[ic] Contact

[hisheartsdesire]

Tobias may one day learn to change the greeting on his voicemail. Until then, there's only the default.

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**Some thread content may be NSFW**

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[abduxel]

No one really knows how you work. What animates that forever-young cadaver of yours? Regular people, though, they think you're damned, that you've sold your soul to the Devil. But they're wrong, I think. Dorian did that. I did that. I guess it's possible, but then how does it spread the way it does?

[He got lost in a tangent there. He comes back to the point:] People think the Devil owns your soul but that you walk among the living, untethered from Him. Cheating Him. It doesn't make sense to me, really. Then, of course, you're stronger than us. That's probably the real problem: demons are an envious group.

[hisheartsdesire]

[The explanation stuns Toby into silent contemplation.]

I see. Not that I know how it works, whether in my world, this one, yours, or any other. But becoming... what I am, I never really died to begin with. Maybe it's just, I don't know. A strange condition. An unfair one, I guess.

[abduxel]

What do you mean by unfair?

[hisheartsdesire]

[He frowns.]

I meant it's unfair to you, to demons. Because you're right, I didn't sell my soul for this. I didn't even know it was going to happen, not until it was too late.

[abduxel]

Oh! [That's not at all what Abduxel expected him to be getting at, and when he clues in, he bursts into laughter.]

Let me tell you a secret about demons, Toby. Every one of us asked for this, quite literally. And that's all you need to know. Envious, sure, you're free and you're strong, but only by certain measures of strength. I don't need your pity, I really don't.

[hisheartsdesire]

[Toby is slightly taken aback, and yet again some part of him says to himself, You should've known better. Still, he would rather this comment than slip back into self-pity again—how easily that happens, and Abduxel knows how to twist the knife. Perhaps Toby is actually learning...

He sighs and shrugs.]

Ah, right. Sorry. He doesn't feel bad about his pact, and neither would you, and so it goes without saying you're all willing to pay the price. [He tells himself to stop here, but his mouth moves faster than his mind.] I don't know that I'm as free as you think I am, though. I may not have to pay anyone back or serve anyone, that much is true, but that doesn't mean there aren't other methods of being boxed in.

[abduxel]

Willing, well, that's maybe a strong word. But I deserve it, I got what was coming to me. I'm sure you know what that's like.

What boxes you in, Toby? Not being able to see the sun? You could. I offered you that much, once.

[hisheartsdesire]

[He swallows and turns away, bristled.]

No. No, I've had enough sunlight for tonight, thank you. As for anything else, I'm sure you'll figure it out as time goes on, without me telling you.

[abduxel]

[They reach the bar, and he holds the door for Toby.]

Oh, I wasn't offering again. That offer expired. You'd have to win me over for that one.

I'm sure I will.

[hisheartsdesire]

[Toby turns a cool gaze at Abduxel before moving past him to enter the bar.]

It's not like I'd ask again. Not after that. And you say things as if I have a chance of winning you over.

[Going in, he takes a seat as appropriate.]

[abduxel]

I'm really a simple guy, Toby.

[He sits with Toby.] Would you take it back, if you could? Becoming a Vampire.

[hisheartsdesire]

[He's not looking at Abduxel, instead focusing on an insignificant spot nearby. His brows are knit in thought, and it takes some time before he answers.]

There might be some things, sure. That I'd take back. But he made all of that worth it. So— [As much as he hates it...] —the answer is no, I wouldn't.

[abduxel]

[He props his chin up on his hands, pleased that Toby is answering his questions without deflection. In a way, it's just more memory probing, only without the perceived evilness inherent.]

How did it happen?

[hisheartsdesire]

[There's hesitation in his voice.]

... I've never really told anyone before. [A pause. A thought.] I mean, I've only ever told one person.

[And if your guess is "Dorian Gray", then you would be correct.]

[abduxel]

The truth sets you free, Toby.

[There is nothing more full of shit that Abduxel could possibly have said, ever.]

[hisheartsdesire]

[Yeah, he's not sure he can just buy into that. Sharing anything with the demon seems like a game of roulette.]

Does it, now? And what does the truth do for you then, Matthew?

[Feeling quite anxious after making this retort, Toby swallows and begins quietly drumming his fingers on the counter.]

[abduxel]

[His smile is slow and sly.] It excites me.

[hisheartsdesire]

[Toby moves faster than he thinks, sighing and facepalming and shaking his head.]

Right. I don't know why I asked.

[He gets the bartender's attention and orders his Jack Daniels.]

[abduxel]

[That makes him laugh, and he orders fancy red wine.]

So are you going to tell me, or not?

[hisheartsdesire]

[He also laughs.]

Probably not. I hadn't mentioned it for a long time, not even to him. I finally did tell him about it because it seemed absolutely pertinent.

[He shrugs.]

[abduxel]

Suit yourself. Me, I didn't know the ritual would really work.

[hisheartsdesire]

A ritual? What, was it something you'd found in a book, and then decided you wanted to try out?

[Because that just seems silly.]

[abduxel]

Something like that. Although, naturally, I had more to gain than sating my curiosity. I didn't just sell my soul for nothing.

[hisheartsdesire]

[He looks incredulous.]

So, you would've gained power regardless of whether or not you were curious? Was it such a simple matter to sell your soul?

[abduxel]

Unlike Dorian, my power wasn't the reward for giving up my soul. Just a byproduct of becoming a demon. With my soul, I bought revenge.

[He says it so lightly, smiling over at Toby. His wine had arrived at some point and he takes a long drink from it.]