Who: Margo Hanson, Eliot Waugh and Felix Dawkins When: End of May Where: Somewhere in the OC What: Running into the new friend while out with the best friend Rating: Mostly Family Friendly Warnings: Eliot so language is probable as is mentions of if not actually drinking alcohol
It was still annoying that Eliot hadn’t managed to find a space he actually liked for his office but there were definite benefits to it. Mainly that rather than being stuck there talking on the phone with his client about her upcoming anniversary blow-out, and God how he cringed every time she referred to it that way, he could be out enjoying the warm California weather with Margo and handling everything from his cellphone. “I know sweetie I know. Your heart is set on this artist and I am doing everything I can to get him for you. But unless you’re willing to cut out something, like that ice sculpture of you two on your wedding day, I just don’t think it’s going to be possible with the current budget,” he said, catching Margo’s eye and mouthing the words save me at her. “Absolutely we can just increase the budget. I’ll send you an amendment to our contract for you and your husband to sign that authorizes the extra money okay? Now as much as I would love to stay on the phone with you and hear all about your fabulous dress I need to go if I’m going to get that file to you soon and get in touch with his people to finalize those details.” Honestly he could have done that from Margo’s phone if necessary but he wanted to just get off the phone before he had to listen to his client squeal one more time. He hung up, sighing silently as he sent that file and then slid his phone in his pocket.
“Remind me again Bambi - the huge check will be worth putting up with her squealing and insistence on pretending she’s still in her 20’s. If I hear it from you I’ll believe it.” He said, taking a sip from his coffee. “And then remind me why we aren’t sitting at some cafe with a killer bar menu right this minute? Because this coffee is not helping with the nightmarish migraine one more call from her today will give me.”
***
Had Eliot not been on the phone with a client, Margo probably would have simply taken it from him and told the person on the other end to lose Eliot’s number. She’d done it before, but in this case her bff needed this client in order to further his business. She knew all too well that sometimes you had to deal with the obnoxious ones to get to the really good ones. She had once worked with a singer who had insisted on dressing in garish pleather and fake snakeskin despite the fact that she could afford the real stuff.
“I hate to admit it, but when we’re her age we’ll probably want to insist that we’re still in our twenties too.” Not that Margo could even picture herself middle aged. As far as she was concerned, it wasn’t happening to her. “As for the second one, it’s because we still don’t know where the best cafe with a killer bar menu is. Honestly, I thought places like that would be easier to find in California.”
Speaking of client meetings, Felix had just left an early meeting with a client with was getting married in a month and had decided to change her entire decor at the last minute. It wasn’t the first time Felix had dealt with this situation, but it was one of the more obnoxious situations he had to deal with. Honestly, why couldn’t people make a decision and stick with it?
They had met at a coffee shop not too far from Felix’s office so he had walked there and was now on his way back to the office, finishing off the coffee he had got during the meeting.
***
“Oh believe me Bambi - we will never be like that at any age. We both have too much taste to try to squeeze into hot pink and leopard print. In a tube dress. I’m going to need migraine medication and lots of alcohol to survive seeing her in that getup all night when this party finally comes around.” Eliot told her with a sigh as he closed his eyes. He opened them and gave her a smile. “But...no more work talk right now! We need to go out tonight and have some fun,” he told her, looking around and noticing a familiar person walking down the sidewalk towards them.
“And lucky me someone who might be able to help us with that is coming our way,” he said, a little smirk on his face as he lifted one hand in a friendly wave. “Funny running into you here darling,” he said once Felix got close enough that he wouldn’t have to shout. “I was hoping to introduce you two before Pride but never seemed to work out that I was in the same place with both of you at the same time. Bambi - this is Felix. Felix this is my best friend, and the only person who knows all of my deep dark secrets, Margo.” He didn’t even realize he’d done it until after he’d put his hand on Felix’s back.
***
“As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing wrong with leopard print, but in moderation and when it’s appropriate. And she is clearly in violation of both of those rules.” Margo couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of a middle aged woman in a hot pink leopard print tube dress. Clearly this woman needed a stylist, but judging from what Eliot had told her about this woman, she certainly didn’t want to volunteer for the job.
Even before Eliot introduced them, Margo had a feeling this was the infamous Felix, simply by the way Eliot’s face lit up as well as his body language towards the other man. “Oh, you were right. He is cute.” She smirked at Felix as she openly looked him up and down.
Felix hadn’t been expecting to run into Eliot that afternoon, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t happy to see him. Felix’s full, glossy lips turned up into a grin as he spotted the other man and came to a stop next to him and his friend, who even before she was introduced, he had assumed was Margo.
“Deep dark secrets? Well now I’m even more intrigued than I was before,” Felix’s tone was just as flirty as any other time he had been around Eliot and he couldn’t help but smile a little wider at Margo’s compliment, “What can I say? Just bloody good genes.” As well as a good hour or so in the morning making sure that his hair, clothes and skin looked flawless. “It’s nice to meet you, Margo. He’s mentioned you a couple of times.” He glanced back other at Eliot, not bothered one bit by his hand on his back. As far as Felix was concerned, Eliot could put his hands wherever he wanted.
***
“There is nothing wrong with animal prints and you know I agree with you about that. But only if you have the right body type. And you know how much I detest speaking ill of people,” he told her, not able to keep a straight face as he said it but managing to get control of himself back enough to keep talking. “As I was saying - if you have the right body type and if she did when she was younger, she definitely doesn’t now. For animal prints or tube dresses. I feel sorry for the person who has to squeeze her in and out of it.”
Eliot grinned when Margo said Felix was cute. “Just wait until you hear him talk Bambi. I told you - that accent completes the package.” He said wrapping his arm the rest of the way around Felix’s waist to give him a quick one armed hug. “Well darling if you keep playing your cards right I might fill you in on some of them one of these nights. What has you out here this afternoon?” He asked, curiosity and flirting both in his voice as he shot Margo a quick smile to show he hadn’t forgotten her there but she knew him well enough to know how he got at times. Hot guy? Needed more of his attention when they were literally right beside him.
***
The day that Eliot stopped talking ill about people was the day she would suspect he had been taken over by a pod person. “Most likely the poor idiot who married her.” She might have felt bad for this guy, but he had voluntarily married this woman who was driving Eliot crazy.
Felix smiled at Eliot as he returned the hug, his hand resting on the small of the taller man’s back for a moment or two before smirking once again, “I’ll do my very best then.” He certainly wanted to know more about Eliot and was curious about the things that Margo knew, but answered Eliot’s question first, “I just had a meeting with a client. Wedding is a month away and the sodding bride decides she wants to change the entire decor.” Felix sighed, clearly annoyed by this.
***
Eliot did feel bad for her husband, if only because the poor man was stuck with this sack of crazy for the rest of his life. But only a little bad because - it had been his choice. His job dealing with couples like this were definitely lending strength to his conviction that he was never getting married. Or at least not until he was at least in his late thirties. “I should make sure to hide some special gifts for him among the decorations. Little things to help him get through the monstrosity she’s planned.” And if he ended up partaking of them himself throughout the night well - party planner’s prerogative. It was his job to make sure that everything provided was quality.
“Sounds like she could be related to the woman I’m planning an anniversary party for. Sorry - an anniversary blowout,” Eliot said, rolling his eyes at the term. “Margo you might know the answer to this - have brides always been this damn difficult or is this something that’s come up as a result of bridezilla’s becoming more publicized?” He asked wanting to include his best friend in the conversation.
***
“Don’t you just love the last minute changes like this? It’s as if they think that we can work magic or something. I’m a party planner, not a bloody magician.” Felix had been doing this job for awhile now and was pretty sure that he had heard practically every request or demand or excuse when it came to clients. “This job can be extremely frustrating, but you have to admit, that feeling after a successful party, is one of the best. And the paycheck doesn’t hurt either.” He smirked at both Eliot and Margo.
Margo quirked a brow at Eliot and crossed her arms under her chest, “How on earth would I know that? I’ve never been married. And I don’t dress brides. I dress famous people; not fucking bridezillas. Which is probably a good thing cause I’d probably slap anyone who acted like that.”
***
Eliot almost choked on the sip of his coffee that he’d just swallowed when Felix said it was like their clients thought they could work magic. “Not outside of the dreams for me darling. At least not yet but apparently those talents cross over sooner or later from what I’ve seen on that network. I’m just going to have to avoid walking people into the road,” he said, trying to make a joke to hide the way seeing himself doing that in the dreams still bothered him when he thought back on it.
“And after a failure of one it’s the worst feeling ever. And I want to blame everyone but try to resist that urge.” Although afterwards when he was at home, Margo had heard quite a few rants of his about incompetent staff ruining his events after he’d spent so many hours making everything perfect. “The paycheck though does make it worth it. It’s the only thing keeping me going some days in this career.”
“Because Bambi - you probably don’t tune out when your clients and their friends are gossiping as much as I do. Because they’re talking about more interesting people than mine. I’d rather listen to gossip about actresses than who’s cheating with the pool boy anyday.” He said. “Oh trust me Margo - I’ve been extremely tempted to slap some of my clients. Like that one woman who decided less than 24-hours before the party to invite another 150 people to her daughter’s Sweet 16 and I needed to arrange for food and tables and - it was an utter nightmare. I don’t think I slept until after the party was finished.”
***
Felix had momentarily forgotten about Eliot’s dream and frowned slightly, recalling what the other man had told him when he’d gone over to Eliot’s that night. They were still standing close enough that Felix was able to discreetly move his hand to squeeze Eliot’s fingers, briefly in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. Felix was used to being the one who comforted his friends so it was second nature to want to make sure he hadn’t upset Eliot. “I’m sure that if it was bleed over, you’ll be able to control it here. I’ve heard that there’s a Magic Guild here. So, plenty of magic types to help you.”
The two may have been standing close, but almost nothing got past Margo and she noticed the way Felix attempted to comfort Eliot and it brought a smile to her lips. She hated when her best friend was hurting and the fact that there was someone else who cared made her happy, “Oh, you’d be surprised to know how much famous people gossip. I could tell you about at least two married actors who are having affairs with pool boys.” Her smirk turned mischievous. “That woman just wanted to show off. That’s all. I felt bad for her daughter; and I almost never feel bad for anyone.”
***
Eliot squeezed his hand back, appreciating the comfort the other man offered. He’d needed Felix that night both to talk to and distract him from that dream. And the drugs he’d brought with him had just served to add another level of comfort to him being there. “If there is any bleed over at least I’ll be expecting it now.” And wouldn’t be having to worry so much about outbursts coming as a response to bullies teasing him over his weight. He’d shed his fat kid self before moving to New York and destroyed every picture he could find of himself from that stage. There might be some at his parents but he wasn’t worried about them. It wasn’t like he ever planned on putting himself in a position where his parents could show them to anyone. “And I have people to talk to about it. There wasn’t anyone in my dreams I don’t think. At least not back then. But! That’s enough depressing talk!” He said, a bit of brightness in his voice.
“How have you not been sharing this gossip Margo? You know I love knowing who can’t keep their hands off the boys.” He said mostly joking.
***
Felix had been happy to help Eliot in any way he could that night and would be happy to help him in the future as well, if there was a time that Margo couldn’t, because he was sure that with her there now, she would likely be the one he turned to nine times out of ten, because it was the same way for him with Sarah. “Having someone around who shares the dreams makes it a lot easier to handle. Even the bloody horrible ones.”
“That would be me,” Margo said, raising her hand a little and smirking. Eliot may not have gotten to the Brakebills parts yet, but she knew he would because he had been in her dream and had introduced her to Quentin. “We get to be magicians together. El just isn’t there yet.” She had told her best friend about the dream after she’d had it and told him to hurry the fuck up with his own dreams so he could see that even in the dreams they were fabulous together, “And what do you think I am, some kind of gossip?” Her smirk widened slightly at that.
***
Eliot was hoping that he’d be able to turn to both of them when the dreams got rough, for different reasons of course. Margo to understand them once he’d caught up with her and Felix to help distract him from them. And both of them to help him remember that there was life outside of the dreams and that there were definitely good things in the world no matter what. “Just don’t start thinking I won’t be calling you in the middle of the night sometimes when the dreams are extra horrible,” he said, giving Felix a wink.
“Bambi we both know exactly what I think of you and how much I love you despite it. Or maybe because of it. We’ve never quite figured that part out. And I still say that if Brakebills had been an option for college here I probably would have gone just for the parties that have to occur at a magical university.”
***
“You can call me anytime you need me; even if it’s the middle of the night. Wouldn’t be the first time someone had done that,” Felix wasn’t actually about to bring up his ex with the guy he liked, but he was more than used to being called in the middle of the night as a result of Josh’s dreams, on the nights they hadn’t spent together.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t mind,” Margo smirked and quirked a brow as she glanced between Eliot and Felix. “Speaking of the parties, we throw the best ones. That’s what we’re known for.” The Physical Kids seemed like the most popular group of students at Brakebills, so it made sense that her and Eliot were in the group. “And maybe over drinks, I’ll fill you both in on that celebrity gossip.”
***
“Remember darling - that goes both ways. If you need me - call. I’ve gotten pretty good at getting around this area lately.” Eliot said with a half shrug as his phone went off again. “You have got to be kidding me,” he muttered to himself, pulling it out and grimacing. “I’ll call her back in a few minutes.”
“Maybe? I’m going to pester you day and night until you fill us in. I can do it too - we live together after all.” He teased her, ignoring the look she gave him and Felix deliberately. That was not a conversation he was ready to have just yet with Margo. Mainly because it wasn’t a conversation he was ready to have with himself. His phone went off again and he sighed. “Or I guess I’ll talk to her now,” he said. There were benefits and drawbacks both to setting up individual ringtones for his clients - well one that was both. He always knew which of them was calling. He kissed Felix impulsively before walking a little bit away so he could take the call without being distracted.
***
Felix hadn’t expected the kiss, but he certainly wasn’t complaining. Kissing Eliot was not something one should ever complain about as far as he was concerned. “I’ll be right here,” It wasn’t as if he had anywhere else he needed to be that afternoon.
“Actually,” Margo smirked as she watched Eliot walk away to take his phone call then hooked her arm with Felix’s and steered him towards a nearby bench, “Why don’t we get to know each other a little better while he deals with that craziness.”