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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 28, 2009 17:09:07 GMT -5
Ariel hadn't stayed in his dorm long, just long enough to relax for a few minutes and change so that he could swim. Soon, he was out in the water, his clothes left behind in a neat pile atop a flat rock by the shore. It was so good to be in the water again, and his mind was clear for the first time in months. Even confusing thoughts about Markise weren't intruding just yet.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 28, 2009 17:50:06 GMT -5
Markise was only late by a minute or two, but that was enough to raise his nerves even more; he hadn't any time at all to relax since the last time he saw Ariel. He hadn't been able to find an empty bathroom to relieve one kind of tension, though he'd destroyed a couple boxes of cigarettes and given the matches to a questionable-looking 7th year. Then he'd headed toward the lake early only to find DareandMichael.
He'd needed to talk to Dare anyway, and it was about Michael, so he'd stopped, intending to say what needed said, then take off. And had been accosted, ganged-up on, and talked into staying at Hogwarts for another month. To attend something he dreaded. And now he had to ask Ariel to go, too.
Markise's lips were pressed together, and the thought of chewing gum without constant bubble-blowing wasn't helping at all. As soon as he knew he was in the right place, he picked a spot in the shade and sat down.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 28, 2009 18:06:38 GMT -5
Ariel only glanced at the shore once in a while once his mind was cleared and he could think again. He noticed that Markise was there, but he stayed out in the water a few minutes longer. It was an opportunity to try to clear up some of his thoughts about everything else that was going on and getting ready to happen. Eventually, he made his way back to shore and toward his clothes and wand. He would probably get back in later, but he didn't feel like he would be right not to get dressed.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 28, 2009 19:08:07 GMT -5
Seeing Ariel get out of the water pulled Markise from his thoughts in an instant. He watched as subtly as he knew how, but it was more than enough, and by the time Ariel had neared, Markise had dragged his gaze away. He couldn't handle much more than that. One hand swept through his hair, then settled with the other, wrapped lightly around pulled-up knees. "Hey," he said, allowing himself just one last quick glance. Somehow he'd expected Ariel to just stay in the water.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 28, 2009 19:18:51 GMT -5
Ariel nodded to Markise and returned the greeting before he tugged his shirt down over his unbuckled pants. He had no reason to worry about a belt buckle when he still fully intended to get back in the water sometime. Then he went and sat down by Markise, resting his arms on his knees. "I think I'm going to be out here a lot this week."
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 28, 2009 19:54:46 GMT -5
Markise glanced over at Ariel again, then looked anywhere but at him or the water, where he'd just picture Ariel swimming anyway. "It's a good place to go," he said. And Markise told himself firmly that even if he dug out his swim trunks, he wasn't allowed to go in with Ariel.
He had a vivid memory of their first time in the lake together and that uncontrolled kiss after. Ariel's denial after. It was strange to remember how hard Ariel had fought it. Thoughts of that other time in the lake together weren't any better. He tried to shake the thoughts off, but it had been so good.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 28, 2009 20:06:44 GMT -5
Ariel nodded and then shifted to lay back in the grass. He rested his hands on his stomach rather than beneath his head, determined not to show more than necessary if he could help it. If at all possible, he wanted to keep anything from happening that would make moving in together even more awkward. "I'd better enjoy it while I can." The lake was empty, and it sounded like anywhere he found in New York would be anything but.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 28, 2009 20:15:29 GMT -5
Markise found himself following Ariel's movements back, despite knowing he could control himself. He'd done it for years! Even Dare hadn't caught him. He worked to keep track of the conversation, as thin a strand of it as there was, and kept his eyes at an appropriate level despite temptation. "We'll find you someplace," he promised. "There's gotta be somewhere serious swimmers go, they can't all be at gyms and public pools." He wanted so badly to lie down beside Ariel.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 28, 2009 20:29:41 GMT -5
Ariel nodded absently and closed his eyes to enjoy the heat of the sun. He liked being outside, he wasn't meant to be in the city. But he would tolerate it, and maybe even end up liking it, though he doubted it would happen like that. He didn't try to think of the possibility that he would be locked up without being able to be outside as much as he wanted to like he had during the winter here.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 28, 2009 20:49:53 GMT -5
Oh, this was bad. Ariel was just lying there in the sun all bronzes and golds, with his eyes closed. Markise couldn't resist looking, though his gaze flickered repeatedly to Ariel's face to be sure he wouldn't get caught. The fact that Ariel's abdomen was covered did little good. Even if Markise didn't have his particular talent for seeing straight through clothing, he knew what Ariel was hiding anyway. His voice was softer by the time he thought to speak again. "If you wanted, I could owl Rand, ask him to start looking," he offered. It was getting increasingly more difficult to bring his gaze back up.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 28, 2009 21:06:14 GMT -5
Ariel opened his eyes slightly and looked over at Markise. "If you think he'd be able to find a place," he said. He didn't know about sending someone else to find somewhere for him to go, but it would probably be easier for someone that had lived there to find something than for him to try. Maybe he just needed to learn to trust other people and use them when he needed to.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 28, 2009 21:14:48 GMT -5
Markise silently thanked whatever stroke of luck had drawn his eyes up before Ariel's had opened. At least, he hoped they'd been up. "If he couldn't he'd ask one of the guys, but he's the only one I could owl." The rest had phones, most of the time anyway. For some, it depended how well things were going whether they could pay for one. Now that Ariel's eyes were open, even just partway, Markise was having trouble again. He blinked and dragged his gaze away before it got to be too much.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 28, 2009 21:21:37 GMT -5
"Okay," Ariel said, then looked up at the thin white clouds. He didn't usually watch clouds, it wasn't his thing, but at least it was something to focus on. "If we're going to be there three months, I'd hope they can find somewhere." Or he knew he would go insane. He was going to anyway, he thought, but he couldn't imagine it would help if he was stuck working or staying in the apartment all the time.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 28, 2009 21:27:04 GMT -5
Three months. Markise nearly cringed at that. He licked his lips and focused out over the water, twirling a lock of hair as tried and failed to put together what he needed to say. There was no way to, though. He'd have to just say it and hope for the best. "DareandMichael want me to go to their fake wedding at the end of June," he said, introducing the topic, though he knew Ariel would rather just have it all at once. "You're invited so I can go." He held his breath for a reaction.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 28, 2009 21:34:24 GMT -5
Ariel's eyes opened wider and his eyes snapped to Markise again. Then his eyebrows came together as he tried to make sense of it. Dare and Michael's fake wedding? He was invited? "But...okay?" What was he supposed to say about that? Did it mean that they were going to stay? "So...we're not leaving after term is over?" he asked, unsure.
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