Demons and Dreams
      "Hey, Michael! Michael's friend!"
      They both turned, seeing the men from before, the black haired guy in the lead.
      “Hey." Michael replied, feeling a thrill of pleasure, confused by it, offering his hand.
      The man grabbed his forearm, pulling Michael toward him so they bumped shoulders.
      Michael's instant reaction to this was to clasp the man's forearm in return, and feeling slick moisture under his fingers, he glanced down…a stab of horror digging deep into his stomach.
      Blood.
      He looked to where his hand had been and the horror deepened. The cross was still there, and directly where he'd grabbed was a new wound. This wound was so fresh that it bled to the touch…but the obviously self-inflicted thing was not the main reason for the horror.
      M.
      A capitol 'M' in medium-thick red lines.
      The guy grinned, not bothering to move his arm. He showed no signs of embarrassment-just slight amusement.
      Michael met his eyes now, for the first time feeling worry.
      "I got bored." the guy replied easily, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a switch-blade, opening it with a practiced motion…the blade was facing Michael. The guy grinned as Michael met his eyes again, then flicked it shut with a shrug.
      "What, now?" David asked, moving up beside Michael, who opened his palm and held his friend's eyes.
      "Are we ready, then?" the guy asked happily, moving between the pair before David could see, slinging an arm around each of their shoulders, "Shopping may take time." he chuckled slightly, pulling the arm off Michael and digging into his pocket again, pulling out a bandanna and tying it around the thing, winking at Michael, "I really am not meaning to bleed on you. I promise."
      Michael nodded, grinning slightly, "So what am I supposed to call you, anyway? I have no clue who you are and you've carved the first initial of my name into your arm."
      David did a double take.
      The guy laughed, "I'm Jeremiah." he replied easily, glancing over his shoulder, "Behind us are…Pete, Toby, Brandon, and Fieran."
      "Fieran?" Michael asked, glancing back.
      One of the guys raised a hand, "That would be me." he smiled.
      Michael grinned back.
      "So who are you, Michael's friend?" Jeremiah flashed his grin to David.
      "David." he replied easily, nodding over their shoulders to the group.
      "Weren't there more this morning?" Michael asked, realizing that the group was somewhat smaller.
      "Yes. Fieran's here to make sure the clothes are right. Pete'll find your make-up. Brandon will get the jewelry, and Toby will field David."
      Michael nodded slowly at this, not sure what to think.
      Jeremiah laughed, "We're going to have fun tonight, I think."


      Michael wasn't sure what to think as they moved into the dark store…the rest of the group was talking finally, which Michael had wondered about since they'd been so silent before…and they seemed to be winning David over.
      Jeremiah was talking happily with Michael the entire time, walking backwards a majority of it, following Fieran's instructions to move more to one side or the other. Not many people had paid them heed as they worked their way toward the outlet shop.
      Now, the various people disappeared into the far reaches as Jeremiah waved down the woman behind the counter and started talking quickly, gesturing back to them…she nodded dismissively at him, muttering something to him and turning back to the register.
      Jeremiah grinned, moving to sit next to Michael again, watching the woman, "She's something, isn't she?" he asked, eyes following her.
      Michael nodded, genuinely attracted to her.
      Jeremiah laughed, "She's my sister…Sarah."
      Michael looked back to Jeremiah as Toby started laughing, waving a dismissive hand, "Don't worry, he won't hurt you for being attracted to her…it's when you try something that he snaps."
      Jeremiah turned and met his eyes levelly.
      Toby smirked, falling silent.
      "So what's the plan, anyway?" David asked as Fieran appeared with a few pairs of jeans.
      He looked back and forth between David and Michael, his eyes starting to shine slightly, "Gain your trust, get you plastered, fuck ya senseless."
      Michael and David both focused on him.
      Toby died laughing again as Jeremiah threw some random item and the guy danced out of reach, his laughter naughty.
      "That's his plan." Toby muttered dismissively, "He always forgets that we have morals, though…and well, none of us want to fuck you. Fieran is the resident fairy of the group."
      The guy tossed the jeans at him and they laughed again.
      David and Michael looked to one another again…realizing they would have to be more careful than they'd thought.


      "Just hold still!"
      Michael couldn't help but pull away as Jeremiah tried yet again to put the eye-liner on him, "I honestly don't think I can stand to wear this..."
      Having been attempting this same fete for the last ten minutes, Jeremiah gave up, capping the pen and giving Michael a look, "Baby."
      Michael laughed, grabbing one of the many collar-like necklaces he'd bought and putting it on, touching the buckle part of it after having fastened it, turning to look in the full-length mirror next to him.
      It wasn't him, not really.
      After the shopping trip that had taken at least an hour, they'd returned to an apartment building that seemed to be the residence of every person in the group...David had been shuffled down the hall by Toby and his girlfriend, who seemed over-joyed at the prospect of dressing David up.
      "So...is Sarah coming out with us?" Michael asked after a while.
      "No. She closes tonight and opens tomorrow. She believes in sleep, or something." he snorted disbelievingly, then laughed as he passed Michael a bracelet, "Hurry, I want to arrive early."
      "Yes, Master." Michael agreed sarcastically.
      Jeremiah started laughing, "Now that's what I like to hear!"


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