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[cagedinflesh]

lockets, compasses or action! or whatever else really

fun roulette, which personality will it be, you just can't know
unless you do know who you want, then say so

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Yule 2701

[depicted]

Dorian does not specify whom this gift is intended for. First is a box, made of well-carved wood, carved with emblems of heroes and knights, or perhaps people killing one another and monsters for false causes. The inside is velvet-lined, and it might as easily hold a murderer's weapons as a doctor's tools. But what it holds, just presently, is a note. Instructions.

Go to the station. Search for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'.

[cagedinflesh]

If that's what Dorian asks of him, that's what Berserker will do. Either part of him. It doesn't much matter which side does anyway, being two parts of the same man, which for once agree on something, the desire to do well by Dorian. To be close to him. So, it is not Jekyll, nor is it Hyde, but rather some mixture of the two, Jekyll-Hyde or just Berserker you might call it, who goes to the station. Although for what it's worth, his eyes are green.

And he worries for his friend. He knows all too well what it means for one's name to be the title of a book. Really what's worse is "The X of..." Strange Case, Portrait, there's something ominous in those words. So he goes, and finds the book, reads it immediately in one sitting. It's a shock for Jekyll, confirmation of what he already believed he knew, for Hyde. Henry can't believe the sweet boy he knows could be moved to such sin - and yet, it isn't so different from his own case. He certainly can't think badly of Dorian for it. It's more guilt than anything, sorrow and sympathy. Worst of all he understands the reason far too well, his heart aches for what their society did to Dorian. The one he himself bought into and promoted.

When he is done and has managed a moment to collect his thoughts, he sends a message over the rune.

"I read it. Thank you. Do you want to talk?"

[depicted]

"We have exchanged stories now."

A pause. They have shared with one another their legends. Perhaps that is fair now. But he must add:

"I do not know the truth of it beyond the earliest pages. I know some must be untrue. The rest is uncertain."

[cagedinflesh]

"Yes some part must be fictionalised. Will you meet with me?"

He wants to talk with Dorian about what he's just read, but there's another thing-

"I must deliver your gift as well."

[depicted]

Well. A gift is promising.

"Yes. Where?"

[cagedinflesh]

"Anywhere. The Station?"

It seems to be their usual spot. And it doesn't need to be terribly public that way, they can talk without worry.

[depicted]

"Yes."

It can be discrete enough. Dorian can fly out there and see to it that he isn't followed. Even so, he suspects that they will need better meeting places in the days to come. Perhaps he should think on that as he flies.

[cagedinflesh]

That problem has occured to Berserker as well - he would suggest his lab, but while the inside is private, to be seen entering is another matter.

He waits outside with a small dark blue velvet box in hand, and as always smiles the moment he sees Dorian. It's the same man as always in every way, same clothes, same expressions, posture, waiting place.

[depicted]

Dorian is the same, too—for all that they are dual, they are gifted as well with eternal constancy. He nods his head, quietly, to a private room, and steps inside; Jekyll should know to follow and close the door behind him. Greetings can wait until they are in private.

[cagedinflesh]

Of course. He gives it a moment before following, as if deciding to check the room for no particular reason, certainly not the young man who just went in. Naturally he closes the door when he does, locking it. Then he finally turns to Dorian.

"It's good to see you. Allow me to give your present first, before anything else."

With a smile, he offers up the box. The inside is lined with silk, atop which sits a pocket watch. The inside cover is engraved with Jekyll's initials, and smeared with red, clearly by a finger. If it's touched, it slowly begins to well up with blood, one bead at a time.

[depicted]

It is beautiful to look at. But when he touches it and see what it does, his eyes widen in alarm, and he looks up at Jekyll. "Henry—??"

Could this be Hyde switched in—but the eyes—

[cagedinflesh]

The blood seems to come directly through the cracks of the engraving itself, and at the same time, Jekyll's own hand begins to drip.

"Ah- yes, sorry, don't worry, it will only do that if you touch that part! I said I would find some way to give you command over me, this functions much the same as a Command Seal, but, well, it was necessary to create a direct connection..."

In other words, he's sealed a piece of his soul inside, it's the reaction to that raw bit being prodded.

[depicted]

With a gasp, he draws his hand away. A connection—Jekyll's hand and this. He has to be careful not to touch it. He must be.

And then he realizes what this really means. Command over Jekyll, over Berserker.

Security against Hyde.

Dorian's fist closes around the pocket watch. His right fist, bearing a seal for another Servant. He looks up to meet Jekyll's eyes.

"Thank you, Henry. Thank you so much."

[cagedinflesh]

Jekyll inclines his head to Dorian before matching his gaze in return with an easy smile.

"I hope it will help. Naturally it functions in the originally intended use as well!" In case that was under question at all. Or really mattered much at all, the command is the true intent, the watch a convenient container.

[depicted]

"It does help," He says, and then he takes a step closer and throws his arms around Jekyll. He squeezes him as tight as he can, closing his eyes to take in the hug. "I can breathe now. I know it."

[cagedinflesh]

He sighs in relief, wrapping his arms around Dorian in return, placing a hand on the back of his head. "I'm so glad, I hope to rest more easily now as well, knowing you've some comfort and assurance."

This hug finally feels right because of it. It's been too long, some nine months, since anything felt right with Dorian. Maybe now they have a chance again, maybe now Dorian's trauma can heal properly.

[depicted]

He lets himself indulge in it a moment longer; gripping tighter, he nuzzles his face into Jekyll's neck. A deep breath in of the scent of him; a long, slow exhale. "I missed you."

[cagedinflesh]

"I cannot begin to say how whole-heartedly I agree." Matching Dorian's grip, Jekyll strokes his hair, and with that breath, is moved to himself take a deep breath, and exhale in another great sigh. He could almost cry in that relief. "...And I cannot imagine being without you again."

[depicted]

"You won't be." Dorian doesn't want him to be. Dorian doesn't want to ever let him go again.

[cagedinflesh]

"Thank you." He's silent for a while, simply enjoying the closeness he missed so much, basking in elation. Finally he has done something right, righted a wrongdoing.

Finally he pulls back, still holding Dorian's shoulders. "That mark on your hand, I must ask - is it...?"

[depicted]

Dorian's eyes fall down to it, even as he raises it up. That pretty flower pattern, with its promise of infinity. "Yes. Command Seals. For my Servant."

His eyes flicker up to Jekyll—he doesn't know how he will react.

[cagedinflesh]

"So even their Command Spells work differently...Hikaru was given none. What's more, it looks nothing like the ones I am familiar with. Which Master rank are you?" (Thanks Prototype.) He only looks at it curiously, taking up Dorian's hand in his for a better view. "Ah, and who is it, if I may ask?"

[depicted]

He doesn't mind letting Jekyll touch him now—and that, too, is a relief. "Master rank . . . ? There is no rank. I contracted with Gilgamesh."

[cagedinflesh]

"-Oh, I would worry for your health, he is very strong indeed, it must be a great drain, but then, I suppose the portrait helps with that?" Jekyll is certianly surprised Dorian's contracted with Gilgamesh of all people - perhaps less after reading that book, but still, right now Dorian is not the same - but he respects and trusts Gilgamesh well enough, so far. "No rank? Are you certain? Perhaps you do not know it as a number but instead the titles, for example, my Master was Princes?"

[depicted]

"It is infinite," Dorian says, "as its healing is." But he frowns, shakes his head. The words mean nothing to him. "He just called me Master."