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[brushoff]

"You've reached the inbox of one Dorian Gray. Don't forget to leave me a message. If you're interesting, I'll get back to you."

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[brushoff]

It's not pity.

[ Not entirely, at least. If you asked Dorian, it's mostly him offering to shut Misty up. ]

But tell me. If I wasn't going home with Pagan, would you still ask me to hang out?

[citizendetective]

[Hold up, hold up, hold up. This sounds familiar. Multiple times over, in fact.]

So-- wait. You said no because you don't think you matter to me as a person. You think I only asked because of your relationship to Pagan.

[brushoff]

You literally started our conversation with "hi Dorian, you're going to live with Pagan, we should hang out."

It's really easy to get that impression.

[citizendetective]

Well-- I--

-- What if the answer is yes and no? It's complicated.

[brushoff]

I've got time to listen to your explanation.

[citizendetective]

I want to be friends with Pagan's friends. I want to have a group here, the way other people do.

But I really liked hanging out with you at the party. You were... fun? Nice? Even though you were probably making fun of me, the murder mystery scene was really cool.

[brushoff]

[ There's a pause as Dorian mulls it over. After a moment, he sighs. ]

I wasn't making fun of you with the murder mystery thing. I'd have tried to fuck with anybody who came through: you were just the first person I saw.

And, I'll admit, I do like getting drinks with you—even if your taste in music is a little dubious. But surely you've got to realize how it comes off when you start the conversation off with Pagan. You can have friends that have nothing to do with your warden, you know.

[citizendetective]

I know. And I do. But friendships are always stronger when you have a lot of people in common.

[brushoff]

Really?

[ There's nothing condescending in his tone, just simple interest. ]

I've found the opposite. I can safely say that here, on the Barge, this is the largest friends group I've ever had. I mostly go for...mmm, intense one-on-one sort of friendships.

[citizendetective]

Well, I haven't exactly had an abundance of those myself. You don't find them less... secure?

[brushoff]

Not really? Once you find someone who you're ride or die for, all you have to do is stay alive long enough and wait for the 'die.'

[citizendetective]

Well, I'm used to that with a group. It's always felt more secure to me. Pagan is the first person who I've been close to in isolation .

[brushoff]

It's odd how two people can have such completely different experiences with regards to friendship.

[citizendetective]

I know you're probably being sarcastic! But it is odd.

Do you actually want to teach me to play the piano?

[brushoff]

Only if you want to actually learn.

[citizendetective]

I can't read music; is that okay?

[brushoff]

In that case, my first question should have been 'do you want to learn how to read music'?

[citizendetective]

... Sure. Okay.

Now?

[brushoff]

If you want. Or we can meet up later.

[citizendetective]

I have to talk to Nat later, and it's already late. Let's do it now.

[God, does she ever need the distraction.]

Your place, or the music room?

[brushoff]

The music room. Technically speaking, I don't have a piano at my place and that'll make the process easier. See you there.

[citizendetective]

[Misty arrives about ten minutes later, looking just as she'd sounded: serious, subdued, and unsmiling. But when she spots Dorian, she gives him an easy nod.]

Hi. Thanks for... offering, and meaning it.

[She guesses?? She's still not totally sure that he does, in fact, mean it.]

[brushoff]

Of course, [ Dorian nods. Misty looks...fuck, it's hard to describe. Depressed? Which is a very unMisty thing to be. Idly he wonders what happened: because something obviously happened.

But there's part of him that wants to be seen as Dorian Gray: flighty good time party animal. For the moment, he doesn't press. ]

Afterwards we can go back to my room, have some wine, and give each other shit about our music tastes. But right now, shall we begin the lessons?

[citizendetective]

Sure.

[She sits down on one end of the piano bench - not where one should sit to actually play, but she's trying to leave him room - and leafs through the music already on the stand.]

I'm assuming we're starting with something simple.

[brushoff]

We'll start with a classic that everybody starts with: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

[ And so, the lessons start. Dorian's actually not that bad a teacher when he puts his mind to it. He starts with how to read music, then which keys on the piano are which notes. He's keeping everything very basic at the moment: Lord knows that piano can be very complicated the further you get into it. But he occasionally looks over at Misty to make sure that she's understanding what he's saying and is perfectly fine going back to explain more if needed.

He'll go as long as Misty wants. Lord knows she probably needs the distraction. ]