Explorations (Adara and Emilian)

[Adara Snow]

Adara's confusion melted into a frown at Emilian's declaration. Not to mention Michael's now-obvious goal of pushing Emilian away from her. She caught Michael's last jab and straightened, unable to sit watching when she knew the likelihood that Emilian would take the hit without comment.

"Michael," she called, drawing his attention in soft, gently curious tones. "Do you claim to know everything about Emilian? Every motive and goal? Are you omniscient?" She believed that Emilian had held back for her. He had told her far more than he would ever admit under the guise of her story.

"Or, perhaps," she continued, "could I have made the decision on my own to come here?" She lowered her voice further, forcing him to listen to make out the words. "I do not wish to make an enemy of you. Please show me the same courtesy and think of my feelings before assembling insults, however mild."

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian looked over his shoulder at Adara, telling her with his eyes to stay out of it, all the while knowing that it was a useless gesture. Then again, why should he care if she insulted Michael? It wasn't as though Michael meant anything to him. He shut his eyes, knowing that it was a lie, knowing that Michael would have known it was a lie, as he turned his head back to Michael. "Believe me, you won't win an argument against Adara. So you might as well leave."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael ignored Emilian and looked into Adara's face, purposefully keeping his eyes above her neck even though she was fully covered. "I don't claim to know everything about Emilian, but I've known him a lot longer than you have. It's also fairly obvious that you chose to come to him, it's the same thing that countless people have done. Most of which I have been witness to."

[Adara Snow]

Adara tilted her head slightly in acceptance of Michael's words. "But you assume that I do not know these things. Perhaps I want nothing more than what he's offered me." A truth only if one accepted the perhaps as her disclaimer. That, and the knowledge that he offered to have her as long as she'd have him.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian didn't like where the whole conversation was going, it was hard to not silence Adara and he knew that Michael wouldn't listen even if he tried. He didn't want two people who knew so much about him, and knew him so well to speak, especially not about him. He took a couple of more steps towards Michael, "Leave," he said, trying to not sound like he was pleading though he had the uncomfortable feeling that it translated in the low way he said the word.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael pulled his eyes from Adara's and looked into Emilian's. They were nearly even in height and, if they had both been fully clothed, it would have been a rather intense moment, the two of them standing there. He fought with himself over mentioning that Emilian only ever had feelings for one person, but his more masculine side wouldn't let the thought cross his mind for more than a second, much less come from his lips.

"Fine. Adara," he said, looking back up. "I pray that you don't want more than he's willing to give." He turned and left, shutting the door firmly behind him. He hadn't wanted to leave the two of them in the room together, but it was seeming more and more like he had no choice.

[Adara Snow]

Adara released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. There was so much between Michael and Emilian that she didn't understand. There had been a palpable charge in the air that last moment, and Adara hesitated even to think too long about it. She looked at Emilian from beneath her lashes, hoping she hadn't upset him too badly by bringing up things that neither boy had wanted to discuss.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian stayed facing the door for a few long moments before he turned and started searching for his clothes. He was silent as he dressed, it seemed like every single encounter he had with Michael left him tense and stressed. When he picked up his shirt he caught an unavoidable glimpse of Adara's face and he came over beside the bed. "Don't look at me like that, you didn't do anything."

[Adara Snow]

Adara chewed her lip a moment before glancing pointedly at Emilian's now-dressed form. "Do you not want me now?" she asked, still mindlessly clutching a handful of sheet over her chest. Adara could think of no other reason that he would suddenly have no visible appetite for his usual activities.

[Emilian Sota]

"I still want you. But right now it wouldn't be fair to you." He wouldn't be able to concentrate enough to give her what she had the right to have. "Michael just...." he trailed off, shaking his head and looking away from her. He wondered if she would ever figure out that Michael was the one that he cared about.

[Adara Snow]

It wouldn't be fair to her. Emilian was trying so hard, performing the actions of one who cared, even if he would never recognize even the faintest beginnings. "Will you tell me?" she asked, her dark eyes showing no judgment. "How did you and Michael fall out?" Theirs must have been a strong friendship for there to be such anger between them now.

[Emilian Sota]

"There was no falling out. We've known each other since he was a baby, I'm just a few months older. I was always with him, sort of to keep him in line I suppose." It made sense to tell Adara, she already knew nearly everything there was to know about him. "And then he decided to come here for his last year of school and well, he changed. He was a death eater and he switched sides." Emilian sat down on the bed, his back to her, and put his elbows on his knees, playing with his shirt. "We stopped hearing from him and they told me to come here and.....he's changed so much. I almost don't recognize him anymore."

[Adara Snow]

Adara shifted, moving to kneel behind Emilian and letting go of the sheet to lightly stroke his back. She wished that she could help him, but she knew so little of such things, having never had a friend so close. It was obvious that Emilian loved Michael, though the idea of romantic love didn't yet occur to Adara.

[Emilian Sota]

Even the light touches on his back struggled to cause any sensation on his skin. Any other time they would have driven him wild, but Emilian's mind was still full of thoughts of Michael. "I just wish..." he said in a soft voice, then trailed off. He shook his head, "But wishing is no good, a wish won't get you anything."

[Adara Snow]

"It's all right, Emilian," Adara assured him. "Things will work out some day, somehow." Adara pressed a light kiss to Emilian's neck before pulling herself away and moving to dress as quietly as possible. She wanted to help Emilian, but knew that there was little she could do. It was obvious now that Emilian loved Michael, though in her mind it was natural to love someone with whom you had spent so much time and likely shared so many secrets.

When she was dressed, Adara approached Emilian again and stood before him, willing him to look up, but understanding if he chose not to. "I will not pretend to know your pain, Emilian. But know that anything you choose to tell me will be kept in confidence. I will not judge you beyond what we have shared." Which was intimacy, sharing, learning, and freedom. Adara's eyes and the soft curve of her lips were all she spoke of the last.