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date night <3 8 tonight at the boner tower
It's not too hard for them to get up to the top of the huge abandoned building that they both know Lux loves. One can just walk up the walls, the other can break in.
When they appear on the roof, it's been transformed. It's been cleared off of trash as much as possible, and in the center of the roof there's several large brightly colored blankets laid out. Strings of fairy lights have been strung up, tied from the walls of towers to the top of the roof, creating a backdrop of light that is positioned so it's not too noticeable from the street below. There's a bottle of non-alcoholic cider in a bucket of ice, and take out containers placed around. It's nothing fancy, but it's all of their favorites, a collection of different types of cuisine.
Lux waits on the blankets, sprawled out and looking up at the sky--which, being just before sunset, it turning all different colors, bleeding from blue to purple to orange to pink and gold. They're dressed nicely--shimmery tight shorts, with a blouse that is low cut in the back, and a bit of colorful sparkly make up. They made sure to look good tonight.
Mearc tried to thread the needle between 'I know I'm breaking into a place tonight' and 'date night'. He's wearing black cargo pants and a purple short-sleeved button-down shirt, his hair held out of his face with a butterfly hairclip in the back of his head. His nails are glittery silver, and he's brought two bouquets of flowers--one wildly bright with tiger lilies and pink roses and red hibiscus and purple snapdragons, the other more subdued with irises and white hibiscus and English ivy and eucalyptus.
"Don't, uh, don't judge me if the flower meanings are something weird. I picked these out based on how they looked."
Jack's dressed up too - cream linen trousers and a short sleeve dress shirt with a black and white leafy print. Even dress shoes - black and grey - and he's got his hair slicked back. A little eyeliner completes the look, and he shimmers into existence on the roof, a wide smile on his face. His silhouette dances and slides around lazily as he makes his way over toward the blankets and sets his backpack down.
"Hey gorgeous," he murmurs to Lux, and crouches to give them a lingering kiss, scribbles blooming across his cheeks as he does. And then to Mearc, with a kiss of his own, "Love the nails. You look so good in glitter."
Lux sits up as they appear on the roof, brightening at the sight of the flowers. "Aww, Kitten... do I seem like someone who knows shit about flower meanings? I love them." They hop up to their feet and step over, accepting the brightly colored one with a kiss to his pixel-freckled cheek. "Thank you." Then a sniff of the flowers, practically burying their face into the blooms.
The kiss had of course been returned, and Lux reaches out to squeeze at Jack's hip, looking him up and down. "Hey handsome. Mm... you both look amazing. Tonight is my lucky night."
And Mearc's pixels all go #FF0000 rather instantly, as he hands off the other bouquet to Jack. "Our lucky night. Clear skies, warm but not too hot...and I'm with the most amazing people I've ever met."
"Thanks, babe." Jack grins and takes the bouquet, and pulls Mearc by the waist for a more intense kiss. "They're perfect. What a stunning night, with my two absolute favorite people." He pulls Mearc down with him as he sits, and gestures to his bag. "I brought dessert, figured I'd save it 'til after we eat?"
"Pfft, tonight isn't the night for rules. If we want dessert first, we should eat dessert first." Lux smirks, then moves over to sink down onto the blankets, setting the flowers aside. "How are you both?"
Mearc, when pulled down to sit, sprawls himself out across Jack, as you do, then gestures for Lux to scoot closer. Because fuck it, this is going to be a tangle.
"Dessert first sounds pretty nice to me. And I'm...mmh. It feels like about every third time I open my mouth, I'm sticking my foot in it, these days."
"So much better, up here with you." Jack tugs his bag over. "Dessert first it is," he mutters with a grin, and swoops in to give Lux a quick kiss on the neck before he pulls out a deep blue box wrapped in gold ribbon.
"There's a fancy chocolate shop I've been dying to try, figured date night was the best time..." He carefully removes the ribbon and opens the box, where a collection of truffles and chocolate covered strawberries sit nestled in metallic gold paper cups.
Lux happily scoots in close so Mearc can sprawl over their lap as well. They reach to pet his hair back a bit, frowning. "Oh, Kitten. I'm sorry. Something else happen? Wanna talk about it?"
They gasp at the sight of the chocolates. "Oh fuck, those look good." They snag one of the truffles to pop into their mouth and Mmmm over.
Mearc picks up one of the chocolate strawberries and holds it tantalizingly just above Lux's mouth, a teasing smile on his lips, the color of his freckles still very much red. It might stay this way all night, quite possibly.
Lux is definitely giving that strawberry a chomp. You know, a sexy one, as you do.
Jack hums contentedly, watching the two of them, and runs gentle fingers through Mearc's hair. "There's some chocolate dipped pretzels underneath, too...what's been the struggle, lionheart?"
"Stepping on conversational landmines. Teagan thinks I want to fuck Sigrun and is mad at me because of it. They were griping about how they were blindsided by their partners' relationships, and I warned them I might someday flirt with Sigrun. And they took this to mean I am looking to get into her bed." Mearc's eyes may make reading where he's looking hard, but the eyeroll is still definitely readable.
"Oh." Lux blinks slowly, eyelights flickering on and off. "Do you... like Sigrun?"
"Like, romantically? Doesn't seem sexually."
"That seems...like a communication breakdown on both sides, not just yours, babe. Which...I did make that assumption too, but I would have clarified if I'd been worried about it." Jack critches Mearc's head as he speaks.
"Not in an 'I want to go on a date' kind of way, exactly. More...I like how we work together. Our protocols mesh and we balance out well, and she's amazingly competent. Like. I think my fantasy with her is to someday be carried by her after twisting my ankle or something."
"Oh. Huh." Their head tilts thoughtfully, then nods. "That makes sense." They lean in to kiss his cheek. "I'm sorry it's frustrating you. But yeah, it just... sounds like miscommunications and Teagan making unfair assumptions. Have you talked to Sigrun about it yet?"
"No. And I don't know that I ever will, at this point. It's whatever."
"I'm in no way attracted to Sigrun, and I'd like her to carry me if I've twisted my ankle or something - she and I and Teagan all had a pretty flirty time shoring up the Freehold last week." Jack follows Lux's kiss with his own. "Sounds like talking to Sigrun might...be the way to go, here. She knows how Teagan ticks, might be able to help smooth things over."
"It's not a big deal at this point. I did have a good conversation with Asbolus and Nevermore the other day, though. We still need to explicitly invite Asbolus and Alex to come stay with us. And talk to Alex about what she needs to make the basement her happy place."
"Big same. I'd definitely swoon at being carried around like a fair princess in her arms." Their stretch their legs out. "I think you should talk to her about it, cause I imagine Teagan will talk to her about it, and it'd be a shame for her to make any similar assumptions and ruin your friendship." A beat pause, looking between them. "So we are inviting Bobo and Alex to live with us?"
"That was kinda the plan eventually, wasn't it?" Jack leans into Lux, and grabs a truffle. "Now that it's a livable space. I haven't talked to either of them in a while, been so fucking flat out with Dover. And Baltimore." He sighs. "Least the immediate threat's gone, now."
"I mean, we got all these bedrooms, we might as well fill them with people we love." He laughs warmly. "It's not like we're using that basement space. Even after steaming that disgusting carpet."
"We'd talked about it, but I dunno, kinda seemed like it was becoming just ours. I don't mind it, though I kinda wish they'd been more involved in fixing it up and making it their own." They reach for another chocolate covered strawberry to munch on.
"We might wanna see if she'd rather replace the whole thing...you got most of the stains out though, right? I haven't been down there, the stench of beer soaked rug was way too much for me." Jack wrinkles his nose. "I do get what you mean though, firefly. There's still a lot of decorating to do, and those bedrooms are pretty much blank slates. Easy for them to make their own spaces. Least I think so."
"I don't know what we would use all that space for, ourselves." Mearc shrugs, and lifts the truffle box to get at the pretzels, holding one up to Jack.
"True." Lux bobs their head. "Definitely worth talking to them about. I spoke to Alex the other day. Sounds like she's doing well. And she still seemed interested in the motley, now that my brokenness has been fixed. I need to check on Bobo sometime soon."
Mearc nods, then looks at Jack. "I sent Asbolus to go meet Luigi. I think those two oughta get along."
Jack takes the pretzel stick very gently in his mouth, grinning around it and giving Mearc a wink as he does. Shameless, shameless man.
"Ah - yeah, they would, wouldn't they? I...mm. Thinking about setting up another meeting with him. Or just showing up, see where things lead..." The lightest of scribbles sketch across his face as he speaks. "Even if it's just to learn where he gets his suits tailored, 'cause damn..."
Mearc laughs warmly, and leans in to nibble the end off that pretzel stick. As you do.
Lux arches a brow, glancing between them. "I need to meet this guy, apparently..."
They pop open the cider bottle and pour themself a glass to sip from, watching them nibble at the same stick. "Hot."
"You really do need to meet him. He's...yeah." Mearc laughs.
Jack pulls away from the pretzel to give Mearc a proper kiss, lifting his chin slightly with a finger as he does. Lux gets a smirk when he pulls away. "He's interested in working with other artists, though I think your styles are...a little different. We mentioned you and the collective, though, there could be some great collaborations I bet....and he's pretty hot. Yeah."
"Do both of you want to fuck him?" Lux smirks.
"I don't want to fuck every vampire I become friends with." Mearc shakes his head, leaning in to playfully nibble at Lux's neck.
"I've got reservations, given..." Jack gestures vaguely. "And I don't know that he's noticed me flirting even a little. But that hasn't stopped me before." He smirks, and slides an arm up Lux's back to grip the back of their neck very gently, suggesting they turn their head to give Mearc a better angle for nibbling.
"Though honestly, that might have been part of why I sent Asbolus to him. Love of theater turning to other passions?"
"Bo could use the distraction, I'm sure..." Jack nods.
"It wasn't a read! Fuck who you wanna fuck, fangers or not." Their head tilts, exposing their neck. "Mmmm.... He could use the distraction. Might not be a bad match."
And there's more tooth against Lux's neck, big panther fangs doing a careful-ass nibble.
"Prob'ly better'n me, who might end up working...for...him..." Jack trails off, scribbles darkening on his cheeks as he watches the two of them. His grin grows, and he tangles his fingers in Mearc's hair.
Lux is more than happy to have their neck nibbled, and to be watched. They put on a show of moaning and squirming against Mearc.
"...We wanna move the food?" Jack's lips brush against Lux's ear as he murmurs, low and seductive.
Mearc's arms wrap around Lux, holding on gently. "Might be a good idea. I'm going to enjoy my dessert first here." There's a distinct purr in his voice.
"Mmm..." Lux's eyes close for a moment, then they puff out a breath and pull back reluctantly. "As much as I'd love to make love to you both--not yet. There's... something I need to do, first."
"...Oh?" Jack sounds a little apprehensive, honestly. The scribbles don't completely disappear, but they flicker a little, and he pulls away from Lux to look at them.
"That's ominous." He glances at Jack to see if he knows what that means.
Jack catches Mearc's eye - he's clearly got no idea.
"Very ominous," Lux says with a sage nod--but then grins widely, playful yet... nervous? They scoot over to their backpack which is resting off to the side, pulling something out of it that they hid in their hand, held against their chest. They look down at it for a moment, then back at the two. Looking from one to the other adoringly.
"I love you both. The past several months have had some ups and downs, but I wouldn't change a thing. It's brought us to this place, where we're happy and safe, together. We... fit together. We belong together. You're my home, my family, and I don't want to live without either of you."
Mearc's freckles shift rapidly with a pixellated shimmer, his jaw dropping as he starts to realize what this is.
"...Oh." Jack exhales in relief, and gives Lux a warm smile.
And then. "...Oh." Scribbles explode across his cheeks as his mouth opens slightly, and that scent of an imminent rainstorm, always floating around him, washes over the other two Darklings.
"Lux..."
"So... I'm hoping you'll agree to that. That you'll make that promise with me. Not just as a motley." Their lights shine brighter, glowing through their cheeks as they smile nervously. They scoot closer, and then--despite already sitting down, shifts up to kneel on one knee. The simple jewelry box is revealed, held out, then opened.
There's three hedgespun rings inside. Each are different, but match aesthetically--all very similar in shape and style.
One is the simplest, looking like it's spun from pure shadow. It has a dark rectangular stone that looks sort of like an onyx at first glance, but when you tilt it just right it looks more like a black opal, soft flickers of colored rainbow light radiate out of it like a kaleidoscope prism, shining all around. It's magic is subtle, not immediately recognizable.
The second is a little brighter, glimmering and sparkling. A more metallic glimmer of shadow around the band, with a fantastical rainbow opal in the center. It's only when the wearer puts it on that the light radiates out from it, enveloping them in a colored spotlight--demanding attention from everyone around.
The third is by far the most colorful. There's only hints of shadow around the band, creating a center stripe, with neon light creating bands outside of it. Another rainbow stone, which paints the world around it in light and color, inspiring a more beautiful world.
"Will you marry me?"
Mearc gasps softly, and wipes at his face, nodding because he's choked up and words won't come right now, oops. The smile that spreads across his face is broad and bright and absolutely full of love.
Jack covers his mouth to muffle a choked sob as Lux kneels, nodding before they've even finished speaking. 'Cause who needs words right now, anyway? He reaches out for them to come here, barely glancing at the rings, his entire focus on his partner's face. He's smiling wide, even as tears trail eyeliner and charcoal down his face, and he finds Mearc's hand to squeeze it.
Lux beams, their lights near blinding, shimmering bright pink. They quickly scoot in closer, removing the black ring to carefully slide on Mearc's finger, then the shadow and light one onto Jack's. Both fit perfectly, because magic.
Tears shimmer in their eyes as they lean in to desperately kiss them both in turn. "I love you. I love you, I love you."
Mearc kisses Lux warmly. "We love you too, hummingbird. So much. You're ours and we will have you for the rest of our lives."
It's a salty kiss, that Lux gets from Jack, and he holds their face in both hands, like he's afraid to let them go. "Oh firefly...'s all I want, to be yours. For you to be ours. We do, we love you so much."
Lux sniffs, exhaling sharply, then quickly wipes their face with their hands. "Thank you. I'm so fucking lucky."
They pull the last ring from the box to slip onto their own finger, smiling fondly down at it before pressing into them both. "You are mine. And I'm yours."
Mearc's hand slides slowly down Lux's slide, then up under their blouse. "Ani l'dodim v'dodim li."
"What's that mean...?" Jack scoots in to wrap an arm around Lux, and slide his hand into Mearc's hair again.
"Didn't... quite get that..." They squirm against Mearc's side, grinning.
"Exactly what Lux just said. I am my beloveds's, and they are mine. Not sure I treated the plural properly, but it's close enough." His nails gently run along Lux's side.
"Mmmm...I'm yours too, lionheart. You know that, yeah?" Jack tugs on Mearc's hair to get him to tip his head back, and presses a soft kiss at the base of his neck. "Like...both of you. Give all of my damn self to you."
"Ah." They nuzzle into Mearc's shoulder, grinning like a doof. "Do you like your rings? I--tried to make them... fit you two. And be useful. It took forever to get them right. Kitten, let me show you how your's works. It has a secret!"
He moans as Jack takes control for a moment, closing his eyes, before giving Lux a grin. "My ring has a secret?"
Jack chuckles, and nibbles on Mearc's ear before he slides his hand out of his hair to admire the ring. "Doesn't surprise me at all, 's very you. They're fucking stunning, babe." He leans in to kiss Lux's cheek.
"Mhmm." They smirk, then pull away long enough to pull out a padlock from their backpack, offering it over to him. "Pick this. With the ring." They smile at Jack. "It'll hopefully help you be all badass while doing your union stuff. Everyone in the room won't be able to take their eyes off of you."
Mearc pauses before picking to stroke the shackle of the lock, muttering at it for a moment. "This is just a demonstration, dear. You're not a failure, alright? You're just letting me show off a little and I'm so glad you are."
And then he takes the ring off, trying to figure out how to pick the lock with the ring. But once he gets the hang of it, it's kinda faster than the eye can follow, a bare twist of his wrist.
In the mask, it would look like a hidden little piece of saw edged metal was slipping out from inside of the ring, like so: https://gajitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ring-with-hidden-saw.jpg
But in it's mien? The shadow its self stretches out from the ring, forming a little tendril that wiggles into the lock. Somehow Mearc is able to feel it moving around, allowing him to pop the lock open as easily as breathing. It flickers light around him as it does, though--so not really useful if Mearc is trying to hide while picking locks, but if that isn't an issue...
"Oh, this is fun. I definitely can't use it for its intended purpose on my YouTube channel, but...I absolutely love it."
"That's amazing, babe..." Jack watches Mearc work with a slightly open mouth, clearly just as impressed by Mearcstapa's competence as he is with the ring. "Fuck, I hope I can live up to that...gotta get better at writing speeches." He gives Lux a grin, and then a deep kiss, sliding his hand up their bare back again.
"You already do amazing," Lux says with a proud grin. "I'm so happy you both like them. I wanted them to be perfect."
Lux no longer cares about holding back on the petting and heavy kissing, as their hands are starting to wander and kisses turning more passionate.
Mearc hands the lock back to Lux, leering humorously at them. "...so, is that all we needed to get out of the way before making love to you on this rooftop? Because if anything, I want to do that even more."
"They're perfect. You're perfect. 'S funny, I was actually texting with Fox last night...talking about proposing to you two..." Jack mutters between kisses, and grins wide at Mearc. "God I hope so...'cause that's literally all I want, now."
"You were?" Lux smirks. "That's fucking hilarious. Fox has known for a while now. I'm surprised she managed to hold it in." They practically pur as they grin at Mearc. "Mhm. Business done. I want you both. Now."
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