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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 3, 2008 16:14:53 GMT -5
Markise couldn't help it. He laughed, despite the underlying seriousness of Ariel's words. His arms unfolded and he rubbed the palms of his gloves against his cheeks a moment before lowering his hands to his sides. He looked out over the lake, his eyes still more damp than he'd have preferred, and let out a sigh. "I already have the cloth," he admitted. "A week. Less, with the right motivation." Which it felt like Ariel was offering him.
Markise turned his head a bit so that he could see Ariel, and tried to read those inscrutable eyes. Then he shifted his gaze away when the desire to look at Ariel's lips became overpowering. How was it that Ariel could do this to him? Every time he told himself it was dangerous, Ariel would do something or say something that had Markise wanting to try again. It was like Kwami, only Ariel actually listened to Markise--when it suited him. But he tried. That was what made this so much different.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Nov 3, 2008 19:30:50 GMT -5
Ariel raised his eyebrow and watched Markise. He couldn't help but be excited about the idea of a coat, especially when that breeze came through again. The cold shot straight through the ill-fitted, worn cloak. "So are you done being pissed?" he asked, opening his arms and rewrapping the cloak around himself. He knew that he wasn't the best when it came to fixing things like that, he had never had any experience with it, though. So how else was he supposed to handle it?
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 3, 2008 20:15:44 GMT -5
Markise almost gave an immediate yes. but he stopped himself. He wanted to be sure this time. He needed to hear something to tell him that it wouldn't be like last time, that he wasn't repeating what had happened when he'd gone back to Kwami. "It depends," Markise said at last, looking at Ariel. "How hard are you willing to work for that coat?" His tongue swept across his lips, and he wished he hadn't said it like that. He didn't want to think that Ariel would talk with him or go out with him--if he did it at all--just to get a coat anymore than he wanted Ariel to do it just so Markise would give him *~. He was terrified, but he didn't know what else to do, couldn't seem to say no.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Nov 3, 2008 20:29:52 GMT -5
Ariel felt almost like he was signing a contract or something, and he paused before even considering speaking. It wasn't just about the coat, he knew that, it was about getting into some form of a relationship with Markise. He didn't like the idea very much, but it seemed a hell of a lot better than how the past week had gone. "I'm a hard worker," was all he said as he met Markise's eyes.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 3, 2008 20:37:26 GMT -5
Markise's lips curved, and he silently damned his allergies again, his chest swelling with Ariel's words. He couldn't hold back any longer, not when he'd just been given something he really hadn't expected to hear. It was only a brief moment's thought, then Markise moved, wrapping his arms around the back of Ariel's neck. "Thank you," he said softly. Before Ariel could get uncomfortable or withdraw, before he could say anything to ruin this, Markise pressed his lips to Ariel's.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Nov 3, 2008 20:48:18 GMT -5
Ariel had been very close to taking back everything and teaching himself to deal with his cloak, but then Markise had kissed him. His arms uncrossed, grasping the edges of the cloak as they moved to wrap around Markise finally, pulling him close and making a small cocoon of warmth. It was a tight fit, but Ariel wasn't going to complain, not when he could taste that familiar mix of Markise and that gum he was always chewing.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 3, 2008 21:00:05 GMT -5
It was such a relief to be able to kiss Ariel again, to be wrapped in those strong arms and not have to think. It was hard work being angry with someone, and though Markise didn't normally have problems with work, this was exhausting. Markise didn't want to think about how easily he'd gone back to Ariel, with nothing but a paper-thin implied promise. He only wanted to focus the residue of everything he didn't want to fight about into this kiss.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Nov 3, 2008 21:11:27 GMT -5
It didn't take long for Ariel's arms to tighten around Markise and for his mind to start spinning slightly in the returned pleasure of kissing Markise. The kisses he had shared with those two girls only made him appreciate the one he was currently sharing even more, and he tilted his head to deepen it. Just for the moment he let himself not worry about someone walking up on them, what were the chances of it happening, anyway?
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 3, 2008 21:16:09 GMT -5
Markise took full advantage of the cloak wrapped around him. His hands shifted, parting, then sliding down Ariel's chest to the front of his shirt. He slipped his fingers underneath and smoothed them over Ariel's skin, his gloved palms following in their wake. He paid no attention to anyone who might walk into their little area; he had quick reflexes, and if he ducked against Ariel's chest, he could be any blonde hiding from censure. It hadn't been long enough for Markise to miss it this much!
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Nov 3, 2008 21:29:09 GMT -5
Ariel's skin tensed at the combination of cloth and skin touching his stomach and sighed into the kiss. He didn't want to give up the kiss yet, something telling him that even if someone walked in on them they wouldn't necessarily be able to tell they were two guys immediately. Unless it was someone that already knew them both. He tried not to focus on that possibility.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 3, 2008 21:38:59 GMT -5
Markise wanted too much--far too much for a place like this. There were people who walked rounds of the lake for exercise. He couldn't seem to pull away, though. Just a little longer. Markise drank in Ariel's sigh and pressed even closer, his hands slipping around to Ariel's back. He curled his fingers against the warm skin there and pulled his closely-cropped nails down, wanting all the intensity he knew Ariel had in him. He couldn't break the kiss to suggest retiring to the castle.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Nov 3, 2008 21:54:14 GMT -5
Ariel arched lightly away from those nails, pulling himself closer to Markise as the nails sent shivers up his spine. He knew that there was a limit to what they could do out in the open, and he was going to milk it for everything before he attempted to make himself pull away. He wasn't ready to pull away. His hands wanted to explore, but he was enjoying the semblance of privacy that the cloak gave them too much to give it up.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 3, 2008 21:59:57 GMT -5
Markise wanted to explore, too. He also wanted to remind Ariel why he was worth the effort, even if realized that wasn't all he wanted to be worth. Markise's hands slid back around Ariel's waist, converging at his belt buckle. He broke the kiss and whispered, "Watch the path." Before Ariel could register what he was doing, Markise slipped beneath the folds of the cloak. He was going to torture Ariel with this.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Nov 3, 2008 22:07:29 GMT -5
Ariel's eyes had been hazy and he was thoroughly confused by what Markise had said. Until Markise disappeared. Then his mind registered a faint how am I supposed to watch the path? before it was completely hazed over by what Markise was doing. They were outside, by the lake, where anyone could walk up on them. But Ariel just didn't care once he figured out what Markise was doing.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 3, 2008 22:13:39 GMT -5
As long as Ariel didn't make too much noise, they'd be fine. Anyone who wandered by without actually looking probably wouldn't notice a thing. Markise knew that Ariel wouldn't be watching the path. Hell, Markise himself had done a terrible job of it when he'd tried, and Ariel had only been kissing him. When Markise straightened again, he looked at Ariel, his tongue sweeping lightly against his lips as his hands moved to straighten Ariel's clothes. "Did that warm you up any?" he teased.
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