Memories (Adara and Michael)

[Adara Snow]

Adara inhaled sharply and blinked, working to focus, to push everything down where she did not have to examine it. "I need to go," she said, raising her eyes to the boys. She could see their concern, and though she was grateful, she wanted desperately to leave, to go somewhere private to deal with her thoughts, to try and assimilate all that she had learned in such a short time.

Adara got to her feet, smoothing down her skirt with one hand, then raising the other and the shimmering quill. She offered it to Dare. "Please take this," she said. "In thanks for your help." I do not want it. Please take it.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare would have refused--it was obviously an expensive quill, and he had done so little--but the near desperation in her eyes stopped him. He took the quill from her, wondering at the spontaneity of the gift. "Thank you," he said. Dare glanced at Michael, then back up at Adara. He debated asking her when she might sit for him to draw her, whether now was really the right time, but took the chance; she could always refuse. "Emilian said that I could get started on the portrait, whenever you're ready. Just...send me an owl or something?"

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael watched Adara, concerned, but when Dare spoke, he glanced back at him. A silent laugh shined momentarily in his eyes, always going back to art. Then he wiped it from his face and looked up at Adara, "Don't worry yourself too much, alright?" He didn't mean not to worry, he just meant that she didn't need to let it control her and take over her life. "If you need to talk, find me," his eyes darted over to Dare, "I'm sure Dare would listen, too."

[Adara Snow]

Adara nodded absently. "Thank you both, I am truly grateful," she said. She meant the words, but she wanted to leave, so that she could break down in privacy. She turned her attention to Dare for a moment; his question gave no offense. On the contrary, considering that she and Emilian could not see one another, it seemed like a good idea to begin as soon as possible. Not only would Dare be just that much of a connection, but then Emilian would have something of her.

"Tomorrow," Adara said. "I will meet you here after classes." Far more simple than trying to decide anything else. Adara looked to Michael then. "If Dare does not mind, then...I would enjoy your company as well." It was not a slight on Dare, but a hope for some form of the comfort that Michael brought her.

"Goodbye, and thank you both," Adara said, then, gathering Emilian's note and her ribbon, Adara turned toward the castle.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare watched Adara walk away, more than a little perplexed at her rather sudden departure. He mentally went over what had happened, and still wasn't sure. "I don't think she knew," Dare said, shifting his gaze from Adara's disappearing form out over the lake. "About her dad, I mean," he clarified. Dare glanced down at his hands, then back up to the water. "Do you think she'll be all right?" Dare wondered if maybe he shouldn't have told her after all, or maybe he could have been more tactful, or more eloquent, rather than so blunt.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Once Adara was out of sight Michael turned his eyes on Dare. "I think she had an idea," he said, "She'll be alright, she's strong. Just to get this far with Emilian she has to be." He watched Dare for a minute before speaking, "Don't worry about her, okay?" He didn't want Dare to be thinking about her all the time, as long as she was in the castle she would be safe.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare let his head hang forward a bit, shaking it slightly. "No, I'll be fine," he said. "It's just...it's a lot to take in, a lot to wonder about. Dare gave a light shrug that didn't feel nearly as casual as he'd meant it. "Besides, I'll see her tomorrow, and I'm not supposed to be back at the shop til next week." He didn't speak his hopeful thought that, maybe, some of this might have blown over by then. Somehow, that didn't seem likely.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael slid over to Dare, taking his hand and linking their fingers. His eyes darkened when Dare mentioned he was supposed to be going back. "Are you sure you want to go back?" he asked, "If his shop was being watched today..." He didn't continue, if they saw Dare once, then that wouldn't be any big deal, they wouldn't think much on it. If he went back and they saw him...they would think he was up to something.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare raised his head to look at Michael, pausing a moment before his fingers curled around Michael's hand. Then he looked down again, his eyes idly tracing their linked fingers. Dare let out a heavy breath at Michael's question. "I ought to go back," he said. He flicked a glance up at Michael, then continued his observation of their hands. "It's not just to draw him now. It's...if I can help, I should, and it'd help both of them. I could just, you know, bring a couple messages, it's not that much to do, and you saw her. You saw how much that letter did for her."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked away, out over the water. It made him feel selfish, when he listened to Dare's reasoning, to want Dare to stay away from it all. "But if they see you go back they'll only stop you again. And you said the guy used legilimency, they'll know you're carrying stuff between them." He brought his eyes back to Dare, hoping he understood that Michael was worried about what could happen. What would they do if they knew that he was carrying messages?

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare let out a long sigh. "I know," he said. "There's gotta be a way, though. I don't know, I feel like I ought to do something. Maybe you can come with me?" he asked hopefully, raising his eyes to look at Michael. Dare shook his head and glanced up at the sky as though the answer would suddenly appear in the clouds. "It's just...crazy."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed and ran his free hand through his hair, "If you want to go, then I'll go with you." Though he knew Emilian would figure it out the second he saw them together, it was much better than worrying that something could happen to Dare while he was gone. "Maybe we could get Emilian to let us apparate directly into his place..." he said absently, wondering if it would work. He had his license, had gotten it before coming to Hogwarts, and if Dare didn't then there was always side-along, the problem would be getting the permission and getting through any security spells Emilian had.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's brows rose, and he looked at Michael, his eyes bright with the idea. "That'd work," he said. We'd only have to walk down there once to ask, and he'd probably go for it if it meant getting cut off otherwise. You were right about his thing with Adara, by the way. I suggested drawing her up here at the school, and he tensed right up. The look he gave me when he told me to go for it..." Michael could probably imagine well enough. Dare sighed and looked back down at their hands again. "I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear about it," he said.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"It's fine," Michael said automatically. "I think that would be the best thing to do," he continued. "Then you can do your thing, he gets his contact, and I don't have to be a ball of worry." He grinned at Dare, tightening his fingers, he didn't think that the guys would go into the shop, they would hang out outside. Then his eyes glinted, "You know, he's going to be a right pain in a couple of weeks if he's not seen Adara." He figured Dare would catch what he was talking about.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare didn't make the connection until he looked up and caught the meaningful gleam in Michael's eyes. He laughed and shook his head. "I don't even want to think about it," he chuckled. Still, with the subject brought up, it was like telling yourself not to think of an elephant. "She's so...quiet." Not that that particularly meant anything, he supposed. Dare shook his head again. "Let's just hope this blows over before he gets desperate." It was one thing drawing someone bordering on surly, and another being more or less alone with one who, from all accounts, wouldn't balk at turning his attention on him and Michael, strange thought that that was.