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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 12:28:59 GMT -5
"Actually, no there's not," Michael pointed out, though he knew that wasn't the main point of the conversation. Why did Markise have to be so hard? There was always something going on with him, though...there was always something going on with both him and Dare as well. He closed his eyes briefly and looked down at his bottle.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 14:26:51 GMT -5
"Markise, you've watched her before, and we know she likes you," Dare pointed out. "Besides me and Michael, you're the person she likes best, and I trust you not to kill her." He knew how horrible a conversation this could be, but with Michael next to him, supporting him, it was so much easier to keep a level head. Markise was never easy, but Dare knew how to get to him just as easy as Markise got to him.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 26, 2009 14:33:29 GMT -5
Markise's brows drew together, and he looked determinedly down at a piece of grass he was tearing apart. "I... just can't," he pleaded. He looked up at Dare, silently begging him not to ask, not to make him list out reasons. He didn't want to go, but even aside from that, there was no way he'd leave Ariel alone that long. Ariel didn't need that kind of temptation so soon, he didn't need to be left alone long enough to get to London and back.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 14:43:57 GMT -5
Michael looked up at Dare. Why did Markise think he couldn't stay? He wanted to know what had happened that was so bad to make Markise so insistent on leaving. His eyes turned to Markise, the question in his eyes though he didn't speak. He felt like it was Dare's place to ask Markise the questions, but he would add in when he saw fit.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 14:49:41 GMT -5
Dare's mind went the same way Michael's had. Whatever reason Markise had, it looked like he thought it was serious. Dare didn't like it at all, he had a bad feeling he didn't want to know, but there wasn't much choice. He wanted Markise there. "If you can't, then I want to know why," he said, looking levelly at Markise. He'd try not to get angry, but he wasn't going to let this go, and his eyes said as much.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 26, 2009 14:54:37 GMT -5
Markise's brows knitted further, and he abandoned the grass to twist a lock of hair nervously around his finger. He'd made the mistake of looking at Dare, and this time he couldn't look away. He couldn't lie to Dare, it was impossible, and even if he tried, Dare would know.
"You'll hate me if I tell you," he said softly. Maybe hate was too strong a word, but he couldn't imagine that Dare wouldn't go off on him, nor could he imagine Michael defending him if Dare went postal.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 14:57:02 GMT -5
Michael's eyebrows raised slightly at Markise's words and then he looked over at Dare. He itched to take Dare's hand now, before anything could happen, but he wanted to be able to do something when and if Dare started to get out of control. So he kept both hands firmly wrapped around the bottle. He knew he wouldn't hate Markise, and he didn't think Dare could either, but Dare could get angry.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 15:15:49 GMT -5
Now Dare's brows drew together, but he didn't break his gaze from Markise's. He had quite a few thoughts of things Markise could say that would royally piss him off, but you'll hate me was way too vague. "Try me," he said. There was no way Markise was ditching his non-wedding without a damned good reason, and this time, Markise wasn't going to change the subject.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 26, 2009 15:22:30 GMT -5
Markise's heart was beating hard enough before that disapproving look. Markise could handle Dare being pissed at something else, even if he was taking it out on him, but this was so different. His fingers slowed in his hair, and somehow he managed a glance over to Michael, who wasn't staring him down like Dare was. He looked back at Dare, then dropped his gaze, trying to think of the least damaging way to say it all.
"A couple weeks ago, one of my friends went into St. Mungo's and... I just can't go, we've gotta get away from London." He glanced up, hoping they could understand that much. Maybe they wouldn't need the rest?
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 15:31:48 GMT -5
Michael had the distinct feeling he knew who that friend was, and he had the feeling that Dare's mind would go to exactly the same person. He reached over for Dare's hand. This wasn't going to be pretty, and it looked like he might not have much time to try and help Dare keep calm. It looked like he was already close to losing it.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 15:41:36 GMT -5
Dare didn't shift his gaze from Markise, and it took him some time to remember Michael beside him, even with that offered hand. He paused a noticeable amount of time before setting his hand on Michael's. "Why does your friend need out of London, and why are you taking him home?" he asked, his voice just as level, though thick with tension. Markise had damn well better be talking about Annabelle, even if Dare knew better.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 26, 2009 15:47:42 GMT -5
They knew. Somehow both of them had put it together, Markise could tell, but Dare was giving him a chance. There was nothing to do but tell, and maybe Dare wouldn't want him at his ceremony thing anymore. Then he wouldn't have to feel like he was ditching it or being a bad friend. "He was having trouble with..." Markise flicked a brief, but pointed glance at Michael before looking back at Dare. "With drugs," he went on. "I took him to the hospital and he wants to clean up, so I'm... making sure he doesn't run off to London or anything. I'm taking him home so he can try again. Just as a friend," he added.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 15:52:56 GMT -5
Michael didn't miss the look Markise had given him, and gave a very slight nod to show he had seen. He hadn't known Ariel had been dealing with drugs, though, so his expression quickly turned to surprise. He linked his fingers through Dare's and tightened his hand a little. If Ariel really wanted to get better... Not that he liked Ariel any more, but he couldn't hold everything against him if he decided to try and fix himself, especially if he succeeded and kept it up.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on May 26, 2009 16:06:05 GMT -5
Dare let out a heavy sigh, and though his brows eased, he shook his head as he looked away. He adjusted his hand a bit against Michael's as he tried to think, but what was he supposed to do? Tell Markise that someone he hardly knew should be dropped back off in the gutter? "We're talking about Ariel, right?" he asked, glancing back at Markise just long enough to catch a nod before looking out over the water. "So you're pretty much escorting him around," he clarified. That was something he was familiar with.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 26, 2009 16:14:41 GMT -5
Markise's eyes lit with hope at the change in Dare's mood, and at him understanding. "Sort of," he answered. "I check in with him enough that he couldn't get to London without me knowing." At which point, he'd be done with Ariel and go back to plan A, dropping out. If it was odd that Ariel had so much more freedom than Dare had, it was only because it would have been so much easier for Dare to slip. And he loved Dare, whether he'd admit it or not. "I couldn't come, not unless he could, too." A large part of him hoped that was asking too much.
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