|
|
Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 7, 2009 19:56:29 GMT -5
"I'd rather you know and be disgusted with me than chance letting you sleep with one of them." Ariel shook his head and dropped his eyes from Markise. They were scumbags, all of them, and Ariel didn't miss the irony of calling them that, either. He didn't like the idea of Markise dancing with any of them, especially since he knew the likelihood of it leading somewhere else.
|
|
|
|
Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 7, 2009 20:04:06 GMT -5
"Oh, how thoughtful of you," Markise said, the words thick with sarcasm. "How did I ever make it at the other clubs without you babysitting me?" Why couldn't Ariel just have let him dance? He wasn't stupid enough to go off alone with a guy like that. What was the guy going to do, frog-march him into an alley? Markise started brushing at his hair then, his fingers moving quickly and nervously to make sure everything was in place. If his hands shook a little, he didn't pay attention.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 7, 2009 20:13:53 GMT -5
Ariel rolled his eyes and pushed off from the counter. "Forgive me caring about your well-being," he said, then gave a little sarcastic bow. The guys he was with weren't the usual ones that Markise was probably used to. As much as he hated the fact that he didn't have a chance and no matter how much Markise annoyed him, he didn't want to hear of anything happening to him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 7, 2009 20:21:25 GMT -5
Markise's lips pressed tightly together at that. He still couldn't for the life of him understand why Ariel was so intent on keeping him safe. Part of him wanted to believe it was that hidden pool of good he'd sworn so much that he could see, but it hurt too much to admit there might be anything there. Ariel's life was tragic enough without thinking about the good he could have done in the world. If Markise hadn't brought him here.
"Thank you for caring," Markise said after a minute, the words sharp, but not sarcastic this time. He was feeling stressed, and stress wasn't how he wanted to get rid of his week's worth of tension. "I'm going out to the dance floor now. Unless you're going to promise me one hell of a dance, I'll see you around." Or not. At this point Markise didn't care.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 7, 2009 20:26:04 GMT -5
"Like you want to dance with a whore again anyway," Ariel spat, meeting Markise's eyes for a second before reaching up with his free hand to brush his hair over his own again. That one second didn't even hide that he wanted to take that dance, that he really had just wanted to keep Markise safe even if he hadn't had any other way of doing it. Then he shook his head and looked away to leave.
|
|
|
|
Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 7, 2009 20:31:37 GMT -5
Markise let out a sound of obvious frustration. "I didn't say that just so I could turn you down!" he shouted. Then, catching himself, he strode away. Ariel pissed him off so easily! He didn't want Ariel, there was no reason to even hint at being willing to dance with him, let alone clarify that he'd more or less offered.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 7, 2009 20:48:08 GMT -5
Ariel turned around to look at Markise's back again. "If you decide you want to actually ask me to dance, I'll be working!" he shot back loudly, then turned again to storm off. He didn't even know if he was willing to put up with anyone tonight. Maybe he would just go back to Hogwarts and pray the Room of Requirement was open so he could swim until his muscles gave out.
|
|
|
|
Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 7, 2009 20:56:24 GMT -5
"Ew!" Markise shuddered again and pushed into the crowd. He didn't feel like dancing anymore, though. He turned down a few guys on his way through back to the table where his cloak was. He wanted Robbie to buy him a drink. Unfortunately, Robbie wasn't there. Markise growled in frustration. He'd been here for an hour, maybe, and his mood was f~d.
Markise scanned the crowd in desperation, but everyone was too busy dancing to catch his eye from here. He stepped away from the table and nearly walked into another guy who couldn't have been too far over twenty. He threw on his most glittering smile, and within moments, they were off to the dance floor together.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 7, 2009 22:06:55 GMT -5
Ariel caught a glimpse of Markise with someone else, but instead of staying to watch, he angrily went to grab his jacket. If Markise didn't want him to help, he wasn't going to stay there and do it. Surely the Room of Requirement would be empty by the time he got to the school. He ignored any looks or invitations he got from other dancers and stormed out of the club into the cool air.
|
|
|
|
Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 7, 2009 22:24:05 GMT -5
Markise had thrown himself into that dance, and he earned his first drink of the night with it. That drink had led to his next dance, and everything had taken off from there. He kept himself too busy to think about Ariel, and the rest of the night purged him of the stress he'd been carrying around. He pushed himself toward mindless activity, but he didn't let himself get as drunk as usual, not tonight. He fully intended to visit Mano when he got to Diagon Alley.
He'd danced with Robbie and kept up their little game. He'd even let Robbie get away with a lingering kiss against his neck, but he'd kept quiet about his status as single and kept it from going any further. It turned out he still couldn't handle casual sex, and at least Mano made him feel like there was more, even if he knew better.
Outside on the street with the guys, he gave Robbie a kiss on the cheek and promised everyone he'd see them next week. Then he headed down the street, a bounce of anticipation to his step.
|
|
