IC contact

[thirtybits]

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



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March 30th not even action

[depicted]

[Wow! Look! A neat pile of papers has been left on Judas's bed. When did that happen? That handwriting is surely familiar by now, so perhaps it isn't much of a mystery who is the giver when the front page (giving the title of the book and its author) says, "It seems only fair."

The Picture of Dorian Gray transcribed is mostly faithful to the 1891 edition, with some missing lines from the 1890 edition and pre-publication versions slipped in.

And, you know. Ever reference to the 'Jew' has been replaced with simply 'manager.' Dorian doesn't need to get into that conversation today. Or possibly ever.]

March 31st, actual action

[thirtybits]

[After spending the rest of the previous day since finding the book reading it, Judas knocks on Dorian's door at about noon. He would have gone to see him right away after finishing it, but that was around 4am. He's not sure of Dorian's sleep schedule, but it doesn't tend to be a good idea to call on people so early in the morning. Or late at night, depending.

He likely wouldn't have taken much longer to read it either way, but reading of Dorian's life, coming to understand him a little better, and being shocked at times, certainly meant Judas read it in one sitting. He feels sorry for Dorian. So many of the things that were said of him and done to him in that book were awful, regardless of Dorian's own conduct. And, even if it is a book in public circulation, something so many have read and could at any time, he appreciates Dorian's willingness to show him these things. For letting him in.]

[depicted]

[Due to Dorian's somewhat jumbled sleep schedule (read: he sleeps at random hours), this means that Judas is greeted by Dorian only half-dressed (by Victorian standards: his waistcoat is unbuttoned and his cravat hangs untied around his neck) with tousled hair.]

Oh, Judah. Good to see you. What is it?

[When Dorian does manage to sleep, he tends to forget what was going on before he slept until someone reminds him.]

[thirtybits]

[He has to smile, keeping a small chuckle to himself. Almost hard to imagine the man he just read about is the one standing before him, looking so sweet. But then, that's all part of the terror that is Dorian Gray, isn't it. Lifting up onto his toes, Judas places his hands on Dorian's shoulders to bring them to the same height, and kisses him.]

Are you just getting up? I can come back later, I read the book.

[depicted]

[Dorian isn't wholly caught off-guard by the kiss, but it does surprise him. Then he hears what Judas said, and understanding strikes.]

No, I was just getting dressed. It's fine. Come in. [He steps back to allow Judas entrance.]

[thirtybits]

[Judas gives Dorian's hair a quick combing with his fingers as he pulls away. Nodding, he accepts the offer and goes inside.]

I guess I should start by saying I really like Oscar's writing. I read the other books you gave me too - the short stories and essays. I wasn't expecting that kind of subject matter, but I'm sure that's exactly why you recommended them to me.

[depicted]

[He stays obediently still for the finger combing, but he intends on going over his hair with a brush and a mirror first chance he gets. Dorian shuts the door behind him, tying up his waistcoat as he walks to his pot of endurably clean water.]

Oscar is brilliant, isn't he? He had a reputation for frivolity, but that overlooks some of his most moving works. But typical of Oscar to make himself an image like that.

[He lifts the pot.] Something to drink?

[thirtybits]

It doesn't come across that way at all to me. He seems very...conscientious.

[He waves his hand.] No, that's alright, thanks.

Of course, your book was a lot more flowery in speech, but I guess that's not entirely his own words, so it's a bit different there.

[depicted]

Oscar could be flowery when it suits him. One day, I'll have to lend you his Salome. [Dorian pauses a second as he tries to work out if that would have been recent history for Judas, and then setting that aside, he indicates with a waved hand that Judas should sit.]

That aside, not all of the dialogue was verbatim. He took a few liberties here or there. Some of Harry's dialogue and interior monologue, he tells me, was inferred from conversations they had while I wasn't around.

[thirtybits]

--As in Herod's step-daughter? Or Jacob and John's mother?

[He takes a seat, nodding.] That makes sense. They must have hated eachother, huh...

[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.