InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's a chiller thriller night!"

Mark Devereux (remarkablemark) wrote in falcon_pride,
@ 2008-09-24 00:46:00

Who: Mark and JJ
What: Mark needs the 411 on JJ's gift from Scott, and has a little secret to divulge
When: A few days after JJ's party
Where: Mark and Tony's room
Rating: PG?
Status: Incomplete; closed

Mark opened the door grinning, practically bouncing with energy when JJ arrived. He held his hand out before letting the boy in or even greeting him properly. "Let's see it."

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rileythewolfman
2008-09-24 12:59 am UTC (link)

JJ had been worrying the ring all day, through all his classes. He'd tried not to draw attention to it, but was it his fault if he wanted to stand in front of the class and tell everyone all about it? Still, JJ wasn't that type of guy. And as much as he might think of it, the only people he felt like really cluing in right now were Mark and Caleb.

With a blush, JJ ducked his head. "Don't like... go nuts or anything. It's not some huge deal or anything." It wasn't that big a deal. It wasn't an engagement ring or something like that. It was a promise ring. Something physical and symbolic for them each to have and cherish and remind one another, not that they could or would ever forget. Raising his hand, the brunette offered up the band. Simple and silver. He wouldn't have rather it be any other way.

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remarkablemark
2008-09-24 01:11 am UTC (link)

Mark rolled his eyes and laughed at his friend's modesty. He grabbed JJ's wrist and tugged him- more like yanked him- inside and shut the door behind him. Then he held up the hand and studied the simple band around the ring finger. It was smooth and simple, and gleamed in the light. Perfect. Just like the pair who wore it.

"Incroyable," Mark muttered, shaking his head as he stared. He dropped JJ's hand and smiled at him. "Call it whatever you want man, but he gave you an expensive ring and started talking about marriage. No matter which way you spin it, I would call that 'some huge deal.'"

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	rileythewolfman 2008-09-24 01:34 am UTC (link)
	JJ's blush thickened. He knew Mark was right. He just didn't really want to admit it. "Maybe," he mused, smiling down at the little piece of metal. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

remarkablemark
2008-09-24 01:43 am UTC (link)

Despite how genuinely thrilled for his friend Mark was, he had to admit, there was the slightest twinge of jealousy at that expression on his face. Pure contentment and bliss, the knowledge that he had something real that nothing could break.

Mark briefly thought about the small box buried in the back of his underwear drawer and couldn't help but wonder yet again if there would ever be a time when he could look at its contents on his own finger and have that look JJ had now.

But Mark doused those thoughts quickly and grinned. This was about JJ, not him. "C'mere." He pulled JJ into a hug. "Félicitations. I'm really happy for you."

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rileythewolfman
2008-09-24 01:50 am UTC (link)

"Thanks, Mark," JJ said with a grin, hugging the other boy back before pulling away. "I..." He ducked his head again, rubbing his hands over his face. "...We talked about something else, too. About after Goldfinch." He knew post-Goldfinch discussions were highly discouraged. Most everyone wanted to go to college. Hell, JJ would love to go to college some day. But there were rumors already that any private schools were already turning away Pride Academy graduates, and that State and Community Colleges would be next.

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remarkablemark
2008-09-24 02:14 am UTC (link)

"You did?" Mark asked, moving away to flop onto his bed. He gestured for JJ to join him. The news wasn't surprising in itself; obviously the boys would have to figure out what they were doing post-graduation, especially if they were planning on being as serious as the ring indicated. But the Future Beyond Goldfinch (Mark thought it deserved capitalization) was something most of the students had silently agreed not to invest to much in. Not with what they'd been hearing.

Mark himself wasn't incredibly worried. He wanted to go to theater school, and seriously, what the hell would theater schools do with themseves if they stopped accepting gay men? They'd cease to function.

But for most of the students, the chances for a college-bound future were as uncertain and fragile as Mark and JJ's health after taking their pills.

"So... what did you decide?"

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rileythewolfman
2008-09-24 02:23 am UTC (link)

"W-well... no matter what we do, we're doing it together. I don't know what we're going to do about applying to schools, cause... y'know. But if all that falls through, he was talking about getting a place up in New York. Mr. Cooper has contacts in the art scene there he could put me in touch with, and Scotty thinks he could probably get a job working for a real estate firm." As he talked about it, he was more than a little torn. How wonderful would it be to just live, himself and Scott, the rest of their lives together. But at the same time... Well, JJ had always silently hoped to go to college. He'd never thought it was even a plausible reality until he'd come to Goldfinch and everyone else spoke of it with such high-esteem.

"But yeah. We know no matter what we do... it's the two of us." He worried his ring between his fingers idly before raising his head to smile at Mark. He didn't say anything. He just smiled.

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remarkablemark
2008-09-24 02:37 am UTC (link)

Mark smiled too. He sensed that JJ was holding something back, but if he was, it seemed his happiness was taking precident. And that obnoxious little wave of jealousy or whatever it was was tugging again, but Mark bit his lip and tried to ignore it. "That's great. You're both really, really lucky to have each other, you know? This is all going to work for you, I know it," he said sincerely, hoping the latter statement would help put whatever troubling thought JJ was hiding to rest.

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	rileythewolfman 2008-09-24 02:42 am UTC (link)
	"...Yeah? Yeah," JJ agreed, trying to keep his hidden thoughts well hidden, though Mark had this annoying habit of figuring out just what was upsetting JJ. "Yeah, we will. How 'bout you and Tony? What's up on that front?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

remarkablemark
2008-09-24 02:59 am UTC (link)

"Yeah," Mark confirmed, nodding. Now he was really sure something was bothering JJ, but based on his quick evasion and poker face, Mark could only assume it was something JJ wasn't up to talking about right now. Which was okay. Mark could always drag it out of him later if he had to.

"What's always up on that front?" he responded to the question with a dry laugh. "Misunderstandings and miscommunications galore. We have a long way to go still, but... I think we're finally on the right track. But yeah, definitely no talk of rings or weddings for us yet. Although--" Mark snapped his mouth shut, glad he'd been able to catch himself. He really didn't need to go blabbing his sock-drawer secret after months of forcing himself to keep it hidden.

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	rileythewolfman 2008-09-24 03:01 am UTC (link)
	One eyebrow raised all on its own as JJ stared at Mark. "...Although, what?" He was sure Mark was hiding something too now. And he wanted in on it. "C'mon. Spill." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	remarkablemark 2008-09-24 03:07 am UTC (link)
	"Putain," Mark muttered, covering his face with his hands. "Nothing. Just-- nothing," he attempted weakly, shaking his head. Then he almost laughed. Like that was really going to work. "Okay, something. But it's totally lame and extremely secret, and I swear, JJ Riley, it can never leave this room if I show you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	rileythewolfman 2008-09-24 03:09 am UTC (link)
	JJ's lip curled into a half-smile. Ah, it was one of those secrets. "Promise," JJ replied, nodding definitively. "Now c'mon. Show me!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

remarkablemark
2008-09-24 03:27 am UTC (link)

Mark sighed and stood from the bed, accepting defeat. He deserved this, he supposed, for living seventeen years and never training his brain to work faster than his mouth. "Okay, okay. I'll show you."

He went over to his drawer and shoved a hand under the socks and underwear to the very back. After a moment of groping around, his hand closed over the box and he pulled it from the drawer. He brought it over to JJ and opened it to show him the rings. One silver, one gold, engraved with the words 'vous et nul autre.'

"I bought them while we were in France and I've kept them hidden ever since," Mark explained quietly. "We weren't even technically together yet and everything was even more confusing than it is now, but I saw them and just... had to get them. Could be decades before I can actually give it to him, though," Mark shrugged with a sheepish grin.

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	rileythewolfman 2008-09-24 03:28 am UTC (link)
	Blinking down at them, JJ's mouth hung loosely open in surprise. "...They're... beautiful," he said breathlessly. "...What's it mean?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	remarkablemark 2008-09-24 03:31 am UTC (link)
	Now Mark was the one blushing. "Thanks," he said. "And it means... 'you and no other.' I know, it's like, the cheesiest thing in the world and I'm positive he's going to puke and hate me forever when- if- he ever sees them, but... it just seemed right to buy them." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	rileythewolfman 2008-09-24 06:32 pm UTC (link)
	"W-wow," JJ whispered, all of his breath gone. "He'd have to be absolutely insane to turn down a guy like you, Mark." Again, with the sudden outbursts of very un-JJ like behavior around Mark! "...You really love him, don't you?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

remarkablemark
2008-09-24 08:19 pm UTC (link)

The blush turned into a full out heated flush. Mark wasn't used to feeling humbled, but when it came to his feelings for Tony, he tended to get a little vulnerable. "I appreciate that," he said with a soft laugh. "Unfortunately, his sanity wasn't something I considered when I fell in love with him."

He paused and laughed again shortly, thinking that might have been the first time he'd said it out loud to anyone. And in English, for that matter. "Which I guess answers your question."

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	rileythewolfman 2008-09-24 08:36 pm UTC (link)
	"I guess it does," JJ replied, smiling down to the ring on his own finger. "...God, you turned me into such a sap!" he exclaimed, laughing and tossing a pillow at Mark. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

remarkablemark
2008-09-26 12:16 am UTC (link)

Mark grinned sheepishly as the pillow hit his face. "Fermez ta gueule!" he retorted as he put the rings down and threw the pillow back. Embarrassing as it was, he was kind of glad he'd shown JJ. The tiny pieces of metal had been weighing down on his mind for a while now, and he could feel some of that lift off. Plus, JJ's encouragement had given him a small boost.

"I seem to remember a hell of a lot of sappiness coming from your side of the hospital room. And that was before I could have had any kind of influence on you."

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	rileythewolfman 2008-09-26 12:51 am UTC (link)
	"No way, man. That was all you. If I recall, you were the one telling me everything would work out and Scott and I were perfect together and everything!" With a laugh, JJ fell back on the bed, a soft hum on his lips. "Well, you're lucky. At least you don't have your boyfriend's room mate to worry about." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	remarkablemark 2008-09-26 01:09 am UTC (link)
	Mark snorted. "Okay, so you're right. But I just tell it like it is. And I was right, wasn't I?" he folded his hands behind his head and leaned back beside JJ. "What's so worrying about Scott's roommate? Is he not rooming with Jason anymore?" (Reply to this) (Parent)