Cats & people share many similarities: moods could turn on a dime, rub someone the wrong way & they’re liable to take a swipe, everybody needs a bit of reassurance every now & then. Now no one could call Jack inattentive — but when Greer gets in her moods, she’s not settling for anything less than all eyes on her. Jack should count his lucky stars that the only souls in his swanky pad were theirs.

In no mood for subtlety, the cat-woman draped herself into her lovers’ lap like a dropped towel: draping her furry arms over his shoulder like a coat placed delicately over them. As soon as his words left his lips & that silly script was discarded without so much as a groan of protest, Greer began to purr. Jaw angled into his tender touch as she ran the length of it over his knuckles. She would never say out loud how much of these pet-like attentions she adored. She wasn’t an animal, but boy — did she really enjoy feeling like it sometimes.

His kiss was returned with the same reverence he gave it, paw sliding up into his shaggy hair from the base of his skull & fisting firmly, perhaps a tiny bit possessively. You’d be hard pressed to find a cat or a girl that would willingly share this prized catch around. Maybe she should give him some grace, maybe she shouldn’t tug too forcefully on that leash she’s got him on.

Maybe he should stop being so generous with her so she doesn’t keep taking advantage.

She smiles crookedly as he whispers against her cheek, turning her head toward him, ducking beneath his chin to rub the side of her face against it. “Shut up,” she chuckles under her breath, latching onto his earlobe with her sharp teeth to give him a warning nip. Rough tongue soothes the sting, purring strong & steady against his ear as his desperate grip on her hips betrays his suave little guise. She supposes he’s owed an answer to his endearing question… She swallows her smart-ass little retort & swaps it for something sweeter.

Any night spent in the company of her Father was akin to torture. Whitney hated being watched on a good day, let alone by the Count. She’d managed to evade him since his impromptu arrival in LA, but this Saturday night couldn’t be avoided. As much as she’d prefer to be focussing her attention on the Bishop girl, Whitney had swapped her gold mask for mascara & rouge, her catsuit for a full length black number, & her guns for a negroni & an extra long cigarette holder.

Julia Neff wasn’t much in the mood to be social tonight: more than happy to hang off the side of the bar, dismiss every half-baked moron that tried their luck, slink away through the crowd to the dark & lonesome balcony to indulge in another cigarette. She would have preferred a greener herb but she couldn’t risk letting her guard down in front of her Father. Besides, they were here with an anterior motive, of course. This was business, not pleasure. They were working the elite, putting the feelers out, testing the waters for potential clients for their new cloning venture. Something else for the Count to take away from her…

She wasn’t alone for long, however. Some mutt sidling up next to her, laying out lines like he was playing blackjack. Bust after bust after bust. It would take a lot more than a dime store line to charm her — she was used to the best, after all. Nobody could hold a candle to Tony Stark, anyway. Whitney was one more shoddy sentence away from putting her cigarette out on the lapels of his cheap jacket when a faint familiarity flickered in her minds eye. She knows who he is: he was in a bunch of artsy Italian films & had a lot of strange things happen on almost every film set he managed to work his way onto.

He wants some untouchable Italian noblewoman? Well she can play that, very easily. Seduction was one of her first lessons, after all. If the rumours were true about Jack Russell, it would be a valuable payoff for a few torturous hours of cheesy one-liners & mind-numbing conversation about the hidden treasures of Italy coming from an elitist tourist. Smile was crooked, daring: posture loose, nonchalant but elegant, accent thick but not offensive, sensual even.

HONEST OPINIONS // show me what u got

"I know why."

She didn't need to say it, but then he didn't need to tell her. She saw it once, hanging by a set of keys like it was something he grabbed on his way out without thinking. It came natural to him to pocket it, didn't it?

Not a moment of hesitation, just a jangle of keys and the silly little charm made from a coca cola metal bottle cap, the initials D+J penned on the inside, a heart painted on the outside with orange nail polish.

She had strung it on a thin steel chain that had been worn around her own neck for ages, and said, "there ya go, a little talisman to keep you safe. Ha!"

Darcy didn't want to bring it up, lest doing so somehow drew the magic out somehow, but she was pretty certain having that on his person saved his life more than once.

The silence between them swelled. She cradled the phone against her ear and curled into herself on the couch like she was keeping him a secret from the gaze of some invisible being watching this sad affair.

"I wanna come home," she said softly.

[text: wolfie] oh my. and to what or whom do i owe the pleasure of this glorious sight?

[text: wolfie] are you lonely, baby?

he's caught her at a good time, the lucky duck. it's late. the night curls around her possessively, velvety arms of darkness warm. the moon is a sliver of it's self, but it peeks through rolling fog, attempts to sneak a look through the window of the hotel room.

darcy taps out another message, holds her thighs together tight, tight, tight.

@werewolfbynite -> “You can lean on me if you’re tired. I wouldn't mind.”

It was the sort of trip he needed. Alex wasn't sure if Jack was privy to the mental stress Alex always seemed to be under or the unfortunate mental health issues he faced, but the offer to join his friend on a trip deep in the woods had been a lifesaver. Alex enjoyed nature, the privacy, the fresh air, the stillness and quiet. Everything within the deep thicket of trees represented serenity to him and it came with the added bonus of being able to relieve himself freely without fear of harming others. Of course he was mindful of the trees and all the plant life, but nothing felt better than a steady stream of plasma shooting out of his body and saving him from the uncomfortable burning feeling that built up if he didn't use his powers.

Jack gave him that chance, and dammit, the man clearly did have the nose of a wolf if he was able to sense that so easily. It'd been a long time since someone was able to understand him without judgement, someone separate from the mutant world. A friend he could call his own, someone who was just his. He hadn't voiced those thoughts, but Alex sure did feel them, Jack was quickly becoming an extremely important person to him far beyond the boundaries of their friendship . . . though that ship had sailed the first time they touched one another, and truthfully if the two of them weren't chatting about their assorted issues or traversing nature together shirtless they were having fantastic sex. Whatever they had was definitely deeper and different than friendship.

Blue eyes slowly blink open and he sighs as he takes in the lake one last time for the afternoon, breathing in the scent of nature before craning his neck to look back at Jack. They would need to return to the cabin soon, he had promised to cook for his friend, something he was looking forward to. He used to love cooking, especially for others, though it had been a bit since those muscles had been flexed. Wading through the thigh-deep water back to shore, he shoots a smile at Jack as he comes to stand beside him and the werewolf's immediate offer brings out a pink flush to his ears. " I'm swooning. You sure you don't just want my bare body pressed against yours again? " He was teasing, and a little shameless since his gaze was constantly feasting on the view of Jack's own body, enjoying the view of the curls upon his chest of the trail that led to his waistband.

Pondering for only a moment, Alex steps forward and leans in, pressing a quick kiss to Jack's cheek, the pad of his thumb lightly rubbing across his jaw until he steps away. " Thank you for bringing me here. Now come on, handsome. I promised you dinner and I don't need you thinking I'm not a man of my word. " Without thinking, he entwines their fingers, his own still warm from the plasma burning within his body and he tugs him along back to the trail that leads to their temporary retreat.

He hoped Jack liked his cooking, partially because he could only imagine how Jack would touch him afterwards and mostly he hoped the cuddling that came after that would continue. It was startling just how much he enjoyed being held by him, and even scarier was the way it made his heart feel. He needed this, needed him, but he'd never forgive himself if Jack got hurt just like everyone else who ever made him feel this way.

VARYING KISSES // always accepting

Jack had surprised her with a visit to the compound. It was nice — usually she was the one going over to his place. She figured he was probably still sore about the waterbed incident…

Still, it was nice to finally have him over! After an excited tour of their state of the art facilities (& a quickie in her bungalow) Greer dragged Jack back out into the communal den & kitchen area for a much deserved cup of joe. But of course, without Hank around to pick up after them, the pot was empty. Actually now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen anybody in the last hour.

“Wonder where they went off to. I woulda got woken up from my cat nap if th’alert sounded.”

Jack drew up to her all smooth like, his arms snaking round her waist as he pulled himself flush against her, pressing her against the pantry doors. “Am I not interesting enough company?” he teased, leaning in to nuzzle his nose beneath her ear.

“No. Would’a been nice t’introduce you properly’s all.”

“Well, you know I relish to opportunity to keep you all to myself.” he muttered, nibbling at her earlobe.

Greer started purring, a smile stretching the corner of her lips as she wrapped an arm loosely over his shoulders. “Trust me, meetin’ them’ll be easier than meetin’ my par—”

Suddenly there was a commotion round the way, Clint’s booming voice echoing in the foyer as the sounds of chattering & shuffling feet filled her ears. “—‘bout you but I’m starvin’!”

“Shit —!” Greer pulled away in a panic. Clint had told her so many times about doing shit in the kitchen — whether that was making a scene at breakfast or grooming herself on the kitchen bench. This was all she needed right now — makin’ on in the kitchen with a stranger. “Quick —” in a flash she switched their positions, opening one of the pantry doors & shoving Jack inside, pouncing in after him.

Jack only chuckled, pulling her closer as she shut the door behind herself. He ran a hand through her mane, pushing her fringe out of her eyes. “This is a first for me.”

“Shhh!!!” she shushed him, pressing a paw to his mouth & pushing him back more firmly against the cans & boxes as Clint & Bobbi & Hank came into the kitchen.

“Let’s see what we can cook up, hey, Hawkeye?” Hank said, moving (thankfully) toward the fridge & not the pantry. Jack raised an eyebrow at her, & with a silent sigh of relief she took her paw away from his mouth.

Well, they were stuck here now for at least twenty minutes. Jack seemed keen not to waste a single second as his hand slid slowly down her back toward the base of her tail. His hand gripped it, gentle but firm as he slowly began to stroke it. He knew what that did to her, the little shit. She shuddered instantly, purring starting up as her eyelids fluttered. Greer bared her teeth at him in warning, but he only leant in to kiss her, slow & deep. He liked to live dangerously — it was something they had in common.

KISSY KISSY // always accepting

It wasn't how the night was supposed to go.

It wasn't even a full moon (so close, though -- one more night!) -- something had set him off. Maybe she'd clawed him up too much, maybe she'd riled him up with too much teasing, to many quick quips, too many names called. Just when things were gettin' good, too! One minute she's got him pinned beneath her hips, an' the next, she's locking eyes with the big, bad wolf.

Damn it all, she really wished he hadn't taken off her bikini top...

"Easy, buddy --" she crouches low, paws beckoning him to follow her as he huffs & puffs, circling her curiously. "'s just lil ol' Tigra. You remember me, don'tcha?"

She's not scared of him, even when his ear-peircing howl makes her screw up her face & wince in discomfort. Not even when he drops to all fours & makes a run at her. Not even when their limbs lock together & they go tumbling down the grassy hill she & Jack had been sucking face not three minutes ago.

"Rrrrrrrow -- !" Greer didn't find herself on top this time. She landed on her tail, with the full brunt of the wolf's weight bearing down on top of her to boot! Lithe & rubbery limbs snaked their way beneath his heavy form, & with a great push upward she tossed him off of her & into the grass to her left. Dumb dog.

The were-woman counted her blessings that this great mutt was not nearly as quick or nimble as she was. She pounced up to her feet, but the wolf just grabbed her arm in his vice grip & pulled her back down on her ass. "Oof." At least she managed to get her tail out the way this time. His manic sniffing was loud in her pointy ear as he shoved his nose into her mane.

"If you sniff my butt, you'll be cat food." she mutters, she's not sure if he understand her words, but she's sure he can understand that she's not going to fight him unless he gives her no other choice. But he doesn't want a fight -- he just wants what Jack wants.

Some company.

Green-yellow eyes meet the beasts'. Their eyes are almost the same colour. He bares his teeth in confusion before he whines at her. His grip on her arm tightens possessively before it relinquishes all together. Greer sighs softly, pulls back her head to open his line of sight before she slowly, slowly, brings her paw up between them. He sniffs it, whines again, licks it. Greer smiles softly as she gently pressed the thick pads of her fingertips against his cheek. The wolf closes his eyes with a heavy, contented huff. She moves to scratch behind its ear with her claws, & the look on his face makes her chuckle.

"Dumb dog..." she whispers, pressing a kiss to his furry cheek. They're alone, far from people, beneath the star streaked, moonlit sky... It's not the night they'd had planned.

But she's definitely had worse.