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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 18, 2016 1:24:12 GMT -5
Dorian smiled then drank his beer, politely ignoring her flirtatious comment. As he set the bottle on the bartop he changed the subject. "You said your motorcycle is new. Have you been riding long?"
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 18, 2016 1:30:55 GMT -5
She caught his shift in tone and went with it, "Riding yes, that bike no. Believe it or not it's an upgrade from the last one I had."
He was polite, charming, handsome, and carried an air of respectability without being pretentious. She liked him immediately. He just needed someone to get him to loosen up.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 18, 2016 1:44:28 GMT -5
Everyone thought he needed to loosen up, but that only got people hurt. Dorian was just fine staying buttoned up if it meant the few, very few people he let in to his life stayed safe. He had learned his lesson.
Or so he thought.
"Which was?" he asked of her former bike.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 18, 2016 1:47:35 GMT -5
She narrowed her eyes at him once again in speculation. She had been doing that a lot, as though she were trying to figure him out in addition to figuring out his motives. He was something of a contradiction to her, and she had never seen someone more in need of a good time.
"Are you really interested in what kind of bike I used to ride? Or are you just changing the conversation because I was flirting with you and you weren't interested?"
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 18, 2016 2:14:39 GMT -5
The answer to that question was both, though slightly more of the latter. But Dorian was much too polite to say any such thing.
He smiled at her. "I've been called straight-laced before, but I really didn't suspect an interest in motorcycles to elicit such a response." He picked up his beer.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 18, 2016 2:23:54 GMT -5
She shrugged and took another sip of her beer, "Life's too short to beat around the bush." she said simply, " But it suits you, not that you're beating around the bush, the politeness, I like it. Ergo flirting." she smiled back at him, "Don't worry, I can take a hint."
She proceeded then to talk about the bike she had before the one she currently did, and let him steer the conversation.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 18, 2016 2:31:55 GMT -5
As far as conversations went, it was certainly the most diverse he'd had in a long time. Max was rather intriguing. She was reckless and fearless and liked to have adventures of her own. Dorian even told her of a few of his exploits as an Auror.
Dorian found the change of routine to be well needed and his mood was much improved from the start of his day. After a few more beers, Dorian decided he'd played hookie long enough. He put enough money on the bar to pay for all of the drinks.
"I think I've abandoned my post for long enough," he said almost apologetically.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 18, 2016 2:49:30 GMT -5
"Oh no way Humbert, I told you I was paying for the beers." she said scooping up the money he had set on the bar.
In the short time they had conversed, which actually hadn't been short at all as several hours had passed, she learned quite a bit about him and felt comfortable using his last name. She tried to put the money back in his hands.
Perhaps it was the warmth in those hands, or the several beers they had consumed, but when it sunk in on her that he was leaving, the disappointment in her eyes was real.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 18, 2016 3:01:25 GMT -5
Dorian insisted on paying. It was that archaic chivalry that all the women seemed to love and loathe about him that required he not let Maxine pay. "Please allow me to show you how a gentleman treats a lady in a bar," he said as he pulled away from her hands and placed the money back on the bar.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 18, 2016 3:15:45 GMT -5
She sighed, "Well sure, when you put it like that." she said leaning on her hand.
"You know I've had more than my fair share of men paying for my drinks, I think this is the first time a guy had honorable intentions in doing so."
She gifted him a beautiful smile, "Thank you Dorian."
Despite the motorcycle and the bar, Max was a lady. She had simply had to learn that not every guy would treat her like one because of the way she looked. She had to grow up tough the way a rose grew thorns. It was self defense.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Dec 18, 2016 3:31:04 GMT -5
"My pleasure," he said as he lifted her hand and kissed it. It wasn't a flirtatious move, simply a polite one. The problem with politeness these days was that it was so rare people often mistook it for flirting. Dorian hoped she wouldn't get the wrong impression of him.
"It was wonderful to meet you Maxine Deveraux. I hope your bike doesn't give you any more troubles." He gave her a final smile before leaving the bar. When he was out of sight of any muggles he disapparated, heading for the Ministry.
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Post by Maxine "Max" Deveraux on Dec 18, 2016 3:39:04 GMT -5
"And you Dorian Humbert." she said fondly as he left.
She had given him her real last name, she must have liked him just a little then. She had so many alias's it was hard to keep track.
Deveraux was one that carried particular irony as it held a secret truth not even her alpha knew, and heaven help her the day he found out. But that was a problem for another day. Today she needed to come up with a plan to see Dorian again.
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