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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 21:37:34 GMT -5
Dare gave the bottles one last, long look over his shoulder before turning his attention forward again. Yes, they had had cherry, but he hadn't been able to pick it up, not with Michael right there. He didn't need any more temptation than he already had. Or at least he told himself that. He stopped walking again at a section packed with games, and his eyes widened again. "That can not be what it looks like," he said, though it obviously was. All the same, he picked one up and looked it over. "Ooh." It was certainly interesting.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 21:52:12 GMT -5
Michael raised an eyebrow and pulled his eyes away from something he wasn't exactly sure could be realistic and purple at the same time so that he could come over to Dare. "What is...oh..." he said softly, and he looked over Dare's shoulder to read the explanation on the back. He felt heat stealing further up the back of his neck and he was sure it had made it to his ears. It looked interesting, to say the least. His eyes turned away at the last line of the box.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 22:00:28 GMT -5
Dare dragged his gaze up from the package to look aside at Michael. His eyes were pleading hopefully, but Michael was looking away, rather than continuing to pick things up. Dare could almost hear the bricks of Michael's wall shifting back into place. "Would you?" he asked, mentally crossing his fingers. "I mean, we could skip that last part... or like, do what we always do..." Please? He told himself to chill out, that he shouldn't beg.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 22:09:25 GMT -5
Michael raised an eyebrow and dragged his eyes back to Dare's. He wanted to say yes, if only because Dare asked, but he was also feeling the nagging urge to run back through those still slightly swinging beads. He was shaking his head before he had even really thought of an answer. "Not now," he said as his eyes flicked back to the main area of the store. He had been curious, but now that curiosity was gone, at least for now.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 22:16:45 GMT -5
Dare's head dropped slightly, but he nodded his understanding and put it back. He told himself the store would still be here in a week, or two weeks, or two months, then brought his left hand and the book it carried lightly against Michael's back. "Let's go, then," he said. They went back through the beaded doorway, and Dare steeled himself to go to the counter. He couldn't quite meet the man's eyes as he brought out the money for a wedding book and a trashy novel, but soon enough they were finished and on the street again.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 22:23:08 GMT -5
Michael hadn't missed the slight drop of Dare's head and the war between the urge to leave and the urge to say yes just to make Dare smile again wasn't won until they were already out of the section and then through the door of the store itself. "Sorry, about the game, I just...maybe some other time," he said, then looked up hopefully at Dare. Whatever anger had been there before at home had been replaced as soon as they had walked through the door to the store.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 22:31:25 GMT -5
Dare shook his head. "It's okay," he said, then shifted to bring his arms around Michael. He pressed a light kiss to Michael's jaw and pushed away any lingering disappointment. "We still have some kick-ass bedtime reading." That thought cheered him up immensely. They could use a good laugh before bed, and if he could imagine it was them having whatever ridiculous adventure it was, then all the better.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 22:44:24 GMT -5
Michael grinned and nodded, "We do," he said, glancing down at the bag. "I have to admit that I'm curious..." He could move up in steps, just like he had been doing before. He thought he had done quite well by just not running from the back room to begin with. He had spent even a few minutes in there before starting to feel strange about the whole situation.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 22:49:29 GMT -5
Dare's lips quirked into a crooked smile, and he gave Michael an encouraging, but suggestive, kiss just below his ear. "Maybe we can open it after... everything," he said, unable to refer to the club without thinking about their usual end to the evening. "If we can stay awake," he teased. With the spell of the shop behind him instead of around him, his regret at not buying more had faded, and what was in the bag felt like a treat again.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 11, 2009 22:58:44 GMT -5
Michael grinned and put an arm around Dare's waist. "We'll look at that tonight, and the other book tomorrow," he said. He was curious about the novel, but he was excited about the planning book. He had spent so long pouring over books that talked about straight couples that it would be a breath of fresh air to read about something that was meant specifically for people like him and Dare.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 12, 2009 6:57:24 GMT -5
Dare nodded, his nose brushing lightly against Michael's neck with the motion. "I'm ready to go dancing now," he said, then regretfully dragged himself off Michael. He tucked the bag against his body with his right arm, then slid his left around Michael, his hand dipping down to rest comfortably in that pocket. He already felt better than he had in days, and he hoped Michael did, too.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 12, 2009 14:50:26 GMT -5
Michael smiled and nodded, then hooked his thumb in one of Dare's belt loops. He was very glad Dare had wanted to leave, even though the reason for it hadn't been the best and he was having to leave the shop closed for the day. They needed it, they needed some kind of happiness in all the stress. Soon they were at the club and waiting to get in, and the little tastes of the door opening only made Michael more excited.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 12, 2009 19:59:35 GMT -5
By the time they finally made it through the doors, Dare was already in hardcore needs-to-dance mode. They'd traded in that bag for a claim ticket, and Dare had already forgotten both. He caught Michael's left hand with his own and started a path through the crowd, his head bobbing with the music, steps unconsciously timed to the beats. Being in a good mood before they'd gotten here made all the difference.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 12, 2009 21:42:30 GMT -5
Michael was in such a good mood that he even trailed his eyes over Dare. Usually he didn't as soon as they were in the club. This time was different, he felt so much better this time. He pulled up close to Dare and wrapped his other hand around Dare's left. Everything that had been bothering him was chased away by the lights and the pounding music and he was ready to just let go and dance with Dare.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 12, 2009 21:48:37 GMT -5
The moment there was enough room, Dare turned back to Michael, lips curved into a crooked smile that had grown rare since New Year. He stopped bouncing just long enough to lean close and steal a brief, but satisfying kiss. He pulled back smiling again, then threw himself into dancing. He didn't know what was different or when it had shifted, but it was easy to get lost to the music again.
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