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 Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:05 am
"Tonight might have been good," she conceded to Hadrian, "but I have no idea how I'll be able to keep myself together on stage from here on out."
Natalie's eyes widened a little as they approached the building. It was a really, really nice place. To her college-poor mind, anyway. "Aaah...." was all she really managed to get out after that.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:12 am
It was a nice place, Hadrian had to admit that. Expensive, by the looks of it...somehow, it didn't surprise him. Thorn seemed the extravagent sort. It was the sort of place that was nice, even to those who weren't poor college students.
And of course, to a mage who avoided people as much as possible, it was also nice.
As they walked in past the line, he found himself glad that there were reservations - he wouldn't have wanted to wait in that line.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:22 am
Thorn preened a little bit when they neared the resteraunt club. He was a little bit proud, and while it had been expensive to get a table so quickly... well He dealt with goods that made a cash seem like an allowance.
He gave his name, and they were soon escorted a round table that was more intimate than it should have been. But Thorn preferred it this way, where knees could touch and hands graze elbows without it being too unseemingly.
"I hope you like it?" he asked them both modestly, nodding his head as he gestured to their surroundings. "It's quite new, the renovations." the server held out their seats, the lady first, and then the gentlemen.
He liked it, this way.
"I thought this would be a nice way to end the show." he looked at Hadrian. "I'm glad you could make it."
Neutral. Neutral.
But still. Thorn has having a good time.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:30 pm
Natalie nodded at Thorn's question, staring around with wide eyes as she sat down. Eventually, she dragged her attention back to her companions.
"Yes, very glad you could come," Natalie chimed in, smiling and glancing down at the menu. She didn't recognize much on it, but she could probably always ask Thorn to recommend something.
She felt out of place in her blazer and pleated skirt. She felt like she should be wearing some elegant designer dress or something. Or at least one of the nicer things she'd made, lately.
Natalie had returned to looking around when she caught sight of a rather familiar-looking woman. And apparently returning from the restroom... was that...?
Natalie practically bolted out of her seat, then hurriedly said, "It's very very nice, but I think I really should be going. I'm sorry. Long day." Her voice was cracking a bit again. And after all Thorn had done to talk her into it? Definitely something wrong.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:44 am
"Natalie?"
Hadrian's expression was doubtful, at her excuse. She had been just fine up until that moment, so...why did she want to leave then? He imagined Thorn wasn't going to just let her leave like that, either.
And if she left - well, he'd rather not be left alone to dine with Thorn. Again.
If the mage had met either Michael or his fiance, then he would have known; but as it was, they were just two more people in the restaurant.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:51 am
Thorn paused. Had Natalie had a traumatic experience at this resteraunt? Had she seen someone she wanted to avoid or was this some kind of game? A teasing one?
"Natalie." his voice came out stronger than he had expected it to, drowned out just slightly by Hadrian's. The mage was polite, and so put together. He would focus on dismantling that later.
Now, he had someone else to think about.
"Natalie?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:53 am
She tore her gaze away from Michael and his fiance, looking down at Thorn with trembling lips. "I-it's... them..." she managed.
Michael looked up. His fiance hadn't yet noticed anything out of the ordinary, but Michael quickly caught sight of Natalie and raised an eyebrow. Then he motioned to her chair, gently.
Natalie sunk back down.
"... it's going to look really weird if I just storm out, isn't it," she whispered, putting her head in her hands. "Why me?"
Michael seemed to be deciding on something. He glanced at Thorn and Hadrian, curious. Who were they, and why were they with Natalie? His Natalie?
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:54 pm
Glancing at the couple, Hadrian noted who they were - then turned his attention back to Natalie. "Ignore them. You're at dinner with friends...they aren't here."
Well, it seemed like the best thing he could think of. Though perhaps changing tables was actually best, but in this kind of place, that wasn't an option. Well, he didn't think it was an option.
If nothing else, they could just switch places around until her back was to them - at least then she wouldn't see them every time he glanced up.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:54 pm
Thorn turned to see who they were. He wasn't very subtle about it either, and his eyes skimmed the crowd, seeing enough young men, enough blonde women to wonder who Natalie was looking at. But he saw the raised eyebrow, the look the other cast at their direction.
At Hadrian. At Natalie. Maybe it was all just a coincidence.
"It will." he agreed, nodding his head as the server bought around three menus. And nodded, again at Hadrian's words. If the whole mage business never worked out, maybe he could get the man to work for him.
Now that was a delightful prospect. With perks too?
"Darling Hadrian is right." he said, smiling he placed a hand on Natalie's shoulder. "Now, have fun. You're with us now."
This was.... interesting.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:58 pm
Natalie nodded, thinking she might have a chance at ignoring Michael. It was over, without a word, pretty much the way it had begun. She'd move on. She'd start now.
Apparently, Michael had different ideas though, because he stood up, saying a few words to his (stunning) fiancé before walking over. He eyed Thorn and Hadrian for a moment before leaning down to whisper something in Natalie's ear.
"We need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about," she hissed back. "Go sit with..."
"We need to talk."
Natalie glared at him, then shot a pleading look at her two companions.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:05 pm
While Hadrian still felt the urge to wince at Thorn calling him 'darling Hadrian' every time he said his name - he was growing used to it. And that was a frightening thought all on its own.
"Excuse me...it looks like the waiter is coming back. Surely you can talk to Natalie another time?"
His tone was mild, but his eyes certainly weren't.
"After all, this is the sort of place where you need to enjoy every moment of your time. Not waste time."
He was making it clear, without actually saying so, that there would be no discussion between Michael and Natalie tonight - at least, not at the restaurant. And unless Natalie suddenly changed her mind.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:12 pm
So he was right! And it was this one. Staring with some amount of fascination (men who could get women to react the way Natalie did deserved some respect, after all), he smiled.
And Hadrian? Hadrian was showing another side of himself. Or another facet, and Thorn was liking the night more and more as it progressed.
"My companion is right." he said, nodding his head. "And neither does Natalie wish to speak to you. "
But he smiled. "But this is a wonderful restaurant. Let's not put our appetites off with such... drama." a choice word, because Thorn actually _liked_ drama. It was so... invigorating.
"My name is Thorn, and this is Hadrian. A pleasure.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:47 am
"Ah, certainly." Michael straightened up, inclining his head ever so slightly in greeting. "I'm Michael Landry. I'm fairly certain you know how I know Natalie?" It wasn't much of a leap of the imagination to figure out that these two had come to see Natalie perform. They just... didn't seem like the type of people Natalie would associate with. College girls usually stuck to college boys, or thereabouts.
Then again, Natalie seemed to be a bit of an exception...
"And my fiancé over there," he continued, acting completely cordially, "is Candice. I've been meaning to introduce you two, Natalie."
Candice had come up behind the group and was looking down at the table with a slightly haughty expression. "A pleasure," she purred, taking Michael's arm. "But dear, our dinner will be coming soon. Please come back?"
And with that... she led him, easily, back over to the table. For the time being, at least.
Natalie barely looked up from where her face was buried in her hands.
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:06 am
While Hadrian's comment about the server coming had just been an excuse, it would seem he actually was right - because a server was indeed making his way towards their table. Drink orders.
Hurrying to order (before Thorn could order - he didn't want to get stuck with alcohol), he ordered coffee for himself. It sounded good, and it would be a nice little energy boost...he hadn't been getting much in the way of sleep, lately.
He kept his eyes on Natalie, but he clearly didn't know what do.
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:12 am
Thorn frowned. A part of him sparked up, and he nodded his head. Ordering something strong and golden, he turned to Natalie. "Would you like me to order for you?" He asked this gently, pleasantly. As if he was doing her a favor rather tham himself.
After the question though, he looked at Hadrian, almost amused. Except they weren't on the same side, were they? Not on the drinking matter. Tilting his head, the server bent down, listening to whatever it was that Thorn murmured into his ear.
"Natalie, that was the beast then, was it?" he patted her shoulder. "You are much more attractive than the blonde."
The blonde looked like fun. Temporary, delightful. But Hadrian and Natalie? They were a more prolonged kind of pleasure that could be drawn out, savored. Like sugar and crepe.
A little later, a server arrived at Michael's table, enquiring lightly if the two companions would like the join the other table for dinner-- Master Thorn (because it sounded so much more polite that mister) would enjoy their company, and (very discreetly) dinner would be on him.
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