Episodes and parallels

[foreshadower]

WHO: The Shade and Dorian Gray
WHERE: Heropa, and then onward to the bar
WHEN: 07/06, late evening
WHAT: Oscar Wilde Appreciation Club
WARNINGS: None for now!


[ Residence number two was hardly difficult to find, considering Shade was in residence four, right next door fom a Mr. Dorian Gray. It was ironic, considering in his world, Oscar's inspiration had been Merritt, a killer Shade had allowed his hand to tip -- help Matt O'Dare and Jack Knight defeat the killer, and release the souls, the pictures he'd captured to preserve his immortality, into Opal. It would be interesting, to see if in this man's world, it wasn't quite so much pretense, or quite as much allegory.

Charles had been similar to Oscar, in that way, heavy on the implication, to keep others from reading the real truth from their words, or rather the inspiration from them.

Shade moved, took a walk, even, to the other man's residence, knocking on the door to introduce himself. He had a suspicion that his lack of boundaries would likely not be so welcome as they were with Jack -- but Jack was fun to pop in and say hi unannounced to, others, not so much. And even then, it was really his position of power that kept Jack in line. His knowledge that he could save Opal, not so much here -- and Shade wished to see who this man was, that called himself Dorian Gray.

Figure him out, and his version of Oscar out, of course.

He waited, after knocking, leaning on the eagle-headed cane, dressed in his usual attire -- a black suit, white shirt, vest, ascot, and even his spatterdashers were pristine and white, hat on his head rounded the entire ensemble off. He looked the picture of a man out of time. ]

Comments

[brushoff]

[ Dorian leans in, listening intently. After all, Shade had experience doing this sort of thing. He'd know more anyway. ]

I suppose I could use spirit gum, though that would be a pain to remove.

[foreshadower]

That's what many do, or they use other ways to attach it.

I always found it to be a little... bland, to do so. Why hide your identity when all you really need to do is simply...,live far away.

[brushoff]

Not all of us can teleport, [ he laughed, shaking his head. ] Some of us, unfortunately, are stuck in the area where we live.

[foreshadower]

Then perhaps you simply need a good friend who can take you there whenever you feel like it.

[ The offer, of course, was implicit. ]

[brushoff]

[ Dorian couldn't help but laugh a bit, grin on his face, obviously recognizing the offer. ]

I suppose this makes me Bonnie to your Clyde?

[foreshadower]

Would you mind going by Bonnie? [ He asked, with a laugh. ]

I can assure you, we would be untraceable.

[ You can just tell he's bored with Heropa. ]

[brushoff]

Well then Clyde, we'll have to do that someday. [ and there's a wicked grin on Dorian's face. He's used to a certain standard of living, has absolutely no qualms with robbing people to get to that certain standard of living, and is too goddamn proud of his immortality.

Hell yeah he's gonna rob people with Shade. ]

After I find the proper attire, of course.

[foreshadower]

Yes! You can't do this without the right clothing.

[ And the smile mirrors Dorian's. A wolfish, excited thing. Shade didn't care about stealing, he didn't care about any of it, mostly because he thought his hands more experienced and far more loving to hold onto treasures than anyone else's. ]

And if you need assistance...

Well, I have dressed the same way for over 200 years, and they don't make clothing for me anymore. I'm sure I could assist you.

[brushoff]

I've got a few tailors in mind to visit first and foremost--but if I'm stuck, I'll gladly give you a call. After all, you've been here longer than I have.

[foreshadower]

Indeed, but hopefully they will be able to fit you properly. [ He paused, and shook his head. ] The modern fitting techniques never fit quite right.

[brushoff]

You're right, [ said with an annoyed siiiiiigh. Here he was, being a bitter nostalgic. ] It's always close but no cigar with them.

[foreshadower]

They try so hard, but unfortunately they just don't have the skill. It's a side-effect of improving technology, I'm afraid.

[brushoff]

After all, there have to be some pitfalls to offset the gains.

[foreshadower]

Ah yes, of course. And what a gain it will be, to have the freedom to take and do what you wish, yes?

[brushoff]

[ Dorian sighed, over-dramatically. ] God, I'd kill for that freedom again. I have a feeling that this Floridian life might just be the death of me.

[ metaphorically, of course. ]

[foreshadower]

Then perhaps I will be able to assist you in finding that freedom, yes? [ He laughed. ]

I admit, living in Florida is not where I expected my...retirement to be.

[ Unlike most older people. ]

[brushoff]

I visited Florida once before, in the 1990s. And I've got to say, I never expected to be back. Finding my freedom sounds wonderful.

[foreshadower]

And any time you wish to have freedom, say the word, and I would be happy to take you here.

I don't enjoy it any more than you do, honestly.

It's far too hot for my sensibilities.

[brushoff]

That makes two of us, [ said with an overdramatic siiiigh. ]

But I will. I can't imagine that I'd like Heropa for long, after all.

[foreshadower]

Indeed. Which is why I made sure we're no longer in it. [ He smiled, and waved a hand. ]

One of our other cities, it's a much cooler environment, and the drinks are much better.

[brushoff]

And this bar is outside...Maurtia Falls, right? [ Dorian still had the stench of 'new to this world' all over him. ]

[foreshadower]

Yes, quite. I thought it might be nice to leave the Florida heat for a while, yes?

Allow you to see something other than sunlight.

[brushoff]

Sunlight and mosquitos, [ added in with a roll of his eyes. fuck mosquitos. ]

[foreshadower]

Terrible things, the both of them. How awful.

[brushoff]

Considering that Florida's a damn swamp, you wonder why people settled there in the first place.