Pain

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Another glance at Michael showed that he was smiling. Dare's grin didn't fade as he gave a light shrug. "One thing at a time," he said. "Call us traditionalists, we started on furniture." Dare kept his gaze lowered, giving the impression that it was difficult to talk about, which it was, just not in the way that he hoped Emilian might expect. He hoped it sounded like a confession.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked down, not sure if he liked the idea of Emilian thinking they had gone that far when they hadn't, but unwilling to put a stop to it when he knew it would just cause tension, at least for him. It was innocent fun, anyway. He kept his head down slightly, but turned his head enough to look at Dare. Even if he was interested in what Emilian's reaction would be, it was hard to look at him.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian grinned, "Well I suppose you have to start somewhere." He shrugged and looked from Dare to Michael, focusing his eyes there for a second before his eyes sparkled and he turned his gaze back towards Dare. "If you ever need any ideas, feel free to send me an owl." He had plenty of ideas he could give them. He glanced over at Michael.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare let himself look up then. “We’d prefer to learn on our own, but thanks.” He looked down again. His sketchbook really wasn’t doing anything anymore, but he didn't bother setting it down again. Dare cleared his throat, then went on. "It's really personal, so the less said, the better, alright? And I really am sorry about..." Dare shrugged. "Not making it out the door," he finished, forcing what he hoped was a sheepish grin. If this worked... He prayed it would.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

A thought came to Michael and his eyes sparkled, "We should have disillusioned ourselves again." He kept his eyes determinedly away from Emilian, meeting Dare's eyes instead. He wasn't really sorry that they hadn't made it out the door, that would mean that they would have had to wait longer to deal with the day's tension, and possibly have pushed each other farther than needed with the sunburns.

[Emilian Sota]

At that Emilian looked at Michael, immediately interested in what that meant. Again. He raised his eyebrow and looked back at Dare. "Now I'll be honest and say that that's one I've never thought about, but it does sound interesting." Perhaps it would be something to try, it would definitely add an edge to things, to say the least.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's eyes had widened and shot up at Michael's words, shocked that Michael was more than playing along, but adding fuel to the flames. He'd only meant to say enough that Emilian would stop harassing Michael about his virgin status, not to provide a background story! Even if it was based heavily on truth. Dare warmed just remembering it, then heated as he glanced toward the spot near the doors where it had happened. For the moment, he forgot to speak.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked at Dare for a moment longer and then turned his eyes down again. "When do you want to go?" he asked, glancing out the window. It wasn't late, exactly, but they had been there long enough to reason asking. Not to mention he also didn't see how the conversation could get any better than it was to give him a reason to want to stay.

[Emilian Sota]

"Are you actually planning on leaving this time?" Emilian asked, raising his eyebrows, "I'm not going to look out my window and see you two in the alley, am I?" From what he knew, they were both supposed to have already been gone. He wondered how many times they had stayed in the shop instead of leaving and he hadn't noticed because of being distracted with Adara.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare looked up at Emilian, unable to resist this time. "We were planning on leaving last time," he said pointedly. One corner of his lips tugged up, then he dragged his gaze away, though it reflexively stopped on Michael, warming further. He blinked and dragged his gaze away, to the safety of the floor. "We probably ought to go now," he said. "My concentration is shot. I'll be back tomorrow to finish, all right?" Dare lifted his gaze to Emilian's again at that.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael nodded, though he didn't look at Emilian, he didn't think it needed saying that he wasn't going to come. That was when he realized he was no longer holding his sketchbook. There was a moment of panic as his eyes widened and he scanned the room, seeing it on the floor. When had he dropped it? He didn't remember, he couldn't even remember the last time he had been conscious of it tucked under his arm. He stared at it for a second, trying to think of a way to get it without being called on it, eventually just settling on walking over and bending to get it, while praying Emilian didn't say anything.

[Emilian Sota]

"That's fine, I'll keep a watch," Emilian said, nodding and glancing over at Michael when he saw movement. It seemed odd, that Michael had dropped it, or perhaps he hadn't dropped it, maybe he had actually set it down. But no, there were enough surfaces that he could have put it there. It must have been intense for him to drop it.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare was perfectly happy to let it go at that. He'd watched Michael too, but his mind was so busy on the idea of escape that he didn't spare a thought for Michael's having to retrieve his sketchbook from the floor. Dare pushed ineffectually at his hair, then headed for the door again, lifting his hand halfway in brief farewell. With one last glance at Michael, he was out the door.