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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jan 1, 2009 22:41:26 GMT -5
Mano led Markise down the last little bit of the street and unlocked the cafe, then let Markise in ahead of him as he put a simple lock back on it. He was technically done for the day, but he still had enough left to give Markise whatever he wanted. "Do you want the same thing as last time?" he asked as he started stripping off gloves, hat, and cloak to lay across the counter when he got there.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jan 1, 2009 23:07:48 GMT -5
Markise heard the lock, and something about it felt... final, totally against his earlier thought that he could leave at any time. But before he could think of a reason why that mattered, Mano had asked him a question and was walking by him. Divesting himself of all that winter gear. For just a moment Markise let himself verify what he'd guessed earlier and looked enough to make some more detailed assumptions--he really hadn't looked last time. Then he caught himself and silently repeated his mantra. No boys, guys, or men.
When he realized he hadn't answered that question, Mano hadn't gotten too far past him, so he hoped his silence hadn't been too noticeable. "I'll have the same coffee," Markise said. "I'm really not into desserts." He'd just finished paying penance for the part of that chocolate death he'd eaten.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jan 1, 2009 23:43:37 GMT -5
Mano nodded and went around the counter, laying the things in his hands on the counter before working the buttons on his fitted coat. Underneath he wore a slim-fitting, long-sleeved shirt and tan pants that clung more than they fell away. He poured the last bit of coffee into a mug and then poured the last of his personal favorite into another. He glanced toward the door that led to his living room, then out to the windows, debating. "Here you go," he said, after coming out from behind the counter. He ran a hand through his hair to get it back under control.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jan 1, 2009 23:59:50 GMT -5
Markise had slipped out of his own coat, gloves, and scarf while Mano was pouring coffee. He'd put some effort into his ensemble for the first time in weeks, considering how excited he'd been, so his clothes were crisp and well-cut. And flattering. He hung his coat over the back of a chair, set the rest on the table in front of it, then headed toward Mano, trying desperately to keep his gaze up and only succeeding in watching the fall of his hair instead. He caught himself soon enough and put on a smile that was hesitant, but very obviously part gratitude and part unconscious interest. "Thank you," he said softly, taking the hot mug between his hands. Again he let them settle as long as they could before burning, loving the heat, then readjusted his grasp to take a drink. His eyes closed briefly. God, he loved coffee. For the moment before he swallowed, he forgot the silence entirely.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jan 2, 2009 0:07:15 GMT -5
Mano leaned against the counter and only pulled his eyes from the door when he was sure no one was coming in. He didn't want someone to look in and expect him to open the doors for them. They turned to Markise, watching as long as his eyes were closed. It was nice to be able to watch, his hands wrapped around his own mug as his eyes trailed over Markise without fear of being caught. "Is it really that good?" he asked, grinning and bringing his eyes up to Markise's face.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jan 2, 2009 0:24:24 GMT -5
Markise's lips curved into a slow smile as he opened his eyes. "Yes," he said. "I love coffee, but I don't let myself have it much. Too easy to get addicted to, and I don't need to become a caffeine junkie." He didn't want to end up one of those people who couldn't survive without it and needed three to five cups a day to function. He'd stood in line with those vultures in Starbucks® who swore at your back if you took too long counting out that damned Muggle money. Half of them were fine as soon as they'd had a drink.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jan 2, 2009 0:30:56 GMT -5
"Oh but those junkies keep people like me in business," Mano pointed out, forcing his eyes to stay on Markise's. Or at least on his face. He crossed his ankles and flicked another nearly paranoid glance toward the front of the cafe, where he could see the slowly darkening street through the windows. He took a breath and then a long drink from his cup.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jan 2, 2009 0:39:31 GMT -5
"Not if you keep giving away free cups," Markise said, arching one eyebrow playfully. He was far too happy at the moment to bother reprimanding himself. He was out of the castle, he'd been talking to someone understanding for who knew how long, and now he had a hot cup of coffee that he refused to feel guilty for. He deserved it.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jan 2, 2009 0:46:55 GMT -5
Mano grinned and raised an eyebrow of his own. "Well I don't give just anyone free cups," he said through a light, easy laugh. He had only given out one free cup since he had opened the place, and that one was in Markise's hands right then. He let his eyes move down to the hands wrapped around the mug for a few moments before forcing them right back up again.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jan 2, 2009 0:57:31 GMT -5
Markise's smile widened, and his pale blue eyes glittered. "Thank you," he said, then lifted the mug to his lips for a slow, appreciative sip. He did try to reprimand himself now, but it was a hopeless cause. He'd already convinced himself that this was perfectly safe, that it was harmless flirting. He knew better, but he couldn't seem to stop. He managed to keep his eyes at the appropriate level, but that was all his mantra was able to do anymore. No boys. No guys...
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jan 2, 2009 1:08:22 GMT -5
"Any time," Mano said, then wrapped one hand around the mug to let one hand rest beside him on the counter. "So can I expect you back?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and a corner of his lips. He would love to have Markise come back, not that he planned on letting him go any time soon. He hoped that he could get Markise back in the living room and, hopefully, even further. Time, it was going to take time.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jan 2, 2009 1:21:01 GMT -5
Markise tried to think about his answer, tried to remind himself that there was really only so much coffee he could drink, but it did little more good than his rapidly fading mantra. Mano had been talking to him so long now without trying anything, and though Markise couldn't convince himself that the man wasn't interested in him like that, he could convince himself that wasn't all he wanted. It didn't once occur to him that he'd been the one answering all the questions and he actually knew little about Mano. So he tried to think, pretended to think, but in the end, all he could say was a coy, "Maybe."
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jan 2, 2009 1:29:37 GMT -5
Mano's smile spread wide and he shifted his feet, switching them over. "What would I have to do to guarantee it?" he asked, then took another drink from his cup. He had a feeling he already had, but he wanted to keep the words moving. If it fell into silence, it would be much easier for Markise to decide he didn't want to be there and to leave.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jan 2, 2009 1:40:56 GMT -5
Markise's smile didn't fade, but all the same, one of his hands abandoned the warmth of the coffee mug to toy with a lock of hair. He needed just a little outlet for his creeping nerves. Or were they nerves at all? "It depends," Markise said, "on what you serve besides coffee." His conscience raged at him, but no matter how his mind screamed that he was alone with someone he hardly knew, with someone who'd made an offer the first time they'd met, no matter how it screamed that the words were dangerous, he hadn't been able to think of anything else to say. Or so he told his conscience.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jan 2, 2009 1:51:12 GMT -5
"Well," Mano said, his smile spreading into a grin. "That depends on what you want," he turned right back onto Markise. He took a drink before continuing. "I have plenty of desserts, but you said you're not much of a dessert person." His eyes moved to the fingers playing against Markise's hair. He didn't even attempt to stop himself from imagining the fingers in his own hair.
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