Marguerite Blakeney is clearly beyond scruples (blazeinhereyes) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2018-03-25 21:39:00 |
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And just like that, the three nights of performances had come to an end. It was still hard to say what Marguerite preferred in terms of performing but she did have to admit that this experiment of sorts had gone by much better than she could have hoped for and that it was probably something she would do again in the future. After promising to meet up with the boys once she wrapped things up, Marguerite returned to the table area and scanned the crowd for anyone she knew who was there, as well as the manager.
And there was Percy. Smiling, the actress made her way over to her boyfriend and laced their arms together.
“Well, I would say that was a success. The boys said you could join us for drinks once everything is settled if you’re interested.”
Because it was part of the life. There was always a cast party at the end of a show and while this was a smaller type, and it was just drinks, it was still something to be expected. Besides, Percy already knew them from the Bandstand cast party back in September.
Percy always did enjoy watching Marguerite perform. It didn’t matter if it was in a play or a show like this, she was always mesmerizing to him. He smiled warmly as she came over to him. Another show done, but there was always something new on the horizon. And frankly, he was looking forward to what part she would tackle next.
“I would love to join you all for drinks. It should certainly be an excellent way to close out the wonderful performances here.” It certainly would be great to spend some time with the boys again.
Though it did make Percy miss his band of merry men from his dreams. The friends who worked alongside him, going into the fire to save strangers who didn’t deserve to die at the guillotine. But at least Armand was around now, and they’d quickly gotten past the whole having broken his nose thing. Percy had deserved that. And it came in handy having a witch for a friend who could heal such things when they happened. Even if she gave him a look upon hearing how his nose, or more recently his hand, had been broken.
Caroline had gone back to Marguerite’s show. Alone. She had to. Wanting to see it without Ethan’s sighing or input. He wasn’t the best boyfriend. She knew that. Hell he wasn’t even that nice of a guy. But Caroline wasn’t ready to end things just yet. If she did she would be right back where she was before, in love with her high school ex. And Caroline was trying her hardest to move on. Ethan wasn’t horrible, he was just a bit pretentious. But he was sweet to her. It was working for now.
Still she felt bad for his actions at opening night. So of course she had returned to Marguerite’s show on her own. Plus she loved to hear Marguerite sing. It was the best distraction with everything going on with her mom too. When she show ended she attempted to wave to Marguerite again but her friend hadn’t seen her this time. Caroline completely understood. It was closing night. Marguerite probably had a million people to talk to. So Caroline made her way over to Marguerite instead. She’d just say a quick hello before taking off.
“Hey!” Caroline greeted. She would usually go in for a hug, but Marguerite’s arm was already intertwined with someone else. Percy, Caroline guessed but she didn’t want to assume. “You did great as usual,” she beamed. “I’m so glad I got a chance to come back.” Then she turned her attention to the man next to Marguerite. Because well it would just be rude to ignore him. “Hi! I’m Caroline.”
“Excellent--” And then Marguerite heard a familiar voice come up to them and turned her attention to the blonde. And no Ethan this time. Well that was good, as much fun as it would be to properly mess with him if he got all pretentious on her again, better not to. Especially with the rush and high of it being the last performance. Instead she just smiled brightly to her friend.
“Caroline, hi. I’m glad you did as well!”
Because really now. Poor dinner dates could ruin a performance. Letting go of Percy’s arm for a moment, she hugged her friend before she could introduce herself. Well, Marguerite had been planning to do so but it seemed that she wasn’t necessarily needed for that right now. Still, she was happy that her friend was finally getting to meet her boyfriend given how busy Percy had been at the opening of Pimpernel Outreach.
Percy turned his attention to the other woman that had come up to greet Marguerite. Clearly, she was one of Marguerite’s friends. He did enjoy meeting Marguerite’s friends. Though he hoped that this one wouldn’t punch him. He didn’t want to bother Freya with another ‘I got another bone broken please help’ call tonight.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Caroline,” he greeted with a warm smile, holding his hand out in greeting. “I’m Percy, though it could be possible that you’ve never heard of me.” He was joking, a glint in his eyes. He did like to tease and joke when possible. And he was entirely certain Marguerite had told Caroline about him.
At least tonight he wasn’t distracted by the opening of Pimpernel Outreach so he could just socialize and be himself as opposed to the businessman who actually put his money where his mouth was.
Caroline returned her friends hug that smile still on her face. She knew that Marguerite probably would have introduced her but well Caroline was just way too outgoing for that. She beat Marguerite to it.
“Nope,” Caroline teased right back. Because of course she had heard all about Percy. “Not one thing. Peter though, Marguerite’s told me all about him.” A joke, obviously. She didn’t even think Marguerite even knew a Peter.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” she said getting a bit more serious before turning her attention back to her friend. “Sorry! I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to congratulate you again, without Ethan.” She didn’t need to say why without Ethan. Marguerite probably knew.
Nothing wrong with being outgoing. It seemed all three of them were outgoing and so it all worked out. So while Marguerite would have been fine to introduce the two, letting the two also just talk also worked just as well. It wasn’t like there would be need to run interference.
Especially as Caroline was slipping right into the teasing mode that seemed to be fairly common with her and Percy. There was no tension, no pretenses to be had. Just friendly and getting to know people.
“It’s completely fine. And yes, I did notice he wasn’t here this time. I do hope you enjoyed the show the second time around as well.” Probably more so but it would be rude to say as much.
It was undoubtedly a positive thing that they were all outgoing. It made things much easier. And Percy already liked Caroline when she fell into teasing. He did like people with a sense of humor like that. “Peter? Now that is news to me. I simply must hear about this Peter!” He gave Marguerite a mock suspicious look.
But then there was a mention of an Ethan. Percy didn’t say anything on that since he didn’t think it was really his place to do so given he’d just met Caroline. “Shows tend to be better the second time around anyway.” Or the fifth time around. Really, he tended to watch Marguerite’s shows multiple times like that.
“Of course! Percy’s right it was definitely better the second time around.” If she had lived in the same place as Marguerite for more than a few months she probably would have gone to her shows multiple times as well. But they were new friends back in New York and Caroline was busy with school and work, unfortunately only gone the once. This was her first time going a second time. But she was definitely going to make a habit of it now.
“Oh,” Caroline said turning her attention to Percy. “From what I hear he’s pretty dreamy,” she teased. Caroline liked Percy already. Of course she had heard lots of good things about him from Marguerite already, but he seemed pretty easy going. She could see why Marguerite was with him.
“This is a very true fact.” And a nicer way of saying that it was better the second time around because Ethan wasn’t there. But given there was always the fact that with your attention so caught up to not miss anything the first time around, things could end up missed that might not seem as important or the like. Even if it was just a cabaret style show with one singer.
It was hard for Marguerite not to have anything good to say about Percy. But it was also his easy going nature that really did help. Plus the two had history on their side - literally. Even if it felt fresh and new every time, no matter the Dreams and experience. And she did enjoy teasing Percy when she could.
“Quite dreamy. It’s the hair, really.”
Despite his upbringing where some might become spoiled and feel entitled, Percy had kept himself grounded. He put his money where his mouth was, and gave back wherever he could. He was kind and empathetic, sometimes traits that could be detrimental in the business world, but he’d done well enough for himself.
“Oh, I am wounded! This Peter, he has better hair than I do?” Percy asked, and he let out a faux dramatic little sigh. “I can scarcely believe this!” He himself was quite the decent actor when he put his mind to it. However, theatre was not where he excelled. Deceit was. “Have you seen this Peter, Caroline? Or a picture of him, at least? I simply must know what I am up against.” There was a twinkle in his eyes.
Caroline couldn’t help but laugh at Percy’s mock dismay. Which really was quite a feat. While Caroline was generally a perky, outgoing person, she hadn’t been truly laughing much lately. Not with everything going on with her mom. But at the moment her worries were forgotten. She was just having a good time with Marguerite and Percy.
“Nope,” she admitted with a grin. “I’ve just heard all about him and his luscious hair.” With that said Caroline gave Percy’s hair an obvious looking over. “But I don’t know. You have pretty dreamy hair yourself. Might just give Peter a run of his money.”
It wasn't lost on Marguerite that Percy had gotten Caroline to actually laugh. She well knew what the younger woman was going through and had been around her enough since she had shown up in Orange County to know that it had been awhile. Just one of the many reasons she loved Percy.
Instead she just continued to play along, smiling.
“I mean, your hair is quite dashing and heroic. I could be swayed yet.”
Percy did enjoy making people laugh, and he didn’t mind if it was at his own expense. He would gladly take a shot for the team if it meant brightening the mood for others. Though as talk turned to his hair, he took things in a different angle. He wasn’t actually vain, but he was more than happy to play the part when it was necessary, both for serious and humorous reasons.
“I do put a lot of effort into my hair. I could try a different look. Perhaps that bed-head look that seems to be somewhat popular?” He brushed his fingers through his hair, messing it up a bit. His hair wasn’t all that long, but there was enough of it that he could get it to do what he wanted with it. “Or do you prefer a wind-blown effect?” At which point Percy, for lacking of having a handy gust of wind or a fan at hand, simply shook his head a bit. Now his hair looked like a bit of a mess, but that was okay with him!
Again Caroline found herself laughing as Percy shook his head. It felt good to just let go and have fun for an evening. “I’ll leave Marguerite to answer that one.” After all she was the one Percy was attempting to fake win over. He had obviously already won her over for real and Caroline could see why.
Marguerite laughed as well, absently fiddling with the wedding band from the Dreams she wore on a chain. Yes, she was trying to maintain the ruse but sometimes Percy was just Percy. She’d been frustrated and confused in the Dreams when Percy acted like this because it wasn’t exactly the him she had been courted by and married, but she knew it was just him playing around and so there were no defenses that needed to go up.
“Oh yes, this is quite the hairstyle for you.” It really wasn’t but that was besides the point as she was still laughing.
That was the difference. In the dreams, Percy had been playing a part to hide the fact that he was the Scarlet Pimpernel. Right now in this situation? He was simply trying to get Caroline and Marguerite to laugh as much as possible. And he was certainly succeeding in that endeavor currently. He was proud of that fact, as it happened.
“Do you think so? Perhaps I should take a picture so that I can get this look exactly right in the future.” He grinned. Percy brushed his fingers through his hair again, trying to tame it a little. He didn’t exactly like his hair looking wild and unkempt unless he was just waking up.
“Well,” Caroline said with a smile on her face. “I’ll leave you two to debate hair. I should get going.” She was sure they had plans for the evening. Not to mention she really should be getting back to her mother. “It was nice to finally meet you Percy. And don’t worry, I’m sure Peter doesn’t compare,” she joked with a wink.
“A debate I fear that will last all night.” Sighing melodramatically, Marguerite leaned against her boyfriend, quite comfortable. Honestly it had been an exciting weekend with performances and they still had drinks with the boys. Plus she knew everything that was going on with Caroline and her mom and really was touched that the blonde would come to another show with all of that going on.
“But we’ll be in touch.” Because of course she would be with Caroline once things mellowed out and just her general checking in already. “Have a good rest of your night.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Caroline. I’ll do my best to fend off this Peter and his amazing hair.” Percy joked with a return wink. It was certainly a good way to cap off the weekend, and he had met one of Marguerite’s friends and made a good impression. He dropped the act about Peter and slipped an arm around Marguerite. He felt good about making both of them laugh. Now would come getting the band to laugh when they had drinks later.