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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 5, 2011 10:20:33 GMT -5
Michael's eyebrows creased. This wasn't an Eros he was used to seeing. "Don't worry about it, what's going on?" Had something happened between Eros and Mano? Michael hadn't heard anything about the two since the twins were born, as he had been thoroughly distracted with the addition. He wasn't one to judge, at least not anymore, and Eros had helped him so much, the least he could do was try to help.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Oct 5, 2011 14:54:06 GMT -5
A flicker of distress crossed Eros's face as he debated denying everything, but he reminded himself that he'd wanted to talk to Michael, and this was his opportunity to do so. He took a moment to gather himself and attempted to phrase things as delicately as possible.
"You'll recall my little issue with Mano," he said, hoping that Michael would recall simply to save him the embarrassment of admitting it. "I had intended to go home for many reasons, of course, but had especially hoped to seek a romantic relationship—a monogamous relationship," he clarified.
"I find myself betrothed to an absent fianceé in whom I have no interest, and who has no tender feelings for me, and I find myself as isolated as I ever was at Hogwarts. I am unable to ignore the engagement, do you see?" He very much hoped that he wouldn't have to spell things out further.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 5, 2011 14:57:32 GMT -5
"I don't see why you should have to honor the engagement," Michael said. "If you have no interest in each other, it won't do either of you any good to force it." Even those in arranged marriages that he had seen had had some form of interest in one another, even if it were simply physical attraction. From what he gathered from what little Eros had said, there was nothing between the two.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Oct 5, 2011 15:18:43 GMT -5
"She is wearing the d'Avonderre ring," Eros argued. "If it is recognized, and I am openly seeing someone, you must realize how that would look. I simply must not do any more to compromise her than I already have." He hadn't expected that response from Michael, but perhaps his friend's distance from Society had affected his ability to see the consequences.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 5, 2011 15:28:35 GMT -5
Michael had given up on considering those consequences years ago. "Do you want me to tell you to marry her and be miserable?" He couldn't tell Eros to do that. "Is there no way to get the ring off of her?" Eros had said something about an ancestor that enjoyed bewitchments, but surely there was some loophole, there was always a loophole. Him and Dare had learned to be very good at taking advantage of any and all loopholes they could find.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Oct 5, 2011 15:51:08 GMT -5
"No more powerful magic existeth than that of love, and only love will sate its spell," Eros recited. "The will of the ring is only to see to the will of love. The will of love is merely love itself. Findest love, and thou shalt have thine answer.
"The witch has said nothing more, and though I would gladly seek love, it feels wrong to do so." He shook his head, listening to himself, then attempted to pull back. "You have no responsibility to solve my problems for me, Michael," he said. "I apologize for having burdened you with my trivialities."
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 5, 2011 15:54:33 GMT -5
Michael waved off Eros' apology. "You've helped me plenty of times," he said. "I don't think it's wrong to go after love. Remember also that she is here, who is here that would out it, hm? Unless she is going to balls on the weekends, I see no danger in anyone finding out." He doubted that the woman would go around announcing it, and no one that lived in the castle would understand what the ring was.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Oct 5, 2011 16:37:11 GMT -5
"Of course," Eros said, as though the thought hadn't occurred to him before. He said nothing more on the subject. "Well, I have nothing more of interest to say, Michael, but I do thank you for your time." He should return home now, give himself time to think things over before he met his parents for supper.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 5, 2011 19:23:51 GMT -5
"First, what happened with you and Mano?" Michael asked. He couldn't very well let Eros blow that off and leave so soon. What happened between Mano and Eros was rather important, he thought. Eros said Mano was back in his good graces, but that could mean a number of things. He raised his eyebrows expectantly.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Oct 5, 2011 20:17:31 GMT -5
"Nothing happened, Michael," Eros said. "All is as it should be, and any past misunderstandings have been put aside. I've forgiven him his lapse into immaturity, and our acquaintance has resumed its usual course. Is this what you wished to know?" Anything more, any reference to his attachment to Mano, would go unanswered. It was nobody's business but their own, and they had moved on by ignoring it, not by discussing it with others.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 5, 2011 20:40:05 GMT -5
Michael eyed Eros, weighing his options before deciding that pushing the issue wasn't in his best interest. He held Eros' gaze for a moment longer to ensure his friend knew he was letting it slide, then changed the subject. "Will you tell me who you intend on inviting to this ball?" he asked, then took a long drag on his drink.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Oct 5, 2011 21:38:19 GMT -5
Eros didn't like that pause, that implication that Michael was unsatisfied, but there was nothing to be done about that. His personal relationship with Mano Berwyn was private.
When he spoke again, it was an easy drawl. "For this first event I'll take care withh the guest list. Those who've been sympathetic to you and Dare, of course." And some of those with diverse tastes, though Eros had standards for exactly whom he would allow in his home. He gave Michael a few names.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 5, 2011 21:51:13 GMT -5
Michael nodded as the names were given. They were names he hadn't heard in years, some it took a few moments to remember. "Do they still talk about us?" He hadn't thought that anyone was sympathetic towards them, even if he hadn't really had enemies in Society. He couldn't imagine they were still the center of any discussion, surely gossip had moved on by now.
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on Oct 5, 2011 22:11:53 GMT -5
"Now and then," Eros said. "Quietly." The Blackwood-Hardts were certainly not considered polite conversation, but people were curious, and he'd heard a few subtle, well-placed remarks, answered a few hushed questions. His support was well-known, and so his return to Society's bosom had carried with it a natural curiosity for the things he'd seen.
"It won't be a large event, but that is likely best, for Dare's first." Eros refused to plan on the assumption that it would be anything less than successful.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 5, 2011 22:19:29 GMT -5
Michael's lips curved, "I love seeing him dressed up. It'll be great seeing him in a set of properly tailored robes." Not that Dare hadn't looked amazing on their wedding day, but there was something different about a specialized set of robes swirling at a Society ball. There was a reason his sketchbooks had been filled with faceless beauties in pretty dresses and robes.
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