hisheartsdesire | [ic] Contact

I've asked April. We'll see how helpful she'll be.

[ But that little pause tells Toby that no, Dorian hasn't apologized. Apologizing hasn't even really crossed his mind about this whole nonsense. ]

[Again, there's a silence as Toby considers some response.]

So, you haven't apologised. To either of them. [Dorian hasn't even pretended to be sorry? But why? This all could have been avoided, right?] Which I'm guessing means you never really planned to, yeah?

I didn't think Will would have the balls enough to steal the portrait in the first place!

[ Yes, he hasn't apologized. And yes, he's a goddamn moron. ]

[Toby rolls his eyes. Yeah, Dorian really hadn't thought this through.

Exhaling slowly,] You didn't think that it might be a bad idea to entrust the location of your portrait to the subject of your little project? I mean, you do realise how that sounds, right?

I fully admit that the hindsight is blatantly obvious in this scenario.

[ And yes, he knows he didn't think this through. ]

[Toby shakes his head. This is just ludicrous.]

All right, well. Can't do anything to change that, but you never answered the question! [Doriannnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. /huffs in annoyance] After finding out the portrait was missing, did you at least plan to apologise to them?

He stole my portrait! Why on Earth should I apologise?

[ aside from the obvious. ]

So you could get it back, obviously!

[Duh, Dorian!]

I mean, maybe if you looked even remotely sorry for this project of yours— [One that Toby still actually feels bitter about, knowing Dorian allowed someone to take his insides out. Yeah, yeah, Dorian says it still hurts, but Toby really (1) hates when Dorian gets hurt, (2) hates that Dorian allowed it in the first place for a project that went sour, and (3) hates that it's created all this stupid drama.] —maybe they'd actually give it back before anything seriously bad happens to you!

Look, if it means that much to you then of course I'll apologize. But I honestly doubt it'll mean anything. [ because Dorian's still a bitter betty with regards to so many things. Besides, Will stole the portrait! That's his retaliation right there, why did Toby think an apology would solve anything? ]

This isn't about what it means to me, it's about getting your portrait back.

[Why does Toby have to school Dorian about something like this?]

Just because you don't value remorse or repentance shown in apologies doesn't mean you can't try it yourself, especially when there's the very real possibility of something happening to it, something happening to you.

[And that's what Toby's so worried about, because he loves Dorian so very much.]

[ DING DING DING, DORIAN NOW GETS IT.

Toby doesn't want him to apologize to Will because he gives a shit about Will. Toby wants Dorian to apologize because he gives a shit about Dorian. There's a little pause because wow. He should have realized this earlier. Shit, he feels like the worst husband in existence.

He gives Toby a little smile before continuing. ]

I get it. Apologizing is...not the end of the world and there's no harm in trying. I don't want you to suffer if anything happens to me via the portrait.

If it helps, I've already mended ties with April, Will's wife.

[At last, Dorian finally understands! Toby can't help letting out a half-laugh of both exasperation and relief about it, before offering Dorian a soft little smile.]

Yes, that should help getting your portrait back, I would hope. [But there aren't any guarantees, are there? Hmmm...] Anyway, when and how did you find out it was missing in the first place? You're certain Will did it?

Well aside from you, he's the only person who has the key. It could be someone magic who stole it in an attempt to blackmail me, which really isn't anything new, but they would have revealed their hand by now. And I found out it was missing when I went to check on it a few days ago.

[ To see just how the sins of the past month or so reflected on his portrait because surprise! Dorian's a masochist! ]

He really was so trustworthy at the time, was he? He wouldn't have sold you out to anyone else?

[Will Graham, the only person other than Dorian himself and Toby who has the key to the safety deposit box where Dorian's portrait was kept. Really, Toby isn't especially close to Will and wouldn't know just how much or little to trust him, but Dorian seems pretty certain Will wouldn't have lost the key or given it to anyone else. No, Dorian wouldn't choose just anyone with what should be a well-guarded secret.

Only he did choose to trust the subject of his project to break someone. To think, Dorian not only entrusted Will with his body but also with the portrait itself. Both of which are really sore points to the man who is now Dorian's husband but was initially rejected a little before that came into fruition.

If anything, Toby isn't surprised about Dorian paying his portrait a little visit from time to time. Really, that's just the way he is, and the fact he'd given Toby a key as well meant that Toby could've visited or had it relocated if he'd wanted. Which he hadn't... though if he had, it could've prevented this situation.

Sighing,] I guess that makes the most sense. The least you could do is try showing some remorse, then?

[Even if it means lying about that remorse. Like, come on, Dorian. It's not as if lying is beneath you—you've even lied to Toby before. And not just once! Surely you could convincingly lie to Will.]

I doubt he would have.

[ Dorian didn't fully know the layers of bizarre ethics Will's Baltimore ran off of. But he doubted that he'd foist the portrait off on someone else, that'd be rude (and, as Dorian was coming to learn, rudeness was A Thing with Will.) ]

I'll get in contact with him. Hopefully I'll be able to sweet-talk him into giving it back, while apologizing in the process. If not...well, I'll think of something.

[ic] Contact

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