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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 14:05:10 GMT -5
Erik sighed. Mortimer had no barriers when it came to sharing, either information or space. It made him quite impossible to maintain anger with, but it was dangerous. And he was likely to be swayed by such superficial things as tattoos and a faint resemblance to others Mortimer loved.
"Mortimer, would you like to come sit with me in the parlor?" he said. "I should hate to wake your... friend. While we talked."
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 14:11:30 GMT -5
"Yes."
He agreed and detached himself from Erik only enough to take the man's thin hand and pull him along--not that he needed too--so that the ghost could take his chair in the parlor and the little man could climb up onto his bony lap and curl against him, smiles and clicks and playing with buttons (not chewing them).
"Erik is upset?"
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 14:27:49 GMT -5
Erik settled into their accustomed positions and stroked Mortimer's back gently.
"Yes," he said without thinking. "No, Mortimer. Not at you." He schooled himself to patience. "Mortimer, it's difficult to explain, but you cannot trust that everyone who... who looks like Erik, or who has ink like yours, is a friend. Do you remember when Erik was smaller? When you met? Many people tried to hurt Erik, for no reason except how he looked. So Erik learned that there are many people in the world who wish to hurt others who have done nothing wrong. I am only worried that something might happen to you, without me there to stop it."
The fact that Mortimer had been alive longer than Erik could probably imagine did not present itself; while Erik had respect for the creature's intelligence and survival, he thought of him (as any let into his inner circle) as something to preserve and protect.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 14:31:02 GMT -5
"Nothing happens." He snuggled closer, offering a purr, and tucked his head up under Erik's rather hard and pointy chin.
"Did not--would not--bring Monsieur Valmont to Erik's house. Only Valentine. "
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 14:41:21 GMT -5
Erik wrapped his arms around Mortimer.
"I understand you've made a distinction between them," he said. "Erik shall have to see for himself, though, hmm?"
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 14:44:15 GMT -5
The little creature nodded and shifted around in Erik's lap until he was comfortable, leaning up to kiss the man's hollow cheek. There could be no doubt that this was the deathgod's favorite person, after all.
"Okay."
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 14:49:43 GMT -5
Erik smiled down at Mortimer. "That's settled then," he said. For Erik was, after all, susceptible to those who regarded him highly. He liked pleasing them as well as impressing them--so long as the thing did not go against his own interests. And after all, one man was easy enough to kill, if he was a problem.
"So," he said. "What else have you seen, up above?"
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 14:57:54 GMT -5
"Many people! Lots of foods--I like foods, Erik. But apples, still best. Much much. Hm...watched men bring many many fish from...mmm...boats? f' sell at stalls, all fresh. Netmet, too, like f' take Shark from ocean. Look f' other sharks, too, but not have any."
He fiddled with one of Erik's buttons and nipped at his lapel. "Nice not man, woman, pay f' eat good food like home-food, but not same. Eat with sticks."
((Because I just decided this would happen after he has lunch with Desire))
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 15:02:29 GMT -5
Erik listened with patient interest to Mortimer's catalog of findings, interpreting all but the "not man, woman" bit, which sounded rather like Mortimer had merely been confused by some trollop in bloomers. Harmless enough. "We can bring different foods here, if you like, Mortimer. Julian and I are merely used to procuring what you ask for. But what do you mean, 'home-food'? What sort of food?"
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 15:05:04 GMT -5
"From where netmen catch. Long long time. ---apples, still? Okay? Fish? Chocolate?" At that last he gave a little growl and accidently bit another of Erik's buttons off. "Valentine ate all of."
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 15:15:10 GMT -5
"I'm not surprised," Erik said dryly. Of course, he'd meant fish, and the people who had captured him. Foolish of Erik to think he'd inadvertently unearthed some clue as to Mortimer's origins. He would notice the missing buttons later, and have to search his memory for the cause. "Of course we will get more apples, and the rest. Always. And anything else you ask for." He paused. "Do you... like it? Up there?"
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 15:19:51 GMT -5
He lifted his head and nodded enthusiastically, grinning and curling his mishapen hands into the musician's shirt to keep himself from flopping over with the energy of the motion.
"Yes! Much much f' see, do, taste. Lots of people, most very nice. Not like have to wear clothes always though. Not feel good after much--why people wear?"
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 15:26:36 GMT -5
Erik chuckled, though it saddened him that he could not touch the joy Mortimer felt in these simple things. Or in the outside world. Heaven knew he'd done trying years ago.
"Well, apart from the cold, modesty," he said. "Nudity is something people share with... loved ones." Raised so strictly to cover himself entirely, Erik had not escaped prudery in the way he'd escaped most other moral codes. Even so, it made him bitter to think about what had been denied him. "I suppose people think that taking off one's clothes is rather intimate." He was used to Mortimer by now, but he would have considered the present situation quite odd with anyone else he wasn't sexually intimate with.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 24, 2008 15:32:10 GMT -5
"Hm...why?"
He certainly loved Erik and Julian--but he would not say the he loved Valentine. "Is not good f' no clothes with not Erik, Julian?"
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Post by Erik on Nov 24, 2008 15:39:08 GMT -5
"Um," said Erik eloquently. "Not in public, anyway," he said. "I suppose if no one objects, there's no harm. But others might think..." He frowned. "Er. Do you know how sometimes Erik and Julian have... alone time? People often spend time alone. Together. Without... clothes."
As the words were spilling out, Erik regretted them, for somewhere in the back of his mind he had not wanted to address this topic. Ever.
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