maskormenacelogs | Episodes and parallels

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Episodes and parallels

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. ]

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Do you?

[ The Shade avoided London, but he'd found something better, in America. It wasn't inherently American, but a mixture, old world and new, in one mesh that seemed to hum and thrive with energy and Shade loved his city. ]

I've found little reason to return, but perhaps that is only because I found somewhere more dear to my heart.

[ That, and well, London held bad memories. That was where he'd become what he was, after all. ]

I think, however, there is a part of it that will always be with me well enough. She hardly needs me there as well.

[ Somewhere dear to his heart. This had to be that Opal place they were talking about earlier. The more the Shade mentioned it, the more it interested Dorian. It must be certainly special if it were to capture his attention like that. ]

I wouldn't argue that either of our respective cities need us. More along the lines of tolerate, perhaps?

[ He's totally teasing. ]

Yes, perhaps that's the case.

[ He laughed, lowly. ] I believe London would see me as the child twice removed at this point. She and I never quite worked.

[ But he was still very obviously an englishman. Just an expatriate, who brought what he wanted across the ocean, and left the rest on London behind. He brought the best of it over, as far as he was concerned. ]

But I believe that may be because people like you and I become fixtures. Of course we would be tolerated. A city wouldn't be quite herself, without their regulars.

Most places wouldn't be themselves without their regulars, [ he remarked, with a small little smirk. ] We build character, give a place it's identity and it's soul.

[ A bit too grandiose of a statement, but Dorian wasn't going to back down from it. ]

Indeed we do. [ Grandiose it may be, but the Shade had to agree. Immortals had such high opinions of themselves. ]

I assume, however, that you didn't come to talk about how we have a single thing in common, did you? Not that I'm...displeased to find another similar, but...

[ He lifted a shoulder, and drank at the hazy green liquid. ] Most immortals don't often invite me out. Something about me being a bit too nosy for their tastes.

[ Dorian couldn't help but grin at that. Nosy. Oh, he liked that. And really, truth be told, he asked Shade out because he found the man interesting, wanted to know more about him, and would keep going at full steam until he got what he wanted.

After all, Dorian Gray wasn't used to rejection. But one bit of phrasing struck him as odd. ] 'Most' immortals? How interesting. Aside from you, I've only met one other.

[ Who's now dead. Yaaaaay. :/ ] But I asked you out mostly to learn more about you. Like I said, at least in my world, immortals are a rare breed. Besides, [ and here he grins ] if Oscar liked you, you had to be entertaining.

[ He laughed, softly. ] I should think I am, and Oscar was always...

Well, he had a very particular interest, didn't he? Precise. He never spent time with someone below his standards, if he could help it.

[ But still. To be immortal, and be Dorian Gray, and to not know any other immortals was interesting.

But what was more interesting, was that he knew Oscar, and obviously Oscar would have written a book about him, instead of the metaphor of Merritt. ]

You don't happen to know a Damon Merritt, do you?

[ He asked, out of the blue. ]

I don't, [ Dorian remarked, with a frown. He liked to think that he knew a lot of people--most importantly, he liked to think that he knew all the important people. The fact that he didn't know Damon really annoyed him. ]

But you're right. He was always so picky, for lack of a better term.

Oh quite. His tastes were always refined, eccentric, and exclusive.

[ He paused, and considered how to approach the subject. The "Dorian Gray" of his world. ] It's probably for the best that you don't. I'm certain he would make you angry. Damon Merritt was the inspiration for...you in my world.

A serial killer, actually.

I quite like the real thing a lot better.

[ Dorian couldn't help but laugh at that, taking a sip of his drink, as he shook his head. A serial killer. How ridiculous. Ridiculous and yet something that made him smile. ]

Well, I'm sure there could be better inspirations! And I definitely know there could be worse.

[ His smile and his general demeanor show that he's trying not to care too much about the idea of a serial killer inspiring him. There's a nonchalant little shrug as he takes another sip. ]

[ He could only laugh. ]

I would say far better. Worse, well, there are some worse, but very few.

[ It was true, in the world according to Shade. Of course, Merritt's posters had seen him transported to hell. He much preferred this Dorian Gray already. ]

And how long did you know him, I wonder?

Oh, a long time, [ Dorian mused, leaning back in his chair, nostalgic little smile on his face. ] We met in London, when he was still publishing. It must have been...mm, sometime around 1870. [ there's a little wave of his hand. spoilers: Dorian sucks at remembering dates. ]

I walked the London circles with him for a while. However, I left to travel Europe a few years or so later. [ a pause. ] I'm afraid I didn't see Oscar again until he was on his deathbed.

A shame. [ He shook his head, but his smile was, as well, fond. His fingers itched for his pipe, but he held off for the moment, out of politeness. ]

I met him around that time, after he started publishing and came in my circles. Met him through another author, actually. [ As Shade was wont to do, author groupie that he was. ] He was much different, when he passed, I think.

Everything having finally come to a head, and things had finally seemed to...catch up to him.

They did, [ Dorian responded, nostalgia creeping into his voice. Of course, the last time he saw Oscar...other things had happened (such as the wallpaper literally trying to kill him but Dorian was not mentioning that to Shade). And it was different. Same old Oscar, of course, but so much had changed between meeting him in England and that ratty old hotel in Paris. ]

And he was. He was certainly trying to not let it show, at least around me, but it was obvious that things had changed. [ There's a pause as Dorian takes a sip of his drink. ] Still, I'm glad I got to see him before he passed.

Indeed. He valued his friends quite dearly. I'm sure your presence was well-appreciated.

[ Shade did know Oscar, after all, and knew his sensibilities. Green Carnation though it was, he had his suspicions, but...well, it was hardly any of his business. ]

It's a shame, that you didn't see him in the in-between, perhaps we could have met, if there is a version of myself in your world.

Who knows, [ Dorian remarked, with a little laugh and a shake of his head. ] I've been doing a little bit of reading here--and really, it's interesting what sort of people are consistent across all universes.

[ he certainly had no goddamn clue why that happened, at least. ]

Indeed it is. Who would have thought we'd both be close friends of Oscar Wilde, hm?

[ He shook his head, and sipped at his drink, like the question was a normal one to consider. ] While there are a few, I've also found the differences to be even more fascinating.

The superhero one is the most fascinating to me, [ Dorian admitted, with a little grin. ] My world had the supernatural, but none of them thought that dressing up in tights and a cape to fight crime was a valid career choice.

It seems to be an interesting...phenomena. I will admit, in my world, it was quite normal, and has been happening for some time, but in others, it doesn't seem to work. I can't say what encourages it, unfortunately.

Maybe with enough time, and talking to enough people from worlds where it didn't happen, perhaps I could come up with an idea.

But I did enjoy the advent of the hero quite a bit.

[ Dorian couldn't help but laugh at that slightly, grin on his face. ] Well, I can think of something that might encourage it. It looks like fun.

[ Or, at least, it looked like something that Dorian hadn't tried before and frankly, wanted to give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen, after all? Somebody try to kill him? Ridiculous. ] And besides, I bet it's cathartic. Taking out your anger at the world on some poor part-time criminal.

I should assume so. I was never really one for beating up the criminals.

[ His laugh was a touch dark, a touch revealing. ] I preferred the life of the supervillain myself.

Oooh, that would be fun, [ Dorian admitted, with a little chuckle. ] And, at least that could help me replenish my failing wardrobe a bit.

Indeed. You could hardly say it's not helpful for that at the very least.

The book collection, as well. That's how I came to such an extensive one, back in the City.

I'd need some sort of dashing costume, though. As well as a mask. [ And, based on how Dorian's face scrunches up, he's not too fond of the idea of a mask. ]

You may not necessarily need a mask. I never wore one.

[ No, don't take tips from Shade he's from the old school villain camp. ]

But the costume is required. I always preferred black.

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