|
While Renault is known to regularly visit UGC, he seems to be there with a purpose tonight; he’s not reading or watching the crowd. Instead, he’s stirring a drink, otherwise appearing to be patiently waiting for something or someone in his usual black suited attire.
For what it's worth, Janus Mearcstapa isn't wearing his black leather duster because he thinks he needs armor. He's wearing it because a.) it means he doesn't have to carry the usual brown messenger bag (given all the pockets it has) and 2. because it makes him look like a Final Fantasy character, with all the straps and buckles. Which is goth-adjacent, at the least. His hair's pulled back into a smol ponytail, and he's wearing a very thin line of black eyeliner.
It's a look.
He walks into the club, and casually posts up against a wall, people-watching. As you do.
Jack, on the other hand, has barely had time to breathe today. Luckily, he wears black for work, so when he slides through the door, a little flickery and a little out of breath, he blends in well enough. Classy goth, with his dress boots and tight black trousers and buttondown. Even his tie's black, with a subtle stripe, and he takes a moment inside the door to just...relax. It looks like it may be the most time he's had to himself all day.
Renault smiles where he sits, waving to catch Jack’s attention after the Changeling has had a moment. “Hey there, good looking, hope today hasn’t been too rough.”
Mearc catches sight of Jack and starts to walk in that direction, but catching sight of Renault's wave, he sort of pauses and takes a step back. Naw, he's just going to watch for the moment. Curious.
Jack's not hard to notice - the shimmering ring on his ring finger ensures that - but he makes a beeline for Reanult, not even pausing to take a look around the place. Sorry Mearc, you'll just have to catch him by surprise...
The scent of his mantle precedes him, that imminent rainstorm scent a little out of place with the chill in the air outside, and a bit of birdsong trills when he leans in close to Renault to kiss his cheek. "It's...mm. I've had less rough days." He huffs out a quiet laugh and dropping down into the seat across from the Kindred with a groan.
Renault smiles and nods, returning the kiss on the cheek and giving Jack’s arm a little squeeze. “Well, relax a moment, then. Coca-cola?” he asks in his purring accent, gesturing to the drink in front of him.
He doesn't want to look like some clingy jealous sort, but that greeting makes him very curious about Renault. So Mearc strolls over, bringing with him his own mantle that doesn't manage to drown out Jack's, but meshes in under it, with that sensation of eyes on the back of one's neck, and the sound of someone being chased through a cornfield in late October, a dry sort of rustling sound.
"Evening."
He doesn't make eye contact directly with either man, but it doesn't seem to be intended as a slight.
Of course the scribbly Changeling has just settled in a bit, relaxing as he reaches out for the drink. And then he jumps, at the unexpected, but very familiar Mantle and voice. Because of course he does. The smell of rain, of the wind that may be rustling the cornstalks of that field, gets stronger, and Jack's heartbeat ticks up a notch as his cheeks get red. Or scribbly, depending on who's looking.
"Li - babe, what...are you doing here?" Jack's grinning, at least. "This is Renault - yes, that one. Renault, this is one of my fiances - Mearcstapa."
Renault glances up at the change in atmosphere, his sharp senses curious as he notices the other Changeling. He pauses, but relaxes when Jack recovers from the surprise. “Renault Caron, a pleasure to meet you. Sorry it’s so impromptu like this.” He’s got one of those outrageous French accents, and his dark eyes, excitedly take Mearc in. “Jack’s said lots of nice things.”
"All of them must be lies, if they're nice." He smiles warmly, with lots of teeth. Jack would note Mearc's pixellated freckles shifting greener rapidly. "I'm a terror to be around."
Jack's eyebrows twitch upward, and he stands enough to slide an arm around Mearc's waist to invite him down into the booth next to him. "A terror, sure..." He says with a smile. "Only when I'm really behind on dishes. And then you've got every right to be."
Renault smiles wide at the banter and affection, sliding the Coke over to Jack, since he never quite made it. “Oh, well, I’ll be on my toes then. Though...now I’m wondering what Jack said about me...”
"Not nearly enough. That you and he have become involved, which arguably is the important piece of information. But hardly substantial enough to satisfy me." Mearc accepts the invitation to sit, one hand moving to rest on Jack's knee under the table.
"Only because I like to let people speak for themselves - that and the fact that...I'm still learning about you, anyway..." Jack smirks at Renault as he lifts his glass.
Renault grins and winks. “That’s fair. I suppose we have been taking it slow, not that that’s a bad thing. Hmm, what more could I share, I wonder...”
"The last time you cried, your favorite book and why, and two character references in town."
Jack opens his mouth to speak, and then closes it again with a smile and a shake of his head. He takes a sip of his soda before leaning over to give Mearc a kiss on the cheek.
“The first time I heard Beethoven performed live, House of Leaves, because it’s almost not even a book in the most interesting way I’ve ever experienced, and...hmm. Ziv and Jack here are the ones who know the most about the real me, so I want to pick them, but they have biases.”
Mearc nods slowly. "Just about any character reference will have some sort of bias, but I'll accept Ziv and Jack. Alright. Don't break Jack's heart, and we shouldn't have any problems. Do you have any questions for me?"
"Daniel, uh...can't remember his last name, the fashion designer you introduced me to...?" He looks to Mearc. "He might work as a reference too, if you're really wanting some...less biased opinions." Jack's smile is wide, and despite Mearc's hunting questioning, he's lounging in the booth with an arm still around the other Changeling's waist, looking significantly more relaxed than when he came in.
“Oh, well, I’ve only chatted with him a few times, so I don’t think he’d count so much. But maybe. Anyway, questions...hmm. Not all of them are for here kind of questions....how did you two meet?”
"Through our other partner. We weren't planning to extend the hypotenuse, originally. But events transpired and I grew protective of him, and then came to admire him, and then sort of accidentally fell in love." Like you do.
Oh look, Jack's blushing again. Specifically at the bit where Mearc says he fell in love. "Sounds about right," he says softly. "There was a bit where I had to get over my damn self to realize it, 'cause...it's me, but, yeah."
Renault grins widely, staring at Jack’s blush. “Awww, what a sweet story. I get it, Jack’s quite the sweetheart.” He winks at Mearc, and waits for Jack’s response.
"One of the sweetest, so long as he's not thinking too hard about it." The color of his freckles has normalized by now, to Jack's eyes.
The scribbly Changeling dips his head, trying to hide his increasingly goofy smile. "Is it really that fun to get me all flustered in public?" he says to no one in particular.
“Yes.” Renault fires back without hesitation, grinning wolfishly. “Even more fun in private, I’d say.”
Mearc points at Renault, nodding a bit. "The fun of doing it in public is that you feel you have to make more of a show of embarrassment. The fun of doing it in private is that look of surprise when you're caught off-guard by something small and tender."
Jack rests his forehead against Mearc's shoulder with a sigh. "I think you know me too well. Seriously."
“I was thinking of other reasons he blushes in private, but that’s a good one too.” He props his chin on his hand, and smiles. “You two are cute together, I’m glad we got to meet like this.”
"As am I--though I need to get home and get to bed, I'm breaking into a bank tomorrow." He grins as he stands, seemingly utterly unconcerned about saying that in public.
"Oh is that tomorrow?" Jack takes the opportunity of a subject change away from embarrassing him. "D'you want a ride? I should probably head out, too...much as I don't wanna I have to work normal people hours tomorrow...eugh."
“Aww, well, I won’t keep you. It was lovely to see you both.” He scoots over to kiss Jack on the cheek again. “Be well, and may the Night keep you.”
"A pleasure to meet you. Perhaps next time we'll be someplace where we can talk." He tilts his head slightly to one side, giving another of those toothy smiles.
Jack leans into that kiss just slightly, and runs his hand gently down Renault's arm before he stands, too. "We still need to do dinner, at some point. The next few weeks are busy, but...gimme a time, and I'll figure it out. See you 'round."
|