A spoonful of Sugar (Markise/Anna)

[Markise Sterling]

Markise hadn't even had the thought of tying his question to the club until Anna's mention of sleeves. Apparently he didn't have to worry about Robbie charming her too much. "I'm getting one," Markise said, keeping his eyes averted from Anna's. "Before Friday. I hate pain too, but I decided it's worth it." He glanced up to judge her reaction, expecting her to try to talk him out of it.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Really?" She physically shivered at the thought of the pain. "Have you ever even gotten a shot? I hate them, I can't imagine having a needle poked into me thousands of times." She didn't have anything against him getting one, she was just surprised that he would want to go through all that just for the look of it. She noticed that he was looking up at her and shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry, I just wasn't expecting that, but to each their own. What are you getting? And where?"

[Markise Sterling]

No, he'd never gotten a shot. He'd had Healers, not doctors, and his papers for elementary school had been a product of magic to get him enrolled. All the same, his stomach clenched at the way Anna said it. Hurt quite a bit, he'd said. And it was Ariel who'd said it. He didn't want to rethink it again! He'd been rethinking it since October! He answered Anna, but the return of his fears showed on his face. "Here," he said almost absently, bringing his other hand back to that spot low on his hip that he'd been rubbing lightly when Anna had first sat down. "A star." It was more than just a star, but he didn't think the details needed spoken.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna noticed the change in Markise and grimaced. "Sorry, that wasn't well done of me. Does it mean something special?" He had said it would be worth the pain, so she tried to bring him back to why he was getting it to take his mind off the pain aspect. If it was really what Markise wanted, she wouldn't try and talk him out of it. She tried to make up for what she'd said by reaching out and brushing his hair away from his face, letting her fingers play with his curls. She knew he liked having his hair played with and liked how soft it always felt.

[Markise Sterling]

"Sort of," Markise said, though he didn't think that his definition fit the way Anna had asked. It wasn't for a dead family member, wasn't for anything that anyone else might think was important. It was a reminder of the kind of power he felt on Friday nights, and after last night, after he'd finally decided, it was a reminder that he was worth more than that, whether he understood it or not. It seemed like far too much for something like that to represent, but it had lost its tie to Ariel months ago. He closed his eyes and let himself enjoy the feel of fingers in his hair.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

She smiled at the way Markise relaxed, even if she wasn't sure if it was due to the reminder of his reasons behind the tattoo or because of her playing with his hair. The reason behind his tattoo might have been something really personal so she didn't press for an explanation. She continued to stroke him, letting the moment play out. She liked to watch him as she played with his hair, it reminded her of her cat at home who would purr loudly if Anna pet him just right.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise was quiet for a while, just trying to recapture what he'd been feeling this morning. The sun was still warm against his skin, and there was the pleasant motion against his hair. His emotions had gotten worked up, but now that he was relaxing again, he was getting closer. "You wouldn't go with me, would you?" he asked at last, without even opening his eyes.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna hesitated, wondering if it would be wise. She didn't like pain, and she didn't really want to see pain inflicted on anyone else. But if Markise had no one else to go with and needed her to support him, she would. She nodded her agreement, then realized he had his eyes closed. "I guess I will, if you want me to." She decided if she went she just wouldn't watch. There was no reason she had to actually watch him get it done, she could just go for moral support and turn her head the other way.

[Markise Sterling]

Anna didn't sound at all convinced, and Markise suddenly regretted having brought it up at all. He didn't know who else to bring with him though, and he didn't want to go alone. He'd had the thought that Ariel would have gone with him, if he'd just done what they'd agreed on so long ago, but he didn't want Ariel to know until it was done. He didn't want it to be about Ariel, even if it had started out that way.

Dare. After everything that had happened yesterday, Markise didn't know if he wanted to. You haven't seen him talk about you! Markise's brows drew together slightly. If he was fine without you I wouldn't have found him staring at old drawings and pictures of you!

"I'll think about it for a while," Markise said at last. He wouldn't make Anna go with him unless his talk with Dare didn't work out.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Okay, just let me know." Anna offered, relieved that they weren't making any hard plans at the moment. She would be there if he needed her, but she hoped deep down that she wouldn't have to. With any luck, he would get someone else that wasn't as squeamish or decide not to get it altogether. Friday wasn't a long way away, so he'd have to make up his mind soon if he was going to get it before that deadline.

[Markise Sterling]

"Mhm," Markise hummed. He let himself relax again and let go of the subject for now. He'd hunt down Dare somewhere. At the club. Dare couldn't escape from the club, but he could. They'd have it out, and either they'd be friends or he'd leave Hogwarts. He didn't feel any need to talk again, so he went back to enjoying the sun.