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Lux, for once, isn't wearing bright neons out to the club. In fact they're mostly wearing Jack's clothes--the pink tank top with an open flannel shirt over it, but with their own jeans and sneakers. It's impossible for them to not stand out to fae eyes, but... dressed down from their norm, for sure.
They keep close to Jack as they make their way inside the club, eyes flitting around. Their face is composed but there's a faint nervous energy that Jack likely doesn't have too much trouble picking up on. "Start with a drink?" Lux offers nodding towards the bar.
"I can always use a drink." Jack smiles at them, seemingly unaware of how...concerning that statement might be, coming from him. He's managed to change out of his daywear of union shirts, and is instead wearing a bright floral button up that's already halfway unbuttoned and a pair of very tight dark jeans. "We don't - have to be here you know, if it's gonna be overwhelming after...everything."
"It's pretty overwhelming. But... I'm okay. For now. If I need to leave, I'll leave," Lux assures, frowning. "But this... isn't going to go away anytime soon. I can't just... hide for who knows how long." They sigh. "Maybe the humiliation is a part of it, though. A part of being punished." They lean against the bar, waving over the bartender. They get a very strong very brightly colored cocktail.
"I...I dunno if it's about punishment, babe. 'S about doing better, and figuring out how to fix shit. You know?" He orders a rum and coke and runs a light finger down Lux's arm.
"You know what you did wrong, punishing you more's not the point."
Lux looks away for a moment, then exhales a breath. "I don't know how to fix it, Jack. Not right now, at least. I've tried, but right now Mearcstapa is deciding whether or not he even wants it fixed." They shrug.
"That...I mean maybe that's part of it, too. It's a fuckin harsh reminder, and...I dunno. Who'm I to say what the Wyrd does and doesn't want from you." He grimaces and takes a drink.
"I just...this shit's hard enough on you without you being hard on yourself about it too."
Lux takes a sip of their drink as well, then sighs. "Sorry. I didn't come out with you to mope. Let's try to have a good time?" Lux smiles thinly. "How was your day?"
"Mm." Jack leans over to kiss the side of their face. "Mope all you want, firefly, I'm just happy you're out. Had dinner with Chelle, talked to her a little bit about..." He gestures, "everything."
"Yeah?" Their arm slips around Jack's waist, pulling him in close as they lean back against the bar. "How'd that go?"
"I mean...I talked to her about it. That's kinda all that happened." He shrugs and leans into them. "Didn't get into any deep shit, or anything. Just catching up really." Furrows in his forehead are sketched in lightly as he frowns.
Lux considers Jack quietly for a moment, then kisses at his temple. "Because you didn't want to open up about the deep stuff, or...?"
"I...I mean I don't even know how much deep stuff there is," he says with a humorless laugh. "Like I told her what was going on, I just...we didn't really go further than that. And I never know what to say when she asks how she can help, 'cause I never know, so...just never got that deep. Never really does." A shrug, and he takes a drink.
"Sometimes it's not about being able to help. Sometimes it's just about listening... And if you're not talking about how you feel... there's no way she can really listen, Jack."
"She - she always seems to wanna help. 'S like the first thing she asks, after 'are you okay', I feel like. And I don't - all this shit's just so personal, you know? Feels weird to be talking to someone else about it." He drains his glass with a grimace.
Lux watches Jack a moment, then rubs a hand over their face, eyes closing briefly. "But... babe... You need to talk to someone..." They frown at him deeper. "Maybe you should reach out to that therapist that came from Chicago. Mearcstapa said they are really good. It might be easier to open up to a professional? Since its... their job. Rather than just feeling like you're unloading randomly."
Jack squirms a little and sets his glass on the bar, and lifts a hand to the bartender to order another. "There's so much shit going on, I...I mean it took long enough just to figure out how to get dinner w/Chelle, there's so many other things I gotta do. Like make sure you're doing okay." He smiles, and kisses Lux's cheek.
Lux's brows crease together tightly with a hint of frustration. "If you can't find the time to make an appointment, then I'll make it for you. And go with you--though you should probably talk to them by yourself." Their hand lifts, cupping Jack's cheek gently--caressing, but angling it up enough to keep eye contact with his eyes. "It would make me feel better to know you're being taken care of. And I can't do that for you, as I am right now. Not... the way I wish I could. I'm part of the problem. So please... Do this for me?"
"You aren't part of the problem. Situation's a little stressful, sure, but..." HIs brow furrows again, the sketched lines a little darker, a little deeper. "I...I don't know if talking to someone I don't know's gonna help me open up. If it...really means that much, though...then I'll try." He nods as well as he can with his face in Lux's hand. "I don't want to add worrying about me to your list of shit you gotta do." The smile that flits across his face is a little self-mocking, like he's completely aware that the both of them are gonna worry about either other regardless.
Lux searches Jack's eyes for a long moment, brows knit together--but then they relax a little, letting out a sigh. "Even so... I'm sure this isn't easy for you to deal with, Jack. I feel... awful, that you're stuck in the middle like this. And then there's all the other shit--the strike and all. I just... I'd feel a lot better if I knew you had an outlet. A way to get help. Even if you don't even end up talking to Eugene about anything, I'd like you to have that chance." They lean in to kiss him softly. "Besides, it will make you a better Spring."
Jack wrinkles his nose a little. "I mean...you're not wrong. 'Bout any of that. I...guess I'm kinda scared to talk about any of this shit. To someone I don't know." It's clearly hard for him to admit that, and he pulls back from Lux just enough to take a drink.
"It's okay to be scared." They let him pull away, reaching for their own drink to drain. "Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. If it makes you feel better... If you go, I'll reward you?" Their head tips, brows lifting a bit.
The figure who rolls into Club Vertigo is a man who only Jack, of the pair of them, would recognize. He's scrawny, kinda noodly, dressed in a button-down shirt and black vest with black slacks, an actual bowler hat, and a pair of black leather dancing shoes. His eyes are large, almost owlishly so behind his gold-framed glasses. At first, he doesn't seem to notice the pair.
"Okay, see now that makes me feel a little bit like a child." A smile flashes across Jack's face. "If I gotta be rewarded for doing hard shit like seeing a therapist." a beat.
"What'd you have in mind, though...?"
"Hmm... Maybe something related to paints. We haven't done that in a while." They lean against the bar, lips quirking into a smirk. "Or... we could make a night of prowling together. You pick someone for me to take home, I pick someone for you?" Their brows lift, eyeing him to gauge his reaction. But the confident and sharply dressed man catches his attention after a moment, gaze flicking over as he comes closer to the bar.
There's that scribbly bush, scrawled across his cheeks and nose, and Jack grins. "...Fuck, yeah I'm down. Oh - shit -" His gaze follows Lux's, and his grin widens. "Henry, hey!"
"Hey, Jacky-boy. It's a real curve, coming to a place like this and not seeing anyone on the dance floor. Any chance I could drag you around for a romp later?" The accent is New York, not Liverpool, and it comes paired with a tip of his hat before he considers Lux as well. "You'd be welcome too, of course."
"Good. So, make that appointment." Their lips quirk. "Or I will." Their attention turns back to Henry, looking him up and down. "Huh. So you're the one that swept Jack off his feet?"
"Henry, this's Lux - my partner, dancer of an entirely different sort." Jack takes a drink and slides an arm around Lux's waist.
"Oh, really?" Henry gives Lux a slow up and down look, before his lips curl in an unapologetically bright smile. "I'd like to see that."
"Thankfully, I never turn down the opportunity to show off," Lux says with a grin. "Especially if I get to see your moves at the same time?"
Jack gives Lux a pick on the cheek, and a little nudge. "Two've you should go dance. Seriously."
"Jaaack, does that mean you're just going to sit on the side and watch? Awh, such a shame." But the attempt to persuade him is half-hearted; his eyes linger on Lux like a five year old looking at their birthday cake.
"Depends on how much fun I'm having just watching." Jack flashes him a grin before taking another sip of his drink.
Lux is also sizing up Henry curiously, though they nudge Jack. "If you do wanna join, you're welcome to." But they clearly don't mind being watched, either. They slip away from Jack and step closer to Henry. "Jack mentioned you do some sort of swing dancing?"
"I've done a little bit of everything, but I live for electroswing. But, ah, give me a beat and I can come out with just about any style that's been popular within the past hundred years." There's a rakish wink there. "What's your pleasure?"
"Electroswing. Color me curious. Not a style I'm used to, but I wouldn't mind giving it a try. I'm more of a b-boy myself, hip-hop and such. But... I'm flexible." Definitely innuendo there.
While Jack doesn't have anything to add to the conversation, he's clearly enjoying watching the exchange, and watching both of them in general.
"Oh, yeah?" Innuendo received, interest returned. But at the same time, it seems...half-hearted, like the flirting's more for the sake of playing the game and maintaining their attention. It's the dance he's really interested in here.
Lux doesn't seem remotely bothered--if anything, more intrigued. "Mhmm. Let's see if I can keep up with you--show me your favorite moves?" They start out towards the dance floor, glancing back with a perked brow, challenging.
So, Henry begins to move to the beat. His style (at least with the music on hand) draws from popping and locking, sure, but there's also a lot taken from other styles of dance; a moment when he clicks his heels together, a few playful tricks that amount to basically contact juggling his hat, it's all very easy-seeming and playful, pure showmanship--but it's also a display of very fine muscle control and careful timing.
A wide grin spreads over Lux's face as they watch Henry dance. At first they seem to be holding back, reading how he moves, learning the mixture of styles. But once they get a feel for his groove, well--Lux isn't holding back.
It's a shame Henry can't see their lights shining, shifting colors and brightness along with the beat, but they're still eye catching even in their mask. They clearly aren't as experienced with the older styles that Henry is throwing in, relying more on the popping and locking and raw grace--but they still manage to keep up. Though their focus throughout the dance is on him, letting him lead, moving in a way to compliment him.
There's a point at which Henry smirks and tosses them his hat, just to see what they do with it, as he falls into the supporting role in order to let Lux strut their stuff.
If either of them glance back at Jack, half in shadow by the bar, he's nearly forgotten the drink in his hand as he lounges against the bar, just fuckin'...transfixed by the two of them. He's not quite drooling.
Lux catches the hat, twirling it around their fingers before plopping it down onto their head, tilted just so. They accept the lead with confidence and more than a little assertiveness, not afraid of grabbing Henry's hand or moving their arm around his waist, pulling him in close against them or spinning him--picking up the tempo and energy built up more and more until--well, if Henry was alive, he'd likely be sweating. Lux certainly is, and is loving every moment. Still, it's less honed skill--they've clearly not taken any formal classes, all self taught and instinct.
That's alright, Henry's also self-taught. He's just had more time for that self-teaching. Because he's Blushed up, his skin at least looks flushed, and his hand is warm, and he does produce sweat, but there's something about how he fails to tire, and there's a couple moments of pure brilliance in his dancing (where he burns Vitae for physical intensity) that seem to defy the usual possibilities for speed and precision for movement. But this is practically needed to keep up with Lux.
He's clearly having the time of his unlife.
In the end it's Lux that falters first. They, unfortunately, do tire out--but it's a couple songs later, after they've pushed themself to their limits. As a song comes to a close they finally stop, chest heaving and out of breath. They end with Henry dipped down, grinning brightly--then they straighten up and set him back on his feet with a delighted huff. "I... think I need a break. Wow."
Henry laughs, and reclaims his hat, rolling it up an arm and then bouncing it from shoulder to his head. "Wow's right. You, my friend, you know how to hop. C'mon, let's get some water or maybe gatorade into you--you're gonna need it."
As they approach the bar again, Henry grins at Jack. "Well?"
Jack's a little flushed, the drink in his hand once again full, and he gives the two of them a wide grin. "Not gonna lie, 's pretty fucking sexy." He tugs on the front of Lux's flannel shirt, pulling them in for a hard and fast kiss. "I'll even buy you a drink, Henry. 'F you want," he says when he lets Lux go.
"So do you. I've never had someone get me this wound up in a long time," Lux teases with a wink, then follows him over to the bar. They happily let Jack pull them in, hands gripping his hips as they return the hard kiss. "Mm. Very sexy." Lux slides in against the bar beside Jack, leaning over it to order a water from the bartender.
Henry gives Jack a quiet little Look, pushing his glasses up his nose. "I'm not sure you want to offer me a drink, Jack."
He coughs into his rum and coke, and raises his eyebrows at Henry. "Pretty sure you wouldn't wanna take me up on it even if I did."
Lux glances between Henry and Jack, then lifts their water to sip from. "Mm. Yeah. Heard that ended up... bad."
"I haven't tried, not sure I want to. But, uh...I'm fine without a drink for now. Whew, just let me catch my breath, though." Exaggerating, acting like he's tired...relatively poorly.
"When you've...caught your breath..." Jack can't hold back a smile. "Might take you up on the dancing. Probably make a fool of myself, but..."
"Hmm. At some point I'll have to show you what I can really do," Lux says with a grin to Henry. "Got a few more tricks up my sleeve." Another sip before they hip bump Jack. "You should. I'm sure you'll do great."
"I'd like that, yeah." He nods eagerly. "And then maybe we can get Lux's jaw to hit the floor like yours did--don't think I didn't notice."
"Heh." Another little cough into his glass, and he dips his head. "Do my best, gonna be you who makes it look good."
"Go on, babe. Make me swoon," Lux encourages, grinning.
Jack drains his glass and pulls Lux in for another kiss, a little more lingering this time, before heading out onto the floor with Henry.
This time, Henry spends more of the dance in contact with Jack, making a deliberate effort to put him on display for Lux. Yes, technically he may be 'leading', but there's a lot of trust placed in Jack to hold his own. He's still nimble as a fucking ferret, though, moving like a noodle, a slinky, a splash of water as much as a person.
Lux lounges back against the bar, grinning widely as they watch with laser-eyed focus. Though as the dance goes on they squirm a bit, biting their lip as they watch appreciatively.
Jack's clearly working hard. He's got rhythm, that much is easily apparent, and as he dances with Henry he starts to let his tension go a little, his movements becoming looser and more fluid. Far from making him look foolish, he's dancing with abandon now, keeping Henry close. There's a few glances toward Lux, and even a wink, but for the most part he's focused on his dance partner, and his own body.
There's a way to ask questions with nothing more than a smirk and a cocked eyebrow, to look at someone and without words go 'are you ready?' and to answer without physically nodding. As Jack lets go of his inhibitions, these questions become more frequent as Henry steps up. Twirls, complex footwork. There's even a moment when Henry falls into Jack's arms, just asking to be lifted.
The Bright One blinks as the pair starts to twirl and spin, lips curling back into a wider smile. There's warm fondness there, but also entranced. They're not taking their eyes off of the two even for a second.
He doesn't stop to think, and puts his arms around Henry, lifting him into the air for a long moment. It's only after Jack slowly lowers him to the ground that he lets out a surprised sort of laugh, but continues to dance, not afraid to get very much into Henry's personal space. His breathing is a little heavy now, his face and the V of his chest visible flushed with exertion, but he's grinning wide.
"I can hear your heart pounding." This is whispered just for Jack to hear as he goes right back into footwork the moment one of his feet hits the floor.
"Yeah well..." Jack huffs out a self-conscious laugh, as his heartbeat speeds up a touch. The scribbles across his cheeks jump, easy for Lux to see, but he manages not to let his flusteredness affect his dancing all that much. It's fast and loose now, as he continues to follow Henry's lead.
"It's nice."
It's just as Jack's energy begins to flag that Henry stops. "C'mon--I think your partner wants to tell you how hot that was."
Lux is indeed staring at the pair with hunger, still chewing slowly at their lip. For Jack, their glow has turned into a more orangish tone--for Henry, they just look flushed and their heart is definitely beating a little faster.
Jack takes the excuse to stop with a nod and a grateful smile, and eyes Lux a little hungrily. "...They just might." It's clearly an understatement. If Henry allowed, Jack will keep a loose arm around his waist as they return to the bar, though his attention is fully on his partner.
"Enjoy the show?"
Henry does allow the contact, quite at ease once he's danced with someone, but he holds his tongue, watching the interplay between the Changelings for now.
"That was... probably one of the hottest things I've ever seen," they reply, grinning. They don't tug Jack away from Henry, but they do lean in once Jack is close enough to press their lips against his jaw, lingering a second before leaning back to smirk at Henry. "That was a delight. Thank you. I think you're the best dancer I've ever met."
"Well. It's just about all I do, most nights. I even do dance contests, you know? Lots of time and experience goes into making a one-trick pony."
Even with an arm around Henry, Jack can't resist melting into Lux just a little, and gives them a soft kiss before flagging the bartender down for a bottle of water and another rum and coke.
"Love to see you compete sometime. Bet you wipe the floor with most anyone."
"What styles do you do when you're competing?" Lux pulls back to lean once again against the bar, though there's still some eye fucking going on as they stare at Jack.
"Latin ballroom, contemporary, electroswing. My partner's best with Latin--dance partner only, she's not...we're not a thing."
Lux blinks as Henry clarifies, then snickers. "Got it. Hmm... yeah, you'll have to let us know when you have a competition. We'd love to come watch, cheer you on."
"I'd like that a lot. Though I only compete at night, you know?" The way he looks at Lux after saying that is a check-in: 'did Jack mention?'
Lux smirks, then waves a hand. "Yeah, I know. That's not a problem. I'm pretty nocturnal, myself."
"Ah, nice. Maybe I'll run into you two again, around places like this." He grins. "It's good to be around folx that aren't all stuffy and half-dead, sometimes, you know?"
Jack takes a swig of water with a contented sigh, and disentangles himself from Henry to lounge against the bar.
"Hell, text me if you want us to come out with you and we'll probably be down." He looks at Lux to confirm, and slides against the side of the bar until he's leaned against them.
"Definitely not half dead." Their head tips. "Yeah, for sure. Want my number too? I'd love to dance again sometime."
"I'd like that a lot." He nods, pulling out a Definitely Outdated phone that would make Mearcstapa weep.
Lux eyes the old phone, but doesn't comment. They pull out their own to poke at, then lists off a number.
Lux gets a text back:
🕺 Henry Moynihan
"'F you two go out dancing I wanna know, just so I can watch." He grins at the two of them and plants a kiss on Lux's shoulder.
"Will do. I think I'm going to leave you lovebirds be, now, though." He's grinning wickedly. "Make the best of the mood, while you're in it."
Lux snorts in amusement, saving the number then tucking the phone away. Once their hands are free they wrap their arms around Jack's waist, pulling him in close. "Mm, no worries about that. Nice meeting you, Henry. Take care."
"See you 'round, Henry. Glad we ran into you." Jack melts into Lux's arms a little, the combination of exertion and alcohol making him a little floppy.
Lux watches Henry go, then starts to kiss along the side of Jack's neck. "Shall we head home?"
Jack's breath catches, and he shivers. "Dunno 'f we'll make it there...prob'ly should get outta here, though."
"Lets at least get somewhere private. Or else I'm going to be dragging you into the bathroom." Lux grins, nipping at his neck--then pulls out enough cash to cover drinks and a tip before pulling Jack off to the door.
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