open | i'll never die, i am a freak

[brushoff]

Who: Dorian Gray & OPEN
What: settling in
When: all throughout the month of March
Where: Milton, with a focus on the community hall, the church, and the outskirts

Content Warnings: drug use, smut, body horror and gore in the form of Dorian's creepyass portrait, others tba

( catch all post for March! full of open and closed starters, dm me if you have an idea~ )

Comments

[balancedlight]

"I was not among the first of us here, either," she tells him, opening the door to the outside and bundling up her coat against the wind.

"I don't know how much longer we will be here. Or what will happen. People have been lost here."

[brushoff]

Her phrasing is interesting, enticing, and worrying all at the same time. What does she mean by lost?

"I assume that by 'lost', you mean something more than wandering off into the woods and losing your way?"

Try as he may to sound worried, there's a hint of interest and curiosity in Dorian's voice.

[balancedlight]

"Lost. And killed," she remarks lightly, looking away from him as she braves the cold outside. The walk isn't long, but it is treacherous.

[brushoff]

Dorian awkwardly adjusts his grip on the portrait, shivering slightly as the cold hits. He can make this walk. He'll bitch and moan the entire way, but he'll make it nonetheless.

"What killed them? Simple exposure?"

Which is dangerous enough as is. But at the same time...it wasn't simple exposure that brought him here. Dorian doesn't know what dangers this place has, just that it undoubtedly has them.

[balancedlight]

"Some of them," she acknowledges. "Some of them were killed by others' hands. Some were killed by - the Darkwalker," she explains.

[brushoff]

Dorian sighs. He's trying hard to keep the annoyance out of his voice, but he can't help it: the Darkwalker situation is very aggravating.

"People have mentioned that before. The Darkwalker. But nobody seems to know what it is. Hell, even descriptions of what it looks like are lacking. It's nobody's fault, of course. But at the same time...." Do better. "...it's irritating."

[balancedlight]

She nods.

"Dark creatures like that can be irritatingly frustrating," she remarks, agreeing completely. "Especially when you try and explain them. They aren't meant to be known, because then people would fear them less. Part of their power comes from the unknown."

[brushoff]

"You sound like you know about this sort of thing," he muses. Dark creatures not meant to be known? That's not the sort of thing you say if you've only met one dark creature.

"We've got time while we walk over. I'd love to hear your story."

And also if he needs to be worried.

[balancedlight]

She laughs, though there's a sad little smile behind it. "I don't even know your name!" she reminds him.

[brushoff]

"Dorian," he says, with a little nod. "And I'll do you one better than my name. London, 2014, previously a banker, currently work in an art gallery, I enjoy music you can dance to, Indian food, and going to the theater, I don't like hospitals, most reptiles, and computers."

He gives Sveta the sort of grin that someone accustomed to public speaking, accustomed to people liking him would give. There we go. Hopefully that's enough.

[balancedlight]

She just stares at him a moment, then starts up the road to the church. "Well, at least you aren't another person who is unfamiliar with modern medicine."

[brushoff]

"I've met a few of them already," Dorian muses. "I mentioned to one of our more vintage lot that London has a population in the billions at my time and he looked at me like I was insane."

[balancedlight]

She giggles a little at the thought. "You must be kind to them," she assures him. "And my name is Svetlana Nazarova," she tells him. "Doctor Nazarova. I'm - currently the only doctor we have, though we have several who are trained."

[brushoff]

"In that case, it's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor. And I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I hope I'm not in need of your services soon," Dorian points out, a small teasing sort of tone in his voice.

[balancedlight]

Sveta returns that smile and shivers into her coat. "I hope so, too," she assures him. "But our clinic is well stocked if you do."

[brushoff]

"Then I will keep that in mind," he laughs. As Dorian adjusts his grip on the portrait, he spots the church, just a block or so away. Almost there. And not a moment too soon—it is too damn cold here.

"Swing by the church later this week. I'll have scrounged up enough food and I'd love to treat you to dinner or a drink as thanks."

And also to learn more about this delightfully enticing woman.

[balancedlight]

Sveta laughs. "Of course! I'd like that. But if you ever need a meal, please come by my home. We've prepared enough. I work in the greenhouse, too, so I have plenty of canned foods."

She hurries to the church and opens the door for him.

[brushoff]

Dorian gives Sveta a nod of thanks. Once they're in the church, he props up the portrait against a nearby wall before turning to her with a smile.

"I'll probably take you up on that sooner than you think," he says, with an apologetic smile. "I'm trying my best to get my head in gear and get a handle on our new circumstances, but I know my limitations. I will inevitably forget something or kill any crops I try to grow."

[balancedlight]

"Good," she laughs. "No one here should go hungry if they rely on their neighbors. Please, you are welcome any time." She opens the door and points. "If you walk through that path and down the road, you will find a home a little way away from the rest of the town. That is mine."

[brushoff]

"I'll keep that in mind, Doctor," Dorian says, with a nod. The smile on his face is the smile of someone who's hot shit and knows it.

"You'll be the first I'll visit once I get settled in a bit more."

[balancedlight]

She laughs at that and waves a hand. "I will tell Ben to expect you," she adds with a wink.

[brushoff]

Ben?

Well. There go any further plans at flirting with the cute doctor!

Not that Dorian's going to let that brief hit of disappointment show. Instead, he gives Sveta a little wave, cheeky smile still on his face, and a "Ta-ta, Doctor."

[balancedlight]

Mission accomplished.

"Ta-ta," she repeats, playing with the words, and happily flits out of the chapel and away from that goddamn creepy portrait.