Talking? (Markise/Michael)

[Markise Sterling]

"It's not that hard if you've got the right colors," Markise said. "And you're an artist, right?" He tried to think of what Dare had said when he'd first started trying out makeup. "It's just pointing the pencil the other way." He couldn't for the life of him figure out what Dare had related everything to. Something about chalk and paint and who knew what else. It had been years now. "If you've got the time I can show you a couple things and you can surprise Dare with it." He tried to look more hopeful than eager.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I wouldn't even know where to start," Michael said. Maybe it was the same concept, but it was entirely different to work on an actual person, especially when it was his own face. "I mean, I have time..." But was he willing to sit and be Markise's student for makeup? Well, if he was willing to do all this when it came to the clothes...

[Markise Sterling]

"I'll show you where to start," Markise said. "I won't throw full makeup at you your first time or anything, I swear. Go change back into your clothes, leave the ones you aren't getting and I'll see if I can find the right colors." He took a mental snapshot of Michael dressed as he was, then nodded to himself and headed out into the shop.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael parted his lips to say something, but Markise was already gone. He took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh before turning back and changing his clothes. He did as Markise told him and came out. What was Dare going to say to this? Hopefully, he would love it and wouldn't think it going overboard or something.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise's shop wasn't a drug store by any means, but he had a few little makeup kits, since nowhere else in Hogsmeade did. He'd torn two open for the cause and dug out what he needed from each; two eyeshadow sets, a rich coffee-brown eyeliner and matching mascara, and a fresh tube of chap stick. Michael had better appreciate what he was doing.

"Okay, follow me into my office," he said, teasing lightly as he headed for his work room with what could have been an olive-green pencil bag in his hand.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael wasn't sure what Markise intended to do, but followed anyway. He eyed the bag Markise had as he followed. "You're enjoying this way too much," he noted, though he had known what he was getting into, for the most part, when he had agreed to give Markise so much power. It was worth it, though. This club trip was going to be one to remember.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise looked at Michael with a wide-eyed innocence that would never be believed. "But this is all part of my job," he said. So maybe he was giving Michael more than a quick fashion lesson—which he had done for others—but Michael was playing along. Could he really be blamed?

He swept up the papers on his worktable, which was conveniently free of patterns and half-finished clothes, and set them aside before gesturing to the chair in front of it. It didn't feel right dragging Michael up into the apartment, so he'd do what he could here. A quick transfiguration of a poster on the wall into a wide mirror and it was better than cramming into the bathroom together.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael took a seat when Markise gestured to the chair. "Yes, I'm sure you bring everyone back to your office and teach them to put on makeup." He shook his head, but smiled as he looked up at Markise, comfortable again in his regular clothes. "If Dare could see this..." he breathed, only to shake his head again. He had no idea what Dare was going to say to all of this.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise's eyes widened slightly at that. What would Dare think? Or would Dare just give them that crooked smile and prop himself up in the doorway to watch? He mentally shook his head. That was a completely distracting image.

"I'd charge extra for this," he said to Michael, getting his bearings. "But for you satisfaction will be payment enough." He pulled over another chair and sat down next to Michael. "Okay, first things first," he said, digging everything out of the little bag. "These are two different sets of eyeshadows, you won't be wearing it all at once. Always start with your eyes."

He told Michael why, then gave him a highly simplified explanation of the deep brown, moss and olive greens, rust, gold and camel shadows, told him why Dare's makeup would look terrible with his coloring no matter how hot Dare might think jet-black eyeliner would look on him, then opened the pencil and demonstrated by drawing a line on the back of his hand, then smudging it. "Try that," he said. "It'll give you a feel for how it works."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael did so, then looked up at Markise, "And I'm supposed to draw on my eyes with this." It was weird enough when Dare did it, he couldn't imagine taking a pencil to the edge of his own eyelid. And that was only the beginning, Michael knew there were plenty of things waiting to be taught. How was he supposed to remember all of this?

[Markise Sterling]

Markise nodded. "It takes some practice to get really good, but the idea is really simple." He picked up the pencil he'd gotten out of the other set, a dark green that wouldn't really show with the liner he was already wearing, and used it as a pointer on his own eyes. "Starting from about here, make a line that goes out to here. Keep it as close to your lash line as possible..." He demonstrated every step before encouraging Michael to try.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael gave Markise a look and waited as long as he thought possible before attempting this. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to try and he swore he got some in his eye, but he did it. It didn't look nearly as good as he thought it should have, though he probably underestimated his abilities. "I think I'll need more than some practice," he said, eying himself in the mirror.

[Markise Sterling]

"Try it a couple times before going out," Markise said. "And if it helps you keep your hand steady, do this..." He stood up and leaned over the table, so close to the mirror that he was able to rest part of his arm against it as he applied the liner. "And smudge it... like this..." he said. This was usually when Ariel walked in, and he could feel a ghost of that gaze on his back. He couldn't imagine that putting on eyeliner was really all that sexy, but he enjoyed it.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I will," Michael promised, though he would have to do it when he knew Dare wasn't going to be home. This entire thing would be a surprise when they all went out. He tried again on the other side and the result was marginally better. "I hope you realize whatever you tell me today will be what's done when we go out." There was no way he was going to be able to do something original so soon.

[Markise Sterling]

"Of course," Markise said, straightening. "I can't see you wanting cat's eyes and glitter anyway. This time," he added with a teasing wink. "Okay, now for the eyeshadow. Ready?" He turned one of the little plastic boxes over. "There are instructions here," he said, pointing to the stylized diagram. "If you forget everything I tell you, use them. Otherwise, I'll show you how to do it better, faster, and easier."