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Post by Matthew Moreau on Aug 1, 2012 18:51:23 GMT -5
Matthew had stayed the night in Rhys' tiny apartment, having fallen asleep with him after packing a bag of things to bring to the apartment in Diagon Alley. It looked like Rhys was going to be officially moving in soon, though neither of them had any idea where his computer things would go.
They came in at half seven, long enough before the store would open at nine or ten that Matthew could get Rhys settled in. Rhys carried a large bag from his shoulder and Matthew carried the smaller one he had brought with him, along with the little fire safe Rhys had entrusted him with.
"Go on, I'll be in in a few minutes to clear out a couple more drawers for you," Matthew said, a light hand on Rhys' lower back urging him to move on through the living room and into the bedroom.
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Post by Rhys Moreau on Aug 1, 2012 18:56:32 GMT -5
Rhys nodded and did little more than raise a hand in greeting for Dare. He still felt exhausted from the night before last and he wanted to hide away for a little longer. He knew what Matthew was going to do and he would prefer not to be there when he asked Dare for help in hunting down sharp objects.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 1, 2012 20:07:18 GMT -5
Dare tried not to watch too closely from his place on the couch, where Elouai had begged a rubdown from him. They hadn't been up long, hadn't gone for their morning walk yet, but he was awake enough to return Rhys's gesture. He arched his eyebrows at Matthew in silent question.
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Post by Matthew Moreau on Aug 1, 2012 20:12:37 GMT -5
Matthew waited for the door to be closed behind Rhys before he turned to look at Dare. When he spoke, his voice was low. "So I got there and he had locked away all his knives and things in here, I'm going to put all of the stuff here in it, too. Sorry, but anything you have should probably go in here, too. I have the key so he can't get into it."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 1, 2012 20:18:21 GMT -5
Dare's brows probably should have arched again, but it didn't surprise him as much as he might have expected. He wanted to say he couldn't imagine Rhys digging through his room looking for cutting tools, but he knew how it felt, and he knew how tempting it could be. He gave their bedroom door a brief, worried glance, then looked back at Matthew.
"I'll keep everything locked in my trunk," he said, keeping his voice as low as Matthew's. "A quick locking spell will keep him out." It wouldn't be anything for him to get his razor before shaving, but it would sure as hell be something if he left it out.
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Post by Matthew Moreau on Aug 1, 2012 20:36:43 GMT -5
"Thank you," Matthew said. "I'm worried about him. I don't think it would be good for him to hide in the bedroom all day, but he's going to try to. I have to open the shop today, though, so would you mind trying to talk to him?" He had had a long talk with Rhys the night before, but he had to admit that Dare could probably help Rhys in different ways than he could.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 1, 2012 21:20:27 GMT -5
"If he'll let me," Dare said. He'd certainly try. "Should I give him a while, or do you want to take Elouai out for me?" She needed out, and he could use something to eat, but he'd help in any way he could. Dare had been down similar emotional roads, but Matthew knew Rhys best.
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Post by Matthew Moreau on Aug 1, 2012 21:27:37 GMT -5
"Um..." Matthew ran a hand over his hair and glanced toward the door. "I guess take Elouai out and do whatever you need to do and I'll find somewhere for him to put his things, by the time you're back I'll be opening the shop and I can get him to come out here before you're back." He definitely owed Dare for this.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 1, 2012 21:36:41 GMT -5
Dare gave a light nod, then pulled in a long breath and got to his feet. Before long, he'd changed into shorts, clipped on Elouai's leash, and headed out the door. He did some hard thinking as they made their way out of Diagon Alley. He liked Rhys, and for a while it had felt like he'd been let in easier than he'd wanted to be. They'd gotten straight into the hard stuff, straight into cutting and Rhys's past, even when he hadn't been ready to talk. He'd been living here before he'd even shown his own scars.
He broke into a jog in London, Elouai trotting alongside. There weren't any conclusions to come to, but it got his own problems out of his head, and by the time they walked back into the apartment, he felt infinitely better. He sent Elouai ahead for water and ran his hands through lightly curled hair, wondering what he'd find.
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Post by Rhys Moreau on Aug 1, 2012 21:47:25 GMT -5
Rhys was curled in the oversized armchair, the bear Matthew had given him tucked down beside him and a large book open on his lap. He didn't really want to get lost in his computer right now. "What did he tell you?" he asked when Dare walked in. He knew Matthew had hidden away all of the kitchen knives somewhere, and the issue being so in the open made him somewhat uncomfortable, though he knew it needed to be done.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 1, 2012 21:59:24 GMT -5
"Ah," Dare said, startled at the blunt cut to the thick of things. "Not a lot I couldn't have guessed." He thought back, and sat down on the couch as he did so. "Mostly he asked questions. He'd do about anything for you, but he was lost. I know you're having a hell of a time, though." The fact that even safety razors and nail clippers were tucked into safes and magically-locked trunks was testament to that.
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Post by Rhys Moreau on Aug 1, 2012 22:14:30 GMT -5
"That's putting it lightly," Rhys said. Matthew expected them to talk. "He wants me to talk to you but I honestly don't think I have the strength. I shouldn't have run off, I shouldn't have worried him..." He shook his head and reached for the comfort of the bear, pulling it against him. "I'm sorry, how was the twins' birthday?"
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 1, 2012 22:25:53 GMT -5
"Great, but if we get what's bugging you out of the way, you might just feel better," Dare said. Elouai loped into the living room, and though her gaze swung toward Dare, she made her way to Rhys instead. She was good at sensing moods, and attempted to lay her head in Rhys's lap for comfort.
"I'll say it again, you've got friends here," Dare went on, watching. "If you'd just run off, I'd be worried as hell. There's no way I wouldn't have been out with Matthew looking for you. He loves you." He paused, drawing together his thoughts. "If Michael up and disappeared, it wouldn't be better for anyone. I'd be off my arse doing everything in my power to find him. When you love someone the way Matthew loves you, you don't just get over it."
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Post by Rhys Moreau on Aug 1, 2012 22:31:39 GMT -5
Rhys reached out and laid a hand on Elouai's head, scratching lightly at her ears for a moment before setting his book aside to get better access. "He knew I'd gone home, he had to, I don't blame him for not coming after me that first night. I wouldn't have wanted him to see me like I was, anyway. I don't remember most of the night."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 1, 2012 22:38:10 GMT -5
"He was worried," Dare assured Rhys. "When we sat down and talked about it, he had his phone out on the table. I'm not saying you ought to feel guilty about that, just not to blow it off that he's happier with you, and he thinks about you when you're gone." I don't remember most of that night. He'd gotten drunk, that much was apparent. But he was moving normally. He hadn't hurt himself.
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