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It'd been a pleasant night of cuddling and affection, but once Jack went off to work Lux had also gone out to walk the dog and run some errands, leaving Mearc to bury himself into his office. But now Lux had returned, sitting around waiting. Trying not to be too distracting.
But now Lux is bored. Which means it's now time for adorableness and mayhem.
The door to Mearcstapa's office sloooowly opens just a little, Lux peeking inside. Currently trying to be sneaky. At least checking to make sure Mearc isn't on some important client call or something.
Mearc's sitting pretzel-style in his desk chair, hunched forward over his keyboard, talking to himself as he works. Horrible posture. Horrible squinting at the screen. Can he possibly be comfortable that way?
Lux slowly tip-toes into the office, Chewie held underneath one arm. Being the Goodest Boy, the pup just hangs there wiggling, happy to be held. The Bright One creeps closer and--well, unfortunately they glow all the time, so it's proably not a complete surprise as they come up behind Mearc. There's likely a little glimmer reflection of neon light on his screen.
But then the dog is being held out so that he slowly comes around into Mearc's peripheral view. Except it's not a dog--it's a shark. Okay, it's a dog in a shark costume.
Shark
The fearsome shark attacks ferociously by excitedly licking Mearc's cheek.
"Dog!" This is an exclamation of surprise anyway, as Mearc's chair turns and he blinks up at Chewie and Lux in surprise, then cautiously holds out his arms--either for Lux or for Chewie, he's not really sure yet?
Lux smirks, holding out the wiggly dog to place into Mearc's arms, then leans over to give his own smooch to Mearc's cheek. "You've been working too long. You haven't even eaten lunch, have you? You need a break, Kitten."
"I...had breakfast?" He'd made breakfast, of course, for everyone.
"Breakfast was hours ago." Their hands rest on their hips, eyeing him. "You'll take a break and have some lunch, or I'll be forced to cook something for you."
Which we all know is a receipe for disaster.
"Alright, alright. Lunch it is." He tries to figure out the proper way to hold a shark-dog, up to and including the sort of hold you use on a cat, against your chest and comfortable. It doesn't seem to be working.
It probably doesn't help that Chewie is full of EXCITE, licking away at Mearc's chin and tail wagging. But at least he's chill about being held.
"Good." Lux beams, then moves to the door to push it open further. "What are you working on?"
"Oh, you know, planning a break-in. As usual. This one's actually probably going to be more Wren's work, it's a local museum, and the security guards seem to be dropping the ball--there's been some vandalism on exhibits lately."
He carries a very wiggly doggie out of the office before setting him down. "What have you been doing, in the meantime?"
"Took Chewie to the park, then stopped by the office for a while." A beat pause as they stare into the distance, realizing how weird of a statement that was to say for them, "Had to let some people in to do some maintainence, and met with some of the artists to hear their pitches for their murals. I'm letting a handful go wild and paint all the walls inside it. It's gonna be amazing."
"Speaking of, I still need you to paint my wall. You're the street artist whose work I'm most interested in." He catches their wrist, tugging them closer for a quick kiss.
Lux lets themself be snagged in drawn in, kissing back--then another that lingers longer. "Mm, yeah. I'm sorry I haven't done that yet. Things have been crazy. But I'm going to get that and your carpet this week. I already found the perfect one. Just need to break in and get it."
"Excellent, I can't wait to see it. I have a bunch of photographs I want to hang up on it already, you know." His hands slide down to rest on Lux's hips.
"Mm. Any of Jack, yet?" They grin, arms sliding around his waist to pull him closer. "I'm assuming this past weekend went well for you two, anyway."
"It went very well. He seemed surprised that I took him at his word over text, and didn't pause for more talking when he came over." There's a red tinge that goes all over his freckles.
"Not too surprised. Even the texts I saw seemed... pretty forward." Lux smirks. "He's turned into a fucking tease. I think I'm a bad influence."
"You really are." Mearc laugh, moving to see what's in the fridge. "Have you eaten, yourself? There's still leftover pizza, or I can make sandwiches. I'll even cut off the crust for you."
"Pizza sounds great. You don't gotta cut the crust off, but I wouldn't complain," Lux replies, crouching down to pet Chewie, because of course the dog is following close at their heels. "I'm really glad things have worked out for you two. You're both so adorable together. And hot. Very hot."
"He's been a little in his head. I've been a little in mine. Sometimes, I need to learn to stop trying to put things in boxes." He puts some pizza on a plate and puts it into the microwave. "The question now is, how does the three of us in one bed work, sexually? Or at least, that's one of my questions."
"Oh, hrm." Lux blinks, glancing up at him. "...Is it something you're... worried about?"
"Curious, not worried. Eager to find out...at some point." He flashes a rakish grin at Lux.
"Oh, good." They grin again. "I'm pretty eager, myself. I have some... thoughts, but who knows how it'll end up going when we're in the moment."
"You? Thoughts? That could be dangerous." He steps forward with a daring look on his face...and accidentally steps on Chewie's paw, letting out an eep! as he scrambles backwards. "Sorry, didn't mean to do that, Chewda."
"Mhmm. Lots of thoughts... Like--" Oops. Lux winces, then reaches out to pet the dog to reassure him--not that it takes much. Forgiveness no doubt comes seconds later. "Poor baby. See, you're okay? You're such a good boy," they coo adoringly as the dog's tail wags happily. "Taking care of him almost makes me want to get a dog..."
"Mmm, I get that. But if you're living in a hollow most of the time, where would you keep it?"
"Mm. That's fair. Though I've been staying there a lot less often lately. Going back and forth between there and Jack's apartment. And here." Their head tilts. "Wonder if I could convince Jack to get one with me..." They look down at Chewie thoughtfully. "Not that I know shit about raising a dog. I'd probably be pulling my hair out if Chewda wasn't so well trained already."
"Yeah, I...don't know dogs either. I'm more of a cat person. We had one, when I was young."
"...Okay, the thought of you with a kitten is fucking adorable." Lux looks up at him, wide-eyed. "Think you'd ever get another?"
"Maybe? Maybe. I've never planned on it."
"Might be good for you," Lux muses. "I've wondered if maybe getting a dog or something would be good for Jack. Maybe... give him something to focus on other than... drinking? Though I feel like he's been doing a little better, lately? A little."
"A little. Don't spring a dog on him as a surprise, though. Take him to a shelter or something to pick one out together. Let him fall in love and make him think it's his idea." He pulls the pizza out of the microwave, holding the plate out to Lux.
"Oh, yeah, no. I wouldn't spring it as a surprise or anything." Lux stands and takes the plate, sneaking in a kiss to his cheek before leaning against the counter to start chowing down. "Thank you for letting me keep Chewie here. I know it's probably kind of weird for you?"
"It is, but he's alright and I know how much Aaron means to you, so this isn't really too much trouble."
"...Yeah." Lux takes another bite, chewing more slowly, looking thoughtful. "This past week has made me feel a lot closer to him."
"Well. Good." He leans back against the counter as well, stealing the second piece of pizza off the plate to nomf, himself. "I love watching you be in love."
Lux freezes, hesitating a moment before stuffing their mouth with more pizza, looking away. "...Mmm. I dunno if I'd... call it love. Yet. I could definitely see it getting there? Erm. He told me he loves me though, but that was like... while he was super tripping on drugs, so. I'm not giving much weight to it right now."
"Oh. That sounds like it'll be a fun talk someday. Maybe when he's, ah, feeling better?"
"Erm... yeah. Maybe?" They grimace. "Not sure if that's something I should bring up or not. Dunno if he even remembers saying it. Might be awkward."
"Maybe save it to remind him cheekily of the first time he says it and means it?" There's a bit of a smirk there. "That's the sort of thing you'd do."
"...Mm. Does sound like something I'd do." Their head tips. "But I do really like him. He's really... special." Their eyes flit back towards Mearc. "Speaking of being in loooove... I've been chatting with this other Mage a lot the past week. She's awesome. I totally spent most of last night gushing to her in texts about you and Jack, so... if some weird person that goes by Fox comes up to you and knows who you are--don't get too freaked out."
"...thank you for the warning? What all did you tell her?" He tenses visibly.
"Um." Lux blinks as he tenses, smile dimming. "Not anything super personal..? I mentioned you do the pen testing and that you're super smart and really fucking awesome..."
"Oh. Okay. Yeah, I just...please definitely ask me before sharing anything particularly personal about me? I get weird about information flow." His tone of voice is rather apologetic.
"No, it's... cool." Lux grimaces, looking guilty. "I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry. I just, uh... I was gushing about Aaron and I wanted to gush about you and Jack too, and I got carried away." A beat pause. "I did mention the glowing freckles. I'm sorry if that was too much. I'll ask first or just--not, next time."
"You were excited." He brushes his lips against Lux's forehead. "And I'm just uptight."
"You're careful. And smart. And I'm trying to get better about that--so I get it. It's okay." Their arm hooks around his waist, rubbing along his side. "I know I'm turning into a bad Winter. I just... like everyone knowing how amazingly awesome you are."
"Mm. Well...not everyone remains in Winter forever, you know."
They blink, then huff out a breath. "I guess not, no. It's hard for me to imagine being anything else, though."
Then a pause, and they glance over at him, then down at the floor. "I guess I have been a lot... happier lately, though."
"Oh no, how dare you be happy with us." He lets our a warm laugh.
"Right?" Lux huffs, mock-indignantly. "It's not just being happier, though." They turn, arms wrapping around him to pull him back against their chest, kissing at the side of his neck. "You two keep my head on straight. Keep me from... running too long, too hard. Make me slow down and recharge here and there. So I... burn out and crash a lot less often. You make me healthier."
Mearc holds him close and tight, letting out a laugh. "Oh, good, it's working. Just like you keep me from isolating myself, hiding away in my office my entire life. You get me out to try new things, and make sure I don't break myself down--both of you do."
Lux continues kissing along Mearc's neck, up to just under his ear, grinning against his skin. "Mhmmm. Look at us, being responsible healthy adults. Gross." the kissing turns to light nipping, hands slipping under his shirt.
"Hummingbird, I'm beginning to think you got me out of the office for something other than lunch..." But his head lifts, exposing more of his neck to Lux.
"Who, me?" Lux murmurs innocently, placing another kiss at his throat. "Nah. I know you have work to do. I'm just giving you motivation to get things down and finish at a reasonable time so I can have you all to myself without any guilt." They pull back with a grin, hand lifting to brush hair tenderly behind his ear. A pause where they just stare, grin turning dopey. "You're so fucking handsome."
There is a soft whiny sound from Mearc's throat. "You can't wonder where Jack gets the teasing from, damnit."
"Mm. Sorry. If I take you to bed now then I'm not letting you go anytime soon," Lux says playfully. "So you'll have to wait." Their fingers slide through his hair after tucking it, giving a light tug at a handful.
Then their hands slip away and they nod to the pizza. "But you should try to eat a bit more, first."
He gasps softly, closing his eyes when tugged like that, and once released he sags a little, like a puppet with its strings cut, taking a moment to catch his breath before he goes back to the pizza.
"Yes, my dear. Anything you say."
Lux's eyes glint with mischeif as they watch him, smirking. After a moment they pick up another slice to munch at, taking the time while they eat to give Mearc a good undressing with their gaze.
But it eventually slides away into a more thoughtful expression. "Mm... I never did tell you, did I... That me and Asbolus broke into Robin's office."
"...that's a bold move. What happened there?"
"It was... interesting. It looked like the place had been turned over already, or like someone had hastily gone through them. Lots of boxes and papers laying everywhere. Not as organized as Robin usually has them. But still a lot of shit. I'm wondering if maybe Robin has some sort of frailty related to having to keep letters, cause there were letters going back years and years. Or maybe she's just... OCD or something." Lux shrugs.
"We looked around and found a folder that was hidden underneath her bed. It had a bunch of letters in it from July 2005." Lux digs out their phone to unlock. "There was one inside it that... stuck out."
"Has OCD, not is OCD, if that's the case. It's a disorder, but not the whole of one's being. But let me see the letter?"
"Oh--er, sorry. Thanks for the correction," Lux says with a nod. They bring up a picture of a letter to show him. The edges of it are Wyrd, cause taking pics in the Hedge has that result. But it's readable:
R:
I understand -- and I'm sorry that you feel as you do. Let me assure you as I did when we last spoke that I agree that your work is for the long-term good of the city, and I won't stand in your way. I don't understand why you felt the need to do what you did -- I've never lied to you, and I'm not even in a position to stand in your way anyway.
But you've done it, so here we are. I owe you, and I told you the truth, so I let you do what you felt you needed to, but we're not friends anymore.
M.
Lux watches him closely.
Mearc reads it silently in his head once, then aloud. "Who're we assuming M is, here?"
"Marjorie, we're thinking. There were some letters from 'MZ', which we think was Michael Zloof. The old Winter King, before Marjorie." Their arms cross over their chest, lips pursing.
"I'm not making assumptions, but... I have a new theory." Their head tilts to the phone. "If that letter is from Marjorie... She's known about Robin's work for years. But the 'not in a position to stand in your way' comment makes me think she might have an Oath with Robin. One that makes it so she can't betray her--spanning all the way back before Marjorie took the crown. Which... makes a lot of sense, to put Marjorie's suspicious behavior into context. Maybe she is setting Robin up... Maybe she is orchestrating for us to find Robin, and making things feel... a little too convenient to find proof?" Their brows lift. "And maybe she changed the laws to include the Dream Free clause to... make it so that Robin's work would be punished. But she had to word the Laws like she did--cause if we were forbidden from destroying dreams, that'd make Robin an Oathbreaker, which would likely be seen as a betrayal and make her an Oathbreaker..."
Lux chews at their lip. "It's a better thought than Marjorie being a traitor, anyway. But of course I don't know, yet."
"Has anyone pointed out the Dream Free clause to Ari, yet? You'd need him and one other monarch, in order to change the laws." He lightly pulls the phone from Lux's hand, beginning to pace. "'I owe you, and I told you the truth, so I let you do what you felt you needed to.' That wording...a promise or a deal is definitely implied in there."
Lux bobs their head. "Yeah. Definitely implied. And no--not yet. I've been making the rounds, though. Doing some research and asking around about that particular Law. I know it was put into place the Winter before last, so that meant Majorie headed it up--but yeah, a second would have had to sign off. I'm working on figuring out who that is, and... whether or not Robin had any involvement in writing the law."
"Okay." He hands the phone back, then goes back to pacing. The kitchen's too small for a satisfying pace, and he has to be mindful for dog underfoot (who sees this as a fun new game, surely).
They take the phone back and pocket it, watching him pace. Then looking down to watch the dog follow him back and forth. Though if Chewie's antics seem to annoy him, Lux is quick to step in and pick up the pup to hold and pet instead.
"I'm... going to try to talk to Robin, soon. About the Radio hack. Try to get a read on her--whether or not she seems... annoyed by it? Or if she comes off... suspicious or anything."
"Lux, you'll need to be careful doing that. If you go alone, she might decide...that situation could turn dangerous real quick."
"I know." They frown at him. "But I have to. No one else knows about us being DJs. Or is supposed to know. She won't talk to me about it at all if others are around. But I'm going to text you before I do it, and let you know where I am. If I don't text you back in a certain amount of time, you can call Sturm?"
"That sounds like a plan. Maybe text Sturm as well, an 'if you don't hear from me in X time, get Mearc'."
Lux nods. "I can do that, yeah. She's not gonna be happy about not knowing the details, but having someone else know might be good. Maybe... if I find out where I'm meeting her, I can have you both nearby? But I don't want to risk spooking her."
"Better not to give her the chance of noticing us. I'm sneaky, but not Winter sneaky, and my recent job taught me a lesson about pride." He pauses, picking the dog up. "Who's a good puppy?"
"Alright." Lux nods. "I'll be careful. I can always Light-Shy and run the fuck away if she tries to do something. I'm good at running away." They smile at Chewie, reaching out to pet the pup. "He is a good boy."
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