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]

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.

[foreshadower]

A multitude of reasons, but I think it would be people with a looser grip on what may be bad for their health.

[brushoff]

[ He chuckled, shaking his head. ] That American Dream doesn't extend to smart health choices.

[foreshadower]

I can assure you, I've been living in America since the 1800s, and it has never changed.

[brushoff]

Mind if I ask why you stayed? Is it because of Opal, or a different reason entirely?

[foreshadower]

It was always Opal. She's the sort of city that can keep a wanderer like me coming home every night.

[brushoff]

It must be lovely finding a place like that. [ said with a nostalgic sigh, as Dorian finished off his drink. ] Again, more's the pity that Opal isn't here.

[foreshadower]

Oscar didn't find it quite as charming, sadly. Although it may just be to your taste.

[brushoff]

And I'd say that my taste is exquisite. [ of course you would, Dorian-you fucking snob. ]

[foreshadower]

I would agree.

[ He lifted his glass. ] To good taste, yes?

[brushoff]

[ And Dorian lifted his as well. ]

To good taste. [ knocking it back, the last dregs of absinthe fell into his mouth. ]