What am I saving? (Michael/Markise)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Doesn't make something like that any easier," Michael said, turning his eyes to Markise again. He had been through quite a bit in his own life, but it didn't seem to make anything any easier, it all was hard. "Are you okay?" he asked, a completely different point than I'll be okay. He firmly pushed away the thoughts of Markise being single to focus more on the conversation again.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise looked down at the toes of his shoes and shook his head. "Ask me again in a week," he said softly. He wasn't going to stop worrying. It only took once, and Markise couldn't know who Ariel had been with, couldn't remember enough to guess. But Ariel had been with someone, and then he'd been with Markise without a single thought.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael nodded, "I'll be sure to." His mind went back to Dare again, though this time he was wondering what Dare was going to say about it. "At least you found out now instead of later," he reasoned, even though it probably wasn't going to make it any better. It could have been brought to light much later in the relationship, after more connection, and it could have been worse.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise gave another low chuckle, the sound nervous even to his own ears. "That's true," he said. What if it had kept going, and he'd let Ariel go without again? Then where would he be? Dead by thirty, that's where. Part of him desperately wanted to unload the rest, to just come out and get it over with, but he knew he couldn't. Everything else, including his current greatest worry, he had to keep to himself. And he had to change the subject to do it.

He didn't know what to change it to, though. He wanted to ask what Dare and Michael would be doing for the holidays, if they'd be staying or not, but he hadn't forgotten Dare's admonition not to get too personal, and that anything about their relationship was taboo. He needed to ask Dare later. And he needed to ask Dare about... Markise's thoughts actually flickered away from himself at that memory. He looked aside at Michael, then shot his gaze back over the water so he wouldn't be tempted to watch him.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael felt Markise's eyes on him, even for the short time they were there, and he crossed his arms. His forearm instinctually curved in to press against his chest, as though Markise could see through the layers of fabric covering it. He had grown so used to being around Dare and being, if not comfortable with it, accustomed to the idea that someone could see the mark on his arm, that the returned subconscious feeling was almost a surprise. "So are you staying for the holidays?" he asked, anything to get rid of the feeling.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise felt a light wash of relief at the question, so similar to his own. Surely he could ask the same in return, right? "Yeah, I'll be staying," he answered. "Mama and Pa can't afford to bring me and Brin back and then send us back here again so soon. I figure I'll just... sleep all day or something." He had meant to spend the time with Ariel, but now he was wishing desperately that Ariel would suddenly decide to go hang out with his brother during those weeks.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"That sounds like a plan," Michael said, glancing over at Markise. Really, what else would there be to do without someone to be with? "Maybe you can go to London or something," he mused absently. The school could get boring, he supposed, though he had always rather enjoyed when the school was a little more empty and he could move around without being bothered.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise didn't let himself show the disappointment he felt at Michael's approval. What had he expected, though? The idea of Michael asking him to spend any part of the break, most especially Christmas, was beyond ridiculous. "There won't be anything to do there on Christmas," he said. "I'll just... stay in the dorm and enjoy the quiet." And sleep, so he wouldn't have to think about everything he was missing.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"The Great Hall usually puts on a great show," Michael said, though that was already obvious by the trees already in place, and the suits of armor had been singing their annoying tunes since Thanksgiving. He just hoped that he and Dare wouldn't have to spend Christmas in the Room of Requirement. He hoped that they would have their own place by then, even if it looked like it was going to be a little farther away than Hogsmeade.

[Markise Sterling]

"I'll have to go see it," Markise said, though he didn't intend to do more than grab some food and leave. He'd have to hunt down Brindle to give her his present, but she'd probably made plans of her own by now, so he'd be on his own. A preferable state, since Ariel would be stalking the corridors. "i'll be nice to slow down for a while." Like hell. Markise intended on heading back to Popstarz as soon as he could muster the energy. And this time he wouldn't let himself have more than one drink. He never wanted to get drunk like that again.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael nodded absently, his own mind more focused on the ideas of what he would be doing with Dare over the break and trying to think of where he could try in Diagon Alley for a place to stay. He pulled a hand out form under his cloak and rubbed the back of his neck. It was so hard not to wish Emilian wasn't back so that they could have stayed there for Christmas.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise risked another glance aside at Michael, but he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. He wanted so badly to be able to talk to Michael, but so many topics were on the don't ask list that he couldn't think of what was left? He wasn't about to try talking about the weather, though he could almost hear Dare breaking the tension with it. Nice weather. One corner of Markise's lips quirked just a bit at that, though the expression didn't last. It was quickly followed by the knowledge that even their friendship had limits now.

"You don't have to sit here with me," he said softly, though it was likely plain enough that he didn't want to be alone right now. "I'm really glad you let me unload a little. Thanks, for what it's worth." Markise's words were directed toward the toes of his shoes, but they were meant for Michael.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked over at Markise, then nodded. "Everyone needs a chance to unload once in a while." It didn't take much to guess that Markise hadn't told all, but Michael hadn't expected him to. "And I've been walking around Hogsmeade all day," he shrugged lightly, he didn't mind sitting there with Markise for a little longer. So far, he hadn't had a problem being with Markise, and it didn't seem like there would be something to make him want to leave.

[Markise Sterling]

Walking around Hogsmeade. Markise glanced aside at Michael again, only just managing to bite his tongue on the obvious question: What were you doing there? He told himself firmly that it wasn't any of his business, even if Michael had set himself up for inquiry with it. It took Markise a moment or two, but he found a way to rephrase, hoping it was enough. "Did you find what you were looking for?" It wasn't personal, didn't ask anything specific, but he hoped that Michael might fill him in, at least a bit.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed and shook his head. "No, I think I'm going to have to go to Diagon Alley." He didn't think about how potentially dangerous it was, with the man that had been looking for him and Dare that day. "I'm trying to find somewhere to buy," he said, looking over at Markise. He didn't think that Markise knew that they had been staying at Emilian's, but he didn't have to give that information away.