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

[loveisall]

He continues to ride him, through his release and beyond, then moves off while he kisses him.

"No," he mutters. "You are beautiful. That is my only thought."

[brushoff]

"Of course I am," Dorian points out. There's a ragged tone in his voice and he seems damn tired (though still damn high), but he continues with, "Say it again anyway. Tell me how beautiful I am."

[loveisall]

"You are beautiful," he says as he pushes inside of him, wanting to use him until he's spent, until he can't take it. Wanting to give Dorian everything he's been begging for.

[brushoff]

Dorian can't help but laugh, tired, absolutely wiped out expression on his face. He's spent, he's tired, he's fucking high, but he manages to croak out,

"Again."

[loveisall]

"I will kill you," he says as he rests his forehead against his shoulder. "Your heart will explode."

[brushoff]

"That won't take," Dorian laughs. "I've had organs ripped out before. They grow back. It'll hurt like a bitch, but I can still take it."

[loveisall]

Godric chuckles as he sits back. "Come and let me draw you a bath, at least. It will help with the aches."

[brushoff]

"You spoil me," he lightly teases, before propping himself up on his elbows. All of Dorian's movements are slow, deliberate, because fuck is he sore. He's still a bit high, the V currently winning out against the battle with Dorian's immortality, but that doesn't change the fact that he was fucked silly and screwed seven ways to Sunday. His portrait is going to take on some very aggravating cramps overnight.

"But yes, I will happily run up your water bill. Draw up the hottest and most luxurious bath you can possible make! I deserve the best, after all."

[loveisall]

"Do you really want to just be my pampered little companion?" he wonders, standing up and stretching before wandering to his bathroom and running the water. He makes sure it's nice and hot without being scalding, then adds earthy-scented oils to it. If Dorian wants luxury, then Godric is going to give him luxury.

[brushoff]

"Absolutely," Dorian says, with zero hesitation. "We both know I'm more than that. We both know I'm better than that. But I'm a man of luxury!"

There's a wide, teasing smile on his face as he grins over at Godric. Already the bath smells so nice. Dorian saunters over towards the bathroom, dipping a hand in the water to check the temperature.

"Besides, it might behoove you to have a pampered little companion. If your enemies think I'm a useless little idiot, that could be beneficial."

[loveisall]

He cups his face as he comes close. "But is that what you want?"

He pulls the curtain back and sets out a towel, taking Dorian's hand in his to try and guide him into the water.

[brushoff]

"I lie to the world on a daily basis," Dorian muses, as he takes Godric's hand and sinks in the tub. The warm water feels fantastic and he sinks in, submerging as much of himself as he can.

"My age, my immortality, my true nature...hell, I've even lied about my name at some points. I am a unique creature and that means I lie like a bitch about the simplest of things." He gives Godric a cavalier little shrug before,

"Besides. What matters most to me is you. If I can do anything to help you, I shall."

[loveisall]

He takes the rag and runs it along Dorian's back and shoulders. "Yes, but what do you want?"

Godric doesn't want a compliant house cat. He doesn't want another follower. He wants a companion, a true companion, and Dorian fits all of those because of what he is. He's in a unique position to be everything that Godric needs.

But he has to want that, too.

[brushoff]

"I want you to be happy," Dorian shrugs, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. He closes his eyes, enjoying the warmth of the bath. "I like you, I care about you, I want to make your life happy and easy and, if I'm lucky enough, I want be in it for as long as I can."

[loveisall]

"Why me? What god brought you to me, Dorian Gray?" he wonders, leaning forward to kiss his cheek.

[brushoff]

"Mmm, God had nothing to do with it," he laughs, happily taking that kiss. "I seek out the interesting. The desirable. Our paths would have crossed eventually."

[loveisall]

"Your Christian god has nothing to do with anything," he snorts. "I predate Jesus. I worshiped gods long gone and forgotten."

But he likes that idea of inevitability. It makes sense.

[brushoff]

"My Christian god probably hates me," Dorian admits, "what with the 'selling my soul to Lucifer' of it all. That's certainly against a Commandment or two."

[loveisall]

"What - was that?" he mutters. "How did it happen? Truly?"

[brushoff]

"It happened exactly that way," Dorian shrugs. "I wished that I could be immortal, that my painting would take on any traces of sin, age, decay instead of myself. Lucifer listened. He took that idle wish at face value and granted me what I wanted."

There's a pause before Dorian admits, "I don't make idle wishes anymore. If I want something, I won't say that 'I wish I could have this.' I take it. Better I get things done on my own terms before somebody else ropes me into a contract."

[loveisall]

Godric frowns, dipping the rag into the water again.

"And you think that will keep you safe?" He sighs. "And how do you know it was the devil who took your wish?"

[brushoff]

"I know it was the devil because I met with Lucifer himself. He told me as much."

Dorian closes his eyes as he talks. It's obvious this set of memories is a bit painful for him, but he's trying his hardest to seem nonchalant as he explains. "I killed myself once. I stabbed my portrait in a fit of depression and a misguided attempt to save the soul of a woman I once knew. I was...trapped, in exchange. Trapped in my portrait, surrounded by all my sins, all the pain and suffering I caused. The devil offered me an out. The same terms as before, my immortality tied to my portrait—but he already had my soul, so I couldn't offer that. I murdered three people instead."

There's a moment before Dorian continues with, "Nothing will keep me safe. But it's still a good idea not to do anything stupid."

[loveisall]

He cups his jaw and stands up, joining him in the bath water. He wraps his arms around his neck, facing him.

"What do you, Dorian Gray, consider stupid?"

[brushoff]

"Anything that puts me in the situation I was in all those years ago," said with zero hesitation. "Anything where I'm weak, useless, suffering like I was back then."

[loveisall]

He shifts a little, the water ripping around them both, and turns, his back against Dorian's chest. "You will never need to be in that position again," he assures him, his head leaning back on his shoulder.

"Not with me."