ic contact

[brushoff]

"Hello. This is Dorian Gray's cellphone. I can't talk right now. Don't forget to leave me a message. If you're interesting, I'll get back to you."

voice, video, text, action
[ certain threads in this post contain nsfw content (sex, blood, violence, etc.) so, you know, don't read them where Gramma can look over your shoulder. just kind of a blanket trigger warning for gore & body horror as well ]

Comments

[abduxel]

It's a shame I didn't show you, actually. I was pretty grotesque, to be honest. Fangs and claws, spikes, extra eyes...

[brushoff]

I would say 'maybe next time,' but I doubt either of us want a next time to begin with.

[abduxel]

I was extra powerful, so that was nice.

But no, overall it wasn't pleasant. I had a hard time resisting the temptation to use them. As you experienced. Usually, I have good self-restraint.

[brushoff]

This was just the exception to prove the rule, I suppose?

[abduxel]

...Yes, let's go with that.

[brushoff]

It's the easiest way to wave it off, after all. [ said with a wave of his hand ]

Anyway, aside from the memory thing, what else can you do?

[abduxel]

[He's just a nosy jerk sorry Dorian.]

Theoretically, anything I want, if I can find the words to make the spell. There are a lot of things I've never tried.

[brushoff]

By 'find the words', what do you mean? Do you just make them up?

[abduxel]

It's a demonic language. [He speaks a few words, random nouns, the language harsh, guttural and abrasive-sounding.] But to make a spell you have to word it very carefully, or else things go wrong. [Abduxel isn't smart or modern enough to make this comparison, but it's kind of like programming.]

So, I have to ask: are you going to look like that eventually? You just age very slowly?

[brushoff]

Absolutely not, [ Dorian said emphatically, frowning as he does so. This is obviously a sticking point. ] Circumstances aside, my eternal youth is just that: eternal. The only time I managed to look that hideous was when someone tampered with something beyond my control.

[abduxel]

Tampered with what, exactly?

[brushoff]

With my portrait. I met an artist, she tampered with my portrait, I grew old.

[abduxel]

...Your portrait.

[Clearly, he hadn't read the book yet.]

That's a new one.

[brushoff]

[ Dorian...just gives Abduxel a frown. ]

You haven't read the book yet, have you.

[abduxel]

[Caught me.]

I don't get around to reading much.

[brushoff]

Might want to get around to reading this one. But basically? My immortality is conditional. The picture of Dorian Gray, my portrait, takes on all my sins.

[abduxel]

[He raises his eyebrows in an appreciative nod.] Interesting.

I guess it might be less bloody than just watching all your memories myself.

Do you have a copy?

[brushoff]

I've got something better: the original.

[abduxel]

[Abduxel genuinely isn't sure if he means the original book or the original portrait, but since either would be equally acceptable, he smiles anyway.]

You'll have to show me sometime, then, Dorian.

A painting that takes on your sins... I wonder if you aren't accountable for them, either, then. In the afterlife.

[brushoff]

Just give me the date and time. It's stored somewhere safe right now, so I'll have to get it out and bring it back to my place, but I'm fine with whenever.

[abduxel]

[He smiles, tapping his fingers on the table a bit and leaning back.]

You'd really trust some random demon around a painting that can affect your immortality like that?

Hm, you must really like me.

[brushoff]

You'll notice that I haven't told you what people did to the painting to affect my immortality, [ matching Abduxel's smile as he speaks. ]

[abduxel]

Touché.

I'd have no reason to, anyway. I prefer to see you like this.

But your memory was really interesting, last time we crossed paths. Sibyl Vane. [He's only "heard" the name in his mind, so he tries it aloud.] I suppose she's in your book.

[It's probably telling that he didn't focus on the brief flashes of more violent memories - murders and the like - if Dorian has caught on that he saw those quick samples, too. Not that he isn't nosy about those... or that it's surprising a demon wouldn't be easily put-off by sinful behaviours.]

[brushoff]

Surprisingly enough, she is. Most of my memories aren't in my book. But Sibyl, Harry, Basil...hell, even Alan Campbell I suppose. They're all in the book.

[ He didn't know what else Abduxel had seen. Dorian tossed the names out like bait, waiting to see if he took on any of them. ]

[abduxel]

[Abduxel hadn't caught any other names, except Yuri, and so had little context around the rest of them.]

Well if the book isn't exhaustive, you'll just have to tell me in person, won't you.

You've really made the most of your long life, haven't you? Were they all lovers?

[He smiles a little.] Did you get away with it, before modern times - seeing men, I mean? I guess... I can't assume your world was like mine. But people took that all very seriously, where I come from.