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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 25, 2012 19:25:35 GMT -5
Dare nodded his agreement, and kept his mouth closed for a moment. He wasn't used to that silent support from Michael anymore, and he let himself be distracted by it. Had he been that obvious? He couldn't imagine Michael had picked up on something no one else had.
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Post by Rhys Moreau on Oct 25, 2012 19:27:44 GMT -5
"Then thank you," Rhys said, pulling away from Elouai and rounding the couch to turn off the radio. "Come on." Once the radio show's sound was gone, Rhys went to take Matthew's hand and drag him to the bedroom. "We'll be out in a few minutes," he said over his shoulder, his eyes still bright. Then they were gone.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 25, 2012 23:13:00 GMT -5
When the couple was safely out of earshot, or at least as out of earshot as they could be in a small apartment, Michael pulled gently at Dare's hand to encourage him to turn. "Are you alright? They didn't notice but I couldn't help but think, you know?" Maybe it was due to their recent dive into intimate matters that helped him catch on.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 25, 2012 23:19:42 GMT -5
Dare blinked at that, then glanced away and shook his head. "I'm fine," he said, "just butthurt." It was none of his business if his friends wanted to run off and not tell anyone. Still, he felt like he'd been there, like he'd helped them out some, too. After having thrown a hex into it all by leaving Michael in the first place.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 25, 2012 23:22:03 GMT -5
Michael reached up and slid a hand gently through Dare's hair. "I don't think they meant anything by not telling you," he said. "What is collaring, anyway?" Every time he felt like he knew what was going on in the subculture, something new was introduced that he had no idea bout.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 25, 2012 23:25:58 GMT -5
Dare pulled a deep breath and shifted his weight, unsure how he felt about the comfort Michael was offering him. "It's like getting married," he said, thinking about the way it had been explained to him. "It's a ceremony where one person puts a collar on another one, like a declaration of ownership or protection, but it's more or less a BDSM wedding." Did Michael understand a little better now? "The collar's the wedding ring."
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 25, 2012 23:30:50 GMT -5
Michael looked toward the now closed bedroom door, then nodded. "This whole culture constantly surprises me. It really is its own huge thing, isn't it?" He stared at the door for a few moments longer, then turned his gaze back to Dare. "Really, though, I'm sure they didn't mean to offend you." He tilted his head up to take a quick kiss.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 25, 2012 23:40:50 GMT -5
Dare was sure he hadn't even been a flash in their collective consciousness during the ceremony, though he did wonder if it had occurred to Matthew that he might like to witness such a thing. Not for curiosity, either. He and Michael had made a huge deal of their ceremony, and though the wedding itself had been private, the reasons were far more complex than nothing fancy, just me and him. He mentally sighed and told himself to let it go. If he was able to think, he wasn't kissing Michael nearly thoroughly enough for now.
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Post by Matthew Moreau on Oct 25, 2012 23:46:44 GMT -5
Matthew changed quickly into street-worthy clothes and was only kept from hopping out of the bedroom with his pants halfway down his thighs by a relatively cool-headed Rhys. Even with Rhys' restrictive hand, he was out just a couple of minutes after the door shut behind them, and caught a kiss. "Oh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt," he said, though his mind was much more on the prospect of a dog than interrupting a kiss. Dare and Michael had plenty of opportunities to kiss, anyway.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 25, 2012 23:50:51 GMT -5
There was no panic in Dare when he pulled back, and no real attempt to look sheepish. He would very much like to still be kissing Michael, but he pulled a breath and shifted his weight, trying to cool down. "Guess I could've dragged him into the bathroom," he said, giving Michael's hand a brief squeeze.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 26, 2012 10:08:50 GMT -5
Michael grinned and pulled his hand from Dare's, then slipped his arm around Dare briefly in a hug before moving to get Elouai. "Since I'm the one that kissed you, wouldn't I be doing the dragging?" he asked, glancing back at Dare with raised eyebrows. There was another smile and he reached for Elouai's collar.
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Post by Rhys Moreau on Oct 26, 2012 10:35:47 GMT -5
Michael's smile was contagious, especially with how easy it was for Rhys to smile over the past couple of days. "I still can't believe you guys are doing this. But I just...I'd prefer it be a rescue, you know?" he asked as he reached for a light jacket. "If that's okay, anyway." If the couple was paying for it, he couldn't be too picky about it, he supposed, but it couldn't hurt to have his preferences known.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 26, 2012 13:36:35 GMT -5
"Yeah, that makes sense," Dare said. He wouldn't force them down to the pet shop when he could imagine how much a rescue would mean to Rhys. "There's one down the road from Battersea Park," he said. He didn't usually take Elouai out that way, but a few miles' walk would be nothing for her.
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Post by Rhys Moreau on Oct 26, 2012 14:27:01 GMT -5
Rhys beamed and headed toward the stairs, new excitement bubbling up at the prospect. "Come on, then, let's go," he said, glancing toward Matthew. The man seemed to need another second to just be certain Dare wouldn't change his mind, then he grinned, as well, and headed toward Rhys.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 26, 2012 14:57:31 GMT -5
The conversation on their walk turned this way and that, from the scenery to school, and back around to pets as they approached a large glass building. The ladies inside cooed over Elouai once it was determined that she'd be helping choose a playmate, and they were led to a building with floors connected by ramps. Many dogs are uncomfortable using elevators and stairs, their guide explained.
The kennels were large, and though the air was filled with barks, some of which came from an excited Elouai, the low, melodic sounds of classical music gave it all an air of contentment. Each dog run had a card with information about its resident's personality and the type of home it would be suited for.
Soon, however, another woman arrived, and took Matthew and Rhys off for an interview and paperwork. Dare and Michael continued their guided tour.
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