It seemed it didn't take much to get the young man talking, and while verbosity typically grated on Magnus, this young thing somehow seemed to make all the extra words sound like music. He continued to hold the orange carefully, just at the fingertips, rolling it across his palm until it reached his wrist, then sharply pulling it back. A flush seemed to have sprung up the dazzling man's throat and cheeks, illuminating his skin and painting on a rather attractive glow. Magnus felt his lips part ever so subtly again as he watched the vein in his company's neck pulse.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">"Twenty-five dollars for a single piece of fruit?"</span>he mused, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly as he pondered the ridiculousness of such a notion.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff"> "I cannot imagine any piece of fruit would be worthy of the price, but I'll make you a deal. If you manage to see them anywhere around here, inform me and I shall purchase one for you. That way you can try one without the risk, and let me know if I should steal a taste for myself."</span><br/><br/>Magnus let the blood orange fall back to the stack and offered a small, coy grin, showing off just the smallest glance of his white teeth as the man introduced himself.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">"Ever . . . How wonderfully charming."</span>He took Ever's hand into his and squeezed it gently, immediately reveling in the warmth that bled from Ever's olive skin. Once again Magnus felt himself drawn to Ever's pulse, strong and steady, only now he could feel it, and the entrancing rhythm seemed to draw him in, deeper, deeper, deeper . . .<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">"Magnus Augustin,"</span>he replied, reluctantly dropping Ever's hand and combing his fingers through his long golden hair. He chuckled at Ever's odd choice of words, enjoying the way they seemed to fall like chimes from his lips.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">"I suppose you could say I have an appreciation, yes. At the very least, I understand what it feels like to look at something and crave to put it in your mouth, to taste it fully, uninhibited, the raw and unaltered flavor gracing your tongue. It is a very strong motivator for me, I think. The vast majority of my decisions are made based solely on what I want to I want to taste next.<br/>
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"Is that what you're feeling now, Ever? The desire to taste?"</span>