^^Joker^^ POV(because I can) : we played pool after we ate. I'd never played with another person who played it through physics.

He chose angles by their line, taking time to properly line up an not rush a shot.

"I can find the shots, but actually executing them is hard." I said. I was really comfortable with him. He was nice, and weird, so we fit together.

"It's hard, but practice makes perfect. Wanna make this a regular thing? Maybe invite Pip next time? Stone and doll don't seem like the 'have fun types' you know?"

She took a shot, and scored three balls into three holes, sacrificing the white ball. Scratch.

I placed the ball in an optimal spot, and took a shot, placing two in one hole. I was behind by three. He had one more and then the 8.

"Sounds good. She's cool, if a bit energetic for my tastes." I took my shot, taking two again, and then going for the third that would let me get the 8. I rushed it, and missed.

"Damn. Close. and I like pool and bars, thank you. It's more of, your idea of fun, if it includes this, is ok with me." Stone said behind me. I jumped and moved, my pool cue like a quarter staff.

"Please don't do that. Scare me. Or stand behind me. Pl-Please." I said, that fucking stutter coming back.

He reached forward, and patted my shoulder. "It's fine, kid, sorry for scaring you."

"No problem, at least you didn't speak while I was shooting. The ball might have been in jacks forehead." I said.

Stone walked over to Jack. "So. You're a girl?"

"No. I'm a guy. I just have tits and a kitten instead of a board and shillelagh." Jack said.

"OPA!!!" Several people who heard shouted.

"Ok. I can respect that." Stone said, then picked up a cue. "Your shot Jack."

"Got it." Jack sunk one, and missed the 8. He lost.(when you miss the 8 ball shot, you lose immediately.)

I pushed the balls into the holes, and started a new game. Doll strode up and grabbed a cue.

"For the record, we like fun. We're just serious people. And yes, pip needs to chill."

"Wow. You guys aren't as bad as I thought." I said. "Whoops. Not like insulting or anything... Sorry."

"No problem. I understand." Stone said, before breaking the set. He got the striped 5, so him and doll have stripes.

"Colors for us, Jack."

"Yep. So it's stone, joker, doll, me."

"Joker?" Stone said.

"Cheshire approved a new name for him. Joker." She pointed at me.

I lined up a shot, and sunk one, then another. Then I missed. "Tsk."

Doll sat on the edge, then sunk one, making our teams even. Then Jack sank three. One after the other. Then on the fourth shot, she scrambled the balls.

"Asshole." Stone said before trying to sink one, but getting one of ours.

"Works though." Jack said. "Your shot joker. Don't rush."

"Ok..." I shot at a solid ball, and sunk it, then got another, but scratched. "damn."

"You did good, joker."

"Is it just me or is rabbit glaring at us?" Doll said. I turned, and there was rabbit. Staring at the table. Uh oh. I realized it was the only pool table. Shit was it his??

"Uhm. Uh, sir, is this..."

"Yes. That would be my table. But I'm not angry, I was glaring at that scratch. You coulda got another. Why didn't you?"

"I slipped, my hands Shake a lot unless they're in an engine, so.."

"Ah. I see. Just imagine it as a wrench or something then. That's your only problem is the shaking." He said.

"Yes sir." He pulled up a chair, and just drank from his mug.

Doll went, and sunk two as well, and the ball coasted. Jack sank three, in quick succession, leaving only four on the board.

One and and 8 for us, and two and an 8 for them. Caine clapped. "Nice shooting Tex. Keep those elbows right." Jack grinned.

"Where's pip?" I suddenly wondered.

"I've been sitting here for a while but no ones noticed me." She said from jacks chair.

"Oh. Wow. That's a skill worth having." Jack said. Stone went, and got one. Then he scratched.

"Can you do the 8, joker? Or do you want to scratch, and I'll try it?" Jack asked.

"I'll try. Heh. It's only a game." I shot, and got one. The eight ball was there. Ok.

"8, left corner pocket." I shot, thinking of the cue as a crow bar, and the 8 glided into the pocket.

"Woo! Finally. My hands didn't shake! Thanks, sir!" I said to Caine.

"Good job joker." Stone and Jack said.

"Nice." Doll said.

"Can I play next?" Pip asked.

"Sure." I handed her a shortened cue, and a stool. "You guys play. I'm gonna sit down and drink my mead. I'm sure it's warm by now."

"Okie." Jack said. "Hey rabbit, how do we go about paying here? I've never used a debit card.. Do I just use cash?"

"We usually use cash, unless it's for a big party or a celebration, like last night."

"Okie." He walked over to the bar. "How much I owe ya Luis?"

"22.50. Most of that's the mead. Heh."

"All right. Keep the change." Jack handed him thirty bucks.

He walked back over. "So is this gonna be a regular thing? I can set up a tab with Luis."

"I think it's a good idea. I'll help pay the tab." I said.

"I like the idea. I'll chip in." Stone said.

"Sure." Said doll.

"I don't have any money yet..." Pip said. She's the only one without a cash source other that the pay we hadn't received yet. Only been five days.

" I'll pay for you, pip. I suggested it." Jack said.

"That clinched it. If there's a perfect human, it's Jack." Oh shit I said that out loud.

"Thanks joker." He said, grinning. He walked back to the bar. "Hey Luis, can I set up a tab for me and my friends there? We're gonna be here a lot, so we'll chip in for the bill weekly alright?"

"You got it." Luis said. Then a kid ran into the room, and hid behind stone.

"What're you doing kid?" Stone said.

"I'm hiding."

"That's not a very good hiding spot. There's a better one under the table." He pointed at the pool table.

The kid scampered under. Then Violet stormed in, covered in what looked like pink paint. "Hahaha-" I cut off when she glared.

"Where is he?" She asked quietly. Stone raised a hand, then pointed at the table.

"Don't know. Maybe behind the bar?" He said while pointing at the table. She stepped over to the table, and said to him,

"Are you sure?" She pointed at the table.

"Nope." He nodded, and she dove under the table and came out with a little boy. He's the one that came in bleeding last night. That cuts gonna scar, bad.

"I got you ya little monster. What do you have to say about this eh?" She put a little of the paint on his nose.

"You look better in pink that in green." He responded. I realized her shirt had once been green.

" 'S that so? Well then. Next time say so. I might change. Pour paint on me again and I'll paint you head to toe, and let it dry. Then you'll be a little statue." She said.

"Yes ma.." He said.

"Good." she hugged him. He squealed and ran off into the back room. "Sorry guys, gals, toddler problems."

"No worries. Always room for little ones. If you need a bigger place, Violet, there's a place next door, connected to this building, second floor I think." Rabbit said.

"I may have too. He'll soon be old enough to need his own room." She looked harried.

"He can work with Cheshire or mouse as a cleaner for usual guild rates, if that helps." Rabbit suggested.

"Hell would it! As long as he knows he's helping I'm sure he'll do well." She said, sounding like wight was being taken off her shoulders by the pound.

Jack walked over, an I wondered what he was doing...

Jacks POV : I grabbed Violet and walked with her in tow into the back room. "What's this Jack?"

"You need to relax."

"And?"

"I'm a trained massage therapist. lay down on your stomach and take off that ghastly pink and green shirt."

"Okay.." She did. I undid her bra and slid that off too.

"I'm not making moves here darling, I swear." I said as I slid her pants down to her hips. Not off, just not up on her stomach anymore.

"I'd be okay with it, really." She said.

"With your kid watching? Don't get up."

"Ok, never mind, keep it PG."

"Got it." I started lightly, on her shoulders and collarbone. Then I worked down to her spine.

I completely cracked her spine, each vertebrae. It sounded like gunfire she was so tense.

"Ooooh my god, that was awesome." I kept going, kneading my knuckles into her back.

Once I had all the tension out, and started a light rub, to keep them loose. I didn't have any oils or incense, so once I'd finished I said "kid turn around for a second."

He faced the wall. I turned her over and laid a clean shirt, folded lengthwise, over her chest.

Then I went to work on her thighs and calfs, along with her abdominals. Once I'd loosened those up, I did a slow rub of those as well.

"You really are trained aren't you, wow. I feel.. Wonderful." She said from under my firm yet gentle hands.

"Yep. Now got dressed, and call me if you need another session."

"I will, thanks. Can I refer people to you?" She said.

"If they're at the bar or in your shop, and I'm here, I'll do it. It's kinda fun." I replied.

"What's a reasonable price?" She said.

"Ten bucks? I've no idea. I don't exactly have a stable schedule. When my schedule is set, we'll maybe talk about this."

"Is there a reason you haven't done that to me yet, Jack?" Mouse said from the door.

"Because every time you've been under my hands it's been either sexual or training?"

"Hmm. Good point."

I stood, and grabbed mouse. "Do you want a massage, ma'am?"

"Yes. I think I do." She said.

"Ok. Take off your shirt and bra. Kid, go on."

"Names Oliver, not kid."

"Oliver, then. Go on. This ain't a show."

"Ok." He left.

"Lay down on your stomach here, darling?" Mouse laid down. I started soft, just like with Violet.

"So that's what you look like when you work?" Violet said. I ignored her, focusing. I popped her back, and holy fuck. Talk about machine gun fire.

She moaned, and I asked, "when was the last time you popped your back darling?"

"Never knew I could!" She said.

"That explains it. Don't try to, it can cause problems. I'll do it anytime you have stress built up ok?" I started kneading her muscles, they were like rocks, or sheet metal.

It took a while, about an hour(which is impressive for a first massage, if I do say so myself.) before she was ready.

I slowly rubbed her skin, smoothing out the kinks in her muscles. She sighed, relaxed. Heh. Then I pinched her butt. "You're done." I said to her little squeak.

"Thanks, I feel great."

I laughed. "It's amazing what a little relaxing can do." I turned to leave, and there was a little crowd.

"Oh hell. no. You wants a massage? Come see me at the sanctum. It's actually good muscle training. Got it?" Several heads nodded. They filtered out. "What time is it?"

"23:00 hours." Mouse said.

"Ok. I'll go to the races then. Wanna race again? I tuned up my car after you left. Joker and I made her a beast."

"I think I'll go home and sleep, honestly. I feel like I could sleep for days."

"Heh. Ok. I'll see you at home." I pressed a quick kiss to her lips, then went into the bar.

"Joker, wanna go to the races with me?"

"Sure, as long as I can stay in the car."

"Okie. Let's go." I went down the alley to my car.

Two people were at the drivers side window. I leapt over the car, and grabbed both of them, tossing them.

"That's my car your screwing with." I said. Then I pulled my pistol, and cocked the hammer.

(Not loaded a round, pulled back the hammer. Trick)

"Run. Touch my baby again, I put a bullet in your teeth."

They ran. They always do.