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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 2, 2009 18:24:46 GMT -5
It had been a tolerable enough ride. That girl, Marguerite, had made it interesting enough at times, though he wouldn't count on seeing her again. Not unless she suddenly developed a sweet tooth. Besides, he reminded himself, she couldn't possibly have been old enough. But that was neither here nor there. He was here. And he was looking for a familiar face.
Eros tugged lightly at the hem of his blazer, then smoothed down imaginary wrinkles as he stepped from the train. He had one bag with him, essentials that he would not trust to anyone else. Life was unpredictable, and he would not be left without certain necessary luxuries.
It was ironic, he knew. He had left the comfort of a mansion, evenings filled with elegant gatherings and the occasional ball, to live above a shop in a flat. It was an experiment, and one he expected to be diverting through the summer months. A diversion he never would have thought of if not for his acquaintances.
According to the Daily Prophet, Emilian had been the first to own a shop, peddling jewelry in barbaric Scotland. And now he heard tell that Emilian, the last he would suspect to ever have settled, was engaged. A pretty little thing by her photograph on the page of the gossip column, but Emilian had been with countless girls and women. Was it something in the water?
Next was the fall of Michael Hardt. Michael, who had refused Emilian the better part of their lives, never looked twice at a boy and hardly experienced the fairer sex, was also engaged. To an American Mudblood male. And he was running a pet store.
And Mano, who had come to meet his own betrothed, was working behind the counter at a café. It was almost more than he could take in.
But again, highly diverting to think of.
Where was that damned blond?
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 2, 2009 18:42:37 GMT -5
Mano hadn't been in any hurry to be there to meet Eros, he still wasn't even sure why the man had decided to come, but he had agreed to come meet him. He came around with his hands loosely in his pockets, walking comfortably right on time. There was no reason to get there early and wait. "So, couldn't stand not seeing me?" he asked, his usual easy smile pulling up his lips.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 2, 2009 18:49:11 GMT -5
One corner of Eros's lips turned up, and his eyes lightened, mild annoyance giving way to humor. "The parties are a bore without you," he returned, more of a truth than he would admit. His eyes reflexively dropped, then rose to take Mano in. "I see that manual labour does not disagree with you," he observed, his eyes finding Mano's again. Mano looked as good as ever, though Eros wondered if his hands were callused yet from the work.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 2, 2009 19:03:35 GMT -5
Mano's eyes sparkled in humor, "It's not as bad as it seems, actually. Some of the people make it worth it." His smile turned into a grin and he stepped up to Eros. "I can't see you surviving long, though." He raised an eyebrow in friendly challenge. "What made you come, anyway?" he asked, getting down to the point.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 2, 2009 19:15:04 GMT -5
Eros took Mano's opinion about his surviving with a grain of salt and a slightly arched brow. It sounded horrendous, but if the three of them had not only chosen to do it, but actually developed a preference for it as well, it couldn't possibly be as difficult as one would think. He put that thought aside to address Mano's question.
"As I said, the parties have become a bore. Maybe it's age, or maybe it's that everyone seems to be leaving," he said pointedly, "but I've decided to seek new diversions. I've purchased a candy shop. I would have preferred something more dignified, but wouldn't trod on Emilian's toes, and the bookstore is owned by a muggleborn." The bite to his voice at that last was partly because the girl wouldn't sell.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 2, 2009 19:29:42 GMT -5
Mano wrinkled his nose and nodded. "The muggleborns and halfbloods have taken over, it seems," he said in distaste. "I could always have given you a job," he teased, "I could use someone to clean the tables." It was an amusing image, Eros cleaning tables, but he couldn't imagine him doing it. But then, there had been a lot of things happen over the past year that he had never imagined.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 2, 2009 19:38:58 GMT -5
A light sneer passed over Eros's face, both at the assertion that those pathetic excuses of wizardry had apparently taken over, and at even the thought of cleaning tables. "I don't know how you do it, Mano. Cleaning tables and filthy dishes. Preparing food as well, I suppose." He paused, and a teasing smile quirked at his lips. "Have you got Caro waitressing?" The idea was laughable.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 2, 2009 19:41:35 GMT -5
Mano chuckled and shook his head, "No, she just lounges about, you know her." She wouldn't even pour her own glass of wine if she could help it. He imagined she'd make someone else feed her if she could get away with it. "She does bring in customers, I can say that much." She kept the men entertained, dressing up as though she was going to a ball.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 2, 2009 19:46:20 GMT -5
"Hm, I can imagine she does," Eros agreed. The woman dripped sex, and that innocent facade only added to her appeal. "Is it true that she's betrothed? I've read and heard so many ridiculous things that it's difficult to separate fact from fiction. As it always is, but it takes on new meaning when the rumours apply to one's friends and close acquaintances."
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 2, 2009 19:55:45 GMT -5
Mano shrugged. "As far as I'm aware. She met someone, barely legal, Chase Firebrand, at the cafe. She had him over once. Of course, she's getting older, she doesn't have much choice in the matter." If she wanted to get anywhere, especially in their world, she had to get married. Women didn't stay alone, once they were out of their father's house, they were supposed to marry.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 2, 2009 20:00:30 GMT -5
Eros looked at Mano in silence, appraising him. Mano's attachment to Caro was no secret, and he wondered that the man hadn't broken down and bid for her himself. Yes, he was young for something like that , but it wasn't as though Caro would suddenly demand faithfulness.
"I've also heard that the Browns withdrew from their contract," Eros said, shifting the topic, but not leaving it. One thing likely had nothing to do with the other, but that didn't stop him from being curious about it all.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 2, 2009 20:04:38 GMT -5
Mano's jaw clenched slightly but he nodded. "Yes, I can't say I'm unhappy, though. It was nice to have that particular point worked out already, but she was...mindless." It would have been good in some aspects, but he couldn't imagine being able to stand being with her for very long. "She might have grown into something, but I don't really think she would have." It just meant that he and his family needed to start looking again.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 2, 2009 20:16:55 GMT -5
Eros made a low sound of commiseration. "That is one of the inherent risks of arranging things so early. Now and then I wonder if it's worth the convenience. Then I realize that my father is such an elitist that we're unlikely to come to an agreement before I'm forty. Not that there's anything wrong with elitism per se, but... I digress. Are you still looking in the schools?" he asked, partly teasing. He could see the appeal in the mandatory wait involved with betrothal to a minor, but it had rather amused him to think of Mano's fiancée only just out of puberty.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 2, 2009 20:25:40 GMT -5
Mano sneered but shook his head. "I think I'm going to take a break from trying for a while." He was in no hurry though he knew he would need to look soon enough. "It's not like I hurt for offers," he said. Should he need something in a hurry, he could find it easily enough. That didn't mean it would be the most desirable, but that was beside the point.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 2, 2009 20:43:20 GMT -5
"Indeed," Eros said, "and on that note, I almost envy the peace you've had away from the balls. What with the news of Emilian and Michael, the matchmaking mamas are even more rabid than usual, which you know is saying something." He paused for a heartbeat, his eyes flicking just over Mano's shoulder, then back to his eyes. His voice dropped conspiratorially. "Is what they say about Michael true? That he's engaged to... an American Mudblood? And a male, at that? The Blackwoods deny everything of course, but the Sotas claim to have seen him."
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