Sunday (Dare/Michael)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael smiled at Elouai, she hadn't gotten the hang of actually catching the ball yet, though he knew she could eventually if they worked at it. He could see people nearby, and a couple that were watching Elouai, but when he turned his attention back to Dare and Elouai, it was like they were alone. "She'll get it eventually."

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare nodded as he squatted down, reaching for Elouai as she dropped the ball to the grass. "She's still just a baby," he said, ruffling her fur. Her head ducked down and she pushed the ball toward him, earning a chuckle and a firm pat as he scooped it up. "You ready?" he asked. Elouai gave no response other than the prick of her ears and her full attention on the ball. He launched it across the grass again.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Elouai missed again, but that didn't take away from her obvious excitement at playing. He turned his camera towards Elouai, unable to stall any more, and snapped a picture as she trotted back to them. "It'll be so strange not to see her for a week," he said as he took the picture and tucked it into his pocket.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare nodded again, pulling Elouai into a hug this time. "We'll have to keep ourselves busy," he said, looking over Elouai. He gave Michael a look that said exactly how busy he'd like to keep, and a crooked smile before he got an earful of dog tongue. "Elouai," he groaned, though he laughed as he pulled back.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael laughed lightly at Elouai and then sat back on the blanket, camera in hand. "We should find out what all there is to do there where we'll be," he said. Though he knew that they would be spending a lot of their time alone in their room, he didn't want to give up the chance to see the sights when he didn't know if they would ever go back.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"We should," Dare agreed. He grabbed the ball and stood again, faking a throw that didn't fool Elouai for a second. She stayed in place, waiting for him to actually throw it, and he ruffled her ears before obliging. "We need to figure out where we're staying," he realized. "Have you looked into that?" Dare knew he hadn't, and he didn't know how far ahead you were supposed to reserve hotel rooms.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"A little, it'll be expensive no matter where we stay." Well, they could stay somewhere cheap for the week, but Michael wanted to spend the time in a nice hotel, preferably in a nice room where they could forget everything else for a while. "There's one that has a special for people on their honeymoon." He could only imagine what all that meant.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's lips curved, and his chest expanded with the feel of his heart as he looked at Michael. He was too caught on the idea of them being on their honeymoon, and on something special to actually think about what the special was. He assumed it had to do with price. "And their special will work for us?" he asked as Elouai ran up. Even with London's general open-mindedness, he couldn't imagine being that accepted. They still couldn't get married, after all.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked down and examined the camera as he thought. "I...I don't know, I remember reading something about a couple of the places being gay-friendly. I don't see why they wouldn't have something for people like us." Could they really turn them away just because they weren't a traditional couple? Michael didn't want to think about that, because he thought they could probably turn away anyone they wanted to.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare took the ball absently from Elouai this time and launched it as far as he thought safe to give them just a bit more time. Then he turned back to the blanket, sitting next to Michael. He brought his hand over to settle against Michael's thigh. "I wasn't trying to be a downer," he said. "I just... I don't know, I'm kind of used to it by now." The looks and the attitudes that were so common, both in Diagon Alley and at Hogwarts. It was rare in London, but it still happened now and then.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked over at Dare and shook his head, "You're fine." He hadn't considered it really a downer, just something he hadn't truly thought about. "I just...didn't consider that a hotel could turn us away or anything. It's not like people, who won't make money off us, you know?" So far, establishments themselves hadn't done anything to them, only the people they met.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Understanding lit Dare's eyes. "That's not what I meant," he said. "I meant about the honeymoon thing. I mean, if we're not allowed to get married, maybe it wouldn't count as a honeymoon?" He shook his head, then looked up to see Elouai trotting back. "France doesn't have marriage, but I don't know." Elouai stopped in front of Dare and Michael expectantly, and Dare gestured for her to give him the ball again.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael let out a light ohhh and his eyebrows came together. "I don't know," he said, watching Elouai as she plopped the ball down for Dare. "I can look into it," he said, "Or we could always stop by that store and see if they have books or brochures or something." Surely the little shop would have something that would help them out.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare gave a small shrug as he took the ball, then threw it for Elouai. He thought about it for a moment, then looked over at Michael. "I think I saw a honeymoon book there," he said, then quickly looked back out toward Elouai. As far as Michael knew, he'd only been there once, and he was fine with Michael continuing to think as much. "I wonder how long til she wears herself out," he said, gesturing to where Elouai was showing off attacking her ball.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael watched Elouai and shrugged, "Knowing her?" She could play for hours before being ready to sleep or rest. But she was also using up her energy really quickly because of how excited she was. "She'll get tired soon enough," was his eventual vague answer. His mind was still very much on the trip to France.