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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]

[Dorian lifts his chin.] I do it faster. And without an assist from my dad.

[thirtybits]

[Judas raises an eyebrow, that smirk threatening to return.] Are you trying to compete with Jesus now? Well, I guess that is more the Devil's territory.

[depicted]

I'm merely pointing out that my resurrections are more convenient. You'll also note that I haven't retained holes in my hands or a big gaping wound in my side. I heal completely.

[better than jesus]

[thirtybits]

I hate seeing those, it's the worst. I appreciate that I can't see where I stabbed you. Although those things show on your portrait, right?

[depicted]

In theory. In practice, that image of me is so mangled and disgusting that it is nearly impossible to make out any distinct wound. Poor, wretched thing.

[As usual, Dorian speaks of his portrait with a lover's fondness and a monster's cruelty, adoring it with infinite tenderness and relishing in its misery at once.]

[thirtybits]

Ah, right, you've destroyed your whole body before, haven't you? I guess after a few of those, there's not much to see. That's...lucky. Maybe you can use that as leverage to keep out of Hell.

[depicted]

I don't intend on staying out of Hell. [Dorian splits the last of the wine between their two glasses, then drinks his as quickly as possible. He balances the glass beside the bottle. And he pulls himself to his feet.]

Think you can climb to the top?

[thirtybits]

Sure I can, don't you think 'climbing trees' when you think 'peasants'? [He laughs, draining his wine considerably slower before sitting up.]

[depicted]

[Dorian gives Judas one of his sweetest smiles.] I don't think about peasants. [And he's off, climbing up through the branches with little attention to what it will do to his clothing.]

[thirtybits]

Ah, of course. [Without missing a beat, Judas gets to his feet and tucks the loose parts of his robes into the belt. Then, he follows. His height makes it a little difficult in places, but he's not afraid to jump for it.]

[depicted]

[Dorian doesn't normally have a height advantage, and he has his recklessness, but it's strangely heartening to see Judas taking risks. Perhaps it shouldn't be. Perhaps he shouldn't mistake recklessness for confidence. And yet, yanking himself up from one branch to another, throwing himself onto the mercies of luck, he still smiles.]

[thirtybits]

[A little over halfway up, Judas stops to rub at a scrape on his hand from the branch below. After shaking it out he continues, calling up to Dorian.] Here I was expecting you wouldn't be able to.

[depicted]

[Dorian grins, perching there with a hand on a higher branch to keep him stable.] I spent about a decade travelling anywhere I could, from the depths of the Amazon to the heights of Everest. This isn't even effort.

[thirtybits]

--Really? When did you do that? [With that pause Judas is able to make back some ground, stopping when he gets to about the same level as Dorian.]

[depicted]

I travelled a great deal after the Second World War. [He yanks on the branch above him, getting it to drop leaves on Judas's head.] Reconstruction was boring, and I was getting bored. So I followed the paths of doomed and missing explorers, trying to solve the unsolved mysteries of the world.

[thirtybits]

[Judas makes a face and huffs, batting the leaves off himself with one hand, the other holding him in place. He throws a twig at Dorian in retalliation.]

Did you solve any?

[depicted]

[Laughing, Dorian tilts his head to the side. This, of course, means he has to rely on the branch for balance, which means even more leaves in Judas's face.] One or two.

[thirtybits]

Hey, watch it! [So much grumbling.]

Which ones? I guess you're not creditted for these discoveries, huh.

[depicted]

[At least when Dorian rights himself, the offending branch stops its assault.] Oh, I didn't tell anyone about the things I found out. I just wanted to solve them for my own satisfaction.

[thirtybits]

Well, that makes sense. And goes along with your personality. [He grins, shaking his head fondly.] How selfish of you.

[depicted]

Always. [He nods his head towards those final branches.] Care to try getting to another tree?

[thirtybits]

What, jumping over? That sounds precarious. [But he's not opposed to it. Who cares if he falls and dies haha.]

[depicted]

All the better. [Dorian eyes the distance, taking measure, preparing himself, and jumps.

And falls. Ow! He probably twisted something on that branch. Several branches crack and fall under him, but he is caught before he totally hits the ground.]

Ah.

[Dorian looks up a little dizzily towards Judas and the mess he has made.] But the branch you need to jump to is still there.

[And that's what matters.]

[thirtybits]

[Judas nearly goes after him when he sees Dorian crash, but reality hits just in time. What good is falling on top of him going to do, after all.] ...Are you sure you want me to? I'll probably end up hitting you.

[depicted]

[Dorian only grins.] So you don't believe you have more skills than your lord? What kind of peasant are you?

[He tries to pull himself up, realizes this is going to screw up his balance big time, and decides not to after all. Let gravity fight for its victories.]