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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 2:55:57 GMT -5
Dorian hadn't been to the market in a while, his cupboards were nearly bare and what was left in the refrigerator had either already turned or would do so soon. He had also been avoiding eating lunch at the office, afraid to run into any of the Ferreras or worse, Lex. He'd been avoiding his partner/friend since their spat. He'd done his job which, as her partner, meant he had talked to her, but he kept the discussions completely professional and made excuses whenever she attempted to bring up Christine. She tried less and less, but still Dorian avoided her. Lunch breaks were the worst.
He headed into the burger restaurant and ordered a cheeseburger and chips for take away. It would be a few minutes but Dorian didn't mind the wait. At least he wasn't in the office.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 3:09:30 GMT -5
In addition to being unfairly attractive and supernaturally gifted, she was also uncommonly lucky.
Her target came to her, not even an hour after he became her target, and he was even better looking in person, if not a little worse for the wear for some reason or other. Still he was one of the best dressed men Max had ever seen.
There was something in his manner that made her want to ruffle his feathers, he was too perfect.
When the called out Dorian's number for his order Max met him at the pick up window and reached for the meal at the same time 'accidentally' bumping into him.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 3:22:55 GMT -5
Dorian hadn't noticed the brunette. He didn't notice any girl anymore, not even in passing. But it was hard not to notice someone bumping into you.
"My apologies, miss. I mistakenly thought this was my order." Dorian released his hold on the food and stepped back to give the woman her space.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 3:27:28 GMT -5
He even spoke perfectly. She really wanted to ruffle those perfect feathers now.
"Oh no, I'm sorry - wait." she reached her back pocket for her receipt, "What order is this?" she asked and then checked the number she had listed.
Another tray was pushed out and an order read, "Actually this one's mine." she laughed.
"My mistake."
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 3:42:45 GMT -5
Dorian smiled politely at the woman. "No harm done," he said as he waited for her to take her food from the counter, then stepped forward and took his own meal.
"Have a good day," he said as they parted.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 3:51:09 GMT -5
She wasn't vain enough to be insulted that he didn't spare her more than a cursory glance, but it did intrigue her since the man at the window was still completely distracted by her.
As he turned to walk away she let him go. There would be plenty of opportunities later to watch and distract him, she simply needed the right hook.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 14:37:24 GMT -5
He could have gone back to the Ministry's cafeteria or Auror break room to eat but he didn't need the reminders that waited for him there of his immoral relationship with Christine or his failed attempts at saving her from M. Instead, Dorian took his food and headed for a nearby park.
He found a deserted bench and sat, resting his food on his lap as a makeshift table. He ate half his cheeseburger and only a few fries. He needed to eat more, his diet had contained mostly alcohol for almost a week and when he did start to eat again in wasn't enough to sustain him fully. It was almost as if Dorian was punishing himself for the way he had treated the women in his life.
Dorian wrapped the remains of his burger in the foil it had come in and put everything back into the paper bag. He stood and was about to throw the food away when he saw a man begging for change on the sidewalk just outside the park. Dorian changed course and headed for the beggar, offering him his left over lunch and giving the man a few muggle pounds he had in his wallet. It wasn't much, he didn't keep a lot of muggle money on him but it sometimes came in handy so he always had a little. He left the man amid the thank yous and sounds of the foil being unwrapped, and walked back toward the Ministry with his hands in his pockets.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 15:13:03 GMT -5
Max was cursing soundly at the side of the road just in front of the Ministry. There was a smudge of oil on her cheek and she was bent over the motorcycle she had just spent the last ten minutes dismantling.
He had hardly noticed her at the burger joint, which told her that this wasn't going to be an easy job. She wasn't vain, not really. She accepted her looks as a part of her and accepted that most people responded to her physically because of the way she looked, it was more shocking for someone not to hit on her. But Dorian's profile indicated a different weakness. He might pass her up on her looks, but a damsel in distress was right up his alley.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 15:26:21 GMT -5
This time he did notice her, but again it wasn't for her pretty looks. He didn't even realize it was the same woman from the burger shop when he came upon her. He simply saw someone in need of some help.
"I have it on good authority that these beasts respond best to gentle wooing rather than obscenities," he said kindly as he approached. "May I perhaps be of some assistance?"
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 15:38:30 GMT -5
She narrowed her eyes at him ready to yell at him as she had the motorcycle, but fell short her eyes narrowed, "Are you following me?" she asked then brushed her hair behind her ear.
Of course it had been the other way around, but Maxine's acting skills were on point.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 15:53:00 GMT -5
Her acting was unnecessary, Dorian didn't recognize her even though it had been less than an hour since they bumped into each other. Dorian hadn't really looked at her before, but her question made him look at her now; quizzically.
"I'm sorry?" he asked, not realizing he was supposed to have remembered her.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 16:04:31 GMT -5
She mirrored his quizzical expression, "I tried to steal your food." she said expecting at least a hint of recognition. She laughed, "And I thought I was having a rough day...you kind of look...well all kinds of lost."
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 16:23:48 GMT -5
His face turned pleasant as she clued him in. "Ah, the woman from the restaurant, how could I forget." Because he'd been lost in his own head for the better part of the week.
"Yes, well" he attempted to ignore her comments on his current appearance which it had been described by Lex to be "a right bloody sight". "Let's see if we can't get your day back on track, shall we?" Dorian took off his suit jacket and folded it neatly over the top of the post box her motorcycle was parked next to. He unbuttoned the cuffs of his sleeves and rolled them up to his elbows as he kneeled down to inspect the mess that she'd made of her bike.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 16:35:22 GMT -5
She stepped aside and watched him, "Forgive me for saying this, but you don't exactly seem like the mechanic type." she bit her lip.
But he sure did look good from any angle.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 17:14:32 GMT -5
"No," he agreed with a chuckle. "That would have been my father. He worked on old cars and bikes as a hobby." Dorian discretely conjured a tool he needed to fix the problem he'd found.
"I may have picked up a thing or two from him," he said with a charming smile as he stood. "See if that hasn't fixed the problem."
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 17:24:09 GMT -5
She could see from her position that he had indeed fixed the problem, and realized she should have done more than a ten minute fix. Then again she hadn't planned on him knowing what to do.
"Sounds like your father and I would get along. I'm not as awful with this beast as you'd think, but she's new and when new things fall apart it's almost bad luck."
She turned the engine over to a smooth purr. She raised a brow at him, "Do you ride?"
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 17:37:06 GMT -5
Dorian's mother never allowed it when he was younger and Dorian, ever the rule bound boy, never agreed when his father suggested they sneak off on the bike for a little bonding time. Dorian always demanded they take the car. "It's safer," he had insisted at the ripe old age of eight. He still firmly believed that to this day.
"Sadly, no. I prefer a milder form of transportation." Dorian pulled the handkerchief from his coat pocket and wiped his hands on it.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 17:55:32 GMT -5
She watched him, an appreciative smile on her face, she held her helmet in her hands.
"Maybe you could make an exception?" She leaned on one foot moving her helmet to the side and resting it on her hip.
"I owe you a beer for fixing the bike, even after I threatened your meal, and I'm not headed far."
She waited a beat before adding, "Plus, if she breaks down again on the way I could use your help with whatever you just did."
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 17, 2016 18:16:30 GMT -5
He wasn't tempted by her offer. He had work and a feisty, and lately rather irritable, partner to return to. He didn't particularly want to return to either of those things, but he had obligations and responsibilities. His lunch hour was quickly coming to an end.
But she played the damsel in distress card once again and Dorian struggled to refuse that. "One beer," he agreed.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 17, 2016 18:22:58 GMT -5
She grinned and discreetly conjured him a helmet tossing it to him before turning toward her own, she paused then, "You do know how to ride right?"
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