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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 2, 2009 0:07:32 GMT -5
Madeline smirked. "I might know someplace," she said coyly. "There's a theater not too far from here, and there's a club I can't get into down the street from that."
It was now or never. "Hey, Maddie--remember last party you ran off from?" Abel tried to smile, but the fear made his insides curdle. He could only hope it turned out less like a grimace than he imagined. He couldn't afford this, not to mention that Madeline was his favorite niece.
I figured I needed to join the party eventually. I forced myself away from the fountain and went back to the patio, where a portly little automaker came up to me and shook my hand. "Skylir Verati," he said jovially, his round cheeks and double chins trembling with the enthusiastic pump of his arm. "Good to see you, very good. Give your brother my thanks."
I smiled politely and patiently listened while he started rattling off about business and the recent elections--those seemed to be on everyone's mind. I just wished I could get a glass of tea before the humid heat choked me to death.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 2, 2009 0:12:56 GMT -5
Nicaea let her head fall back and laughed low in her throat. "Oh, sweetie, I'm sure you'd like to know." Her fingers traced tiny fanciful patterns as they traveled up and down his arm, and her voice dropped almost to a whisper. "I could show you, of course, if you're as ready to kick your evening up a notch as I am."
Sawley snickered. "You have a habit of ditching boring parties? Well, then, I'd hate to keep you down. Whatever this club is, I'm sure it's no match for my door-opening credentials. Shall I escort milady to yon party-scene?" With that he offered the girl his arm, artfully positioning himself between her and her interfering uncle. Girls just wanted to have fun, and they didn't need relatives poking their noses into their business.
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Spark Long
Junior Member
Never insult seven men when all you have is a six shooter -- Potter(MASH)
Posts: 84
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Post by Spark Long on Mar 2, 2009 0:18:52 GMT -5
The corner of Spark's mouth turned upward just a notch, now why in the world would this woman just walk up to him, chat him up a bit and then offer what her touches and her voice and her body offered? It just didn't seem right, but maybe she just wanted to have a little bit of fun, she hardly looked like she needed any of his money she had tons of her own, and he had a rep to keep up as a playboy.
"Oh?" He said showing a toothy smirk. "Well, that sounds interesting."
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 2, 2009 0:35:05 GMT -5
Abel locked pleading eyes with Madeline in a last attempt not to screw things up. Please, his eyes said, Don't kill me with this.
Madeline smiled apologetically and clung to Sawley's arm. She felt bad for Uncle Abel, sure, but that wasn't stopping her.
Asaph sensed a need for Spark's rescue. "Oh, Spark, I forgot to ask you. Excuse me, Miss." He nodded to Nicaea. And then he steered his friend away to discuss speedboats over the Gulf.
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Spark Long
Junior Member
Never insult seven men when all you have is a six shooter -- Potter(MASH)
Posts: 84
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Post by Spark Long on Mar 2, 2009 0:38:54 GMT -5
Spark's attention was taken again as he faced his friend, it was one of his favorite things after all he did love him some speed, and he drowned himself in the conversation, not only did he love speed he loved to work on all things that produced speed and use them. It was a passion.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 2, 2009 0:40:53 GMT -5
Nicaea was stunned. Absolutely thunderstruck. That... that goody-goody stole her toy! Right out from under her nose, and using the wiles of conversation! That was supposed to be her domain!
Instinctively, as if with minds of their own, her eyes sought out Darmstadt. He wasn't laughing, per se, but his eyes over the rim of his glass were full of such smug mirth it turned her stomach. With a haughty sniff she swept off to chat with Cartwright for a while. That always helped her feel smart.
Sawley patted Madeline's hand and guided her off to the edge of the crowd of partygoers and out towards his car. This was gonna be so much fun. Better, it was gonna be Darmstadt-sanctioned fun. "So. Where's this club of yours?"
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 2, 2009 0:59:11 GMT -5
Madeline gave directions as she walked with him to his car. "Beechnut Avenue...take a left...should be on the right hand side." She tossed back her hair and gave Sawley a winning smile. "And thanks for rescuing me."
I left the automaker in as gracious and polite a manner as I could summon and took a cup from the punch bowl, seating myself at one of the round tables in the pale pink dress I was wearing. The gathering wasn't all that bad. It just didn't appeal to me because I had nothing to do with these people in my everyday life--I was middle class; I taught at the YMCA, had a drooling St. Bernard and an apartment in Bakerline--I wasn't of the same world as everyone else here. So I sat and sipped at leisure, watching the action around me with perhaps less interest than I would have if I'd been sleeping on more money or owned a business.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 2, 2009 1:04:52 GMT -5
Sawley let his smirk broaden at the toss of her hair. She really was a beautiful girl, and full of spirit. You didn't cage a bird so lovely. "Sounds like a plan," he replied and helped her into his car. "Now let's blow this joint and have some real fun."
Darmstadt glanced over and saw Sky sit down at an out-of-the-way table. Well, that was an opportunity too good to pass up. Politely he excused himself from the conversation at hand and made his way toward her table, with the occasional nod and greeting to the people who intercepted him along the way, hungry for at least a moment of his time. Finally he broke free from the crowd and sat down in the seat next to Sky. "You look like you feel out of place, Miss Verati," he said with a smile. "Are you at least having a good time?"
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 2, 2009 1:22:23 GMT -5
"Good enough," I replied with an easy smile. "And I am, I think--at least a little. I'd never be at a social like this without Asaph inviting me along."
And the real reason for that wasn't because the cake table needed fixing. Rain and I had other occupations besides the ones we were known for--there was sense in having a small line of security, even one that couldn't break out their cape-less costumes to do the crusading. There was too much influence here without warranting some sort of insurance against an emergency.
"Real fun," Madeline echoed with a giggle. "Goodness, you make that place back there sound as boring as it really is." She leaned back against his seat with a smug look on her face. Guess what? She'd outsmarted her family...again.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 2, 2009 1:30:01 GMT -5
"Well, that's a shame," Darmstadt replied with a light smile. "There's no reason you shouldn't be here. And not just because you're Asaph's sister. Goodness, if you want to come to the next one, I'll invite you."
Let her interpret that as she would. Every possibility played perfectly into his hands.
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 2, 2009 1:56:29 GMT -5
I couldn't help the smile that turned into a playful grin, but I shook my head. "Maybe you should come to one in Bakerline before I step up again to this level of sophistication. The parties out there aren't as opportunistic in the same sense, but I've got a couple female friends that would claim they don't need the same kind."
Was this Darmstadt Wolfe talking to me? He was far too charming to be healthy for anyone within ten feet, far too attractive to be talking to me. Didn't he know there was a skirted CEO standing a little way down the patio? Wasn't he aware that there were half a dozen women with more cosmetics on their skin tonight than I'd worn in a lifetime? What could I possibly offer his attention that someone else here couldn't? Besides, I couldn't exactly scratch the costume hidden under my dress if someone else was around.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 2, 2009 2:20:30 GMT -5
Darmstadt let out a soft laugh. "I wouldn't mind that. I imagine I could bring a few buddies to give your friends something to talk to, too. Don't think for one second that higher class means higher advantage in such opportunistic exchanges. I'm sure your friends would have a great time." He leaned a little closer and let his smile broaden. "But that doesn't mean you can't stay on this level too. You're definitely a classy lady and no mistake. It's a shame you aren't taking up the opportunities available to you here. But I guess that's what makes you a cut above."
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Post by Sky Verati on Mar 2, 2009 2:48:38 GMT -5
"I guess those opportunities don't appeal to me as much." I finished my drink and set it on the table--it was my habit to keep my hand over the mouth of my glass when I wasn't actively drinking it, but now I pushed the empty cup aside and crossed my arms on the table, hoping he could find it in his heart to forgive elbows on the tablecloth. "But it sounds to me like you know the best of both worlds." And how could he not, with a face like that? He probably had a girlfriend...or three.
What were you doing Friday? No--scratch that. Shut up, subconscious. Charmers are wolves.
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Post by Asmodeus on Mar 2, 2009 3:49:18 GMT -5
Darmstadt shrugged. "I get around. It's amazing how little time in the business professions is spent in actual business and how much is spent in social maneuvering. It has more to do with making friends than with making contracts." He scooted a little closer to her and pushed his hair back from his eyes, his smile growing playful. "So what sort of opportunities do appeal to a classy lady like you?"
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Spark Long
Junior Member
Never insult seven men when all you have is a six shooter -- Potter(MASH)
Posts: 84
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Post by Spark Long on Mar 2, 2009 19:02:19 GMT -5
Spark turned briefly to see the woman leave and he shrugged, it was whatever right? He checked his watch and fidgeted with his tie. It was time to go, just because some rich folks got together and smooshed each other up didn't mean the LongBow wasn't needed. "Well Ace, its been great, I have to be going." And Spark smiled to his friend who saved him from getting laid...
He walked across to get to an awaiting limo making his way through a maze of people for the farewell chat ritual.
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