Engraved Invitation (Eros/Michael)

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros had actually never been into the little pub, so near to Hogwarts that he could see the castle through its clouded windows. He had no particular interest in being here now, but after his time with Mano, he'd felt quite a bit better, and he hadn't been disposed to seeking shortcuts. He would invite Michael to his little gathering personally. There were things about it which needed to be understood if it was going to work.

He looked down at the frothy mug of butterbeer he'd been served, then glanced back out the window. Michael would be here at any moment, and they had catching up to do besides. He hadn't invited Dare to this little meeting, not when the premier topic of conversation would be Pureblood politics, but he was sure that both of them would understand.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael hadn't been to the Three Broomsticks in months, maybe years. When he walked in, gathered in a light cloak, it was easy to spot Eros. The man stood out in the crowd like a sore thumb. "Hello," he said, smiling as he sat down. He had been in an amazing mood ever since his and Dare's latest experiment. He ordered a butterbeer and unclipped his cloak, spreading it out on the back of his chair. "How is it being back home?"

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros smiled at seeing Michael, apparently healthy and in high spirits. "In many ways, it is pure bliss," he said truthfully. "I missed my creature comforts, and to some extent, missed my family and extended contacts as well. I do wish you'd been able to attend my homecoming ball, though of course you had every reason not to. It was a rather, ah... eventful evening. But I'll tell you all of it later. You and your Dare are doing well?"

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

The grin that spread across Michael's face was more than enough to answer Eros' question, but he nodded all the same. "Yes, we are, and the twins have finally settled down. We are doing great, actually." He had never been happier. He fully understood why it wouldn't have been a good idea for him to go to the ball, especially with Dare, and hadn't thought much of it since.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Excellent," Eros said. "Would you be comfortable spending a night away from them? I understand you've had help, but would gladly lend out Orenda for an evening. I'm planning a rather unique gathering, and wish to invite you and Dare both." He paused, then reached for his drink. Perhaps he'd find out whether Michael was interested before showing his hand.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael eyed Eros as his own drink was delivered. "We normally have Friday evenings to ourselves, Gilda takes care of them, so it's normal to have a night away. What exactly are you planning?" It would be fun, Eros seemed to have a talent of planning gatherings, but what exactly did a rather unique gathering mean? It wasn't exactly an anniversary or other important date.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros took his time responding, pausing to savor the warmth of his drink while Michael sat in anticipation. "I seem to recall that Dare waltzes tolerably well," he said. The younger man had seemed a bit lost when partnered with a female the one time he'd seen the spectacle, but there had been no fault in his posture or the placement of his feet.

"I require a bit more than that, though something tells me you'd have no trouble polishing him up a bit. What I'm planning, my dear Michael, is a Society ball. Do I have your attention?" His lips curved.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael stared at Eros in stunned silence for barely a moment before his lips curved in an echo of Eros' and he leaned forward a little in his chair, wrapping his hands around his drink. "Oh yes, you have my attention," he said. He loved seeing Dare dressed up, and maybe he liked the idea of showing off a little to some people. "How do you intend to get away with inviting a halfblood married to a blood traitor?"

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Oh, Eros loved to see that mischievous smile on his friend, that sign that the old Michael still existed in this happy, down-to-earth package. "My intention, after securing my parents' absence, is a rather select group of Society. There are some, admittedly found mostly in the youths of our own generation, who sympathize, and you can well imagine, I am certain, that there will be others who would enjoy feeling rebellious. I won't deny that the two of you would be a bit of a spectacle, but when has that ever been an issue?"

The Michael he'd known years ago loved to flirt with danger, and Eros couldn't imagine that was gone. Michael had walked the edge, crossing it at will, for years, he was simply doing it for love now. Yes, his friend had mellowed, to all appearances, but for an evening here or there, he'd been completely uninhibited and a great deal of entertainment. "What say you?"

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Rebellion had always been an important part of joining Society, even if most of it was kept firmly behind closed doors. Maybe his last little experiment with Dare had sparked that old feeling. Maybe for one night it would be fun to go back to play the game, knowing that it was really only playing now and that once home it was gone again. Without the pressure to keep it up all the time he could find some of the enjoyment others had sworn was always there. "When do you want us to be there?"

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Fantastic," Eros said, his eyes glittering at that enthusiastic response. "I'll have your invitation sent shortly, it will tell everything." What luck that he'd managed it without a bit of subterfuge!

He reached into his waistcoat pocket, sliding free a small rectangle of parchment so soft that it felt like silk. It was edged in a delicate design so intricate that one doubted it had been produced by humans at all, and the information on one side seemed threaded on with tiny stitches.

"This is my tailor's information," he said, flourishing the card a moment before setting it on the table between them. "You will not take price into consideration while you are in his shop, as that would cost me considerable embarrassment later. I guarantee that the novelty of serving you will guarantee affordable services." Mostly because he would arrange in advance to pay a percentage, but he would not insult Michael's pride by saying so.

"You and your beloved will make me proud, and you will be the envy of all who have never spoken more than necessary to one of the lower classes."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

A part of Michael hated the idea of being something like a freak show, but it was stamped down easily by the more logical side of him that said this would certainly be a good thing. "There wouldn't be something that happened at your last ball to encourage you to do this, would there?" he asked as he picked up the parchment.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Of course there would," Eros said, not bothering to pretend otherwise. "But as I see some hesitation has formed in your mind, I will leave that unspoken a moment longer.

"I truly do wish to bring you back into our world, Michael, in whatever capacity you are willing to accept. Think of this as a stepping stone to greater things, and play with it." He paused only briefly to let that advice sink in.

"As for my homecoming ball, I hereby announce my betrothal to one Shianni Veridian, whom you know as Astronomy Professor at Hogwarts, but before you congratulate me, let me explain. I have met her only once, the engagement is going unacknowledged, the ring would most certainly not be on her finger if not for a d'Avonderre ancestress with a flair for bewitchments, and our friend Mano is most dreadfully sorry that his love potion was so very potent.

"As I've said, I do wish you'd been there."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael was in stunned silence as he attempted to let the news sink in. Sure, he had seen the new professor, he had noticed the ring on her finger, it was impossible to overlook, but she hadn't seemed the type to get married. Especially not to Eros. "You have to be joking," he said, though even as he said the words he knew Eros was being entirely serious. He sat back in his chair again, shaking his head slowly. "Mano never did know when his pranks went too far, did he?"

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Oh, he knows this time," Eros assured his friend. "He knew the moment that she was unable to remove the ring, and he was quite uncharacteristically docile the rest of the evening." It was the transparency of Mano's regret which had allowed Eros to forgive the man.

"For now, there is nothing that Mano would refuse me, should I insist upon it, short of destroying his own prospects for the future. But enough about him for now. The man is already back in my good graces, however tenuous his position there. I had rather hoped... Well, it is difficult for me to ask such a thing of anyone..."

The decision to talk to Michael had been a simple one, once he'd arrived at the thought. Here was someone who understood the basic concept of monogamy, and approved of it as a preferred state. Here was someone he had reason to trust, not only because of favors he'd done for the Blackwood-Hardts, and Michael in particular, but because Michael had confided in him, in bits and pieces, from time to time.

Eros, however, was entirely unaccustomed to talking about himself. He talked about others, gave opinions and advice, but couldn't begin to phrase his thoughts and questions in any way which did not center the conversation on himself, something which made him intensely uncomfortable. It simply wasn't polite to do so, and though that word—polite—seemed like such a flimsy and unimportant thing in itself, it was deeply ingrained in his person.

"Forgive my stammering," he said at last, straightening himself visibly. "The coming event has me unforgivably distracted."