cagedinflesh | IC Contact

He was wondering if spontaneous combustion was possible, so I offered to spontaneously set him on fire.

[ SAID LIKE THIS IS...A NORMAL...THING...TO SAY............... ]

There was freaking out on his part, and he asked how I'd like it if he did that to me, to which I pointed out he couldn't, and that's the point when he would've tried.

[ basically she was being herself at him. ]

[Okay but that's hilarious. He has to laugh.]

A fine response on both your parts. Would you have done it? I would wonder after a reason for such an absurd question, if not for expecting such utter stupidity from that boy.

[Dorian still flinches at the sight of blood. He can't help but look away at first—but that impulse to know overcomes him. And in watching, his sense of horror seems to slip away. He takes the sword wordlessly and sees the speed of it. He realizes his portrait works faster. Is the mechanism different? Or is it just a matter of the speed of prana?

He looks up at Jekyll, eyes as wide and pure and innocent as they were on the day they first met.]

May I touch it?

[Surprised by the question, Jekyll turns his attention from the healing process to Dorian and takes a few moments to answer even after he has.]

Well, if you'd like, why not, I suppose.

[It's a strange request, but maybe Dorian's just interested because science, too!]

Don't be ridiculous. If I were going to kill him, I would have simply ripped out his throat. He wouldn't die from being set aflame; there were far too many people there to put it out.

[ #sane answers ]

I'll call you whenever I find out what it will be, if anything.

[ She's not expecting fame and riches. Fish would be nice, maybe. ]

Oh? How did you sign up for that?

[Way to be as much of a cat as ever.]

That Grell Sutcliffe woman you mentioned, the death god, she put out a request. I'd nothing to do, and to fight is always a worthwhile diversion. Less so as instruction, yet still the best option to be found. I simply stated my interest and expertise.

[Totally sane answers. One he likes very much. There's another laugh of approval.]

If only it had come to pass. But then it is better you did not, if only for witnesses being quite the trouble.

[Like that time one stupid maid saw him beat someone to death, didn't even know who he was, and still managed to set the whole city after him?? Or having to sit through an entire evening with exasperating men to pay them off when the bank opened. Don't have witnesses.]

[Sort of science. Dorian takes the arm, looking at the wound carefully. Something tightens in his chest. Dorian looks up at Jekyll and he asks,] Are you immortal?

Not exactly. I won't die of any natural causes, but I can be killed. Not easily, certainly it would be impossible for a regular humanbeing. But to kill me, along with the rest, is the goal of the other parties in the war I spoke of.

[Then it isn't like him. Dorian's eyes flicker down; his mouth makes itself into a smile. There is no mirror to reveal the truth of the contract to him.] I hope that this wound doesn't heal any more slowly than it would when you had a Master to help you.

It seems it does, in fact. Normally such a wound, inflicted by nothing but a regular sword would be entirely meaningless, healed in a matter of moments.

[Or is that because he isn't using his Noble Phantasm? He hasn't been injured at any other time. But it's better not to think about that. But he notices Dorian's hesitance, and so he steps closer to touch the boy's arm, offering as good a smile as ever.]

Is something the matter, Dorian?

Yes, of course. [The smile flutters, but it does so with all of youth's innocence, its purity. No one could believe dishonesty of a face like this.] It is only a little jarring to see you in such a state of injury. I overestimated my own tolerance for such a sight.

[Well, that wasn't at all the answer he'd expected. It hadn't even occured to him, somehow, that the sight might be disturbing.]

-Ah, forgive me my disregard, I paid no thought whatsoever to your feelings and comfort! Really it is nothing at all, as a doctor I have seen much worse, as a Heroic Spirit, I have experienced worse!

[He quickly rolls his sleeve down so it at least can't be seen, now full of concern.]

[A soft laugh, meant to reassure Jekyll that it is all right.] No, no—I merely have a little . . . reaction to blood. It's nothing to apologize for.

[NOTHING BUT A LIE, MORE LIKE]

[Well at least they're both liars]

Are you certain? Shall I make tea? It would calm your nerves!

[It does little to stop him from worrying. Instead, Jekyll takes Dorian's hands in his, and is determined to look him in the eye, even if Dorian insists on keeping his eyes down.]

[When Dorian meets Jekyll's eyes, his smile is weak, a little nervous. Deliberately so.] I think tea would be a great help, Henry. Thank you.

Think nothing of it. Although it is surprising how so simple a thing can seem odd to always do for oneself.

[He laughs, calming with the opportunity to help. Especially with tea, tea fixes everything, it always calms everyone! For a liar, Jekyll is a very poor judge of it in others. Or at least, people he is determined to think the best of.]

Wait just a moment, please.

[With a final squeeze of Dorian's hands, he hurries off to make it.]

[With one last, manufactured smile, Dorian collapses into a seat. The breath he releases, terrified and uncertain all at once, is not fake. He is just tired. So he rests with his face in his hands, and he waits.]

Henry, can I meet with you?

Of course. I can meet you at the Station immediately as I am there already!

I'll be there shortly.

[And Dorian means it. He wastes no time flying out to the ring on Íde. The moment he hits station ground, he lets her soar up into the clouds, or wander off to find a happy circle of buried flowers. It doesn't matter; he doesn't want to waste time. Dorian strides over to Jekyll's workshop.] Henry?

[Berserker's already made tea, two cups ready to be offered. And jam. If something's wrong, there should be tea and jam to help calm the situation. He greets Dorian with a warm smile, immediately laying aside his work.]

It's good to see you, Dorian.

[It is with purpose that Dorian strides over, ignoring Berserker's set-up—yes, even the jam—and taking hold of his hand in both of his. In the gesture, Dorian places a small stone, and a crystal, in Jekyll's hand.] Take these. If you come to harm in the coming days, then at least once, that stone will take the pain and break in your stead. If you need to speak with me discretely, use the crystal. It is only very basic; you will have to tap it in code, and mine will tremble in sympathy. I'll work on making something better for us. It is all I could manage for now.

Dorian- [All he can do is to stare for a moment, unable to express the way in which he is so deeply touched. Or the gnawing guilt. He should say that he can't be harmed, or at least, is incredibly unlikely to be, if the lack of injury the other day is any indication. Really he should be confessing to what he's done. And he does heavily consider it, wanting to shout that he has murdered and will again and so he is not the one who should be cared for. But he can't tell Dorian now, it would crush him, and he is too kind and sweet to be so disillusioned. Instead, Jekyll closes his fingers around the items, and places his other hand over Dorian's.]

This is far too kind, thank you...

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making his favourite apostle proud tbh

Thomas wouldn't ask, still got a long way to go

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voice.

voice.

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voice; evening of jan 17th

voice;

voice—>action

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