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Jack Martingale: Look. Sometimes you win BIG at work, and you just wanna go out and get hammered.
And sometimes you wanna do that, but you're sober and would like to actually remember the evening, and so you make your excuses to the other union members who are definitely going out to drink and celebrate, and text that guy you've been seeing on and off. Ask him to meet you at a dance club just outside the Gayborhood.
Jack hasn't even had time to change out of his work clothes, his dress pants and dark green button-down looking pretty out of place with everyone in their clubwear. At the very least, he's rolled the sleeves up past the elbows, and unbuttoned it halfway down his chest, but there's only so much he can do. He's texted Aurelio that he'll be inside, and indeed he is out on the dance floor with someone or other. The music is loud, the colored lights moving and shifting, creating a dark but energized atmosphere that Jack seems to be utterly delighting in. The fresh scent of his mantle is apparent even on the other side of the room, mixing with the light scent of spilled alcohol and the press of bodies.
Aurelio Menegi: There had been a bit of back and forth between the two Lost when it came to the proper attire for such an evening, and after a rather eye-opening Google search Aurelio found something in his closet that he hoped would be sufficient.
The Torrent made his way into the club not long after the last text was sent, the combination of his above average height and the contrast of white marble against the all-black ensemble making him easy to spot. Dark eyes - or ice blue, to the other Lost - scanned the room, looking for the man of the hour.
Jack Martingale: It takes Jack a bit to notice Aurelio, if only because he's focused on his current dance partner - someone in a cropped holographic top and matching shorts. But when the flash of white marble catches his eye he makes his excuses, trailing his hand down the other dancer's arm before he makes his way through the crowd.
"Hey, handsome," he says with a grin, his cheeks smudged and scribbly, and slides his hands over the other Changeling's shoulders. "Hope this isn't too out there for you."
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio smiled at Jack's approach, giving the Darkling a proper once-over. "Buona sera. It's...different, but not bad."
Jack Martingale: "Mmmm..." Jack hums and stands on tiptoe to press a soft kiss against Aurelio's lips. "Well. Welcome to EONS, I guess," he says when he pulls away, both his arms draped over the man's shoulders now. "I am gonna go get - they make really good lemonade here? For some reason? It's one of the reasons I like it here, I don't feel like I gotta get a cocktail to have a good drink. Figure it'll be easier for you to warm up with a drink than going straight into dancing, mm?"
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio leaned down enough to make that kiss easier to manage, the smile still on his face as Jack looped his arms around his shoulders. "Good to know. And...probably." He spared the dance floor a brief glance. "What dancing I did do before wasn't like this."
Jack Martingale: "Oh yeah?" Jack follows his gaze to the dance floor before pulling away just enough to lead him toward the bar. "I...guess this is fairly new in the history of...the world," he says with a small smile, before turning to the bartender and ordering a lemonade. "D'you want anything?" He leans with his back against the bar, showing off despite his relatively conservative dress.
Well, maybe not so conservative, his shirt is nearly open to his waist...
Aurelio Menegi: "Mmm...more formal, for sure." He nodded, asking the bartender for a stinger before settling in at the bar beside Jack. "Willing to try it, though."
Jack Martingale: "You get to experience folks touching when they danced, or was that after your time?" Jack cants his head. "God, I can't imagine the culture shock, t'be honest."
Aurelio Menegi: "Some, yes. Arm around the waist and whatnot, things like that." He smirked a touch at the comment that followed, nodding quietly. "It was worse when I first got back. Barely left our stronghold there for the first few months."
Jack Martingale: Jack winces in sympathy, and takes his lemonade from the bar to drink. His other hand slides around Aurelio's waist. "Well. 'S a little different," he says with a grin. "More freeform, at least, and...well. No issue with getting close." He gestures to a couple who are exchanging increasingly intense kisses as they dance together.
Aurelio Menegi: "Indeed..." He said with a small smirk, watching the couple in question for a moment. "Close is no problem. With an audience, that may take some getting used to."
Jack Martingale: "I have no plans to make out with you in public, don't worry." Jack winks as he sips his lemonade. "I save that for other people."
Aurelio Menegi: "Good to know." Aurelio chuckled, taking a sip of his own drink. "How are they doing, on that note? Our paths haven't crossed as of late."
Jack Martingale: "Busy, but okay overall. We try to get together for family meals when we can, but we'd all like it to be more regular than it is." He wrinkles his nose slightly. "'S kinda life, though. Adulting sucks, even if it's easier with people you love."
Aurelio Menegi: "True. Good to have people, though, even if you don't see them as much as you'd like."
Jack Martingale: "Absolutely. How's your collection of people coming along?" He nudges Aurelio's shoulder gently.
Aurelio Menegi: "They're doing well last I spoke with them. Haven't sworn anything yet, but the plans to do so are still there."
Jack Martingale: "Yeah, it takes longer than you'd think. We still need to make shit official, maybe after the new year..."
Aurelio Menegi: "Mmm. One can hope. The wording is...not my strong suit, so the others are handling that."
Jack Martingale: "Mmm. You could always visit the Notary, it's her season soon, isn't it?" Jack's eyebrow twitches upwards as he grins.
Aurelio Menegi: "True...not sure it's worth bothering someone of her rank to do, though." He smirked, looking Jack over. "We'll see if it's needed, though."
Jack Martingale: "...I mean I went to her to go get a tarot card reading a couple months ago, so." Jack shrugs. "I figure if she's too busy, she'll let you know, yeah?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Fair point. Will talk with the others and see what they think."
Jack Martingale: "Even if she's not in charge of you directly, she's still in charge of the well-being of all of us in general, you know?" Another shrug. "I say this, and haven't decided whether to talk to her myself about getting shit in writing yet, so. Grain of salt, and all that."
Aurelio Menegi: The Torrent paused a moment to parse the abbreviated saying before nodding. "Right...what goals do you and yours have on that front? Last we spoke we're looking at sharing workspace and skills to teach and be taught."
Jack Martingale: "Mutual support, for the most part. Maybe something about safety in numbers, but we're not...big on flowery legalese or anything, and we're not as knit as say, DA."
Aurelio Menegi: "I doubt few are." He replied with a small smirk. "I've seen them work together, and it is impressive."
Jack Martingale: Jack nods. "Yeah, we're not quite like that. And we're okay with that, you know? Different kind of family, I guess. But it's good, I wouldn't have it any other way." There's a pause, as he drinks his lemonade.
"And to be honest, I don't need it on paper that I'd be willing to die for any of 'em." Another beat. "Kill for 'em too. Live for 'em. You know?"
Aurelio Menegi: "I do. That closeness is a blessing in many ways, and not something to let go of easily."
Jack Martingale: "Yeah, I don't plan to let it go." Jack smiles and absently turns his engagement ring around on his finger.
Aurelio Menegi: "There would be stern words for you if you did." Aurelio nodded, smiling softly as he looked towards the ring. "You're a lucky man."
Jack Martingale: "Yeah, I know. Still can't get it through my head, sometimes, all this good shit I've got. And you're definitely included in that, by the way." He grins and presses a soft kiss against Aurelio's shoulder. "Some guys would not be into me talking about my partners all night."
Aurelio Menegi: "Thank you. You've been good for me, too." His smile widened, leaning over to kiss the top of Jack's head before he got too far away. "They make you happy, and you happy makes me happy."
Jack Martingale: Jack smiles against Aurelio's shoulder. "Compersion's a hell of a thing, isn't it?"
Aurelio Menegi: He paused again at the unfamiliar word, nodding after a moment with the smile still present. "If that is the word for it, then yes."
Jack Martingale: "That good feeling when you see your partner happy with another partner. Yeah. Most people only talk about jealousy and shit, but compersion is exactly the opposite and it's seriously the best."
Aurelio Menegi: "Ah...good to know. And it is good, yes."
Jack Martingale: "Mhm." Jack drains the last of his lemonade. "Time to dance? I'll go easy on you, I promise..." though the glitter in his eyes and his teasing smile imply otherwise, as he pushes away from the bar and holds out his hand to the other changeling.
Aurelio Menegi: "Sure you will." He replied with a smirk, taking a moment to polish off his drink before taking Jack's hand. "Let's see what happens, no?"(edited)
Jack Martingale: "Mhm," Jack repeats, and tugs Aurelio forward to kiss him hard. Maybe trying to get a little bit of a contact buzz from the alcohol on his lips, maybe not.
But it only lasts for a moment or two before Jack pulls away with a grin and leads him toward the dance floor.
Aurelio Menegi: The kiss was happily returned, a little swirl of heat rising from his Mantle and countering the chill of the marble the Torrent was made from. He smiled warmly, letting himself be led out onto the floor.
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