~ Marcus in the lounge with the others ~<br/><br/>He hadn’t missed her wrinkled nose but it only brought a bright grin to his face and a light chuckle to his lips.  Yes, he was a strong man, dominant in many ways, but he also knew what he liked and coffee wasn’t it.  Raised on tea all his life, he hadn’t altered his tastes as he grew, at least not when it came to his choice of a hot liquid and he wasn’t about to start now.  Taking a sip, he surveyed the group, his eyes moving from person to person.  Bo sipping the ultra expensive scotch that he knew Angus had left out, Mila standing quietly by herself, Nicci passing the pad and pen to Vince, and Mari was finishing up with her hostess efforts.  Everyone was relaxed and calm, though if they were looking forward to the question and answer session or dreading it, he couldn’t tell.  Personally, he wasn’t sure how he felt about it either – the idea was genuine enough, perfect in a way for continuing to break the ice and get to know more about each other but at the same time it was also revealing in a potentially scary way.<br/><br/>As he drank, he watched Vince carefully, noting how the man wrote and then crossed out what he’d put down on paper, repeating this for a few moments longer.  The indecision from a man who was otherwise very assured of his actions brought a smile to Marcus’s lips, liking how it made Vince seem more real, more human.  His respect for him grew more in that moment and he found himself nodding as he watched the man finally finish and pass the pad to Mari, a grin on his face.  A form of dread grew in him as he watched her write, knowing that he was next.  He hadn’t given it any thought yet, had truly been avoiding it in his mind as he studied them, but soon enough it was his turn, the lovely Mila bringing the pad and paper to him, as well as everyone else’s folded questions of inquiry.  Glancing down at her hand, he hesitantly took them, his gaze finally meeting hers.  “Thank you, Mila” he murmured, trying to keep the emotions from his face.  As she turned to go back to her spot, he glanced around, spotting an empty chair nearby.  Seeking its comfort, he plopped down and set everyone’s questions on the table next to him, then stared at the blank pad in his lap.<br/><br/>He had a million questions to ask, things he wanted to know about each of them, but finding two that were perfect for this moment….well, that was a near impossible task.  What did each of them write, he wondered, and were they serious or funny questions?  Glancing again at the folded papers, he stared hard, almost trying to will their questions into his mind so he’d know what to write himself.  When nothing came, he let out an exasperated sigh and decided to follow his gut and assume that most of them had written serious ones.  That meant he’d write funny ones, meant to make them laugh and relax even more, and thus he began to write, jotting down the first questions that came to mind.  As he read over them, he laughed to himself, realizing that the nature of what they were attempting to do had been a influence on him after all.  Tearing his page off the page, he folded it up and put it with the rest and then turned back to the group.<br/><br/>Turning to the group, he smiled and tapped the pieces of paper.  “Ok, everyone, all of our questions are written and since it ended with me, I thought I’d kick us off.  Why doesn’t everyone get comfortable.  I’ll read through each of the questions first and then answer them.”  As everyone got settled around him, Marcus picked up the stack and slowly opened them, reading every question out loud.  Each one said something about their writer, some little insight into their personality, and he knew they’d be perfect for teasing out even more information for the others to hear.  Finally done, he sat back, closing his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts, his finger tapping the stack of questions lightly.  With a sigh, he got more comfortable and smiled then started speaking.<br/><br/>“I would have to say that my childhood hero was my mother.  She was a strong, independent woman who ruled the house with ease, keeping me and my father in line while also providing a loving, if strict, environment for me to grow up.  My first lessons about leadership came from her, as well as my loving nature, and though we’re not really close per se, I still appreciate what she taught me.”  He took a sip to consider the next question.  “Hmm…three words to describe me.  I’d have to say…protective, loving, and relaxed.”  Taking a sip of his tea, he let those words sink in, allowing the others to make what they would of them.  “Ok, when would I lie to protect a loved one’s feelings…” He paused, considering this one for a moment before continuing.  “Honestly, I don’t know what I would lie because it really doesn’t benefit anyone to do that.  I’d find a way to deliver the news in the least hurtful manner possible though I’d probably fail to do that at times also.”  His own answer bothered him as he wasn’t sure if it was true; after all, didn’t everyone lie occasionally?  It’s what his gut had told him though so he left it and moved to the next one.  “Interesting lifeboat question but for me, it’s an easy answer.  I’d put my best friend and my loved one in the raft and stay on the ship.  Though the odds are equal, I view the sinking ship as the biggest risk because it’s going down no matter what and whoever stays will be facing the sharks and have no boat.  The ones in the raft are at least not sinking and it’s my job to take care of those I love.  So I stay behind.”  Glancing at each of them in turn, his heart pounding, he continued.  “Men who abuse or disrespect women make me angry and if I see it, I have to intervene, preferably in a non-aggressive manner.  If I can’t interview, I find a way to get my anger out without endangering anyone else – exercising, punching a boxing bag, something that gives me an outlet.”  Glancing again at question #6, he smiled.  “What I’m most afraid of….is being alone.”  He ducked his head then, anticipating that the anguish in that answer was displayed on his face, and only looked up when he felt he could continue.<br/><br/>Taking another long sip of his tea, and using the time to calm his nerves and inner trembling, Marcus looked at the final questions.  Shifting in the seat, he continued once again.  “If I was in an elevator…I think I would approach each one and carefully start to sniff them all over, muttering to myself madly, saying things like “Where is it?  I know its in there somewhere.  I want it.  Give it to me.”  I’d move from one person to the next, my behavior getting more erratic each time though I’d never actually touch any of them.”  The next question was his also and it brought a sparkle to his eye as he answered it.  “If I’m a tongue, exploring the body of a lady, I’d be describing every delightful curve and ridge that I found, probably saying things like “Mmm, so soft and tender, I love the way it gives under my pressure and the tautness of that pointy nub.””  He laughed out loud then, shaking his head.  “Ok, next.  What would I say to the person on my right..”  Glancing over a Nicci, he gave her a small smile.  “I’d probably tell her that I admire her strength of character while getting lost in her sensual beauty.”  Blinking, he looked down at the pages again, suddenly self-conscious.  There were only three more to go so he pressed on.  “The color of a smile…is multi-hued to me.  It’s the bright orange flames of the sun at its peak and the sparkly shades of a rainbow, all at the same time.”  Taking another sip, he hurried to finish, wanting to pass this burden on to another.  “Hmm, what is my sexual nature?  I’d have to say dominant, loving, and experienced though that’s clearly in the eye of the beholder.”  Glancing around, he smiled and nodded.  “One last one so bear with me.  My greatest childhood experience would be…” he paused to give it some thought for a moment and then continued “…stealing some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies right after they came out of the oven.  I got in so much trouble for that but nothing could compare with the way their flavor melted into my mouth.  I was five at the time and it was the start of a rather adventurous childhood.”  Finally done, he let out a sigh and held the papers up.  “I hope you liked my answers.  Now who wants to go next?”<br/>