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 suspects he knows what the answer is. And yet, he must point out, "Can't you just leave? Let someone else take your job, fuck off and go somewhere else."

If it sucks, hit da bricks, Godric.

[loveisall]

He gently moves Dorian away, off his lap. "Because the world is not small anymore. I cannot live as I once did."

[brushoff]

A brief flicker of annoyance crosses Dorian's face as he's moved off of Godric's lap. He stands up, mostly to idly lean against the wall, before he points out, "I'm not a vampire, but I'm here now. I can help deal with the parts you find most annoying—hell, I'd probably be better at them than you."

[loveisall]

He stands and moves away from him, from the smell of his blood in Dorian's veins, the warm skin against his.

"Start slow, Dorian. But...if we are to do this, I need to make certain you are seen with me. As my companion."

[brushoff]

"That should be easy enough."

It probably won't be easy enough, but a man can dream.

"When's your next outing?"

[loveisall]

"I have a party tonight. You can come. Sit with me."

He looks out the window. "It is simply a way for then to ask me for favors or permission to change their companion."

[brushoff]

Sitting with Godric sounds easy enough. However, there is one thing that Dorian can't help but wonder.

"Do I have to be quiet during all of this? Or can I offer up my two cents on the matter of favors?"

[loveisall]

"They won't thank you for it. So say it quietly to me."

He shrugs.

[brushoff]

"I don't care if they thank me," Dorian points out, despite the fact that he does. The more they talk about this, the more Dorian will wonder what others think. There is a very real chance that he'll be viewed as the vampire equivalent of a Pomeranian: the sheriff's very pretty yet entirely useless little pet.

It's interesting. And he will be very curious to see how the party goes.

"But I can do that much. I hope you're fine with the fact that I'm a horribly opinionated little shit and will be whispering in your ear more than once."

[loveisall]

"I like that," he says, throwing a small smile over his shoulder. "I want your opinions. I don't need a silent trophy on my arm. I don't like you for your beauty. But it is...stunning."

[brushoff]

Dorian gives Godric a wide grin before teasing, "Then I'll have to make certain I'm the most stunning person in the room. When's the party tonight? I'll need at least an hour to get ready."

[loveisall]

Godric shakes his head. "Ten. You have....eighteen hours," he says with a barely suppressed laugh.

[brushoff]

That laugh is intoxicating. Dorian knows he'll want to make it so that he can hear it more. "Four hours for me to get ready, fourteen hours for everything else. Shall I meet you there? Or will you be picking me up?"

[loveisall]

"I can send a car if you'd like," he says, walking past him and hesitating before kissing him deeply.

[brushoff]

Dorian indulges, kissing Godric as long and as passionately as he can muster. He pulls away with a grin.

"I'll be ready then. And I'll make sure I'm the best looking person at the entire damn party."

Time to show those vampires up.

[loveisall]

He leans into the kiss, enjoying it with a sigh as he pulls back. "I believe that."

[brushoff]

Dorian gives Godric a wide grin before,

"Now go. Perfection takes time and I know you have some desperately boring vampire sheriff nonsense to do before your party. I'll see you then."

[loveisall]

"Sleep, Dorian. I am going to sleep today."

He smiles and disappears, leaving his phone behind.

And later that evening, a black car comes for Dorian and waits outside the building.

[brushoff]

Dorian moves to the car with the self-confidence of someone who's hot shit and knows it. He's wearing leather trousers, leather boots, and a well-tailored suit jacket. Under the jacket, however, Dorian is wearing a mesh shirt with a neckline just low enough that it shows off his neck. He's only got his phone and his wallet in his pockets, though he does have a box in his hand. He's wearing just a hint of makeup, a bit of eyeliner solely to accentuate his eyes.

When the car pulls up at the party, Dorian tips the driver handsomely, then makes his way in. He's walking like he owns the place, giving anybody there only a little nod as acknowledgement, until he finds Godric.

"I brought you a present~" said in a sing song tone, as he offers the vampire the small box.

[loveisall]

Godric looks up and smiles, holding out a hand for him. The others in the room seem to form a bit of a bubble around them, giving them a semblance of privacy.

[brushoff]

"I bought you a telephone," Dorian grins. "And of course I already loaded it up with a hundred photos of myself. Some are better seen in private."

[loveisall]

Godric grins at him, like a secret, like Dorian is the only one who can light him up.

He places the box on the table beside him and gestures to the chair on the other side.

"Why do I need pictures when I have you here now?"

[brushoff]

Dorian sits down in the chair, absolutely manspreading, but looking up at Godric with a conspiratorial little smile.

"You'll need pictures because occasionally you'll need a little reminder of what you're missing every time you're stuck in one of those endlessly long vampire politics meetings."

[loveisall]

"I have no idea what you mean."

He hands the phone to Stand behind him, who glowers at Dorian but plugs the phone into the wall for him.

Godric reaches over to take Dorian's hand instead. His grip is loose, weak, and as he leans in, the light shows how much paler he is than even the night before.

[brushoff]

He's so pale. And that loose grip certainly doesn't feel good. Idly, Dorian wonders just how much Godric's been eating. He'll have to coax him into a meal tonight after all this is done.

Dorian gives Godric's hand a little squeeze before leaning in to whisper, "You're coming back to mine tonight—and I won't take no for an answer."