|
Lux has texted with Jack, and organized for him to meet them on top of Forever Boner, once Jack gets off work. Lux is already up there, sitting in their usual spot at the tippy top. Their phone is beside them, playing some upbeat hip-hop softly, that they bob their head along with. In their lap is... rainbow colored yawn? And crochet needles? They seem to be idly knitting while hunched over, one leg dangled over the edge.
It's a Saturday night, so it's fairly late. Into Sunday morning, even, when Jack appears on the rooftop. Down the steps, not right next to Lux because that would just be mean, but his familiar mantle drifts through the air the moment he drops Light-Shy.
The smell of seasoned meat and salsa is mixed in with his mantle, too, and sure enough, he's got a bag of take-out from a taco place. He plods up to the tippy top, not bothering to be too quiet, and eases down next to Lux with a groan.
Lux looks up when they hear movement, at first tensing--but when it becomes obvious that it's Jack, Lux relaxes a little. "Hey," they murmur, smiling softly. "You look exhausted."
"I am exhausted." He leans over to give Lux a slow, soft kiss. Tasting faintly of alcohol, not enough to tell what type of drinks he picked up after work. Hopefully after. His animation has deepened to its regular shade of charcoal over the last few days, but it's ragged and flickery, and his shoulders are slumped as he digs in the bag.
"How're you holding up, are...you knitting?"
Honestly, Lux looks pretty exhausted as well. They clearly haven't been sleeping much, visible in the dullness of their lights and the circles under their eyes. "I'm alright," they assure, then looks down at the yarn. "Um, yeah. Been experimenting over the past couple days. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it." They pick up the circle of colorful knitting to tuck away into their backpack, where a couple other bundles of yarn are tucked away. "I used to knit some, with my grandma, when I was a kid. But taking some work to get it right."
"I've got a few coworkers who knit - it's a decent way to spend time, once you get the hang of it. So I've heard." Tacos acquired. Monch. He holds one out to Lux, too. "Figured you could probably use dinner. Or a midnight snack, at least."
"Mmm, fuck yeah. Thanks." They take the taco to munch into hungrily, scooting closer to lean into him. "How was your night?"
"Same as always. Still training the newbie at Stardust, he did a decent job tonight. It's...sure something, to pretend like everything's normal. Been using the washing machines at one of the theaters, I...I dunno if it's even safe for me to go back to our place to get clothes..."
Lux frowns, chewing slowly for a moment before swallowing. "We gotta go back sometime. We probably shouldn't alone, though. I could... call Sturm or Teagan or Gallowglass to come with us, for us to pack some things?"
"That..." He lets out a slow breath, and unzips his backpack, pulling out a small flask. "Prob'ly the best way to go about shit, yeah." The flask is opened, and he offers it to Lux first.
"Think shit's ever gonna feel safe?"
"If you don't want to go back yet, I'll go myself. Not by myself--with others. If you tell me what you want me to get for you, I will." Lux accepts the flask and takes a swig, then offers it back. "When has anything ever felt truly safe?" They shrug. "...But... hopefully it will, after this. I... I want to fix up the apartment though. Get better security in. If we decide to stay there and not just... move."
Jack takes a long swig, and sighs, shaking his head. "Nah, I'll go. I...I think it might be best to just move. It's a month to month lease, anyway, landlord won't care. Is...is there security that could've prevented this?"
"I don't know," Lux admits with a sigh. "Hostile Takeover gets around locks and alarms ridiculously easily."
"Wonder if Mearcstapa knows as much about supernatural security as he does mundane..." Jack sinks into Lux's side. "I don't wanna make him feel like he's responsible for that, though. Even if he'd wanna."
"...Yeah. He already feels like he's responsible for everything," Lux mutters, resting their head against his. They're quiet for a moment, then reaches for another taco. "I want to form a motley with you, Jack."
"...Motley of two's not much of a motley, firefly." Jack hesitates for just a moment before taking another drink. "What'd you have in mind?"
"I know." They take a bite, chewing it over as their brows crease. "I... I don't care who else. Mearcstapa doesn't want us--so--I dunno. There's others I'd consider, but I dunno if you would be. I'm not saying we gotta sweat oaths tonight, but... I want us to work towards it as soon as we can. It'll help us protect each other. And we--we can have a home, a real hollow, together. That's... both of ours. Somewhere we can make safe."
"I...wouldn't wanna make anyone else feel out of place 'cause we're in a relationship, you know? But...fuck, yeah I'd do that. With you. I know you mentioned a fucking while ago that maybe you'd wanna motley with other people for a cause, yeah? Not just 'cause you like 'em?"
"I mean... ideally? Yeah. I'd love to have a political motley. One that goes after corruption. Has ties at city hall and with unions and shit. Or--something art focused. Or both?" Lux shrugs, biting into the taco again and chewing. "But there's honestly not a ton of people I'm close to. I told Asbolus I'd consider forming a motley with him. There's... honestly not a lot of other people I'd consider. Gallowglass and Wren would be hard maybes." They snag the flask to sip from. "I'd say Sturm, but she's joined Direct Action, I think. Or is going to? I wish Mearcstapa would be more open to it. I mean, I haven't really talked to him about it, but he always seemed to wrinkle his nose up at the idea of being like Direct Action."
"Well. A motley with me's got ties to unions - and I'm not afraid to get political. I'd absolutely be up for something like that, but...yeah. I don't know how many other people're looking for something like that, who don't already have their own folx. Mel, maybe? Talked to them the other day about helping slow down the construction projects, they seemed pretty okay. I'd wanna get to know 'em more before I made any decisions, but..."
He snags the flask back.
"...Mearcstapa on duty tonight, d'you know?"
"I think I've met Mel..." They squint for a moment. "Uh... No idea..." They pull out their phone to text.
"Owlish. A little blunt. I met them out at The Cliffs, saw some of your handiwork..." He brushes gentle lips against Lux's cheek and jaw while they text, because of course he can't help but distract them.
Their lips quirk upwards as Jack tries to distract them, glancing sideways at him. "Ah, yeah. I've met them. I remember them having some vampire issues. Pointed them towards Marjorie. They seem alright, yeah. Definitely don't know them enough to say whether or not I'd consider them."
They look down at their phone. "Kitten is gonna swing by for a bit."
"Oh good." He finishes with a soft kiss on their lips, then another, but pulls away to take a swig from the flask. "I'm worried about him."
"...Me too," Lux admits with a frown, but then is tilting their head to return the kisses, hand cupping his cheek.
Of course Jack melts into Lux's kisses - does he ever not? He slides one hand around the other Darkling's waist, inviting them into his lap if they'd like.
And cue Mearcstapa showing up some time later, to the sight of Lux and Jack vigorously making out...
That many flights of stairs is a WORKOUT. Mearc arrives panting at the roof access door, but he quickly folds that away and moves closer to the soft glow and rough sketch. He's wearing a normal-for-him outfit, his hair bobby-pinned back out of his face as usual.
The rough sketch has gone quite scribbly in the intervening time, but he's managed to keep his clothes on, and he jumps in surprise at the sound of the door opening. When it's clear it's just Mearc he visibly relaxes, and disentangles himself from Lux just enough to put up his hand to wave.
Lux pulls back from the kiss when they hear Mearc approaching, having indeed straddled Jack's lap. Their head lifts, flashing a smile towards Mearc. "Hey, Kitten." Their head dips to kiss along the side of Jack's neck a couple times, before slipping off his lap. "We got tacos, if you're hungry."
"Are they spicy?" He moves closer like a man in the desert approaching an oasis. "And...can I convince you two to move back from the edge a little, if I'm going to be getting physical with you at all?"
"I got spicy for them, but there's...two of mine left. No spice at all." Jack scoots back from the edge, dragging the bag of tacos and his backpack with him.
"...Do you not like heights?" Lux asks, head tilting. No judgement, just a bit of surprise. But they do grab their backpack to drag with them, scooting back a few feet from the ledge. Then their hands lift to make grabby hands towards Mearc. "Come here. Please. I need you."
"Heights are fine in general. Seeing how far down it is up close...not so much." His freckles turn redder as he admits that, before he moves to Lux, pretty much falling on them for a deep kiss. "I've missed you."
The Hunterheart is dragged into their lap, the kiss returned with tender, needy touches through Mearc's hair. "I've missed you too," they reply softly, voice trembling a little at the end. "Are you okay? Have you been taking care of yourself?"
Mearc pauses, pulling Jack in closer for a fierce kiss as well and not answering yet. This is taking care of himself.
Jack watches the interplay between the two with a soft smile. And is entirely surprised by Mearc's kiss, making a small, soft noise before he returns it with passion, tangling his fingers in Mearc's hair for a few moments to keep him close. "Missed you, lionheart. Glad you're here," he mutters, a little breathless from the kiss.
Lux smiles softly as they kiss, but doesn't completely let go of Mearc--nuzzling into the back of his shoulder while he's turned into Jack. "I'm glad too."
"I've been doing okay. Taking care of myself, I mean. I'm only emergency mom half the day, Sturm is the rest of the time. I'm getting enough sleep, and trying to make sure meals happen--Glitch and I got together last night over Thai food and talked. So you have a witness, I'm eating food." He almost seems like he's trying to find the way to be in the most physical contact with them both possible, freckles still warm red mostly right now. "I love you both so much. I wish...I want to like. Hide away with you both for like a week, maybe two, when this is done. Just us, somewhere. Turn the phone off and fall off the face of the earth and take us time."
"Have a taco." Jack pulls away just slightly, enough to grab Mearc some food, before snuggling up close to him and offering his lap for whatever part he doesn't have drapes over Lux, at the moment.
"That...sounds amazing. And something we could totally do. After this whole fucking mess is over with."
Lux is perfectly happy to scoot in against Jack and have Mearc sit across both of their laps or something. They slip a hand underneath Mearc's shirt to rub over his bare back slowly. "That does sound amazing. We should. Find somewhere to go away to for a while. Or just... fucking stay inside your apartment for a week. I don't care where. I just... miss us being together." Lux frowns. "I don't like you being away from us every night, Kitten... Not when things are like this."
Mearc lounges on a couch made of his partners. It is perfect. "I don't like it either, but in case of an emergency, I need to be Ironside right now. And I need to know that you two aren't exposed. I need you both to be okay."
He takes one of the tacos Jack offers, and tries to eat it as daintily as possible without spilling all over the other two.
"Honestly I'd rather sleep with you, Ironside, than in the Hedge without you." He runs his fingers through Mearc's hair. "It...'s hard to know that you're okay, you know?" His voice is quiet.
"I need you," Lux counters, frowning at him. "I need us to be together."
"I'm not sleeping at home. I'm not sleeping somewhere I can have you both with me." He sounds apologetic, red freckles going even brighter. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I am trying. I'm hoping this is all over soon. So that I can be with you, and everything can go back to normal."
"You...you're doing so much more than you need to - than we'd ever ask, I..." Jack shakes his head, and sniffles just a little. "Fuck me, this has gotta be over soon. 'Cause I'm not doing this for much longer - I can't."
Lux stares at him desperately for a moment, then dips their head to bury their face into his side, clinging around him tightly.
"You don't have to ask." He sighs, brushing his thumb over Jack's cheek, wrapping his other arm around Lux. "You two never have to ask. I would fight any battle, face any monster, for both of you."
"But what if it's a battle we don't want you to fight?" Lux mumbles, muffled by Mearc's side.
"I just want you home. With us." Jack leans to kiss Mearc's hair.
"We will be home. Because you are my home, wherever you both are." That comes out as a whisper, as a secret shared only with them and the cool night air.
Lux is quiet for a moment, fingers dipping into Mearc's sides. When they pull back, their eyes are a bit glimmery with tears. "I... I was talking to Jack, before I texted you. About forming a motley. I know you don't want a motley with us, but... It'd feel wrong not to ask, at least. I want to build a home."
Jack huffs out a shaky breath into Mearc's hair, kissing him again. He slides an arm around Lux, too, scooting just a little closer to them.
"Aren't you supposed to be on one knee, when you propose?" There's something thick in his voice, like he's holding back tears too.
"They already did that..." Jack mutters with a laugh.
Lux blink-blinks, caught off guard--then lets out a soft strangled sound that almost sounds like a laugh. "I... fuck. Uh... I can get on one knee, if you want me to?" their voice shakes nervously now.
"I know they already did, but they weren't doing that on purpose then." He closes his eyes. "Would the motley be just us, or?"
"I haven't really connected with anyone else enough. Mel, maybe...Aurelio...maybe. But...nothing like this. Like...us."
Their lights flare, shining through their cheeks a soft pinkish color as they look between Mearc and Jack. "U-um... I wouldn't be against others joining. There's not many others I'd seriously consider, but... it doesn't have to just be us. I know you wanted a motley that was... more than just a relationship."
"If...we were to take on other people, I have a sort of unorthodox suggestion, for someone who...family. Um, Alex." As in, yes, Mearc legit just suggested bringing a vampire into the motley.
Lux blinks. "...Is that even possible?"
"Didn't even...consider her, is -" He gestures to Lux's question.
"She's sworn to the Freehold Oath. Her being former Fae-Touched means the Wyrd can bind her, still. I saw her swear to Ari firsthand." He smiles. "Dunno about her sharing a Hollow with us, but she...really needs family now."
"I..." Jack glances at Lux, gauging their reaction too. "Wouldn't have a problem with that. At all, she...'s a reconnection I'm glad we were able to make."
Lux looks to Jack, then back to Mearc. "I'd be into that. I'm not super close to her yet, but I like her. If we're throwing out suggestions, I'd like to nominate Asbolus too, to be considered. I know you two aren't as close to him, but... he's like family to me."
"I'm good with Asbolus, yes--I'd want to spend more time getting to know him. But. He is your family, and that counts for a lot."
"You...I just wanna - you said, if, lionheart. Yeah? What...would you want, for this motley?" Jack cants his head, regarding Mearc curiously.
Lux smiles softly up at Mearc, then watches more curiously for his answer.
"I don't know. Right at this moment, all I want in the entire world is you two. To make you my home, and let the world fend for itself. But that's a product of the situation we're in."
Lux's eyes light up pink, at first, but then they dim again into a more restrained vibrancy. "...Should we wait to pursue this until everything is over...?" they ask softly.
Jack pulls Mearc into a soft kiss, after he finishes speaking. It's a little desperate, like he's hoping it can convey something he can't form into words, but he nods at Lux's question when he pulls away.
"Probably? Between emergencies. Because there'll be other emergencies. I have hedge-samples in my office, if they haven't gone bad. About the blight." He sighs. "I want a place to come back to, to feel like there's something stable and true and right, when everything else isn't. I want a port in the storm."
"That's what I want too," Lux agrees softly. "...But I don't want you to regret this, once this storm has calmed. We can... wait, if you want." A beat pause. "I need to get the Wyrd to forgive me before I can swear anything to you two, anyway."
"You two are already my safe harbors." Jack drops his head to mutter it into Lux's shoulder. "Don't mind waiting, but...I sure as hell know I'm not gonna change my mind when this's all over. Which...lionheart, 're you still keeping track of when I say I want shit?" He says with a laugh.
"You've gotten a lot better about it, my Jack of Hearts. Which helps." He smiles, and then kisses the side of Jack's head. "Safe harbor...that's, yeah. That's just about it. I want that to be what we build, whether it's just for ourselves, or a couple of other people who we trust who need it too."
Lux smiles, then lets out a content sigh as they lean against them both. "Safe harbor sounds perfect."
"Well. There's a motley name. Now we just need an oath." He seems to be mostly joking.
Doesn't stop Jack's cheeks from going all scribbly, and he tilts Mearc's chin up to give the other Darkling a long kiss. "Love you."
And then it's Lux's turn, and he wraps an arm around them both.
Their lips quirk upwards. "I mean, there's worst names out there we could pick. But... yeah. I guess, uh. Think about what you guys would want in an Oath? We got time to think it over. I'll try to figure out how to fix my Wyrd soon..."
Lux watches them kiss, smiling adoringly, then returns Jack's kiss tenderly. "I love you too. Both of you."
"I love you both. I love each of you. I'm in love with you." He melts into the kiss before he takes the opportunity to kiss Lux next.
Jack leans back, keeping a hand on each of them while they kiss, and he lets out a quiet sigh of contentment. "This's...perfect. Even if everything else's going to shit, this..." he trails off as words fail him.
Lux's blush returns, a bright shimmer of pink radiating from their cheeks and eyes. They melt into Mearc, lips desperate and needy and loving against his, fingers curling to grip handfuls of his shirt.
There's a playful nip at Lux's lower lip toward the end of that kiss. As it ends, Mearc sags against both of them, content. "I want to always hold onto this feeling, of knowing that the world going to shit doesn't mean I'm on my own."
"Mmm." A nod, and Jack gently scratches Mearc's head, his other hand making just as gentle circles on Lux's back. "Between the three of us, maybe we can all remind each other."
"You're never on your own, Kitten." The nip makes them grin, head tipping after the kiss to nibble playfully at his neck. "Even when you think you have to... be apart from us, we'll always be there, whenever you need us."
"I know. And that is the most astounding thing to me." He closes his eyes. "Lux, are you about to seduce me on a rooftop in the middle of a Hue and Cry?"
"If anyone could do it, it'd be them..."
"...I mean... is that really so surprising?" They smirk against his neck, eyes closing.
"No, it's not surprising, but you know the moment I'm out of my pants is when Sturm will text me."
"I'm absolutely certain that Sturm could fend for herself, if she needed to. Or..." Jack leans in, his lips brushing against Mearc's ear, his voice low. "Text her first, tell her you're turning your phone off for an hour. Or three."
Lux snorts softly in amusement, pulling back. They sigh dramatically, but still smiling. Their lights shift away from orange--back to yellow. Not lime green. "As much as I would love to seduce you, love... I want our first time together, the three of us, to be somewhere more comfortable than on a dingy rooftop. As hot as it'd be." Lux pauses, watching Jack kiss Mearc's ear. "...Or maybe I don't care after all. Shit. You're both too hot."
"The first time I have both of you together, I want it to be an all-day event, not just three hours. I want to start slow, and work you both up into a frenzy. And I do, in fact, want it to happen in a bed. And maybe in a shower as well. Book a fancy hotel suite with a shower large enough for all of us. And a king-size bed. No ropes, just my hands all over both of you." He smirks--clearly he's thought about this a lot.
"....Oh." Whelp, there goes the light shifting vibrant orange, staring wide-eyed at Mearc. "Holy shit, Kitten... I... um... fuck. Yes, we are... definitely doing that..." They swallow, voice thick with lust now.
Jack lets out something between a gasp and a swear into Mearc's ear, scribbles exploding around his face and scrawled heavily across his cheeks. "That...fuck. Yes. Please," he breathes, his voice a little ragged.
"Room service. Chocolate strawberries. Feed them to you both by hand and kiss the chocolate off your faces." His voice has become almost a low purr.
Lux lets out a whine, then leans in to bite at Mearc's shoulder in retaliation. "That's not fair!"
It might be a sign that they've been around each other for too long, that Jack whines too. But he tugs on Mearc's hair, and nibbles his ear. "Dunno 'f I'll be able to wait for that, lionheart..."
"I'll stop talking about it now, save a few of the other thoughts I have for surprises." He runs a hand slowly down each of their backs, fingertips tracing their spines.
"Can we at least make out together tonight?" Lux murmurs, pouting.
Jack shivers, another quiet whine escaping his lips, and doesn't bother asking before pressing increasingly demanding kisses against Mearc's jaw and neck.
"I'd be rather let down if we didn't." Mearc answers Lux before meeting Jack's lips with his own.
There is a lot of hot makeouts that happen here.
|