Magdaline Bennett (ex_earthshak141) wrote in the_dome, @ 2013-08-23 17:39:00 |
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Entry tags: | 04-08-2017, maggie, maggie and mickey, mickey |
Relationship Conversations
Who: Maggie and Mickey
Where: Town Center
When: Afternoon
Things weren't fixed with December, but they'd had a nice, comfortable night that she seemed to need and he wasn't going to complain. She'd come over to see him, spend time with him. It was something and he was holding on to it. The festival of sorts caught his attention, drawing him away from work as he moved through the small crowd, looking at what there was to offer and watching for familiar faces.
Maggie was enjoying the opportunity to get out and be social, especially on such a beautiful day. She set up a table near her shop and was painting ladybugs on people’s fingers for free, hoping to advertise her business. It was going fairly well, with a number of new customers setting up appointments, some for hair, some for nails. When she saw Mickey, she waved him over with a smile on her face. “Would you like a ladybug?”
"A what?" Mickey said after waving and heading her way. He was glad she was out, promoting her business that he had little use for. He actually wasn't sure the last time he'd cut his hair, which was evident with how long it was, but it was good that she was making ends meet.
“A ladybug,” she said, showing him the painted bug upon her finger. “Sit,” she said, nodding towards the chair. He was going to get something, whether he liked it or not. “What’ve you been up to? I don’t think we’ve talked since before the auction. How did that go?”
Mickey sat when directed, but he wasn't sure about having his hand painted. "Fine, someone dropped quite a bit of money on me." Which was something to be proud of he guessed, it was just complicated after that. "How about for you? Didn't you bid on someone?"
“Glad you entered, then,” she grinned, taking hold of his hand and setting it down in front of her. “That money went to a good cause. Have you had your date yet?” She still hadn’t had hers with Jack, but it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen him. “I did, and his name is Jack. He and his brother were the ones who helped me set up my business. Brought me all the supplies for my salon.”
"That's a good point," Mickey said shrugging his shoulders. "I did. Turned out she wasn't the one that paid for it," he said with soft noise. She had his hand which had him wondering what she was thinking, but he didn't pull it away. "Jack?" he asked, visibly surprised to hear that. "Really?" That didn't make sense. Not sweet Maggie.
“Oh,” Maggie said, smile fading slightly. “I’m sorry. That’s… disappointing.” She couldn’t imagine why someone would pay someone else to bid on Mickey for a date, but she didn’t imagine he was happy about it. “Yes, Jack. Do you know him?” She wouldn’t say she was dating him, partially because she didn’t want that to get out, but also because she didn’t think he’d think of it like that. Jack didn’t really seem like the type to have a girlfriend.
“Not quite…”Mickey said shaking his head. “I know who did pay for it. And I got why she didn’t bid herself. It’s complicated and she didn’t want to make it worse, but...well she’s like that.” He nodded slowly, watching Maggie, trying to determine how she felt about Jack considering he was on the fence about the guy in the first place. “I do. I know Mannix better, but Jack as well. Why him?”
“It sounds complicated,” she said, head tilting a little to the side. “I hope it’s getting better, at least.” Life was always complicated, but some parts were easier to handle than others. Right now, life was fairly easy for Maggie and she felt lucky for that. “Because,” she said, biting her lip. Mickey seemed like a trustworthy guy, not the sort to go run his mouth to anyone that would listen. Hopefully he wouldn’t go say anything to Jack, or anyone else for that matter. “Because he’s sweet, and he’s charming, and he’s hot,” she grinned. “And he makes me forget myself, just for a little bit.”
“It did. Now, I’m not sure. But we’ll see,” Mickey said, realizing it wasn’t much of an explanation at all. When she spoke about Jack he just barely managed to keep from making a face. He saw Jack as someone else than she did he guessed and he had a guess that Jack was a different person around her than he had been around Mannix and Mickey. “Just be careful,” he wound up saying. “Don’t want you to get hurt.”
Maggie had just started to paint a little red dot in the center of his thumb when she looked up at him, hearing the warning. “I know what he is,” she said. “And I know I could get hurt. But isn’t that true with anyone? Even the nicest guys can still break a girl’s heart.” And even though Jack wasn’t the nicest guy, he seemed to be careful with her. She appreciated that, but she was starting to get frustrated with it as well.
“I know they can,” Mickey said, looking away. That was what had happened with Zania hadn’t it? “Just so long as you’re aware. I hate to see him hurt someone I like. His brother and I aren’t on the best terms.” Which was rare. Mickey didn’t not get along with people, but Mannix was special.
“I don’t think he’d hurt me on purpose,” Maggie said, though she realized it was a bit weak, since he’d have to be a real asshole if he would. She thought she was a decent enough judge of character to avoid the assholes. “What’s up with you and Mannix? I don’t know him real well, but he seemed nice enough.”
“No one ever means to,” Mickey said. That was a special level of jerk. “He does seem that way.” He shook his head, not sure where to start with Mannix. “We’re interested in the same woman,” he finally settled on, looking at Maggie.
“I think, underneath it all, he’s a good guy. Or he’s got it in him to be. He brought me books on veterinary medicine, which is what I’d like to do some day. Douchebags aren’t that thoughtful,” she said with an amused smile. Switching to the black paint, she began to paint spots on the bug. “Okay, well, you’re pretty much guaranteed not to like him if you’re after the same girl. That’s a given. Is it someone I know? Or is it a secret?”
Who was Mickey to judge. He had an answer about Jack, but then Maggie was asking about who he was interested in and he realized that there wasn’t much of a difference. Nothing about December’s general demeanor was cuddly. “No, they aren’t,” he admitted finally, letting out a sigh. “Though if he hurts you, I’ll hit him for you.” Mickey’s mouth twitched into a small smile. “December. Not sure if you know her. I’m not sure it’s much of a secret.”
“I appreciate that,” Maggie smiled. While she believed she could take care of herself, she liked the idea of having people around who wanted to take care of her as well. It meant they were there to watch her back, which she might actually need from time to time. “I know her. Not well, but she’s come into my shop a few times. I cut her hair.” They were very different, at least in appearance, but Maggie wasn’t one to judge.
“Any time,” Mickey said before nodding. “I don’t think I ever thought that might have been the case. But I’m not one for haircuts.” He quirked a smile then shrugged. “It’s..complicated.”
“Eventually you’ll need to be one for haircuts,” Maggie laughed. “Unless you cut it yourself, which is what I’m guessing.” Everyone needed a haircut at some point unless they were a girl trying to grow it long. Mickey wore his long, but she assumed there was a point when even he would cut it. “How’s it complicated? I’ve never had two guys into me at once, but doesn’t she just have to choose?”
He shrugged again. “I do have a decent pair of scissors for when it gets too long,” Mickey told her. It didn’t bother him, but she could probably do a number on him, getting him back to something more styled than his haphazard mess of curls. “She doesn’t want to lose either one of us.”
Discussing his hair was not near as interesting as discussing his love life, Maggie thought as she put the finishing touches on his ladybug. “Do you think she will?” she asked, looking up at him. “Lose whichever one she doesn’t choose, I mean? And does that mean she’s choosing neither or choosing both?”
Mickey was quiet for a moment. “She won’t lose me, but she’s right in thinking that I wouldn’t just be okay with it. It wouldn’t be easy for me. But...we’ve been part of the same crew for a long time and in the end it was just the two of us.” He tilted his wrist a little, showing Maggie the bird tattoo December had put there. “I don’t know if I could ever really leave her, but I wouldn’t have to be around her.” He shrugged a little. “She’s not sure. Last night she was leaning towards neither. Which I’m sure he won’t take and I’m not sure I will either.”
Maggie’s eyes lowered to the tattoo and she gave a little smile. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to survive with a group of people that were outside her family. While she’d eventually found a little community to be a part of, most of her surviving had been done in the wilderness with only her brother and sister for company. “So choosing neither isn’t really going to work, nor is it going to make anyone happy.”
“Choosing neither won’t work forever. We’ve already crossed lines. Eventually we’ll break again.” Mickey knew that even with his own internal willpower, he wanted December again. Badly. There was no telling how long Mannix would hold out. “It’s bound to be a mess.”
“Yeahhh. It’s hard to go back once you’ve already made a step in that direction,” Maggie said, though she wasn’t really speaking from experience. Jack was the closest thing she’d ever had to a lover, other than a high school boyfriend. She couldn’t imagine what she would do in December’s shoes. “Well, I hope it works out for you. I wish I could give some good advice, but I don’t know if it would be better to push her or hold back and let her decide.”
Mickey shrugged. “It will work out the way it’s supposed to work out.” He didn’t have much faith left, but he had that. “I don’t know which is better either. If just back down and take that she’s interested in both of us as a sign that maybe she’s not that interested in me or If I fight for it.”
Maggie nodded, considering that. If she was in December’s position, what would she want? Probably to have her cake and eat it too, which wasn’t usually a good option. “Well, I don’t know Mannix as well as Jack, but if he’s anything like his brother, my guess is he’ll fight for her.”
Mickey rolled his eyes. “I know he will. He’s doing that now. I owe him a punch actually.” Which might not be the smartest thing considering Mannix was a vampire, but Mickey still had every intention of clocking the bastard next time he saw him.
“You’re going to punch him because he’s doing exactly what you’re doing?” Maggie asked with a hint of a smile. They seemed like very different people to her, but apparently were taking the exact same approach when it came to December. Maybe all guys really were the same.
“No, because he fed me some sob story about how I got the girl and then he went and made a push for her again. Kind of a dick move.” Mickey didn’t care that Mannix was fighting for December outside of the competition. It was his right. But the subterfuge was not okay.
“Were you guys friends before this?” she asked curiously. It seemed like a weird conversation to have if they weren’t. She was wondering how that had gone down-- Mannix showing up at Mickey’s house, all depressed, and them sharing a drink together while Mannix congratulated him on getting the girl. She just couldn’t see it.
Mickey shook his head. “We didn’t really have the chance to.” Maybe at some point they could have been, but not now. Not with December in between them.
“Well, just be careful. He might be the kind of guy who’ll punch you right back,” Maggie said, a bit concerned. If he’d been talking about Jack, she would have downright told him not to. She knew Jack would punch back, and probably harder and more often.
Mickey half chuckled. “You don’t think I can handle myself?” he asked. He was still bandaged up from his run-in with the wolf, but he could handle Mannix. Maybe. The vampire part might make it harder, but Mickey was sure he could take a couple of rounds.
“I do think you can handle yourself,” Maggie said, then added on hesitantly. “But I also know what they used to do for a living and I don’t want you to get hurt.” He might not mind fighting over a girl, but she doubted he wanted to get beat to a pulp over it. Or even killed.
That had Mickey tilting his head a little. “What is that exactly?” He didn’t know much about Mannix beyond his drunk ramblings and adding to that information wouldn’t be bad.
“They’re ex-mafia. Pretty sure they still are, or were, when they were outside the dome. I think their dad’s the mob boss.” Jack had told her enough for her to draw her own conclusions about their dad. He ran the business and pretty much ruined their lives.
That made more sense than anything Mickey could have guessed out on his own. “Good to know.” It would explain why Mannix just took what he wanted and acted like it was no big deal. “But I can handle myself.” He always had been able to.
“Okay,” she sighed, still worried for him, but glad he at least knew what he was getting into. Everyone that was still alive was pretty good at defending themselves and Mickey was no exception. “If you’re going to punch him, at least make it a good one.”
“Of course. Not worth it if it’s not a good hit,” Mickey said. Hopefully Mannix would get that it wasn’t to start a fight, but to prove a point. He looked down at her handiwork on his hand, thinking he looked a little ridiculous, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. “I don’t want to fight with him. I’d rather just ignore him, but I liked it better when they were just friends.”
“Sounds like you better learn to play nice eventually,” she said, done with the ladybug. “Because December wants to keep you both around. That and it doesn’t seem like any of us are going anywhere anytime soon.”
Mickey knew she was right. “We play nice enough.” Which meant Mickey didn’t talk much. Which was fine by him. He was used to being quiet. “You mean leaving here?”
“Right,” she nodded. “So long as Mannix is stuck in here, he’ll probably be after her. But when those doors open, well… if they don’t leave, I think someone might come after them.” Which made her sad because she didn’t want Jack to leave, but she knew she didn’t have a strong enough hold on him. He’d do what he wanted. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and he’ll meet someone else.”
“I can’t see him sticking around for long after the doors open,” Mickey said shaking his head. Being chased or not, Mannix didn’t really belong inside the walls of the dome. “Maybe, but I’m not sure he’s even considering it.”
“Sorry things are so complicated, Mickey. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know,” Maggie offered, though she couldn’t think of anything other than being there to listen to him.
“I’m fine,” Mickey promised. “It will work out how it’s supposed to.” Eventually. It might not be pretty but it would work out. He shifted in his chair then got up, smiling a little. “I’ll get out of your way and stop bothering you with nonsense.”
“It’s not nonsense,” she told him as he stood. “Everyone needs someone to talk to once and awhile, and it’s sometimes better when it’s someone that’s not involved with the issue.” As a hairdresser, she heard all kinds of stories. Sometimes that was the best part of her job.
“I’m not usually the type to talk,” Mickey admitted, even if he had gotten a little more perspective. He held up the hand she’d decorated. “Thanks for this. Very manly.” He smirked a little then started back and out of her way. “Be careful, alright? And I’ll see you soon.” More than usual if she was going to have some sort of fling with Jack. Something about Mickey wanted to keep an eye on that.
“You wear it well,” she grinned, glad he had a sense of humor about the ladybug. She could have done a butterfly, but that would have been even more girly. “I will, I promise,” she smiled, giving him a wave. “See you later.”