dorian & godric

[brushoff]

Christ, how Dorian hated Texas.

It was the best and worst of America. There still was so much space, plenty of towns barely hanging on, hardscrabble little places that were trying to make their move, the drive and determination and chutzpah that Dorian adored of the America in the past. America in the 1920s was great. A feisty nation, determined to prove itself on the world's stage, bright and brilliant and ready to take on the challenge.

But the Texas cities? The cities were horrible. Large, ugly things almost crushed under the weight of their own self-importance and overpasses. Forgotten centers where all residents fled to cookie-cutter nigh identical houses set in towns created solely for the purpose of commuting. People didn't thrive in places like that, with their subdivisions and big box stores and fucking Targets. You lived there, but you didn't thrive. And Dorian Gray was always looking for something new, something bright and breathing and alive.

Granted, a shitty little dive bar wasn't exactly what most people thought of when they thought of 'alive.' But Dorian had been lingering around Dallas long enough that a few things had gained his interest. The coming out of the closet, so to speak, of vampires had been the big one. Idly, he wondered what Toby would have thought of it all—he felt so alone for so long. Would vampire advocacy groups or these cute little pamphlets have changed anything? Or would the Sunday morning cable news services about how all vampires are damned have made things worse? There's no way of knowing. But Dorian wanted to learn more about this himself.

Try as he may to fit in, it's obvious that Dorian is here for something. He flirts with the waitress and casually asks a few questions about vampire activity in the area. He loses a game of pool but presses his competition whenever they bring up 'fangs.' This is the third day in a row he's made some not-so-subtle inquiries about vampires, something's got to give eventually. He's British as hell, the accent is a dead giveaway, so might as well lean into the obviousness and see what happens.

And as he slips out of the back door of the dive bar, stepping outside to light up a cigarette, Dorian's certain that something will happen. What precisely? He doesn't know.

Comments

[brushoff]

Dorian starts to rub his hand on Godric's crotch, fondling him through his clothes.

"You'd like it if I was your territory, though. A pretty thing like myself. A human with so many questions. I'd be the perfect thing to show off to all your other vampire friends. And I'd be all yours."

[loveisall]

Godric shakes his head and gives a small push to get Dorian off of him.

"I can get sex anywhere, Dorian. If I wanted it. But I don't. I thought - " He shakes his head. "Well, it doesn't matter what I think."

[brushoff]

"You thought what?"

Dorian lets himself get pushed off Godric, but he doesn't leave. He just stands there, looking over at the vampire, waiting for an answer.

[loveisall]

He stares at Dorian for a moment, thoughtful and quiet, debating on if he wants to actually say anything or not.

He settles on not.

"Perhaps I will tell you tomorrow," he says as he turns to retreat back to his room.

[brushoff]

Perhaps. Dorian hates that. He looks over at Godric, irritation on his face before,

"Perhaps I will show up."

Before Dorian turns to grumpily stomp out of Godric's house. He loves this and hates this all at the same time.

[loveisall]

Godric lets him go.

And later, he sends him a list of apartment buildings that are ready to rent, ready to go, that meet Dorian's specifications.

As for Godric, he stays at home and, while he doesn't wait for him specifically, he does cast a glance to the door every once in a while, waiting for him to walk through it.

[brushoff]

Dorian doesn't show up the next day. Or the day after that. He's absolutely being a petty little baby but honestly, Godric deserves this.

He does rent one of Godric's apartments, though. And spends his evenings in the vampire club that Godric showed him, happily shit-talking the sheriff to whoever will listen.

Yes he's being a child but he's in the right! Godric deserves this a little bit.

[loveisall]

Godric lets him go for a few days without saying anything. It isn't until he hasn't seen Dorian for a week that he shows up to Dorian's apartment. He lets himself in, using the shitty little loophole about ownership, and sits at the dining room table to wait for Dorian to arrive home.

[brushoff]

Dorian comes home smelling like sweat, drugs, and poor decisions. He opens his door, makes his way to the kitchen to grab some water-

"Fuck!"

Not expecting that, buddy!!

"Christ, I should have picked a different flat."

[loveisall]

Godric shrugs as he looks over. "You have been enjoying yourself, I assume?" he wonders, raising a brow.

[brushoff]

"Indeed I have," Dorian says, trying to seem like this is a perfectly normal, nonchalant conversation as he goes to get a bottle of water from the fridge.

"I've been spending time with some people who know how to have fun."

[loveisall]

"And yet, you still want something else. Something more."

He looks out the window.

"How are you so old and yet so impatient?"

[brushoff]

"Blame the humanity in me," Dorian dryly responds. There's a moment before he continues with,

"I don't know how you can be so old and so still. You finally have something new. I'm something new. If I were in your shoes, I'd be jumping at the opportunity for a new experience and yet you're taking your sweet time."

[loveisall]

"Because you aren't new, Dorian Gray. You are a strange being, but I have met many of those. You still act like a human. The sort of man who thinks only about instinct. You will sleep with me and then leave. And what did I gain but another forgettable bed partner that does not last?"

He doesn't turn to look at him.

[brushoff]

"I won't leave," Dorian says, without hesitation. He hates that he's so quick to say it, but he knows it's true. "I can't. God, I fucking hate to admit it, but there's something about you...I don't want to let it go."

It's vague, he knows. But Dorian knows precisely what about Godric is attractive to him—he's just hesitant to actually say it.

[loveisall]

Godric is quiet for a very long moment. He breathes out.

"Is that why you keep trying to get my attention?'

[brushoff]

"I'd like to think I've succeeded in getting your attention," he points out, with a light chuckle. Dorian stays where he is, leaning against his counter, taking a sip of water in between sentences.

"I don't go to this much effort for anyone. Only those that truly interest me, more than a quick fling."

[loveisall]

Godric considers that, but he doesn't know really what to make of it. He doesn't know if he can believe that. He doesn't know if he wants to.

He stands up and walks over, tilting his head. "Then prove it. Stop this nonsense and come to me as you are."

[brushoff]

Dorian doesn't say anything for a moment. But then, he takes one last drink of water, sets the glass down, and walks over to try and give Godric a kiss.

It's tender but also hesitant: the actions of a man trying to make a gesture and get his point across, but unsure if he's succeeding.

[loveisall]

Godric, this time, allows it. He stands up taller and drapes an arm around his neck, kissing him back, keeping it gentle and relaxed.

This is what he wanted.

[brushoff]

The moment Godric kisses back, Dorian relaxes. He adjusts his position so that he can wrap his arms around the vampire's waist, holding him close and pulling him tight. There's a moment before he murmurs,

"I'm trying, you know?"

And he goes to give Godric another kiss.

[loveisall]

"I know that now, yes," he says and brushes a hand past his jaw. "You are a fascinating creature, Dorian. I want to know every part of you. But I do not want to give you part of me unless I know you...want this, too."

[brushoff]

"I'm renting an apartment here," Dorian chuckles. "In America. I wouldn't have done that if I wasn't in this for the long run."

[loveisall]

He shakes his head. "You have enough money to throw around."

Godric brushes his fingers through Dorian's hair. "Tell me your secret."

[brushoff]

"True. But I have enough class not to make America my home base," Dorian lightly teases. "Not unless it's really worth it."

His secret, though...there's a part of him that doesn't want to tell Godric. That wants to hold close, that points out all the people who heard of his secret and then immediately tried to fuck him over. What if Godric's the same? Why should he trust him?

But it's a leap of faith. And it's one that Dorian knows he's going to have to take.

"My secret? I'm Dorian Gray. That Dorian Gray. I sold my soul for eternal youth and eternal beauty. My existence is tied to a cursed portrait of myself and I haven't aged a day since my twenties."