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 Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:53 pm
"Then how... ?" The question lingered in the air, the rest of it unasked. Surely Hartley had to know what he was going for.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:57 pm
Fury and Castle used Cassie as their target but none of thier weapons had an affect on her. Not that they were expecting her to. After they were done Cassie walked off. Professors at this school were the weirdest.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:57 pm
Hartley cleared his throat. He was feeling REALLY warm. He reached for the martini glass again, but it was empty. That went down fast!
"My parents' philosophy is that, if something goes awry, throw money at it till the problem goes away."
Hartley held up his hands and started signing.
'Thirty-eight different surgeries on my ears.'
"What was that?"
"I dunno, he just started wiggling his hands all funny."
"Maybe he's signalling for another drink?"
"Speaking of....how about getting us a couple beers?"
"Julian, you idiot, they card here! If we got caught drinking again, we'll be punted off the football team."
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:01 pm
"Well, at least you have music now, right?" At the mention of which, Wallace was instantly reminded of the flute in his bag. He had to give it back. Hopefully without ruining the evening and all prospects of a future relationship. He really liked Hartley, and it was a horribly stupid thing to do. And now, he was terrified to give it back because Hartley would never want to speak to him again and would totally hate him forever and ever.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:09 pm
*Chris sat down across from Mr. Allen. He had put off telling Mr. Allen about Kraven but only because of the crap with Donnie and the Olympians.*
Christopher, have you been leaning on petty criminals in Midvale?
What?
Someone has been beating the petty criminals in Midvale. Breaking legs and demanding information.
No! I got all my info from research!
Well, all right. What do you have?
Sergei Kravinoff, also know as Kraven the Hunter. One of Interpol's most wanted. The crest on the spear belongs to his family and he has the experience as a big game hunter to know of curare. He supposedly wears a outfit made from a male lion. All signs point to him as the guy who jacked Robert and Dani.
Excellent. I'll check with my contacts in the hero community to find out about him. I don't want you or Cassie or Dani to engage him before hearing from me.
Yes, sir.
*Chris headed out to Blackhawk's. He needed to think of a way around Mr. Allen's edict without breaking his word.*
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:12 pm
'That's sort of why I wanted to have this be our first date, Venus starts her act with'
Oops. Hartley realized he was still signing and put his hands on the table.
"My hearing was fixed when I was eleven years old. Doctor Magnus, he teaches shop class at Hero High, he's the one who finally fixed it. He's a mad scientist. Bona. Fide. Mad. Scientist. I mean, where I had my surgery with him, it looked like Frankenstein's lab. And the first thing I ever heard, when I woke up on his table...I didn't even know what it was at the time. I'd never heard music before. I literally didn't know what it was. But it'll be the first thing Venus s-"
Hartley was cut off by the lights dimming even more and the lights on the stage blaring up. Applause filled the Dakota as a spotlight shone on a lovely woman with long red hair leaning against the piano.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Venus Pandeimos, and I'd like to start off tonight with a number you're all familiar with. It's by Louie Armstrong, and it's called 'What a Wonderful World.'"
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:21 pm
Wallace cracked a smile, his hand still holding on to Hartley's in the darkness. He had been ridiculously lucky. One stupid night, when everyone was gathered outside their door, when they had decided to crash Billy and Teddy's date- Wallace had been the luckiest b*****d around.
He had always thought Hartley had liked Teddy, which he could understand. Teddy wasn't brilliant, but he was sweet, and he'd beat the s**t out of anyone who harmed you. And given all the bullying that Hartley had endured, it would have been nice to have someone large to throw his weight around and scare people off. Even that night in the doorway he'd told Teddy that he'd found him attractive, and so, right along, Wallace had played into hooking those two up and leaving Billy off to the side to sulk.
And yet, Billy had been quite right for Teddy. Teddy and Hartley didn't have the common theme of always doing good in common, and that would have crushed Teddy with his sense of morality. Billy, albeit kind of sex crazed, was still innocent enough to buy into that too. They were adorable and naive and perfect for each other.
He had never expected to click with Hartley himself, but he had. And he'd been rather sour about the fact that Hartley might prefer Teddy over him.
Everything had worked out though, and the 24 hour bender he'd been on had been worth it. The humiliation at having been outdone by a "straight" Hartley had been worth it. He had finally found someone that he could respect enough to like and not just lust after.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:22 pm
Bart had lately gained a job running errands for Zinda. She liked the fact that he could run out and get things much faster then it would take her driving so she hired him as a gopher. The young man came in with huge bags of hamburger buns.
" I'm back"
" Okay Sailor you can just put those in back and I believe you're done for the day."
"Thanks Zinda."
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:27 pm
The music took Hartley away, and he became completely oblivious to everything else around him. The martini helped, but for all intents and purposes, everything else but the sounds of the piano and Venus's voice ceased to exist.
He noted every inflection, every tone, every switch in key and tempo and categorized them in his head for the effect they could have on the mind.
Venus finished her first song and took a bow to the applause of the people in the lounge. Hartley surfaced back to reality and looked at Wallace.
"What do you think?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:32 pm
The music had been pleasant enough, but he'd been paying far more attention to Hartley. He'd liked watching his face, and noting how he cared deeply about the music playing. He noticed that despite his awkward, lanky appearance, he was horribly attractive in an off kilter way - a way that grew on you. And so, when Hartley asked him what he thought, he bit his lower lip, gave a smile and a shrug, and decided to play coy.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:33 pm
*Chris sat at the bar in Blackhawk's.*
What's on your mind, sailor?
Trying to figure out how to help a friend.
So, you're not wondering about my buns?
WHAT? eek
Behind you. The guy delivering the buns for the burgers.
Oh....
Do you think you could check out my rack?
eek
It needs adjusting. You look like a man who knows his way around a nice rack.
gonk
What's wrong? My beer rack is off kilter.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:38 pm
"I think it's about time we crashed this little love-fest, Joanne."
Joanne looked at Julian as if suddenly pulled from a reverie.
"Think so? Two boys is sort of hot."
"Oh God, you're one of those YAOI fangirls, aren't you!"
"What? No, I just...think....uh"
"You are! You're a YAOI fangirl!"
"Shut up, Julian! Let's go crash this thing."
The two of them stood up and started walking over to Hartley and Wallace's table. On-stage, Venus took the mic again.
"Thank you again, everyone for coming out tonight. This one is another oldie, but a goodie, and it's called 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.'"
Joanne and Julian arrived at the two boys' table just as the music started. Suddenly, both their faces went blank, and they just stood there, gaping at the two boys.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:38 pm
Bart looks at Zinda.
" You wanna be careful talking to him Zinda. Chris has gotta dirty mind."
He looks at Zinda.
" You just need a better bra. It looks like her girls have grown a little."
Zinda blushes.
" Victoria Secret will measure you up for one for free."
" Oh and how do you know so much about breasts Mr.Allen..?"
"Umm... well... I gotta sister."
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:40 pm
"Oh hey Julian, what's up? Sorry I had to dash on you a couple weeks ago. I mean, I did wake up in your bed, but it kind of smelled like jock in there, so I booked it." Wallace offered a shrug and then went back to paying attention to the song, giving Hartley's hand a squeeze.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:41 pm
A dirty mind? Thanks, Bart! What did I ever do to you?
*CHris was blushing furiously. Bart just totally violated the Bro Code. That wasn't right. You don't throw a Bro under the bus like that!*
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