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[thirtybits]

"This is Judah's voicemail, no need to leave your number, I'll reply as soon as I can."



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[depicted]

The step-daughter. Her tale was very popular among my circle in those days.

[Dorian sits opposite Judas with the water he claimed for himself. He finishes buttoning up his waistcoat.] They didn't particularly care for one another, no. I heard their verbal sparring became even more vicious after that book was published.

[thirtybits]

That sounds interesting. I admit I kind of hope it's not a favourable account.

I was going to ask if you'd gone away when it was released, I can't imagine being in the public eye for that. But I guess you've already answered that question.

[depicted]

It is a complex one, as Oscar's works always are.

[He nods, relaxing into his seat.] I was sick of England, sick of everything. [Exhausted and in anguish about Harry, about Basil, terrified of doing exactly what Oscar writes him doing in the end.] I told Oscar that I was going to the Continent for a long while and that he could publish whatever he cared to. Brilliant as he is, he managed to convince the world it was a work of fiction, even with what it drew from the real.

[thirtybits]

Well, I guess it would be difficult to believe someone became immortal simply by wishing it, like that. It's certainly not something I would have believed, even if it were presented as fact.

[depicted]

[His smile is lopsided.] That wasn't the part one might be particularly concerned about someone believing.

[In retrospect, Dorian realizes that nearly everything described in that novel was varying degrees of illegal. They all could have been in so much trouble. Indeed, Oscar was. It's incredible he was never hit with a libel suit himself. But those things that Dorian doesn't want to bring to Judas's attention. The murder is the obvious crime, and the other peculiarities of Victorian morality are best left in the past, where they did their damage.]

[thirtybits]

Well, no, but I mean, that's what makes it 'clearly fiction'. If anything else was believable, they would certainly look at that and realise it's to be taken with a grain of salt.

[depicted]

[He nods in agreement.] And so he got away with the truth and I got away with murder.

[thirtybits]

...For what it's worth, I'm sorry about everything.

[depicted]

[This time, Dorian really is caught off-guard. His mouth parts as he tries to work out a reply that doesn't actually come. How can he reply? He has no idea what Judas means.]

I know you like taking on responsibility for every terrible thing in the world, but even you can't be held accountable for my sins.

[thirtybits]

No, that's not what I mean. It's more like...my condolences? [He smiles weakly.] But, thank you for showing that to me. Even though it's something anyone could pick up outisde of here, you didn't have to let me see it.

[depicted]

[Still not understanding, Dorian shrugs it off and moves on.] As I said, it seemed only fair. I know the Gospels; now you know the novel.

[thirtybits]

[He nods.] And so we're on even footing, huh. Thanks. Really. I appreciate it, I'm glad that you trust me. Ironic as it is to trust a man whose surname means 'the false one'.

[depicted]

And here I thought it was the Kerioth explanation, not the, ah, what was it? [Dorian ransacks his memories, trying to find the right word. Eventually, he grabs it.] אִשְׁקַרְיָא.

[thirtybits]

[He shrugs.] No, it's Kerioth, really. The rest are posthumous definitions, but they make just as much sense.

...I keep forgetting you know Hebrew.

[depicted]

[Dorian gives that a smile. After a search for the words, he manages to put together his reply in Hebrew.] I prefer reality to—ah—to what makes sense. In this case.

[thirtybits]

[Judas seems to light up instantly, hearing his native language. He sits up a little straighter, raises his head, and smiles. Replying in kind, of course.] They're all equally accurate, 'from Kerioth' just happens to be the original derivation.

[depicted]

[Dorian is obviously far from fluent, needing to speak around words he doesn't know and spending time searching for words he knows but doesn't quite remember, but seeing the way Judas responds, he can't just switch back to English.]

The name from origins is not a name to be defined again after an event. It would be—backwards.

[thirtybits]

[Noticing that, Judas makes an effort not to speak too quickly, or use words that might not be easily understood. But likewise, he enjoys the opportunity too much to drop it.]

True. But plenty of disciples were given new names.

[depicted]

You mean like . . . [Wait, he definitely can't do this in Hebrew. He is forced into the Greek.] the Beloved Disciple? [Dorian is totally going to punch 'the Beloved Disciple' if he ever gets a chance. But back to Hebrew.] Your naming is more interesting. Everyone loves a villain.

[thirtybits]

Things like that - titles, and actual given names. Like Kepha - Peter, that is.

Have you heard the 'hanging' or 'choking' definition? It's not ALL villainy. [He laughs.]

[depicted]

That one is— [Oh no. What is the word? Give him a second. Or he'll have to talk around it.] 'Rock' is not a good epithet.

Those ones are too far-fetched. But they are— [Nope. He doesn't know it. Once again, he has no choice but to switch to Greek.] Charming. [Back to Hebrew!] In their way.

[thirtybits]

The real reason for all that was that too many of us shared first names. Doubles of Simon, Yaakov, Yohanen, Judah, Miriam, and all the rest, I think he got confused.

I like the hanging ones, it's a nicer thought than lying.

[depicted]

For you, 'hanging' is nicer thought compared to most things.

[Still cracking bad jokes in Hebrew, aww yes.]

[thirtybits]

[Judas grins, ducking his head as he laughs.] It is. That was half my meaning, actually.

[depicted]

[Dorian shakes his head, smiling.] You should not sit so far from me. It makes it hard to—respond [he mimes a kick] to you.