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Middle of the afternoon on the first day of December, and the Spring Hollow is covered with snow, because it's December! In Pennsylvania! Of course the Spring Hollow looks utterly idyllic despite the fact that it's covered in snow, because Someone or Someones took their time to spin it up like that.
In any case, the Spring Regent's cabin sits comfortably lit up from inside in the middle of the soft, marshmallowy snow, smoke drifting up from the chimney as Ari rests on their large chair next to the fire. There's tea waiting, because of course there is. Cookies, too.
Outside the Spring Hollow, it's fuckin' miserable, and Jack shows up with sleet-drenched shoulders, pulling his beanie off to shake it into the snow. The thighs of his jeans are soaked through from the icy rain, too, and he stomps his feet at the door of the Spring Regent's cabin before knocking and opening the door.
"Hey, Ari," he says with a small smile as he steps into the cozy cabin, blowing on his gloved hands. "Gorgeous day in here, much nicer'n Ironside. How've you been?"
"Hey, Jack." The Spring Regent looks Jack over consideringly and laughs, a contralto rumble that fills the room. "You look miserable as hell. There are sweatshirts and sweatpants in that chest, there, and socks. Don't catch your death." They gesture to a screen off to one side of the room, elaborately painted with an ancient-looking, Middle Eastern style pattern featuring a fiery edge protecting dogs at play and at rest.
"Oh, I'm well enough. Happy to stay in here for the duration, at least. Yourself?"
"Holy shit thank you." He lets out a relieved breath and makes a beeline for the chest, melted snow dripping on the floor from his jacket and boots as he goes. "Eugh, sorry -" he gestures to the mess with a grimace and pulls out fresh clothes, not really paying attention to what they look like, before ducking behind the screen to change.
"Besides the sleet, 'm okay. Work's picking up, everything's Christmas themed...you know," he huffs in amusement. "Time to have the Nutcracker stuck in my head for two months."
Wet fabric thwaps on the floor and Jack chuckles. "So why not try to add some more shit to my plate while I'm at it?"
"Usually those are on hand for the Summers who have bled all over their clothing, but it's nice to have them on hand for all kinds of reasons," Ari offers wryly. All of the fresh clothes are a generic grey sweatshirt/t-shirt material -- there's t-shirts, sweatpants, zip-up hoodies, and heavy wool socks, which are also grey.
"Oof. I do not envy you in that at all," laughs the Regent. "I'm waiting to see how long I can avoid Whamageddon."
"Bring those out and we can hang 'em in front of the fire, get them dried out." And they pour themself a little more tea from the big green teapot on their end table. "Oh?"
"I've never really been one to do any sort of big Christmas celebration, it's always been an excuse to make a hell of a lot of money so other folx can get the day off, y'know?" Jack holds the bundle of wet clothes out in front of him, trying to avoid getting the dry clothes he's wearing wet, and brings them over to the fire in his socks.
"Yeah, I...I mean I've always been eyeing something a little further up the ladder than Joyeux, around here. Even if I did mange to settle into it. Somehow. Still's kinda crazy to me that I'm not...failing entirely at it."
The Regent rolls up to their feet, apparently less concerned about getting their own clothing wet, and takes the clothing from Jack. They head to the door, opening it briefly and squeezing the worst of the water out of it with their massive stone hands before gently padding back to lay the clothing out over the hearth so it can dry.
"I love Christmas. I'm not a religious person, but I do like to have gatherings of people. Large social gatherings are important to social bonding for many people, and rituals as well." Once the clothes are tended to, they pour Jack a mug of tea and pass it over. It's a delicate floral blend, light and sweet.
They roll their shoulders, and the corners of their mouth curl up in amusement. "It's uncouth to say 'I told you so,'" Ari offers mildly. "What did you have in mind?"
Jack drinks the tea as fast as he can, sighing with contentment as it warms him. "Yeah, I get that. Never really...had a lotta people to bond with, so. Maybe It'll be different this year. Still think I'll probably work - Christmas Eve, at least." A shrug.
He laughs at Ari's comment about uncouthness, another shrug making his sketchy silhouette shift and skitter around. "Yeah, well. I've learn a lot. I uh...was thinking about...I've got a lotta fingers in a lotta union pies, keeping contacts in more than just mine, now. I've been eyeing the Emissary position for a while, but...I haven't quite been there, until now. At least, I don't think."
"I'm not saying you have to find Christmas meaningful, or that you should not work. I was only sharing my thoughts." Once the tea is drunk up, they lift the teapot in offering of a second cup. "I'm sure you make good money because other people don't want to work. Time and a half, that sort of thing?" It's as much of a question as a statement.
Their mouth curls up at Jack's laugh. "Good. That's the whole point. People learn while they're Joyeux, and then most of them move on from that to other jobs." They settle back, curling their stone hands around their mug. "Hmmm. I can see how that would be useful to the Court, especially with the difficulties we have had over the past year in the city." Absently, they scratch their cheek. "So you think you're ready now?"
A nod, as Jack accepts another cup of tea.
"I..." He closes his mouth, cutting off his initial answer to Ari's question. "That sounds like a trick question. Like if I say yeah, I'm too arrogant and need to sit back and learn some more, but if I say no...then I'm also not ready." He wrinkles his nose slightly. "But honestly...I don't know. I'd like to do it, but I dunno 'f I'm ready to."
"It wasn't a trick question," Ari reassures him, settling their wide shoulders back against their chair, slowly stretching their muscles. Creaaaaak. They sit there for a long moment, looking at him. "I'm glad you thought that through, though."
"So you're intending to act as an Emissary to ... unions, specifically?"
He takes a sip of tea, to cover up whatever expression he may be making in response to the reassurance.
"Yeah, I...dunno 'f I know enough about much of anything else, really."
They set down their mug and then spread their hands thoughtfully. "I'm not saying that you should. Philly is -- in many ways -- a union town. Not as strongly as I think some of the unions would like, but, when is it ever?" Their onyx-black eyes glitter sharply there.
There's a moment's thought, and they admit, "I'm not sure how to task you for proof of this, except -- " A pause. "Well, I think you will have to come up with the proof of it. Whether you organize a cross-union rally or event, organize membership drives, set up a cross-union social club... pick something, and then do it. Something that shows you have the contacts and the skills to do the job."
Jack smirks at the rhetorical question. "Ask me again when all of us are unionized, yeah? But uh...yeah I'll...mm." He frowns thoughtfully, and sips his tea. "I'll think'a something. Got a few ideas already, shit I wanna do in my own union that could use some cross-union support..."
Those onyx eyes glitter again. "Send me a message when you have come up with your idea. Let me know what you're planning, and then once it's done, I'd like to see your results." Ari reaches for their tea, and takes another sip, their stone lips clicking gently against the earthenware.
"I'll do that." Jack nods, and finishes off his tea. " I eh...thanks for giving me this opportunity, even if I had to be kinda forced into being a Joyeux in the first place." He gives Ari a slightly sheepish smile.
"I could make some sort of metaphor out of it like how sometimes you have to tie back branches on trees to keep them growing upright, but the reality is, I just... feel very strongly about people needing to understand the needs and wants of others and spend time devoted to that before they can really try to ... put their opinions on other people, you know?" Ari rolls their shoulders lazily. "You're welcome, of course. I'm just opening the door, you have to walk through it."
"Yeah, I get it." Another nod. "It uh...'s helped a lot, more'n I ever thought. So." Jack sets his cup aside and sighs, glancing at the door. "I should prob'ly...head out, I'll keep you in the loop about whatever it is I end up doing. Jesus, I hope it's stopped sleeting..."
"Take the clothes with you, don't try to put them on. They're probably still damp. And drink something warm when you get home," Ari offers mildly, in the manner of a solicitous older sibling. "Thank you for coming to see me, Jack."
"I plan to submerge myself in a bath and not leave until I get webbed feet." Jack flashes Ari a grin as he stands. "Yeah, 'course. See you 'round, boss. Stay warm." And with that, he collects his clothes, draping his damp jacket over his shoulders before traipsing out of the cottage and back out into the snow.
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