Re: The Cat: Patrick G/MJ W
Medusa and her snake shoulders. [MJ sounded skeptical when she teased him.] It would look weirder than the hair, even. And I'm glad you made all of those specifics clear, champ, really. [She smiled when he peeked at her.] I'd rather turn men to non-sexual, non-metaphorical, non-theoretical stone than wear a turtleneck. [To be fair, the bartender didn't have one of her own. Tall, dark, and handsome Harry wasn't hers. And tall, dark, and handsome Jason wasn't either. Both exes. God, she was a disaster.—And Patrick was charming, even if it didn't come with shadows or serpent's promises. He was like, sweet, MJ could already tell. He was a nice boy. He kind of reminded her of Perry, actually, back when they were kids. Only less awkward and obviously geeky. (But, geeky enough since he walked around saying words like 'stratovolcano,' even with the high school prom king looks.)] I do, [she said of living with Destiny.] Yeah, I took the room of one of the guys. The other was gone before. And now it's just Matt, who owns it. Oh, and another moved out. Okay, so it's Matt, Destiny, me, and this girl named Holly. And the little dude. [A smile. She folded her arms together against the bar. She gave her sweetest smile.] So we're neighbors. You like Destiny's earrings, sport?
[And MJ made the immature joke, so, it's not like she was super mature. She was glad he laughed, and she laughed too at the idea of a Mrs. Burris.] What sport did you play? Or were you out nature walking? We had P.E., but, like I said, we were all nerds, mostly. One of my high school boyfriends did football. He was like, one of five jocks. [She smiled around her glass again, just after taking another swallow of her beer.] This isn't a, 'Just call me Dick. Mr. Johnson was my father' thing, is it? [MJ was prime at this. He was way too nice for it, but he made the comment, so she just waggled her eyebrows at him and said,] I know, killer. [She gave a 'ha!'] I knew it. You're a Ranger Rick groupie. I won't tell the bear. I promise. [She played her fingers, gold-painted nails bright, along the lip of her glass as Patrick talked about his sister. She couldn't remember if she'd talked to the girl, but she did know she'd seen her name.] Are you close with her? [If she sniffed him, MJ kind of assumed they were, but she asked anyway.] Half-siblings seem to be that way. Mine rolled in recently too. She lives at that fancy manor owned by Mr. Wainright and has a kid, but we've never met or anything. As for my real sister. We're really close in age, but super different. We're like, close, but not really, and if she sniffed me, I'd spray perfume up her nose. [She smiled, and leaned back, making room as Patrick leaned. Looking up from his hand and the settled glass, she laughed lightly.] It is. [As if his polite gesture proved it.] Though, I don't think anyone's cleaned up their stuff in here before, so that's a first even in this obsidian-requiring town. You're really nice, aren't you? [A little seriousness tinged glossy lips.] It's not, like, always required, right? I mean, I've been here and year and never needed it.