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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jun 8, 2009 15:13:55 GMT -5
"I could make you a far longer list of things I would rather spend my time on than an eighteen-year-old girl, however pretty, talented and intelligent she may be. And while Micaela does have all of those qualities in spades..."
He laughed lightly and looked at Baillon.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jun 8, 2009 19:20:06 GMT -5
Adrien was being looked at. He wouldn't have been surprised if he was floating a couple of inches off the ground. Yes, he would be very happy no matter how this ended. He could now die happy.
"Well, yeah," said Adrien with a small and very nearly teasing smile, "hence the rumors." Without even realizing it, he'd become familiar enough with the unfamiliar context to acquire a sort of confidence to act himself, although perhaps a little more daring. Which was probably the classier clothes. He tossed his hair and met Veidt's eyes very evenly, not that he hadn't done that before. "Is making that list itself on the list? I would find an eighteen-year-old girl a lot more interesting than making a list..."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jun 8, 2009 19:41:43 GMT -5
He laughed, genuinely this time.
"I am very fond of her, nonetheless."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jun 8, 2009 21:06:30 GMT -5
Adrien shrugged, unconsciously self-consciously, pleased with himself.
"Yeah, well...no one pays attention to that. I mean, no one really does. So..."
((gah, uninspired. <_<))
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jun 8, 2009 21:12:32 GMT -5
"Tell me, Baillon, what do you do? Journalism is clearly out of the question."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jun 8, 2009 21:17:26 GMT -5
Another little hint of teeth peeked out in this smile. "No, I don't think I should. Really, I don't."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jun 8, 2009 21:21:43 GMT -5
In a lower voice, he continued,
"Would you be opposed to staying perhaps a few hours after the party has ended?"
((BOW CHICKA BOW BOW))
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jun 9, 2009 8:51:57 GMT -5
Adrien's smile bloomed again, but there seemed something almost shy about it, not in the sense of modesty or self-consciousness, as he was as bold and unconscious as ever, but in the sense of confidentiality. His head half-tilted as though about to glance away, to lower his eyes, but he only looked at Veidt sideways.
"No," he replied, the inside languid flick of his tongue from the roof of his mouth, and way the lips rounded to naturally form the simplest word he knew, somehow enhancing the depth of the reply, as though he had not simply uttered something, but let it fill his mouth - like as with the champagne he moments afterward lifted to his lips, which smiled even as they parted for the glass rim, the glass suddenly seeming as much the goal to taste as the alcohol itself - until the softest, most sighing part of it slipped out.
((WAGH WHY CAN'T I WRITE ANYMORE I USED TO BE SO GOOD *bemoans*))
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jun 9, 2009 11:33:00 GMT -5
"Good," Veidt said simply. "I'm pleased we could come to this arrangement."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jun 9, 2009 11:40:56 GMT -5
"Mm-hm, yeah, well," replied Adrien, softly but not nearly inaudibly, "that you like it is good enough for me."
It struck him only then, rather belatedly - which told him how floored he was by the realization, and how incredibly wonderful it was - what had just happened.
Adrian Veidt. And... staying for a few hours after the party. He was, for a moment, very still and very silent and almost rather shocked, lips parted above the glass but not to drink, and although it was subtle and understated it was a very obvious sudden realization.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jun 9, 2009 12:10:38 GMT -5
"I shall make sure you reach your destination myself," Veidt continued. "No use in creating questions for my staff to deal with."
The last part was stated very firmly; it was very nearly a threat.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jun 9, 2009 12:15:55 GMT -5
If Adrien noticed that, it seemed so natural to him as to not have attention called to it by his consciousness. In the world he came from, threats were rather commonplace, and he had learned to be cheery even in their presence.
He was very nearly cheeky when he responded, with a happily dismissive hand gesture, "You are more interesting than your staff."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jun 9, 2009 12:18:58 GMT -5
"You become accustomed to an air of secrecy around here, if you give it long enough," Veidt said quietly, though his look back at the other guests and another casual sip of champagne showed him to already be shifting back into hosting mode. The arrangement was made; there was no need to prolong the settling of terms and create more questions.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jun 9, 2009 12:24:20 GMT -5
Adrien's smile was almost rather sad, perhaps even wistful. He momentarily glanced in the direction Veidt had, but it was only for the briefest time, as he looked back at Veidt again without intending to. Watching him watch the guests. Watching him alone, rather than interacting, the two of them... he did not mind that much.
"You don't know enough about the rest of the world, do you?" he said even more softly. "There is an air of secrecy around everywhere."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jun 9, 2009 12:29:29 GMT -5
Veidt glanced back at him, smiling.
"Baillon, I am quite aware of that."
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