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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 9:17:03 GMT -5
Dare had forgotten how quiet the school was after dark. Students were out, there was no question about that, but they tended to keep to themselves, wary of Filch and Mrs. Norris, roaming prefects, and professors. They were professors now, though it didn't feel any different to be here. What felt different was having Michael with him and Elouai bounding ahead over the grass, her leash tucked into his pocket.
The end of the leash swung with every step, tapping lightly against his faded black jeans, the only sound besides his and Michael's breaths on the sultry late spring air, the pounding of paws on grass and the huff of Elouai's panting. The castle itself could have been asleep already.
Michael had told him once that he loved moonlight. The moon was still waxing, but its light shed a milky glow over the world as they walked toward their old spot by the lake. The water rippled here and there, diamonds dancing into view on its surface, then fading with the motion. The air was heavy and still, hot, humid, nearly oppressive. It felt like the world had disappeared except for them.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 12:37:35 GMT -5
Michael slid an arm around Dare's waist as they walked. "I think it was a good idea to bring her here," he said. He wasn't quite sure what they would do with her when they started working at the school full-time, but keeping her locked up in the apartment just didn't seem right. Students were allowed pets in the school, he wondered if they would be allowed to bring her, especially if it wasn't every day.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 14:07:15 GMT -5
Dare nodded, but didn't reply. His stride had slowed a bit, a reflex on school grounds from his desire not to mow over first years who got in his path, and maybe his thoughts had slowed a bit as well. The tension in his body remained, but for now he had shoved it down again. "When was the last time you were here?" he asked, glancing aside. He could only see bits of Michael's profile illuminated in the moonlight, but his mind filled in the rest.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 14:13:33 GMT -5
"At the lake?" Michael shook his head, "I don't remember. Before the ceremony, definitely, probably when we talked to Markise that one time." When they had talked him into coming. His mind started speeding through times spent at the lake, times when they hadn't even cared if someone saw them making out in the grass. A smile spread over his lips as the memories came. "Remember when we got in?" It had only happened once, and there hadn't really been a good ending, but most of it was a good memory. "You gave me that rose."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 14:18:56 GMT -5
Dare's lips curved into a crooked smile. "Yeah, I remember," he said. How could he forget? He'd gotten a hellish sunburn and when they'd holed up in the Room of Requirement... He shook that thought off. He'd come to terms with it, but there were still mixed feelings about what had happened. Dare's gaze traced the lines of Michael's face a moment longer before he looked forward again. "It's warm tonight," he said casually. "Not raining, either."
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 14:29:49 GMT -5
"We never did go swimming again," Michael said, looking up at Dare. "Wouldn't have to worry about a sunburn..." Was he really thinking what he thought he was? They certainly hadn't planned on getting in the water, they didn't exactly have the appropriate clothing... It would be something new, wouldn't it? Maybe tonight was the night he could pull out of himself enough to actually try doing new things with Dare.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 14:36:58 GMT -5
Dare's smile widened, and even in the pale moonlight, his eyes glittered. "Let's do it, then," he said. He leaned down to press a kiss to Michael's lips, then straightened, his muscles tensing in preparation. Then he pulled away, turning to trot backwards in front of Michael. "I'll race you," he said, then turned and took off toward the lake at a run, Elouai veering to follow.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 14:53:04 GMT -5
Michael grinned and followed soon after, glad his eyes had adjusted to the light given off by the pale moon and the many stars. Hands found buttons, causing him to lose speed, though it meant that as soon as he got close enough he could plunge right in. He wasn't about to jump in clothes and all, though had he thought about it it would probably have given him pause. There was no one around to see them, anyway.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Dare didn't think about all the clothing he was wearing until he was in sight of the water. He skidded to a stop beneath a tree and tore off his arm warmers, laughing though he cursed all the accessories he had to get out of the way. His shirt came off over his head and landed in a pile, his canvas shoes got kicked aside, and without a thought he reached for his belt buckle. It wasn't until it was free that he looked up, his heart beating wildly. What were the chances that anyone else would show up? He went for the button to his pants, his grin returned.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 15:42:21 GMT -5
Michael caught up by the time his own shirt was off and quickly caught up with Dare, his shirt tossed over at Dare. Elouai was there, too, hopping around excitedly at the feel she got from the two of them. He barely hesitated at his own pants, he knew that if he had he might have stopped himself from doing this. "I'll be the first in the water," he said, finishing off and heading for the lake. He had come such a long way from being uncomfortable with something as small as having his shirt off, even if he still wasn't nearly as comfortable with himself as Dare was.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 15:59:08 GMT -5
If Dare's pants had been as loose as Michael's he would have dropped them and run, but as it was, Michael had a few seconds' lead by the time he took off again. He leaned into the run, long legs eating up the distance until Michael was almost at the edge of the water. Then he jumped on Michael's back with a teasing war cry, arms wrapping around his shoulders. "We're going in together!" he exclaimed.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 16:09:51 GMT -5
Michael grunted and stumbled at the sudden addition of Dare's weight, but held on long enough to make it a few steps into the water before toppling them over. "Not fair!" he claimed, laughing as he pulled his head from the water to fight his way from Dare. "I should have won that one." He definitely should have won that one, but he didn't particularly mind the action.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 16:39:04 GMT -5
Dare's response was laughter as he let Michael go and headed deeper into the water. "I'll let you win next time," he taunted. He splashed away, paying no attention to Elouai's excited bark at the edge of the water. He was getting the energy out, doing something, and for once it wasn't the same thing they did every week.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 16:45:40 GMT -5
Michael followed, taking a breath to dive under as soon as they were out deep enough to go after Dare's legs and give them a good jerk. Why hadn't they thought of doing this before? Well, he wasn't so sure he would have been up for it if it had been planned. Spur of the moment, however, was completely different, he was much more willing to do things when he hadn't had the time to think about it.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 17, 2010 19:10:57 GMT -5
Dare felt himself go under and had a moment of déjà vu. He came up sputtering and tossed his head, but with his hair soaked, it continued to stick to his face. He wiped it away the best he could and turned, looking for Michael with no hope until he surfaced. It was too dark to see him coming. "If you wanted my hair in curls you could just ask," he said. Where was he?
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