They've just finished dinner and now they're strolling along the streets, the three of them taking up the entire sidewalk. Tommy's just made a joke that has all of them chuckling heartily when Maura freezes in place. The Rizzolis get a couple of steps ahead of her before they notice and then they turn back to her.
Maura grabs a hold of an arm from both Jane and Tommy and pulls them into a building, eyes sparkling with excitement and lips turned upward into a smile.
It's an arcade filled with all the classic games, but Maura's got her eye on one in particular. The most outrageous scam of a game that ever was invented. The Claw Machine. True, this one looks easier than most with all of the prizes concealed within identical plastic balls, but still. This game was designed to steal your hard earned coins.
"Look," Maura breathes, utterly taken in by the old stand-by. The Rizzoli kids trade a glance. "I never played this as a kid because I know it's impossible to win, but I always hoped that one day, someone would decide to ignore all logic and play and win and I'd get to keep the prize as a little souvenir."
Now Tommy and Jane really look at each other, sizing each other up as opponents. Tommy darts forward, the hand in his pocket already pulling out a quarter. Jane tries to cover the coin slot with her hand, but Tommy's closer and his coin slides in just as her fingers brush against the box. He grins in triumph as his fingers slip over the controls.
"You haven't won, yet, Tommy," Jane glares. Seriously, she thinks, does he not understand the whole I'm-dating-Maura-so-you-literally-have-no-chance thing?
He smiles and turns to Maura, "I'll win it for you," he promises, loading up the charm. Jane fights the urge to snort louldy. She moves next to Maura as Tommy starts his turn.
"Actually," Jane whispers into Maura's ear, "I'll get it for you." Hidden by their hair, her teeth graze the doctor's ear lobe and she bites down softly, earning a gasp from her friend. She pulls away, smiling cheekily. "My turn after," she informs Tommy as he moves to bring the claw down. He nods and then ignores her, concentration solely on the task at hand. Jane lets out a laugh as the claw misses its intended target and Tommy hangs his head.
Reluctantly, he backs away from the machine and Jane steps up to the plate. She rubs her quarter for extra luck, knowing it will be necessary, and then she's completely absorbed by it. Careful touches here and there, finesse and almost a certain grace attach themselves to the claw's movements through Jane's guidance. She gets it into a position she finds advantageous and then it's time to see if she's calculated correctly. She taps the button and the claw descends.
Maura and Tommy watch her play, the former in captivation at just how sexy the detective looks while she does this, the latter in the hopes that she'll mess it up and he can try once again to win the doctor's affections.
Jane lets out a victorious cry as the claw snatches up a prize and drops it into the slot. She can hear Tommy's disappointed groan, but more importantly, she can feel the increase in energy radiating from Maura. Picking the prize up from the machine, she presents the ball to Maura with a huge grin.
"For you, m'lady." And Maura plucks it out of Jane's grasp. Inside is a mood ring, which the pathologist slips on immediately.
Jane looks over at Tommy, "Guess my quarter was more satisfying than yours, eh?"
"Good work, sis," Tommy says, admitting his defeat. Jane accepts his acquiescence with a smile.
"Thanks, Tommy."
"Oh," Maura says as the ring changed colour to a shade of violet. Jane's eyes widen, her childhood memories kicking in. She knows exactly what violet means and from the glint in her eye, Maura knows, too.
"We better go," Jane says quickly, already gesturing to her brother to leave.
"Something wrong?" He asks. Jane answers before Maura has the chance.
"I forgot to feed Jo, Maura and I gotta leave like right now." The lie is smooth and if Maura even heard it, she doesn't acknowledge it.
"Oh, okay. Well, I'm gonna go meet up with some buddies, then," Tommy says, backing away. "Have a nice night."
They toss goodbyes at his back and watch him until he fades from view before deeming it safe to look each other in the eye.
"I see you know what the violet means," Maura teases, mischief all over her face.
Jane grins. "Means someone needs to come home and have their dirty way with me," she winks and laughs at Maura's over-eager agreement. She kisses Maura lightly on the lips, a promise of what's in store.
"Take me home, Jane."