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Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 29, 2009 16:27:42 GMT -5
The disappointment was worse this time, and he could feel it throughout his body. Ariel was leaving Popstarz because he was bored being with the same guys. Guys. He had a club full of them and he was bored. "Is that why you... don't like it anymore?" he asked, his voice very small as he looked back down at Ariel's chest. "Because you're bored?" That cut a swath straight through any hopes Michael might have tucked into his unconscious mind about Ariel needing saved. But he couldn't remember the last time he'd been happy! Hadn't he said that?
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 29, 2009 16:32:24 GMT -5
Ariel shook his head, no, it wasn't about being bored. "No...I don't like it...because these guys are scum, they're absolutely horrible, and all the worst ones hunt me down nearly every week." He was tired of those. "Like that one that tried to give you a drink, I mean, after everything was over with, he kicked me out because his girlfriend was coming over!" He had told Markise that, but it still amazed him. "And if I stay somewhere too long then I'm more likely to be turned in." He didn't care to have that happen, either, especially if he got taken in somewhere and had to get in touch with someone to help him out.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 29, 2009 16:41:09 GMT -5
Markise winced slightly at the thought of Ariel getting caught. He'd thought about it before, but he didn't like the thought that Ariel was moving so he could keep doing it, especially if he wasn't happy! "It's not going to be better somewhere else," Markise pointed out. "Do you really think you'll find nicer guys to... to do that if you go to a new club?" His hand brushed lightly back into Ariel's hair, and he had the sudden desire to just hold tight and declare that he wouldn't let Ariel do it anymore.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 29, 2009 16:51:14 GMT -5
Ariel looked away from Markise. "Markise, I finally have money, I have money," he said, then looked down at Markise. "I have new clothes! Not just hand-me-downs from Maverick or used clothes from a thrift store. I can't stop, but I can hope that somewhere else will be better for me." His eyes fell again and he wondered if Markise had any idea what it was like to finally be able to reach into his pocket, pull out enough money to pay for something, and not have to worry about how much he had left.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 29, 2009 17:03:30 GMT -5
Markise didn't look away from Ariel, and his brows knitted painfully. Ariel had told him once that it wasn't the money, that he had enough money, and he'd known it was a lie. "There's a reason I make my own clothes," Markise said softly. "I mean, I won't tell you I know what it was like for you or that I had it as bad because I didn't, but I understand. I'm trying so hard not to spend the money I was given for my shop because it just feels wrong having that much. If... Would you..." Markise closed his eyes and pressed closer to Ariel again. "I keep talking about hiring someone. Would you do it?" His tongue swept over his lips as he thought, then looked up again. "Please? I... I wouldn't trust anyone else," he tried.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 29, 2009 17:11:47 GMT -5
Ariel went silent, shocked at the offer. He looked down at Markise, completely unsure about the whole idea. "I...I think that if I did that...I would still go back, I can't help myself, Markise, it would be so hard to stop..." It was all but an addiction now, however much he hated it. He still couldn't stop, it would take a lot to get him to stop completely and never go back.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 29, 2009 17:25:32 GMT -5
"I'll make you work nights if it'll help," Markise said. His eyes glistened and pleaded for Ariel to say yes. "If you're not happy... I'll do anything to help you!" Anything. He realized that money was only half the equation for Ariel. He shouldn't offer the rest, but he wanted to. If it meant Ariel would be safe, if it meant he could try again... It was so dangerous. It was so wrong. Say yes. If Ariel didn't say yes fast enough, or if he so much as started to say no, Markise was going to kiss him. He'd use whatever he had.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 29, 2009 19:53:40 GMT -5
Ariel looked away. "Markise, no one goes to a clothes shop at night." At least not late night, and even if he was working what could be considered nights, he would just leave after and he knew it. Besides, he wasn't even sure he knew how to be happy, he was so used to just...existing, that it seemed impossible to actually be happy. Maybe part of it was even that he was afraid to stop, because it was too early and if he did, he would just hurt Markise again. Not that he was expecting a relationship ever again.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 29, 2009 20:08:34 GMT -5
Markise didn't so much as blink at that. "There's more to do that sit at the cash register," he said. "If I wasn't so f~ing lonely I could be there every night and never finish." What could he really have Ariel do, though? He wouldn't expect him to sew or stand model, as nice as the latter sounded.
"I have to check what's in stock and on the floor by hand, and I can't think of how to get customers in. I'm still selling things I've bought because I don't have time to make or even alter things." He'd gotten so absorbed in how miserable he was that it hadn't even occurred to him how much help just one person would be until he'd scrambled for the information. He looked hopefully up at Ariel.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 29, 2009 20:15:12 GMT -5
Ariel met Markise's eyes. It was a mistake. He sighed and looked away. "Markise..." He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Even if I help you, I know I won't be able to stop," he said. "I get addicted to things way too easily." And that was dangerous, especially considering the people he was around all the time. Especially that one particular group...
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Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 29, 2009 20:35:16 GMT -5
"Find a better addiction," Markise said determinedly. "It's warmed up, the lake's open again," he tried. "Tell me what you need and I'll find a way." He didn't want to let go of Ariel again! He knew he wouldn't, no matter what Ariel did, he wouldn't be able to after today, after tonight, but it would kill him if he didn't try everything in his power. He hadn't tried hard enough before. He hadn't tried hard enough with Dare, with anyone, and he couldn't go home knowing that his time in Scotland had been yet another f~ up.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 29, 2009 20:46:29 GMT -5
Ariel stared off into the empty space of the room. "I can work with you, I can try to do other things, but no matter what, I'm still going to do it." There, he said it. There was no stopping him from doing what he had been doing, at least not right now. He had no thoughts of doing it for the rest of his life, or even for very long, he had no intentions of continuing to do it once he was out of school. For now, this was it.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 29, 2009 20:54:14 GMT -5
Markise pouted angrily at Ariel's chest. Why? Why was he still going to do it? He said it wasn't fun, and he wasn't happy. No matter what. Why was he so determined? Markise was quiet for a while, brooding and not speaking. His fingers still toyed absently with Ariel's hair, but it took him a while to look up again. He wouldn't take back what he'd said. He was going to try. He'd show Ariel what he'd been missing out on. Maybe he was justifying something he wanted anyway. Either way, he brought his lips lightly to the underside of Ariel's jaw, letting the conversation go. Outwardly, at least. He pressed teasing kisses in a slow trail toward Ariel's ear.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Mar 29, 2009 21:04:14 GMT -5
Ariel's eyes closed, but his hand moved from Markise's back to his side. "Markise...," he said softly. "Don't..." But he wanted it so badly. He couldn't, though, he would feel horrible if he let it happen. But he wanted it. He tilted his head away to try to discourage the light kisses. They were going to sleep, to comfort each other, he knew he shouldn't let himself accept that comfort.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Mar 29, 2009 21:10:41 GMT -5
"Please?" Markise whispered. He did want this, and he was shutting his mind down completely to do it. He wouldn't think about it. He had that spell, anyway. He didn't for a moment doubt that it worked, considering where he'd learned it. And the next thing he did with his mouth to convince Ariel to let him keep going. His leg swept purposefully against Ariel's beneath the covers.
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