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Mearcstapa: Mearc's gone out to fetch Chinese takeout for the house, returning with a hefty bag of food; everything from sweet and sour pork to egg foo young to beef with broccoli. As he lets himself inside (the click of the magnet in the front door familiar by now), he calls out to the house.
"Food's here! I need an extra hand if someone's got one."
Asbolus: "On it!" came the call from further in, and indeed Asbolus was there soon enough to give a hand with the bags as needed. "Smells fabulous, I will say."
Mearcstapa: "Should be something in there that everyone likes. I'm betting on Lux beelining for the sweet-and-sour and the barbecue pork in the appetizer platter." Together, the Hunterhearts get everything laid out on the table, and then Mearc stops to get his jacket and boots off.
Jack Martingale: Jack swore he'd be home for dinner, and true to his word, the familiar rumble of his motorcycle can be heard halfway down the block. A minute or so after the engine dies, the front door rattles, there's a quiet but vehement fuck from behind it, and then the magnet clicks.
"Hope I'm not too late!" He calls into the house, a little breathless. "Got away as soon as I could..."
Asbolus: "Perfect timing, actually." Asbolus replied to Jack from the kitchen, getting some cups and whatnot from the cabinets as Mearc dealt with his cold-weather gear. "Anyone want anything in particular to drink?"
Lux: Lux comes down from the second floor. There's some smudges of paint here and there, especially on their arms and chest, and they look a little sleepy--granted, they often look a bit drowsy lately. Too much time spent wandering through dreams.
They smile fondly at the trio, moving to give Jack and Mearc each kisses on the cheek, then does indeed beeline for the barbecue pork, piling some onto a plate. "Looks great. I'm starving."
Mearcstapa: "I think I've got some of those fancy root beers in the door of the fridge? I'll take one of those." Mearc's freckles redden fondly at the kiss on the cheek, as he favors Lux with a fond wink. "Got some paint on your you, hummingbird."
And then he looks up at Jack. "You're not late, come on over."
Jack Martingale: Jack's still dressed for Business™️ with a pale blue dress shirt and gray trousers, and his cheeks get a slight scribble at Lux's kiss. "Oh perfect - fuck, it smells amazing in here, I'm starving too...you been painting all day?" This last is to Lux, who gets a warm smile, before he wanders over to dig in the bag of food. And sneak Mearc a kiss on the lips.
Asbolus: Asbolus smiled to Lux as they made their way into the kitchen, pulling the root beer for Mearc, another soda for himself and whatever the other two preferred before joining them at the table. "Been a busy day for you both, it seems."
Lux: "Not all day. Just in between naps." Lux takes a soda. Lots of sugar and caffeine. They take the can from Asbolus and gulp down some as they sit on one end of the couch, leaving plenty of room for any others. "How was your all's day?"
Mearcstapa: "Good, mostly spent it working on the post-attack paperwork for the bank job. I've got about a week to get that report in, and I'm going to try to knock it out before Christmas." He moves to sit, claiming some of the fried rice and egg foo young.
Jack Martingale: "Busy as fuck - now that the bullshit with PTC is finally over I can focus on the event I'm planning. Partially so Ari can see I actually do know what I'm doing before he lets me try the whole Emissary thing, but...I'll be nice to try and get some more outreach and education in a big way, and with more than just my union. I get to give my speeches and shit tomorrow, it's...mmh." Jack leans back in his chair and takes a swig from the bottle of rootbeer. His, not Mearc's.
Lux: Lux bobs their head as they stuff their face with too-sweet syrupy pork, then looks curiously at Jack. "What event?"
Asbolus: Asbolus claimed a portion from each of the non-meat options in the spread before them as the trio talked, giving Jack a curious look as well. "Anything that you need assistance with?"
Mearcstapa: "Besides, of course, the usual moral support--you're getting that regardless of if you ask for it." Mearc gestures with his chopsticks as he speaks.
Jack Martingale: "It's...not quite a convention, it's...kind a mix between that and a career fair, I guess. We're taking it to a few of the colleges around, the trade schools. Talking up union work, that kinda shit. The goal is to get kids interested in joining any of the unions around, and to get us all kinda talking to each other. More solidarity, in the face of, you know." He gestures with his bottle. "The world. And yeah, I can't escape your moral support if I tried." He grins at Mearc and leans over to kiss his cheek. "Not that I wanna, at all."
Lux: "Oooh." Lux bobs their head, chewing and swallowing another mouthful before continuing. "That sounds awesome. That's a really good idea, babe. I'm sure that will impress Ari--a lot of work, though. Don't run yourself too ragged."
Asbolus: "A solid idea indeed." Asbolus nodded in agreement. "I can see that turning out rather well."
Mearcstapa: "Seriously, though, if you need help with logistics or even just 'carry and set-up' sort of work, remember we're here for that." He nods sagely. "I'd never try to step into the actual talking bit of it, but I can gofer with the best of them."
Jack Martingale: "Yeah, these two weeks have been something," Jack says with a huff. "The negotiations with PTC were bad enough, but thank God that finally happened. Some of my coworkers were starting to talk about concessions, and maybe shit wouldn't be so bad if we didn't get what we wanted, but...luckily they weren't the loudest voices. In comparison to that, this event should be easy."
There's a beat, and he winces. "Aaand I've just jinxed it, haven't I...but yeah I'll absolutely let you know if I need help. Gotta pull from the union first, that's kinda the whole point, but if you wanna show up and look busy I'm not gonna complain." He grins at the three of them.
Lux: Lux grabs an eggroll to chomp the end off of merrily. "Happy to help as well, though I'm probably less good with the carrying and moving stuff around part. Wait--I'll do that if your co-workers can deal with me wearing skimpy clothes..."
Asbolus: Asbolus smirked at the wince, reaching for the nearest wooden surface to knock on just in case. "More than willing to come by and help, just let us know when."
Mearcstapa: Mearc grins. "There's an incentive to join the union--'union folx pick up cute partners.' We could be like the booth babes at conventions. I'm sure I could do something to look cute."
Lux: "Oh fuck yes, booth babes!" Welp, there's no stopping this now. Sorry Jack.
Jack Martingale: "...Well damn, I gotta change my speech now." He chuckles and reaches for a crab rangoon. "Benefits and being treated well don't mean shit in the face of booth babes..."
Asbolus: Asbolus chuckled in kind, shaking his head with a smirk. "Call it an added bonus, perhaps?"
Lux: "I'm happy to be pimped out for a good cause," Lux jokes. Maybe jokes.
Mearcstapa: "I mean, you can have benefits and good treatment and collective bargaining and be incredibly attractive to interesting people all at once."
Jack Martingale: "I mean...clearly." Jack gestures at himself with a grin to Mearc, and leans over to kiss Lux's cheek. "I've got a shirt with the union bug I wouldn't mind chopping up for the cause. Because it's gotta be a crop top, obviously..."
Asbolus: "Naturally."
Lux: Lux smirks, then swallows down another gulp of soda, leaning back into the couch. "Are we doing anything for the holidays?"
Mearcstapa: "I was thinking of cooking--nothing fancy, not like a turkey, but I found a recipe for meatloaf that I'd like to try to make. It looks sort of similar to one my mother used to make, but modernized. If someone else makes a side-dish or buys dessert, that might be a nice thing."
Jack Martingale: "I can try my hand at flan. I haven't made it in a while." Jack's voice has sobered a bit, and he takes another drink of rootbeer.
Lux: "I'll make something," Lux says, grinning. "Having a dinner would be nice. Doesn't need to be anything super fancy, just--be together and have good food. Sounds nice." They look to Jack. "You okay, babe?"
Asbolus: Asbolus spared Jack a brief glance at the shift in tone, watching him for a moment as Lux asked their question before nodding. "I don't eat meat myself so I wouldn't partake in that part, but I can make something to go with it."
Mearcstapa: "We could always do the traditional Jewish thing of bowling or a movie on Christmas day, those are options, too. It's not my holiday, I don't have strong opinions."
Jack Martingale: "My dad's recipe," Jack answers Lux with a tiny shrug. "It's got some memories attached, you know. But - I'd be down for bowling or a movie, absolutely. Or both?"
Lux: "I have some... memories, of Christmas, that makes me nostalgic enough to want to do... something for the holiday. But it doesn't need to be anything big. Bowling or a movie works, if that's what makes everyone happy."
Asbolus: "Haven't done anything major for the holiday myself in years, I'll admit. Spending time with you three sounds like a good way to celebrate it in my book, though."
Mearcstapa: "We can play it by ear, see what everyone's up for."
Jack Martingale: "Mhm." Jack leans back with a sigh. "Maybe next year we can start making all this official. I keep meaning to try my hand at writing an Oath, but I just haven't found the fucking time..."
Asbolus: "Right there with you. Things at the theater have been going well, but it can be hectic."
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