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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 12, 2009 21:18:13 GMT -5
Michael was alternately drawing and working on homework. He had been drawing a lot more since the argument with Dare and the trip to Kane. He had carried his book around with him and kept it out during a couple of his classes even. He glanced up at the clock. There were still hours before Dare would get back, and so he sighed softly and put his essay away to pull out his sketchbook again.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 12, 2009 21:31:02 GMT -5
Eros didn't know why he should be surprised to see Michael drawing. He knew of that little hobby, but still, it had been ages since he'd had even the briefest reminder. He didn't at all understand the need to create, so he felt no compunctions in entering the shop. He was stopped just inside the doorway by the surreal and somewhat unpleasant environment inside. It was noisy, and smelled of animals.
"I do say, Michael, this isn't quite what I'd pictured," Eros said, breaking the... well, there wasn't truly silence to break, so perhaps it was only breaking the ice. "Of course, having never been in a pet shop, I can't say what I had pictured." Eros looked around, taking half a step back as some canine or another pressed its wet nose against its enclosure.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 12, 2009 21:34:18 GMT -5
Michael had looked up at the sound of the door opening, but his standard greeting feel from his lips when he saw who it was standing there in front of the door. He didn't spare a thought for calling back Elouai as she ran up to investigate the newcomer in his attempt to comprehend why Eros was there. "Eros? Why are you here?" No, not the most polite of greetings, but he couldn't very well think of a proper hello much less the greeting Eros was probably used to.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 12, 2009 21:39:08 GMT -5
Eros stepped back again, but any further and he'd have to stand against the door, so he stopped. Both hands raised slightly in supplication, but the beast obviously didn't understand, and stuck its nose in an area no non-human ever had contact with. "Oh, dear God," he muttered, bringing one hand down to gingerly push the dog's muzzle away. At least it wasn't vicious, but he couldn't help a low noise of displeasure at the rough, wet feel of its tongue against his hand. "Michael, could you please..." He tried gesturing, but the dog seemed to take it as an invitation to lick him again.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 12, 2009 21:42:53 GMT -5
A grin came to Michael's lips as he watched Elouai greet their new visitor, then he stood from his chair and called Elouai to come back. He pulled out a rawhide bone and squatted to give it to her. It would be plenty to keep her occupied for a while. He murmured a good girl, then rewarded her sitting by giving it to her, then she trotted off happily to a little bed she had taken over in the back corner of the shop. Then he stood and rubbed his hands against his jeans. He raised an eyebrow at Eros. "She won't hurt you." And you didn't answer my question.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 12, 2009 21:53:34 GMT -5
Eros muttered something involving the phrases violated my person and my hand is disgusting as he wiped said hand with a handkerchief. "I didn't think she'd hurt me," he said absently, even if the worry had flickered through his mind when she'd first come at him. And he hadn't registered Michael's question in the least, not with a dog's nose between his legs. He was going to need a shower and a drink when he returned to his flat.
Still, as he tucked his handkerchief away again, he announced his reasons for visiting. Well, some of his reasons. "I've come to the area to see what all the fuss is about, and thought I'd drop by." He reached into another pocket as he finally crossed toward the counter, though his eyes flickered in various directions in case of another attack. "I've brought a gift, as well. Or, rather, I have something which I believe is yours." He pulled out a thick envelope.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 12, 2009 21:57:48 GMT -5
Michael's eyebrows came together, and his eyes narrowed slightly when Eros pulled out the envelope. He didn't like where it was headed, but that could be because of the trouble the last few people from his past had caused. To see what all the fuss is about. He eyed the envelope as he asked, "What do you mean, what all the fuss is about?" If Eros was just there to interview him, Michael wasn't going to go for it.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 12, 2009 22:05:14 GMT -5
Eros lowered his hand, effectively hiding the envelope from view for now. "Two separate thoughts, Michael," he said, dealing first with the obviously suspicious look on Michael's face. "I've purchased a shop in Hogsmeade, at least for the summer. From what I hear, everyone is just in an uproar about the satisfaction of manual labor, so I came to see for myself.
"This," he went on, raising the envelope again, "Is something I confiscated my first week here. Emilian seemed pleased to have it off his hands, though I do believe he wasn't nearly as pleased to see me. And please, do open this later, I do not wish to be the proverbial messenger who is killed." He set the envelope on the counter.
Inside was every photograph he'd come across, every single original, including Mano's. There were some copies in existence, but they wouldn't be traceable. Eros had taken every precaution that it should appear to be nothing more than he said.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 12, 2009 22:09:27 GMT -5
Michael stared down at the envelope, then looked up again. "What is it?" he asked, his voice flat. He wasn't in the mood to be messed around with, and he wasn't even sure he wanted it if Emilian was involved. The thought of more pictures didn't cross his mind. They had taken so many that he didn't have each one memorized and hadn't noticed that some weren't there.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 12, 2009 22:13:40 GMT -5
"Upon visiting Emilian's flat, I discovered that there were private photographs in existence. I do believe that envelope contains every last one. And I might possibly owe Emilian a bottle of brandy." He paused a moment at that thought, then brushed it aside and turned his full attention to Michael again. "I understand that this can't be pleasant, but I thought it better to return them than to dispose of them." Besides, nearly all of them were cute little pictures of the two gazing at one another between lengthy kisses.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 12, 2009 22:17:03 GMT -5
Michael's eyes widened and he took up the envelope, immediately forgetting Eros' request to look later, and pulled out the stack of pictures. The first one was enough for the stunned look on his face to turn to one of horror. "You looked at them," he said. It was so much worse in this situation! When he and Dare had seen Emilian looking at them, they hadn't exactly been on good terms. This was in a completely casual situation! He stared at the picture for a moment longer before dropping the stack back into the envelope and then shoving it deep into his bag under the counter. He could feel the heat rising on the back of his neck as he stood, avoiding Eros' eyes.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 12, 2009 22:27:45 GMT -5
"I took them and am returning them," Eros said firmly. "Would you rather they remained in Emilian's possession? Please do realize that I have done all I am capable of." Yes, he'd looked at them, but he would never admit it, even if he was forced to lie. He hadn't yet, but he would if it came to it.
"If you wish, I can leave you be for now, but I did hope to renew our acquaintance." There was little else he could say now. He did hope that Michael would calm soon enough, but he could understand the desire for privacy. Even if he didn't respect it nearly as well as he should for others. But then, curiosity was a great sin of his.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 12, 2009 22:30:37 GMT -5
"What makes you think," Michael asked in a tired voice, "That I would want to renew our acquaintance?" He finally brought his eyes up to Eros', but dropped them immediately to his sketchbook, where a drawing of Dare was penned in. He closed the book. Yes, Eros had been one of the few he actually could stand being around for any length of time, that he would be around without being forced to be around, but he hadn't had the best experiences with people from his past life.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 12, 2009 22:38:41 GMT -5
"I haven't a clue," Eros said. "I didn't come to beg friendship of you, nor to gawk at the spectacle, interesting though this all may be. I came for an interesting summer and a change from the norm, and between you and I, Mano has a very limited repertoire of conversation topics. While sex and good wine are pleasant, they are not everything, and frankly, if he suggests, even jokingly, one more time, that I clean tables for him, I may be unable to control my tongue." He didn't normally bother with such control.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 12, 2009 22:42:47 GMT -5
Michael paused in his urge to just tell Eros to leave and leaned on his books on the counter. "What shop exactly did you buy in Hogsmeade?" he asked, "Just curious." It had been hard enough to imagine Emilian working, then Dare had told him about Mano, and now Eros? He didn't think Eros would wipe his own arse if he could find someone else to do it for him, much less run a shop.
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