You Can't Hide...

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian almost said yes and ushered the two of them out, but a thought that had been bothering him for a while caught up with him again and he changed his words. "Almost, can I talk to you, Dare?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as his arm tightened around Adara. Her reaction had been everything he could have wanted, more really, the look in her eyes when she had seen it, the blush in her cheeks. It filled him up.

[Adara Snow]

Adara looked up at Emilian then, wondering for a moment why he would want to speak with Dare. She dismissed the idea of the portrait immediately and turned her gaze back to Dare and Michael. Her lip found its way between her teeth. If Emilian were to bring up the issues which the Daily Prophet had exposed, then wouldn't he want Michael there as well? Adara was unsure what to think, and so she only rested lightly against Emilian for comfort and drew her portrait even closer.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael was put immediately on guard and his eyes flickered up to Dare and then over to Emilian, wondering what in the world he wanted to talk to Dare about, and why he couldn't hear whatever it was. He wondered if it was something about the portrait, but then, why couldn't Emilian talk about it in front of Michael and Adara?

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare lifted his gaze then, meeting Emilian's. He tried to decipher whatever it was that he wanted to talk about, but all he could decide was that it was at least somewhat serious, and likely about Michael. Or the newspaper. Dare glanced back down, a moment of near-panic washing through him, then fading like the tide. He nodded. "Sure," he said, then lifted his gaze again. "Can we go downstairs?" The bedroom made more sense--it was closer to the living room--but this could be the opportunity Dare wanted. He glanced at Michael and gave his hand a squeeze of reassurance.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian raised his eyebrow, he had only thought as far as the kitchen or bedroom, but Dare must have had a reason for asking about downstairs, so he nodded. He tightened his arm around Adara once more, looking down at her and meeting her eyes for a moment, before pulling away to lead the way downstairs.

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[Adara Snow]

Adara's gaze trailed after Emilian, unblinking until he had disappeared down the stairs. Then she turned her attention back toward Michael and Dare. She didn't know what to warn them about, so she merely nodded softly, excusing Dare. She glanced back down at her portrait, then away quickly. It would not do to ignore her guests.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked over at Dare after Emilian had left, silently asking if Dare had any idea what Emilian wanted to talk about, though he knew that he probably didn't. He hated not knowing, hated being left out of the conversation, especially considering that it included Dare and Emilian.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare shrugged. He had a couple ideas, but wasn't about to plug either of them into Michael's mind. He didn't want Michael worrying. Dare squeezed Michael's hand again, then reached for his sketchbook, tucking it under his arm. If he was tossed out for some reason or another, he wanted it with him. Dare's gaze remained on Michael's a moment longer, then he let go of Michael's hand and turned to the stairs, following them down.

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[Adara Snow]

Adara only realized that Dare had left when she heard his footsteps on the stairs. She lifted her gaze almost guiltily from her portrait of Emilian, pausing a moment on the newspaper before shifting to Michael. She chewed her lip a moment in indecision, then spoke, hoping to clear the air. "Was any of it true?" she asked, referring pointedly to the Daily Prophet, but in such a way that it must have been obvious she was reserving judgment.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael shoved his hands in his pockets and watched Dare leave, only turning back around when he heard Adara speak. "We're together, and we generally stay in the Room of Requirement or in the forest," he said, shrugging slightly, what did she want clarification on? He sighed and finally brought his eyes up to hers. "What do you want to know?"

[Adara Snow]

Adara chewed her lip again, dropping her gaze. What did she want to know? Their private business was their own, so she did not want to know about the truth of their physical relationship. Adara's gaze lifted to Michael's again. "I want to know that you will be all right," she said. "I will not claim to know the depth of hurt which such an article must be causing you, but I do know something about the judgments of others."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael tucked his hands farther into his pockets, if that was possible. He looked down, away from her eyes and shifted on his feet. "It's going to be hard," he told the floor, "But we'll be alright." He didn't say it with much assurance, unsure as he was about what they were going to have to go through. He just knew he wasn't looking forward to going back to his dorm.

[Adara Snow]

"You will," Adara said, assurance edging her soft voice. "Yes, it will be difficult, but you know the truth, do you not? The whispers, the unkind words, are only that. Remind yourself if you must that you know the truth, and that they cannot take that knowledge from you without your permission." Adara bit her lip again, dropping her gaze. She was unsure whether she was helping, or whether she was only making herself a nuisance. "You were strong for me, strong for Emilian," she said, so softly that the words were little more than a breath. "I have faith in you."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael paused, then brought his eyes up to Adara, meeting her eyes as he let her words sink in. He nodded, "Thank you. It just..." He sighed and shook his head then, bringing one hand up to run through his hair. "I don't even want to go back to my dorm room," he admitted softly, though he didn't look up at her when he said it.

[Adara Snow]

Adara nodded, not because her own dorm mates had shown her unkindness, but because she realized that not everyone was as fortunate as she to room with her friends. "You must be brave," she said. "Do not let them control you. Bravery is not the absence of fear, Michael, it is facing one's fears." Adara's eyes caught on Michael's nails then, blinking at the strange color. She diverted her gaze however, and set the matter aside to puzzle over later. She would not be rude and stare.