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He raised an eyebrow at this. ‘No one important’? Sage highly doubted that. However it wasn’t in his nature to push. For now he would let it slide. Turning slightly, Sage pressed the button for the elevator, watching the doors slide noisily shut before it began to descend to the correct floor. He stood in silence, occasionally glancing anxiously at the other, not missing the fact Alice’s gaze seemed to be firmly on the floor somewhere.
When Alice spoke, he smiled faintly. “I think it could be, if we give it a chance. And even if it isn’t, there’s free food so you don’t have to pay for supper.” He grinned jokingly again, although it was clear from his expression he was still worried for Alice. “I...find talking about problems tends to make it easier dealing with them” Sage finally spoke the words, his gaze shifting away from Alice as he did. |
Sage had a point, free food was always nice. He watched Sage for awhile, a small smile on his lips. His smile almost faltered, only almost though and he shrugged a bit. "...It's complicated..." He seemed to be saying that a lot to Sage, but it would be okay. Alice wasn't worried and as far as he was concerned he didn't have a problem to talk about...maybe.
Still, he was trying to avoid that subject entirely. "Do you think there will be a lot of people there?" That questioned sounded almost nervous. Alice really wasn't fond of large crowds or crowded areas. Sometimes he would avoid using the elevator if he thought it was too crowded. Though it didn't take much for him to think the elevator was too crowded. Three people in the elevator was the limit for him. More than that and he was taking the stairs. |
When Sage glanced back at Alice occasionally, he spotted the other finally smiling again. Sure, it was a little disconcerting that Alice was watching him, it certainly didn’t help him feel any less self-conscious. Still, at least Alice was smiling again. As he glanced back and raised an eyebrow, he shrugged again. “Complicated seems to sum up your life pretty well” Sage joked softly, deciding not to press anymore, especially with the other constantly changing the subject.
As he thought on Alice’s question, he shrugged slightly. “Most people who live in the building probably...You know I’m not forcing you to go if you don’t want to Alice” He pointed out, a small smile flickering over his lips. Sage enjoyed going out with his friends, he liked gatherings, even if he didn’t go to many of them. Generally gatherings turned into parties involving people he didn’t even vaguely know, so at least this party would be better. Hopefully he would at least recognise most of the people’s faces, if not their names. |
Eroke strode into his new apartment,laying down his bags. He removed the leather fedora off his head and smiled...
"Finally. A new place,far,far away from those stupid parents of mine..." he mumbled to himself. Eroke tossed one of his bags onto his bed,and rolled the other two into his room. He opened one,which contained a small bulldog named Kenny. "Come on out,boy." The dog was small,about the size of a boombox, and had cute,sad eyes. The chubby dog jumped onto the bed,curling up beside him. "Get your collar,boy. Time to go meet the neighbors." The dog scurried off to sniff out his collar,and respectfully brought it to his owner. "Good boy!" Eroke rewarded,roughly petting the dog,who grunted a pleasurable reply. Eroke clasped the collar to his dog's leash,and lead him out the door. Out in the hallway,the very husky man could hear the squeals and shrieks through the thin walls of the other apartments. Curiously,Eroke managed to cup his ear to every door he passed down the hall, (six,to be exact,) but it wasn't coming from this floor. Eroke walked to the elevator,and decided to take a little trip to the lobby,perhaps for a latte,or some tea... Ding. Ground floor. As he walked in,he saw the group of men, (and a small man,who looked slightly younger,) conversing about tea and lizards. He tilted his head and casually sat next to the small one,feeding the bulldog his snack. He quietly sat there,watching... http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...l28/411116.jpg http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...ch-bulldog.png |
Alice had shrugged a bit at Sage's light joke. It was true though. Complicated did sum up his life very well. He was glad, and a bit relieved when Sage didn't press the matter. He would've tried to dodge it anyway. Eventually he would've given up. One could only dodge things for so long..but at least for now, he could still avoid it.
"No..I know...It's fine." He shifted on his feet slightly still smiling at Sage. "Curiosity would have compelled me to wander down here anyway..if only for a minute or two. I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me, just have fun." Though he said that, he couldn't help but be a little nervous, it would pass. If not, well, there were plenty of corners he could hide in. |
Smiling faintly, Sage gently patted the other’s shoulder. “Curiosity killed the cat, but Satisfaction brought it back” The old rhyme brought a fonder smile on his lips before he shrugged. “Of course I should worry about you, you’re my friend, it’s like an unwritten rule to worry about friends” He stated brightly before dropping his hand to his side again.
Finally the elevator seemed to ‘ding’, announcing their arrival on the ground floor. Glancing back to Alice, Sage smiled warmly before he stepped through the open doors. “Just tell me if and when you want to leave ok? Don’t suffer in silence or anything” He shrugged a little, a sheepish grin flickering over his lips again. |
It had been, indeed, a long day for him. He let out another quiet sigh after he'd taken a sip of his cappuccino. Putting down his phone, he turned to look at the other three he'd left behind and idly wondered what they'd be up to. The party isn't starting until six to seven hours later, it was a lot of time to waste but little time for him to prepare. He had to deal with the finances, make sure everything's ready for later and even make sure about the weather - if it'd be clear or not later on. It'd be bad for the weather to be raining hard. The fireworks would be a waste.
And, he doubted any of the tenants would want to be woken up so early in the morning if they were to sleep late tonight. When someone had seemed to join the other three, he had moved his gaze to the bulldog he had with him. That was quite a cute one, too, he noted as he thought about Justice's pets. He'd only heard them barking but he's never really seen them. Maybe he should've taken that offer to go up to his place. The moment his phone had rang, though, he quickly brushed that thought away and marked it as 'impossible' before he'd grabbed his phone and had taken the call. |
It appeared to Claus that only Peri, he, and justice would be having tea. In a way, he was a little upset. Not at Matthias, no, he just wanted to see people happy was all. Then again, he did have plenty of work to accomplish, so that must’ve been important to finish and all. He sighed inwardly…
However, the arrival of another male surprised him, especially when the said person had a lovably cute, yet sad little bulldog, wrinkle and all. ”Awa…” he said in admiration, bending down to observe the newfound dog. ”May I…?” he asked in a most timid voice, which, in itself, was rather cute. |
He could tell by the look in Claus' eyes that he was slightly upset over the landlord not joining them. He felt a little relieved, now knowing he wasn't the only one. He looked at the landlord once again, noticing how fatigue he looked. Biting his lip, Justice almost felt like walking over to him and at least keep him company. Fact was he didn't want to leave the other two hanging like that.
Justice had noticed a man that came and sit with him. A bulldog was accompanying him, something that made him smile. Nodding at the man as he came to sit with them, he sipped from his drink. "I'm so glad to see another bulldog in this complex. I myself have one as well, Rain, and a pitbull retriever mix called Mist. Maybe we could walk them together one day? I'm Justice by the way, nice to meet you. And please, have something to drink?" He smiled, charming as always as he eyed the pitbull. |
Suffer in silence? It was something he was rather good at. He shook his head slightly, still smiling at Sage. Though he was quiet for a bit. Then the elevator was stopping and the doors opening. He shifted on his feet a bit before following Sage out of the elevator. "Okay..Okay...Since you insist. You'll be the first to know when I'm ready to leave."
Those almost grey eyes flickered this way and that. He was pleased to notice that now there were more decorations hanging up and dangling from the ceiling than laying on the floor to be tripped over. He had paused, just in front of the elevator doors to look around. A sneaky little mistletoe was hanging right above his head, had he realized it was there, Alice would not have stood there. As it was, he was busy glancing around this way and that to see how crowded it was, and trying to judge how much more crowded it might get before the night was over. |
"Go on ahead." Eroke replied, leaning back into the couch as his eyes twinkled happily, the cuteness of the other male was enlightening...almost...cute.
Kenny let out a small "Rrff," and rubbed his head against Claus's hand. Eroke turned to Justice and smirked. "This little guy's name is Kenny,and I'm Eroke. Nice to meet you." "No, thanks...I already had an apple martini a few minutes ago,so I'm fine." Kenny let out a small howl at the sound of a new dog friend. His tail wagged,and he jumped onto Claus's lap and licked him. |
"Kenny. He seems to be quite the excited one. How old is he?" He couldn't help but to chuckle when the dog licked Claus' face. It was a lovely dog to see, and he wondered if him, Rain and Mist would get along well. He knew his dogs had always liked company of other dogs, but they were quite calm dogs.
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At how happy the dog was, Claus just really couldn't contain his excitement any longer, really. "N-nyaa~" he exclaimed with a look of adoration, nuzzling the dogs head against his cheek. 'So soft~' was his immediate thought, of course. Claus never had a pet, so he never had the chance to do this for quite some time. It was a bit strange...not that he noticed, really.
Then in his splendor, he realized the dog was, in fact, a pitbull terrier...'...' His face was still frozen in position..."Awa!" he exclaimed in discovery. "He's not a bulldog!" |
"In dog years? 'Bout four." Eroke smiled and petted the little dog on his head.
"Nope,Claus. You're wrong. He's a bulldog. He's just a pygmy,though." Kenny gave a finishing,"Rawrff," and nibbled playfully on Claus's arm-- Playfully,but a bit too hard. |
Compared to Rain, Kenny indeed seemed to be a terrier, but when Eroke explained he was a pygmy, he slightly nodded his head. Sure Rain was only three, yet about the size of a normal pitbull of that age. Mist, however, was quite the large dog and seemed like the the empire state building compared to both the dogs. He crossed his legs, taking another sip from his drink as he frowned.
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"W-whaaa???" Claus exclaimed, now stupefied and confused. His eyes became blank, his facial expression in a similar position. "Then...which...eh?" This was the equivalent of overloading information on a big computer board system. Which was rather silly.
After this, the young man noticed Justice frowning...he thought for a moment, then asked, "Um...you wouldn't happen to want to join us for tea, would you, Eroke?..." His face, again, gave off a pleading expression... |
"I'd be glad to. If you like,I'll bring some snacks,as well." Eroke replied with a smirk.
Kenny curled up next to Justice and Claus. Eroke smiled..."I could bring cookies or something." |
Raising an eyebrow, he chuckled lightly at Alice’s words, stopping so the other would catch up when he left the elevator. “Perfect! And don’t think of it as complaining or anything, I really don’t mind” Sage added with a warm smile before he started to walk further into the decorated surroundings.
Everything already looked amazing, although Sage felt a small stab of guilt that in the end he hadn’t helped set everything up. With a soft sigh, he glanced behind him and paused when he saw Alice, and the mistletoe dangling just above him. Sage looked thoughtful for a couple of seconds before he leant in, pressing a light kiss to the other’s cheek. Pulling back, he smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head slightly, then pointed up above the other’s head. “Holiday tradition” He mumbled before glancing over, gazing at the other men around them. It wasn’t hard for Sage to spot their landlord, the poor man looking very busy. “Should we go and offer some help Alice?” |
He had said those words, but in all honesty, Alice wouldn't say anything if he were ready to go before Sage was. Despite Sage's reassurances of not minding, Alice had decided they were friends, and so he wouldn't do anything to cut short the fun his friend might have at this party. Alice had nodded slightly when the other turned to look at him.
He stood there, as that thoughtful look crossed Sage's features, wondering what the other man could be thinking so hard about. Then it happened, Sage leaned in towards him. Alice's heart nearly stopped and just as Sage's lips touched his cheek, he had raised his hands and placed them on Sage's chest. As if to push the other man away, but he didn't. They had just rested there. Uncertain, and only a little afraid..Then it was over. Just as quickly as it had happened. Alice's cheeks were stained red with a blush, and his hands slowly lowered to his sides. When Sage mumbled those words and glanced up, Alice followed his gaze. Dull blue eyes widened slightly as a curse left his lips. The young man wasted no time at all in getting out from under that mistletoe. "...Not fair...putting it there...anyone waiting for the elevator is a victim." A shiver raced down his spine and his cheeks were still red. When Sage asked if they should offer their help, he nodded a bit. "Might as well..." He had raised a hand to his cheek. Fingers brushing the skin lightly where Sage's lips had touched him. Alice couldn't decide if he had liked it or not. Then again, it was a holiday tradition, and a kiss on the cheek between friends was common practice in some parts of the world. There was a very small smile on his lips. |
Indeed. That was what the landlord was aiming for: the unfairness of putting a mistletoe for people waiting for the elevator. Matthias, of course, saw what had happened and he smiled in amusement before he'd turned his attention back to the voice in the other line. "Not at all. Thank you very much," was his reply before he'd ended the call and put his phone back onto the table. Turning to look at Justice, Claus and Eroke all getting acquainted, the owner of the complex couldn't be any happier to see everyone getting along.
Surprise was apparent on his face when he'd seen his secretary walking through the doors. He was a handsome man, standing about the height of six foot two with jet black hair and a long, chiseled face that showed off his features. Honestly, the man would've had passed off as a model if he weren't working for Matthias. "Good day, sir," he said with his British accent as soon as he'd arrived to stand by the man's side, "I've brought you a couple of papers that needs your signature. It was rather disappointing that I couldn't have them wait until the party's over." Matthias only grunted and pursed his lips. "Works can't wait... sometimes." That had Arden chuckling in amusement. "'deed, sir." Putting the folders in front of Matthias, he turned to look at the people in the lobby and gave them quite a charming, drop-dead gorgeous smile. "Seems everyone's getting along fine, sir." Matthias blinked for a few seconds before he'd turned to look at the said people in the lobby. "Yeah. It's something I should've thought of earlier. Maybe we should ask for suggestions from the tenants about some activities that could bring all these people to get to know each other more. Marriage, birthday parties, or maybe even debuts." Arden's smile couldn't have been any more than bright. "That's absolutely great, sir! It sounds fun. We could even probably have a golf day or a day for singles to pair up. A quick match-up or blind date sponsored by you, sir?" |
Sage felt a light blush on his cheeks and he had stiffened in surprise when he felt the other’s hands on his chest. For a moment, he had thought that Alice was going to push him away, which would have made him feel equally guilty and a little sad. Instead Alice didn’t move, and Sage was more than a little confused at the relief he felt from this. Turning to face away, he fought down the light blush, shrugging slightly as he did.
At Alice’s words, Sage laughed quietly, nodding in agreement. “No doubt that was the point, but at least now we know about that one, we can avoid it later” He chuckled, glancing back at Alice with a warm grin. After a couple of seconds, he smiled sheepishly again. “Sorry, I sorta surprised you with that didn’t I? Next time I’ll give you a warning” He joked before turning and starting to approach their landlord. However, Sage hovered a little way away as another man started talking with him. Once more he felt another blush on his cheek as the other flashed a near-dazzling smile to everyone in the room, but he ducked his head quickly. “Excuse me, my friend and I were wondering if there was anything we could do to help with the preparations, since neither of us have anything to do at the moment” He finally asked with a faint smile. |
Matthias finally looked up after having signed a few of the papers. His gaze seemed irritated but his features told of of another story. If one didn't know him so well, he looked actually, well, fine. "Ah," he started as he smiled at the two of them, "The lobby has been designed-" The man was cut off when his phone had rang and he pursed his lip a little when he'd picked it up to see who had sent him a message. Another sigh left his lips as he put his phone back and looked up at Johnny. "The food won't be ready until a couple of hours later but they won't be able to cross with the car they have with the flood and we only have five more hours left until the party."
Tapping his pen rather noisily on the table, he brushed his fingers halfway through his hair and tugged at it a bit. He was feeling rather rattled now. "We have a car that should be able to cross the flood, sir." Matthias looked dumbfounded. He frowned after a few seconds and nodded. "I'll leave the food to you then. But, I'll need someone to come with you..." He turned his attention back at the two and raised his eyebrows a tad. "Would any of you be willing to help him? By the way, this is my secretary, Johnny Romero. Johnny, these two gentlemen here are our guests, Sage Magpie and Alice Turner." "Pleasure." Johnny said with a nod and his charming, bright smile. "And, perhaps, one of you who's rather good at summarizing to help me know what the hell I'm signing here?" These papers were giving him a headache and he'd love to have someone tell him the gist of all the papers he's signing and maybe giving some smart suggestions and whatnot for the complex and his businesses. |
He smiled a little more brightly at the other before shrugging slightly, showing he didn't mind too much which job he would do. Brushing his fingers through his hair again, he glanced back to Alice and smiled to him again, a reasuring one. Turning once more to Matthias, Sage looked between him and his secretary. "Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you too Johnny" He murmured softly, cursing inwardly at the blush at the second bright smile. Really, no man or woman should have such a charming, disarming grin like that.
"I suppose I could help with the summarizing? I do something like that at work for the headmaster" He laughed softly as he spoke. "The man is useless at reading the fine print on things, but I could lose my job if he heard I said that" Once more Sage laughed before holding out a hand for the papers so he could look at them and get the gist of their demands. |
Alice had nodded when Sage spoke of avoiding the mistletoe...but really...If Sage were the one to kiss him, it didn't seem so bad an idea to get caught under one. Those eyes blinked, and he was still blushing. Wondering where in the nine hells that thought had come from. They were friends, not lovers. They had only just met. Such thoughts of kissing. He glared fiercely up at that mistletoe for a moment. Silently willing it and all mistletoe in the lobby to dissolve into dust. Of course that didn't happen.
His fingers were still touching his cheek where Sage had kissed him and he gave a shrug. "It's alright...We're friends...sometimes friends surprise each other.." Generally not with kissing, but. Well. It didn't matter. When Sage had moved closer to the landlord, Alice followed. Hovering just a bit behind Sage and peering around him cautiously. It was those dazzling smiles that made him tense. They made him tense because they were very disarming. He was silent though, as Sage and Matthias spoke with one another. Frowning slightly in disdain as the land lord told his name to the dazzling smile person. Honestly he hadn't expected the man to remember names and faces of people that lived here. Though. It probably made his job slightly easier to do so. His cheeks were still a bit red, but that blush was disappearing almost rapidly now. Warily dull blue eyes watched the man introduced as Johnny. His dazzling smiles had not effect on Alice other than to make him wary and suspicious of the man. Most likely due to bad past experiences. Already his fingers were tracing along the arm warmer of one arm. Dazzling smiles absolutely could not be trusted. Alice didn't speak as Sage offered to help with the documents that required the landlords signature. Nor did he offer to go with Johnny on the food run. |
Sho took a quick sweep of the room. There were several people seated together chatting on a couch. They seemed to be fawning over a little dog that let out a few yips before hopping onto the couch and settling in between them. He had to hold back a disgusted look. He was not, a fan of small dogs.
There were also a pair of people over by the elevator. He was lucky, it seemed, to notice that they were standing under some mistletoe. At least he wouldn't be got off guard with that one, though he wasn't sure if there was any more hanging about the place. Sho made his way over to the front counter where he checked in with the clerk. As he was standing there waiting for his key, he overheard the conversation between two men who seemed to work there. Just as he was about to introduce himself, the pair from the elevator walked up and offered to help. At this, the raven-haired man gave a very charming smile and Sho felt his pulse quicken. He didn't hear anyone offer to help with the food pick-up so Sho stepped over and interjected, "Um, excuse me, but I could help pick up the food." Then, realizing that it was rather rude to but into a conversation with no introduction he added, "That is too say after I've put my things away. You see I've only just arrived. I'm Sho Shonojo. Pleased to meet you" |
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