tlv ic contact

[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."

voice, video, text, action

Comments

[brushoff]

[ There's a pause and a frown before Dorian answers. When he does, it's obvious he's phrasing his words carefully, so as not to trip over them himself. ]

What matters isn't that it was acceptable. What matters is that the two of you were ashamed of it. [ After all, it wasn't 'oh hey Dorian, why the fuck didn't you knock', it was immediately 'get the hell out of here.' ] Besides, there's a world of difference between a quick tear of the artery and beating someone to a fucking pulp.

[anti_altruisms]

I'm not ashamed of anything, Dorian Gray. I am no more ashamed of what you saw today than I am of the fact that Godric and I frequently make each other bleed. He tears my throat out every time I go visit, and I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.

However, I am a very private person. I know how easily people like to make drama and misconstrue what they see - which is exactly what you did.

Why would I invite any of that when it has nothing to do with the work I do here?

[brushoff]

You're not the only person who was bleeding, [ Dorian dryly points out. ] And if I had to guess? Kirei's taking my intrusion much worse than you are.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not religious. But I think it's safe to guess most don't look at a priest and think 'Fight Club.'

[anti_altruisms]

Kirei is not as comfortable in his own skin as I am.

[ Which is good in some ways and bad in others. ]

It's part of the reason I fight with him. It's a sort of language that both of us understand.

You can ask him if you want to know more about his background - but suffice to say, the Holy Church in our world doesn't consist solely of martyrs and pacifists.

[brushoff]

Everything about this still rubs me the wrong way, [ Dorian shrugs. ] What's the point of it all anyway? Just for funsies? To get your kicks?

[anti_altruisms]

[ A pause, then- ]

Violence is part of my nature, Dorian. I can no more cut that part away from myself than I can sever my own arm.

If I didn’t fight Kirei, I would fight dragons or other beasts made by the Enclosure. But sometimes, there is simply value in understanding someone else and being understood in turn.

That is the point of it. And I suspect he feels the same way.

[brushoff]

[ Dorian frowns. But he kind of gets it. After all, hedonism is a part of his nature. He could never indulge in moderation or anything like that. But hedonism is a lot different than violence, at least in Dorian's mind. ]

Why don't you just spar in the gym?

[anti_altruisms]

[ Archer tries not to roll his eyes at that question. ]

Why didn’t you just fuck Godric and let him have a small taste instead of allowing him to tear your throat out?

I’ll tell you why. Because it wasn’t good enough. Because being as durable as you are lends itself to seeking extremes. You wanted the pain he could give, and he gave it to you.

For the same reason, a few cuts or bruises aren’t good enough for me. And just as I didn’t have Godric rip my throat out in the dining hall, I’m not going to subject myself to the idiocy of public opinion about this when almost no one would understand it.

[brushoff]

[ Annoyingly, Archer is making a lot of sense. Dorian frowns slightly taking all that in, knowing full well that he doesn't have much of a leg to stand on when it comes to things like this.

There's a long pause before he continues with, ]

I still say the two of you should just go ahead and fuck already. I don't know how long your sparring sessions have happened, but they certainly haven't removed the stick lodged up Kirei's ass.

[anti_altruisms]

[ Archer gives Dorian a flat, unimpressed stare. ]

We are not going to conform to what you think we should want or do just because you say so, Dorian.

I have no desire to fuck Kirei, and in fact the only person I do want to fuck is no longer on this ship. As hard as it may be for a hedonist like you to accept, not everyone wants what you want.

[brushoff]

Oh, I know that much. But do consider that I occasionally have a good idea every now and then. And I think this one might be one of them.

[anti_altruisms]

It is not one of them. The two of us fucking would be a far worse endeavor than what you actually saw us doing.

It’s not going to happen so I’ll ask you now not to suggest it to him or to me ever again.

[brushoff]

[ Archer, buddy, if you thought that would make Dorian have less questions, you're wrong. ]

Wait, far worse endeavor how? Which one of you has the world's worst kinks?

[anti_altruisms]

[ Archer seems irritated all over again at the question. ]

How many times do I have to tell you that not everything has to do with sex before you actually listen to what I say?

[ jfc Dorian ]

Our circumstances are complicated in a way I don’t feel the need to explain to you or anyone else. We aren’t going to fuck, and that’s the end of it.

[brushoff]

[ Yeah, Dorian doesn't believe that. But he simply raises an eye before continuing with, ]

Of course you won't fuck. You'll just beat the shit out of each other on a regular basis instead. Completely healthy.

[ A pause before, ] And yes I know you'll bring up the Godric thing again. But I never said I was a healthy example of a role model.

[anti_altruisms]

It’s healthy in the sense that it provides a sort of release that both of us want.

I won’t lie and say it isn’t fucked up because it is.

But again — there is no permanent damage to either of us, and no one else is being harmed by it.

I only brought up Godric to highlight your hypocrisy and to try and explain this in a way you would understand.

[brushoff]

[ There's a long pause before Dorian sighs. ]

You know, if I ended up finding out about this, it's only a matter of time until someone else does as well.

[anti_altruisms]

If that happens, I will deal with it.

In the meantime, I expect you to respect my privacy and his and not to breathe a word of it to anyone.

[brushoff]

Oh trust me, I'm keeping this a secret. It'll open up more questions than answers if I tell.

[anti_altruisms]

Good.

[ The bookshelf barricading the door vanishes. ]

I'd say that's all that needs to be discussed.

[brushoff]

I suspect it is. [ Dorian, shrugs. ] Have fun beating each other half to death.

[anti_altruisms]

We’ll beat each other extra hard next time just for you.

[brushoff]

Oooh, invite me to watch!

[anti_altruisms]

You called both of us ‘deranged’, and now you want to watch?

[ He’s not surprised, but still. ]

[brushoff]

Why not? I'm always curious to see who'll last longest.