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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Nov 8, 2008 2:28:06 GMT -5
Dare looked at Markise suspiciously for a few moments. He'd skipped something again, Dare could tell, but if Markise didn't want to say, then Dare wouldn't make him. The main point was that apparently there had been actual conversation and that Logan had made a concession for Markise, something that hadn't happened in Markise's other relationship.
Dare still didn't like Logan, though, and he knew the feeling was mutual. Part of him wanted to ask what Logan's problem with him was, but he knew, it was just strange to think of. There was no reason that Logan would have acted like Dare was such a threat unless he was jealous of Dare and Markise.
"I'm glad you're happy," Dare said at last. He still held the same opinion of Logan, but he'd withhold judgment for now. He still intended to watch, though.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 8, 2008 12:07:54 GMT -5
Markise looked aside at Dare. Something told him that even if Dare was glad he was happy, he wasn't particularly happy about Ariel himself. Markise could tell that his story hadn't convinced Dare, but what could he do? He couldn't begin to explain that the real Ariel acted pissy for the world, then secretly worshiped Markise's body. He couldn't begin to tell Dare how addicted he was to Ariel's touch, and how much it meant to him when Ariel just held him after and they talked about nothing.
"I'll be fine," Markise told Dare. "This time, I know what I'm doing." Well, not really, but he knew he was strong enough not to put up with what he'd taken from Kwami. Everything was already so much better, and they'd only just started. Markise's lips curved at the thought. He let his mind float for a while, but then it floated back around to Dare lying beside him. "I really want Michael to like me," he said at last," but everything I say is wrong."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Nov 8, 2008 23:51:11 GMT -5
Dare made no comment on whether Markise knew what he was doing or not. There was nothing he could say to stop Markise, so all he could do was stay close, keep in contact, and be there if something happened. He put those thoughts aside for what Markise said next, though. It all came back to the original reason that Dare had wanted to talk to Markise; fixing whatever it was between him and Michael that wasn't working.
"Michael..." wants to like you too, Dare only just managed to keep himself from saying. He wouldn't get anywhere if Markise felt like it was already hopeless. "Michael's a very private person," he said instead. "you can't get to him by asking him what makes him tick. You have to wait, get to know him first. Kind of like Silver in a way." That was an uncomfortable comparison, Dare realized, but it was too late to take it back and if it worked for Markise, then it was worth it, right? "If you want to know something, ask me. When Michael's not around," he added.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 8, 2008 23:56:23 GMT -5
Markise looked aside at Dare and nodded in understanding. Knowing that, it was even more obvious to Markise what had gone wrong that time Michael had gotten him out of the dungeons. But still, he hadn't gone back to the dungeons and left Markise there, so he supposed there was still a little hope left, at least. "So how can I make it better?" Markise asked. "Did he at least like the shirt?" He'd make a whole wardrobe of shirts if that was what it took. He'd grovel if he had to. It wouldn't be at all comfortable, but Markise didn't want to lose Dare because he'd made an ass of himself--twice--in front of his long-term boyfriend.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Nov 9, 2008 0:12:24 GMT -5
Dare sighed heavily. He thought that Michael had liked the idea of the shirt and the apology behind it more than he'd liked the shirt itself. He wasn't about to tell Markise that, though. Markise would probably end up bombarding Michael with shirt designs then to find what he liked if that happened. "You were there when he opened it," Dare replied, then shifted to Markise's other question. "Don't drown him in gifts, he'll feel like you're trying to buy him," Dare said. "Just...let him get to know you--the real you--and don't be in a hurry.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Nov 10, 2008 11:26:50 GMT -5
The real you. Markise wasn't sure if he could do that. He didn't even know who the real him was. Was he the quiet, sensitive type he was when he and Dare were all alone? Was he the sexual tease he was with Ariel? Was he the playful flirt? Or just another confused teenager with too many secrets? Markise looked up into the leaves, unsure about all of it. Which him should he be? Which did he like best? "I'll try," Markise said softly.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Nov 14, 2008 11:16:45 GMT -5
Dare released a long breath, an echo of the one he'd given when Michael had said those same words. "Thank you," Dare said. He prayed that this would work, that Michael and Markise could get along. It was hard avoiding Markise, extremely hard, when they'd been such close friends for so long. It was hard sifting through everything they'd done when they did meet up to tell Michael, to reassure him so he didn't hear blown-out versions from the rumor mill. Dare realized that Michael and Markise would never be as close as he'd first dreamed, but if they could just be friends somehow, he would be more than happy.
Dare and Markise lay there for some time, making small talk and catching up. Dare did indeed miss Muggle Studies, but he pulled himself away for work, saying goodbye to Markise, who wouldn't be at the Bloody Mary tonight. Dare pulled his book bag close as he stood, trying to block the wind and keep himself a bit warmer, but it didn't do much good, and so he headed for Hogsmeade with his hood up and his arms wrapped around himself.
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