Caritas, Thursday

[wrongkindofsith]

The zombies were still experimenting, only now they'd added bantha bell an oversized cow bell, so Cara was making liberal use of the bucket of earplug tonight. By throwing them at the zombies whenever they hit a particularly off note. Which was often.

Also at Tino, because he was Tino.

[Open, no OCD.

Comments

[bitten_notshy]

Jack had made plans to meet with Derek tonight, but when he heard the cowbell he almost wished he hadn't.

"What is that noise?" he asked Cara, by way of greeting. "And why is he still making it?"

[justlurkinghere]

"We picked the wrong bar," Derek said rather than hello. Because that bell. That bell.

[bitten_notshy]

"I know," Jack agreed mournfully, also in lieu of 'hello.' "I could have gone in and opened Devil's Nest, but no, I had to be lazy and come here..."

[justlurkinghere]

It was both of them being lazy, let's be real here.

"But we'd have to serve ourselves."

[bitten_notshy]

"Point," Jack agreed, wrinkling his nose. "And the DJ might be even worse than the band, though it's a close call."

[justlurkinghere]

"I don't think that DJ is anymore human than the band." It was the only explanation.

[bitten_notshy]

"He drinks enough for somebody who isn't human," Jack offered. "... wait, does that prove anything?"

[justlurkinghere]

"He just eats our pain with the music he plays." So. Maybe a really weird siren?

[bitten_notshy]

"So either a siren or a sadist," Jack said, and gestured to Tino to order a beer before he could spend too much more time thinking about that. "What have you been up to, anyhow? It's been forever since we just talked."

[justlurkinghere]

"I got a house." A beat. "Actually bought. It's not an abandoned one that I moved into."

IT WAS SUCH A STEP UP FOR HIM.

[bitten_notshy]

"Bought with money?" Jack said, blinking. "That's ... I'm strangely proud of you. Wow."

It WAS a big step.

"What's it like?"

[justlurkinghere]

"It's nice," Derek replied after a moment. "Not on island because--"

He just looked at the bell playing band.

[bitten_notshy]

"Because you lived here fucking long enough?" Jack finished, also looking at the band. "I don't blame you. It's not far, is it?"

There was that abandonment complex kicking in. Jack didn't like people leaving.

[justlurkinghere]

"Maryland. By Stiles' school," he said. "There are a lot of rooms for guests."

Hint hint.

[bitten_notshy]

Well, that perked Jack right back up.

"Oh, nice," he said. "Except now I might invite myself over next time something ridiculous invades the island."

[justlurkinghere]

"Bring food and you're always welcome." Jack was welcome even without the food, let's be real here.

[bitten_notshy]

"I can spring for chips and soda on the way," Jack said lightly. "Maybe even pizza if I'm feeling generous."

Even though he knew perfectly well the food wasn't necessary.

[justlurkinghere]

"Now you're just going crazy."

[bitten_notshy]

"Some people are just big spenders," Jack told him. "Don't let it intimidate you."

[justlurkinghere]

"I'm shaking in my boots." They were giant, werewolf nerds.

[bitten_notshy]

"I would be, if I were you," the other giant nerd in the room replied. "... funny you're moving, though. I was thinking about heading up to New York once I finish this school year."

[justlurkinghere]

"Yeah?" Derek asked, looking thoughtful. "It wouldn't be too bad a drive for the full moons."

[bitten_notshy]

"And it's even shorter if you portal or fly," Jack told him. "Besides, I do better with the change when I have somebody around. It'd be worth it."

[justlurkinghere]

"Then I'll have to come see you in New York too." And be all weird and proud of his pack. Like a soccer mom.

[bitten_notshy]

"That'll be fun," Jack nodded. "Emma's got a house picked out large enough to host half the island."

Jack suspected she wanted to be prepared for the possibility of triplets.

[justlurkinghere]

"...maybe not with that many people around." He was not a social butterfly. Try to contain your shock.

[bitten_notshy]

"You can visit on your own," Jack promised.

[justlurkinghere]

"And I'll bring pizza."

[wrongkindofsith]

A nice person might have offered Jack earplugs instead of throwing more at the zombies. Guess which of those options Cara chose?

"If I knew the answer to the second he wouldn't be," she said. "What drinks do you want?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I'll have Guinness," Jack told her. "And a pair of earplugs."

Not that they helped werewolf hearing much, but it was something.

[wrongkindofsith]

"Good choice." Cara pushed the bucket of earplugs over while she poured his drink. Of course, she didn't know anything about any kind of two pour method, so he got his beer pretty quickly too.