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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 2, 2009 23:25:20 GMT -5
Mano gave a smooth shrug and an easy smile. "We've talked a couple of times, I suppose you could call us friendly acquaintances." It wasn't nearly right to tell Dare that Markise had come to him drunk one night and stayed in his bed. "He said you and him were close friends," he said, the were having multiple meanings. It could be innocent, meaning that he had spoken to Markise about it in the past, or it could mean that he knew the relationship had changed. He was interested in how Dare would react.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 2, 2009 23:36:22 GMT -5
Dare didn't immediately know how to respond to that. He recognized both possible meanings, but couldn't begin to guess which one was meant. Markise had obviously talked about him with his friendly acquaintance, a title he didn't for a moment believe. Even when he and Markise had been best friends, they'd rarely if ever discussed relationships. Dare was definitely talking to Michael, and some time after, he'd have to talk to Markise. Maybe invite him over so that Michael could back him up.
"Yes," he said simply, both answering the question and avoiding it. He forced his hand to loosen then, surreptitiously allowing the leash to unravel from his hand. He didn't trust that smile. And yet he gave one of his own. "He's been very supportive." He left it at that.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 2, 2009 23:44:23 GMT -5
Mano's easy smile didn't change, though his eyes momentarily gave away his silent amusement. He wondered if Dare had any idea what Markise really wanted out of him. "He had nearly wandered into Knockturn alley that day, thinking about you and Michael," he said, running through every possible turn to be sure he wouldn't just out and say that Markise wanted to be with Dare.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 2, 2009 23:54:49 GMT -5
Dare gave a blink at that, his mind turning to find a reason, even as he told himself not to listen. What day was it? he wanted to ask, but couldn't. There were two times since December that Markise had visited. Once was the engagement announcement and the other, the one that stuck in Dare's mind, was when he'd been... incapacitated. If that was it, he didn't want to know, didn't want to hear anything that Markise might have said, since apparently he'd had no issue talking about personal things with the owner of a coffee shop. Dare refused to let his smile falter, though he wasn't feeling it at all anymore. He made some vague, noncommittal response about Markise, then waited either for Mano to reply or to notice Elouai's repeat performance.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 3, 2009 0:00:57 GMT -5
Mano jerked his foot away as soon as he noticed what was going on, but not before there was another nice little wet spot on his shoe. He glared up at Dare, but quickly stamped it down to annoyance. "It's been a pleasure, but I do have to go, must meet a friend for dinner," he said as he took a couple of steps back. In the few seconds he had left, he wasn't about to give the puppy another chance.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 3, 2009 0:05:06 GMT -5
Dare pulled Elouai's leash tight again, giving as sheepish and apologetic a look as he could manage. "I'm sure we'll have her trained soon enough," he assured Mano, holding his grin firmly down. "It was nice meeting you. We ought to be getting home now. Michael will be expecting us." Whenever Michael got home, anyway.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 3, 2009 0:07:51 GMT -5
Mano nodded in agreement with Dare, then turned to head on, silently cursing the spots on his shoes that he could only pray would come completely out. He really liked those shoes. He sighed and tried to push the thoughts from his mind, he wanted to spend a relaxing evening with his friend, without the interruption of thinking about everyone else's drama.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 3, 2009 0:13:00 GMT -5
Dare only waited for Mano to be past him before his lips curved into that grin. He knelt down and pulled Elouai close. "Good girl," he murmured. "Biscuit when we get home." The puppy's ears perked, and within moments they were on their way home, Elouai's tail swishing excitedly.
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