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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 14, 2009 19:28:55 GMT -5
Yes, Ariel remembered that Markise had fired him. Yes, he remembered that Markise had said he never wanted to see him ever again. Yes, he knew all that! So why was he fumbling his way up the stairs in the back to the old mattress he remembered upstairs? Well, at least that one was an easy question to answer.
He didn't want to think about the night he had had at the shady little club deep in London far from Diagon Alley. He didn't want to think about the bruises he was going to have around his eyes and over his chest or the empty vault he had to go back to tomorrow. He certainly didn't want to think about the fact he wouldn't be getting his fix of anything any time soon. Or the fact that his shirt was missing along with his belt and wallet, though the man had kindly given him his wand back.
Of course, there was more, but it was just more that he didn't want to think about as he pulled himself, unwanted, onto the mattress. Markise would show up eventually, would probably try to kick him out, but Ariel just wanted to sleep. And Markise was the only person he knew that had ever even marginally cared for him in this god-forsaken country. He gave one last, relieved sigh that shook his bruised ribs painfully and then passed out.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 14, 2009 19:56:06 GMT -5
Markise was getting out of this godforsaken country. He'd had enough months ago and yes, he'd made a promise to stay to the end of term, and yes, his friendship with Dare was just beginning to come back, yes, he knew Anna would miss him, but he'd had enough. He couldn't stay and not think about Ariel. He couldn't stay and not want Dare, not see over and over that Michael wasn't enough for him. He couldn't stay and not be constantly reminded how much he'd f~ed his life up. He couldn't stay.
So here he was, just before lunch when he would have met Anna, with a pocketful of shrunken boxes. He wasn't taking everything, that would be impossible in such a short time; he intended to leave tonight. He'd take the projects he'd been working on, leave the few finished ones in the display cases, and owl Dare the spells to get in. He bequeathed the whole damn thing to Dare. He didn't want it anymore.
His father would be pissed when he showed up without even a warning, but his mom would let him in. He'd find a job somewhere. Anything would be better than this.
Markise headed toward his little workroom, weaving his way through the shop until he was in sight of the door. Then he stopped in his tracks. There was less fear at the moment than disbelieving annoyance. He was leaving! It didn't need rubbed in any more! Why couldn't he catch just one f~ing break?!
He dragged out his wand, for all the good it would do. If there was a burglar... His gaze snapped toward the cash register, but a thorough check told him it hadn't been touched. Markise headed back toward the door, his eyes flickering around, looking for motion.
"If there's anyone here, just leave the displays!" He fumbled with his wand to let down the anti-apparition spells. "You can apparate out, just go!" He was so getting hold of whatever authorities he could find.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 14, 2009 20:13:31 GMT -5
Ariel let out a light groan at the loud voice, even if it wasn't right on him just yet. He hadn't been conscious before the first word, and when he had tried to move it had only brought a sudden, vivid reminder of why he was there and where he was. He was sore everywhere. This wasn't going to be a fun day. But where else could he have gone? "It's Ariel," he said as loudly as he could make himself speak, praying that Markise wouldn't just leave or hex him or something.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 14, 2009 20:18:28 GMT -5
"F~k," Markise spat, then yelled back, "I told you not to come here anymore! Get the f~ out! I'll come back in an hour and you better be gone!" He wanted nothing to do with Ariel. He didn't even want to see him, didn't want to give himself even a chance of being weak. He was too angry to be weak.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 14, 2009 20:21:19 GMT -5
Ariel groaned again, why had he been so horrible to Markise the last time they had been together? "I need help," he admitted, then realized it probably hadn't been loud enough to hear, then repeated it, louder this time. He grunted as he shifted himself to his side, only to pause then, curling up into himself as the bruises made themselves obvious.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 14, 2009 20:33:34 GMT -5
"F~," Markise repeated, then again, "F~, f~, f~ !" He'd rather have been robbed! Why was Ariel doing this? Why did this have to happen now?! Why Ariel? Why not some random hobo who'd hoped to steal... a pair of pants or something? I should get Dare, he thought, then Sh~, he'd know I was leaving! But what the hell else was he supposed to do? Go up and help Ariel and throw out all the walls he'd built?! I hate you for doing this to me, Ariel! Despite everything screaming in his mind to just walk out and let the bastard suffer, he found himself stalking toward the stairs and up, anger and annoyance sounding in every footstep.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 14, 2009 20:36:27 GMT -5
Ariel was already feeling the nagging need for a smoke, only the beginning of what he knew was going to come later on as the weekend progressed. He had even given up his Sundays, which had been his recuperation days, since the last time he had seen Markise. It had gotten to where he was lucky to get back to school by the time the gates closed on Sunday nights. The sound of Markise coming up the stairs was both a relief and a shock of fear. Even with how bad off he knew he was, Ariel knew there was a chance Markise would kick him out. He closed his eyes tightly.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 14, 2009 20:48:33 GMT -5
Markise reached the top of the stairs and his eyes did a quick sweep of the room. He did a double-take at the crumpled form on the mattress in front of the abandoned futon. F~. His hands speared through his hair, leaving a far less artful mess in their wake. He didn't want to deal with this. He didn't want to help Ariel, he wanted to go. Go and contact the authorities after all. Ariel had finally gotten what Markise had warned him about. There was a spike of unwelcome schadenfreude at the thought. Markise shook his head in near-disbelief. He wasn't doing this. This wasn't his problem. And yet he hadn't left.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 14, 2009 20:53:32 GMT -5
When Markise's feet stopped, Ariel forced his eyes to open and search him out. "Please don't go," he pleaded. "I'm sorry for everything...I just...I need you now..." He closed his eyes again and gritted his teeth, then pushed himself to sit, wincing. "I'm sorry I broke in. I'm sorry for what I said last time." He opened his eyes to look up at Markise. Please?
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 14, 2009 21:03:10 GMT -5
Markise gave Ariel a look of utter helplessness and despair. How could he do this? Every f~ing time. I hate you, Ariel. I hate you so much. He hated that Ariel could do this to him. I need you now... "What am I supposed to do?" He tried to ignore the bruises, tried desperately not to look at them, but there were so many. He didn't want to feel sorry for Ariel. "I could get a Healer..."
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 14, 2009 21:06:34 GMT -5
Ariel closed his eyes and shook his head. "A healer would turn me in," he said softly. "Or find my brother." What had he expected Markise to do, anyway? He didn't know, but he didn't know what to do! Markise was the only person he trusted. "Besides...I couldn't pay for one," he added, a tired bitterness tinging his voice.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 14, 2009 21:10:46 GMT -5
Markise gritted his teeth at that. He didn't want to know. Ariel had been hoarding money for months now, so he supposed it would only make sense that he'd want to hoard it now. "I can pay for one." Markise said, Ariel's bitterness echoing back. "You're legal, they don't need to find him anyway." You deserve to be turned in.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 14, 2009 21:13:41 GMT -5
"No," Ariel said, his eyes opening so he could look up at Markise. "I'm not letting you pay for a healer, it'd be too expensive. If I could pay, I would." But he couldn't. He closed his eyes again and tried to calm himself down. It was hard to, when all his muscles were so tense. Finally, he looked up again. "I came to you because you're the only person I trust."
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 14, 2009 21:22:06 GMT -5
Markise's eyes darkened, and he only just kept them from narrowing. There had been so long, so many, many times that he'd wished he could hear that, and now that he did, it felt empty. He felt empty. It was strange to realize that he didn't want Ariel's trust anymore. His heart ached, but it was an empty ache. It didn't really do anything. "I have the better part of fifty thousand Galleons at Gringotts, Ariel. I think I can afford a Healer."
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 14, 2009 21:26:08 GMT -5
"What am I supposed to tell a Healer, Markise?" Ariel demanded. "Should I just walk up to them and say hello madame, last night I was robbed, beaten, and raped because I screwed everything up. Oh, and by the way, do you have any smokes on you? Yes, I'm sure that will get me the best care," he finished bitterly, then closed his eyes as his heavy breathing sent pain through his chest.
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