the way his uniform hung on him. She'd seen the way girls checked him out. She wasn't completely blind, but she wasn't exactly interested. It had nothing to do with Jack, either. It wasn't like he wasn't her type or she didn't find him attractive. Rebecca had simply turned the switch off on wanting men. Relationships lead to trouble, and she wasn't interesting in ruining the simple life she had created for herself.

“No, my sisters live in Portland. Andie talked about bringing her boyfriend to the event, but she never got around to getting tickets,” He explained and she watched him with mild interest as he spoke, though she was listening raptly. “But I think you would look nice all dolled up, Detective Taylor. It might suit you more than you think.” She raised a brow up at him, silently asking if he was serious or out of his damn mind, but she could see by his expression that he was messing with her. "Watch yourself, Roccograndi." She threatened though there was a ghost of a smile on her lips as she said it. She liked his gentle banter. She had to expect it from men; she was still a woman on the force, after all. Like it or not, she was going to get comments like that when teasing with another officer.

He went on to discuss how terrible he was at this dress up, party bullshit. When he mentioned being dressed up at his sisters wedding she actually tried to picture it. It was a nice image in her mind, him wearing a tux and having his hair done nice, his facial hair trimmed neatly. She imagined he probably looked very dashing when he cleaned up, in a different way than the rugged she knew him as. Not even she could deny how nice he probably looked.

She silently scolded herself for considering that imagery. It was unlike her and she had to look away from him, feeling mildly embarrassed as if he could somehow see her thoughts of him wearing a jacket and tie.

“You’re the dancer. Maybe you should teach me how to ballroom dance. And how does a dancer not like getting dolled up, anyway?” His tone was a lighthearted one, but she narrowed her eyes playfully at him. "I'm an ex dancer, and not a ballroom one." She reminded. Ballet had been her thing, not the mambo. "When you're ready to learn how to pirouette, deboulé or fouetté let me know." She grinned a little at him and then looked away. She said the terms properly, her voice taking a slight french accent on as she said them.

"I haven't enjoyed getting dolled up since I was a teenager. Dolled up means attention, and I don't know if you've noticed, Jack, but I'm not big on receiving attention. I like being a wallflower. I don't bother anybody, and nobody bothers me. That's just how I like it." She shrugged as if it were all so simple, and it was. She peaked back up at him. "I bet you liked getting all pretty, though." She teased with a smirk and a chuckle.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack tried not to laugh as Rebecca narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m an ex dancer, and not a ballroom one. When you’re ready to pirouette, deboulé, or fouetté let me know.” He liked to hear the French accent she used when pronouncing the names of the moves. It made her sound very cultured and, yes, sexy when she spoke them. He chuckled though, nodding with a sarcastic smile. “Oh, that sounds like fun,” he replied in a heavily sarcastic but good-humored tone. Picturing himself in a pair of tights prancing around a stage was little too effeminate for someone as masculine as Jack, though the thought did make him smile with amusement. “I haven’t enjoyed being dolled up since I was a teenager. Dolled up means attention, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Jack, but I’m not big on receiving attention. I like being a wallflower. I don’t bother anybody, and nobody bothers me. That’s just how I like it.” Jack had noticed all that, and that was what made it so difficult to get close to her. Here they were, having known each other for weeks, and they were still trying to get comfortable with each other; it was one of the setbacks to being a wallflower.

“I bet you liked getting all pretty, though.” He gave a heavy sigh and shrugged with a smirk. “Okay, you got me,” he said as if he were admitting a dark secret. “I even put a little rouge on my cheeks, slicked my hair back…” He shook his head dramatically and ran his fingers through his hair to push out of his face. It was all a bad joke and he grinned wide down at Rebecca afterward, actually chuckling some. “I was prettier than the bride,” he told her playfully. Not many people saw that goofy side to Jack, but he liked making Rebecca laugh. It was hard to do, but sometimes he could draw it out of her. It was a nice feeling to be able to do that. He admired her smiling face for a brief moment, trying not to make it too obvious he was attracted to her, when a blaze in his peripheral vision caught his eye.

A familiar mass of red hair was elegantly slung over one shoulder as the pretty face it adorned looked like it was melting. Maxine was going to tumble down the stairs and break her neck at the rate she was going, and all amusement wiped from Jack’s face. He moved quickly to get in front of her, wanting to be there in case she did fall. It wasn’t until the very last step that Maxine lost her footing and stumbled right into Jack’s waiting arms. “Maxine? Are you okay?” he asked, his hands on the small woman’s shoulders. When she looked up at him with those big, blue eyes of hers, that confirmed who it was in front of him. She was as surprised to see him as he was to see her. Almost immediately her eyes moved away to Rebecca, who had since made her way over. The redhead threw herself into the blonde’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, which tore at Jack’s heart. What was she so upset about? He placed a hand on Maxine’s shoulder gently. “Hey, it’s all right Maxine, we’re here. What happened?” The woman seemed too upset to talk just yet, and instead of answering she just shook her head, letting him know she would talk when she was ready. Jack was a patient man, so that was all right be him.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“Okay, you got me, I even put a little rouge on my cheeks, slicked my hair back…” Rebecca didn't want to grin and did her best to keep the smile from her lips, but it was hard to do when he was being that silly. “I was prettier than the bride,” That was it. Rebecca laughed, she couldn't hold back any longer. It would have been far more convenient to hate him, but Jack was hard pressed to befriend her. Or maybe he was just a nice guy and this was how he was with everyone. She liked to think the latter; no one went out of their way to be friends with her.

Rebecca noticed the girl at the same time as Jack, her hand impulsively reaching for her holster before she realized not only was the woman crying, but she had a mop of long, familiar red hair. The blood drained from Becky's face as Maxine crashed into Jack, leaving her standing there mildly shell shocked from the suddenness.

“Maxine? Are you okay?” Jack asked her, his hands on her shoulders. Rebecca watched in horror as Maxi looked up at them with reddened, watery eyes. In an instant those sad eyes were on her and Rebecca opened her arms as Maxi moved to come to her. "Shh... it's okay, Max.." She soothed, holding the girl tight, bearing her weight as her left hand clung around her back, the right nestled at the back of her head. “Hey, it’s all right Maxine, we’re here. What happened?” Jack added but Maxi simply shook her head. Pale blue eyes moved to meet Jacks over Maxi's shoulder, showing how mystified she was by all this. What had upset Maxi so much?

"Shhh..." She soothed trying to get the woman in her arms to relax enough to tell them what happened. Rebecca was already feeling her adrenaline pump at full force, intent on destroying whoever did this to her sister.

After a moment of letting Maxi get it out of her system, Rebecca pulled back enough to try and see her face, the hand that had been in her hair moving to the front of her face to wipe away the tears, her brows furrowed as she watched the red haired woman. "Are you okay? What happened?" She asked more firmly, her eyes searching Maxi's, desperate for an answer. "Tell me what happened? Who did this to you?" Her immediate thought was Witt, but the mad had saved her and she had already falsely accused him once. Still, she wouldn't be all that surprised.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

When Maxi simply shook her head from Rebecca’s shoulder, Jack met Rebecca’s eyes. He was as mystified by those tears as she was. Jack hated to see women crying. Whenever his sisters or his mother cried, it made him only wish he could make the tears stop, willing to do anything to make that happen. With Maxine, the urge to make them stop wasn’t nearly as strong, but it was there, and his stomach burned with the fact that there was nothing he could do to help her. He just had to let her cry, and Rebecca had come to the same conclusion. She was good at calming people, he’d realized; or perhaps it was just Maxine that brought that calming aspect out of her, but Jack didn’t think so. They had talked about coaching little league together, and even if it was a joke, it showed that Rebecca liked children. You had to be good at calming people down if you liked children.

After a few minutes of Rebecca holding her and making quiet shushing noises, the blonde woman moved back from Maxine just enough to take her face in one hand, wiping the tears away. Jack had to say he adored seeing the softer side of Rebecca. Though he knew she was angry, there was nothing but concern on her face and her hand was gentle as it brushed Maxine’s tears away. “Are you okay? What happened? Tell me what happened. Who did this to you?” Rebecca’s questions were frantic, but soft as well. Jack went from watching her to watching the redhead struggling to answer. Who could make such a sweet woman cry? He was beginning to feel angry as well, willing to confront whoever it was.

Maxine sobbed a couple more times before she calmed some. Jack waited anxiously for the answer. “August.” His eyes flashed to Rebecca’s immediately and he felt anger flaring in his gut. He knew the man was no good. Jack tried not to let his judgments cloud his mind most of the time, preferring to see things from an objective angle, but this was different. He’d met Witt and disliked his selfish attitude. Apparently, that selfishness didn’t spare Maxine. “He said I was a mistake.” Maxine’s tearful voice made him pat her shoulder again, feeling sorry for the woman, but also sighing heavily and grinding his teeth. He despised men like Witt who led women on, good women, and broke their hearts with cruel words like that. It was enough to make Jack want to crush the man’s face with his fist.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi just clung to Becky, never wanting to let go. She needed her friend, her sister to help support her. Her legs were weak and her heart was broken and the best thing to cure that was a gentle touch and a good hug. Becky gave her that and calming words as well. She could feel Jack’s big hand on her shoulder, which she was also grateful for. There was something very comforting about the big man now standing behind her, and his warm hand helped soothe her sobbing. He asked what happened, but she couldn’t answer, not yet. It took several moments for her to be able to do that, all the while trembling in Becky’s arms.

Becky finally nudged her back some to look in her eyes, her hand coming to her face to brush some of the tears away. It didn’t matter if it smudged her make-up; she was a mess right now, anyway. “Are you okay? What happened? Tell me what happened. Who did this to you?” Even now with her heart broken, Maxi didn’t want to give Becky any more reason to hate August. She was protecting him, for whatever reason, and it made her sob more. She wanted to tell Becky, and she hated that she was so hesitant to, but she still wanted to hope that he hadn’t meant it. “You were a mistake.” The echoing of August’s voice in her head made more tears slip down her cheeks. Maybe if she said it…maybe it wouldn’t hurt as much. “August.” The name came from her in a quiet sob. She immediately felt the tension grow in the air around her as Rebecca and even Jack tensed. It felt like she was still holding her pain in. “He said I was a mistake,” she added tearfully, and as soon as she said the words, the congestion in her chest was gone, but it released through her eyes again. More sobs wracked her body as she realized he had really said it; she wouldn’t wake up tomorrow and realize it was all a bad dream and she and August were still happy. August told her she was a mistake and there was no way he could unsay it. She just wanted to crawl into her bed and stay there until the pain was gone.

Her eyes came back to Becky’s, telling her what had happened. She told her about the meeting she had been invited to as secretary and how Gertie wanted to keep it a secret; she told her about the decision the leaders came to and how it made Maxi unsure whether she should even tell August she was there, since it didn’t affect him whether he was or wasn’t and the Blurrs were still going to remain a secret anyway. Finally, she told Becky how mad August had gotten that she hadn’t told him she’d been there, that she knew who Snow was when August pointed him out, and how the whole thing came out in a matter of seconds. “And then he told me it was a mistake to bring me here tonight. He said I was a mistake.” More tears brimmed in her eyes and she looked to Becky. “And then he just left. Everything that was between is just…it’s just gone. All of my love was just a waste and that hurts. It hurts so much.” She covered her face with her hands, sitting on the steps, finally letting her weakness take over as she sobbed.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“August.” She finally said after she calmed down a bit. Rebecca tensed at the name, her suspicions confirmed “He said I was a mistake,”. That son of a bitch! Rebecca's jaw clenched as she silently seethed, wanting nothing more than to track that prick down and beat the piss out of him, and she hadn't even heard the whole story yet!

Maxi explained about the meetings and what was going to be happening with those Guardians and their politic stuff. How in a matter of seconds he had gone from alright to enraged. Maybe her dancing with the other guy sparked it even more? He was definitely the possessive jealous type, which upset Becky more. If that was the case, this wasn't the end of him, and if THAT was the case, she would make it her personal mission to extract him from her life, whatever it took. Maxine was her whole family and no piece of shit gargoyle was going to hurt her on HER watch.

“And then he told me it was a mistake to bring me here tonight. He said I was a mistake. And then he just left. Everything that was between is just…it’s just gone. All of my love was just a waste and that hurts. It hurts so much.”

Had it been someone she had cared for at all, Rebecca would have suggested that maybe he was just upset and said whatever stupid thing came to his mind, and surely he didn't mean it. It had come out in the moment. But truth be told she disliked August. He had been cold and she heard through Dawson how he had thought of her as an object. He cared about her only enough to keep her around, like a dog, and that wasn't okay. "I know it hurts, sweetie.." She comforted, kneeling in front of her best friend and trying to be supportive, her hands cupping Maxi's knees. "He was no good for you.. you deserve someone who's emotionally supportive and will tell you he loves you and will want you to meet his friends and will actually have friends and not treat yours like an intrusion.." She wasn't sure if she was making it better or worse, so she sighed, defeated. "You just never know with people, Max.. some of us are just hardwired to hurt others, and you never know who those people are until they've hurt you. I'm so sorry.. I know you cared about him, but think of this as an opportunity to find someone who can love and treat you the way you deserve to be." She moved to sit next to her best friend, draping an arm over her shoulder and pulling her in, her other arm crossing over to squeeze her close. "You're beautiful, smart and amazing. He didn't see that, but someone will.. someone will cherish you the way you should be. He was an idiot to have had you and let you slip away like this. He couldn't appreciate you.. Someone as incredible as you should be appreciated as the rare gift you are." She pressed her face to the side of Maxi's nuzzling her gently, wanting to just steal her pain away from her.

She was going to murder that idiot!

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack listened too as Maxi told them about the leaders’ meeting. He’d heard about it of course, and how Therians and Blurrs were both staying way the hell out from anything to do with that revelation. It was for the best. It was one thing to trust a couple people who you knew would be cool with your secret, but it was a whole other story to trust high ranking officials and eventually a city. Jack didn’t like the thought of people with torches and pitchforks storming his door in the middle of the night because he turned into a wolf on the full moon. But the fact that Maxine was actually there was impressive. Who did she know that was so high up on the Blurr food chain? Or rather, who was she really? He knew she was a high school teacher, but was there some other reason she would be involved in leaders’ meetings? That must have ticked Witt off that she was so important in the guardian community and he wasn’t.

And like men like Witt often did when they were angry or frustrated, they took it out on whoever was closest. Maxine didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. From what it sounded like to him, Witt was acting like a child, demanding to know everything she did with her time. How was it his business if she went to the meeting, anyway? And shouldn’t he be happy that she received that honor? He’d be happy for Rebecca if she ever got asked to something really important like that, but he also wouldn’t be mad if she didn’t tell him that she did. Then again…well, he and Rebecca weren’t involved the way Maxine and Witt were. Still, he wouldn’t have been mad or even the least bit upset.

The way Maxine talked about her pain, though, and the way she slumped to the steps made him just want to hug her. It wasn’t a romantic feeling or anything like that, she just hated to see women cry like that. Thankfully Rebecca was there to take care of the hugging and the comforting. It was sweet the way she doted on Maxine, telling her that Witt didn’t deserve her and someday someone would come who would treat her right. And the way she spoke to her, telling her she was beautiful and smart and incredible…it was really sweet. It made Maxine cry more, but he thought that might have been because she was touched. Maxine was definitely the type to cry when she was touched. As Rebecca laid her cheek on Maxine’s head, Jack crouched down in front of Maxine so she could look at him. “You know, we don’t really know each other, but Witt…he’s an idiot. And a jerk. Any guy would be lucky to have you,” he assured her gently. Maxine smiled at him, her eyes leaking tears and he sighed, shaking his head. “Were your parents ever able to punish you? I feel like nobody could stay mad at you when you’re crying with those big eyes,” he said with playful exasperation. Maxine giggled, more tears escaping her, but she wiped at her face and sniffed through her smile. At least he had cheered her up some, and he glanced to Rebecca with a smile. His compliments weren’t romantic in nature, he just wanted to make Maxine feel better.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

“I know it hurts, sweetie…” Maxi was still sobbing as Becky knelt in front of her and cupped her knees, making Maxi look into her eyes. "He was no good for you…you deserve someone who's emotionally supportive and will tell you he loves you and will want you to meet his friends and will actually have friends and not treat yours like an intrusion…" She began to cry harder, knowing she deserved that and knowing she wanted that, but knowing she still wanted what she had with August. She had been so happy…"You just never know with people, Max…some of us are just hardwired to hurt others, and you never know who those people are until they've hurt you. I'm so sorry…I know you cared about him, but think of this as an opportunity to find someone who can love and treat you the way you deserve to be." That was the thing, though. She wanted August to love her. She thought she had gotten to that point with him, where they both knew they loved each other without the words being said, but she had been wrong. Becky didn’t know how deeply she felt for August. She didn’t just care about him. She loved him. That’s what hurt the most.

When Becky sat beside her and put her arm around Maxi’s shoulders, she leaned against her and rested her head on Becky’s shoulder, holding her arm as it came around her. "You're beautiful, smart and amazing. He didn't see that, but someone will…someone will cherish you the way you should be. He was an idiot to have had you and let you slip away like this. He couldn't appreciate you…Someone as incredible as you should be appreciated as the rare gift you are." Becky’s words touched her deeply and she wanted to believe her. Was she such a rare gift? She wanted to think so, but how could she be sure? No man had ever said it to her. But why did she need a man to say it to her when Becky knew her best and was telling her right now? Maxi cried more, so warmed by the esteem Becky held her in. It was so touching and the way Becky said it made Maxi want to believe it was true.

Jack stepped in front of her and Maxi’s eyes watched as he crouched down, looking her in the face. “You know, we don’t really know each other, but Witt…he’s an idiot. And a jerk. Any guy would be lucky to have you.” Maxi smiled wide for him, more tears dripping from her eyes. He was so sweet! If only Becky could end up with a guy like Jack. The man sighed and shook his head and Maxi was confused for a moment. “Were your parents ever able to punish you? I feel like nobody could stay mad at you when you’re crying with those big eyes.” She couldn’t stop the giggle that bubbled up in her throat, forcing more tears down her face, which she wiped away. Jack was really a nice guy and she was starting to calm down some. She looked down at her make-up stained gloves, her smile easing until it was just a small one. Her eyes came back to the pair of them and she looked between them saying, “Thanks.” She nuzzled her head onto Becky’s shoulder again, feeling emotionally drained. She just wanted to go home and sleep.

Her eyes slipped shut as she sighed just as the ground beneath them vibrated suddenly and a wind picked up. It was actually a really strong wind and…well there were feathers. They were everywhere. Maxi was so confused, she stopped crying and grabbed one in her hand, inspecting it. Was that…blood? She was beginning to feel mildly horrified when she looked to the sky and saw a black smoke rising over a part of the city nearby…where the tree was. “What is that?” she asked, completely bewildered by the sight.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“You know, we don’t really know each other, but Witt…he’s an idiot. And a jerk. Any guy would be lucky to have you,” It was a nice thing for Jack to say. Any guy would be lucky to have Maxi! She smiled weakly at him, wondering if maybe he might be interested in Maxi. A minor jealous feeling swept through her but she didn't know why. She wasn't with Jack and she certainly wasn't pursuing him. She had no plans to pursue him. They were friends, and she thought maybe they might make a nice pair. Jack and Maxi.. they were both Guardians, too. He could definitely treat her the way she deserved to be treated, but for some reason she didn't feel comfortable making the suggestion. Jack was a smart guy.. if he wanted Maxi he could ask her on a date. Hell, if he brought it up to her she would encourage him to go for it, but that was it.

Her mind got distracted from the thought of Maxi dating her coworker by a trembling. What on earth was that? Becky pulled away and looked up just as it began to rain feathers. It looked as though a dozen down pillows had been ripped open and was snowing onto the museum steps. She looked up towards the roof of the museum but saw no one. Was this someone's idea of a prank? Maybe they were trying to create some ambiance? If that was the case it was a sweet gesture, but not a legal one.

“What is that?”

Becky looked up at Maxi's words seeing exactly what her best friend did. She stood up and narrowed her eyes suspiciously towards the black smoke. It was like nothing she'd ever seen before; thick, swirling smoke moving rapidly, not like from a fire. It almost seemed to have a mind of its own which made Rebecca feel uneasy.

"Jack?" She said, pulling her radio out. "I think we need some reinforcement down by the tree." She radio'd it into the station, letting them know what she saw by the tree in addition to the feathers on the steps. Two different instances but both should be looked into all the same. "Max?" She said a little nervously. "I'm sorry.. Jack and I should really go investigate the tree. Are you going to be okay to get home? I can come by later if you want.. bring gore movies and pizza?"