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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 19, 2010 14:23:01 GMT -5
The last time Michael had talked to Markise he had been a mess after believing that Dare had left him. But a few weeks ago Dare had talked to Ariel and then there had been an owl, and it was their anniversary in a couple of weeks anyway, so he had a reason to come to the store and nothing had ever even been done about the owl.
So he was here to maybe figure out something for Dare, and to perhaps set something up for the four of them to go out and do. And having a civil conversation with Markise was probably a good idea, too. Once he was inside he slid his hands into his pockets as he looked around, walking slowly into the store.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 19, 2010 14:58:35 GMT -5
"Just a minute!" Markise called from his office room. He'd heard the bells at the door, but the pattern he'd started needed just a few more touches. He gave it a quick once-over, then stood to head into the shop itself. His eyes widened at seeing Michael. What the hell was he doing here, and where was Dare? He'd thought the two of them were glued together at the hand and mouth.
He put on a smile anyway. "How can I help you?" he asked. Why the hell would I want to? he added silently. Apparently he still hadn't gotten over Michael having given Dare up and letting him rot for a week instead of doing anything about it.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 19, 2010 15:15:41 GMT -5
Michael reached up and ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out what he should start off with. "Dare got an owl from Ariel," he said. "I was wondering if you guys were still up for going out sometime." The only time he had ever gone out with a group had been the bachelor party, and that had been so much fun, and his and Dare's latest outing had been enough to encourage him to think of other things to do.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 19, 2010 15:32:58 GMT -5
Markise wanted to say no out of spite, but he found himself saying yes anyway. Masochist, he told himself. "Is anyone else going?" he asked. He thought he remembered something about doing things the way they used to, but if Ariel and Michael were arranging it... Markise stopped that thought right where it was. It was too bizarre to contemplate. Ariel hated people and Michael hated him. After over a year of trying to get Michael to like him, he'd decided he didn't like Michael after all. And they were going out as a group? It was completely messed up. At least with more people there would be a buffer.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 19, 2010 15:53:34 GMT -5
Michael shrugged, "I don't know anyone really, I don't know about Dare or you guys." Unless Dare had been meeting new people lately, he didn't know anyone, either. "It'd be fun to get a group together and go, the bachelor party was fun." He didn't know about going with the same group again, though he supposed it could always happen.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 19, 2010 16:22:49 GMT -5
Markise blinked at that idea. He hadn't seen Mano in forever, and Mano's friend, whatever his name was, had been pretty hot, too. "Maybe we should do that, then," he said. "I haven't been back there." It would be dangerous, but if there were enough people surely Ariel could keep out of trouble.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 19, 2010 16:44:19 GMT -5
"I could get in touch with Eros," Michael said, nodding. "Do you know anyone else?" With Eros came Mano, but he didn't think he would mention it to Dru, she had to have her hands full with the new additions to the club, her new job, and Chase. "I doubt it would be as big as the party was, but we would still have a lot of fun."
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 19, 2010 23:15:55 GMT -5
"No, I don't know anyone," Markise said. Well, there was Jory, but he wouldn't want to hang together all night. Jory just grated him the wrong way and he couldn't help wanting to keep him as far from Ariel as he could. They'd start talking about tattoos or something and he'd be screwed.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 20, 2010 14:12:23 GMT -5
"Well, with Eros would come Mano, so there would at least be a couple people other than us," Michael said, sliding his hand back into his pocket. He knew it wouldn't be nearly as extravagant as the party had been, but it would be something new, at least. Who knew, maybe it would work out and it could be a semi-regular thing.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 20, 2010 14:19:48 GMT -5
Markise would definitely hate to see Mano go off with Jory. He knew it was ridiculous since they'd just slept together a few times, he was with Ariel, and he didn't really care if Mano was with someone else, he just had an unreasonable jealousy of the adorable little brunette. At least Jory didn't know it. Then he might stop thinking everyone hated him, and if there was anything more attractive than his rumpled bedroom hair it would be confidence.
"I like both of them," Markise said, pushing Jory out of his mind. "It'll be fun seeing them again. Doesn't Dare know anyone?" Dare could be as much of a people magnet as he was when he was on. At least he could at SWIM.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 20, 2010 15:16:11 GMT -5
"Not anyone that would want to go out. Both him and Eros have met this Jory guy, though." He didn't think Dare had ever talked to the guy again, but he had come to Eros' flat, so the two of them had to know each other rather well. "I don't know if Dare talked to him more than once, but I visited Eros once and Jory came by, I got the feeling they knew each other."
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 20, 2010 21:10:37 GMT -5
Markise made a face, despite his best efforts, then immediately turned to sifting through clothes on the nearest rack, making sure they were arranged by size. "He complains a lot," he said simply. "He's really not a clubbing person." He knew he and Ariel were, Dare was, and Dare went out with Michael enough that he must be. Some people just couldn't loosen up, though. "Six people is fine." They'd gone out in a group of at least eight, but it hadn't always been the same people and they hadn't had to drag them along, they'd just all wanted to go.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 21, 2010 14:25:53 GMT -5
Michael shrugged, "Well, I'll tell Eros and if he or Mano brings someone else I don't think it would matter very much." He didn't know Jory well enough to say anything about him, but he wasn't about to tell them not to bring anyone. If they were going in a group, they might as well go in a group. "Are you and Ariel going to be going to New York again this summer?"
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Post by Markise Sterling on Jun 22, 2010 8:02:40 GMT -5
"Mhm," Markise hummed, nodding. "We're leaving next week." They'd have left already, but his shop was doing so well that he'd had to decide whether hiring someone to work the summer would be worth the risk. Then he'd had to figure out how the hell to hire someone. There was so much paperwork!
"I don't mind if they bring people," he went on. He liked Mano, and Eros was Mano's friend, so any others would probably be just the same, attractive Purebloods with wicked glints to their eyes. "We'll have to go this Friday."
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 24, 2010 21:10:25 GMT -5
"We don't have anything planned," Michael said. "I don't think Dare will mind. I can stop by Eros' on the way home and invite him." He would let Eros get in touch with Mano and they could figure out if anyone else was going themselves. They could go to the same club, though they probably wouldn't be able to get a VIP one. "Um...there's something else," he said, thinking his words through carefully. "Our anniversary is next week, I thought I could look for an idea here?" He wasn't sure how Markise would take to that, and he wasn't just going to get Dare clothes, but it was worth a shot.
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