Renee made a run by the MickeyD's on her way over here, picking up a bunch of food from a guy who works there. With Craig helping her carry the fast food bags, the Galliard makes her way into the church.

Julie shoves her way up the basement stairs, a cooler in her hands. It sloshes with the effort of carrying it, and she thuds it next to some tables already set up, as if just waiting for Renee to bring food.

Arms loaded with drink trays and McD's bags, Craig follows Renee obediently. He takes in his surroundings quietly, setting the burgers and assorted other goodies where indicated.

Julie waves to Renee and Craig, then heads back down to the basement.

J.C., sniffling wetly, slouches out of whatever corner she was hiding in. Bloodshot brown eyes blink warily at the others.

Renee sets the food down on one of the pews and takes a proper look around. Spotting J.C., she trys to smile reasuringly at the other woman. "Hey. Gonna grab somethin' ta eat? Benny gave 'nough fer all of us."

"Benny?" J.C. wipes her nose with the back of her hand and wanders over toward Renee.

Julie returns up the stairs, another cooler in her hands. "An' here's the beer. Soda inna other one." The second cooler's thudded to the floor on the opposite end of tables.

A light rattle is given to the door of the church before a middle-aged Catonese woman takes a step inside. The poor woman looks to be oddly placed as she approaches the group with a tupperware container in her hands. As she sees Renee, she frowns lightly, then walks up to the woman. "I brought brownies," she offers, "Lyra said that bringing food is a thoughtful idea. So I made brownies."

Craig grabs a seat on one of the pews, still staying quiet. He watches J.C. approach the food, trying to look as non-threatening as possible. When Julie arrives with the second cooler, he delves into the first, pulling out a can. "Can I have a drink?" he asks the room.

J.C. brightens a bit, turning to look at Julie. "Hey, beer? Beer's good."

Julie glances at Craig. "No. Only the girls can." Then she's moseying pewward, rubbing at her face to hide the bit of grin on her face.

Renee rolls her shoulders in a shrug and adresses J.C.. "Kin. Coggie. Works at the MickeyDs." As Meiran arrives, Renee turns to face her. Offering a somewhat tense grin. "Thanks. Food is alwasy welcome. Could ya set it over there?" She indicates a spot next to the MickeyD bags. "An' yea, Craig, help yerself."

Craig looks a bit conflicted between what Julie said and Renee's invitation. Then he pops the top and has a drink. He's supposed to break rules, right?

Meiran gets a pleasant smile, since she's vaguely familiar.

Julie she sprawls onto one of the pews, regarding Meiran and Craig quietly, her expression hidden by the everpresent veil of braids covering her face and tangling around back and shoulders.

Someone's singing outside, bright and cheery, right along with the scuff and thump of footsteps up the stairs. A battered, tall door swings open, and this sandy-haired young woman tromps her way inside. Her satchel is round and huge, a pumpkin's perched atop her head. It is the ugliest pumpkin in the world, wouldn't need a nose cut for it, since it has one already. It teeters as Anneka pushes the door shut with a foot, then twirls around. "Hey!" The pumpkin totters, but she pushes it back up. "Careful up there," she adds, quieter. The pumpkin looks just thrilled to be here.

Meiran nods respectibly to Renee. The woman turns and takes a couples steps away from Renee to place the brownies next to the MickeyD's bags. "Anyone is welcome to the brownies," the older woman says to the general audience. Then she turns and takes a place on one of the pews.

J.C. gives another runny-nose sniff and, gaining confidence, and grabs a can of beer for herself. Her eyes widen slightly at Anneka's entrance, then grins, showing off crooked, yellowed teeth. "Hey, ya brought Jack! Hi, Jack!"

Craig chuckles as the pumpkin girl makes her entrance, then takes a big drink of pop. He still looks a little nervous, but that's starting to dissipate as people mill about.

Julie glances as Mrs. Pumpkinhead comes in, shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

Renee's eyebrows lift at the pumkin's entrance and she just shakes her head. "Hey, Pumkin-Girl, ya hungry?"

Between the satchel and the pumpkin, Anneka's center of balance is way off. Nonetheless, she makes her stiff-legged way up the aisle, then waves a hand and foot around as she dumps the aforementioned shapeless green sack down on a pew. The pumpkin leans, precariously, then rather visibly leans somewhere else. "You're gonna fall," Anneka says, amiably. "We're all hungry!" she adds.

"Heh. Cute," J.C. mutters, still grinning a bit as she cracks open her can of beer.

Julie drags herself to her feet, wanders to the Mickey D's stuff, and snags a bag. Peering in, she nods, and moseys to where the mutts are lolling about, and divies out the food for them to snack on.

Anneka catches the pumpkin up in her hands, holds it out and sets it on the altar. A moment later the top rattles, tumbles off, and a rat climbs out. Then another. Then a third. A few of them are rather round-- they're all covered with pumpkin seeds. "You're heavy, Mister Squeakers."

One of the tall doors opens again to admit another person, and with Dexter comes the fragrant smell of clove cigarettes. He pauses at the threshhold, peering inside, but once he's recognized at least a couple of faces he saunters in. His skateboard is neatly tucked under one arm, his free hand sports a recently lit smoke, and his trusty backpack seems to be more full than might be considered safe for such a ratty piece of work.

Craig recognizes Dexter and raises a hand in greeting. "Hey man," he calls, taking the opportunity to sprawl over the pew a little more.

Meiran sits quietly and watches, really confused on how to react. The woman does, of course, have some common sense. She folds her hands in her lap, paying very little attention to the mutts that dash past her.

J.C. lets out a short, shrill laugh at the rat-filled pumpkin, then slaps a hand over her mouth. She grins behind it, though.

Renee wanders over to what used to be the front of the church and sits down on the alter, sitting down and looking over the gathering mass. "Fuckin' fantiastic. Finally got some bodies in the same fuckin' placer fer a change."

Julie glances over at the chittering commotion, and a true smile spreads, as she spies the rats. Straightening, she wipes her hands on her pantlegs, then wanders to where Meiran is. "H'lo. M' name's Julie." A dirt-stained hand is amicably thrust out to the woman, as she sits beside her.

Meiran smiles to Julie and polietly shakes her hand, whether it is dirt-stained or not. "I am Meiran," she says, "Lyra's Aunt Mei." For that is what Lyra has told everyone, while Meiran was away from home, trying to look for her niece.

Anneka flashes a bright grin at J.C., then tromps her way off to her satchel. From that she drags out a couple of pumpkin pies, a long box of orange-- peeps, yes peeps. Also a few big boxes of somewhat anachronistic Chinese food. All of this ends up with the rest of the food.

"Olleyolleyoxenfree," Dexter greets the assembled group, setting down first his plank and then the overstuffed backback. The former he uses for a seat, and the later her unzips to produce a six pack of Sam Adams and more snack foods than you can shake a stick at. The dingdongs he claims for himself. "Looks like it's a potluck," he comments, giving those he doesn't recognize--J.C., Meiran, and Anneka--a wave hello.

Julie smiles a bit, piercing blues peering through the spill of braids in her face as she looks the woman over. The handshake's returned firmly before she lets go, then leans back. "Yeah, she's talked 'boutcha a few times. Pleased t' finally meetcha."

Renee tucks one foot under her body, then gives a sharp whistle to get everyones attention. "I figure we got enough bodies ta get this under way. How 'bout we start with proper intros fer everyone, then ya don't have ta repeat yerself too much."

Meiran seems to look a bit content as she hears how much Lyra seems to talk about her. She silently nod her head and looks up towards Renee at the alter.

J.C. crinkles her nose amiably at the pumpkin-rats and wiggles fingers at them. Dexter gets a wave as well before she thumps herself down into a pew.

Julie does the wave at Dex thing, then kicks back to lazily turn her attention on Renee.

Renee leans forward a bit. "We'll start with our Kin. Dex, Merian, an' J.C.." The Gnawer jerks her head toward Dexter, indicating that he should start.

"Dexter," the punk with the tattoes and piercings states. "Kin. I work over at the college in the Chem department. And I live in that apartment complex over near...Silver Street or something." He frowns. "It's over there somewhere." His landmark abilities might be shoddy, but he accurately pinpoints the direction of the Whispering Pines. "And I'm originally from Steel Angel in LA."

Now, Renee looks at Meiran.

"I am Meiran Sai Li Xio from Beijing, orginally. I am Lyra's Aunt, I have an herbal shop in town. Some of you have been to it during my absence." the woman says. "Thank you for inviting me."

One of the rats scampers right up to the sniffly ratkin, looks up, up, up at her and holds its hands out. A vaguely slimy little pumpkin seed is clasped between them. Anneka flops down on a pew, crosslegged, watches faces new and old.

"I'm Jenny," says the scrawny-looking chick in the big green coat. "Jenny Cee, or jus' J.C. I'm, um, around. No fixed abode." J.C. shrugs carelessly, then gives Renee a bit of a glance before adding, "I'm still kinda new ta th'whole, ya know, _werewolf_ thing."

J.C. then delicately takes the proffered seed from the rat, reaches into her coat pocket, and produces a corner of beef jerky, which she holds out for the plump rodent.

Julie's gaze treks from one kin to the next during the introductions, passive and quiet, like a spectator, or mediator.

The rat takes the jerkey, enthused, scampers off with it under a pew.

"Fer those who don't know, I'm Renee Sees-True-Form." The Galliard continues, then looks over at the new cub. "An' that over there is Craig. Jus' Changed, no Fetch an' newest member of our Family."

Craig smiles nervously and waves to the assembly. "Yeah...I'm a Ragabash," he says, going a little red.

Renee rests her hands on her knees, feet dangling. "Try fer the full intro," she prompts.

Anneka tips her ugly pink sunglasses down to look at the new fellow, one green eye bright and sharp, the other wreathed in scars. She grins, though at who exactly it's hard to say.

Craig looks around, then gets to his feet, wiping his hands on his pants. "Aight. I'm Craig Cassidy, Ragabash cub of the Bone Gnawers." He glances at Renee, then at the others, turning even redder.

Julie gets to her feet, as Craig finishes up and sorta nods and waggles fingers at the gathered. "Julie Hackett, Cliath Galliard o' the Bone Gnawers, rited name o' Heartsight."

Dexter nods and waves as people introduce themselves, dividing his time between nursing a Sam Adams, munching on a ding dong, and his cigarette.

Craig sits back down, returning to his drink, then leans over to snag some of the goodies others have provided.

"Anneka Bridge-Mender," the sandy-haired young woman says. "Halfmoon Cliath Gnawer." Assorted kin get a glance, a grin. Evidently the pumpkin-girl approves.

J.C. pops the seed into her mouth, chews, then washes it down the beer as she listens to the various introductions.

Renee grins, a flash of teeth. "Now that we got that outta the way, let's get down ta buisness. Now, as many of ya know, we've been havin' somethin' of a problem. Someoen has been organizin' raves an' passin' out a new drug. Its like E, but the pills got blood in'em. Little red pills, with UL on'em. Been seein' some new ones lately. Got ULUL on'em and a higher blood content. From what I've been hearin', the pills make people more agressive an' stronger.”

Anneka cants her head, then reaches up and tugs her glasses off. There's no hiding the scars, nor the way one eye doesn't quite look right. "Not just blood, then," she says. "Or not human."

"Just went to one of those the other night," Dexter adds. "No UL this time, but every fucking thing else you can imagine. E, coke, smack, the fucking works. Like a Griswold's Shmorgasbord of High or something." He takes a drag from his cigarette and continues. "That one Walker Kin was there too. Gothy nerdy guy." He looks at Renee for a name.

"Jeremy," Renee supplies.

Julie chimes in quietly. "Been thinkin' it cou'd be vamp blood. T' ghoul folks. Vamp blood's perty damn addictive."

Renee nods. "Thats the theory the Walkers are playin' with. Vamp blood."

J.C. pulls her knees up to her chest and slouches down, her nose barely above the level of her knees. She sips quietly at her beer, listening with a bit of a frown.

Craig's eyebrows rise at the mention of vampires, and he looks at those who seem to know something with a bit of reverence.

Dexter taps his chin. "Is there anything else it could be? In case they're wrong?" The tone of his voice suggests he doesn't find it beyond the realm of possibility.

The Cantonese woman blinks as she hears the word 'vampire'. She had though that werewolf was a little supernaturalistic, now vampires.

Julie shakes her head. "I don't think werewolf blood'd be effective like that. Prolly drive people nuts, but not make'm stronger, an' aggressive. Dunno what else it cou'd be. That's m' take onnit, anyway."

Renee waits for a bit, allowing people to talk. "Now, has anyone looked at the paper? Did ya see the stoyr 'bout the killin' that happened Wednesday mornin'?"

Julie was just thinking the same thing, her gaze snapping to Renee as thought and word click at the same time. "Yeah, I r'member, now. A bowl used t' collect blood."

You say "An' the eldest daughter missin'. Old enough ta have been at the Rave."

Julie turns her attention to Dexter. "Ya see anyone that kinda seemed outta place, 'r lost?"

Dexter leans back, listening to all of this. He frowns. "Didn't hear about that." The frown switches to a grimace. "Course, the best person to ask is the last person who'll wanna talk to me, so maybe you should do it," he tells Renee. Julie's question is answered with a shrug. "No more so than the usual sorts. Only thing that stood out was, no UL, there was some sort of scuffle near the door that I couldn't see much of, and this chick who was there dancing. She was kinda popular." He draws on his cigarette. "Jeremy got a picture of her with his camera."

Craig leans over to pick up another soda, then looks a Meiran. "D'you want some?" he asks her quietly, trying to keep the volume of his voice below that of the conversation.

Julie nods and quiets, as the chatter continues, and her gaze slowly floats to Meiran, the tilt of her head thoughtful. She is listening to the others, though, the jangled wheels in her head trying to mesh thoughts together.

J.C. stifles a sneeze behind one hand, which she then wipes off on the sleeve of her coat.

Anneka reaches up to rub her nose. "Saw somethin' 'bout that, comin' back. Folks're killed, but someone's missin' now, too. Daughter." She glances at Dexter. "Prob'ly a picture of her in th'paper."

Renee grunts softly. "I'll haveta get that off him. See if it's the girl that missin' or somethin'."

Meiran looks back to Craig and lightly smiles. "I suppose I will take one." she answers. "Thank you." The older woman doesn't seem to know a whole lot about these 'raves', but she has heard of the, before. She says nothing much, just listens.

Craig pulls out a second can and passes it to Meiran, smiling a little in return.

"Gimme a beer while yer up, please, Craig?" Julie asks offhandedly, before straightening a bit and addressing Meiran. "You have anyone comin' in an' buyin' odd stuff in large quantities lately?"

Dexter nods. "We can talk to him about comparing photos. And I guess we could uh, ask Mac for her input, but maybe we can let Jeremy do that." He hides any further discomfort in a drink from his beer.

Renee nods. "Either way, if we can get a picture an' a name, we can work on findin' this girl. If she did do the killin', sh is probably tainted ta hell an' back an' in need of some killin'."

Anneka pushes herself up and off the pew, scratches the ears on a mutt as she heads for the stairs. "Wonder if it's still there--" she says, on her way down.

Craig scrambles to get a beer, then looks at the others in the room. "Anyone else want anything?" he asks as he delivers Julie's drink.

Renee's eyes narrow a bit. "I expect everyone ta help with this problem. Do everythin' ya can ta find out what the fuck is happenin', then tell me what ya find. Next issue we gotta deal with, is teachin' people shit. How many people here are learnin' a gift or Rite? Or teachin' one, at the moment?"

Julie glances up at Craig, and smiles a thank you to him, before glancing at Renee, then back to Meiran, waiting for an answer as she pops the top to her beer and takes a swig.

Renee waits, drumming her fingers on the pew. "No-one?"

J.C. hides a quirky little half-smile behind her knees and shrugs. Dexter glances around the room, munching on some Doritos that have taken the place of his recently-finished dingdongs.

Julie glances at Renee and shakes her head. "Not yet. Got some idears, so gonna be askin' people t' teach me some things."

Meiran looks to Julie and shakes her head as she finally realizes that she was being spoken to. "Not that I am aware of." she answers.

Craig returns to his seat in the pews and takes another swig of pop, still watching the others.

Julie a gratified smile to Meir, at least one of their kin isn't inadvertantly involved, though that shot one idea all to hell.

Renee scowls, Rage boiling toward the surface. "That it? Look people, this is somethin' we can't afford. I want everyone ta be learnin' somethin', or teachin' somethin'. Its important. Otherwise, we risk forgettin' how ta do shit." She looks over at Julie. "What would ya like ta learn?"

Julie starts ticking off on her fingers. "Well, Mindspeak, for one thing, like you were doin' t' me that one night a' the park, an' Rite o' Bindin', Rite o' Cleansin', Rite o' Talism'n Dedication, an' Ritual o' the Questin' Stone."

"Oh, an' Find the Prize," Julie adds.

"Sure that's it?" Dexter asks with a grin.

J.C. makes an amused snorting sound. "An' a pony!"

Renee grunts. "I can help ya with two of those." The Galliard scans the room, eyes critical. "Anyone else willin' ta teach Julie shit?"

Renee says, "Jus' remember, for everythin' ya learn, try teachin' somethin' in return."

Julie offers to the group, "I can teach Persuasion, Beast Speech, an' Cookin'." She nods to Renee, then.

Dexter digs around in his assortment of snacks, and produces a box of Animal Crackers. After searching it thoroughly, he obtains a vaguely horse-shaped one, and offers it to JC. "One pony."

J.C. blinks a little at Dexter, then lets out a laugh as she accepts the cookie. "Pony, a'right!" She bites its head off, grinning.

Renee scans the room for another second, before giving a disgusted snort. "I'll be checkin' on people here an' there, makin' certain that some learnin' is gettin' done. Now, is there anythin' people want ta bring up before I keep goin'?"

Julie raises a hand. "I'd like t' say a few things."

For himself, Dexter pulls out a camel and an ox, and sets to deliberately beheading them before devouring the cookies completely. He chases them with the last of his beer.

Renee grins a bit. Finally. "Go right ahead."

Meiran sips on her soda as she watches people converse.

J.C. scoots over closer to Dexter. "Gotta spare one'a those?" She snuffles, nose runny.

Dexter pulls out another of the bottles and offers his keys, which have a small bottle opener as a keychain. He also fetches his pack of cigarettes and offers one to JC, but keeps as quiet as he can in deference to Julie.

Anneka walks back up from the basement, squints at a big, battered pair of binoculars in one hand. A lens is broken, long gone, but the other looks fine enough. "Rawk," she says, to the ancient thing. It goes into her satchel when she thumps down next to it. "I know questin' stone," the young woman says. "'s worth lots knowin', an' I can teach th'way of doin' it. Know a couple other things, too," she adds, amiably.

J.C. takes the cigarette with a grin, and a light if Dexter's willing to provide one. She puffs shallowly on the cigarette, giving an occasional wet cough.

Julie looks around as if judging before speaking. "Okay. First off, don't ferget we're Fam'ly. If'n there's somethin' you need, talk. We're like rats, k? We're a hoard, an' we gotta look out for each other. Don't hafta have our noses up each other's butts, but when one of ya's havin' trouble, ask. Never know who's got connections 'round here. Second, which relates t' the first...I'm gonna redo the downstairs, clean it up an' sort out what's still good down there. If'n you find extra clothin', 'r non-perishable foodstuffs, please bring it down. Blankets're cool, too, so's furniture, appliances, books, magazines, pots an' pans, whatever. If'n it works, bring it." A deep sigh, and a nostalgic smile flashes briefly. "The Theater used ta be 'home' for lots o' us, but since it's perty much ruined, I'd like t' make this place our 'home'." A perk, glancing at Anneka, and a quite agreeable nod. "Cool!" Then she continues. "Thirdly, " and she turns to the Kinfolk for the most part, "don't be 'fraid o' us. Without you, there wouldn't be more o' us. Yeah, there'll be times when a lotta us groo act like yer just not there, but mostly cuz we've got Wyrmy chit on our minds. It ain't nothin' ag'inst you at all. If yer in /any/ kind o' trouble, don't hesitate t' hunt one o' us down, k?"

Dexter flips out a chrome Zippo and lights JC's clove, then stows both the pack and lighter back in his jacket. His own half-finished kretek he smokes absently, listening to the Garou.

Dexter then acknowledges and agrees with Julie's sentiments by simply saying, "Word."

J.C. adds, "Rawk."

Craig's head bobs once. "Cool," he says.

Renee grins at Julie. "Damn straight."

Meiran nods her head to Julie. "The same goes to all of you." she says. "If you need a place to crash for one night, my door is open. However, you aren't a fixed resident. I still have to make a living."

Julie gives Meir a thumb's-up and nod. "Gotcha."

"Rialto's okay," Anneka says. "Least it better be, 'cause I've been sleepin' there. Here's been where we moot, long as I've been here. It's a good place t'be home, too." She glances at Julie. "Talkin' to four-leg folk'd be real cool. Teach you questin' stone."

Renee says, "Anythin' else?"

Dexter looks about, and offers a shake of his head on behalf of himself.

Julie grins through braids at Anneka and nods, then shakes her head at Renee. She'd talked herself out with that speech.

Craig shakes his head as well, leaning back in the pew.

J.C. shakes her head as well, still nursing her beer.

Renee cracks her knuckles. "Alright. Two things left, I wanna bring up. Yi has been havin' problems with somethin' stealin' shit from gang members in her territory an' takin' off. Always leavin some sort of slime behind. She ain't here, so I can't ask her 'bout it, but thats somethin' we gotta get together and deal with. Soon. Last thing I wanna talk about is formin' my own pack, under Rat, or Flea. We need a good string War pack in this city, ta kick some ass where needed."

Julie hmms, then offers, "I can snoop 'round manholes an' other sewer entrances t' see if'n there's any slime 'round them. Cou’d be its lair down there."

Anneka digs chopsticks out of her satchel and sets into one of the noodle boxes. "Slime?" She squints, twirls a bunch of noodles around the ends of the sticks, and chomps on them. "Waf kin'a flime?"

Renee hitches on shoulder in a shrug. "Don't know. You'd haveta talk ta Yi 'bout it. It's kinda old news. Not even certain if its still a problem, or if she has dealt with it."

Dexter makes a face at the use of the word 'slime', but continues listening.

Julie absently starts humming the theme to 'Ghost Busters'.

Anneka slurps on the noodles, then spears a piece of cucumber with the chopsticks. So, she does know how to use the things. "Haven't seen Yi in a long time. I'll talk t'her 'bout it."

Renee remains on the pew. "As fer the War pack, I'd like people ta come an' talk with me if the're interested. If ya ain't, jus' spreadin' the word be great."

Julie leans down finally, to coax one of the rats to her hand so she can hold it, softly chittering at it the whole time.

Renee hops of the pew and makes a bee-line for the food. "Now, I saw we focus on eatin'! All this stuff looks great."

Anneka looks up from her noodles, watches Renee aim herself for the food. A corner of her mouth quirks up.

Craig grabs a couple of brownies and starts munching, making room for everyone else to get their fill.

Dexter gestures to his offerings--4 remaining Sam Adams, Doritos, Animal Crackers, Cheetos, some candy bars, and a few Hostess snacks. "Hear hear," he says emphatically.

Renee goes for the brownies, snatching four of them and flopping down next to Craig. "How ya holdin' up?"

J.C. chuckles, the sound degenerating into a fit of thick, wet coughing. She unfolds her legs and bends over slightly, covering her mouth with one hand while the ciggy she got from Dexter burns in the other. This goes on for nearly a minute.

Meiran sits back thoughtfully, leaving the other's to the inhaling the food.

Julie scoops the rat up, and tucks it into her jacket so it can peek out in the 'v' of the front, and casts a concerned eye JC's way. "You seen anyone 'bout that cough? Someone who c'n heal?"

"'M good," the cub replies, glancing at J.C. as she starts coughing. "This is fuckin' cool," he adds after a minute, taking a big bite of brownie, then hesitantly offering the rest to one of the rats.

Anneka's smile catches where it is, drifts as she looks over at J.C. "Hey," she murmurs. She scrambles over to the other woman's pew, thumps down near her. She looks over to Julie, then nods.

Dexter watches JC closely. "Yeah, I can get you some antibiotics if it's something bacterial," he offers.

Renee watches Jenny, a concerned look in her eyes. However, she doesn't move to help the 'kinswoman'. Instead, she turns her attention to the rat Craig is feeding. The small animal takes the food between its paws and begins to munch.

Julie ahs quietly, then nods, though the concern lingers, and she meanders to where the food is, pausing to drain her beer before getting some food. Some chinese is snagged from the table, and she heads to a pew to share her meal with the rat she's currently holding.

J.C. waves a hand at various concerned people. "...Fine," she manages, a bit breathlessly. Another cough, and then she straightens up, wiping her palm dry on her jeans. "S'cool." She smiles wanly.

Meiran perks as she hears something about antibiotics. "I might have something at my shop," she says was she looks over to J.C.

Julie mutters quietly to the rat as they eat, "Chopsticks? I don't neeed no steenkin' chopsticks!" It's hard to say who's digging into the container more...the rat, or Julie's fingers.

Craig pats the rat gently on the head with one finger, then looks at J.C.. He's got nothing to offer her, so shrugs and returns to sharing with the little critter at his side.

J.C. wipes her mouth on her coat sleeve and shakes her head. "Nah, s'cool. S'okay."

"Alrighty," Dexter says, allowing that JC can take care of herself. He pops himself open another beer, and jerks his head at Craig. "You lives in the Pines, so you know Mac?"

"Sure doesn't sound okay," Anneka says, quiet. "You've been sick every time I saw you." She rubs her nose. "Happen a lot?"

Craig shakes his head. "Nah. Who's Mac?" The rat is coaxed onto his knee with promises of more chocolate, and Craig delivers.

Meiran smiles to Julie. "I have the arts in medicine," she replies.

J.C. glances sidelong at Anneka and after a moment just shrugs. "I gotta weak immune system 'r somethin', I dunno." Amazingly, she brings the cigarette up to her lips and takes a shallow drag on it. "An' it's been so fuckin' wet and cold lately..." She trails off and shrugs again.

Dexter gestures over his head with his hand. "Great big tall chick. Fed. Really uptight."

Julie glances thoughtfully between Meiran and JC a moment, then subtlely mimes mixing, and a drinking motion, before tilting her head a tad toward JC, while looking at Meir.

Craig shrugs a shoulder. "The cop. Yeah I met her a couple of times," he replies. No elaboration comes, though he does glance at Renee.

Renee doesn't elaborate, as she washes down her brownie with some beer.