Becky, Booze & Bullshitting (Jack)

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Jack hadn't seemed himself lately, not since the black smoke escaped the tree. She knew from Maxi that it was screwing with all the Guardian's but she had no idea to what degree each of them were suffering. She herself was feeling gloomy from all the darkness. She liked sunlight. She liked the way it warmed her skin and it was just so optimistic, but with this constant dark and cold everything just seemed...shitty.

Her friendship with her colleague had been a weird one for Rebecca. He didn't friend coworkers easily, but she had a lot of respect for Jack, and therefor liked him. He was good at his job, and he was kind to everyone. It was an odd mix since he was so big and burly. She had taken one look at him and immediately pegged him for an arrogant asshole but he was anything but. Teddy bear was a better word for it. He had been nice to Maxi repeatedly during her brief disappearance and now with the whole August saga..

August Witt.

Rebecca hated the man for weaseling his way back into her life. She wanted nothing more than to take that piece of dirt down and show him a lesson. In fact it was one of the things she intended to vent about with Jack as she made her way over. She had a twelve pack, knowing she wouldn't be drinking more than one or two since she would need to be able to drive, but it was also a sort of offering to help cheer him up. He had invited her and she had, strangely, agreed. Maybe he wanted to talk about this whole dark business? Or Maxi? She wondered if he had a thing for Max or not. He was awful sweet with her..

There was a bitter chill in the air and it felt more like February than July. As she pulled up to Jack's place the sky opened and it began to snow. The meteorologists would have a damn field day with THIS. She trudged up to his place and knocked on the door, waiting for him to answer.

Handsome and scruffy as ever, Jack opened the door and she gave a close mouthed little grin, holding the beer up. "I come bearing gifts." She told him and came in when ushered. "It's snowing, by the way. In the middle of July." She rolled her eyes and placed the beer down before shrugging off her coat. "How yah feeling?"

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack was struggling. He didn’t really mind the shifting in itself; he was certainly used to that. But every night? It was wearing on him. Not only that, but his instincts were on the surface all the time. Not only was he hungry for bloody red met all the time, but he was territorial and suspicious of everybody. He was also bursting with energy, which made him just want to run through the woods. And whenever he saw Rebecca…it was hard…er…difficult to control himself. He did, though, and thankfully. The last thing he wanted was for Rebecca to ditch him because he was being a horndog. All he had to do was get through the day and by the time he got home he was on the verge of shifting. The days were starting to run together, though; the bursts of energy were making him restless and tired at the same time. In a word, he was exhausted.

Rebecca had been having a hard time too, though, so he decided to invite her over to hang out with him for a while. He had a feeling it had something to do with Maxine. He hoped Maxine wouldn’t run back to Witt simply because she deserved better, but he wasn’t hoping for anything else from Maxine. She was sweet and very pretty, but he was too preoccupied with Rebecca to consider Maxine a viable option; not to mention, she was head over heels for Witt. But if Rebecca wanted to update him on Maxine, no matter how frustrating he would find the news, he liked being a confidant for her. They had become much friendlier than he ever expected was possible. Just the fact that she was coming over on a Saturday afternoon to drink with him was a good indication they were moving in the right direction. He regretted the fact that he would shift at sundown, but they had plenty of time to hang out.

He was dressed in a simple flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a pair of worn jeans. There was no need to dress up when it was just Rebecca coming over, though he made sure his hair wasn’t a complete mess when she came. Lately he’d been looking a little scruffier than usual and he figured he should clean up a bit before Rebecca showed up…but not too much. He had the urge to look scruffy these days, which only made sense. When the knock came at his door, he got up from watching the baseball game and opened the door for Rebecca. He gave her a lopsided smile to see her standing there, but it was an effort to keep his instincts beneath the surface. If he got drunk…he’d do better not to. “I come bearing gifts.” She held the beer up and he grinned, stepping aside for her. “Come in,” he said kindly, watching her as she did so.

“It’s snowing, by the way. In the middle of July.” He gave her an incredulous look. “Seriously?” he asked, grabbing the beer from where she placed it and went to the kitchen to put it in the refrigerator. His eyes glanced out the window and he shook his head at the snow. It was that cold day in July his father always talked about… “How yah feeling?” He turned and looked back at Rebecca before grabbing two already cold beers out of the fridge. “All right I guess. This darkness is making me shift every night and it’s kind of driving me nuts, but I’m starting to get used to it,” he explained. He twisted the tops off the beers and went back to Rebecca, handing her one. “Just don’t look at all the meat in the freezer,” he recommended with a playful grin. He had a lot of steak in there right now…some of which he knew he was going to eat practically raw as a wolf tonight. He sipped from his beer and went to the couch, settling in and watching her as she did the same. “How are you doing on this cold day in July?” he asked with a teasing undertone.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca felt a little less awkward this time at Jacks place because she was actually dressed. Her jeans were fitted and she wore a white t-shirt underneath a blue and black plaid long sleeved fitted button down shirt. It was casual and nice, and it showed off her figure which wasn't intentional. It was just a laid back outfit and she looked like a female version of Jack himself.

“All right I guess." He said in response to her question, grabbing a couple cold ones from the fridge. "This darkness is making me shift every night and it’s kind of driving me nuts, but I’m starting to get used to it,” he explained. She winced, unsure how that would feel. "Yikes.." She commented, not sure what else she could even say. She took the beer he offered and then tilted it back, sipping it. It felt good to have a beer in the afternoon. Rebecca was never much of a drinker, but she liked having a beer now and then. It was something that helped her feel like one of the guys. She remembered her dad drinking them while watching the games or he would bring them fishing. They made her think of him, for some reason.

“Just don’t look at all the meat in the freezer,” The girl grinned and let out the tiniest hint of a laugh. "I won't." She promised playfully watching him settle on to the couch. She hesitated before moving to sit beside him. She sat close enough that she could reach out and touch him, not that she would, but not close enough that any single part of her actually was touching him. There was still something awkward about hanging out alone with him at his home. She reminded herself that this was what friends did, and she and Jack were budding friends.

“How are you doing on this cold day in July?” Again she smiled and offered a hint of a laugh as she sipped her beer, relaxing a little into his soft leather couch. She rolled her shoulders and bopped her head from side to side. "I suppose I can't complain as much as you." She offered easily pretending she was just one of the guys. It was easier that way and made her feel less awkward. "But I suppose I could be doing better. Witt decided an apology was in order and Maxine caved." She rolled her eyes. "I'll never get what she sees in that prick. You saw her that night! She was a mess." Rebecca sighed heavily. "Sometimes I wish it was legal to lock people up just for being an asshole." Her eyes skirted back to his and a wry grin slid over her lips. "Want to help me frame him?" She suggest playfully, fighting the urge to chuckle. It was clear she wasn't serious, but it would be wonderful if they really could do that.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack took a sip of his beer as he watched Rebecca relax more into his couch. She shrugged at his question and bobbed her head from side to side. “I suppose I can’t complain as much as you.” He gave a soft laugh, sinking back into his couch too. The more comfortable he was, the more he hoped it would encourage her to do the same. She honestly had no reason to be tense around him, as she always was, but he knew nothing he could say would convince her of that. Even in his heightened animal state, he had a good amount of control over his actions and he wasn’t going to hurt her or force himself on her. She was more relaxed than the first time she was there, though, which he was glad for. “But I suppose I could be doing better. Witt decided an apology was in order and Maxi caved.” He sighed, shaking his head as she rolled her eyes. The beer bottle came back to his lips. “Sometimes I wish it was legal to lock people up just for being an asshole.” Jack gave a chuckle, nodding in agreement, looking at her as she turned to him. “Want to help me frame him?” He grinned back briefly before making his face serious and furrowing his brow, nodding. “Yeah, absolutely. We’ll just go over to narcotics and grab a kilo of coke. You distract him while I just slip it into the trunk of his car. Then I’ll pull him over later for speeding and demand to inspect his vehicle. Surprise!” It was completely a joke, and his serious face broke with a smile. “That’ll keep him busy for a couple years.” Jack shook his head as he took another sip of beer.

“That’s unfortunate about Maxine, though. It’s a shame that such a nice woman is with such a dick,” he commented. He’d seen it before, of course. Women who came into the precinct with a black eye or a swollen cheek to refute a claim of domestic abused made by a neighbor. Even with the evidence on their faces, these women would insist they walked into a door or fell down the stairs or it was simply an accident. And then they would go right back to the men that hurt them, waiting for the next time a neighbor tried to spare them the suffering they went through. Witt seemed the type that, if made angry enough, he would harm Maxine physically. Jack knew he could be wrong about that, and he knew better than to judge people without knowing them, but he couldn’t help thinking about that. If Maxine ever ended up in that situation, he was positive Rebecca would kill Witt…and Jack couldn’t blame her. He had told his brother-in-law he would do that to him if he ever laid a finger on Izzy; the guy got the picture and they were actually good friends. That would change if he ever raised a hand to his sister, though. “There’s only so much you can do though. Maxine’s going to make her own mistakes, and she’s grown enough to know when enough is enough. If Witt doesn’t shape up, though, I’d be glad to hold him back while you punch him,” he said with a lopsided grin at her.

He looked out to the snow coming down pretty heavily and he shook his head. “My dad used to say, ‘That’ll happen on a cold day in July,’ like other people say, ‘That’ll happen when hell freezes over.’ He’d be pretty amused at this weather. ‘Hey Andie, remember that pony I told you I wouldn’t get for you? Well I guess I have to get it for you now,’ he’d say.” Jack chuckled to think of it, his eyes coming back to Rebecca. He always thought it would be a cold day in July before he had Rebecca Taylor drinking beer with him on his couch on a Saturday afternoon; well, that day was here. It was fixing to be a pretty strange day, he thought. “Did you ever want a pony as a little girl? Because I tell you, when my sisters were little, they would have sold their souls to the Devil if it would get them a pony, especially if it had a horn on its forehead,” he teased. He took another sip of his beer, his eyes kind as he smiled over at her.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“Yeah, absolutely." He looked almost serious and she had a hard time hiding the smirk that fought to press forward on her lips. "We’ll just go over to narcotics and grab a kilo of coke. You distract him while I just slip it into the trunk of his car. Then I’ll pull him over later for speeding and demand to inspect his vehicle. Surprise! That’ll keep him busy for a couple years.” She laughed softly. It sounded like a great plan and it would certainly get the man out of their hair long enough to let Maxi move on, but Max would kill them! Plus it would expose the Gargoyles. And it was crazy illegal on top of that. Framing an innocent man? Not worth it. Still, it was a delicious thought. "Good man, Jack. I like your style." She teased back, sipping her own beer, amused.

He grew serious again, explaining how he thought it was unfortunate about Maxine. Rebecca agreed. It really was. She had always pictured her friend with a bubbly, sunny man who ran triathlons in his free time and enjoyed making dishes using the herbs he grew in his own garden. THAT was the type of guy Maxine should be with. August was just... he was the complete polar opposite. “There’s only so much you can do though. Maxine’s going to make her own mistakes, and she’s grown enough to know when enough is enough. If Witt doesn’t shape up, though, I’d be glad to hold him back while you punch him,” He was giving her that cute lopsided smile again and she nodded. "Again.. I like your style." She leaned forward and clinked her bottle gently to his before sipping.

Her eyes followed his as he looked out the window, and she had to admit it was a strange sight seeing the clean white snow falling. It was the middle of summer and it was the afternoon. Why the hell was it snowing and pitch black out? She looked back to him as he explained his fathers old saying, and then joked about his sister getting the pony she always wanted. She chuckled with him, but lightly. She could easily see he missed his father and her eyes moved to the photo of young Jack with the older man. She knew what that was like. To lose a father so young.

“Did you ever want a pony as a little girl? Because I tell you, when my sisters were little, they would have sold their souls to the Devil if it would get them a pony, especially if it had a horn on its forehead,” Her smile was soft and sad and she looked at her bottle. It was a simple question but it stirred sad feelings in her as most questions about her childhood did. "I was afraid of horses for a long time." She admitted, rolling her shoulder. "My dad finally coaxed me into riding one. It took him months, but he thought I'd like it so.. he worked at it and finally he got me on one. He was right; I liked it. If I had continued riding I might have wanted one, but I only rode a half dozen times or so, never having gotten completely comfortable with it." She sipped her beer. "He died, so.. I never bothered getting back on one. But they don't freak me out anymore. Horses are A OK in my book." She smiled, wanting to change the topic. Why were they suddenly on the topic of dead dads? Too depressing!

"I can't believe it's snowing, though. This is just... not something I would dream I'd ever see. It's odd." She laughed.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack felt bad for asking about the pony when he saw the sad, soft smile on Rebecca’s face. Her eyes fell to her bottle and he took a sip of his beer. The last time they talked like this, she had gotten a similar look on her face. Why did he always have to bring up things that made her sad? He would have to make a mental note not to ask about her childhood anymore. “I was afraid of horses for a long time.” He was surprised to hear it and his brow furrowed as he smiled, giving her a look that read “Really?” “My dad finally coaxed me into riding one. It took him months, but he thought I’d like it so…he worked at it and finally he got me on one. He was right; I liked it. If I had continued riding I might have wanted one, but I only rode a half dozen times or so, never having gotten completely comfortable with it. He died so…I never bothered getting back on one. But they don’t freak me out anymore. Horses are A OK in my book.” He hadn’t known her dad was dead too. It made him feel closer to her, like maybe they could understand each other that way. Maybe not, but it sounded like she had been young when her father died too. But that topic was so depressing, and he could tell she was uncomfortable, so he didn’t push the topic.

“I can’t believe it’s snowing, though. This is just…not something I would dream I’d ever see. It’s odd.” He chuckled softly and looked at the window again. “Yeah, it’s definitely odd. But kind of awesome. There have been July days where I’ve wished it would do just this because it was so damn hot. Maybe it’ll be thick enough that we can go out and make snowmen,” he suggested playfully, giving her a little wink with that lopsided grin. “I’d kick your ass in a snowball fight.” He grinned, taking another sip of beer. “My snowballs are perfect. There’s no escaping them.” He gave a shrug as if to say it wasn’t a big deal. Her reaction made him laugh as he brought his beer to his lips again. With a sigh, he looked back at the window.

“Who knew this was in that tree all this time? And it just had to come out now…” he commented, getting serious again. “The town reveres the tree as almost sacred and loves it as some kind of all powerful good, but we forgot that the legend has evil in it too. I wonder what it’ll take to close the tree again and get those clouds out of the sky. Or if it’ll just wear itself out…I just hope it doesn’t hurt anybody this time.” His eyes fell on her again, looking almost concerned. “Are you okay? Are you feeling any effects from this weather?” he asked, genuinely worried. He didn’t know if it was just the guardians being affected by this or not and he hadn’t considered it before now.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Maybe it’ll be thick enough that we can go out and make snowmen,” He suggested and she snorted incredulously. Building a snowman together? That was not what two adult friends did. A couple maybe... They were anything but a couple, though. “I’d kick your ass in a snowball fight.” He grinned, taking another sip of his beer and it was all she could do not to roll her eyes at him. What were they, eight? “My snowballs are perfect. There’s no escaping them.” "Who would have thought Roccograndi was a master at snowball fights. A talent he's been boasting about since he was twelve." She teased, sipping her beer and feeling the bottle getting light. Had she drank a whole beer already? She decided she wouldn't say yer or not to his offer to kick her ass in a snowball fight. She figured if she had another couple beers she might actually be up for that, but then she reminded herself maybe it would be wisest to stop after the next one if she wanted to drive home safely. Staying the night just wasn't an option in her mind. Not to mention at some point he would sprout fur and a tail and that just seemed really weird.

“Who knew this was in that tree all this time? And it just had to come out now…" He made solid points about the story. They tree was evil, wasn't it? Well, not the tree but whatever lurked inside. It wasn't until this darkness happened that people began to really question it all. Was it the tree? Was it evil? Was this darkness going to start killing people? "I wonder what it’ll take to close the tree again and get those clouds out of the sky. Or if it’ll just wear itself out…I just hope it doesn’t hurt anybody this time.” She nodded, agreeing completely. "I agree. No one knows how to fight this thing. I don't even know if it's a force that can be fought. Hopefully it will just go away." She said with a shrug, not knowing what else to say on the matter.

“Are you okay? Are you feeling any effects from this weather?” His question caught her by surprise and she looked up at him, her head tilted a little to the side. She didn't expect him to show concern for her. He had no reason to. She shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe a little sluggish with all the darkness, but otherwise I guess I'm okay. Nothing too out of the ordinary, just...missing the sunlight." She looked at her bottle and lifted it up to show him. "I'm going to grab another, want one?" She asked, making herself at home as she stood up. She didn't think he'd really care if she helped herself to another beer. She headed towards the fridge to grab the drinks.

"So what's it like, anyway. The wolf thing.." She asked, peaking over her shoulder at him before pulling the fridge open and finding a few pre chilled beers and heading back over. "Your sisters change too?"

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack watched Rebecca shrug her shoulders, relieved she hadn’t really noticed anything different. “Maybe a little sluggish with all the darkness, but otherwise I guess I’m okay. Nothing too out of the ordinary, just…missing the sunlight.” Jack nodded, missing it too. He was an outdoorsy guy, and when the weather was so crappy, no sunshine at all, he felt like he couldn’t go out. It was frustrating. She lifted her bottle and he realized he was almost done with his as well. “I’m going to grab another one, want one?” Jack drained the one in his hand. “Yeah that would be great,” he replied. She moved away and he noted that even though she initially seemed uncomfortable in his apartment, she was now making herself right at home. It was nice; he wanted her to be that comfortable around him, and he had no problem with her grabbing them more beers. He set his empty bottle on the table, slouching back into the couch. The beer was helping him relax, even if he didn’t really feel it just yet. It was the most he had been able to relax in days, since the masquerade in fact. He was glad Rebecca came by; if he’d been alone, he’d still be wrapped up in his shifts being so close to the surface constantly.

“So what’s it like, anyway? The wolf thing…” The question surprised him a little and he looked back to her at his fridge. He considered an answer as she made her way back to him. “Your sisters change too?” Jack nodded and took his beer from her, twisting the top off and tossing it on the table. “Yeah. Andie turns into a red wolf, Izzy into a lynx. Our mother is a tiger in her form and my dad was a wolf, so there’s wild canines and felines in my family mostly. It’s just the way it worked out for us, I guess. Anyway, it’s kind of weird. At first it hurt and even now it’s not the most comfortable sensation. Your whole body just shifts, contorts, and usually becomes smaller. Even though I’m a big Eurasian wolf, it’s still smaller than the size I am now. It feels like your muscles are stretching and you generally feel nauseous when it happens. All of that goes away after a little while, but it’s not what I would call pleasant. It gives me heightened senses, though, so that’s a perk. I hear, see, and definitely smell better around the full moon…and now. I also get a lot of energy. The problem is, I don’t know what to do with that energy with the weather like it is.” He took a sip from his beer, looking over at her. His lopsided smile came back to his face as he did so.

“I think if you were a Therian, you’d be a mountain lion. They’re graceful, fierce, independent…I think that would suit you,” he told her, his face kind as he said it. He ran a hand through his hair, realizing he was bordering affectionate and not wanting her to be uncomfortable. Rebecca may have been his crush, but he was trying to get to be her friend first and foremost, and he didn’t want her to pull away from him. He took a swig of his beer, before looking back at her with a smile. “What would you want to be, if you could be a Therian?” he inquired playfully. He was interested to hear what she picked.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca sat down and sipped her fresh beer as Jack went ahead and explained everything to her. It sounded genuinely uncomfortable and she wasn't sure she would like it at all. She had no interest in being one of the Guardians anymore. As a girl she did, of course. What kid wouldn't? When Maxi had explained everything to her she was delirious with envy, wishing desperately that she could just disappear as her friend had the ability to do.

"It gives me heightened senses, though, so that’s a perk. I hear, see, and definitely smell better around the full moon…and now. I also get a lot of energy. The problem is, I don’t know what to do with that energy with the weather like it is.” It made sense she supposed. Was it like that for all of them? Heightened senses? She inwardly wondered if he would be inclined to fetch something if she threw it, but of course she would never do that and never hint that she'd even thought it. It was amusing, but rude and Rebecca didn't care to be rude. Teasing? Yes, but she wasn't sure where the line was and she didn't want to unintentionally cross it.

“I think if you were a Therian, you’d be a mountain lion. They’re graceful, fierce, independent…I think that would suit you,” She gave an amused, incredulous look, one eyebrow popping up as a sort of snort left her nose. She was independent but she didn't consider herself graceful or fierce. Then again, she tried to come off as both, though she assumed she failed miserably at this attempt. Maybe Jack had been fooled all along. His comment was sweet, and she couldn't help but feel he wouldn't have made it if she had a dick hanging between her legs. She wanted Jack to treat her like one of the guys! There was a part of her that didn't, though. She sort of liked him treating her just a little different. “What would you want to be, if you could be a Therian?”

"The question isn't if I could be, it's if I were one. I wouldn't want to be one." She said honestly, shrugging her shoulders. "I have enough skeletons in my closet without trying to hide my identity on top of it all. Maybe when I was younger, but now?" She shook her head and looked at her beer, and then the figures of the wolves on the table. "I don't know, I guess if I were one I's want to be.. Hmm. A cat. A house cat." She grinned and shrugged. "Sleeping in the sun all day, no one wants to eat you, except maybe the dog, and in some countries I'd even be worshiped. Or would have been a few thousand years ago." She laughed and sipped her beer as her eyes came back to Jack. "I don't envy you, Jack." She said softly, knowing he hadn't accused her of that and it had only been a playful question, but she wanted to drive the point home for some stupid, pointless reason. "What time do you shift? So I know when I need to stop drinking." She asked, not wanting to intrude on that time. She didn't really mind seeing him in wolf form it would just be...really strange. It made her a little uneasy to think about and she didn't want to drink too much and be stuck there. Her eyes moved back to the window where the snow was falling. She never cared much for the snow. "At this rate I'll have to leave earlier or I'll be stuck here." She teased with a laugh.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“The question isn’t if I could be, it’s if I were one. I wouldn’t want to be one.” Jack was a little surprised by Rebecca’s answer, staring at her with his mildly wide eyes. Usually when people who weren’t Therians found out what he was, they thought about how cool it would be. “I have enough skeletons in my closet without trying to hide my identity on top of it all. Maybe when I was younger, but now?” She really was a fascinating person. She seemed to really consider the burden of what he was, something that was lost on a lot of people. “I don’t know, I guess if I were one I’d want to be…Hmm…A cat. A house cat.” Jack chuckled at the response, finding it an interesting choice. “Sleeping in the sun all day, no one wants to eat you, except maybe the dog, and in some countries I’d even be worshipped. Or would have been a few thousand years ago.” He shook his head as he laughed. “Yeah, the life of a house cat wouldn’t be so bad,” he replied, taking a sip of beer. She went quiet a moment, but when he felt her eyes on him again, he looked back at her. “I don’t envy you, Jack.” Her statement genuinely intrigued him and he stared at her for a long moment, studying her. He didn’t want her to envy him; he didn’t want anyone to envy him for what he was. It wasn’t impressive, not to him, and he would have preferred a normal, human life where the worst secret he would have to keep would be his father’s death. But the few people he knew what he was who weren’t Therians didn’t understand why he didn’t like being different. Rebecca didn’t think the same, and that drew him to her even more; as if he needed more reasons to like her.

“What time do you shift? So I know when to stop drinking.” The question threw him off a bit and he had to remind himself that she sort of did have a time limit on how long she could be there. It was disappointing, but it was hours until he shifted. Her eyes went to the window and his followed suit. “At this rate I’ll have to leave earlier or I’ll be stuck here.” That statement disappointed him even more, but he didn’t show it. “I don’t shift until around six thirty or seven, so we’ve got plenty of time,” he assured her. “And as for the snow, you’re going to get stuck regardless, whether it’s at my place or yours. You might as well get stuck where you’ve got company.” He gave her a big crooked grin before taking a sip of his beer. His shoulders shrugged when he brought the bottle back to his knee. “Really, I don’t mind either way. And if you get stuck here, I promise I won’t bite,” he said with a big smile. He got up and walked to the window, looking out to the road. “The snow is heavy, but it isn’t sticking to the roads. You should be okay to get home.” He came back to the couch, noticing he was starting to get a small buzz from the beer. It wasn’t nearly enough to get him drunk; his tolerance was too high for that and he was a big guy, but he was feeling a little lightheaded. Just enough to get him to relax some more.

He wanted to think of something fun they could do. Jack didn’t normally have company, so when he did, he had to think of what they could do to pass the time. His eyes wandered before he sat back down and he caught sight of a box of playing cards that he had sitting out on one of his shelves. He smiled and grabbed the pack, before sitting down again. “Have you ever played Egyptian rat screw or Slap Jack?” he asked, taking the cards out of the box and tossing the box on the table. His hands began to shuffle the cards as he smiled at her playfully.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“I don’t shift until around six thirty or seven, so we’ve got plenty of time, and as for the snow, you’re going to get stuck regardless, whether it’s at my place or yours. You might as well get stuck where you’ve got company.” He was being honest but funny and she rolled her eyes at his crooked smile. She wasn't sure how she felt about getting stuck at Jack's. It just seemed weird. Weird didn't sit well with Rebecca. She narrowed her eyes playfully when he promised not to bite. If he didn't shift into a wolf she would think he was flirting. Maybe he was flirting. Jack wouldn't be that stupid though, would he? Hitting on her? Would that be so terrible? She was second guessing herself until she mentally put her foot down. Yes. Yes it would be terrible because no one would respect her if she had anything with a coworker. That was even if Jack was into her, which he wasn't. They were friends.

Rebecca distracted herself from her overworked thought process by watching Jack move to the window. "The snow is heavy, but it isn’t sticking to the roads. You should be okay to get home.” Rebecca nodded feeling better about the fact she wouldn't need to rush since she just got there. Her eyes continued to follow him as he came back to the couch feeling like she had nothing to talk about. Maybe there was a baseball game on or something? She didn't follow sports but she watched them when they were on, and Jack, she knew, liked baseball.

“Have you ever played Egyptian rat screw or Slap Jack?” He asked after grabbing a pack of playing cards and pulling them from the deck. "Both. Spit was always my game, though." She smirked liking the idea of playing cards with him. It was such a fun, simple thing to do. "I'm a master Egyptian rat screwer, though. And yes, I'm fully aware of how filthy that sounds." She smirked a little, not often making jokes but she had a beer and a half and she was in the comfort of a friend.

Rebecca took a deep sip f her beer and placed it on the table, turning more to face Jack. "Alright, deal 'em Wolfy."

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“Both. Spit was always my game, though.” The little smirk that came to Rebecca’s face made Jack do the same. “From what I hear, it’s all the same game,” he commented, still shuffling the cards. “I’m a master Egyptian rat screwer, though.” Jack raised his eyebrows while looking at her still. “And yes, I’m fully aware of how filthy that sounds.” He laughed, moving his shuffling to the table, sitting forward on the couch some. He took another sip of his beer before banging the deck on the table to straighten them out. “Alright, deal ‘em Wolfy.” He snorted, doing as she commanded. “Yes, ma’am,” he replied in a teasing tone, his hand moving quickly to toss a card in her pile, then his. “I don’t know if you want this, though. I’ve been screwing Egyptian rats for years. I’m a pro. And yes, I’m fully aware of how filthy that sounds,” he said with a large grin, finding his own joke amusing, but more smiling at her reaction. “Of course when I was younger and we played slap jack, my sisters liked to giggle that the game was ‘Slap Jack,’ meaning me. They’d like to come to my face and pat it when they actually got a pair. Then they get too excited and hit me too hard and I’d call the whole thing off.” He chuckled, finishing the dealing.

He patted the sides of his deck, straightening it out. It was nice being here in his warm apartment with Rebecca, a deck of cards, and some beer while the snow fell heavy outside his window in the middle of July. Stranger things had happened, he supposed. Still, he could almost pretend it was winter when being indoors like this wasn’t so strange. His eyes came to hers, narrowing in a playful challenge. “You ready for this, Taylor? Because I don’t think you are,” he said with mock instigation. “I’ll go then you go.” He put the first card down and she followed quickly with one of her own. Their pace was steady, not too fast and not too slow, but still they had to remain vigilant lest the other one notice a pair. Finally his eyes caught a pair, and his big hand slapped down quickly before Rebecca’s softer hand fell on top of his. He gave her a big, crooked grin. “Ha! Too slow,” he taunted good-humoredly. He gathered the cards up, pushed them into his deck and then shuffled it again.

Once more they started their steady pace, Jack and then Rebecca, but he was distracted by the sound of thunder. His eyes looked to the window, his brow furrowed. He gave a short quick laugh, amused. “I’ve heard of snow thunder, but I’ve never experienced it until now,” he commented. He didn’t realize that sitting on the table was another pair ready for the taking.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“I don’t know if you want this, though. I’ve been screwing Egyptian rats for years. I’m a pro. And yes, I’m fully aware of how filthy that sounds,” She snorted at him as he dealt the deck out. She watched him as he recalled his story of his sisters slapping him and had to laugh. Poor Jack! "Yeah, sometimes it sucked being the oldest sibling." She laughed softly, looking down at the cards he was dealing her. "My little brother Sam used to hit me sometimes and there wasn't anything I could do because I was so much older than him and was supposed to know better." She rolled her eyes, recalling her younger brother. She wondered what their relationship would be like today. She then realized she'd never brought Sam up to Jack before.

“You ready for this, Taylor? Because I don’t think you are,” She snorted. "Bring it." There was something nice about being friends with a man. Rebecca loved Maxi, but Maxi was so....girly. She was into feminine things and liked to snuggle, which didn't bother Rebecca, but sometimes she wanted a beer and some guy time. That's where Jack came in. It was fun going back and forth in the game. It had been years since she played, since college probably. A pair came down and she went to slap it but his hand was fast and hard, slamming the deck. Her eyes widened and she looked up at him as he smugly smiled “Ha! Too slow,”

"I gave you that one." She chimed in, narrowing her eyes playfully, suddenly wanting pizza now that she was reminded of college. The next round started up and thunder crashed outside. “I’ve heard of snow thunder, but I’ve never experienced it until now,” He said as she put a card down, showing pairs. She slammed her hand down and smirked at him. "Neither have I." She said, collecting her won cards. "And you're losing your touch. Better pay closer attention or you're going to keep being a loser." She teased, putting the next card down for the following round.

"Playing this and drinking beer reminds me of college...which reminds me of pizza. You down to get fat with me? My treat."

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack’s attention was called back to the game when he heard Rebecca’s hand slam down on the table and he looked back with wide eyes. “Neither have I.” The smirk she wore made him do the same and he felt silly for having looked away. “And you’re losing your touch. Better play closer attention or you’re going to keep being a loser.” Jack chuckled, shaking his head and preparing to start the next round. “I’m not a loser yet, Taylor. You have to get all my cards to count as the winner, and that was far from all my cards,” he warned good-naturedly. She put the next card down and he followed suit with his own. “Playing this and drinking beer reminds me of college…which reminds me of pizza. You down to get fat with me? My treat.” Jack grinned at the way she worded it and he nodded. “Pizza sounds like the only thing we’re missing right now. Order away, I’m not picky.” He sat back as she went to make the call, glancing outside. The pizza guy would hate them for ordering pizza in the snow, but…well, that wasn’t really their problem. People have to eat, after all.

When she was done, she gave him the ETA and he nodded. “Plenty of time for me to kick your ass,” he replied with a big lopsided grin. They settled back into their game, flipping cards over nonchalantly, waiting for a pair. “I think I lived off pizza and beer on weekends in college. I have no idea how I managed to not get fat eating the way I did.” His hand slammed down on a pair, her hand falling over top of his again. He smirked, liking the feel of her hand on top of his, even if it was just momentary. Hers were a lot smaller than his and softer and it felt nice. If only he could actually hold her hand…He swept up his cards, adding them to his pile. “You’re going to have to find another way to distract me if you want to win, Taylor.” His smile was smug, but mostly amused. He liked teasing her. Had he been with someone he didn’t know as well, he wouldn’t gloat like he was, but with Rebecca, he felt like he could loosen up. Especially with nearly two beers in him.

They went back to laying the cards down one right after the other, a steady pace developing between them. The cards were piling up this time and Jack was smiling with amusement and anticipation. Whoever got this, the other person was going to have a hard time recovering. Finally, a pair slapped down and both Jack and Rebecca went for it at the same time. Their hands hit the pile together, their fingers crossing as they did so, almost lacing between each others. Jack laughed, looking to Rebecca to challenge her, but in the process of reaching for the pile, they had both gotten close to each other. She was only inches away and he was surprised by it. She had really blue eyes that close…His eyes flitted from hers to her lips, but they didn’t linger. He didn’t want it to be obvious what he was thinking, but it was possible she might have already seen his eyes shift away from hers. Restoring his lopsided smile again, he leaned away from her a little, though his hand remained tangled in hers on the pile of cards. “Why don’t we split it 50/50?” he suggested, thinking that was a fair way to solve the matter.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca called in for pizza from her cell, ordering a meat lovers pie from one of the local pizza joints. She preferred non chain pizza because it just tasted better. The slices were always huge and the crust was thin without being too crunchy or too soft. The cheese was melted to perfection and the meats were always quality. She figured Jack was a meat kind of guy and she honestly preferred her pizza smothered in everything bad, sausage, beef and bacon included. "It'll be here in forty." She told him once she hung up, having given her credit card over the line to the pizza place. "Plenty of time for me to kick your ass,” His grin was broad and lopsided and she gave him a dirty look in return. "You're too cocky. I can't wait to cut you down, Roccograndi."

They continued to chit chat a little as they played, Rebecca getting caught up in the game as she often did. When a pair came up she threw her hand down, slapping Jacks since he'd gotten there sooner. “You’re going to have to find another way to distract me if you want to win, Taylor.” His smile was smug and she glued one on for good sportsmanship, but really she was getting a little annoyed deep down. Rebecca hated to lose and she really wanted to beat Jack. It was a macho thing; like beating him would somehow show how superior she was to him when clearly she wasn't. She was half his size! It was hard to take something like that on. "Maybe you're hovering a little too close to the deck there." She offered with her own smug look, accusing him of not cheating but maybe playing to his advantage.

When the next pair went down her hand flew, as did his. He was apparently just as intent on winning as she was. Her fingers weaved through his and she tilted her head up just a little, her eyes on his as they practically held hands on the table. She wasn't giving up without a fight.. They were close. Too close, maybe... She saw a look in his eyes that made her stomach twist, watching his eyes shift to her lips. She felt the hot heat at her cheekbones as her lips pursed. He tried to pull it off but he had failed and Rebecca sat there uncertain, looking down at the cards with her brows slightly furrowed.

He moved back a little and she looked up again, seeing him smiling at her. “Why don’t we split it 50/50?” he suggested, and she moved her hand back from the cards. "If you want to.." She said and then cleared her throat, trying to push her thoughts from her head. No. Jack wouldn't have thought about kissing her. No way! "I mean, my hand was clearly there first, but.. I mean if it will make you feel better to split the deck then we can do that."