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A coffee spot for three Changelings. And since it's early morning and at least two of them have just crawled out of a nice, warm bed, Chelle at the urging of Mikey, he's on coffee buying duty. To that end he's currently at the counter sorting three coffees and hoping he's got Mearc's preferences right, fur still a little ruffled from general sleepiness.
Chelle looks barely awake, holding down a table while she waits for Michael. She stifles a yawn. "I hope he brings me a bagel," she mutters to herself, before stifling another.
Mearc, on the contrary, looks like he slept well, and woke up with enough time to take a good shower and become a person again, instead of a coffee-craving blob. His hair is neatly combed, and he's dressed in his usual bland colors with cargo pants and that same brown messenger bag as usual. As he walks in, there's a brief glance around the cafe before he heads for Michelle at the table. "Is something wrong? Do you need help with something?"
Lurching over and somehow managing to avoid dropping or spilling anything on the way, Michael flops into a seat next to Chelle, setting out three large coffees and, yes, a bagel each, stuffed with cheese and certainly unhealthy. He kisses Chelle's cheek, waving at Mearc. "Hey." He offers, blinking slowly in slightly sluggish greeting. "Thanks for coming by."
"I don't know." Chelle smiles groggily at Mearc before tilting her head in a gesture of pointing at Michael. "It was Michael's idea. Ooh, thanks, hon." She kisses his cheek in return, and slowly works at becoming human-shaped instead of jello.
Mearc's attention turns to Michael, and it's probably clear he's misunderstood the tone of this meeting, his red freckles fading back to leave the green shining bright. "What's going on and what do you need me to do?"
"Oh, er, nothing major. Nothing you've not done." He answers, patting Chelle's arm as she works on becoming more human. "I filled Chelle in on what you told me. Haven't got any news as yet, but, working. But, just figured it'd be good to touch base with us all, say hi, chat, that kinda thing." A light smile.
Chelle also smiles. "It's okay," she mumbles, trying to be soothing.
"...oh, this is a social call. Alright." He lets out a small laugh and finally takes his coffee, curiously sniffing to see what Michael got him, as his freckles level out again.
"I know you challenged me to see what I could find out about the catering." Michael chuckles. "And I will. And this is social, yeah. But also, me thinking it's kinda, er, practice, for seeing how we can work together on this sort of stuff. Not that it's not important, but, I'm flexing a whole lotta muscles I don't normally use."
Chelle listens, sipping her drink and nibbling at her bagel. She kind of stares a little foggily as the two talk, but she's there.
"I see." Mearc nods slowly, sipping his coffee. "It does get easier over time, especially as you build up your network."
"I'll be doing that. I can also quietly tap into the ones others have. But that's kinda the practice thing." He smiles ruefully. "Anyhow, shop talk aside, you've been good Mearc? Aside from tossing texts about, not really seen you since we last met up. Which.. makes sense, as that's when we last met up."
Chelle grins vaguely at Michel's words. "Almost coherent," she mumbles to no one in particular.
"I've been fine. Busy with work, as well as continuing to try and figure out what to do about the Fashion Show. Lux knows about the protesters and the food, I think I mentioned. And I have some red-team work around town that I think I might be on this weekend. But I'm good." He rakes a hand back through his hair. "And you two? Staying safe?"
"I'm always 'almost' coherent love." Michael teases Chelle, squeezing her hand. "Have you ever found me utterly sensical?" He doesn't see to care that that's not really a word. "Lux." A click of his tongue before he glances at Chelle. "I've not met them yet, I think?" He smiles at Mearc. "We're both very good. Staying both happy and safe, mm?" Another light squeeze of Chelle's hand, a good sip of coffee.
"I like Lux." Chelle leans into Michael, smiling. "And yes, we're both happy and healthy and safe." Her distant, tired smile turns to Mearc next, focusing on him. "how are you doing overall?"
He blinks a few times. "I've been fine. Busy with work." He's repeating himself, but this time the tone's different, like a student unsure of what answer the teacher is looking for.
Chelle blinks at Mearc, looking at him more sharply as she finishes waking up. "Socially, hon."
Michael nods to Chelle, letting her take the lead and taking a few bites of his bagel as he listens quietly.
Mearc frowns. "Oh, context. Also fine. I may end up going to a Passover seder next month. Perhaps two. And I swear my interest in the fashion show started from a social standpoint. Um. I'm not lonely, if that's what you're asking."
Chelle smiles. "I'm Joyeux," she says softly, kindly. "I just fret. It's what I do."
Michael smiles himself. "And we like to make sure our fellows are all good, yes. And, we're both kinda into the Fashion Show for somewhat social reasons too. Though we are taking your advice and going to an Italian beforehand." He nods at Mearc. "A Passover sedar sounds a good way to spend time with some of the local community, maybe meet a few new faces? And, it's good to hear you're not lonely." He smiles again, more coffee downed. "Thank you for your help before, by the way." He tells Mearc.
"You're welcome? I mean...uhm. Sure, you're welcome." He seems to decide to just go with it, nodding a couple times.
Chelle grins a little, abashedly. "I'm sorry." She's obviously embarrassed as she finishes her bagel and sips at her coffee.
He smiles ruefully, leaning back and ducking his head. "Also sorry. But, not sorry for chatting at you. It's good to catch up and you're good company."
"Wait. What...are you two apologizing for? I'm completely lost here."
"I worry too much." Chelle waves a hand. "I apologized for that."
"And I talk at people a whole lot, sometimes too much in one go. That's my own apology."
"Springs." He huffs softly, shaking his head with a bit of a smile. "I'm not offended by either of those things, particularly, though I definitely don't feel it's necessary for anyone to worry about my social life or lack thereof. I am content, and it's not really a priority for me. As for my response to being thanked, I didn't see sharing my information and helping you, necessarily, as something I was doing for you, so much as for the good of the event as a whole. It was not really a personal favor, as I was viewing it, and didn't require thanks."
Chelle nods. She doesn't quite understand, it's evident in her eyes, but she's trying. That's the important bit, right?
Michael nods himself, chewing his lip in thought. "Not just for the information you sent me, but, for the advice you gave us both. or my part, that made me realize a lot. And, it may hopefully help me help others, but, still good for me too."
"Aha." A nod. "Well, I look forward to seeing what both of you manage to do with that advice."
Chelle smiles softly. "I've already started writing lyrics again."
"You'll see, I hope." He smiles at Mearc, nodding at Chelle. "Oh, and I've a list of suggested venues you might like to approach, on that note."
Mearc nods, and gives Chelle a small smile. "If you end up following the path of some of the pro-union music, you might want to work with a Wisp I met recently, Jack? He's dealing with some of that firsthand; throwing your support fully behind him and his cause may help."
"Do you? Yay!" Chelle says, bouncing a bit in her seat as she looks at Michael. Then she looks at Mearc with a grin, crooked and amused. "Jack? I probably know him. He's my sound guy if it's who I'm thinking of."
"Ah. Then you probably definitely can help him, then." Mearc finally takes his bagel and begins to nibble at it.
Chelle nods. "We help each other. He's my best friend."
"Good. I think he'll probably need friends coming up. I think the rabbi planned some interviews with him, and someone supporting him might do well, because he was definitely nervous about being the one to do the talking."
Chelle winces lightly. "That's not something he's a big fan of, yeah."
"Then he might need you." Mearc makes as close to direct eye contact as he can (with voids instead of eyes).
Michelle nods. "I'll reach out today," she promises Mearc.
Mearc nods, sitting back. "You should have seen the look on his face when Lux tried to convince him to come to karaoke next time. Hoooom."
Chelle laughs. "He hates singing. Isn't very good, either," says the Nightsinger. "But he also fights stage fright, from what I've seen."
Blink. "I was told the point of karaoke isn't to try to be good."
"It's not the point. But that doesn't help some people's stage fright."
"Aha. It helped me a little, but I suppose I'm not in the same position." He concentrates on his bagel for a moment. Nom-nom-nom.
Chelle also falls silent, and looks sidelong at the quiet fox beside her.
"Jack's pretty cool." Michael speaks up, smiling warmly at Chelle. "And, indeed, no one's good at karaoke. That's part of the fun, but I can understand someone being nervous on a stage. I wonder if he might be happier with instruments, where he's not front and centre?"
"I think he might be too busy with union activity and trying to join the leadership of his organization--something about an election?--to pick up an instrument, if he doesn't already know one."
"I can't answer that for him," Chelle says with a smile to her partner. And then she taps her nose in Mearc's direction.
A nod to them both. "Y'know." He muses quietly. "I keep thinking about motley stuff.. time to time. Nothing terribly solid though."
Mearc raises an eyebrow. "Motley stuff?"
"Yes. I mean, it sounds like us three, others,a re getting more involve in evens, campaigns, like Jack's work too." A rueful smile. "I've not really nabbed any decent thoughts there, just, pretty vague wanderings, like how more unified efforts might do."
"I'm not certain a motley with you two would be compatible with my personal goals at this time."
That sounds like a very strong attempt to be diplomatic, as the red freckles grow brighter.
"Ah." His ears twitch, then lower slightly. "Well, ah, it was just vague thoughts, yes. And, for others as well, like maybe Jack. Though, we'd have to talk to him and all."
"I hope you're able to form a group that suits all of your needs." He nods.
A slight nod. "Then, if I can ask, what sort of group might you be looking for?"
Mearc has to think for a moment before he delivers the answer to that question. "I'd like a field team, more than a social gathering of like-minded people. I am looking primarily for people to work with, and that comes before the..." words fail, so he sort of gestures at the coffee and bagels.
Chelle looks up with a smile. "That makes sense," she says with a nod.
"Well, ah, I get it." Michael comments, though a slightly canted head suggests he's trying to process. "But, it's good for a team to also get along and have place to relax and just talk, isn't it? Without messing their work up."
"Have you ever watched the TV show Leverage? That's...sort of the archetype for the sort of group I'd like, perhaps. Different purpose, aimed at the security of the Freehold, but that type of teamwork."
"Oh!" Chelle says. She's obviously seen the show. "I do love Sophie. And Parker." She smiles. "Yes, I can see that working well for you."
"I have!" He beams, nodding keenly. "Yes, that'd fit you, I think. I mean, I think we can still work together, right?" He adds hopefully.
"Of course we can work together." He nods, giving Michael a smirk. "I'm still waiting for you to impress me."
His mouth curves up. "I fully intend to. I'll try being all crafty."
Chelle just grins, finishing her coffee. "Anyone else want more coffee?"
"I'm good for the moment. Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?"
"I, think that was all, business wise?" Michael looks to Chelle to see if she has anything to add in. "And, mm. A hot chocolate hon? You know me and too much coffee."
Chelle nods at Michael, hesitating to see if Mearc wants a refill before he goes.
"I ought to head out, then. I have some work to do." He stands. "A pleasure speaking to you both."
"Take care Mearc, and, thanks for coming by." He smiles. "It's always good to catch up."
Chelle says, "Have a great day, and thank you for coming to see us," before heading to grab her coffee and Michael's cocoa.
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