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Sorry Mearc, Lux is in need of comfort food. Which meant fried greasy junk. Especially cheese sticks, which are apparently Lux's favorite (if you're excluding candy). Lux sits on the couch now, shoes off, having quickly devoured the container of greasy cheese, mood looking much improved.
Which is fine with Mearc--he had chicken tenders and no complaints, and is now lounging near Lux, quite possibly keeping his feet warm by tucking them under Lux's rear. As you do, when you're in love.
Unfortunately for her, Alex has no idea what a bad night it is for a random drop by. There it is, though. A soft knocking on the door to the apartment, with Alex standing in the hall with her laptop bag slung over a shoulder and a paper grocery bag in the other hand.
"This is--mm, definitely what I needed," Lux murmurs appreciatively as they stuff the last bite into their mouth to chew happily. They certainly don't mind being used as a foot warmer. Their butt is, they likely joked at some point minutes prior, very hot, after all.
Though the knock brings an instinctive tense to them, eyes flickering to the door, then over to Mearc.
He stands. "Might be Raph. Hope it's Raph. Please be Raph?" And walks down the hall and over to the door, glancing out the peephole. "Not Raph, but it's a friendly."
Opening the door, he tilts his head at Alex. "Ears burning because I mentioned you earlier, or?"
"Did you?" Alex asks, offering a smile and lifting up the shopping bag. "Actually, I was just dropping by somethings to say thank you for the other night. And sorry. I figured I'd just leave them in front of your door if you weren't home. Is this a bad time? What horrible things were you saying about me in my absence?" Definitely a joking tone.
Lux relaxes a little, though listens curiously for what happens at the door, though they stay where they are, setting their trash aside on the coffee table.
"This is a mildly bad time, but what you have in the bag might make up for it. One moment."
He calls over his shoulder. "It's my friend Alex, who I was talking about. You up to meeting her? She brought food things."
Alex leans slightly to one side like she's looking around Mearc, even though she can't really see anything, and then asks, "did I interrupt a date." Not only is the tone mildly teasing, but also delighted. If she is, she's happy for Mearc. "If it's trouble I can just leave things and go," she adds with a knowing look at Mearc.
Their lips purse faintly, just for a split second before they puff out a breath to release the rest of their tension. "Of course I'm up for it!" They call back cheerfully. "Especially if she has food."
"You have the okay. Come on in and meet one of my partners. Just...be gentle? They've, uh. It's been a long night already, okay?" Mearc smiles. "Shoes off at the door, please. We're in the living room."
Alex hesitates at the gentle warning and then nods her head. "Of course," she says sympathetically, and she steps inside and slips her shoes off. One to plan ahead, she wore things easy to remove when coming to visit Mearc, but the brief pause gives her time to flush her skin with a semblance of vitality. "I did, in fact, bring some food," she says once that's done. "But should we start with introductions?"
Lux sits up a bit, smoothing their shirt down--they're wearing a t-shirt that's been deliberately slashed up and tie-dyed, along with neon orange and pink tights. Clearly their fashion is based around how can I make someone's eyes burn the best. But when you add in their glowing neon mein, it kind of suits them.
They look up when Alex comes into view, flashing a smile and wiggle-fingered wave. "Hey."
"Lux, this is Alex Shaw, digital security expert, L337 haX0rz, kinda a badass. Alex, Lux is an artist and parkour expert, and the most likely reason for me to go blind. They/them for Lux. She/her for Alex." Useful introductions.
"Hey," Alex answers, and she flashes a (fang-free) smile and wiggles her fingers back in kind. "It's nice to meet you. I was glad to hear that Mearcstapa was finally seeing someone. I'm glad to put a face to it." She holds the bag up. "I brought chicago mix popcorn, chocolate pretzels, and a special surprise." At which point she lowers the bag, reaches in, and pulls out... a floppy disk, which she offers to Mearc. "15 free hours of AOL!"
Lux snorts in amusement at L337 haX0rz. "Nice to meet you too. Mearcstapa has been talking you up, so--I'm really excited to get to know you." Their eyes widen a little. "Oh, hell yeah, chocolate pretzels!" Though the floppy disk just leaves them looking confused. "...AOL is still a thing???"
Mearcstapa bursts into laughter at the sight of the floppy, the kind of laughter you get when someone punches a hole in tension you've been carrying, and he can't get words out for a moment, too busy with the ridiculous sight.
When they do happen, though, he's grinning. "Oh, who 3D printed that save icon for you?"
"They had them at a shop that sells spare used computer parts," Alex says with a laugh of her own. "I couldn't resist getting a few just for this kind of occasion." She puts the bag down, gets the pretzels out, and tosses them to Lux with a, "catch!"
They blink, looking between them before it seems to click that it's meant as a joke. They huff in amusement, catching the pretzels easily. "Thanks." They dig into the bag, grabbing a piece to pop into their mouth. "No wonder you two are friends, you're both neeerds." That is said with the utmost fondness.
"We met at a security conference, would you expect anything less? She does digital penetration shit and hacktivism, instead of the physical stuff I work with." Mearc nabs the popcorn from Alex before moving to the couch. "I'd offer you refreshments, but that kinda was a mess last time."
"AOL is..." Alex stops and looks at Mearc. "Actually, the last I checked it was still a service you can get, though I have no idea why anyone would. It's been at least four years since I thought about that, though. Do you even know they still have their whole thing going?" She isn't too worried about it, and folds up the paper bag before finding herself a seat. On the couch if there's room without getting between the lovebirds, on the floor otherwse. "We are definitely nerds," she adds to Lux. "What kind of art do you do?"
Lux scoots over a bit to assure there's room, while still munching away at the pretzels. "Street art, mostly. Spray paint, some chalk stuff. Though lately I've been experimenting with acrylics and pastels--but it still feels kind of weird to paint while I'm cooped up in a studio. I like leaving my marks on places. Feels more... like... real?"
"AOL Instant Messenger went the way of the dinosaurs in 2017. There's talk of a new version, AIM Phoenix? But why would anyone go back there now?" He shakes his head, reaching to try and steal pretzels from Lux.
"Oh, cool. I could see why that might feel more genuine, less constrained." Alex thinks about it a moment longer before nodding. "I don't have much of in the way of artistic talent. Well, music and dance, which is certainly artistic, but not in a physical medium way." To Mearc she answers, "they're, like, 80 and think that AOL and the internet are the same? You know the people. The ones who call it American Online."
"You like to dance?" Their head tilts. "I love dancing. What sort of music do you like?" They tilt the bag so Mearc can snag some. "I... missed AOL, I think. I don't remember it being a thing, uh, Before. Only know that it was hella shitty, hearing about it now."
"I wasn't really around for it either. But aren't you glad you missed dial-up? The waiting might have killed you." In exchange for the pretzel, he opens the popcorn--a mix of orange cheddar cheese popcorn and caramel corn, in roughly equal proportions. "Meanwhile, aren't you too young to have lived with AOL?" That last question directed at Alex.
"I love to dance," Alex corrects, in agreement with Lux's feelings on the topic. "Dance and tech are my biggest passions, really. They fill different needs in my life, but I don't know what I would do without either. I do a lot of electro swing, these days, but I'll dance to anything with a beat I can follow. I enjoy weird time signatures, but sometimes they're not so great to dance to." She smiles at Mearc and says, "we never had AOL at home, but I knew people who did. Yes, even when I was growing up. I do not understand."
Lux accepts the popcorn to munch on, leaning into Mearc's side a bit--a sign they're getting more comfortable, probably. "We definitely need to go dancing. I don't know very many people that love doing it as much as I do. Usually I have to pout at Mearcstapa until he lets me drag him onto the dance floor."
"Their pout should be outlawed by the Geneva Convention. It's a weapon." He nods sagely.
One good thing about vampire friends is they don't try to take your snacks, right? Alex seems honestly just extremely contented by sitting and having a normal, conversational, non-supernatural conversation that lets her just be a person. "Yes! I would love that," she says. "What styles are you into? Do you have any favorite places to go to dance?" Then she eyes Mearc and says, "I'm not too surprised that he resists, but hey, if he'll actually go out on the floor and dance with you, that's to his credit. Or yours. He must really be into you." Judging by her wide smile, she's delighted by that.
Lux smirks towards Mearc, then nods to Alex. "Electro swing isn't something I've dabbled in, but you have my interest. I go to Club Vertigo a lot. Hm, honestly, I don't really worry to much about styles when I'm in a club--but I like hip hop and b-boying a lot, if I'm really wanting to go at it. I like the athleticism. It's kinda like parkour--you throw your whole body into it."
Then their phone goes off a couple times. They slip it from their pocket to check, poking out a quick text, then their eyes go wide as they get several texts in a row. They grin brightly. "Oh my god, Jack just convinced the union to form a committee to vet future contracts so that the fashion show bullshit doesn't happen again--and he's heading it!" They squirm with excitement, then look over to grin widely. "Huh, maybe he is." They look playfully to Mearc. "Dunno, are you into me?"
Mearc leans in to kiss Lux on the cheek. "I am very into you. Also, tell Jack congrats and I'm proud of him and we need to celebrate later."
"I've done a lot of locking and popping," Alex says with some enthusiasm. "I love the b-boy style, but never had the athleticism for it. Not to do it as well as I'd like, anyway." She has a thought then. "I wonder how much I can make use of vampire tricks to make up for that. Huh." She looks between the two Changelings. "One of the rest of your polycule? That sounds pretty great!"
Lux beams at the kiss, giving Mearc an openly smoopy adoring look before texting a few more times. But then they slip the phone away to focus on the two of them, nodding to Alex. "I can help you with some moves, if you want, if you teach me swing. ...What sort of vampire tricks?" They nod, smiling. "Yeah, Jack is my boyfriend. Just friends with Mearcstapa, though."
"Pretty okay friends, though. I'm sort of hoping my boyfriend Raphael texts or stops by later. He's a quirk, but you'll probably like him." He nods. "Also, I just want to watch you two dancing."
"Deal. You're lucky I can't hold you to that promise like I used to be able to," Alex answers to Lux. "Oh, you know," she continues, and she flexes. "Super strength." Then she does some terrible fake martial arts motions. "Super speed." She shrugs and settles down again. "Is Raphael the one with the fascinating fashion sense?"
Lux clearly is delighted at the thought of Mearc watching them dance. "We totally have to do that, sometime." They pause to eye her a moment, thoughtful now. "That... sounds fucking epic, and worthy trying. But, uh. Maybe not in a club?"
"Raphael is the dandy whose clothes I borrowed the other day, yeah. Which, to be fair, he looks really, really good in."
"Oh, yeah, I mean I'd have to learn some of the tricks anyway, and definitely not to be used in any way that looks supernatural in public," Alex agrees emphatically. "I don't need anyone getting pissed off at me at this stage. Or over something that isn't so important." She grins, pulls her phone out, and flips through it for a moment before turning it so the others can see. 'These clothes?"
"He really does. The guy is a historical romance wet dream," they agree with an exaggerated dreamy sigh. Then they lean over to peer at the phone.
"Mmm. Gothic Romance, more like it. I'm pretty sure his Hedge Mount is named after Frankenstein, you know?"
"Oooh." Alex looks between Lux and Mearc like she's getting some hot goss. "Is he both of your boyfriend?" Clearly this isn't a thought that bothers, confuses, or upsets her. She just seems to be genuinely delighted. "I can tell what that look means," she adds, pointing at Lux. "How did you all meet, anyway?"
Lux leans more into Mearc as they stare, swooning. "Ugh. You look so hot, it's not fair." They pause, then shrug. "Nah, me and Raph aren't dating. We're just friends right now, but that doesn't mean I don't think he's beautiful and hot as hell." Lux pauses at the last question, not quite sobering but... less dramatic as they glance back to Mearc. "...Well... We kind of escaped together. Almost. Sort of."
"Me and Mearcstapa, anyway."
"Mmmh. Flukes of timing. We left the City at the same time and got separated by the Hedge...and about five years and the same number of states. And then when we found one another again, I asked them over to help prepare some dishes for an upcoming Passover seder, and there were a few distractions in the middle there and..." He's blushing, Alex can see that clearly. "...then it became a thing that wasn't just casual."
Alex leans in to listen carefully to the explanations, nodding along at the right moments. "I'm glad you found each other again, then. Were you here in Philly all along, Lux? Or did both of us get lucky in the fact that Mearcstapa decided that this was the place to be, after he left Chicago?"
Lux's smile softens, warms, nodding along with Mearc's explanation. "Mm. I totally was flirting with him for a couple weeks before hand, though. I think it drove him up the wall, but I'm happy with how it ended up." They reach for his hand to squeeze, then their head shakes. "Uh... no. I actually ended up finding my way to New York City. Which... is where I was taken. But I didn't really want to stick around. Philly was close, so just... wandered here. Pure luck. But the Wyrd is like that, sometimes."
"You were flirting?" Mearc is very clearly pretending not to have noticed, here, and can't stifle his grin.
Alex laughs at the interplay between the two. "Are you from New York originally?" she asks Lux. "I'm a Philly girl, never lived anywhere else. Not that I haven't been all over the place. I've spent an awful lot of my time traveling, or did up until a few years ago, once I got out of school." She grins at Mearc, not stifling her own. "Which is how we met, in fact."
Lux's smile turns a little more strained and uncomfortable, but the moment is brief. "No," they reply to Alex's first question, but it's clear they're not willing to go into more detail than that. They turn the conversation deftly into something more comfortable, though. Hopefully. "What did you travel for? Work?" They pause, brows lifting. "Wait, what is how you met? Flirting?" Curious rather than anything negative.
"Oh no, we weren't flirting. And especially not with one another. But we were the youngest people in the room when we'd go to conferences, and guys used to say the worst things to Alex, so I used to hang out, because if it looked like she had a guy with her, she'd get less shit."
Unlike some vampires Alex can pick up on body language and subtext, so she simply takes the 'no' with an understanding look and a nod, and then simply lets that line of curiosity drop. "No flirting," Alex agrees, and with a laugh she says, "in fact, recently we sort of realized that in many ways we were each other's beards at those conferences. I was traveling for work. I got invited to speak at a lot of those shows, and was networking the rest of the time."
"Ooh." Their nose wrinkles in distastes. "That sucks. Glad you had each other, though." They look amused and nod at the mention of being each other's beards. "What got you into computers and stuff?"
Mearc drops out of the conversation to burrow into the popcorn for a moment.
"Yeaaah," Alex says with a nose-wrinkling grimace of her own. "Being a woman in tech is rough. Being a teenage black woman is even worse. Never mind that some of those guys came to my talks and then tried to explain to me the very thing they came to my own presentation on..." she rolls her eyes almost straight out of her head. "I've always been into technology. It didn't hurt that my dad's an engineer who likes fiddling with it himself, or that my older brother, who I idolized, was also into computers." She gives Mearc a meaningful glance, because that brother's the one who went to Arcadia and never came back.
Mearc fields that significant glance with a slow nod. "I still wish I had gotten to meet your brother, Alex. Someday, someday, it's still possible. Don't lose that hope."
"That fucking sucks," Lux says sympathetically, shaking their head before they listen, lips quirking up. "Ah, cool. So grew up with it. That sounds nice, to have something to help connect you to family, like that." Then they pause, catching on and looking between them, smile dimming.
Alex nods faintly. "I know. Who knows, he might come back in a couple of decades and only have experienced a few days. It happens, I try to remind myself." She explains to Lux, "my brother was taken by, you know. Them. That's how I ended up fae touched."
"And in those couple decades, you'll still be here." Mearc nods sagely.
"Oh... shit..." Lux frowns. "I'm sorry. But... yeah, you can't give up hope."
That actually brightens Alex up a little. "I hadn't really considered that. Even if he's one of the ones who comes back hundreds of years from now, I might still be around." With a rueful laugh she adds, "if I manage to keep myself alive, anyway." She starts to reach out to touch Lux, like she's going to lay a hand lightly on their arm and try to reassure them that she's fine, but pauses. "Are you okay with touch?" she asks. Then another thought strikes her and she asks, "what Court are you, out of curiosity? You obviously dont' have to tell me."
"You will manage. Alright? Just stick close to good people. And there's a lot of those around, Alex."
"I guess that's one good side of it, huh?" Lux smiles. They don't shrink away from her hand, giving a nod of reassurance. "I don't mind touch, it's alright. Ah... I'm Winter."
Alex finishes the contact, giving Lux a light pat. "Good to know. I can be a tactile person, and it's all weird these days. Aura of creepiness and all. I feel like I'm Autumn now or something." With a faint, teasing smile at Mearc. "It's helping a lot to have people to talk to who aren't vampires, so thank you both."
"What's wrong with being Autumn?" Mock-offended, grinning. "I know a few okay Autumns out there. Somewhere. Kinda."
"I'm a pretty tactile person too, it's cool." They consider her a moment, then nod faintly. "Yeah, Autumn could fit..." Lux glances between them, then focuses on Alex. "So uh. I hope this isn't too forward or weird, but... Mearcstapa mentioned you were having trouble... feeding?"
"Nothing's wrong with it, it's just not me," Alex says with a little shrug. "Well, I guess it is now, but I don't have a say in it." She grimaces then, and nods. "Yeah, that's definitely an awkward topic, but not one I'm going to try to evade. I might be a little eerie to you, but humans are creeped right out by me. It makes getting close to people to feed a little... weird."
"And beyond the matter of tactics, there's a matter of ethics which has been bugging her. And I'm not really useful on this one. It exists in a space beyond my code."
"Well... How do you usually go about it? And please, we can table the conversation if you just want to talk normal stuff."
With a glance at Mearc, Alex nods in confirmation. "The ethics are really the harder part for me. The other just takes patience, but patience doesn't really resolve moral quandaries." She makes a bit of a face. "Most of the time? I go to a bar and wait for someone to decide to try to pick me up even though I creep them out, or something similar."
"Or because." He wrinkles his nose, grabbing a couple more pretzels.
Mearc receives a text. "Next knock on the door is going to be Raph, no need to panic this time."
Lux doesn't appear to be judging, just nodding a bit. "Okay. Well..." Their head tilts. "I cruise bars and clubs a lot, when I Harvest. Usually I'll find someone lonely or upset, and... well, I don't always sleep with them--sometimes it just involves dancing and just being close? Get them talking about it and then eat their sadness, and leave them feeling better. And--well, I'm very distracting when I want to be. Maybe distracting enough to keep them from noticing the... creepiness? If you wanted to try teaming up, sometimes?"
Then a nod to Mearc, and a grin. "Cool."
And that knock comes very soon after. (and the thing in 4 was technically last night. so). Sure enough, Raph is waiting, wearing a green vest and the rest of his usual dapper. He looks - oddly calmer than Mearc or Lux has seen him lately.
Alex looks a little taken aback by this being where Lux was going, and she glances at Mearc like she's not sure she heard it right before she answers, "I'm willing to try, as long as I don't end up feeling like I'm getting further from feeling like there's consent involved." She might have more to say, but there's a knock at the door and she fades into quiet as she waits for the Raph to be brought in and so on.
Mearc moves to the door, greeting Raph with a kiss, and then encouraging him to take off his shoes. "It's me, Lux and my friend Alex. She's...uh. The one who bit me before the last time you came over. But she brought us snacks and everything is cool."
Raph happily kisses Mearc at the door. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" He doesn't seem troubled about Alex, as it was consensual, though he gives Mearc a quick once over to check he's not drained.
Their hands lift. "I promise I'm not trying to make it weird. Just... trying to help? But I agree, the consent thing is weird, but like... if you don't have any other choice... Maybe it'll at least help to have someone there with you. And help to find someone who... wants it? Needs something that, uh, feels good?" They grimace. "I heard it feels good, anyway. Besides, that saves you from having to... bait yourself for all the creepers..." Their nose wrinkles briefly. Then they glance towards the door, smiling softly at the sound of Raph's voice.
When Raph comes in and everything seems to be pretty cool, Alex continues talking with Lux. "No, you're not making it weird. Not being alone would probably make it feel a lot less terrible. I'm pretty sure the only reason I'm not regularly sick from stress is that my body is dead and it just doesn't really do that any more. It does feel good, and not dealing with creepers would be nice. Especially since all the ones who actually approach me are men, and I don't actually swing that way." She flashes a wan smile Raph's way. "Awkward conversation to come in on, sorry. I'm Alex. You're the one with the awesome fashion style. Raphael?"
Mearc does not seem at all drained, and generally seems to be in high spirits, gesturing as they enter the living room for Raph to take the unoccupied spot on the couch, before he scoots the coffee table back a little and sits pretzel-style on top of it, facing the three of them. As you do.
If there's creeper bait around tonight, it's Raphael - he is extremely pretty, in a way that just... asks for it. If, that is, you can't see the scalpel bladed fingers. He slips off his shoes and drops his old-timey medical bag by the door before stepping in, giving Lux a worried look that turns into a broad smile when things actually seem to be okay, and does a namaste gesture to greet Alex. "Ah, you're the Alex I've heard about! A pleasure." He takes the place on the couch, cuddling up to Lux... his Mantle shows as the occasional leaf in a chilly wind you can feel even if you can't see the rest.
Lux, by the way, is back to their usual brightness, currently radiating a cheerful vibrant yellow.
The smile brightly at Alex. "Great! We should give it a try, sometime, and we can find a hot lonely girl that I can wingman you with, and we both win!" They pull out their phone to unlock and hand over. "Here, give me your number? We'll hit up a club sometime soon." They blink as Raph cuddles up to them, but doesn't seem to mind, giving his hair a playful ruffle. "How are you, Raph?"
Raph sighs happily at Lux, with a smile. "Apologies, I thought that was why I was being directed to the couch, I did not mean to surprise you. I'm so glad to see you looking more cheerful again. Especially given you're here with Mearcstapa." Clearly he suspects a certain conversation happened.
Alex is sitting on the couch, but not snuggled up to Lux. Just sitting. "Likewise," she says with a smile. "I enjoyed the picture I got of Mearcstapa dressed up, the other day." She recites her phone number for Lux. "If you have Signal, I'd rather have you hit me up there than text, but use what you have," she adds. "But that sounds nice. Especially if I can find someone who is down for more than just getting bitten, because fuck it's been too long."
"I have gotten both my partners on Signal, Alex. C'mon, who do you take me for?" He lets out a laugh, claiming the tin of Chicago mix popcorn again.
"Signal is good, yeah." Lux saves the number and sends Alex a text, then tucks the phone away again. "You're fine," they say to Raph with a smile. "I'm feeling a lot better now, yeah." They give Alex a sympathetic look, then places a hand over their heart with dramatic seriousness. "I will do my best to get you laid, Alex."
"So, not to... pry into a sensitive matter, but Mearcstapa said you've having a feeding issue, and I take it that's what you're discussing? I actually have... a little more insight into that sort of thing. Ah, Mearcstapa, how much does she know about....?" Changelings, obviously.
With a matching laugh Alex teases, "a glorified locksmith?" When the message comes in she takes her phone out to check it, then saves it and tucks the device away again before giving Lux a rueful smile. "Good, because it has been like four fucking years. Or non-fucking years, I suppose." She nods and answers Raph, "that's what we're talking about."
"She was Fae-touched before becoming a vampire. Alex, Raphael's a Leechfinger, and a member of my court. Don't shake hands with him."
"I know how to watch my fingers, Mearcstapa, I wouldn't do that to a friend."
Although yes, that's why he did the namaste thing and didn't offer a handshake.
Lux lounges back into the couch, content to let Raph have his turn charming Alex. They watch with a small grin, though do make grabby hands towards Mearc--to get the pretzels back to munch on.
Alex starts to speak, has a thought that makes her stop, and says, "actually, I'd like to try something -- something that doesn't involve blood -- if it's okay with everyone. I might be able to see your miens still, but I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, so I'm not going to try it if anyone objects. I have a trick that tends to let me see what's behind illusions."
He nods. "I'm pretty sure that's how Esme saw Sturm and me at the protest. I'm good on that." While Lux gets the chocolate-covered pretzels back, Mearc retains hold on the popcorn
"I have no objection. Really it's safer if you can see my hands properly."
Lux tries to catch the piece of popcorn with their mouth, but it hits them in the face instead. They snort, picking it up to pop into their mouth, then goes to munching chocolatey pretzels. "I don't mind, naw."
Alex nods, pauses. Pauses. After a few seconds she blinks and looks around at the three Lost. "That's a lot more like it," she says with a suddenly dawning smile. "Ah, I've missed seeing your sorts of faces, as unusual as they might be." She glances at Raph's hands, then his face. "I can see why I shouldn't shake hands with you," she says, but not sounding afraid.
Mearc's freckles redden slightly even as Alex smiles. "Yeah, so that's us, at our finest."
Lets be honest, Lux never turns down the opportunity for someone to oogle them--and they make sure they're shining nice and bright as Alex focuses. They lounge comfortably, flashing Alex a smirk. "It helps that we're real pretty."
Raphael is startlingly unchanged by removing the Mask - it mostly just looks you're you're seeing a tintype (old B&W) photo - except the hands. "Indeed. So. If you'll pardon my directness, I'm going to be Autumnal at you for a moment. Mearcstapa said you couldn't keep his blood down. He thought that was an all-vampires thing, but that's... not the impression I got from Guy, even though I have no proof one way or the other. Is it really 'all vampires can't drink Changeling blood', or is it 'you can't drink Changeling blood - perhaps because of your former state' or 'you were too upset and threw up because of that'?"
"That's true," Alex says with a laugh. "You are all very pretty. Like neon lights, night time skies, and old cabinet cards? You're all--" she cuts off and points a finger at Mearc. "I've missed that red." Then she grins wider. "Or the way they turned back to green when someone came up to you with an idea that really got your mind going." She sighs like she's actually seeing an old friend's face for the first time in a long time, but gets pulled away from that by Raph's question. "I have no idea," she admits. "I'm new to this. I do know I haven't thrown up because I was upset since I became a vampire, or I'd be throwing up every time I eat."
"Alex, any time it's you and me, you're welcome to look past the Mask. Because I haven't seen that sort of smile in ages from you."
"...Did it taste different?" Lux asks, more seeming idly curious than Autumn interested. "Yeah, same here. I don't care."
"Nor I - as I said, safer. And that suggests the second possibility is most likely, though we can retest with my blood, if you wish. It would be a damn shame, since we could actually consent fully. Have you tried pulling Glamour, since...?"
"Thanks," Alex says when she's given permission by the trio. "That means a lot to me." She thinks back on it and says, "no, it tasted the same at the time. I wonder if that's a quality of the Mask, though. Which raises the question of whether it would taste different right now..." She shakes her head. "I definitely haven't been able to harvest glamour. Believe me, I tried. That sure would be convenient."
Mearc holds out a wrist without hesitation.
Their phone chimes a couple times, and they poke at it before looking at Mearc. "Do you mind if Jack comes over?" Though they pause to eye Mearc when the wrist is offered. But, doesn't stop him.
"And yet you can still see through the Mask. Interesting. I wonder if there's a way you can warp that around to work with your new powers... might be worth trying. Mearcstapa, she also might be allergic to your blood in particular."
"So I'd rather she retest on someone else, if that's the case."
Alex hesitates to see how everyone reacts, then says, "Raphael might be right. I can also take a very small amount from one of you, see what happens, and then try Mearcstapa's again. Do you have a mop bucket or something, so I don't have to hope I make it across the room?"
"Small trash can in the kitchen. Though if Jack's coming over, we may not want to do this when he'll walk in on it? That seems...rude. I am cool with Jack coming over, if all of you are, but I don't want him walking into a literal bloody mess."
"Jack isn't going to want to see the blood. But I can distract him while you three experiment," Lux says, hopping up from the couch to head for the door.
"I'm ok with Jack being here if the reverse is true. But as to this... let me be the one. I can use my power on one of you and heal, for much less physical damage." A wink to Lux.
Alex waits for the discussion to circle around but shrugs and says, "I'll trust you all on Jack's presence." She gets up to go get the trash can, though.
"No, seriously, this is a boundary I'm setting. I'm not comfortable with this going on, if Jack is coming over."
"Alright. We can try another time, or... in the other room?"
Lux pauses, glancing back at Mearc, then nodding. "That'd probably be for the best. Sorry," they add to Raph and Alex.
Alex stops, nods, and heads back to her seat without protest. "Of course, I'll respect your boundaries," she says understandingly. "There will be other times, and I'm not all that hungry tonight so there's no urgency." She waves the apology away. "It's fine, really."
There's a quiet knock on the door, of course. Jack must've got here fast.
Raphael was about to say something, but instead sits upright, carefully folding his hands in his lap, figuring contact with Lux and blades visible might not go over well. It's the first time tonight there's been any flicker of worry or melancholy, interestingly.
He takes a deep breath. "Thank you guys. We'll find another time for it..." And he goes to answer the door, giving Jack a smile as he lets him in. The apartment is...well, it's tidy, but less in a 'clean' way than a 'this is a home with no real soul', walls blank, furniture fairly generic and bland, no pictures on the wall, no decorations. "Shoes off at the door, if you don't mind."
"I'm in no rush. I might be able to confirm my theory that it's not all of you, in the meantime."
Lux beams when they hear the door knock, looking towards the hall eagerly.
"No worries," Alex says genuinely. Since the other thing they were doing got interrupted it means that there's a bit of an awkward lull in the room at the moment, while they all wait.
"Hey." Jack's...well he's grinning, lines around his face and body dancing as he takes a quick look around the apartment before setting down the grocery bag he has and bending to unlace his boots.
"Know you don't drink much, but I brought some beer. And chips'n salsa, and some candy."
"We have chocolate pretzels, Chicago mix popcorn, and I can brew coffee as well. Congrats on your victory with the union. I'm really impressed with you." He leads Jack to the living room. "Not much room left on the couch, but feel free to lay out food on the coffee table. Or hand the candy directly to Lux, because we know how that's going to go."
They hop up from the couch when Jack comes into view, moving over to scoop him up into a tight hug, kissing at his cheek a few times quickly. "Ahhh! I'm still so proud of you! I can't believe it!" Their lights flare brighter for a moment as they lift him up off his feet, then set him down with another smooch to his lips.
Alex starts out looking happy to get a chance to meet Jack, since she's been happy to meet everyone in this polycule so far, but when she sees Jack she looks briefly surprised, then a little puzzled, like she's pretty sure she knows him from somewhere. Also, she's a little creepy. Something is just off about her. Her features are too perfectly symmetrical, in a Fae sort of way, and she just gives off an aura of wrongness, somehow. So that doesn't help. "Oh, yes! They told me about the Union thing, that's wonderful, congratulations!" she says genuinely. "Also, I feel like I know you from somewhere."
"Hello, Jack. I'm sorry about what happened the other day. I'll do my best not to trigger you again, but I'm not quite sure what the... bad cue was. Oh? are congratulations in order?" Raphael keeps his voice very carefully soft and low, even on that last, and his hands folded in his lap.
"Jack talked his union into some stuff, it sounds pretty important given the Fashion Show fiasco."
Jack opens his mouth to respond to Mearc, and then laughs instead when Lux scoops him up. "Thanks, babe, it's...I mean it's not really that big of a deal..." He's definitely trying to downplay it, and he's still grinning when Lux sets him down. "Yeah the candy's for Lux, lets be real."
Jack takes a second to blink at Alex, his smile faltering just a little in confusion. "Alex...?" He says the name like he's not completely sure it's correct. "You played sax, at [some local high school that the player hasn't gotten around to figuring out yet]. Right?"
"Ah, excellent." Raphael smiles at him, but maintains that sotto voce thing, hands still.
Lux doesn't fully release Jack, keeping their arms around him, but they freeze when Jack speaks to Alex, looking over at her with a blink-blink, making their eye lights flicker on and off.
At the nudge to her memory Alex lights up and says, "yes! You did too, didn't you?" Then, smoothly, after only a moment to put a few pieces together, she says, "I'd kind of forgotten all about that, Jack. We played together, didn't we?" If she remembers his deadname, she's still very intentionally using the one she knows he's using now. "Wow, small world."
"Huh. Very small world." He moves to sit down beside the coffee table this time, at Raph's feet.
Jack relaxes into Lux just a tiny bit at the intentional use of his name. "That was me, yeah. Fucking tiny," he agrees with a smile. "Raphael eh...just careful where you point. No hard feelings." The corner of his mouth quirks up at Raph before he turns his attention to Lux, not making any attempt to extricate himself from them. "Babe you gonna let me put my shit down...?"
Raphael nods, looking relieved, and loosening up his stiff pose. He speaks in a normal voice. "I'll have a care of it - it's no fun for me either, watching someone shatter over something I've done accidentally." Lux and Mearc would know he's been a wreck about that all week, but oddly, he says it pretty calmly now.
Lux looks between Alex and Jack, but when they don't see any signs of distress from Jack, they calm and let out a soft huff. "Fiiiinnne." They let go of him, heading back towards the couch to settle down. "So you two went to high school together? That'd fucking wild. I'm tempted to ask if Alex knows any embarrassing stories about you..." Their eyes glint mischeviously. They smile over to Raph, nudging him reassuringly with their arm. "It's cool."
"Uh. Alex, mind sharing your largest life update? Just to make sure we're all on the same page here." Mearc gives her a slightly apologetic loop. "Also so Jack's not surprised by why we're talking Changeling stuff around you."
"We were in the band together, of course I have stories," Alex says, because duh. "I'm not going to tell any of the embarrassing ones, though. Your secrets are safe with me, Jack. Unless you rat me out first." She looks at Mearc, then around, and then at Jack. "Yeah, sure. I used to be Fae-Touched, and now I'm a vampire. Unfortunately."
Jack winces. "Please be kind. Band...eeugh. High school was not the best time of my life. Fuck, though, that's...that's rough. 'S a lotta shit to go through, it sounds like." Jack pulls the case of beer out of the grocery bag, along with the chips and salsa which he sets on the coffee table. The bag of candy he opens, and takes a piece of, before handing it to Lux.
Raphael gets a look on his face like an idea has occured to him. "Hmm. Alex, I think I have more questions for you, about your issue. But.... later. Oh, um, as long as we're dropping news, I suppose I ought to just say. I don't know if any of you know Aurelio - tall, Italian, strong Summer Mantle but his skin is ice cold marble and you've never met so calm a Summer in your life? Yes, the one I texted you about, Lux."
Mearc glances between Raph and Lux, head tilting slightly to one side, before he opens the salsa, sniffs it...and then places it across the table from himself with the same expression as a five year old offered brussell sprouts.
Lux gives Alex a dramatic betrayed pout, but doesn't actually seem to mind, not pressing. "Thanks." They take the candy--along with a beer. Then pat their lap in offering for Jack to sit there, if he wants. "Huh?" To Raph. "What about him?"
"That's a good thing," Alex says to Jack with a laugh. "Who wants to peak in high school? If things have gone up from there, I'm glad to hear it. She looks at Raph, nods, and shrugs. "Plenty of time to talk about that later, right?"
"Not for you, Mearcstapa?" Jack huffs in amusement and grabs a beer for himself before sitting in Lux's lap. "I think I met him, Raph, he's a glassblower, right?"
"I don't do spicy, sorry. But hey, you guys do you." This reaction is regardless of how mild the salsa Jack brought actually is.
Raphael nods at Alex, then chuckles softly at Mearcstapa and the salsa. "Yes, that's him, Jack. And I'm shocked, Lux, no innuendo? Turns out he's from my exact time. A year or two older than I am, counting pure ironside. And also a Leechfinger. So we had a very useful talk, and.... ran an experiment or two. No more about... kinky stuff than is unavoidable, but.." Flicking his gaze to Lux. "I thought you might want to know about it, anyway."
"I don't do food, so don't worry about me," Alex adds. "Doesn't matter if it's spicy or not."
Lux cracks the beer open to sip from, then tries some of the candy. They are definitely going to have a stomach ache later, but no regrets. "Did you ask him if you could watch him blow?" Lux asks Raph, managing to keep a straight face. They listen then, brows arching. They don't seem to quite know what to say for a second, but then nod. "I'm glad you found someone you can relate to, like that? Sounds like it was a good talk."
Jack snorts and elbows Lux at that, and shakes his head at Mearc. "I can't do spicy either, this is the mildest salsa I can find. 'S always nice to find someone to relate to, yeah." Jack says the last to Raph with a small nod.
Mearc nods at Alex. "Though if Lux finds you a nice single girl, you might do your food."
"I did not, no." Smirking at Lux, briefly, then serious again. "He... gets the same kind of problems I do, with it. So.. yeah. And... well, he'd never actually been able to even ask someone how his feels. And I'm Autumn - couldn't pass up the chance to actually test how similar it is, between one and another, or how bad it really is once I realized we could actually use that and my Contracts to keep each other standing in a real fight."
"We can only hope," Alex says with a wistful sigh. "Fuck, even just some cuddling would be an improvement." The rest of the conversation she's listening to, but not really a part of.
"Is Lux gonna be your wingman?" Jack grins. "I'm sure they'll find you someone."
"...if all you want is warm body, I'm up for that. But I know it's not the same." The other changelings might perhaps think that Mearc's disengaged in the other conversation, but his freckles have reddened somewhat.
"And he wanted to tell how much I'd actually been able to alter it." To Alex in particular. "Once I learned vampires can make their bite pure pain, or.... not, knowing what I do about my kith, I tried to make the same shift. I suspect yours is better, but... it worked." Raph rather pointedly ignores the other conversion line, though his cheeks darken.
"He sounds pretty nice, Raph. That is an.... interesting thought. Sounds like an intense cycle." Then, "I've already promised to find a hottie." Lux nods sagely, grinning. "What is your usual type, anyway? What draws you to someone? Physically and-or personality." They sip their beer, nudging Mearc's leg with their toe when he goes redder.
"All I want? Not really. But platonic snuggling is definitely nice, so it's not like I'm likely to say no as long as it doesn't make anyone else uncomfortable," Alex answers with a smile. "What's my type? That's a harder question. For dating? Someone who clicks with me humor wise, makes me feel challenged intellectually, those are important things. For a one night stand? A lot more flexible."
"You looking for a long-term thing or not, d'you think?" Jack speaks in between sips of beer, and grabs a chip to dunk in some salsa.
"It... was." Raph shivers a little, remembering the cold. "The pain is actually significantly worse than I thought it would be. He managed to bear up under my old version pretty well, but the new one..." He chuckles softly, cheeks darkening, but managing to smirk. "...apparently he said something to the effect of 'good god' in Italian, when it hit. A literal ice cold man of stone. Not bad, huh?"
Mearc reaches over to grab one of the beers as well, pulling a multitool out of his pocket to pop the cap. "Raph, you sound like you're bragging. Is that how this should be interpreted?"
"Mostly just teasing Lux."
"Kinda sounds like bragging, man. No shame in that, though?" Lux grins at Raph.
His cheeks go way darker. "Alright, maybe a little. Mostly because I'm proud of warping my Keeper's handiwork that far."
"I honestly don't know. I want something long term, but do I think I'm likely to find it? No," Alex says with a shrug. "I'm probably not in a place in my life where that's a good idea, either." She glances over at Raph and grimaces a bit. "I know that we can bite people without the pleasure thing going on, but I've never been able to bring myself to do it."
Jack shifts just the slightest bit in Lux's lap and takes another sip of beer, listening to the conversation. "Warping what your Keeper's made you's always a good feeling."
"I think your 'nice' version is still less painful than mine, but... well, I wouldn't do even my 'nice' version in combat. Alex...." and hey, maybe Raph actually brought this up for a reason.... "...I assume you had to have been bitten to be changed, but was that the only time? do you even know what the bite feels like to your prey, either way?"
Mearc glances at Alex, trying to gauge how comfy she is with being peppered with these questions at this time.
"Makes sense." Lux bobs their head. They glance sideways towards Raph, eyeing him a moment. But then Jack is shifting and being distracting, causing their arms to wrap around him while they kiss his cheek.
Alex's walls seem to visibly come up a little at the question from Raph and she glances at Mearc where she asks him, "do you think this is good company to tell this story in?" She's definitely uncomfortable with that question for reasons that Mearc can probably guess, but it seems like she's probably willing to answer it.
Mearc takes a deep breath. "If there's a crowd in town who'd understand something about trauma, it's probably us changelings. And it might help Raph understand why you're not eager for experimentation. But if you're not into it, you can say no, and I'll feed Raph a large bowl of gumbo for breakfast tomorrow. You get to choose, and I will back your play 100% here."
"You don't have to answer, if you're uncomfortable, and there's no need for gumbo, Mearcstapa. Pray forgive me. Only... consider it yourself. It can be useful to.... really know what you're doing, instead of... imagining things."
He did actually have a point here, besides just not wanting to conceal that kind of thing from Mearc and Lux, yes.
Alex nods, but takes a moment with her head lowered before she looks up at Raphael and answers. "In 2016 one of them found out that I was Fae-Touched, somehow, and kidnapped me to do experiments on me to see if he could make any use of my nature, or... I don't know. He fed on me plenty in that time," she shudders. "So I know what it feels like, both when there's pleasure from it and when there's not. For what it's worth, when what he was doing got discovered, he was executed. Not until after he'd made me a vampire to continue his tests, though."
Lux stares over at Alex, brows knitting tightly with a mixture of sympathy and... anger, lips pursing. "Fuck..."
"That's..." Jack shudders and finishes his beer, and grabs another one. "'S fucking awful holy shit."
"It's something one of Them would do. It's a real piece of work." He sips his beer quietly, leaning against Raph's legs.
Raph's demeanor changes instantly, from languid to razor-edged, though he does no more than shift his weight. "Fucking Keeper-wannabe bastards. Good for him he's already dead." Icy cold, hate-filled. But then he pulls it back in, taking a deep breath and letting it out, twice, before speaking again, more softly. "I am so sorry, Alex. Now I understand why it's so hard for you."
"It did me more good than I can say, though, to learn to... twist it even a little from what they wanted it to be. I wonder if perhaps you can do the same, in some way."
"Man, fuck vampires," Lux grumbles. "Not you, Alex--you're cool."
"Fuckin' right...?" Jack mumbles in agreement.
"I wouldn't compare it so directly," she says to Mearc. "At least I was still... well, human-ish, the whole time. It was a nightmare, but it was one that I could make sense of. It's not really the same. On the other hand, he turned me into one of them, which is something none of you have had to deal with in the same way, so I guess we all have our particularly bad parts." She sighs, but in a way that resets her emotionally more than anything. "I'm okay with experimentation," she says to Raph. "If I'm the one experimenting on me, and don't feel like someone else is doing it to me."
"They aren't all so shitty, Lux. Esme's pretty alright. The Sakima's belief in individual dignity is something I'd place faith in every time. It's just...a lot are...a lot."
Lux glances away around the middle of Alex speaking, lifting their beer for a long drink. "...Speaking of shitty vampires. Do you know someone named Shiri, Alex?"
Jack frowns at Lux, concerned. "Something happen?"
"Esme took me in," Alex says with a nod. "When she found out what I used to be. Because she seems to care and be worried about me, not because she wants something from me. Sakima is..." she shakes her head. "I think you're right, but I'd still rather not have her attention." She blinks at Lux's question. "Shiri? They're the one in charge of one of the vampire clans. Ah, you could think of it like if someone was in charge of a Seeming. The Beasts, in their case," she adds with a soft laugh. "I don't really know them, though."
Mearc glances at Jack with a small nod. "A...significant breach of courtesy, from a vampire I'm generally on good terms with."
Raphael nods at her, sympathetic, but.. well, Autumn, his Mantle flickering into golden sparks. "It's not easy, having to live with... the need to be like your captors. Having to.... hurt others, like they did. The unnatural hunger. I understand it, Alex. I don't have to, to live, but the need is... still real. Mearcstapa did something for me that really helped. Took the terror away, for a little while, so I could... use it without freaking myself out."
Lux listens to Alex, nodding faintly. "Hmm... So someone powerful, sounds like." They purse their lips and look to Jack. "This Shiri person had one of them follow me to my apartment. Apparently to offer to hire me. He claimed he didn't know I was a Changeling, but still--what the fuck. He's lucky Mearcstapa was there to vouch for him."
"Atalo," he explains for Alex's sake. "He and Cerberus tracked Lux down at their home."
"Jesus Christ," Jack growls, and his animations darken just a touch as he wraps a protective arm around Lux's waist. "What the actual fuck."
Raph's pretty focused in, right now, but he shoots a look at Mearcstapa at hearing that name. "That guy? ....I think he's forgetten how to... people."
There's a soft chime from Alex's backpack, which seems to startle her. "Oh, shoot. I almost forgot an appointment," she says. "First of all, Atalo, you dummy. What were you thinking? Second of all, this is really wonderful, all in all. For a little bit I've felt again like I have friends, and I've needed this. Thank you. I should get going, though, or I'm going to be late."
"I'll be okay," they say to Lux. "It just kinda spooked me, with the whole Anna-Marie bullshit going on. Eh... just more reason to stay in the Hollow more, I think." They kiss Jack's cheek, then brighten to smile at Alex. "It was an awesome evening. I'm really excited to go dancing with you, Alex. Hit me up sometime soon?"
"I'm not sure Atalo was thinking. I came close to going Very Hunterheart on him. Lux had a weapon in hand. It could have ended poorly." He huffs. "Anyway, go safe, Alex. Text me when you turn in for the morning."
"'S nice to see you again Alex. We should...catch up sometime. Sure a lotta shit's changed for the both of us in the last...decade."
Raphael looks... stricken... for a second. Like it's his fault. And then gets hold of himself. "My sincerest apologies, Alex, for pushing. For... my unfortunate habit of hitting where it hurts most, even when I don't mean to. But if I can help you... let me know."
"Oh, absolutely. This weekend?" Alex gives Lux a big smile as she stands up and hefts her laptop bag onto her shoulder. "When it's more crowded, I tend to have better luck with not driving people off with the aura of dread." She makes finger guns at Mearc. "You got it, I'll send a message. Jack, it was good to see you again too. I'd love to catch up. Raph, a pleasure meeting you too. Don't worry. It's fine. You are all adorable together, by the way, and this has been lovely."
"Honestly, looking back on it, it was kinda hot to see you almost go Hunterheart, babe." Lux grins at Mearc, then waves at Alex. "This weekend, for sure. See you!"
"Best of luck with it. You're doing better with it than I did until... like this week, if it helps to hear."
"Lux, you're turned on by danger and novelty, of course seeing me get all scary was a turn-on." Mearc walks Alex to the door to be polite, before returning to the group.
Alex puts her shoes on, because she'll want those, then waves goodbye before leaving.
Jack huffs out a laugh and kisses Lux on the cheek. "He's right, you know." And takes a drink after.
"I mean my mind definitely wasn't there at the time but... you're not wrong." Lux shrugs.
Raph waits until Alex has gone, his wave careful for Jack's sake, drawing deep breaths to keep his shit together, and then forcing a grin. "And you have the most astonishing pain tolerance, Lux."
That makes Jack shift in Lux's lap again, just a tiny bit uncomfortable, and he eyes the two of them as he drinks.
As Mearc returns to the living room, he looks thoughtfully at the group. "I think we'd all fit a bit better in my bed, but I don't want to presume everyone's comfortable with that. It's just an option, space-wise. But the food doesn't come with to the bedroom, though."
Lux distracts Jack by kissing the side of his neck, arms tightening around him. "...Does the beer come into the bedroom?" they ask Mearc.
"The beer, ideally, doesn't come into the bedroom." Demonstratively, he picks up and drains his own bottle in a bit of a chug.
Raphael sees Jack's reaction, even the attempt to be light about it go wrong, and his grin vanishes. "I.... in theory, I'd be fine with it. In practice... I don't think I'm safe for Jack."
He's actually holding it together better than it might look, given how hard he's been wrestling it this week.
"You might be if you quit trying to bring up how much 'kinkier than thou' you're becoming at every opportunity. That comment about Lux's pain tolerance was unnecessary, and talking about what happened with Aurelio could have waited for more privacy. Yes, I trust Alex. No, she doesn't really need to hear that, I don't think."
"Ah -" Jack ducks his head and takes a drink, extra uncomfortable being called out like this. "It's - mm. Yes. That." He gestures to Mearc. "And the...pain tolerance thing's a boundary I didn't know about. For me." Hoo boy, is Jack looking increasingly sketchy and twitchy, talking about this.
Lux blinks, looking up in surprise towards Mearcstapa, then a softer look at Jack, rubbing a hand over his back a bit. "Uh... Yeah, sorry Raph, but talking about the kinky Leeching stuff in front of Alex was a bit... awkward. Like. I'm not ashamed of it, but... Still, a bit awkward."
"Right. I... dammit. I just keep making things worse. I'll leave. Sorry. Again."
"I'm not sure you're actually hearing and understanding what the issue is, from that response. But if you'd rather discuss it later, that's fine. This conversation is not completed."
"No. I'm hearing it. And I'm hearing that I am causing unintended pain, again, and I.... need to shut my mouth and just... not be sitting here being a damn trigger."
"It's not what you are, it's your actions, Raphael, and your level of respect for the capacity of others to consent to being involved in a conversation. By framing it as 'I am a trigger', you're trying to displace responsibility."
Jack, at this point, looks like he wants to crawl into a hole. But drinks instead, given that there are no holes to crawl into.
Lux frowns at Raph. "I think you need to take a moment to step back from emotional spiraling and realize that we're not... saying you're evil or bad. It was a mistake, and we're trying to get you to understand why it was a mistake so it doesn't happen again, because we want you around. If we didn't want you around then I'm sure Mearcstapa would have no trouble asking you to leave, but he's not."
"The hands are, though. And I don't know what I'm doing enough to speak safely. I was trying to... not hide things you might... be mad if I did. And trying to... help Alex. And I obviously didn't do that right.
"Look, I'm saying let me just leave so I don't hurt someone accidentally again, ok? I thought I was,... getting control of it. But I'm not."
Mearc crosses his arms over his chest, freckles turning redder rapidly. "Good night, Raphael."
Lux opens their mouth to say more, then closes it, looking up at Mearcstapa. They frown, but stay quiet.
Mearc is feeling an emotion! Too bad Raph can't get deep enough to tell what.
Raphael looks at the red freckles, and whispers softly, "Are you angry at me for leaving?"
Jack slowly shifts off of Lux's lap, keeping an arm around them but sitting on the floor instead.
"No. Would you like me to walk you to the door?" His voice is low and deep and even, but his freckles tell of continued emotional turmoil.
"...I....I'm not sure I believe you. I know... you hate it when Lux.... does that. I just...."
Lux lets Jack slip away, fingers moving to his hair to comb through slowly, looking down at him instead of watching Mearc and Raph.
Jack rests his head on Lux's shoulder, and kisses it before finishing off his beer.
"Here's a question, Raphael: did Aurelio give explicit consent for details of your encounter with him to be shared with those he had not met, including someone who is not a member of the Freehold?"
"....no. fuck. Right. I really am making a mess of things, aren't I? next time shut me up sooner. Or... just...." he blinks back tears. "...tell me to go and not come back. The last thing I want to do is hurt any of you."
Mearcstapa takes a slow, deep breath in. "Good night, Raphael."
Raphael gets up, not looking at any of them, and grabs his things, not even putting his shoes on, just carrying them, at least until he's on the other side of the door. So no one has to deal with him crying while he gets them on.
The door is locked behind him, before Mearcstapa returns to the living room.
Lux looks up when they hear the door close, glancing towards it, then Mearc as he returns. "...What do you need?"
Jack nudges Lux, a "hey go to your boyfriend, i'm fine here" kind of thing.
"I apologize for getting so unpleasant, but I couldn't let that all stand, as it had been doing." His freckles haven't returned to normal, making this perhaps the longest redshift either of them has seen from him.
"No, no--it's okay." Lux slips away from Jack and stands, standing over to pull Mearc into a hug, if they're allowed to.
"You don't have to say sorry for any of that." Jack stands too, setting his empty bottle down.
The hug is accepted, and held tight, and Mearc looks over Lux's shoulder to cant his head at Jack in what might be an invitation to join the hug. You know. If he wants. No pressure.
Jack blinks and frowns just a little, more confused than anything else. Who, him? But he does make his way over, and tentatively puts an arm around Mearc, and his other around Lux.
Lux squeezes him tightly, rubbing along his back. They don't say anything at first, just holding him. "He's right, though. You don't need to be sorry."
Mearc leans into both of them hugging him and takes another slow, deep breath.
"Anything...else you need, right now?" Jack's voice is low, hopefully comforting, and hugs him a little tighter.
"What I need right now? I don't even know. This is helping. I don't regret that I did that. But I don't know if I should have. I'm sorry."
Lux considers for a moment. "I don't think there was a decision you should have made in this situation. It was going to be bad either way, I think. I think Raph couldn't handle his emotions, in the moment, and was spiraling and unable to be rational. Where as you, uh... have to handle upset situations rationally. I know he's hurt, and it hurt to do that, but him staying might have risked a different sort of hurt. I'm sure you two can talk once you're both calmer."
Jack just nods in agreement, and gives Lux a kiss on the cheek.
"It will be impossible to talk if he keeps deflecting, acting as though the problem is one of identity instead of actions. He needs to come to the table ready to have an actual conversation." Mearc huffs. "Jack, how are you? I didn't mean to surprise you with someone from your high school years, and while you seemed to still get on, that...felt like there was some unevenness."
"She...knew me by a different name, is all. And gender. And high school was a really shitty time for me. I uh. I don't remember a lot of it. 'S not a big deal though, she's fine. Sounds like she's had a shitty time, I'm glad she's got you. You two've known each other a while?" He gently nudges Mearc.
"We met a little over five years ago at a conference. she does digital security, I do physical. We've always gotten along pretty well. When...when she was kidnapped by the vampire who turned her, I...assumed from her silence that the Good Neighbors had gotten to her. I left messages online, in case she escaped, and...she finally answered them."
"I like her even more after seeing her deal with that, honestly," Lux says with a nod, then frowns at Mearc. "I'm sorry that you had to go through that. Loosing a friend isn't easy... Especially when you think they've been taken. Though I'm not sure what happened to her is really... better."
"She seems like a really sweet girl."
"She is. Way too soft-hearted for what she is." He exhales. "Hug is nice, doing this in bed might be nicer? Cuddling, I mean. I...want someone to lie across me for a bit right now. To help ground me." His freckles start to resume normal coloring, but the shift is slow.
"Bed's good with me." Jack nods. "D'you...want help putting away any of the food...?" He glances around to the open containers and the bottles on the floor.
Lux glances to Jack, just to make sure he's okay with that. But when he gives the okay Lux nods. "Yeah, that sounds great. I'll clean up--Mearcstapa, you put on some comfy PJs, or something. Jack, tonight's a special night for you, so just relax." They kiss both of them on the cheeks, then slip away to go... gasp. Clean.
"...what makes you think I own any pajamas, Lux?" There's...something perhaps almost nervous in his voice there.
"You're gonna clean?" Jack grins and gives Mearc a squeeze before grabbing another beer. And then giving him a mildly confused look. "I mean I don't really care if you sleep in boxers, if you don't have pajamas...?"
Lux pauses from picking up bottles and blinks at Mearc, confused. "Uhh... I figured you'd at least have a comfy t-shirt and some sweatpants or something? If you don't want to wear PJs, you don't have to...?"
Mearc hesitates a moment longer and then heads into the bedroom to change into pajama pants and a conference swag t-shirt. The pants are...a little ridiculous.
Jack's lounging on the couch by the time Mearc gets back, and grins at him. "Oh I like those."
Lux looks over and stares, lips quirking upwards. There's definitely an you're fucking adorable look, but they don't say anything. Such restraint!
The trash is quickly scooped up and tossed into the trash can, and any left overs put into the fridge, or closed up and left on the counter.
"Um. Goofy pajama pants might be...my greatest vice."
"As vices go...'s a pretty cute one." Jack downs the rest of his beer and stands with a groan.
Lux steps out of the kitchen, squinting playfully at Mearc. "What? Really? Why don't I know this dark secret of yours?" They step over to the couch, grabbing Jack's hand to pull him towards the bedroom.
"If that's my darkest secret that you're unaware of, Lux, then you should feel pretty privileged." This has the tone of a tease, as they drift back to the bedroom.
Jack lets himself be pulled up by Lux, and accidentally-on-purpose stumbles directly into their arms with a wide grin. "Feeling pretty priveleged myself, finding out at the same time."
"Mmm... fair. Though you know now I'm going to be buying you the most ridiculous pj pants I can find, right?" They gesture to the bed. "Get comfortable, Kitten. I'll be your blanket."
"Kitten?" Jack's eyebrows shoot upward as he looks from Lux to Mearc, but he doesn't say more than that. He's still got half a smile on his face, his mien the slightest bit smudgy now.
Mearc fluffs the pillows and lifts the covers so everyone can curl in under them. "Oh no, payback for the bedsheets. Whatever shall I do?"
"Yes, Kitten. Cause he's a hunter and has the cutest little claws and teeth. But secretly a tiny badass. And... I love those bedsheets, thank you very much. Though I might move them to the Hollow, cause... ugh. I don't know if I can sleep in that apartment anymore. ...Is that stupid?" Their lips purse sheepishly before they climb into bed, sprawling over Mearc like a cat and making grabby hands at Jack. "Come'ere."
"That is not stupid, love. Your Hollow is safe, secure. And probably needs as much organization help, eventually." He grins, and also gestures for Jack to slot in against them both.
"Oh it does - more, even. Partially 'cause I've been staying there too..." Jack gets a little smudgy blush and he climbs into the bed. He's still a little tentative about cuddling Mearc, especially in this context, but he throws an arm over Lux and that makes it kinda impossible not to cuddle Mearc, as well.
Lux looks flustered when called love, but smiles. "Uh, yeah. Jack has been staying there lately, cause it feels safer, with all this Anna-Marie business..." When Jack curls in, Lux adjusts so they're draped over both of them, looking content as they wiggle into a comfortable position. With the faint coolness of their mantle and the snuggly warmth of the weighted blanket, it's the perfect cuddling temperature. "It does need some organizing, though. Especially if it's going to be my studio and a full time living space."
Mearc lets out a soft, contented sigh as he melts against both Lux and Jack, one hand reaching out to spiral his fingertips against Jack's arm. "I can help with that, if you want me to. It'd be a fun project. Or...if we can figure out what to pay in, I might be able to use a Contract to draw in a hobgoblin to help with cleaning the place up once in a while. That might be easier."
Jack relaxes as soon as Mearc touches him, and gently runs his fingers along Lux's side. "Might need to expand it a little, too..."
"I would... be pretty grateful for the help, honestly. You seem pretty good at coming up with work arounds to make things... easier? Maybe it won't instantly turn into a dump if we set it up right. Plus... I'd kind of like you to see it." Their head dips a bit, looking... suddenly kind of nervous and shy. Granted, Jack probably know that look--like when they'd shown him the portraits. "Mm... Expanding it might be good, too... it's kinda small, right now."
"Where do you throw out your garbage in the Hedge? Or...hm. Well, given you can turn material into other material via Hedgespinning..." His freckles turn green as he begins to plot out how to approach the problem.
"Being there feels like being inside Lux's head in the best way. A little eye-searing, but...it's super fucking them."
"No, Jack. We're super fucking them, I believe." This is paired with a mildly shit-eating grin.
Lux snorts, amused, while both hands move to start idly playing with their hair, fingertips kneading along their scalps. "...I've never tried spinning away trash. Huh. Might have to try that. Mostly I just occasionally shovel it into a bag and toss it into a dumpster." They blinks at Mearc, then bury their face in between them, huffing. "Well, I mean, yeah..."
Jack snorts, his smudgy blush going scribbly. "Mm, that too...Lux're you hiding 'cause you're embarrassed?"
"It might also be because of the force of hearing me cuss. The more rarely you do it, the more impact it has."
"Erm--more that, yes. Just didn't expect him to say that. Plus... I dunno. I know it's selfish, after--what happened earlier, but... I'm really happy. With both of you."
"Aw, hummingbird." It comes out soft, almost even gentle. "I'm happy with this, right as it is right now."
Jack nods, and turns to kiss the side of their head. "This's...all of us are...better'n I ever hoped."
"Me too. I never imagined..." They huff out a breath, head lifting to look between them a moment, then tilts their head to kiss each of them on the cheek. "Thank you. For making me realize what I was missing. What I needed."
Mearc kisses the top of Lux's head, then pauses. "Jack, is it alright if I kiss you on the forehead?"
"...Yeah. Yeah that's okay." His cheeks are still a little scribbly, and he nods and smiles.
He leans in, and the kiss is soft and quick and gentle. "I'm glad you're here with us. And I'm glad you did good things with your union today. And I'm glad you're so kind and amazing to Lux, and I like having you around."
There's practically stars shining in Lux's eyes as they watch, smiling adoringly. "I know you two are just friends, so please don't take this the wrong way--but ugh you two are so fucking adorable. And yeah, he's right--you were really amazing today, Jack. I'm so proud of you."
Jack ducks under the covers as his blush deepens. "I...like having you around too, Mearcstapa. And you and Lux...you fit together and it's wonderful and adorable and I'm - thank you for...letting me be a part of this thing. I'm so fucking lucky, and both of you are so fucking good to me." His voice is muffled by the blankets, but he slowly looks up at the two of them after he's done speaking.
"Letting you? Oh, Jack. You're actively part of building it." Mearc watches Jack, and there's a brief instant where he seems to by making eye contact, before he blinks away.
Lux rests their head in between them, watching them with a soft adoring smile. "Mm, Kitten is right... This wouldn't be here, if it wasn't for you..."
Jack lets out a small, embarrassed noise, but he can't keep from smiling. "Mmm...I'm glad this is here. Like...like really, I-don't-have-the-words-to-describe-how-much, glad." He snuggles closer to the both of them as he speaks, and closes his eyes.
Mearc gives Lux a soft smile. "You're on top, you go turn off the lights, but come right back, okay?"
Lux lets out a soft whine at having to move from their Perfect Spot, but does so after a few seconds of wiggling. They move over to turn the light off--and dim their own lights as much as they can manage, though they're still a blacklight nightlight. But then they're climbing under the covers again, curling over them both. "Sleep. In the morning I'll try to make breakfast for you both." Oh no.
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