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Scene takes place on 8/4/20
Aurelio Menegi: While the rain poured outside the kilns of the glass studio kept those within comfortably warm, even one particular artisan who carried around his own natural heater thanks to the touch of Summer upon him. His last project of the day was resting in the annealing oven as the Torrent went about cleaning his station, sparing the deluge outside a glance now and again as he worked.
Jack Martingale: Fortunately for Jack, he chose to take the bus this evening, rather than his motorcycle. Unfortunately, SEPTA and the driving rain rarely mix well, and he shows up at the studio looking quite a bit less put together, and quite a lot more dripping wet, than he'd planned. And umbrella is nonexistent, and at least he's got an outer layer that's not his fancy leather jacket. It doesn't look like a raincoat, though, and he runs his fingers through his wet hair, shaking his hand off on the ground as he uses the other to knock on the doorframe.
Wet as it is, his mien is actually slightly smeared.
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio looked up at the knock, smiling warmly as he motioned Jack inside. "Quite the storm, no? You alright, barring the wet?"
Jack Martingale: "'S a fucking mess out there, fuck..." Jack shakes his head, water flying out from his hair, and stands just inside the door, dripping. "Knew it was coming, still didn't think it'd be this bad. Thank fuck I didn't bring my bike out today..." He shudders at the thought. "Been...decent. Yeah. A little surprising, given the whole bullshit with the tree an' all, but. You know how it goes. Shit go alright on your end?"
He gives Aurelio a once-over. Appreciating the man, sure, but there's a layer there that's maybe new. Like he's making sure Aurelio is alright.
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio appeared hale and hearty in all aspects, showing no physical issues as he went about finishing up for the evening. "Some close calls, including me, but we held our own until the tree calmed. Was looked over after and patched up."
Jack Martingale: "Good. I um. Mmm." Jack raises a hand to his hair again, distracted, and there's a flash of a bright ring around his finger. Not large, but eye catching.
Hedgespun.
"My - boyfriend and my partner and I - we got engaged." His smile is warm, but he looks...a little guilty? A little nervous, definitely. "Lux proposed, and it doesn't - we're not closing the relationship or anything, but. Thoughtyoushouldknow." He says the last bit to the floor, clearly preparing for the worst. "Totally get it if it changes shit."
Aurelio Menegi: Pale eyes went towards the ring as it drew attention to itself by its own nature, a curious look forming. As Jack gave the explanation there was a brief pause before he offered a smile, nodding quietly. "Is a good thing, and good to know. i was wed before I was Taken and it brought happy times. May it do the same for you, and i am good to add my own part to it."
Jack Martingale: "...Thank you." It comes out in a bit of a relieved, if confused, rush. "I'm - I'm sorry you lost that, yourself...." Jack follows Aurelio's eyes, and takes a few steps forward to show him the ring. In the center of a dark band that shimmers with subtle rainbow is the focal point - a glittering rainbow opal that's impossible to ignore. "Lux made one for each of us - all a little different. They did a stunning job." Jack's cheeks scrawl with scribbles, and his smile is warm and adoring as he talks.
Aurelio Menegi: "Welcome. As I said before, I am fine to be a spoke on the wheel if it means being a part of it." He moved forward to look over the ring when it was shown, nodding with approval. "Impressive...spun, no?"
Jack Martingale: "Mhm. No more sneaking around without Light Shy." Jack grins, happy to flaunt the thing a little - and offer his hand for Aurelio a closer look. "Did you finish up that commissioned piece with the ravens?"
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio took the offered hand to look the ring over further, the chill of the marble as bracing as always if not more so in Jack's current state. "I did, yes, and they were quite pleased."
Jack Martingale: Jack can't hold back a slight shudder at the cold stone, but doesn't pull his hand away. "That's good. You uh...got any plans, for the evening? Prob'ly should'a texted first, but I was..." he gestures vaguely. "Kinda...in the area. Figured I'd stop by at least, even if you're busy."
Aurelio Menegi: A note of concern flashed across the Torrent's stony features at the shudder, smoothing back out when Jack didn't pull away. "Nothing of note, no. If you...wish to come over you may. Since you are here and whatnot."
Jack Martingale: Jack smirks, and raises his eyebrows. "You just saying that to be polite?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Not just." Aurelio shook his head, his own expression a mix of hesitant and hopeful. "I would enjoy your company if you wish to give it."
Jack Martingale: "I"m here, aren't I? Showed up on your doorstep without even texting first. What's that say about how I feel about your company?" Jack twines his fingers with Aurelio's and tugs on the man's ,pulling him close.
"How d'you feel about..." he pauses, his mouth centimeters from Aurelio's ear, and glances around the place. "...semi-public displays of affection?"
Aurelio Menegi: The Torrent moved along with the tug, smirking at the whispered words. The studio was mostly empty at this point, what with the current hour and the weather, so what was the harm? "No issue there..."
Jack Martingale: Jack tightens his hand around Aurelio's before twisting it behind the man's back. Not to hurt, not at all, but to hold the Elemental tightly around the waist. His mouth presses against his jaw, then hard against his lips, his hair still trailing water down his cheeks.
"I'm glad you're safe," he mutters when he pulls away, his smile a little sheepish, now.
Aurelio Menegi: There was a brief moment of tension at the sudden movement, but as the embrace revealed itself and the kisses followed Aurelio relaxed into both, returning the kiss on the lips in kind. Looking over the kiss on his jawline would show a faint layer of frost from the water hitting that cold stone, melting away in short order thanks to the warmth of the kilns. "And i you." he replied with a small smile. "Give a moment to finish and we can go, hmm?
Jack Martingale: "Not sure how long I can wait..." Jack flashes Aurelio a grin, but lets him go after another lingering kiss.
"Any clever ideas for keeping me warm, between the rain and...you?" Jack watches him return to his work, open desire on his face as scribbles darken on his cheeks.
Aurelio Menegi: "Can think of a few..." he replied with a small smirk, stepping back to his station to tidy up the last few things and make sure that the kiln was properly shut down for the evening. "One reason I joined the Spear, after all."
Jack Martingale: "Oh?" Jack's eyebrows go up a little, like he's actually curious now, rather than just openly flirting with the man. "I know your mantle is warm, what else can you do?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Can invoke either heat or cold as the Sun gives or takes, although it can be...overbearing in close spaces. Don't use it too much off the field."
Jack Martingale: "Ah...I'm having visions of a sauna. I don't hate the sound of that." Jack grins and leans against the wall.
Aurelio Menegi: "Is more brutal than that, usually...think desert at high noon. Handy to...think the phrase is throw others off their game, yes?"
Jack Martingale: "Less helpful, for warming me up then. Ah well. A hot shower'll work just as well." Jack winks.
Aurelio Menegi: "indeed." Aurelio smirked, glancing out the door at the rain again. "Will be two showers, then...not opposed, mind."
Jack Martingale: Jack laughs, and pushes away from the wall to stand upright. "The one out there's getting pretty cold, honestly. You ready? How...far away is your place?"
Aurelio Menegi: "A block north, not too bad." Aurelio nodded, finishing up the clean-up of his station. "Ready."
Jack Martingale: When it's clear that Aurelio's finished, Jack strides over to pull him into a deep kiss. He's shivering slightly, but it doesn't stop him from sliding his hands up the back of Aurelio's shirt and catching his lower lip in his teeth.
"Mmmm...I've never been one for delayed gratification..." he mutters into Aurelio's ear with a grin. "I gotta wait a whole block to do this?"
Aurelio Menegi: If anything, the rush of warmth from the Torrent's mantle as they met in that kiss likely helped to ease the chill, Aurelio smiling as he looked down to the Darkling. "Patience is a virtue, they say...think you can manage."
Jack Martingale: "Yeah but I don't wanna." Jack chuckles, his breath hot against Aurelio's ear, and he drags his fingernails gently down the man's back. "There's so much we could get up to, in here..." As he talks, he starts to walk, pushing Aurelio back toward one of the exterior walls. Maybe looking where he's going. Hopefully.
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio did move back a step or two but turned as to walk beside Jack instead, still looking amused nonetheless. "Better at my place than here. Come."
Jack Martingale: "Fine..." Jack doesn't seem particularly upset about it, and disentangles an arm so that Aurelio can walk beside him. The other stays under the man's shirt, wrapped tight around his waist, and he sneaks in a quick kiss to Aurelio's neck as they make their way to the door.
"Fuck...I was hoping the rain would pass a little..." The Darkling grimaces as he opens the door to see the downpour of rain, falling in sheets and practically obscuring the other side of the street. "Dunno 'f it's even worth trying to run."
Aurelio Menegi: "Doubtful...will get soaked either way." Aurelio looked out over the rain, then back to Jack with a small smirk. "Onward?"
Jack Martingale: "Onward," Jack says with a sigh, and steps out into the rain. He'd gone from dripping to damp, while in the studio, but even a moment in the storm completely reverses that. He can't keep back a swear, and then a laugh, and he offers his hand to Aurelio. "You gotta lead, I don't know where the fuck we're going."
Aurelio Menegi: The deluge soaked the Torrent as well in short order, although he didn't seem to mind it much as he took the offered hand and lead the way. "Is not too far."
And indeed, the pair would get to the apartment in short order, with Aurelio opening the door and letting Jack inside first. "After you."
Jack Martingale: While Jack doesn't run, he certainly keeps the pace up, and he's grinning and sputtering by the time he ducks into Aurelio's apartment. His charcoal silhouette has actually begun to smear, so thorough was the soaking. He takes a moment to appreciate no longer being rained on before looking around the place, curious as to how the glassblower lives.
Aurelio Menegi: For Aurelio's part the lingering water was rapidly turning to slush, the icy layers running down towards the wooden flooring as they got inside. The apartment was of a decent size and kept neat, entering into a living room area with a kitchen beyond and doors along one wall that likely went into the bedroom and whatnot. The electronics were older but still serviceable - TV in the corner, closed laptop on the kitchen table, that sort of thing - and a small collection of drawings and other art dotted the walls here and there.
He looked over the now-smudgy Jack with a small smirk, making sure he was alright. "You good?"
Jack Martingale: "Could use a towel. And/or a shower." Jack raises his eyebrows with a smirk. "With or without company, to either of those." He watches the ice run down Aurelio's marble skin, clearly fascinated. While his sketched form is smeared, the water that's dripping onto the floorboards is clear enough, and he bends down to take off his boots after a few long seconds of...well. Eyefucking Aurelio, let's just call it what it is.
Aurelio Menegi: Jack had a decent view, too, what with the water plastering Aurelio's t-shirt firmly to his person. The Torrent smirked and tilted his head towards one of the doors on the back wall before heading towards it, revealing the bathroom beyond it when opened. He offered one of the towels to start, leaning against the sink as he started to dry himself off.
Jack Martingale: Jack happily accepts the towel, and peels off his equally wet shirt because really, what's the point?
His tattoo sleeve continues across his upper chest to his collarbone, and he's got two horizontal scars running across his chest. Top surgery scars, if Aurelio is familiar. There's also a line of text tattooed across his ribs, and while he's not like, weightlifter built, he's pretty fit.
"So. Shower or no? If not I'm happy to like...grubhub something, make someone else deal with the rain." He towels his hair off as he speaks.
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio took a moment to look over Jack's tattoos - and the rest of him, admittedly - as they were shown off, briefly giving the scars a curious look. "Not opposed, but I tend to keep the water hot so I actually feel it. Would not want you to be uncomfortable for my sake."
Jack Martingale: Jack winks when he catches Aurelio staring, his grin widening. "Mmm...I'll make the shower quick, then. Might have to borrow a pair of sweats or something, unless you've got a dryer handy?"
Aurelio Menegi: "I have both, although the pants may be a bit long for you if you borrow..." He eyed the height difference between them with a small smirk. "Up to you."
Jack Martingale: "Is it too far for me to ask you to throw my boxers and shirt in, at least? I'll take a pair of your sweats, I don't mind them being baggy. An' I'm just gonna..." Jack trails off and goes to unbutton his pants, pausing to raise his eyebrows at Aurelio. Making sure the man is, in fact, okay with Jack just stripping in front of him.
Aurelio Menegi: "Of course." Aurelio nodded, smirking a touch at the sudden pause before making an 'after you' motion with his hand.
Jack Martingale:Jack grins and continues to strip, making a damn good show of it.
"You know..." He murmurs after he's fully nude, "if you don't mind the cold, you could always join me and then turn the heat up afterward..." He takes a step toward Aurelio, enough to slide an arm around his waist and press him against the sink.
Aurelio Menegi: That stony facade was thoroughly cracked by the time Jack was done, with the Torrent very clearly enjoying the view. He looked down to Jack with a sly smile, giving a nod as he lifted a hand to gently brush Jack's cheek. "Think I'd be alright with that..."
Jack Martingale: There are other ways, besides scalding hot water, to heat up a shower, and Jack is very eager to help. Stopping if Aurelio seems uncomfortable, but otherwise...a thoroughly enjoyable shower.
Jack steps out to dry himself off and hunt down the dryer while Aurelio finishes washing up, and then settles himself on the couch to wait for the other man, a towel wrapped around his waist.
Aurelio Menegi: Truth be told Aurelio seemed more concerned about Jack's comfort than his own, knowing all too well the cold that came with his touch. Once it was clear that the Darkling was doing alright he allowed himself to enjoy it more easily, indulging in a type of touch that he had been deprived of for quite some time.
The Torrent emerged from the bathroom a few minutes after Jack, a towel tucked into place around his waist and the pair's still-damp clothing draped over one arm. "One moment to get these drying and I'll be back."
Jack Martingale: "Mmmm..." Jack's mien is still a little smudge from the water, and scribbles still occasionally dance across his cheeks and arms as he nods. "Want me to grubhub something? I don't do spicy, but apart from that pretty much anything goes.
Aurelio Menegi: "Same, in truth, although spice isn't an issue." He smirked a touch. "There's a good Chinese place down the road, if that would do."
Jack Martingale: "Good to know. Fuck me, I am very much not looking forward to having to brave the rain to get back home..." He pulls his phone out to grub the hub while Aurelio puts clothes in the dryer, and pats the couch next to him once he's back.
"I hope you had as good a time as I did...kinda looks like you might've..." He grins.
Aurelio Menegi: "Would offer to give a lift, but being on a motorcycle wouldn't help much as far as keeping dry." Off to the laundry room Aurelio went, getting their things in the dryer and whatnot. After a brief divert to his bedroom to grab sweatpants for them to change into he returned to the living room, smirking in kind at the comment. "I did, yes."
Jack Martingale: "I know you mentioned your...discomfort with being tactile, given what They made you and how other folx tend to see it, I...hope that's eased, at least a little bit?" Jack shifts to lounge back into the couch, offering an open arm for Aurelio to cuddle.
"Figured we wouldn't have gotten up to much, if it was still a big sticking point, but I wanted to check."
Aurelio Menegi: "It has. Was more worried about you being uncomfortable, in truth." Aurelio took a seat beside Jack, leaning against him a bit as he got settled. "Once I knew you were good it was easier."
Jack Martingale: Jack kisses Aurelio's bare shoulder, and his silhouette shudders slightly at the temperature. "Nah, definitely not uncomfortable. The mix of hot and cold is something else. I'm into it." Another soft kiss, this time on Aurelio's lips. "You know. In case you couldn't tell."
Aurelio Menegi: Aurelio smiled at the kisses, returning the second gladly. "Good...glad you enjoyed."
Jack Martingale: "I'd definitely be up for it again. We don't even have to get caught in a rainstorm, first..." Jack chuckles and reaches for one of the pairs of sweatpants, standing with a groan and unceremoniously dropping the towel. He does give Aurelio a wink, but it's not like the man didn't just see him naked for an extended period of time.
The sweatpants are a little large, hanging low on Jack's hips, but he settles back down on the couch with a sigh.
"So...aside from taking home unexpected visitors at your studio, how d'you spend your time when you're not working?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Indeed..." Aurelio nodded, watching as Jack got up and smirking at the wink that followed. He took a moment to stand and get at least partially dressed in kind, grabbing the towels and putting them to the side for the time being before settling back down on the couch. "Training with the others in the Spear, although one could see that as work as well, and getting to know those here in the neighborhood. Most have families who have been here for some time but others are new as well, so is a good mix all around."
Jack Martingale: "Fuck, I should probably try to get to know my neighbors, huh..." Jack drapes an arm around Aurelio's shoulders. "Never been one for that sort'a thing, but then I've never really been in one place for a long time. It's weird as hell, feeling like I can really settle in somewhere, you know?"(edited)
Aurelio Menegi: "Not so, but the only time I truly left Venice was when I came here." Aurelio replied as he relaxed against Jack, getting nice and cozy. "It is a good thing to have, though...a place to call home, and people to share it with."
Jack Martingale: "Oh sure - still kinda surreal. There's always gonna be a part of me that's worried it'll all up and disappear, but until then..." Jack pulls Aurelio in, tucking his feet under him to snuggle close. "Trying to make the best of what I've got."
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