The Little Things Give You Away (open by invite)

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel had been scouting out clubs over the past couple of weeks, and this one had been on his list to come back to. He had been holding on to a thin hope that he would see Markise, thoughts of their night together flitting through his mind. But when he saw the gorgeous white figure that was Markise dancing with a girl, he stopped in his tracks just a few feet away, eyes wide.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Oh hush!" Anna chided, laughing again. Just then, she got bumped by a careless dancer behind her and stumbled forward, catching herself with both hands against Markise's chest. She blushed again and was sure she'd just stay pink cheeked for the rest of the night at this rate! "I need a break!" she pleaded. "Can we go get some water?" She hoped so. She knew Markise could dance forever, but she couldn't.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise caught Anna's hands with his own. "I think I could manage that," he said. He'd brought Muggle money just in case Anna didn't. He wasn't about to encourage her to charm drinks out of strangers. There didn't need to be any misunderstandings about what she was doing here. "Let's go, the bar is that way," Markise said, gesturing over her shoulder. When she started to move, he glanced longingly back into the dancers, and his gaze caught on a familiar form that got his blood running all over again. He gave Ariel his most dazzling smile and a teasing wink, then followed his date.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel didn't know the girl, didn't even begin to recognize her, but that smile and wink was enough to break him of the spell. Whoever she was, he let himself assume she was a girl that hung around with the group Markise was usually with. He watched Markise walk, his eyes hovering low, then his eyes sparked and he followed a few steps behind Markise and the girl to the bar.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna refused Markise's money. She had invited herself and she wasn't going to make him act like her date. He was her friend. She reminded herself of that as she pressed a kiss to his cheek before claiming a bar stool. She turned to him expectantly. "What should I get?" she asked. "I don't want water tonight," she added, nervous and excited all at once. Just one night she was going to play, and one drink wouldn't hurt, right? Anna giggled as a Muggle song popped into her head. "Tequila makes her clothes fall off!" she sang. "That's it! I want tequila!" She was with Markise and she knew she could trust him not to do anything. She flagged down a bartender, hardly hearing herself ramble in her excitement.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise laughed at Annabelle's enthusiasm and tucked his money back into his hip pocket. He didn't know Ariel was following, and he decided it was time to look for his first drink. He leaned dangerously far forward, back bowing slightly as his gaze scanned the other patrons to make eye contact. Anna would be safe for a song or two, and one of the guys was sure to find him here. They'd offered to trade off babysitting duties so he could have some fun.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel thought he was safe at the club, he never imagined that anyone that knew him would be there, and so he didn't stop himself from coming up beside Markise. He flicked a slightly narrowed glance toward the girl, then focused on Markise. His hand wanted to slide to Markise's back, but he kept them both under control by shoving them in his pockets before speaking. "Do you want something?"

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna said thank you to the bartender and took the drink she'd paid for, licking her lips in anticipation. The voice so close startled her and she jumped a little, turning her head to see who it was. Her eyes widened slightly. She didn't know him, but was he... gay? He didn't look gay, or at least not like Markise. She thought about that for a moment before it hit her that the guy was hitting on Markise. Seeing it was so much different than just knowing it!

[Markise Sterling]

Markise had felt a streak of heat up his spine the moment before he heard Ariel's voice. He'd turned to respond when his gaze caught on Anna and he realized he'd have to tone it down, especially since she was staring. He gave her a meaningful look and gestured to her drink with a nod of his head. He didn't look away until after she had.

His lips curved into a flirtatious half smile as he turned on his seat. "Depends on what you're offering, Nik," he said, latching onto the first name that came to mind. "There's a lot of things I want." If Anna was listening, it'd serve her right.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

"I think I can give you just about anything," Ariel said, eyes meeting Markise's. He felt like he shouldn't be in such a...good mood, but he couldn't help it, after that night with Markise... His eyes flickered back to the girl and he raised an eyebrow at Markise in question, both at the name and for the girl sitting so close by. "Just name it."

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna almost choked on her tequila, and she didn't know if it was from the burn or from the shocking things she was hearing. They were flirting right next to her! It struck her that they were at a bar, so maybe that was just what happened at bars. Hopefully not, because a group of women had sat down at the other end and she wasn't sure what she'd do if they tried to flirt with her. She ordered another drink, something that sounded fruity this time, and tried not to think about it too much. She was always thinking too much, which was why she was here.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise might have felt bad for trying to ignore Anna, but this was what he came for, and she knew he wasn't going to be glued to her side all night. He looked over worriedly at the sputtering sound she made, but she was all right, so he turned back to Ariel. Or whatever he'd called him.

"I'd love to dance," Markise said, giving Ariel a well-practiced look. One hand rose to fan ineffectually at his face and neck. "I'm so thirsty, though. I was thinking about getting a Cosmo." Anna couldn't find out who Ariel was, so he was determined to pretend they didn't know each other. He flicked a glance toward Anna, then one back to Ariel that asked him to play along, or at least not to bring up their history.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel glanced over to the girl again, then gave a slight nod to Markise. Then he gestured to the bartender and ordered two drinks. He lowered his voice slightly, "I'll give you anything you want if I get a dance in return." His eyes sparked softly and he rested back against the bar with his elbows on the smooth surface.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna might have squirmed in her seat, but that first drink had made her head just slightly dizzy and she felt comfortably warm right now. Plus, her new drink was much better than the last. She wasn't sure whether she wanted Markise to stay or just leave with whoever Nik was; the name made her think of the kind of guy that had facial piercings and a motorcycle. It also made her feel even warmer. But she didn't want a guy like that. She wanted a guy like Markise. Sweet and protective. But one who liked girls. That was a definite.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise's lips stayed twisted into a knowing smile at Ariel's offer. It was such a thrill flirting with him like this. He'd never taken it this far before, but he loved it and there was no way he'd stop as long as Anna was all right. He wasn't even sure she was paying attention anymore. Either way, he picked up his drink, stalling for a moment longer as he took an appreciative sip. "I can promise you a dance you'll never forget," he said, only loud enough for Ariel to hear. At the moment he really meant dance, but he knew that after a drink or two his definition would be a lot looser. If Ariel had wandered off by then, he'd be sure to hunt him down.