You Can't Hide...

[Adara Snow]

"It is unusual, then?" Adara asked. She had never seen a man with painted nails before--buffed and polished, yes, but painted? Even the women she had seen growing up had chosen more natural colors, with the exception of certain reds. Adara turned toward Emilian, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. She was glad to be comfortable again, and to be talking with Emilian.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian's other arm went around Adara's back and he shrugged slightly. "It is, but I know there are some people that do it often, ones that dress like Dare. A certain group does it," he said, shrugging again. He didn't really have a problem with it, though he wouldn't do it himself. He sighed then and put his cheek gently on Adara's head, closing his eyes and relaxing against her.

[Adara Snow]

Adara wanted to ask more questions, but she was stopped by the comfortable feeling of Emilian against her. She closed her eyes, absorbing the moment, from the steady beat of his heart to the slight relaxation of the muscles surrounding her. "You were downstairs for some time," she said at last. Adara didn't directly ask what Emilian had talked about with Dare, but her curiosity was implied. Things must have worked out, judging by their goodbyes, but Adara did wonder.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian nodded against her head, "He wanted to buy some things." He knew that Adara wanted to know more, but he took a minute to consider before answering. "I just wanted to talk about the article, because I know it's going to be hard for them." If she wanted to know anything more specific than what he had said, she would have to ask him.

[Adara Snow]

Adara's curiosity shifted past what Dare had bought with little thought to the matter. He had been wearing a watch when he had returned to the living room, had he not? She focused instead on what Emilian had wanted to talk to Dare for. "Because the Daily Prophet said that they are having sex?" she asked. For something so natural, so beautiful, people seemed to have quite a bit of loathing for those who indulged. She had discovered Emilian's feelings for Michael so long ago now that she saw nothing strange about two people of the same gender having a relationship.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian sighed and closed his eyes, "Because the Daily Prophet told everyone they were together. A lot of people aren't comfortable with two guys being together, so they're going to get a lot of grief over it." The Prophet shouldn't have said anything about them having sex, either, Emilian thought, but the worse part was that they hadn't been able to come out on their own.

[Adara Snow]

Adara puzzled over that for some moments, unable to understand. Love was love, was it not? But as she thought about it, she realized that it was one of many, many things she had never so much as heard a whisper of before meeting Emilian. She mentally shook her head over that. She could not understand it, and didn't wish to trouble Emilian any further. "I will protect them, if I can," she said at last, determination edging her soft voice. "I will watch over them." She would do anything in her power to help, especially with Emilian gone.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian tightened his arms around her at that, "Be careful, I don't want anything happening to you because of them, alright?" He didn't really think that anything bad would happen, but he didn't want to take the chance of Adara being hurt emotionally or physically because she wanted to help Dare and Michael. Memories of when people had started finding out about him bubbled up, but he knew it was going to be worse for them.

[Adara Snow]

Adara nodded against Emilian's chest. "I promise. I will be careful," she assured him. But she had promised Michael her help, too, so she could only pray that there would never be a time when she was forced to choose between helping him and saving herself. Michael was her friend, too. As was Dare. "Shall I write to you if there is trouble?" Adara asked. She would write to him every day if he allowed it, but if he did not wish to be disturbed, then she would be strong and write him only every three days or so.

[Emilian Sota]

"I would like that," Emilian said in all honesty. He wanted to know if anything happened to them, even if there was nothing he could do other than offer advice, and even that wasn't much help. That didn't stop him from his need to know what was going on with everyone. The paper wasn't going to be enough, if he ended up reading it, which he was sure would happen.

[Adara Snow]

"Shall I write often?" Adara asked softly. They had not spoken of his leaving, and so she was hesitant to do so, but she needed to know. She wanted to do anything she could to make Emilian's absence less... difficult for both of them. It was nearly impossible for Adara to think of it. Her mind wanted to refuse, wanted to close itself off now, while she was wrapped in his arms, and awaken only when he returned. But that was not an option, and she had promised. Adara sighed.

[Emilian Sota]

"Write however often you want to," Emilian said, resisting the urge to ask for constant letters. He needed something from her, but he refused to sound like he depended on constant reminders. That was what he had the portrait for, right? So that she could be there with him, even when he was so far away from her. He would rather have just found some way to leave every few days and come back, but he knew that it was impractical to even think about doing something like that.

[Adara Snow]

Adara's lips curved, and she lifted her head to look up at Emilian. "I will write every day," she promised. Her portrait would be a comfort, but Adara needed more, needed the contact, as brief as it was. She wished again that her father would take her home as he had offered before, but knew that such a wish was fruitless. He would want Emilian's full concentration for his lessons.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian smiled broadly down at her as he picked his head up off of hers. He liked that idea, he would have that many more to add to his collection. He would have quite a stack by the time he came back, but that didn't bother him, he liked having his letters from Adara to look back on. He tilted his head down to kiss her, to thank her for the promise of contact.