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I couldn't tell what I'd do if I were in your shoes. I don't think I could imagine it.

[Because he's here as an inmate, and Dorian Gray is a warden, and that's all there is to it.]

My face is getting stiff.

[ He doesn't know what deal Crozier would make. But he knows it would be better than Dorian's, a man who took up a job on a prison Barge because he's a coward, because he wants the Admiral to deal with this problem instead of him dealing with it himself.

But he's not saying that. Instead, Dorian raises up his hand so that he can look at his watch. ]

Five more minutes. It's supposed to go from goopy to stiff—you won't be able to peel it off if it's a bunch of goop, after all.

Hopefully it won't take off my eyebrows.

[Time to change the subject, before Dorian spirals.]

Edited 2022-04-16 16:23 (UTC)

Of course it won't, [ Dorian laughs. ] Do you think I'd do anything that would be that foolish?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I think you would.

[He chuckles and gets up from the bed, trying to wriggle his nose.]

Just give it a few more minutes! I'm telling you, this will peel off without any problem. You worry too much, Francis.

[ He realizes that he's accidentally swapped things to first name basis right as he says it. ]

[Crozier doesn't even notice. Haven't they always been on a first name basis?]

Ah, I'm always ringing the alarm bell, Dorian.

Well don't. You won't have to worry with me.

Except that I might lose my eyebrows.

[He chuckles and prods at the edge of the mask. It'll probably be satisfying to peel off.]

If you want to go ahead and peel it off, then go ahead, [ he grins. ] It's just about finished anyway.

[He goes to the bathroom to pull the mask off in front of the mirror. And lo and behold, it is satisfying, and his face is exceedingly soft.]

Oh, this is nice.

[ Dorian, who's letting his mask stay on his face for a few minutes more, can't help but let out a small chuckle as he sees Crozier return from the bathroom. ]

Don't say I can't show a man a good time.

[He crawls onto the bed and lays down, stomach first, on it. He doesn't know why, other than the fact that he can kick his legs a little.]

Uh huh. Definitely was needed.

[ Crozier just flopping on his bed, stomach first... honestly, he looks like a child. It's a little cute. Dorian indulges for a moment longer before he pushes himself up off the bed. ]

Right. I'm going to take my mask off. Shall we continue with the pampering or are you already blissed out?

You promised you would paint my nails. That's what I'm expecting.

I won't go back on a promise, [ he points out from the bathroom. Just give Dorian a moment to peel his mask off and then grab the supplies.

When he returns, he's got nail trimmers, an Emory board, a bottle of clear polish, and a bottle of blue-gray polish. ]

Let's get those nails of yours nice and uniform before I paint them.

[He sits up, looking at his own nails to inspect the state of them. Clean, of course, always clean, but not 'uniform'. He extends a hand out to Dorian to do as he will.]

Your skin looks glowing after that mask. [He chuckles a little.]

[ Dorian preens, obviously enjoying the compliment. Sometimes, he truly is that shallow. As he talks, he takes the emery board to Francis's nails, working on shaping them to as close to the same size as possible. ]

I try. Just because I'm stuck on a prison boat, that's not an excuse to look poorly. I always want to look my best.

Edited 2022-04-17 14:26 (UTC)

Does it make you feel better? Your own esteem and whatnot. [Because he assumes that it would. It's why Jopson always took such care with his captain's appearance.]

It does, [ he admits, with a little shrug. ] I like looking good. I like the feeling of confidence I get when I know I'm attractive enough to have everybody stare at me. I like being the center of attention. And getting dressed up and dolled up certainly helps with that.

[He’s quiet for a long moment, staring down at his own hands and then at Dorian’s.]

Does being adored for your beauty make you happy?

Being adored in general makes me happy, [ he admits. Having finished with one hand, Dorian takes the other. ]

I have a very good handle on all of my flaws. I'm selfish and needy. I drive away the people I love or they end up out of my life due to reasons beyond my control. I've spent far too much time alone and know that when I return home, I'll be alone again. So I take any grasp of attention I can get my hands on. It won't be much in the grand scheme of things, but it can pass the time.

[He frowns softly.] That’s horribly sad. You must be surpassingly lonely.

[Like me, he thinks.]

I’d often wondered how my life would have differed had I been beautiful. Would have it been any easier for me? Would Ross have rejected me then, Sophia? It doesn’t do to dwell on the things I cannot change, but still…

[ He is lonely. Desperately so. But he's keeping that to himself. ]

If you were more conventionally beautiful, you'd have a different set of problems. There's no easy way to live a problem-free life.

I do wonder if I might like to have those problems. Might be a breath of fresh air.

[But it is what it is.]

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