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Post by Mortimer on Nov 23, 2008 6:30:55 GMT -5
Mortimer clicked his purr, quite comfortable--Valentine was much nicer than Valmont, even if he didn't seem as wise or important, and the little sharkman tucked his arms up between them, sure Julian wouldn't mind at all.
Well, he hoped, anyway...neither Erik nor Julian had much cared for the idea of Valmont being his friend, and now he'd brought a total stranger home...but they would understand, after all, Valentine didn't have anywhere to go, and he was lost and afraid. Well, he would worry about all that later, he supposed, right now too warm and comfortable to think so far ahead. He hoped rehearsals were going well for Julian and decided to sleep for a while.
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 11:14:06 GMT -5
When Erik came home, the large overcoat he did not recognize put him on alert straightaway. There was a box of chocolates, mostly eaten, on a chair, and tea things (for two) set out and dirty. This he did not mind, for Mortimer often left things lying about it and Erik found it impossible to be angry at the creature. But it did not look as though he had eaten twice.
He crept through the silent house to the room Mortimer was most likely to be in--Julian's, as the coffin didn't run to two men let alone three, however slender--and opened the door quietly to peer inside.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 11:20:46 GMT -5
There the little deathgod was curled up, tucked up tight, to a perfect stranger who was bemasked and in somewhat shabby clothing, thinnish arms curled loosely around Mortimer's stark naked little form. Both appeared to be asleep, but a moment after the door opened, the sharkman stirred and wriggled free to sit up, looking sleepy and not entirely sure of where he was.
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 11:30:03 GMT -5
Erik was wearing his mask (it was his habit when going out, and frequently forgot to remove it until reminded) but behind it his expression was stern. He was immediately reminded of the threat of Valmont and the outside world in general to the friend he considered something of an innocent, and seeing Mortimer entwined with someone not him or Julian possibly also dipped into his considerable capacity for jealousy.
"What is the meaning of this?" he hissed.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 11:34:26 GMT -5
Mortimer carefully disentangled himself from Valentine and rubbed at one eye, giving a yawn.
"'lo Care care. Is Valentine, is lost. Hm, very nice, and in not-right-place, like Mortimer. Very tired f' swim, eat. Have small sleep."
He slipped out of the bed and gave a stretch, padding over to Erik, seemingly unaware of his annoyance, and clicked up at him, nuzzling into his chest.
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 11:51:48 GMT -5
Erik wrapped an arm around him, half reflex and half protective instinct. He gazed at Valentine for a moment before easing them outside and shutting the door.
"Did he do anything? Force you to bring him here? Did he ask about Erik?" he demanded, not mad at Izame, no, but worried just the same and not convinced Mortimer could not be taken advantage of.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 11:58:38 GMT -5
"He swims with me, I made him come f', only asked f' Erik when I said "Erik, Erik Erik". Is okay, very nice. Scared, lost. Very hungry." he chuckled and played at one of Erik's buttons, clicking it around between his teeth a little.
"Erik...Valentine has mask-face. Nothing under."
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 12:43:28 GMT -5
Erik was certain he was very hungry, and that there were many, many hungry souls wandering the streets above who would gladly take a swim if it meant food and Mortimer's human-shaped company. He had opened his mouth to say something grim when Izame added his last observation.
"Nothing under?" he repeated. "Mortimer, that's impossible." True, Erik had often thought that his face may as well be "nothing," but nothing may indeed have been preferable.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 12:49:36 GMT -5
"Is impossible Shark shape to person shape." he hmphed a bit and gnawed Erik's button right off of his jacket, breaking the jet thing between two teeth and then crunching it up.
"Valentine has mask-face. Like Erik has dead-face. Is nothing under, not come off."
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 13:00:18 GMT -5
"Don't eat that," Erik said absently. "Mortimer, if his mask doesn't come off--if it's really his face--it's not a mask, is it?" Erik had only seen the man briefly, and he had seemed to be wearing a mask, but it still made no sense. Perhaps Mortimer had a point about being a shark-man, but Erik had seen that for himself. "But either way, it is interesting, I'll agree. But why bring him here, Mortimer? You know that is dangerous for all of us."
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 13:12:51 GMT -5
The little man flopped his too-large tongue out of his mouth, little black button-crumbs falling to the floor with a dull, wet clatter.
"Is okay. Said Erik would kill if no good." He beamed. "Brought him because he is lost. Much much. Valentine said not his world. I said Erik could help find place f' stay, because Mortimer does not know city well, where is safe, where is not f' not-Mortimer."
The little man stood up on his toes and reached up to knock at Erik's mask and tug it away so he could see his face. "'sides, Valentine likes."
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 13:30:24 GMT -5
Erik removed the mask for Mortimer, but his worry did not flag. He was not certain that Mortimer would like only those people it was safe for him to like; the creature was far too trusting for Erik's taste, even if it had allowed for their own relationship.
"People cannot know where Erik lives," he said firmly, though not angrily. "If someone wished to hurt Erik or Julian, and came here, we would not be safe." He glanced at the closed door. The notion of another world, the wrong world, did not surprise him much. He'd encountered stranger things, lately. "But I suppose I won't kill him unless he gives Erik reason." He looked back at the little man. "Of course he likes you, Mortimer. You're a pleasant and loving fellow. Erik merely wishes to protect you from people who might uses that against you."
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 13:37:55 GMT -5
He gave a few clicks and pushed himself up higher on his toes to nose Erik's cheek, then dropped down again and curled his lean little arms around the man's skeletal frame.
"Mask-face not good f' Valentine, Above, might get hurt. Here is safe. Oh--Erik can juggle?"
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 13:52:44 GMT -5
He had a point, but Erik was not in the habit of taking in strays. Still... he supposed it could wait until the man--or whatever--woke up and Erik could see for himself. He did not wish to upset Mortimer further by barging in.
"Um... yes," he said. "Why?"
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 13:58:50 GMT -5
"Valentine likes to juggle. Ask if Erik is magic. Hm...told him Erik can do many things. Nothing else. Oh, but wanted to see under mask, ask if had dead-face like Erik." even if Valentine hadn't understood, Mortimer thought it prudent to mention to Erik that he might have let that slip. But he quickly smiled again. "Has inking! Arms, legs, maskface, body."
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