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Post by Markise Sterling on Oct 16, 2008 21:28:32 GMT -5
Markise licked his lips, thinking the obvious, but refusing to give voice to the words. Who knew where they'd be by Christmas? They could be friends or lovers, or they could never see one another beyond the end of the train ride. Markise was not going to offer to buy him a belt, even if he could tell just by looking at Ariel which catalog he'd find it in. "Well, here's to hoping," he said instead, and blew another bubble.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Oct 16, 2008 21:33:55 GMT -5
Ariel rolled his eyes, though his eyes were still drawn to that expanding bubble. "He said he'd let me have more come Christmas, but you never know with him." Knowing his brother he was just as likely to tell Ariel that he was of age and could get his own job to get his own money instead of mooching off him any longer. Maverick was just that much like their father.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Oct 16, 2008 21:40:14 GMT -5
Markise retrieved another burst bubble before speaking. "I'd offer you one of mine if I thought you'd take it," he said. He had a few that would work with Ariel's style, but he really couldn't imagine Ariel accepting. He seemed like one of those who insisted on being his own master and handouts were for the weak. Oh give me a masterful kind of a man, Markise mentally recited. He didn't know where he'd found that poem, but he'd loved it immediately.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Oct 16, 2008 21:47:00 GMT -5
"You know me too well already," Ariel said, eying Markise with something near suspicion. "Am I really that easy to read?" He had no doubt, actually, that at least that part of him was very easy to read, it wasn't one of the parts of him that he tried to keep hidden. It didn't really bother him that that particular part was easily readable, but it was something to say. And no, it wasn't just to keep Markise speaking.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Oct 16, 2008 21:54:10 GMT -5
Markise's lips curved at the corners. "Oh yes, like a book," he said, though his pale blue eyes laughed. There was so much about Ariel that he just could not figure out, but he was glad that Ariel wasn't keeping himself entirely closed off. Markise sifted his hand through his hair again before going on. "You're not, really, but I figured as much."
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Oct 16, 2008 22:01:18 GMT -5
Ariel shrugged, "If I accept something I have to give something back." And he had nothing to give. He flicked his eyes up to Markise's hair and then back down to his eyes again, mentally scolding himself for thinking what he was, for maybe even wanting to see Markise again. No, he didn't like Markise, but he needed someone in the school, didn't he? Not really, you survived just fine back there.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Oct 16, 2008 22:09:30 GMT -5
Pride. Not at all surprising. "Not everyone demands payment for services rendered, you know," Markise said. "Maybe I think the belt's crap and I want to get rid of it. You'd be doing me a favor, and I'd owe you." Didn't that bring back the inappropriate thoughts. Markise worked past them. "I do have one that doesn't fit," he said. He'd be perfectly able to alter it, but he wondered if he could get anywhere making that argument.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Oct 16, 2008 22:15:59 GMT -5
Ariel shook his head, he wasn't about to accept a belt from Markise. "I'm rather attached to this one," he said pointedly, "I'm pretty sure it'll make it until Christmas." He would take good care of it, and he was sure there was some spell that could help at least a little, so he wouldn't need a new one until Christmas. It wasn't really that far away, anyway, just a couple of months down the road.
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Post by Brindle Sterling on Oct 16, 2008 22:25:53 GMT -5
The train was just beginning to slow when the compartment door slid open and Brindle walked back in. She was completely oblivious to anything other than the fact that they were here. "Are you ready, Keesee?" she asked, the pet name coming out from excitement this time rather than any intention to annoy her brother. Her nerves were high, and it was translating directly to further energy. She felt like she was going to explode.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Oct 16, 2008 22:29:03 GMT -5
Markise blinked at Brindle, somewhat surprised to see her. He'd been in a time warp in here, sharing occasionally deep, if hesitant, conversation with Ariel, trying to figure him out. Markise looked at Ariel, wondering if this was it, if Ariel would slip off to his common room, wherever that was, and stay under the radar, as he put it. "Just a minute, Brin," Markise said, pushing to his feet. "It was nice meeting you," he said to Ariel, offering his hand. I hope I'll see you again.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Oct 16, 2008 22:39:50 GMT -5
Ariel's gaze had went immediately to the door and darkened at the sight of Markise's sister, but when Markise spoke he pulled his eyes back to see that he had stood. He stood as well and looked down at the offered hand, almost afraid to take it. After a moment he did so anyway, shaking Markise's hand and meeting his eyes, "You, too." He had the feeling it wouldn't be the last time they saw each other as he let go of that hand, he just wondered what in the world kind of person he would end up being if he spent much time with Markise.
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Post by Brindle Sterling on Oct 16, 2008 22:44:07 GMT -5
Brindle looked back and forth between the boys a moment before turning her attention toward her trunk. It looked like Markise had gotten through to that Ariel guy somehow, but she wasn't about to nose around. Until she and Markise were alone, anyway. Brindle busied herself levitating her trunk down without hitting anyone, then headed for the door, stopping there to wait for her brother.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Oct 16, 2008 22:49:14 GMT -5
Markise's breath had caught for just a moment at the warm feel of Ariel's hand around his. And those low words... Markise got the distinct feeling that Ariel wouldn't avoid him, and wasn't entirely sure what to do with it. So he nodded and retrieved his hand, repressing the desire to curl it into a ball and hold that warmth in, then turned to his trunk. He lowered it, and as he followed Brindle out the door, he gave Ariel one last look over his shoulder, pulling a popped bubble back into his mouth as he did so.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Oct 16, 2008 22:57:36 GMT -5
Ariel lowered his eyes and shook his head, he was going to have the image of those bubbles in his mind for a long time. He paused for a few seconds, thinking back over his time with Markise, and then pulled out his wand to lower his trunk, then headed out the door.
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