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Post by Markise Sterling on May 31, 2009 23:16:39 GMT -5
Markise did blush, much to his horror, and since he had to approach Mano to take the glass, he sat at the other end of that couch rather than claiming a lone chair facing the rest of them. "We've... talked a few times," he said, only glancing up at that other man. He hated the fact that near-mortification wasn't enough to keep him from having flickering thoughts of being with Mano, or being flustered about the way Eros was looking at him.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jun 1, 2009 12:16:51 GMT -5
Carolynn let out a little laugh, "I heard you've done more than talk," she teased. She smiled and flicked a glance toward Mano before becoming very interested in her drink. It was hard to keep her mouth closed on that topic when she was so very used to being around people like Mano and Eros that didn't mind at all.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Jun 1, 2009 12:48:23 GMT -5
Eros's arched brow turned on Caro now, though he couldn't fault her such a small slip-up. He turned back to Markise resolved to see exactly how far he could amuse himself and still keep the boy from bolting. "They must have been exceptional conversations," he mused aloud, then turned his gaze momentarily toward Mano. For now, he supposed Mano's lead would give him an idea how much the boy could handle. It would be a bloody shame to scare him off when they'd only just met, and Eros thought that Markise would make a pretty protege.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jun 1, 2009 12:50:50 GMT -5
Mano had shot a look toward Carolynn at her comment and only reluctantly looked over at Eros from her. "They were exceptional," he said, then looked over at Markise. He remembered that Markise had had reservations about the whole thing, and even though Markise had agreed, and twice now, he didn't want to chance running him off just yet.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 1, 2009 13:09:09 GMT -5
Markise gave Mano his best attempt at a smile and determined not to look directly at the woman. Every time he did, he was reminded of something else Michael had said, and his nerves rose even higher. Mano will just go and rave about you to his friends! One day... Markise looked back at the other man, Eros, and only just stopped himself from any kind of dangerous contemplation. He looked down to the safety of the coffee table and brushed a strand of hair back behind his ear, then set himself to drinking his wine. The faster he did so, the sooner he could stop worrying about this.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jun 1, 2009 13:53:23 GMT -5
Carolynn merely grinned behind her glass and then finished it off. "I know you can talk," she said, raising an eyebrow toward Markise. He had spoken, but not enough for her to fully appreciate his darling accent. She glanced over toward Eros, "You don't have to be shy." It wasn't like they were going to pick on him or be mean or anything.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Jun 1, 2009 18:45:36 GMT -5
Eros sided with Caro on this one. "We really are civilized beings. We were having a chat about the difficulties in finding someone to share intelligent conversation with. And yes, I mean conversation, in case you were wondering." Actually, Mano and Carolynn were poking fun, but it was all in good humor, and the boy already knew that he owned a candy shop. There was no reason to be more specific and begin that again.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jun 1, 2009 18:56:39 GMT -5
The usual easy smile pulled at Mano's lips and he took another drink, mostly to keep himself from bringing up the topic of the little children again. "Trust me, Markise, they aren't going to attack you or anything." At least, not in a way that would harm him. It wasn't hard to imagine Carolynn trying to adopt him to try out her own make-up on.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 1, 2009 19:10:06 GMT -5
Markise was already feeling warm from how quickly he'd finished his glass, not to mention the cooking sherry he'd had a short time ago. He decided he'd have to skip dinner next time so he wouldn't need to drink as much. He also decided that maybe he could relax a little. Mano had never pushed him, and though the morning after always reminded him it was only superficial, he was hoping the relief would make up for it. Assuming they made it that far, considering the other people here. He lifted his gaze, pushing ineffectually at his hair again before giving a light nod. Then he looked almost hopefully at Mano, unsure whether he should ask for more to drink or just hold his glass and pretend he wasn't hoping to get drunk.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jun 1, 2009 19:21:38 GMT -5
Carolynn shifted and moved her wand lazily to fill Markise's glass up with what had been in her own glass, then refilled the one in her hand. "It's my favorite, my father brings it home every time he visits Italy." Then she raised her glass slightly in a mock toast and lifted it to her lips. She loved how it felt on her tongue, and her eyes sparkled once more when she looked back around at the little circle of men.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Jun 1, 2009 19:49:18 GMT -5
Eros raised his own glass in echo of Caro's motion, as much of a game as it might be. As he refilled it, his eyes turned toward Markise yet again. "You shouldn't expect anything less than quality here," he said, eying the boy slowly and subtly. "There aren't finer hosts on Diagon Alley, to be sure." He lifted his glass slightly toward Mano now, then resumed his comfortable appreciation of its contents.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Jun 1, 2009 19:56:34 GMT -5
Mano turned his eyes down and shook his head, though he really did doubt that anyone could find better company anywhere else. That wasn't because of him, though, but because of the little group that had just happened to come together tonight. He looked over at Markise, silently urging him to say something, or to at least relax.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 1, 2009 20:08:46 GMT -5
Markise managed a smile and a thank you for the woman, and yes, he relaxed quite a bit at their combined reassurances. He was becoming aware of the broad difference in social levels between them, but rather than making him self-conscious, it made him feel important to be included. It hadn't occurred to him before now that he might find something that felt at all the same as those exclusive nights at the back tables of the clubs with businessmen offering to spoil him, and the feeling of freedom at saying no. It might or might not have anything to do with better wine than he'd ever had before, but either way, he set himself to enjoying it.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jun 1, 2009 20:13:20 GMT -5
Carolynn settled in to watching Markise, wondering how long he took on his own appearance. She certainly hadn't come in contact with any male that put on a face quite like he did. The most she had ever seen was someone trying out concealer, and even that was only when strictly necessary. She was absolutely dying to ask him questions and drag him up to her room.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Jun 1, 2009 20:18:12 GMT -5
With everyone else's tongues apparently affected by langlock, Eros took it upon himself to fill the silence, or rather, to break it. "So, Markise, I'm afraid I know little about you. Do you live in London?" The boy's age was as difficult to settle on as his gender, something that definitely appealed to Eros. Markise could have been a student at Hogwarts, but in his experience, for the young, it was often more productive to round up.
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