[That's straightforward enough, and as he's learning more and more, it's best to take these statements like that at face value with Larus. It's an appealing enough offer that he can shrug the last of whatever it was that happened between them off in favor of interest.]
All right.
There are three places I hadn't checked out yet that I was interested in, [he admits. Bringing his fingers to his lips, he takes a last drag off his cigarette, before flicking the butt out the window with a final exhale. He pulls the window decisively shut.]
But one of them isn't the most cheerful place in the world. [But it bears visiting. He needs to know exactly what 'The People Zoo' is, and if it's as much of what it sounds like it is.] But from what you've told me so far and what I've seen you shrug off, you've got a strong stomach.
[He slips off the windowsill and pushes dark curls out of his face.]
I want to know everything about this city. [And the company and conversation along the way won't be unwelcome.]
[ this is a better conversation to have than whatever it was they weren't saying before. ]
I'm sure I can handle anything this place has to offer. [ which is putting it lightly, if he's honest. ] I want to know everything just as much as you do.
[ it's why he'd been so adamant about getting to know the down, why he's been speaking with people off and on and trying to form connections. an exhausting endeavor that hasn't amounted to much aside from basic information and getting beat nearly to death by one of the various gangs in the down. there's a muted sigh as he finally moves to intercept dorian in whichever direction he might plan to go so he can look at him. ]
[Dorian searches out his LIER device, before bringing it back to Larus to start showing him a few browser pages with shopfront pictures and addresses attached to them.]
These. As far as I can tell, this amounts to the above board magical offerings in the city. [The first two screens are shop pages for Venia, a shop dedicated to witchcraft in varying forms, and then the Triple M Apothecary, a magically-oriented pharmacy. Once they've finished looking, Dorian gives his device a few swipes and pulls up a map.]
And then I wanted to see the 'People Zoo' in the flesh. [As far as letting the reality of where they are sink in, it seems like the heart of the matter. He doesn't doubt that it's what it's advertised as, but seeing it and being present inside it would make it real, rather than something that feels more like an absurd rumor.]
[ it's strange, he thinks. the kind of excitement that settles low inside him at the prospect of visiting all of these places with dorian and discovering more of the city together. larus isn't entirely sold on the idea of visiting the first two places, mostly because there's some sort of magic involved, and he's still thinking about their conversation before about some possible witch coming in there for whatever reason. the frown that flits across his face is mild—slight interest but nothing more than that. ]
We should go there first. [ indicating the people zoo with the slightest tilt of his head. ] I haven't been, but I've heard conflicting stories about it. I want to know which is true.
[ but it hadn't seemed like a good idea to go unaccompanied, especially as an uncontracted submissive. larus can abide by the rules as long as it suits him, and it wouldn't have been worth the hassle of getting held there. since they plan to make this an official arrangement in the next day or so, though, it shouldn't be a problem, especially since dorian is going with him. ]
Those other places seem safe enough. [ boring, he means. because he's not interested in witchcraft whatsoever. ]
Fine by me. [But he does want to make sure they hit the apothecary and Venia. If he has any hope of gaining a needed upper hand against Grayson, should one be needed, it'll come from better understanding the ways in which magic works in the city, if there are any rules or boundaries affecting that kind of power at all.
Once they're finished with it, Dorian puts his device in sleep mode and then slips it into a back pocket.]
What I've heard is that it's like a human kennel and a prison in one. [Like a living, breathing satire-- something worthy of Jonathan Smith.] People can be bought and sold, or left there if no one shows interest.
[ some of it sounds like a headache, but the majority of it will be time spent learning new things about the city and dorian's preferences. so, it's not a loss either way. at least there's a plan now too, something to look forward to as soon as the sun goes down.
there's a nod of agreement. ]
I had someone tell me it was the worst thing to experience, and someone else said it was better than being in the Down. [ which, given the previous night's excitement, could be true. ] I guess we'll find out when we go.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
All right.
There are three places I hadn't checked out yet that I was interested in, [he admits. Bringing his fingers to his lips, he takes a last drag off his cigarette, before flicking the butt out the window with a final exhale. He pulls the window decisively shut.]
But one of them isn't the most cheerful place in the world. [But it bears visiting. He needs to know exactly what 'The People Zoo' is, and if it's as much of what it sounds like it is.] But from what you've told me so far and what I've seen you shrug off, you've got a strong stomach.
[He slips off the windowsill and pushes dark curls out of his face.]
I want to know everything about this city. [And the company and conversation along the way won't be unwelcome.]
no subject
I'm sure I can handle anything this place has to offer. [ which is putting it lightly, if he's honest. ] I want to know everything just as much as you do.
[ it's why he'd been so adamant about getting to know the down, why he's been speaking with people off and on and trying to form connections. an exhausting endeavor that hasn't amounted to much aside from basic information and getting beat nearly to death by one of the various gangs in the down. there's a muted sigh as he finally moves to intercept dorian in whichever direction he might plan to go so he can look at him. ]
Tell me about these other places. What are they?
no subject
These. As far as I can tell, this amounts to the above board magical offerings in the city. [The first two screens are shop pages for Venia, a shop dedicated to witchcraft in varying forms, and then the Triple M Apothecary, a magically-oriented pharmacy. Once they've finished looking, Dorian gives his device a few swipes and pulls up a map.]
And then I wanted to see the 'People Zoo' in the flesh. [As far as letting the reality of where they are sink in, it seems like the heart of the matter. He doesn't doubt that it's what it's advertised as, but seeing it and being present inside it would make it real, rather than something that feels more like an absurd rumor.]
no subject
We should go there first. [ indicating the people zoo with the slightest tilt of his head. ] I haven't been, but I've heard conflicting stories about it. I want to know which is true.
[ but it hadn't seemed like a good idea to go unaccompanied, especially as an uncontracted submissive. larus can abide by the rules as long as it suits him, and it wouldn't have been worth the hassle of getting held there. since they plan to make this an official arrangement in the next day or so, though, it shouldn't be a problem, especially since dorian is going with him. ]
Those other places seem safe enough. [ boring, he means. because he's not interested in witchcraft whatsoever. ]
no subject
Once they're finished with it, Dorian puts his device in sleep mode and then slips it into a back pocket.]
What I've heard is that it's like a human kennel and a prison in one. [Like a living, breathing satire-- something worthy of Jonathan Smith.] People can be bought and sold, or left there if no one shows interest.
no subject
there's a nod of agreement. ]
I had someone tell me it was the worst thing to experience, and someone else said it was better than being in the Down. [ which, given the previous night's excitement, could be true. ] I guess we'll find out when we go.
[ in another handful of hours. ]