mayfairmonster: (Far off stare; Smoking; W/e)
Dorian Gray (The Confessions of Dorian Gray) ([personal profile] mayfairmonster) wrote2030-02-11 08:43 pm
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"If you don’t know who this is, hang up now. If you do [A long-suffering sigh] why not leave a message?"


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mislay: (pic#11773367)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-11 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ his expectations, at this point, about this place, are low. it's not that his requests are minimal; he just wants some semblance of normalcy in all of this that doesn't strip him of what little choices he has left. that dorian agrees to it readily makes him feel somewhat more at ease with the decision, enough that he actually settles back in his seat rather than sit just on the edge of the cushion. ]

I can be patient. [ frustratingly so. ] And maybe there's more we should add to it, but I need time to think on it. I don't know if there's much I need or want besides the basics of a normal contract.

[ he really hates the way that sounds, like some business deal. like he's property. ] It's not urgent yet anyway.

[ they can try to figure out more specifics in the next few days rather than rush off to sign something that binds them together. hopefully, it will become more of a partnership as things move forward too. ]
mislay: (pic#11111919)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-11 08:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's yet another difference between them, he notices. dorian wanting to keep his secrets or, at the very least, this one, and larus not caring one way or another what people know about him. the personal details of his life are different, but he's not thinking about that. he's remembering the much clearer details of last night, how dorian had sliced open his arm and there's not a single scratch on him. larus would envy that kind of ability – the healing without the need for blood – if he was the jealous type.

there has to be more to it than what he's seen so far though. ]


I told you I wasn't going to use that knowledge against you. [ if he could help it. ] And I'd never betray your trust like that. It will stay with me even if we decide not to keep this contract in the future.

[ such things are important to him, and maybe he needs to work harder to prove that to dorian even as he shifts just that much closer to him so he could touch him. he only takes his hand, soaking up the heat of his skin. it's a liberty he finds that he likes, and that's something else to think about. ]

I want you to trust me, Dorian. I'm giving you one of the few things I have left to offer. I'd rather not throw any of that away.
mislay: (pic#11111923)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-11 11:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ more secrets, more things he wants to question.

it's not even about this painting dorian seems to be concerned about, drawing back to put space between them. it's another facet of this man he doesn't really know or even understand, glancing at his face and keeping still so he isn't even remotely tempted to look back towards the direction the picture rests. and anyway, that's not the most concerning thing to question. who is this man he's inviting over? what does dorian know about him? does he even have a right to question that when he'll be in and out most of the time save for the daylight hours? ]


I won't. [ the words are a bit stern. ] I don't know if you think there's something I could gain from anything like that, but there isn't. Those things don't interest me. So, whatever secrets you have and whatever you decide to tell me – they're safe with me.

[ he couldn't be compelled to give them up, not unless sun decided to show his face in the city, but even then, there's no real power the other vampire has over him—which makes it all the more enticing for his maker to want him apparently. larus' expression lightens a little but not enough to be pleasant. ]

I hope you can trust whoever this Grayson Frost is to do the same.
mislay: (pic#11111917)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-11 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
It should, but you don't really know that. Is he a witch?

[ he can only see magical contracts as dangerous, something stupid and pointless to get involved in because it never goes the way anyone thinks it will. larus hadn't seen dorian as the type to pursue such endeavors, but then, he doesn't know him that well yet. he's picked up things here and there, has been told more than others he's met (apparently). beyond that? there's so much he needs to figure out, staring at him like he could will it out of him somehow. ]

Either way, [ he continues on before dorian can answer. ] you should always know what kind of person you're dealing with before making that kind of agreement.

[ his mind jumps to their brief discussion of their own contract and has to force his thoughts on that silent. ]

There are dangerous people everywhere, and they'll take everything if they believe they can. [ his own experiences have told him as much. ] But I'm sure you know that just as well as I do.
mislay: (pic#11773405)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-11 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ there's a biting reply just on the tip of his tongue, something curt and probably a bit mean, but he chooses to sit on it rather than speak. he clearly doesn't know all the details of this meeting or what had transpired; even if he asked, he wonders if it would paint enough of something to figure out what it is dorian didn't see. doubtful, if he's being realistic, and that tells larus that the only way to know for certain is to find this grayson frost and work it out himself.

it's oddly nostalgic how hard this conversation is hitting him too, having had many similar ones in the past—mostly with casimir. a bargain struck with someone unknown, no information aside from a careless whim. he should think better of people and their ability to take care of themselves, but life has taught him that it's always a work-in-progress. ]


Did you ever stop to consider that having those options wasn't necessary? This city likes to hand out everyone's secrets as gifts, but they're still very particular. No one's allowed in these rooms unless you give them permission either. [ needless to say, that's pointing to the sole fact dorian only has to trust himself with the people he sees and decides to bring back.

larus takes a moment to smooth his fingers over his knee, having felt them curling tight into a fist. he sighs. ]
I'm not your keeper, Dorian, so it shouldn't matter what I think. But you should be careful. I hope you know what you're doing.

[ everything about this leaves a bitter taste sitting in the back of his throat. ]
mislay: (pic#11111911)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-11 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ even as dorian speaks, larus' thoughts are already elsewhere. there's a directory, he knows, and since he has a name, it should be simple enough to look up information and contact this person. maybe not even talk to him directly for a while, though outright stalking him might come with some problems. his eyes dart towards the other when he moves, interrupted from a spiral that would no doubt keep him busy for a while. ]

I know. [ it's back to softer words, tucking his annoyance away to consider later. ] It's a nice sentiment, even if I'm used to taking care of myself. I'll do what I can though – to help you.

[ because he still hasn't forgotten what dorian did for him, most likely saving his life when he could have left him in a pool of his own blood. the least he could do is return the favor in some way. ]

[ he looks at him. ] Is there anything else I need to know?
mislay: (pic#11773383)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-12 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ at least this is a much easier conversation to have, though it's a little off-putting to transition his thoughts from some (obviously) reckless endeavor to something simplistic like clothes and material objects. a glance down at the shirt he's wearing, and maybe that offer isn't such a bad idea. (he already misses the jacket that had been disposed of, if only because his things from home are now rather limited.)

larus' expression thins just slightly. ]


There's nothing I want that you can buy me. [ it's a quiet sort of response. ] I'd like to have whatever it is I need from you so I can go where I want without being stopped by the guards, but beyond that... [ a shrug. ] I don't mind keeping things the way you like them in here.

[ maybe, over time, he might come to add some personal touches here and there, but even before he'd died, he'd never really been the type to hold onto such things. there's a brief urge to reach over and touch him, but not while they're talking about any of this. ]

If there's anything I want in the future, I'll tell you.
mislay: (pic#11773391)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-12 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he wants to be comfortable there, with him, and though it will take a while, larus also knows it's just a matter of time. there's a connection between them he wants to cultivate, regardless of his feelings for a certain telepath back home, and he needs to try being flexible with dorian, glancing at him directly for a moment before deciding to follow through and reach out to touch him. at first, it's a light graze along his arm. then, almost carefully, he presses his fingers against his wrist.

the thought keeps needling at him—the stain of red along fair skin. ]


I'm not in a hurry. I probably shouldn't visit the Down for at least a few days anyway.
mislay: (pic#11111911)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-12 04:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he's speaking generally, but it's not something he sees the need to make light of. ]

Why would I joke about that? There are places I haven't explored and some people I want to check on. [ it's clear dorian isn't pleased, but... why? ] If I wait long enough, there shouldn't be a repeat of last night.
mislay: (pic#11773400)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-12 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
And if they can't travel here?

[ larus doesn't know why, but that puts him on edge just slightly. already, with the sun up and nowhere to go, he feels trapped. the farthest he could probably disappear to would be somewhere else in this building. he can't leave or go outside without risking permanent death. is dorian still that upset about last night? ]

I told you I can take care of myself. I didn't noticed the signs, but I'm aware of it now – that they want to kill me, I mean. It isn't going to happen again. [ he pulls his hand away. ] You don't have to worry about me.

[ which means that it might have been wrong of him to involve dorian in something like this after all. ]
mislay: (pic#11111923)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-12 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he's conscious of the slightest pressure in his jaw as he grits his teeth, entirely too aware of how trapped he is now. ]

Only if I sign that contract with you. [ which is a surprisingly petty response, but it's out before he can quell it. then, he sighs like he's just realized. ] I said I wouldn't be an inconvenience to you or cause you trouble. I'm not pleased with the idea of someone being responsible for me or watching me. [ no matter how logical that is, his tone implies. ]

Is that what you want? For me to stay here?

[ larus doesn't know why he asks or cares so much, but there's a firmness to dorian's words that implies something else. it can't be that he'd want control over him when he's obviously pointed out very real reasons not to go in the down. still, there's only so much freedom he has anyway, and he's always going to test those limits. ]
mislay: (pic#11111913)

[personal profile] mislay 2022-04-12 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ larus slides to the edge of the cushion, clearly uncomfortable but not particularly in the mood to argue further. ]

If that's what it takes, fine. I'll stay here.

[ but he isn't going to be very happy about it. he's not happy about it now, though most of it is just circumstantial, and larus will just bide his time until he can get back to doing something useful. with that decision, too, he looks away and stares idly at some sliver of sunlight across the top of the ceiling. ]

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