[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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[hisheartsdesire]

Yeah, I guess he was. [Finding the comment amusing, he lets out a quiet, bitter laugh.] Not that I realized it until later. Good thing that, between you and me, we got that out early.

[abduxel]

What year was that? [He frowns, trying to think about whether Toby has shed any light on that timeline, but he can't remember.] What era were you human? Maybe we would have crossed paths, in another life. I mean, we certainly didn't, even besides that whole ocean thing; I would have remembered you.

[hisheartsdesire]

The eighteenth century, over two-hundred years ago. [He answers with a lilt in his voice as he shrugs his shoulders.] ...I don't think you're even half that, are you? And what makes you say you would've remembered me?

[Should he feel flattered, or suspicious? Toby can't help wondering.]

[abduxel]

I'm more than half that. [It's almost a little defensive, although he's still speaking in fairly good humour.] I'm 115. Although I spent 90 of those years in Hell, so as far as technology goes - [he gestures to his communicator] - I might as well have died for good in the twenties.

[But that brings him to the lattermost question. He tilts his head with a little smile.]

What do you think, Toby?

[hisheartsdesire]

Hardly. [He laughs.] It happened in 1724. Remember, I said over two-hundred. And as for what I think about you remembering me...

[Studying Abduxel's expression and features, Toby hums in thought, and then swallows. He does find the demon rather attractive, though he knows Abduxel glamours his horns out of sight. His real form must look like that in the mirror during the summoning.]

Was that supposed to be a chat-up line, or am I flattering myself, imagining that?

[abduxel]

[He waves a hand dismissively when Toby corrects him, not bothering to do the math which would tell him that's closer to 300.] Close enough.

[He brings his glass to his mouth, grinning behind it.] Well. Let's just say there's a reason I was so nice to you when we met.

[Yes, he's calling you attractive.]

[hisheartsdesire]

...Huh. Then it is a chat-up line. Funny, I hadn't expected that.

[abduxel]

Well, you look good for your age. [He speaks casually, lightly. But then a thought suddenly strikes him.] Do you remember your birthday? Your real birthday. The first one. [A beat.] I forgot mine, a long time ago now.

[hisheartsdesire]

[He's not vampire-blushing, but he does look flattered. And then, he takes another sip and looks thoughtful at Abduxel's question.]

You know, that was... so very long ago. I don't remember anymore, but I like to imagine my birthday's in winter. Perhaps December. Or January. [He gives the demon a small smile.] Oh, I don't know.

[abduxel]

I don't really know either. [He downs the rest of his drink in a gulp, and then laughs a little.] Sometimes I think I remember snow on my birthday as a kid, sledding, but it never snowed in San Francisco; that can't be right. I must have been older. Maybe I was high.

[hisheartsdesire]

[From time to time, he continues sipping on his JD. Why let the taste of it go to waste by knocking back?]

San Francisco, hmm? [He shakes his head.] Never been there; I've never been across the pond, actually. So, out of all of America, what places would you recommend I visit, and why?

[abduxel]

I loved San Francisco. [He looks genuinely wistful.] New York City, too. I don't know, it was all so different back then, nothing looks the same anymore. ...How did you never cross the ocean in two hundred years?

[hisheartsdesire]

Ah, well... [There's the slightest hint of embarrassment in his expression.] I probably could've come if I had actually made an effort. But... I don't know, I can't say why I hadn't really tried.

[Then again, when he thinks back, he's had so many distractions of his own that were just within his reach, so he'd never thought to leave the things he could easily have.]

[abduxel]

If I'd been Topside the entire time I've been a demon, I'd have seen everything.

[He sounds incredulous, like he can't believe Toby gave up such an opportunity; nevermind that he hasn't bothered to travel much of anywhere since he got here.]

[hisheartsdesire]

[A chuckle, then a shrug.]

Then, there you go—I'm not you, nor the same as you, am I? In England alone, there was plenty to get myself up to. Maybe I hadn't tried because I was just too busy trying everything in my grasp.

[abduxel]

That makes you sound really slutty, Toby. I thought you were a one-man-show.

[hisheartsdesire]

Not all at the same time! [He laughs.] Time was very much on my side as well.

[abduxel]

[He laughs along too.] Humans, mostly? Or other vampires - other supernaturals?

[hisheartsdesire]

Mostly humans. I didn't really meet other supernaturals, certainly none that could be termed as immortal. So many people; so much loss. And death, of course. [He looks nostalgic, but there's a very distinct change in his expression when he thinks of Dorian. Even now, after all this time, he's completely smitten.] Until one day, I heard of him, and I needed to know if the rumours and the book were true.

[abduxel]

Ah, so he was the only option for a lonely eternal Vampire. I get it now.

[hisheartsdesire]

Do you? It's not... I don't—it's not quite like that. You know he could easily have anyone else. Anytime, anywhere, whoever so pleases him.

[He'd never thought of it that way, as if Dorian had been the only possible solution to his loneliness. No, it was one of many choices, an opportunity to take a chance rather than let it pass him by. Dorian still could've rejected him, and he'd just... have gone on in life, searching for another immortal who might accept his companionship and love.]

And so could I.

[But who he wants, right now... The person he's wanted since dying, since coming back... is Dorian Gray.]

[abduxel]

[He listens to Toby attentively, and then laughs a little. He clinks his glass with Toby's.]

And you're both so modest, too.

[hisheartsdesire]

Oh yeah. I've never met any person more modest. [Despite his amusement, he still rolls his eyes and then sighs as he settles, though he still smiles at the little clink of their glasses.] Ah, so. Ninety years in hell, was it? Anything you could do to pass the time?

[abduxel]

Well, I had duties. They don't just keep us around for nothing, they put us to work. So you keep your head down and do your best not to incur their wrath. A good friday night typically involved not being tortured.

[hisheartsdesire]

[Looking thoughtful.] Duties like what, torturing others? I don't suppose tempting victims became your thing until after going Topside.