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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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[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

No, of course not. Ridiculous of me to think so, really.

[ he believes you 100%, Mr. Gray. ]

[brushoff]

Ridiculous indeed.

[ There's a pause before Dorian none-too-subtlely changes the conversation. ]

Do you drink? I've got some scotch in my room that I've been saving for a rainy day.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

I do drink. Even Scotch, when the occasion arises.

[ very subtle 10/10 ]

[brushoff]

Level six, room twelve. I'll see you shortly.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ It's only a few moments before there's a knock at the door. he hasn't had far to go and greets Dorian with the news when the door is opened to him ]

Dorian, you're aware I'm in number eight? We're neighbours.

[brushoff]

What, really?

[ He was absolutely unaware of that. ]

Hell, I'll have to invite you over for drinks more often. Follow me.

[ Dorian's room is part of a house—apparently, bringing an entire mansion onto the Barge is 'too much work' and 'a bit of a hassle' and 'you'll be fine with just a handful of rooms, Mr. Gray.' The main door opens out into a hallway with three doors in the hallway and a locked attic hatch in the ceiling. Dorian gestures for Elias to follow him to the open door, which leads to a kitchen/dining room sort of area. ]

Normally, my place is much bigger than this. But apparently, the Admiral frowns on attaching full mansions to the ship.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ Elias knows where everyone's cabins are and almost everyone not sleeping in their own. But please, Dorian. Neighbours.

But he keeps that thought to himself, ready to play the part of the impressed guest. ]

Goodness. Who do I see about renovations? My one room is serviceable but hardly on par with all this.

[brushoff]

One of the perks of being a warden, [ Dorian grins. ] I get multiple rooms and a toilet.

[ When they're inside the kitchenette area, Dorian brings down two glasses and rummages through a cabinet in order to grab a bottle of scotch. The cabinet is obviously a liquor cabinet that's seen better days: there's only four or so bottles in there, compared to something that should be fully stocked. He sets out a bottle of scotch before closing the cabinet behind him and starting to pour. ]

I'm happy to share those bathroom privileges, by the way, if you ever want a nice long soak in the tub without having to deal with other inmates.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

And miss the delight of communal bathing? Dorian, I practically live for it.

[ the sarcasm is heavy in his tone, unmissable. ]

There's little enough else to do here, when one isn't being judged over the slightest of indiscretions.

[brushoff]

There really isn't much else to do, [ Dorian admits, with a little shrug. ] I've taken to reading, drinking, and sitting around, twiddling my thumbs. Wonderful hobbies, I know.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

I hear crochet helps pass the time wonderfully.

[ Now there's an amusing mental picture. ]

[brushoff]

I think I'll take up crossword puzzles instead, [ he teases. ] With crochet, people ask you to make things for them and honestly, I don't think I like people all that much.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

But think of the pleasure in turning them all down to their faces.

[ you know. the simple pleasures in life ]

[brushoff]

I do enjoy crushing dreams, [ Dorian laughs. ] Though don't tell the Admiral that.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ that gets an almost completely genuine snort of derision ]

I'd like one day to sit down every inmate and warden and map out exactly what they've done to wind up on each side of the fence. I expect I'll find all kinds of discrepancies.

[brushoff]

Honestly, I suspect the dividing line is personal bias. Obviously the Admiral plays favorites, this is just another example how.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Yes. It's not that I expect to end up anywhere other than where I am but-- well. As a servant of the Eye, one can't help but notice.

[brushoff]

Oh, I'm sure you'd be observant enough to pick that out even without your ooky-spooky powers that be.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ he tips his glass to Dorian in lieu of confirmation. ]

I do believe that's the first time I've heard them referred to as "ooky-spooky".

[brushoff]

Tell me I'm not wrong, though.

[ he is 100% right and he knows it. ]

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Perhaps not, though I feel you'd be less blase about it if I had those powers and your head was currently an open book to me.

[ there are secrets in you, Dorian. Elias is sure of it and he wants at them. ]

[brushoff]

[ There's a pause...before Dorian does something that's possibly stupid. ]

You know, I give Jon a Statement or two occasionally. What do you think about me also giving them to you?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ Elias' eyes are dark as he looks across the space between them, evaluating Dorian's comment for any trace of "I'm being a little shit".

He gets the feeling the comment is genuinely meant. ]

Ah. First-- a point of distinction. The Archivist needs the statements of fear to survive. He has become a record of fear, and now requires a steady diet of it to avoid a total loss of control over himself and his power.

My interest, however, is entirely voluntary. While I do share Jon's ability to get a coherent statement out of someone, I don't seek out these things out of necessity, but rather curiosity. There are hidden, secret things which exist in the dark corners of the world; things which no one wants known, which one would really rather not have the spotlight shone onto. There are things which no one yet knows at all, and I would be the one to learn them. Because I can.

[ he pauses, takes another sip. His eyes are still watching Dorian, gauging his response ]

But unlike Jon, I have options other than compulsion. I am quite content to ply others with vice and other, gentler, means to get at what I want.

So if you wish to give a statement, I will be perfectly happy to receive it. But don't feel you'll starve me if we don't sit down over a tape recorder.

[brushoff]

[ This is a bad decision. Every ounce of his body is screaming that this is a bad decision. This is a bad decision that is going to end up with Elias blatantly manipulating him, a bad decision that'll end up with Dorian accidentally saying the wrong thing, with him revealing something he shouldn't, with it all going so south, so fast.

And yet. And yet. There's a tiny little part of Dorian that can't help but wonder: if he offers up his life as a buffet to Elias, maybe that'll be one less person the man decides to pester. After all, he likes the man. He's always had a soft spot for all the monsters of the world. And Dorian's got plenty of experience throwing himself on the grenade in order to protect everyone else.

The Admiral brought Elias on for a reason. Dorian's not naive enough to assume that satiating the man's curiosity would be a step closer towards redemption. But a part of him can't help but wonder what would happen if it did. ]

Statement of Dorian Gray, related to a sentient supercomputer I dealt with back in the 1960s.

[ he is going to start by telling Elias something that Jon already knows, though. he's an idiot, not stupid. ]

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Statement given in person to Elias Bouchard, Former Head of the Magnus Institute. Former pupil of the Eye.

[ Elias' body turns fully towards Dorian, giving the man his entire attention. His eyes are still dark but there's an amusement deep in them. He recognises what it is to try something, just to see what will come of it, and he will encourage it as best he can. ]

Statement begins: