Another Night In (Michael/Dare)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I don't want to," Michael said, "But do you think someone might tell us we have to?" He didn't think so, but it was always a possibility. It was surprisingly easy to just refuse to listen to the memory of the sketchbook that threatened. He wished he could stay in the Room of Requirement for the rest of the year, but he didn't really think that it was a possibility.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare opened his eyes then, looking at the pattern of the fibers in the carpet. "They'll have noticed the room's been closed up," he said. "I guess it depends on if someone tells the Headmistress." Dare wanted to suggest they take off to Hogsmeade, but Michael had been so opposed to the idea that Dare decided not to mention it at all. He rested his head lightly against Michael's, thinking. "I don't want you going back to the Slytherin dorm," he said softly.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed and spread his hands out over Dare's side. He didn't want to go back to the dorm either, but he'd have to wouldn't he? Even if only for a few minutes to get new clothes. He sighed and shook his head, "I'll have to go back eventually. What can we do?" He wondered briefly if they could go to Kane, it was a strange idea, but maybe...but what could he do?

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare squeezed his eyes shut again. "I don't know," he said. "But there's going back and there's going back, right?" He was fine stopping by during the hours he knew his dormmates would be out. He could get over whatever they might do to his personal space, but what about Michael? What would they do if he was there with them? "There's got to be something." Dare didn't know what it was, though.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael thought for a second, he really didn't want to go back to the dorm. Dare was right, there had to be something. "I guess there's Hogsmeade...." he said softly, though he really didn't like the idea of taking Emilian's offer. "But I don't know about that." He didn't know how well that would go over with the staff, but Adara had gotten away with it, hadn't she?

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's eyes opened wide, then flickered over to where he could see Michael's hair and shoulders. If Michael had suggested it, he wasn't that opposed, was he? Dare licked his lips briefly, trying to contain himself without tipping Michael off to how interested he was. "Hogsmeade isn't as bad as school," he said, trying to put together an argument. "And no one could complain about us being holed up in here if we weren't in here, right?" Dare was lightly tense waiting for a response. He loved the Room of Requirement, but Hogsmeade would mean more privacy and more freedom.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed and picked his head up to look over at Dare. "I think we could be okay with it, if they say anything to us, we can tell them what happened, right?" Surely they wouldn't make them stay in their dorms if they knew what had happened to them. He pushed the thought out of his mind that they would be staying at Emilian's, he didn't want to think too hard on that.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare turned his head, nodding as he met Michael's eyes. "Yeah, it's not like we'll be ditching classes, just...staying somewhere better at night." Hogsmeade was an infinite improvement on the dormitories. Dare blinked as a remembered task leaped into his mind. "I was going to go job hunting today," he said, then looked down at his clothes, the usual snug jeans and canvas shoes, fitted band tee, and chunky belt and wristbands. "This is okay, right?" he asked Michael hopefully.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Where are you wanting to try to get a job at?" Michael asked, looked down at Dare's clothes. He didn't think it would be a good thing to wear for the majority of the jobs down in Hogsmeade. Though, with the kind of people down in Hogsmeade, he didn't see how the way Dare dressed would really matter. There were stranger people there than a guy in tight clothes.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare tried to identify the look in Michael's eyes, but he couldn't, so he set it aside and shrugged. "Anywhere that's hiring," he said honestly. "A job's a job, right?" Not that Dare had ever really had one before. He'd been roped into doing things for people a couple times, but he didn't figure it counted if you got paid in soda. "Should I change?" Dare asked. He had a few odd things in his trunk, but hadn't thought he'd actually use them.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael thought for a moment, and then shook his head, "I would take off the wristbands and belt, though. Some of the older people down there," he said, shrugging and not finishing the thought, assuming Dare would know what he meant. He figured that would be good, and it wouldn't do for Dare to go asking for a job wearing one thing and come to the job to work in another.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare looked down again, pausing one long moment before pushing to his feet. He watched his hands as his long fingers worked the buckle, then headed for his bag, tugging the belt slowly free. "If you don't mind, I just want to get it over with," Dare said. "I want to be able to stop thinking for a while." He bent to tuck his belt into his bag, then paused infinitesimally before working off his wristbands, replacing one with his new watch. When he stood again, he didn't step away from the bag yet, but brought his right hand around his bare left wrist, rubbing it as he thought.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael watched Dare, and then shook his head, "That's fine." He stood and went over to the edge of the bed where his own bag lay and picked it up, "I'll be back out in a few minutes." He watched Dare for a moment more and then crossed over to the bathroom, going in and shutting the door to change, wondering faintly if he should send Emilian an owl.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare watched the door a moment, then turned over his wrist to look at it. He felt naked without that little piece of leather covering him. Exposed. The lines were only barely visible most of the time, but he'd gotten just enough sun... Dare blinked, then dragged his gaze away, rubbing his wrist again absently. He'd just do what needed done, and he could get back to normal.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

A few minutes later Michael came out of the bathroom, comfortably back in his loose jeans and button-up shirt with too-long sleeves. He went over and slid on his shoes before walking back over to Dare, his bag slung over his shoulder. "Do you want me to go with you or go to Emilian's?" he asked, reaching up to run a hand through his hair. He didn't know that Dare would want him tagging along while he tried to get a job.