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Jeremiah Hamilton:
After talking about the Torrent with Klaire recently, Jeremiah gave Polly a call and invited her over to the cadre's sanctum for a bit of hang-out time that was somewhere other than the studio or her apartment. He was dressed casually as was his wont, putting the finishing touches on some snacks in the kitchen as he awaited her arrival.
Polly Romantic:
Polly is all about breaking out of her ruts lately, so the invitation to the cadre house is certainly welcome. Polly seems to be aware this is a bit like being invited to meet the parents, so she's probably more dolled up and well dressed than he's seen her save for show nights. Her makeup is less glam, more sweet. She's traded in her sundress or jumper look for something a little more floor length and swishy. The kind of dresses women smell corn while wearing in JC Penney's commercials.
And she even brought a gift of a bottle. Hopefully Jeremiah will get a laugh out of the fact that it's Mexican Coke, wrapped in a bow. Knock knock. Adjust hair.
Jeremiah Hamilton:
The door was opened a moment or three after the knock, with the Warlock behind it dressed neatly in black pants and a white long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows and a smile on his face. "Hey there. You're looking lovely, if I may say so."
He stepped aside to allow her in, the entry area nice and tidy befitting the arrival of guests. "How's your day gone so far?"
Polly Romantic:
"You may," Polly allows generously before stepping inside past Jeremiah. She pays the smooch toll on the way past, however, and then steps back and out of the way so the door can be closed. She starts peeling off her hoodie once that's done.
"Good. Better now. Had some work to do in the-- uh. You know. My other other job. Had to make some healing juice and stuff. So you can't see it, but my hands are stained like three shades of purple, orange, and yellow and I kind of taste like Tang? A little?" She sucks her thumb for a moment, then nods her head like it's super weird.
"Sometimes I miss my sanity, ability to function in every day society, old career and life, and stuff? And then I suck on Tang fingers and it's kinda cool." She stops sucking her thumb, there, after a moment more. "You? Any giant robot monsters try to blow you up?" It's been a week.
Jeremiah Hamilton:
He smiled at the kiss, of course, sneaking one in himself before she got too far. "Not a bad thing to taste like, admittedly." He smirked a touch, shaking his head at the question. "Nothing that exciting, no. Did patch up Klaire after she and a friend of hers got hurt by one, though. I was impressed she was up and mobile, honestly; last time I was that hurt I was in the hospital for a few weeks."
He motioned for her to follow him into the kitchen, wherein a tray of snacks of various sorts was arrayed plus beverage choices. "Figure we can bring stuff into the living room and talk in there, if that works for you."
Polly Romantic:
"Oh, so you were kind of involved in all of that. Yeah. I got wrapped in on the healing end of things, but it was after everything had gone mad haywire. So." Polly hangs her hoodie up and then toddles along after Jeremiah, slipping into his side on account of how narrow the hallways are, you see, and for no other reason. "Lead on, macduff."
Jeremiah Hamilton:
"Kind of, I talked with her a day or two after." With a moment's focus and a touch of potentia the tray lifted off the table and floated ahead of the pair, leaving Jeremiah's hands free to slide an arm around Polly's waist as they headed into the living room. The trays landed neatly on a nearby side table, in easy reach of the pair once they got settled on the couch. "You were helping Phyx, I'm guessing?"
Polly Romantic:
"Yeah, he took most of the blast to his side. He's some kind of superhuman, or I don't think he'd have survived that. Maybe. I don't know. That's why I was making all the healing juice and stuff, I about ran myself empty of our pizazz just patching him up, actually putting him back together again took--" Polly lifts a Tang finger, just in case he's curious if he can taste it or not.
"So. It was bad. I need to talk to you about Phyx, too. Separately from this. But mental note. You've met him? Phyx, I mean?"
Jeremiah Hamilton:
He did eye the lifted finger for a moment before giving it a light kiss, curious indeed if he would pick up the hedge fruit juice left on her skin. "I haven't met him yet, but I hope to soon. I know he's been modified in a similar manner to one of the other folks on our side of things, although I don't know the details on his end."
"No Tang on my end," he added, smirking a touch.
Polly Romantic:
"He's looking to meet mages, actually. I would, for any number of reasons, love to introduce you two." Polly eases a bit closer on the couch and takes one of Jeremiah's hands in both of her own, which is typically a precursor to a personal conversation. "And furthermore, I would like to talk to you after you've told me what you need to tell me. Good stuff about us, mostly."
Jeremiah Hamilton:
"Sounds good to me." He nodded, smiling a touch as she took his hand and placing his free one atop hers. "Alright. It's both a show and tell on my end, admittedly. Also a good thing, though, at least in my mind."
"Whenever we use magic, an aura of sorts forms around us that usually only other mages can perceive, although you can make it visible to others with a bit of focus. It varies from mage to mage depending on different things, and it can change as you develop magically over time. Ever since I Awoke mine was musically based, as you'd expect, but recently it changed to something that I think reflects how much of an impact you've had on me as of late. I'd like to show you, if you're willing."
Polly Romantic:
There's really not a lot a person can say to something like that. She tries to find words, but she fails. Repeatedly. She starts blushing, and it doesn't stop creeping over her face until she's just entirely flushed. "This is going to make one hell of a segue," is all she finally manages with absolute delight in her voice.
Jeremiah Hamilton:
He couldn't help but smile as that blush crept in, giving her hands a squeeze. "It may be a little jarring, as a heads up. Still working on that aspect of it."
With that he took in a breath and let it out slow, tapping into the potentia needed to allow his nimbus to be visible to her as well. A corona of light radiated from him, a rainbow of hues rippling out in waves like a kaleidoscope on steroids and thin tendrils stretching out here and there in a rather notable echo of her own mien. The light show didn't last long, ten seconds at most, but it certainly made an impact.
Polly Romantic:
Polly's eyes get so fucking big. She stares in absolute rapture at the colors of his nimbus. How can you possibly feel when your touchstone starts to look like you? But home? And safe? And perfect? Polly's blush deepens to a little purple, and tears just start leaking from her eyes without any sorrow being in any way involved. The breath she draws in is shuddering and slow, and fully rapturous. She can't think straight, and that is apparent.
"I love you so goddamn much, Jeremiah Hamilton," Polly finally says with firm and ardent conviction.
Jeremiah Hamilton:
Much as she had been nervous showing her mien on that cold winter morning, Polly could see Jay's own initial hesitation as the nimbus unfurled around him. As she stared in awe and the tears started rolling down her cheeks he reached out to brush them away with a warm if relieved smile on his face, his touch leaving a faint trail of color that faded as the nimbus itself did.
"I love you too, Polly Romantic." He replied, taking her hand again and giving it a squeeze. "With all of my heart and then some."
Polly Romantic:
Normally this would be where the make-out session would begin. But it's not. As Polly said, it makes for an awesome segue. "Jeremiah, baby. Jay. We've been together for like. What now? Over two years. And we both came in saying we weren't looking for anything special, necessarily. And then we both got really cozy with each other. I mean. Yes, I do work with the court. And I still see Lucia. But it's been status quo with us for a long time. A really really good status quo."
Polly gives his hands a squeeze. "The least important part of this conversation is that I met a guy. And it's Phyx. And he made me feel real good for a night. And I told myself I wasn't doing anything wrong, and that I totally deserved it, and that you'd probably be happy for me, honestly. But what I knew most was that I had to come talk to you and ask about us again. Because Phyx is great. And hot. And all that. But you are home, baby. And before I go deciding to give myself to something, I'd like to give you the shot to say... actually. On second thought, no."
Jeremiah Hamilton:
Jay remained quiet as Polly spoke, a hint of surprise forming as she mentioned having a night with the aforementioned Sleepwalker. There was no anger or other coarser emotion to accompany it, though, but he did smile when she said he felt like home for her. How could he not?
"You feel like home for me as well, and I am happy when you're happy." He replied, gently rubbing her hand with the back of his thumb. The sudden about face earned a curious look, watching her with a small smile. "What were you thinking?"
Polly Romantic:
"Jay," she says as though he were the absolute stupidest man in the universe. She gives him a look. She is in her thirties, her career is waning, and she's been in a long term relationship with an absolute dreamboat who treats her like a princess for over two years.
In the end, she explains it. "I have never known or loved anyone like you. Ever. You are so effortlessly kind to me. You make everything okay. You are home to me. You are. I don't go out there searching for other people. At all. Phyx just happened. Ironically because your magic helped me get to his place to put him back together. And when Phyx happened all I could think was that I hope you're still okay with what we'd talked about. Because nice as that night was, it's nothing compared to you. To five minutes with you. And that maybe you... I don't know. Felt similar."
Jeremiah Hamilton:
He took the look in stride with a sheepish smirk, listening intently as she explained. His features softened at her words, nodding quietly when she finished. "I've said it before but you are the light of my life, both figuratively and literally. I've never connected with anyone like I have with you, and I haven't felt a need to look elsewhere because your love and your brightness and your heart are more than enough for me. There is no one else I would rather be with in this world, no questions asked."
Polly Romantic:
"Samesies," is what Polly answers with full sincerity and conviction. But that doesn't really answer any questions, and so her head shakes slowly with a sudden shaky sigh. Not nervous or uncertain, really. She can't really be those things with Jeremiah any longer. Anticipation, perhaps?
"I guess this is me asking if you wanted to do anything about that, Jay. Or if we're good keeping on as we are. Because you're right. I'm clearly getting the better end of this stick, Jay. This is me saying you've more than earned the right to ask more of me before I go giving any more of myself to some other guy."
Jeremiah Hamilton:
For all that so-called awakened wisdom Jeremiah had to call on every once in a while it took a plain explanation for something to click, and that shaky sigh and the words that followed were enough to let that metaphorical lightbulb flicker to action. "I do want to do something about that, yes. I've been thinking on it a lot lately, honestly, and now's as good a time as any to say it."
"You said that you're getter the better end of the stick when it comes to us, but having you in my life has been a joy beyond words. You complete me in ways that I haven't felt before, and I'm honored to be able to support you in kind." He met her gaze easily, a small smile on his face. "I want you, Polly Romantic, to be with me for the rest of our lives."
Polly Romantic:
He probably gets the word 'rest' out before Polly hoarsely says the most urgent yes over spoken in creation and pulls Jeremiah into a crushing kiss. There were other things to worry about, and other things to think about, and other things to do. Possibly even a war or two to win. But for one Polly soon to be Hamilton, there really is only this one dopey man between her two hands. And that is in no way a bad thing.
She practically crawls up his chest to get both of her arms around her neck and really give the kiss her everything, chest pressed to his, legs trying to wrap around him. The works. If she had a way of getting more skin out of this without breaking the kiss, she probably would. And the tugging of her hand at his shir surely says as much.
Probably nobody should really mind that she's crying a whole lot.
Jeremiah Hamilton:
The kiss was most joyously returned, his arms snaking around Polly's waist to keep her as close as she wanted to be against him. He didn't mind the crying, of course, his own tears of happiness mingling with hers as they were as close to one being as they could be in that moment.
Eventually the pesky need for oxygen did rear it's annoying head, with Jeremiah looking her over with the biggest, brightest smile she had seen from him to date. "Sorry for not having a ring yet; haven't found anything at the local jewelers that matches your brilliance."
Polly Romantic:
"Get me gold. Silver. Precious metals. Anything. Um. Gems, too. Whatever you got. Go get 'em. Go. Go go go. Think really hard about what you want in an engagement set. Go. Go go go." Polly is already spilling off his lap like she has a plan. It's indelicate and ends with her dress up around her shoulders for a moment and her backside on display. But that's just encouragement for Jeremiah, most likely. She's on her feet and running out of the room without explanation, only to run back in to the room to try and explain, "JUST KEEP THINKING HOW MUCH YOU NEED A WEDDING SET YOU BEAUTIFUL MAN AND GET ME METAL! Slide it under the bathroom door I love you okay bye." She runs down the hallway at a rush and slams the door.
"KEEP THINKING ABOUT THE RINGS!!"
Jeremiah Hamilton:
He blinked in surprise as she suddenly sprinted off of the couch, smirking as what she said clicked and he got up himself. "You got it."
With that he quickly zipped upstairs to his bedroom, going through what jewelry and other valuables he had while keeping the image of the rings he had been looking for firmly in his mind. He came back down soon enough, sliding the small collection of coins and jewelry under the door. "Will this work?"
Polly Romantic:
Polly answers that what comes under the door is, "Perfect!" This is followed by the assurance, "I love you so fucking much, Jay!" And the continued emphatic instruction to, "Keep thinking about the rings, baby!"
When the door finally opens about ten minutes later, Polly has a full on holographic workshop in the bathroom, presently heating metal for the pour. She grabs a drink from the fridge and stomps back to the bathroom ordering, "Keep thinking."
Polly's not really sure quite what she's doing. Or what she's making. She knows sort of why and what and all. But the end result is very much up in the air the entire time. She spends time polishing metal on photonic brushes and setting gemstones with tweezers he color of a sunset. What she's doing in his bathroom is strictly speaking impossible magic and it's fuelled entirely by his want of it. It pulses, all of it, with the color of his nimbus. But only because it's her, perhaps.
When she's done, about an hour later, she comes stumbling out of the bathroom with her hands cupped around something. She settles down onto the ground in front of where he's seated and opens her hands to show what's resting on her palms.
The truth is she couldn't begin to say. Because it's the closest approximation to Jay's dream engagement and wedding set as Polly could manage in brass and gold with some diamonds and some rubies.
Jeremiah Hamilton:
"Love you too, Polly." He replied with a smile, posting up on the wall beside the door with the rings still firmly in mind. When the door opened he turned to look inside, no small bit of amazement on his features at the array of light-forged tools at her disposal. He nodded as she headed back in with a quick "let me know if you need anything", remaining nearby and quiet as he felt the magic being woven beyond the door.
When she finally emerged he helped lead her to the ground, sitting down in front of her and smiling widely as he looked over the rings. They were as spot on as he could imagine with the materials that she had on hand, and even better in some ways because of her touch on the design. "They're perfect." He said with a warm smile, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "Thank you."
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