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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Feb 19, 2009 16:37:56 GMT -5
Ariel sensed more than heard the door opening and blinked his eyes open, then sat up straight when he saw Markise at the door. "What are you doing?" he asked, eying Markise suspiciously. He didn't want to let Markise leave by himself, unless he was sure Markise could go by himself and without help.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Feb 19, 2009 16:44:11 GMT -5
Markise froze in place, a feeling something like guilt rising up just enough to taste. "Letting you sleep?" he said, only then turning back far enough to see Ariel not only watching him, but sitting as well. "I didn't want to bother you." Markise was glad for the fact that he'd already pulled up his hood as another sharp pain brought a momentary grimace to his face. He knew he wouldn't get away with keeping it up, and rather than wait for Ariel to physically come take it down, he reached up and pulled it back himself.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Feb 19, 2009 16:47:28 GMT -5
Ariel turned to swing his legs over the edge of the bed. "I said I would walk you back to school if you wanted it, and last I heard you wanted me to go with you." He knew that it had been the night before, when Markise had been drunk, but he couldn't help but hope that it would still be true. It would give him a little extra time with Markise, at least. He hid a yawn behind his hand.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Feb 19, 2009 17:01:20 GMT -5
Markise blinked, surprised at that. He'd asked Ariel to walk him back? Or at least accepted an offer, which still sounded odd. If he'd said yes to that, he wondered what else he'd said or done.
It took him a moment to realize he'd slipped away, and he focused his eyes on Ariel again. "Well, I'm ready to go," Markise said, hoping the words didn't sound as sheepish as they felt. He realized that he could have told Ariel never mind, that he could make it himself, but deep down, deep down, he really would appreciate the company.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Feb 19, 2009 21:11:43 GMT -5
"I couldn't guess," Ariel said, then he sighed and stood. He slid on his jacket and cloak and prayed that it would be the same kind of weather outside that it had been the day before. "Go on," he gestured as he pulled the key out of his pocket. His own room had already been turned in and it would only take a minute to give the barman Markise's key.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Feb 19, 2009 21:24:20 GMT -5
Markise nodded, then pulled his hood back up before leaving the room. The trek downstairs was almost unbearable, the ghosts of the last time he'd made this walk tearing at him from all sides. It had been so hard not to touch Ariel then, after the morning they'd shared in that otherwise unexceptional bed. He'd been glad of his hooded cloak hiding the little smile he couldn't get rid of.
But today, as Markise stood his distance, as he refused to watch the key return and listened anyway, it was all so different. He'd been quiet all the way down from the room and still couldn't think of a word to say.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Feb 19, 2009 21:29:04 GMT -5
Ariel came back, sorting his money out in his pouch before putting it in an inner pocket of the cloak he then straightened on his shoulders. He would have liked a trip to Gringott's, but he hated going too often and he really didn't feel like going there with Markise close by, it didn't feel right to do so. "After you," he said, gesturing to the door.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Feb 19, 2009 21:34:36 GMT -5
Markise had looked back when he felt Ariel approach, but just the sight of that money was enough to make him feel queasy with nerves again. He diverted his attention quickly, then headed out the back, through the passage, and into Diagon Alley.
It was bustling, uncomfortably so, but apparently it was late enough for wizards and witches to be out running their errands. Markise kept his head low, glad that his cloak didn't draw so much as a blink. He paused just a moment as the wall closed behind them and looked back at Ariel.
"How have you been getting here?" he asked softly. He didn't want to think about why or how often, but he was curious all the same. About that, at least.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Feb 19, 2009 21:46:36 GMT -5
Ariel glanced down at Markise and paused in searching his pockets. "The Knight Bus," he answered, then went back to searching for his familiar thin box. "It's cheap and quick." Finally, he found the box and pulled it out, only to tuck it in one hand as he began searching for his matches. He usually got a few dirty looks when he did it, but he had never seen any sign saying he wasn't allowed to have a cig.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Feb 19, 2009 21:54:16 GMT -5
Markise had intended to look away, not wanting to see whatever it was that Ariel had, but his attention was caught by the sudden motion of him searching his pockets. It took him a few moments to realize what was going on, and he gave a disgusted look that remained obscured by the shadow of his hood. "Do you have to do that now?" he asked.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Feb 19, 2009 21:58:03 GMT -5
"Not technically," Ariel said absently as he pulled out the small box. "But I can't do it on the bus and I'd like to be able to just go up to the school when we get there instead of stopping then." He kept his eyes averted, having been able to sense, if not see, Markise's disgust. It helped him calm down, though, so he saw no point in making himself stop.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Feb 19, 2009 22:05:09 GMT -5
Markise gave a low ugh at that. "I'm not walking with you while you do it," he said. He was having enough trouble with his throbbing head and already irritated stomach, and smoke of any kind wasn't going to help. "I'll like, go over there or something." Markise gestured toward a display in a nearby window. He wasn't even sure what was in the display, but if it distracted him for a few minutes, or however long it took, then he didn't care.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Feb 19, 2009 22:11:36 GMT -5
"You say that like I don't do anything worse," Ariel said, the black stick wiggling between his lips as he spoke. He struck the match and held it up to light. He had had more than enough stress the last few hours and he wasn't about to give them up for Markise, or push his chance to have one away from prying eyes away. It wouldn't take him long, anyway.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Feb 19, 2009 22:16:11 GMT -5
Markise made another disgusted sound in reply, then turned and walked away. When he got to the window, he crossed his arms over his chest beneath the cover of the cloak he wore and stared sightlessly at the glass. Ariel was a disgusting pig, and Markise was glad he knew, if only so he'd be able to stay away easier. He firmly resisted any urge he might have had to glance up at Ariel's reflection and just stood brooding.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Feb 19, 2009 22:27:02 GMT -5
Ariel watched Markise as he settled back against the side of an opposite building. He wondered how things would be different had he never gone to the club with Markise or if he had never met the men in the bathroom. Would he still have Markise? Did he regret everything? No, he couldn't honestly say he did, not with all the experiences he had had. If he had stayed with Markise, he wouldn't have been able to explore and see all the things he had.
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