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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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Comments

[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. ]

[citizendetective]

[And Misty, in turn, is a decent student - one without any sort of obvious aptitude for music, but she has a decent ear, is generally quick at picking up skills, and struggles less than a lot of beginners would with having her right and left hands do different things.

She's good for about an hour before she lifts her hands off the keys and sits back.]

That's enough for today - don't want to burn out my brain, haha.

[brushoff]

Understandable, [ Dorian nods. He gives Misty a wry grin before, ]

Now, who wants a drink or two?

[citizendetective]

I'm not getting drunk.

[She says with a sigh, closing the piano lid. She still wants to talk to Natalie tonight.]

But yes.

[brushoff]

You look like you might need it, [ Dorian points out. ] But we can just have a glass of wine instead.

[citizendetective]

I'm fine.

[She says, and then she sighs.]

No, I'm not; I'm frustrated and pissed off. And wine sounds great.

[brushoff]

[ There we go. He knew it was something like that. Dorian gives Misty a nod before standing up from the piano. ]

Then we'll head back to my room, I'll pour us both a glass, and you can bitch about whichever of the Barge's array of idiots pissed you off. Deal?

[citizendetective]

Okay.

[She says, torn between suspicion and gratitude as she moves towards the door leading out of the gazebo.]

Are you really being like this just because I made you feel like I wanted to hang out with you for you?

[brushoff]

I'm being like this because you're frustrated and pissed off and decided to bother me instead of Pagan or Natalie.

[ Dorian is well aware that he's mid-tier on the list of people to bother. So what, did Misty piss off both of them? ]

That tells me that whatever happened, you need that drink.

[citizendetective]

Well, I already bothered them.

[She says, giving him a sharp look over that wording.]

And I'm going to bother them again later. I'm not mad at either of them.