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Michael Darling || 15 || Year Two "One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming...

[helpimincollege]

Meg rolled her eyes, smiling over to the other, “Are you finished?”

[michael--darling]

Michael thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I believe I am."

[princeofparadise]

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[ludicrouslyeffective-amelia-dea]

“I do ask this with all due respect, but— what on Earth do you think you’re doing?”

[michael--darling]

Michael spun around, not thinking about where he was. The eyeliner that he had swiped from one of the girl's bags in the library sat in his hand, Michael frozen in a mixture of fear and embarrassment. "N-Nothing." He said, quickly stashing the makeup in the pocket of his jacket.

[michael--darling]

Tight Lungs Open Heart || Wendy & Michael

[littlemiss-wendydarling]

Her own eyes started to burn at the threat of tears.  She wanted to just take her youngest sibling into her arms and hug him for the next ten years, but she resisted.  It was obvious that he was trying to not make a big deal out of it, so she wouldn’t either.  Despite the fact she had spent most of her life taking control of situations, Wendy silently swore to herself to follow his lead on this one.

"Well," she said, wiping at her own eyes before placing her hands on her brother’s arms.  "We are Darlings, and we must always present ourselves as neatly as possible.”  The girl sighed, dropping her arms at his question.  ”I’m taking a break from the projects I have to do.  I swear, all of my teachers thought it would be the most wonderful idea to assign us all projects and have them due within the same week.”

[michael--darling]

Though Michael didn't know what was going through his sister's mind, he did know that whatever it was supported him through this decision. He didn't know if it was the way that she looked at him or if it was the way that her voice sounded like a life line but either way, he knew that he had her behind him, like always and that was all that he could ask for. As he looked to her, for reassurance, for leadership, for so much more than he could ever thank her for, he knew. Words would never be able to carry the weight of how much this meant to him.

Under her touch he felt so secure, her hands on his arms were as much as a life line as her words were, though he didn't falter as she let them fall. Metaphorically they would always be there to catch him. They were Darlings, after all, and besides always looking their best, they were known to him as the best family that he ever could have asked for. After a moment of letting himself breathe, he found his voice once more. 

"A-Are your projects hard?" He wasn't surprised that his words tripped, he wasn't even angry, knowing that his heart still threatened to jump from his chest in a final act of defiance. Nervous blood pulsated through a thin frame, but he didn't even care. Michael could be happy, knowing that he would always have Wendy.

[michael--darling]

Tight Lungs Open Heart || Michael & Kiara

[kiarakibwe-blog]

Kiara could never stay inside for long; somehow the grounds of the school always beckoned her far more than its walls did. This was how she found herself walking towards the courtyard, bundled up in a coat to ward off the February chill. A few months in and she still wasn’t used to the cold weather, though she doubted she would ever be. 

Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t realized someone else was in the courtyard until she heard the familiar voice ask a question. Turning towards Michael, she cocked her head slightly, as if studying him. “You’re talking about the clip, right? I think it looks nice,” she answered, giving him a warm smile. “It’s shiny, and it contrasts well with your hair.” Although she didn’t exactly understand why he was so nervous about a clip, of all things, she figured he needed the affirmation.

[michael--darling]

Michael looked to Kiara as she spoke, for the first time taking a moment to actually look at the girl. Yes, she was beautiful, and held herself as she knew such, but there was something that Michael just couldn't pinpoint as she spoke. Her words flowed over him, splashing through the crevasses of a mind that wasn't quite right. The smile that took over his face was one of muted joy mixed with  a sad restitution of something much deeper. 

"Thank you, Miss Kiara." He spoke with a confidence that he didn't know that he had, looking up at her from where he sat on the bench. "It means a lot." The barrette that sat on his hair didn't feel as heavy now, Michael reaching up and fiddling with it slightly. 

[michael--darling]

Tight Lungs Open Heart || Open

[wildchildcollette]

Moving out into the courtyard to smoke, Collette brought his eyes tighter around her chest, pulling the thin sweater closer to her body. Her pack of cigarettes smashed against her side as she tried to comfort herself with her own embrace. She wanted peace and quiet and to ignore the fact that her sister was now at Disigny knowing it meant eventually they would be joined by Scamp and then Annette, though only one of those truly bothered the girl in the long run. She didnt need the constant reminder that she wasnt perfect once more in her life and wished her parents would think twice about sending Annette to join them. Looking up, she noticed the boy but ducked her head  back, moving to step past him towards one of the benches nearby. He seemed more in his own world than the one they were both currently occupying so she wasnt about to bother him. Settling down, she brought her knees to her chest before moving to take out one of her cigarettes but the thing she desired wasn’t even halfway from its package before she heard him speak. Her eyes moved to him before around to see it anyone else was around, realizing rather easily that he was speaking to her. Noticing the barrette she smiled forcing herself to stand and take a few steps towards him. "You look nice but I don't think silver is your color. Wait one minute." She moved to mess with her own hair, unclipping and pulling out the plum colored barrette before taking the silver one from his hair, replacing it quickly with her own. "There…it brings out your eyes."

[michael--darling]

Michael furrowed his eyebrows as he processed what she was saying. Maybe silver wasn't his color, he hadn't really thought about it. It wasn't until she pulled out another clip that he let himself soften, a smile coming to his face as she fixed the new one in his hair. He put his fingers against the metal. "Does it really?" He asked, the smile on his face growing slightly when she made the last comment. It brought out his eyes. 

The smile that he donned was the most genuine that he had ever worn, albeit it was a little cracked and might have been a little sad, but it was genuine none the less. He didn't even know this girl and yet she had been so accepting of what he had done, she didn't say anything bad or talk about how he was a boy. Though, honestly, he wasn't surprised. Girl's had always been a lot more accepting than boys were, just by nature. But still he was grateful.

"Thank you." He wanted to say more but he didn't have the words in him to express the way that his chest swelled at her words, the way that he melted into nothing more than a boy who didn't quite know if that word fit him anymore. "Thank you, a lot, miss."

[a-curiousgirl-deactivated201506]

"Miss? I’m not that ladylike, my good sir." Alice sat down, trying not to take up too much room. "It’s fine. I don’t bite though, you don’t have to act like I do."

[michael--darling]

"It's out of respect, ma'am, something that everyone deserves." Michael smiled as she sat down beside him, only to falter as she spoke. "Like you bite? I wasn't, I mean, I didn't think that you-... I'm sorry."

[nursexcharlottehunt]

I never thought of it that way. I’ll have to remember that next time I have to introduce myself. Well, then how about we split it? 50/50?

[michael--darling]

50/50 sounds very nice. I like it. So why are you here? I mean, like, uh, at Disigny, ya know? Unless that's too personal. Then you can just ignore that. Or ignore me in general.

[kiarakibwe-blog]

"I like the one with strawber—" she started, waving her hands a moment later as he offered to buy her one. "What, no, it’s really okay! You don’t have to. I didn’t mind bringing you here, and it was fun."

[michael--darling]

"The one with strawberry what, Miss Kiara?" A playful grin danced across his face. "You'll have to tell me or I'm going to order every pastry with strawberries on them." He was mostly joking. Mostly.

[jamesbhook]

"Of course I would, mate. I’d even let ye join me crew if ye really wanted to," he suggested, suppressing a smirk. Michael’s excitement was only feeding his confidence, and it seemed as if he almost had another member in his grasp. "Ah, yes. I see it now. Nice girl she is, yeah? I’ve only met her once or twice, actually, but it was nice talking to her."

[michael--darling]

"I don't really know how much help I would be aboard a ship but being part of your crew sounds amazing." Michael nodded to himself as if he had to agree with the words that he had spoken. "She's very nice, the nicest girl I've ever met if I do say so myself." Michael had a way of putting Wendy up on a pedestal, even when they were children, so it wasn't a stretch for him to say that he thought Wendy was literally the best at most things.

[michael--darling]

Tight Lungs Open Heart || Michael&Garfield

[amillicnthings-blog]

Garfield came into the courtyard like he always did, walking on light feet and trying to never make a sound, trying to work on the slightness of the feline transformations that he’s still trying to get a handle with. The person he viewed there was someone he could tell was like him - gender varient - but new to it, with the shyness of how the small form put the barrette in shaggy hair, taking it out of their eyes. Garfield understood the unsteady shake of the person’s finger’s and the unevenness of their breath - Garfield had felt that before himself, painting his nails for the first time, trying on makeup. He scratched at his palms now with blue nails that accented the lighter skin in his hands, smiling down at the shorter one in front of him - the younger can’t have been a day over sixteen.

He smiled wider and softer at the question, uncovering his nails by running them through his hair, maybe trying to show a kindred spirit, maybe just trying to show something at all. The shaky breathing hadn’t stopped even as the smaller spoke, leaving a soft sadness in its wake and sympathy making a showcase in his heart, and so he said, “You look great.”

[michael--darling]

Michael's hands shook, his breath bottomed out to nothing but shallow intakes and shallower exhales as he smiled at the boy in front of him. he chewed on his cheek as his mind reeled, nothing but a frazzled mess left in the wake of a very scared boy. Boy? Boy. For now. "I do?" His words were solid, rocks in a fading sea as he pulled himself ashore. He did look good. Great. Amazing. He could be whatever he wanted to be. Or nothing at all. 

"Um..." His voice trailed, continuing until he could find the words. "Thank you." He wouldn't let his words waver and teeter, not now, he was solid. He was made of something stronger, something strong, he was rooted and he would grow. "Means a lot, sir."

[mimiwtf]

     John felt a bit silly that he didn’t even recognize his own brother, but he supposed that’s what he got for being so caught up in his own mind. His eyebrows shot up to his hairline, and a small chuckle escaped his lips. He had meant to tell his siblings that he had arrived, but not wanting to be behind in his studies, it must have slipped his mind. Letting out a small ‘umph!’ as Michael’s arms wound around him, John didn’t hesitate to gather his little brother in his arms. Michael had always been the brother that had an easier time showing his feelings, and although John would never let somebody else hug him like this, his siblings were always an exception. 

     ”I didn’t even recognize you with that knit cap on your head.” Clearing his throat, John finally pulled away from the embrace, pushing his round glasses back up his nose. “I’m sorry I forgot to tell you that was I was here. Is Wendy around as well?”

[michael--darling]

Michael would never admit how safe he felt in John's arms, simply because of the fact that Michael knew that John would always have his back. But even with that being a fact, Michael pulled from the hug rather quickly, knowing that with everyone around in the crowded hallway that this wasn't the best place for reunions. 

"Our mother gave it to me before I left home." He touched the hat atop his head as if to remind himself that it was still there, a smile coming to his face as he relived the memory for a split second. "She's around here somewhere. Probably studying. Or writing. Or doing things. I don't know, but she's around here."

[michael--darling]

Tight Lungs Open Heart || Michael&James

[hercmxlligan]

James was a big fan of adventures, and an even bigger fan of those that went down successfully. That was why he was determined to make friends of those that had been willing to explore with him, to try new things with him, to risk getting in trouble with him. Specifically: the girl who he’d dressed as a boy, Stitch- the boy he’d made a meal with, and the lost boy. They had never exchanged names but that made it all the more fun to try and find him. That was one of the reasons he was so delighted when he found the lost boy simply sitting in the cold of the courtyard, enjoying a short break. James was quick to bound over to him, grinning when the question was asked and immediately replying in turn.

"A little girly if you want my opinion, lost boy," he said simply, the smile never falling away. The clip in his hair was shining and polished- brilliant in it’s fashion but a bit odd in the circumstances. Besides that, it didn’t go well with his scarf! "Why do you ask?"

[michael--darling]

Michael nodded, looking away from James. Girly. His hands found their way into his pockets, picking at the strings there as he shrugged his shoulders. Girly. Chewing on the inside of his cheek he nodded again. Girly. Gulping down the bile that washed into the back of his throat he forced a smile, polished and gleaming as he looked to James. Girly. 

"Yeah, you have a point, it is kind of girly." His voice was soft, hiding so much behind a thin veil of absolution. Thoughts raced through his mind as he remained stoic, even presenting a full smile to James, a cracked and broken smile that no one could see through. His heart swelled inside his chest, the beat echoing through the sudden hollowness of his chest as he sat on the cold stone bench. Girly. 

"Oh you know." He stated, pulling the barrette from his hair and stuffing it into his pocket, gripping it so tightly that it threatened to cut into his palm. "Just wondering. Didn't want to look to girly."

[michael--darling]

Tight Lungs Open Heart || Michael&Cogsworth

[frcmqueens]

Cogsworth had always had a lot of responsibilities. Even as a child he had been required to help his parents out. Going to school was never the most important thing in his life but that didn’t mean that he didn’t spend just as much energy on it as he did with everything else. Where he would spend hours at the castle during the day he would also spend hours doing homework at night. Even going as far as to request that he receive his education through self tutelage and any free time spent online expanding his knowledge so that he could reserve more time for the prince. That was why it was so strange that at the school he had more time to focus on just that: school.

While he would always devote most of his time to the prince and what he required, he actually had less responsibilities to focus on at the school. Looking after the prince and everyone else took up his time, but not having to oversee the palace on top of that left him with time. Time that he spent doing homework and learning extra subjects on top of that until he couldn’t take it anymore and stepped outside into the frigid landscape of the courtyard.

"How do you look?" Cogsworth asked, taking a moment to process the words. It was a sign of how he had over strained himself that it took him so long to register. "I would recommend tucking your scarf into your blazer- both for warmth and for effect- but otherwise I suppose you look nice. The clip in your hair is effectively keeping your bangs tucked back, if that’s what you’re asking. Why do you ask, if you don’t mind the question?"

[michael--darling]

Michael was quick to tuck his scarf into his blazer, mostly so he could hide the way that his face lit up like a Christmas tree. A small smile crossed chapped lips as Michael gave himself a mental pat on the back. The barrette looked good.The boy thought it looked. Well, or at least he thought that it looked practical and really, what more could Michael ask for? It was one of the kindest things that anyone had ever said to him. Eventually he looked back up to the boy, hoping that the blush had dimmed from his cheeks, willing the blood to go anywhere but there.

"I just.. I'm trying something new." Michael answered, his shoulders shrugging slightly as he pierced his lips awkwardly. "I wanted to make sure that I didn't look stupid." He bit his lip, picking at the dried skin with his teeth before he spoke again. "Thanks, by the way."

[nursexcharlottehunt]

I’m positive. Full name, huh? Well, then I’m Melody Lykke. The pleasure is all mine, sir.

[michael--darling]

I find it's best to always exchange full names from the get go, that way it decreases confusion later on. And the pleasure can't be all yours! That's just greedy.

[kiarakibwe-blog]

"So do I! Great minds think alike," she joked, flashing him a grin. Turning her head towards the menu behind the counter, she tapped her finger on her chin. "You can’t really go wrong with anything here, so I’d say wing it. Oh, but, I really like the pastries here!" she supplied, pointing to the baked goods in the display, tucked behind glass.

[michael--darling]

"Pastries!" He stared through the glass looking over each one with an overzealous enthusiasm. "Which one would you like? Buying you a pastry is the least I can do after you lead me here, Miss Kiara."

[michael--darling]

Tight Lungs Open Heart || Wendy & Michael

[littlemiss-wendydarling]

She needed a break from all the projects it seemed her teachers had piled on.  And, with the day being as lovely as it was, she made her way out into the courtyard, pausing at the sight.  Without a doubt, it was Michael, focused so intently on some small object that he didn’t even notice her at first.  Quietly, she watched as she slipped it into his hair, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Then he saw her.  She didn’t understand what he was doing, but this was Michael.  And she knew better than to ask questions right now.  Right when it seemed like he had just achieved some small victory.  Walking towards him, Wendy smiled.  ”I think… it’s crooked,” she said, reaching up to fix the barrette.  ”Now you look wonderful.”

[michael--darling]

The breath that he was holding expelled as Wendy spoke, Michael not even thinking about swatting her hand away as he would have done at any other time. His chest relaxed, the tightness lessening dramatically as he looked up, biting back tears. He wasn't about to break down, not right now, this was a good things.

"Thanks, Wen." His voice was steadier than he thought it would be, laced with a light joy that wasn't present before now. "Means a lot, ya know." He cleared his throat, wiping at his eyes that had not yet shed a tear. "What brings you to the courtyard anyway?" While no, he wasn't trying to change the subject, the also wasn't exactly ready to talk about anything yet, so yes he was trying to change the subject.