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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 16, 2011 16:21:14 GMT -5
Dare had been uncomfortable for the better part of the day, but was getting better at ignoring it. Most of the time. The kind of store he and Keith and Matthew had wandered through had definitely been counterproductive to that end, but he had a couple nondescript bags filled with distraction to show for it. He'd never understood impulse buying until about an hour ago.
He'd discovered things he never knew existed, things he wanted, but couldn't justify the money for, and little things that might or might not be worth the piece of Muggle paper money he'd paid for them, but they'd kept his mind busy, and that helped at least a little.
"You guys want to grab something to drink?" he asked, looking down at Keith as they filtered into the street. He needed something cold.
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Post by Keith Evans on May 16, 2011 16:33:53 GMT -5
Keith had a small bag of his own, the handles looped around his wrist. His hands were tucked in his pockets, since he wasn't as preoccupied brushing off Matthew's occasional hands now. After two weeks he was getting used to it. He wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.
"Sounds good to me," he said, nodding and glancing around. He didn't know his way around Diagon Alley very well, since he had only gone through it a couple of times. "I've heard bad things about the Aroma, Rowan said the owner's not worth the time."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 16, 2011 17:21:54 GMT -5
Dare's lips curved. "I know the owner," he said. "The guy likes to take the piss out of anyone who gets close enough, but he's harmless. I heard he used to be a real vulture, but I've never seen it." Yes, he remembered when he'd heard about Mano and Markise, but in the end, nothing had happened. "He was at out partnership ceremony and everything. Just one of those high-society Purebloods."
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Post by Keith Evans on May 16, 2011 17:31:57 GMT -5
Keith wrinkled his nose and Matthew spat on the ground. Keith elbowed Matthew lightly. "Guess it's up to you," he said. "I've never been anywhere around here, anyway." He'd just heard things, like how the Leakey Cauldron owner was worthless and that a professor owned a shop. He felt a hand slide into his pocket to find his own, and he pulled both free of the fabric to swing between him and Matthew.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 16, 2011 17:35:47 GMT -5
Dare shrugged. "He's already done penance for me. Elouai used to water his plants a couple times a day. Plus, he's outnumbered. I can take as much as I can give." At that last, he gave a teasing grin, his mind deep enough in the gutter that there wasn't anything left he couldn't turn dirty. And Michael hadn't unlocked him this morning, or yesterday either!
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Post by Keith Evans on May 16, 2011 17:45:11 GMT -5
"I like the way you think," Keith said, with Matthew nodding in agreement. "Let's go, then." If Dare knew the guy it couldn't be all bad, and Keith had learned quickly that Rowan didn't just get along with everyone he came in contact with. He couldn't argue too badly, and maybe Rowan had overreacted.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 16, 2011 17:47:59 GMT -5
Mano didn't look quite as put-together as he normally did, though no one but his employees and extreme regulars had noticed. Even those hadn't mentioned it to him. His hair was a little less kept than normal and his eyes were unfocused. He'd told himself not to think about his visit with Eros, to just imagine it hadn't happened. He sneered at the idea as he leaned on the end of the counter, gazing off at nothing in the direction of the door. As if he could forget.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 16, 2011 17:51:22 GMT -5
Dare was still grinning when he passed through the doors, but he paused when his eyes caught on Mano. He'd only ever seen the guy when they were going places, when he was looking sleek and put-together, and his mood was high. He glanced down at Keith, then over at Matthew, as though either of them would recognize what was different, then headed toward the counter.
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Post by Keith Evans on May 16, 2011 17:56:24 GMT -5
Keith didn't even know who the owner was, though the grumpy looking man leaning against the counter top was a good possibility. The place looked nice enough and he followed Dare toward the counter. "It looks like they have everything," he said, glancing up at the menu and at the display of pastries at the counter behind a glass case.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 16, 2011 17:58:47 GMT -5
As tuned out as he was, Mano didn't miss Dare walking in, though the other two barely registered. He watched the three, thinking of nothing in particular pertaining to them. Then it was as if a bell had gone off in his head and he pushed himself up from the counter. Dare and Markise. He came around the counter and walked up to the trio. "Dare," he said, sparing a brief nod for the other two. "Could...I talk to you, for just a moment?"
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 16, 2011 18:53:14 GMT -5
"Yeah," Dare said, without question. He looked back at Keith. "I'm going to talk to him, okay? Order without me." He had no idea what Mano might want to tell him that had him so tense, but his mind seized on the thought that it might be personal. Mano had never cornered him to talk, not since they first met.
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Post by Keith Evans on May 16, 2011 19:05:19 GMT -5
Keith nodded and headed toward the short line leading to the counter with Matthew. He glanced over curiously at the man that had requested Dare's attention, but it wasn't his place to say anything. They chatted as they joined the line, Matthew leaning in to suggest some uses for Keith's newest purchase.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 16, 2011 19:11:44 GMT -5
Mano glanced around before leading Dare to the far edge of the counter where he'd been leaning earlier, and spoke in a low voice. "I have a dilemma," he said softly. "It involves Eros and something entirely unexpected. I know of the relationship between you and Markise so I thought that perhaps you would be able to...goodness I don't even know."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 16, 2011 19:23:33 GMT -5
If Dare hadn't been with Keith and Matthew for the past however many hours, he wouldn't have made the connnection nearly as fast. As it was, he glanced back into the cafe, wondering if it was just his dirty mind playing tricks with him again. "If you need to talk, I'm fine. My friends can take care of themselves." He was fairly sure Matthew would appreciate it, though, as Keith had promised, the guy was a lot better than he'd been before.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 16, 2011 19:34:09 GMT -5
Mano gestured for Dare to follow him and slipped into the store room behind the serving area. He shut the door firmly behind them. "I went to visit Eros and found him completely drunk and in the bath," he said. "He is apparently leaving the school after your baby is born." He would have paused to catch a reaction but was more interested in what had happened after. "Because he wishes to find a woman, because he had found an inappropriate target for his affections."
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