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 Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:50 pm
Natalie decided roughly the same thing. The food smelled delicious, the alcohol was beginning to work its magic and loosen her up (Just a little, not too much), and though tension still crackled between everybody, it seemed a little more bearable.
Though she did find it odd, these people arguing over who would have the honor of driving her home. SHe usually just took a cab....
Sighing a little to herself, Natalie set to picking at her food. The knot in her stomach was loosening a little to allow her to eat - that was a good thing, as she didn't want Thorn's money to go to waste.
Michael and Candice's food had been brought as well, and Candice was gingerly cutting her food, watching Hadrian. He seems so slight, she wondered if he ate at all. Hm. An anorexic, monocle-wearing scientist? Wasn't quite her type, but...
Michael began to eat as well, but very slowly - his eyes were on Natalie the whole time.
"You seem to be withdrawing a little," he said, quietly. Almost... tenderly? "I hope you'll enjoy what... little... this night might still have to offer, despite my presence."
Natalie glanced at him, swallowing hard. Then she forced a slight smile and nodded. But she didn't move any closer to him, staying right next to Thorn, feeling safe because of the physical contact.
She'd get through this.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:57 pm
Well, Hadrian wasn't quite anorexic. He ate. And he didn't think he was fat. He just...forgot to eat, and never felt very hungry, so he never ate much even when he remembered to. So all in all, while it wasn't anorexia, it certainly was self-neglect, whether he realized it or not.
Beginning to eat, the mage had to admit that it was very good. But then, it seemed like every time he went out lately he was eating tasty food. He just rarely had the opportunity to enjoy it, what with various encounters with Thorn interrupting meals with Marc, and so forth.
Said monocol wearing scientist was doing his best to ignore Candice, but her attention was definintly noticed.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:02 pm
Thorn arched a brow at Michael's words. At his tone. Well, this was certainly more interesting. He watched the way the man watched the girl, the way the woman watched his mage. Well. Their mage. But he wasn't sharing ownership with anyone on this table.
What was Marc up to tonight, he wondered? Probably something less interesting than he was. And something that actually made money.
((aaaand. I'm stuck.))
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:06 pm
Sadly, most of the rest of the meal passed in silence, with the occasional bad attempt at flirting thrown from Candice to Hadrian. Michael knew when to leave well enough alone, and was leaving Natalie to her meal.
Natalie was eating what little she could and was getting progressively more inebriated. Not wasted, mind you - pleasantly buzzed, with a side of tipsy.
Near the end, Natalie yawned a little, the cute sort of school-girl yawn that made a certain demographic squirm in their shorts. She had finished eating, her plate pushed away, and she leaned back in her chair, eyelids heavy.
She wasn't quite content. But she was exhausted, and though Michael sat at her left, he didn't seem to be any more of a threat for that night.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:09 pm
Hadrian had since already finished eating, though his plate wasn't empty. When you weren't used to eating a lot, you simply didn't. Whether from habit or otherwise, it was just strange to eat large amounts.
Eyeing Natalie, he gave a nod to himself, before speaking.
"Natalie, we should get you home so you can sleep this off..."
And hopefully not get a hangover. She didn't have that low of tolerance, did she? Not that he was one to talk about tolerance.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:14 pm
"No dessert, then?" he asked mildly. Actually, Thorn wasn't sure he wanted it either, but seeing the way her eyes fluttered, he thought it was safe to ask. She reminded him of a child, sometimes. Especially when she acted like this. What nineteen year old girl would want to sleep after such a decadent meal, and two nicely strong drinks?
This one, it seemed.
Asking for the bill, he nodded at Hadrian. As if they were on the same side. As if they were really, working together. "I've got my car arriving soon." They usually let his driver know, whenever he was paying the bill.
"You remember my car." he asked, innocently. "There's more than enough room for three people."
Hah.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:23 pm
"Mm... yes, home sounds good," Natalie said, smiling. "And no, no dessert."
Michael nodded, rising stiffly. The tension had worked its way into his muscles - he'd have to go see his chiropractor. Until then... he helped Candice out of her chair, then nodded to his dining companions.
"Thank you for the wonderful evening," he said pleasantly. Then he turned his attention full on Natalie. "I'll see you tomorrow evening?" And we'll talk then. We will. Trust me.
Natalie looked up and nodded. Then she waved. "Good night..."
Candice giggled, taking Michael's arm and leading him away, whispering about what a cute, innocent, rather annoying girl that Natalie child was. Michael listened with only half an ear, making plans.
Natalie sighed and visibly relaxed even more when Michael and Candice we gone, leaning against Thorn without a second thought. Finally! The night had been far too long.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:28 pm
Hadrian was certainly glad to see them go, though he then turned his wary gaze on Thorn. And he didn't like her leaning into Thorn like that.
Hm, how odd. He was sounding more like he was jealous then protective. But he wasn't jealous, of course. He wasn't. He would insist to his dieing breath that he wasn't jealous.
"Well. Lets head up front?"
To wait for the car...
He wasn't going to let Thorn sit next to Natalie; what he remembered of the car was that it was cramped, and he was not going to let him take advantage - or set the grounds for doing so - of another drunken person in his car. While he was there, anyway.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:36 am
Thorn nodded. He got up, offering Natalie his arm. It was an excuse to touch her, to get closer, but also because he was a little bit concerned. Maybe that drink hadn't been such a good idea. It wasn't TOO strong. (What, mixed with bailey's could be too strong?) But it seemed to be have more than the desired effect.
Maybe he could persuade Hadrian to join them in a menage a trois. It would be exciting.
"Natalie." he said, nodding. "It was a pleasure to meet your co-worker." his words were ironic, and so was his gaze. At Hadrian's words, he nodded. "Please."
The car. Ah yes. Now. Either way, he would sit next to Natalie.
Or Hadrian.
Or maybe both.
Yes. He loved that car dearly.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:54 am
Nodding at the echoed suggestion, Natalie took Thorn's arm as she stood. Luckily, it seemed like she still had her sense of balance. She was just... relaxed. Very relaxed. She still seemed to be able to talk rather well and could keep her feet under her. It was just... her inhibitions and fears. They were loosened a little.
"Mm. I guess Michael can be alright when he isn't being a complete and total fu- ... jerk." Nice restuarant, Natalie. Nice restaurant. And though she was drunk, she wasn't so drunk that she could start spewing obscenities.
"Ah... thank you two. Again. For everything. I'm not quite sure I like you inviting them over, Thorn, but..."
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:01 am
Hadrian agreed with Natalie's final sentiments, and the stern look he shot Thorn showed that. It was then that the car pulled up, so the mage hurriedly set about making it seem accidental that he would wind up beside Thorn instead of Natalie.
Protecting a girl from an interested man was far easier if the man wasn't also interested in him. It made things a bit...difficult.
So, shifting to help Natalie into the car as well, he worked at getting himself where he wanted to be.
((You can decide if he did or didn't, Nae XD))
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:56 am
Well then, was the mage going to take a protective role? His eyes lit up at the thought, it was something new entirely, and quite delicious to think over. So he smiled, nodding his head.
"It was quite unfortunate." he said ruefully, as if it wasn't really his fault. Something else had made him do it! Nodding, and taking a step back as Hadrian ushered the young girl into the car, he smiled.
Well. Well well well well well.
Sliding into the seat next to Hadrian and feeling leg touch leg, hip touch hip, he looked around the small quarters, as if surprised. "A different car." he said, apologizing to Natalie. He wouldn't make this seem like it was on purpose. "The other one was larger."
Sure it was. But he wouldn't thin of using it for something like this.
"If you're too uncomfortable." he shifted his seat so that more of him touched Hadrian than needed. "You could always sit on Hadrian's lap." he grinned. Even in the light, his teeth flashed.
"The mage won't mind."
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:16 am
"Oh. Um. We'll make it work... somehow..." The squish certainly was tight, Natalie decided after being ushered into the car. Very tight. In fact, her hip bone was uncomfortably wedged against the side of the car, painfully.
So even though she blushed at the suggestion, she did get up as best she could and clambered into Hadrian's lap.
"Sorry about this," she said, apologetically, embarrassed. But at least she knew Hadrian's lap was safe. "Are you sure we won't be breaking any laws by doing this?" She squirmed, trying to get settled in such away that she wasn't squished, but she also wasn't crushing Hadrian under her.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:21 am
The last thing Hadrian expected was for Natalie to actually agree to Thorn's suggestion, and sit on his lap. In fact, there was a rather scandalized expression on his face. Such a prude.
With more of Thorn touching him then he liked, and Natalie on top of him, it's no surprise that the mage was blushing insanely. Or that his back was rimrod stiff, and he gave a grumpy look at Thorn.
He was not a happy mage.
Well, at least Natalie wasn't particularly heavy...
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:26 am
Thorn arched a brow, amused at the question. "The windows are tinted." As if somehow it would be a sign, he rapped the one closest to him with his knuckle. "And bullet proof. It's safe, and no one can see any activities the occupants decide to .. participate in."
See? Such grownup, simple words. But his grin was slow as he watched the two of them. ((Where are Natalie's feet? Disregard if it makes so sense.)) "But I do believe." he said pointedly. "Your shoes might be getting in the way?" Heels pressing against flesh was never a good thing, whether high or low. "You can take them off, until the end of the journey."
Thorn, planning? Never.
"If you are uncomfortable." he added easily, to Hadrian. "She can always sit on my lap."
And he smirked, daring the mage.
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