[Once he's waved inside, Dorian notes his host's socked feet and pauses to toe his shoes off by the door. He's dressed more simply than usual, having had the need to throw something on in a hurry, in a soft long sleeve shirt in a muted jade color and fitted brown trousers. A small smudge of dried blood on the bend where neck meets shoulder sits as the lone imperfection marring his appearance.
Unusually, the lack of color and personality in the suite feels like a color of its own kind when he knows the occupant is who he is. He figures that all of the ingredients, chalk, and everything else for regular magic use must either be hidden or locked away somewhere.]
Should we go ahead and get right into it? [He rests a hand on a hip as he turns back to Grayson.]
In the interest of a clean reading, I haven't had coffee, or anything else that might alter . . . energy. [Except the one thing, but he isn't seeing colors burning with passionate purity or beauty everywhere anymore, so he's pretty sure it's worn off.]
[The blood is noted immediately but not remarked upon. He's well aware of his proclivities.]
In the interest of sparing you any further deprivation, short of strongly emotion or perception altering drugs, nothing in your system will affect this at all.
[He's faintly amused, a brief flicker of it in his gaze before it grows far more intense. There's...a lot...going on with his aura. He zeroes in on what interests him about it, though, what sort of magic is there and if it's the sort he can slow without cutting off.
He circles him slowly to get a full view, taking close to five minutes before he's satisfied. The fact that Dorian has as much trauma as he does isn't too surprising given his age or the sorts of things he gravitates toward.]
I believe I can do this. The complicated part will be sourcing the ingredients. I'll need powdered silver and some rarer herbs. I believe they can likely be found at Venia.
[Somewhat anticlimactic, he has to admit, but in the end it seems like the reading is a psychic skill. One thing Dorian's sure of is that whatever Grayson's seeing, it's complicated. There's no way it wouldn't be.
He's interested. Also unsurprised that there isn't much reaction from the vampire besides the intensity of focus. He's stabbed this man and drank his blood.]
I'll pick them up the next time I'm out on the town. [But to the more important point here:]
So, am I a hundred shades of Gray? [Does his aura look anything like his deformed soul? Or does it show any of the nuance of the brighter spots that, on the portrait, were slathered over with blood and pestilence long ago?
There's a marked feeling of nostalgia in holding out the smallest hope for that, when the portrait's message has been clear for over a century.]
[He nods. That's satisfactory. If he can supply him the materials, he'll have the draught by the time of the party.]
I can show you.
[It's like a snapshot in his mind, the sudden flare of vision, Dorian's solid form surrounded by swirls of darkness showing rends and tears, many gray and muddied, muted colors as he asked, but also brighter streaks throughout, rose and sunlight, tiny sparks winking from within the darkness, and on the outer edges, a limning of sullen, Hellish flame with a streak shooting out in the direction of Dorian's apartment.]
I can tell you what it means, but I suspect you could say more on the subject than I.
[In this specific instance, he's glad for his perfect memory. Dorian commits the image of his aura to mind as soon as it arrives.
The picture is disturbing, fascinating and beautiful all at once. It's also confirmation of what he already knew: the portrait captures the worst parts of his history, but not his living and breathing persona.
Perhaps he'll paint it and hang it next to his picture. The modern truth set against his legacy. It would be fitting.
But that's for later.]
I could identify all the tears by names and dates if I cared to. [Still, getting this image is satisfying, and he's left feeling contemplative.]
How much time do you need to pull everything together in time for the party?
[If he isn't seeking leverage, he has little reason to dig into someone who has his regard. Tears that deep don't come from insignificant sources.]
If you get the ingredients to me by the end of the week, I'll have the draught ready within one week of that. Obviously, don't drink it until the day of the party. Its effects will wear off within a week given your specific...I hesitate to use the word enchantment. It doesn't read like that.
[An entire week where he can sustain injury. Fascinating, and something he knows he’s going to need to be careful with.
It’s impressive, really, that Grayson can take one look at his aura and offer something like being able to hamper gifts from the Devil for an entire week. Whether it works or not feels like an open question, but history holds that the vampire knows what he’s talking about.]
Consider it a favor from the divine, if that helps any in the conjuring.
[He quirks a small, wry smile. This is going to be interesting.]
Takes one to know one. [He's not going to quibble pedantically with Grayson over the meaning of 'divine' when there's a recently returned unlife, disrobed vampire waiting for him back in their suite.]
If you do, I'm sure you won't find any shortage of people with powers looking to limit or enhance themselves in some way. Even the extraordinary is served by a shaking up now and then.
[It's an interesting idea and one he'd happily discuss at a different time, but again, disrobed vampire.]
Now, if you don't mind me cutting things a little short, I've got someone waiting on me.
There's nothing remotely infernal about my energy.
[It's a bit sharp, eyes narrowed. He seems willing enough to let it go, however.]
Something I may consider at least.
[He waves a hand.]
Yes, by all means, get back to your engagement. Let me know when you have the materials. Or bring them by and the homunculus will receive them if I'm indisposed.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
here's a classic adhd moment for you: had this tag fully written in a tab and forgot to hit submit
Unusually, the lack of color and personality in the suite feels like a color of its own kind when he knows the occupant is who he is. He figures that all of the ingredients, chalk, and everything else for regular magic use must either be hidden or locked away somewhere.]
Should we go ahead and get right into it? [He rests a hand on a hip as he turns back to Grayson.]
In the interest of a clean reading, I haven't had coffee, or anything else that might alter . . . energy. [Except the one thing, but he isn't seeing colors burning with passionate purity or beauty everywhere anymore, so he's pretty sure it's worn off.]
The times I've done that...
In the interest of sparing you any further deprivation, short of strongly emotion or perception altering drugs, nothing in your system will affect this at all.
[He's faintly amused, a brief flicker of it in his gaze before it grows far more intense. There's...a lot...going on with his aura. He zeroes in on what interests him about it, though, what sort of magic is there and if it's the sort he can slow without cutting off.
He circles him slowly to get a full view, taking close to five minutes before he's satisfied. The fact that Dorian has as much trauma as he does isn't too surprising given his age or the sorts of things he gravitates toward.]
I believe I can do this. The complicated part will be sourcing the ingredients. I'll need powdered silver and some rarer herbs. I believe they can likely be found at Venia.
no subject
He's interested. Also unsurprised that there isn't much reaction from the vampire besides the intensity of focus. He's stabbed this man and drank his blood.]
I'll pick them up the next time I'm out on the town. [But to the more important point here:]
So, am I a hundred shades of Gray? [Does his aura look anything like his deformed soul? Or does it show any of the nuance of the brighter spots that, on the portrait, were slathered over with blood and pestilence long ago?
There's a marked feeling of nostalgia in holding out the smallest hope for that, when the portrait's message has been clear for over a century.]
no subject
I can show you.
[It's like a snapshot in his mind, the sudden flare of vision, Dorian's solid form surrounded by swirls of darkness showing rends and tears, many gray and muddied, muted colors as he asked, but also brighter streaks throughout, rose and sunlight, tiny sparks winking from within the darkness, and on the outer edges, a limning of sullen, Hellish flame with a streak shooting out in the direction of Dorian's apartment.]
I can tell you what it means, but I suspect you could say more on the subject than I.
no subject
The picture is disturbing, fascinating and beautiful all at once. It's also confirmation of what he already knew: the portrait captures the worst parts of his history, but not his living and breathing persona.
Perhaps he'll paint it and hang it next to his picture. The modern truth set against his legacy. It would be fitting.
But that's for later.]
I could identify all the tears by names and dates if I cared to. [Still, getting this image is satisfying, and he's left feeling contemplative.]
How much time do you need to pull everything together in time for the party?
no subject
[If he isn't seeking leverage, he has little reason to dig into someone who has his regard. Tears that deep don't come from insignificant sources.]
If you get the ingredients to me by the end of the week, I'll have the draught ready within one week of that. Obviously, don't drink it until the day of the party. Its effects will wear off within a week given your specific...I hesitate to use the word enchantment. It doesn't read like that.
no subject
[An entire week where he can sustain injury. Fascinating, and something he knows he’s going to need to be careful with.
It’s impressive, really, that Grayson can take one look at his aura and offer something like being able to hamper gifts from the Devil for an entire week. Whether it works or not feels like an open question, but history holds that the vampire knows what he’s talking about.]
Consider it a favor from the divine, if that helps any in the conjuring.
[He quirks a small, wry smile. This is going to be interesting.]
I’ll have what you need to you within a few days.
no subject
[If it were divine, he wouldn't touch it with a 50-foot pole.]
Excellent. Then I'll be able to get to work. You do provide the more enjoyable challenges these days. Perhaps I should expand my enterprises.
[It would be more satisfying than the piddling work he does for the lab.]
no subject
If you do, I'm sure you won't find any shortage of people with powers looking to limit or enhance themselves in some way. Even the extraordinary is served by a shaking up now and then.
[It's an interesting idea and one he'd happily discuss at a different time, but again, disrobed vampire.]
Now, if you don't mind me cutting things a little short, I've got someone waiting on me.
no subject
[It's a bit sharp, eyes narrowed. He seems willing enough to let it go, however.]
Something I may consider at least.
[He waves a hand.]
Yes, by all means, get back to your engagement. Let me know when you have the materials. Or bring them by and the homunculus will receive them if I'm indisposed.
no subject
Not interesting enough to hold him up for now, though.]
Perfect. Like I said, I'll have them for you soon.
[And then with farewells said, he makes his way from the suite and back towards his own.]