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]

Without hesitation, Dorian goes to the Corvette. He slides behind the driver's seat, adjusting the seat, the mirrors, getting the car perfect for him to drive.

"Mmm, you have fantastic taste," Dorian grins. He's not a car guy. Not really. But come on, it's a Corvette. He's going to appreciate the hell out of driving this.

"You're the navigator. I cannot wait to floor this thing."

In this moment, it is very obvious there's a nonzero chance that Dorian might crash this car on a joyride at some point in the future.

[loveisall]

Godric sighs and makes sure the windows are up before he settles back in the passenger seat. "Just get back on the highway and go south," he snorts. "You can't miss it."

Or maybe he can and they end up lost.

He does flip on the radio.

[brushoff]

As the garage door opens, Dorian can't help but grin. He flicks the headlights on, sits back in the seat, absolutely does not buckle up, and then floors it. He's absolutely not caring about the speed limit, just focused on how fast he can push the car and how quickly they can get to Waco.

They are 100% getting pulled over. Sorry, Godric.

[loveisall]

Godric does not seem concerned about it. They certainly are not pulled over in Dallas, seeing as the cops know his car. They know he's in a hurry to go somewhere and they know they don't want to be wherever that fucking is.

But as they leave the city, it is entirely possible. Fortunately, Godric has his ways.

"When was the last time you drove like this?" he asks, closing his eyes at the sound of the car's engine.

[brushoff]

"Decades," Dorian laughs. "I've lived in London most recently. Love the city, adore my time there, I never drive anywhere because it's a fucking traffic jam. What's the use of having a lovely expensive sports car if you can't push it like this?"

[loveisall]

Godric looks out the window, thoughtful. "I didn't know what it would do," he says softly. "This is the first time I've ridden in it."

[brushoff]

"What, really?" Color Dorian surprised. He frowns for a moment before musing, "I'll need to take you out more in it then. It's a shame to let a car like this sit around and gather dust."

[loveisall]

"I let Stan and Isabel use it," he assures him. It isn't gathering dust. It simply - isn't used by Godric.

"I don't have a reason for it to be."

[brushoff]

"You have a reason now. I'll drive you places. We'll explore, we'll drive out of state and hole up in some little hotel somewhere during the day time. I'll take you on a vacation—Lord knows you probably deserve it."

[loveisall]

He reaches over and places a hand on Dorian's thigh. "Oh? Do I deserve it? Or is this a flimsy excuse for you to drive my car?"

[brushoff]

"It can be both!" Dorian laughs. "You deserve a vacation and I want to drive your car."

[loveisall]

"I don't think so," he says and there's a small laugh to it. "But alright. As soon as we find out what's waiting for us in Waco, I will take a vacation. We will."

[brushoff]

"What's waiting for us are aggravating cultists," Dorian shrugs. He turns his attention back to the road as he muses,

"A few deaths in our wake should take care of that problem."

[loveisall]

"Only a few deaths," he protests, then pauses a little at the sight of flashing red and blue.

"Dorian..." he mutters, closing his eyes in annoyance. The cops know better to do anything in Dallas, but the more south they roam, the less they are recognized.

[brushoff]

"What?" Dorian says, with a little frown. He looks over at the rearview mirror and ah. "Shit. That's going to be annoying."

Dorian pulls over to the side of the road, waiting for the cops to pull up behind him. A mask of innocence creeps over his face. Dorian has absolutely flirted and played dumb to get out of tickets before and he 100% is going to do it this time.

"Is there a problem, officer?" he asks, absolutely playing up the big, dumb, innocent twenty-something personality that he knows his face implies.

[loveisall]

Godric puts a hand on Dorian's shoulder and leans in, meeting the officer's eyes. Fortunately, it's night, which means that he isn't wearing sunglasses.

The cop doesn't look away, doesn't blink, and Godric grips Dorian's shoulder tightly until the man straightens up.

"You can go," the vampire tells Dorian softly.

[brushoff]

"I could have flirted my way out of this."

Just saying! Godric didn't have to use whatever vampire bullshit he used (because Dorian is certain this is vampire bullshit). But he puts the car in drive and pulls back on the interstate, making damn sure to actually go the speed limit this time.

"I've done it before—it's easier than you think."

[loveisall]

And Godric places a kiss to Dorian's cheek. "I just erased his memories," he murmurs to him. "And perhaps I wanted to show off a little, too."

[brushoff]

"You tease," Dorian laughs, grinning still. "Vampire overlord of Texas and you're still showing off for a pretty boy."

[loveisall]

He sits back again, shrugging one shoulder lightly. "Of course I am. I have to keep you interested."

And there's a little truth to it. Godric is worried about becoming obsolete. About Dorian growing bored with him and wandering off to find something else, something more interesting. He doesn't think he could bear it.

[brushoff]

"You must think I'm so fickle," Dorian teases, as he adjusts his position, one hand on the wheel, the other straying towards Godric's thigh.

Annoyingly, it's working. Dorian has always been far too curious for his own good—this doesn't change that. Why not poke around and ask questions and learn about this interesting man?

[loveisall]

"Aren't you?"

He puts a hand over Dorian's. "I admit that I have no interest in seeing you go elsewhere."

[brushoff]

“You’ll find that when someone holds my attention, I can be very persistent,” Dorian grins. He’s fickle, he’ll admit that. But at the same time, he knows damn well how monogamous he can be when the situation calls for it.

Toby’s proof of that. Alyssa was proof as well.

“The thing is, you’ve got to hold my attention. And frankly? You’re doing a grand job right now. Stop worrying.”

[loveisall]

He grips Dorian's hand a little tighter. "I do now. But I am not as interesting as you make me out to be in your head, Dorian."

[brushoff]

“Funny. I could say the same thing about myself.”

They’re coming up on their exit. For a moment, it seems like Dorian absolutely isn’t going to use the turn signal and is going to continue driving like an asshole. But he signals, slows down, then takes their exit.

“I wonder what will happen when we learn enough about each other that we become bored—or if we’ll even become bored in the first place.”