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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 3, 2009 8:46:26 GMT -5
Dare radiated energy as he made his way down the main street of Hogsmeade. If the fact that he hadn't spent nearly as much time with Michael today as he'd gotten used to wasn't enough, he'd heard about a photography and art shop. Photography and art! He couldn't help thinking that this could be the chance he'd been looking for.
For today, he only intended to look at the place and get its measure. If it was what his admittedly active imagination thought it was, he was going to need to get together a portfolio, and his portfolio would be best if he knew what the current owner already had.
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Post by Lalita Harshini on Aug 3, 2009 12:59:49 GMT -5
The little Jasmine had said about a studio kept Lalita curious. Or a least it was what Jasmine had said, that she thought she saw something like a studio that had peeked her interest. So, it wasn't a surprise when Lalita made her way down Hogsmeade to search for it. A few minutes into her search she caught site of someone who looked familiar. He's really tall and has a lip ring and his hair is black with all these funky colors in it. Ivy's description of the so called Dare was exactly this guy. Lalita knew she had never met him, but she sure had heard of him. She thought back to the conversation she had with Ivy. Then, putting on her best smile she walked over to him. "Excuse me, but do you know where the new art shop is? I've been wanting to check it out but have no idea where it is. I was told that it was in Hogsmeade but that's all I know." She figured the art topic would be a good way to start. Besides she really did want to know where it was.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 3, 2009 13:14:36 GMT -5
Dare blinked in momentary surprise at being pulled out of his thoughts, and blinked again at the sight of the girl addressing him. Asking where the art shop is, he corrected himself. He couldn't help the spark of excitement that lit his mossy green eyes. "I'm heading there now," he admitted, then gestured lightly down the street. "Down there, by the candy shop."
With his mind already on art, Dare had a hard time keeping it from wandering to the girl. Her face was so exotic for being so soft. He loved visual paradoxes; one of the reasons he'd been so drawn to Michael was the mixture of inscrutable emotions always hiding beneath the facade of distance.
"So, are you an artist, then?" Dare asked after a moment. On one hand, he'd had little contact with other artists since the beginning of the year, but on the other hand, if she was hoping for a job at the same place he was, it might have been a better idea to play stupid. Too late, he thought.
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Post by Lalita Harshini on Aug 3, 2009 13:22:39 GMT -5
"Depends on what you mean by artist. I don't draw but I consider the way I express myself art. I'm a model. I assume you are an artist?" Lalita already knew the answer so she took the time to assess this guy. Ivy was right that he was really tall, but she being tall at a lean 5"8 did not feel short compared to him. He also had the colorful hair, something that actually looked really fascinating. Before her observing turned into a stare, Lalita turned to look in the direction he gestured in. " Oh and mind if I accompany you since we are going to the same place?" It was a question, but Lalita knew she wouldn't accept any answer but yes.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 3, 2009 13:29:55 GMT -5
"Yeah, sure," Dare said. A model. He was glad he'd spent so many years unobtrusively observing people as they continued on their way. One hand rose to rub lightly at the back of his neck a moment before he pushed at his fringe, moving it aside only briefly before it fell back into place. "I want to be an artist," he said at last. "I figure it doesn't count if no one wants it." And yet Michael had once told him, I am a guy who likes to draw. You are an artist. His lips curved slightly at the thought.
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Post by Lalita Harshini on Aug 3, 2009 13:39:58 GMT -5
"You want to be an artist? Anyone who chooses any creative way to express themselves is an artist. regardless if people want it or not." Lalita said this so matter-of-factly that it was almost as if she expected everyone to know it. Then with a small shrug she looked at Dare, "What do you do? Draw, write, paint, take pictures, or something else?"
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 3, 2009 13:51:45 GMT -5
"Draw, mostly," Dare answered. "Paint is expensive, but I love painting too, and I've done some ceramics work. I'm not much of a writer, that's my brother's thing." Dare caught himself before he went on a tangent about his art and attempted to be polite. "So what kind of modeling do you do? Like, magazines?" Without looking too obviously, he could see her modeling fashion.
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Post by Lalita Harshini on Aug 3, 2009 14:03:07 GMT -5
"Ah," Lalita nodded. So he drew, she had basically already known that, but at least he confirmed it. And he had a brother, Lalita would try to remember that in case it would be important later on, she doubted it, but it never hurt to know too much. "And whatever I can get really. Lot's of clothing ads and a few fashion shows but that's not too interesting. What do you draw?" Nobody wanted to hear about girl dressed in hundred dollar jumpers and walking down a narrow stage in 5" heels. Plus, she needed to know more about him in case any sort of plan would work out.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 3, 2009 14:19:25 GMT -5
"About everything," Dare said. "Whatever's interesting. I did a lot of landscapes and perspectives when I first got to Hogwarts, then got into light, then portraits. I wanted to try figure studies, but I can't find any classes. I draw a lot of Michael..." His eyes sparked and his lips curved into just a shadow of his crooked smile as he thought back to the last drawing he'd done of Michael, on their honeymoon. He'd finally gotten his wish for a figure study model.
Dare blinked and focused when he caught himself, then glanced aside at the girl he was walking with. "I'm sorry, I haven't even introduced myself," he said, pausing on the sidewalk. "I'm Dare. Dare Blackwood-Hardt." His smile broadened. He wondered how long saying it would give him such a thrill.
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Post by Lalita Harshini on Aug 3, 2009 14:33:14 GMT -5
It was the first mention of Michael spoken by anyone other than Ivy and Lalita was tempted to ask about Michael some more but the way he looked so happy about the mention of the conjoined last names and his love made her pause. First, her introduction was in order. "Nice to meet you Dare. I'm Lalita Harshini. Blackwood-Hardt? I gather you are one of the grooms from the ceremony I heard so much about?"
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 3, 2009 14:41:50 GMT -5
Dare brushed ineffectually at his fringe again, then nodded, his smile both exultant and sheepish at once. "Yeah, the Headmistress was great with all that. It was..." He shook his head lightly. "It was perfect. I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear about all that. I'm just..." He gestured lightly with one hand. "Happy," he settled on. Normally he wouldn't have even mentioned Michael, not with all the negative reactions they'd gotten since the Daily Prophet had outed them, but their honeymoon still lingered in his mind, and he was still euphoric half the time thinking about it.
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Post by Lalita Harshini on Aug 4, 2009 14:07:07 GMT -5
Happy, he was happy. For a moment Lalita doubted the plan. If everyone was happy then what was the problem? Her good sense told her that what they were going to do would be cruel and unneeded but she thought about the position Ivy was in and shook the thoughts from her mind. They were going to do this. Putting on her best smile she said, "That's great that you both became public about everything." Her smile lessened and she said vaguely, "Some people aren't that brave."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 4, 2009 14:27:32 GMT -5
Dare looked aside at Lalita, one brow arching slightly from behind his fringe. "We weren't that brave," he told her. He wondered for a moment how new to the area she was, but realized that it had been over eight months that they'd been out, most of last term. "Somehow the Daily Prophet found out and printed it in the gossip column. It wasn't pretty." There's the understatement of the year. He looked away again, down the street in the direction of the shops.
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Post by Lalita Harshini on Aug 4, 2009 14:36:15 GMT -5
"Still though, the fact you both stayed together and dealt with everything seems couragous. People can be very....unaccepting sometimes," Although this entire friendship --if it became one-- was fake, at least what she was saying was true. She knew from experience how difficult people could be sometimes. Looking back at Dare she shrugged, "But anyway, is your Michael and artist as well?" She switched the subject, hoping to learn a little more about who she was dealing with.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 4, 2009 19:47:20 GMT -5
Dare nodded. "He doesn't think he is, but yeah. He is." Your Michael. Dare couldn't wait to get home to see his Michael, but he needed to see this shop first. "The difference is," Dare went on, "he draws as a hobby, and I want to make a career out of it." He wanted so badly to be able to tell Michael that he'd finally found something, that he'd be able to earn something from his studio while Michael worked.
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