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Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio was quite pleased with how his latest project had turned out, and now that it was done it was time to give it to its intended recipient. Thus Jack received a call from the Torrent, inviting him over to his apartment at his earliest convenience.
Jack Martingale: At Jack's earliest convenience is, in fact, this afternoon, and he shows up on his bike, bundled up against the chilly day.
It's not snowing, at least?
He takes his helmet off at the door and snuggles down into his scarf a little more thoroughly, his hands shoved into his pockets as he stamps the snow off his boots.
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio had been waiting by the building's front door for Jack's arrival, it seemed, opening it not long after Jack cleared his boots. He gave the Darkling a smile and ushered him inside, opening the door for his apartment and letting him head in first. "Thanks for coming by. Doing well, I hope?"
Jack Martingale: Jack pulls the elemental in for a quick kiss when he opens the door, his lips a little chilled despite being under a helmet. Though presumably not nearly at cold at Aurelio's.
"Pretty well, yeah. Work's been pretty slow, thank fuck. And I'm always up for stopping by, what's the occasion? Or did you just wanna see me?" He turns to grin as he unwinds his scarf from his neck and remove his coat. The cold leather protests with a slight creak as he does.
Aurelio Menegi: The kiss was happily returned, a smile on the Torrent's lips as Jack took off his winter wear. "Both to see you, and because I have something for you." He motioned towards the kitchen table which houses a hinged wooden box, simple in design but well-made nonetheless.
Jack Martingale: There's a few moments of silence, after Aurelio says that, like Jack's been caught totally and completely off guard. "...Oh yeah?" he finally says, eyeing the box with a mixture of intense curiosity and wariness.
"Does it make me sound like an asshole if I ask...why? Like...I didn't forget some occasion did I?" A self conscious laugh bursts from his lips as his silhouette jumps and flickers.
Aurelio Menegi: "You didn't, no." Aurelio chuckled, shaking his head. "No worries there."
When opened the box revealed a stained glass piece about six inches wide on each side with the IATSE logo done in pale greens and gold with darker green vines working their way up the sides and white flowers blooming here and there from them. "In honor of becoming Emissary." Aurelio said with a smile, a hint of nervousness in his voice and bearing as he waited for Jack's reaction. "Hope that you find it fitting."
Jack Martingale: Jack just kinda...stares, down at the piece of glasswork, not saying anything.
His Mien, on the other hand, is going absolutely haywire, charcoal lines dancing around his form and scribbling across his cheeks and neck. The faint sound of birdsong trills a little louder than usual, and the smell of an oncoming spring rainstorm is almost overwhelming.
"I...fuck me, Aurelio, 's stunning," he whispers after a few long moments, glancing up at the man as is face warms with a smile. "Like...Jesus Christ..."
Aurelio Menegi: Relief - and no small bit of pride - quickly washed away that initial nervousness as Jack looked his way, the swirl of his own Mantle sending a rush of warm air through the room. "It is something worth celebrating, and I know how much work you put into it. Was the least I could do."
Jack Martingale: "C'mere." Jack doesn't wait for an answer before he grabs the other man, pulling him into a tight embrace and kissing his neck, his jaw, his cheek. His lips.
"It's...perfect. You're perfect," he says when he pulls away, a little breathless. "I know exactly where I'm gonna hang it up - thank you, you..." he swallows whatever he was going to say. "Thank you."
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio slid his arms around Jack as the Darkling pulled him close, his smile wide as he looked down to meet his gaze. "You are welcome. I owe you thanks in kind, for opening paths I did not think I could walk again."
Jack Martingale: "What, like this one where you let people hug you?" Jack grins and stands on tiptoe to kiss the man's nose. "And kiss you?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Mmm...indeed." He smirked at the kiss, leaning in to give a proper one back in kind. "You cut through the cold in ways nothing else has, and I am grateful for it."
Jack Martingale: "That's how Springs work, babe," Jack says with a smile, "I knew what I wanted, even if it meant having to get a little chilly. Worth it." He gives Aurelio another lingering kiss before pulling away.
"And Springs also treat their partners to delivery sometimes - or at least this Spring does. If you're hungry?" He cocks his head.
Aurelio Menegi: "I could eat, yes." Aurelio nodded, letting that first point linger for a moment before continuing. "Did I ask before what drew you to the Verdant?"
Jack Martingale: "Nah, we haven't talked about it much. I...felt like the best way to start over, for me. To forget about the past, to build a new life, to live. Even if I didn't know what I wanted, what desire really meant, at the time..."
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio gave another small nod. "I took up the Spear to have a purpose, adrift as I was when I returned. As of late, though, I am coming to wonder if it is the best fit."
Jack Martingale: "Oh yeah?" Jack disentangles himself from the other man to lean back against the table. "I almost went Winter, myself. Thought about it for the whole season before I finally made up my mind. Still wonder how I'd have turned out. What're your thoughts, about fitting?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Hmm...hard to see you as an Arrow." He shook his head at the thought, then looked back to Jack. "As the days go I have felt more like an artist who protects instead of a warrior who creates, if you follow."
Jack Martingale: "Nothing wrong with leaning into the protective shit, doesn't mean you gotta change your court, yeah? But yeah, I think I kinda get what you mean. The difference between someone like Lux and someone like Sigrun, kinda?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Mmm. Her and Arthur come to mind."
Jack Martingale: Jack nods. "Where d'you think you might fit better, if not there?"
Aurelio Menegi: "With the Verdant, most likely. I am no strega, and sorrow holds no allure for me." He smiled a touch as he looked Jack over. "A bit of you rubbing off on me, perhaps. Not a bad thing, though."
Jack Martingale: "There's a joke in there about rubbing you off, but this is a serious conversation so I'm not gonna make it..." Jack can't help but grin. "Tell me about your desire, then. What's the draw, what do you want to be?" He reaches out to brush his fingertips along Aurelio's jaw.
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio chuckled, leaning into that gentle touch. "To be known for what I make, for honoring my father's teachings and carrying them into a new world. There I was shaped to hurt, to draw the life from others, and it grates against everything I am."
Jack Martingale: "Ah." This, Jack seems to understand well, given the way he nods, and the way he stands a little more upright, to pull Aurelio in again. "It was...endless war, for me, over there. I don't plan to pick up a weapon ever again." There's a slight hardness to his voice. "I know someone's gotta, but...if being a warrior doesn't feel right anymore..." His kiss is soft, barely a brush of his lips against the other Changeling's, "then hold onto that. Nurture the protector - you can do that, as a Spring. Hell, you can do it as a Summer, too, but...yeah." He leans in to kiss Aurelio's cheek, then his shoulder, and is quiet for a few moments.
"You thought about it enough to talk to the crowns, or is that still a ways away?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Sorry to hear...that sort of place does not suit you either." He returned that light kiss on the lips, letting out a quiet breath as Jack continued. "Not yet. Is still just a seed...waiting to see how it grows."
Jack Martingale: "I dunno 'f it's a blessing that I can't remember more of it, or a curse because I sure as hell can remember my time in the Army Ironside, and it feels worse 'n Over There sometimes," Jack mutters with a slightly bitter chuckle.
"I'm always up for listening, if you need to talk it over more. Not techically my job anymore - as a Spring. It's absolutely my job as your boyfriend." He smiles against Aurelio's shoulder. "An' I'll even try not to be too biased - you would complete my seasonal collection, if you switched, though..." he pulls away with a wide grin and hops up to sit on the table, pulling Aurelio between his legs.
Aurelio Menegi: "Don't remember much either. Just darkness and the cold as it crept in, having to take what warmth I could from others."
He shook his head, smirking a touch as Jack tugged him close once he was settled on the table, looping his arms around the Darkling's shoulders. "That so. Would be...what is term, hat trick?"
Jack Martingale: "Honestly, I have no clue," Jack says with a laugh. "An accomplishment. Way too many partners. Depends on who you ask." Another laugh, and another kiss. "I've got...there are five of you now. Somehow."
Aurelio Menegi: "You're a good man, and others see that." He smiled warmly, gladly returning the kiss. "Can't fault them for falling for you."
Jack Martingale: "I'm a hot mess, is what I am," Jack returns with a grin. "But I try. And I guess I must be doing something right...? Since I'm here, and you're here..."
Aurelio Menegi: "Very right indeed." Aurelio lifted a hand to gently stroke Jack's cheek, the smile still in place. "And I am glad to have been able to meet you."
Jack Martingale: Scribbles follow Aurelio's cold hand, and Jack leans in to kiss him again, his hands sliding down into the back pockets of Aurelio's jeans, pulling him closer. "Same. I...mm. I know I said I wanted to order food, but...I have a feeling the delivery person's gonna show up at exactly the wrong time..."
Aurelio Menegi: "Mmm...true. Would hate to be interrupted." A sly smirk snuck onto Aurelio's face, a swirl of warm air wrapping around the pair. "Can wait a bit, I think..."
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