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Having arranged to spend time with Jack and get her lingering Clarity damage fixed, Annie meets the other Spring somewhere safely anonymous, before leading him through a Hedge gate and into her Hollow. Which is (possibly) surprisingly plain - a moderate shoreline, and then a reasonably large lake for swimming in.
Jack's dressed up a little for such Official Joyeux Business™️ - a mint green dress shirt with a subtle stripe, and charcoal dress pants. He hasn't bothered with a tie, and he's got his armored leather jacket on. Sure, Hollows are relatively save, but. But. Plus it's cold tonight.
Once in the Hollow, he takes a bit of time to look around, before looking back at Annie with a nod and a smile. "'S a nice setup here."
"Thank you," Annie grins at him. "I had needed somewhere larger than the pond in the Spring hollow for myself, and after acquiring a companion at Market it seemed like the right time to carve out a space of my own on this side of things." The mermaid is not nearly so formally dressed - purple jeans and teeshirt, with a black hoodie over top. "How have you been, anyway?"
"Can't complain." Jack shrugs. "Work's been quiet, home's been quiet, been managing to get out and socialize a little - which is less quiet." He flashes a grin. "Still waiting for everything to explode into chaos, but...that's just life, you know? How've you been?"
"Much the same, honestly," Annie admits with a shrug. "Though considering we got a new Autumn Monarch right on their coronation day, I have a feeling chaos is coming sooner than later."
A sigh, and another shrug. "I've been staying pretty far away from that whole thing, to be honest. Let people who know what's up deal with it, you know? Unless there's folx who need help with Clarity damage I've been staying out of it. Have you been...involved with that whole thing?"
"I was there when Alexis got the crown, so yes." There's a grimace. "It seems none of the local goblins were willing to settle Buidhe's debt, which is more than a little worrying."
"...How do you mean?" Jack raises his eyebrows. "Like...they want to keep him in debt, for some reason, even if he's got the means to get out of it?"
"Yeah."
"Huh. Yeah that...sounds worrying. Is uh...all that business what got your Clarity to crash?"
"No, that is leftover from when we had to go rescue that guy who dropped his Mask in a fucking hotel." Annie scowls.
"Ah." Jack winces in sympathy. "Been walking around with that...for a while, hmm..."
Annie sighs. "Yeah, well, I do not want to make the Joyeux I live with deal with it, and none of the others have been free to help, so..."
"I mean anyone who knows your Touchstone and can help you have a meaningful interaction with it's what you want, doesn't have to be one of us. But talk to me." He eases himself down onto the ground, and gestures for her to sit, too.
Annie shrugs one shoulder, sitting down next to him, feet curled up underneath her as usual. "Yeah, I know, but that runs into a similar problem." She sighs, then. "What do you want me to talk about?"
"What helps ground you? Where do you go, to feel human again?" Jack leans back, bracing himself on his hands as he stretches out.
"Synagogue, mostly. You?" Annie glances at him.
"What about synagogue makes you feel like that?" Jack glances at the water, and runs his hand through his hair before returning his attention to her. It's a pretty casual question - all his questions have been. More of a friend talking to a friend than any sort of therapisting.
"Being part of the tribe. The reminder that I am no longer stuck Over There, with nobody to form a minyan with."
"That's kinda how I feel about my union - like..." he pauses to think. "All of them - or most of them, at least - are human, and...they accept me, and make me feel like I'm a part of something bigger. 'S it like that for you?"
"Precisely," Annie nods, glancing at him. "Which union are you with again? I am still learning which one covers what industries. Especially since they were not really a thing, in my original time."
"Stagehands - IATSE." He spells the letters out. "International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Covers a lotta folx in corporate event production too, and movies and television. Big union, and our local's pretty damn strong." He smiles as he talks about it. "You've found a synagogue here that you fit in with, yeah? Or are you still looking for one that feels like you could make it home?"
"Oh, yeah. I have been going to Kol Tzedek for months now," Annie says. "I tend not to attend Havdalah, though, because work usually gets in the way."
"Oh good. Yeah, I've been considering attending a service or two with Mearcstapa, I guess the Friday night services are pretty chill, but...I work Friday night." He grimaces a little with a shrug. "Glad you've found something that's worked for you. What's your favorite thing about the group there?"
Annie ponders that for a moment before speaking. "Probably the emphasis on seeking justice, on making the world a better place than we found it."
"Sounds like a damn worthy goal. Is that something specific to Kol Tzedek?"
"Yes and no?" Annie raises a hand, tipping it from side to side briefly. "The emphasis is, but the commandment to pursue justice applies to all members of the tribe."
A nod. "Have you made connections with other members of the congregation there? I know for me, a few months might be too soon for any sorts of relationships like that."
"I mean, yes, but." Annie sighs. "All of the ones I would go to for help with something like this have been busy with their own lives."
"Oh - no that's not what I meant, I just...wanted to know how deep the roots that you've been putting out have gone, so far."
"Oh, right, sorry," Annie grimaces. "Reasonably, I think? It can be hard to judge from the inside, but I have definitely made friends with a number of the congregants. Even Rabbi Cohen, though he was mostly at Rodeph Sholom when I first got to know him."
"Aaron's a fucking delight," Jack says with a grin, and runs his hand through his hair again. "It sounds like you've got a pretty damn good thing going there. I can absolutely get how it keeps you grounded, and your head clear."
"Oh, I know," Annie returns the grin. "I think it helps that neither of us are at all the other's type, of course."
Jack snorts. "I mean. Yeah maybe having a thing for your rabbi's a little weird, I dunno? Never been anywhere near that position."
"Neither have I, honestly," Annie admits with a chuckle. "Some of the other congregation members, sure, but never the rabbi."
"Well 's probably helpful that there's no chance of that, I'm sure shit can get pretty...I dunno, if you go to him for advice, or to help work shit out when you need to? I'd say 'intimate', but that's not quite the right word."
Annie shrugs one shoulder. "I did not grow up with English, so do not ask me what the right word would be."
"In any case - like I said, I'm glad you've got that community support. I should probably head out..." He starts to stand, groaning quietly as his joints protest. ""F there're services tonight, maybe go to them, too?"
"None tonight, no," Annie answers, rising as well. "I will walk you out." Not that it's at all far to the entrance to her Hollow.
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