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Post by Erik on Nov 25, 2008 18:12:57 GMT -5
"Ah," Erik said noncommittally, though it was true that he would not have believed anything else. Which wasn't to say someone with more aplomb than Valentine might have pulled it off--for a time, anyway. "He tells me you're a juggler. And that you're lost. From where, exactly?"
If Erik had had any experience with parents whatsoever, he'd have recognized his current position as rather like a father vetting an over-protected child's companions.
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Valentine
- In the Duggins -
I'll have you know, I'm a very important man!%\0\%
Posts: 99
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Post by Valentine on Nov 25, 2008 18:27:31 GMT -5
"Aye, er, yes, I ahm a joogler. Woon of th'best in... er... well, on th'road..." He had to calm himself down before he overshot his reach and tried to blow himself up too much. Anyone else, he probably would not have hesitated to make himself sound like the best traveling juggler near or far or anywhere.
"Ah coome from the City of Loight, but accoordin' to Moortimer, Ah'm in the City of Loight... so Ah moost nawt be in th'roight woon... thare cannut be two, cann'ere?"
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 25, 2008 20:33:18 GMT -5
Mortimer let the two men talk, assuming a rather feral crouched position on the floor between them and watching them back and forth.
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Post by Erik on Nov 26, 2008 9:52:17 GMT -5
He didn't come from here, that was certain, though the question posed was not terribly interesting to Erik. There didn't seem to be anything remarkable about the man, aside from his odd appearance--nothing to capture Erik's attention, anyway. Though he spoke well enough, aside from the accent. He was curious about Mortimer's statement about having nothing at all under his mask, but Erik had enough empathic sense to be nervous about prying too directly.
"So you've no idea where you are? Who I am?" he persisted. It was bad form to let people come here and live, though he was doing it more all the time. Still, one had to keep up appearances.
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Valentine
- In the Duggins -
I'll have you know, I'm a very important man!%\0\%
Posts: 99
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Post by Valentine on Nov 26, 2008 21:11:58 GMT -5
Valentine shrunk back a bit and seemed to shrug, though it could have easily been his shoulders hunching from his own fear.
"Ah knoow that Moortimer gave m'yer name, an tol' me tha' this was the City ove Loight, but it's not the woon I know. Eff yer a mahn of anny importance, I 'aven't 'eard ove ya here yet... I've not been'ere that long."
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Post by Erik on Nov 26, 2008 21:48:22 GMT -5
"You wouldn't have heard of me, that's how important Erik is," Erik preened. He wondered if the man was really as ignorant as he seemed. Then again, entire lairs had appeared in his cellar that hadn't been there before. "And what are your intentions now, hmm?"
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Valentine
- In the Duggins -
I'll have you know, I'm a very important man!%\0\%
Posts: 99
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Post by Valentine on Nov 26, 2008 23:43:11 GMT -5
"Ah... um..." There, Erik had Valentine stymied. It really did not come to a matter of what he had intended, but if the sharkman had any intent for him. Trying to think, Valentine tried to keep his panic at bay, though failed when his voice came back with a slightly frightened squeak to it.
"Ai've... uh..." he paused and cleared his throat, stalling and trying to bring his voice back around. "I'aven't anny intenchins, but... er... if y'intend fer me t'leave, I can mahke it m'motivachin..." He could see his coat just beyond Erik's shoulder, so if he had to run, he could get to it as he fled - if he tore it off the hook... well, it was easier to mend a tear than to cheat death.
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Post by Erik on Nov 26, 2008 23:48:26 GMT -5
The man was terrified, and Erik rather liked that, for it showed he had not lost his touch. Still, it was a rather empty pleasure if it gave Mortimer pain. "Mortimer," he turned to the creature. "What do you think?" He certainly had no intention of harming anyone in front of Mortimer, unless they attempting to harm him. And he was curious to know what Mortimer was thinking, even if it would not ultimately decide Valentine's fate.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 26, 2008 23:50:35 GMT -5
The little man stood up from his crouch and nuzzled up to Erik before turning around and padding to small distance to Valentine, giving him the same treatment, purring against his chest.
"Valentine is very nice f' rest with. Should stay."
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Post by Erik on Nov 26, 2008 23:55:06 GMT -5
Erik very much wondered who Mortimer would not find nice to rest with, and it rather tweaked his jealous nature. If his affections were so easily won, of what value were they?
"I'm not certain that's a good idea," Erik said, his voice grim. "Erik is not in the habit of inviting strangers to live with him. And strangers may not like living in cellars."
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Valentine
- In the Duggins -
I'll have you know, I'm a very important man!%\0\%
Posts: 99
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Post by Valentine on Nov 26, 2008 23:56:32 GMT -5
Valentine smiled crookedly - not that he disliked the creature's little snuggle, but to do it in front of this Erik, who seemed to be sizing him up considerably - it only added to Valentine's nervousness.
"Th-thank you, Moortimer. Yer noice t'rest with as well..." he said, picking his words very slowly and carefully, so as to not give either of them the wrong impression. He was never the type to sleep with someone upon first meeting them. "V-vehrry cahlmin..." he added, trying to push the smile to both sides of his mouth, resulting in an awkwardly placed chuckle as he went to pet Mortimer's dark hair.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 26, 2008 23:57:44 GMT -5
"Then...Erik will help find Valentine place to stay near." He purred and let go of the masked-man, padding back over to Erik and smiling up at him.
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Post by Erik on Nov 27, 2008 0:06:06 GMT -5
Erik knew enough to know when he was susceptible to manipulation, and Mortimer was one of the few who could get away with it. "Mortimer," he said warningly, but not harshly. "You hardly know the man." He was reminded of their interrupted conversation and glanced--this time harshly--at Valentine. "And bringing strange men home is not very safe."
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Valentine
- In the Duggins -
I'll have you know, I'm a very important man!%\0\%
Posts: 99
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Post by Valentine on Nov 27, 2008 0:19:52 GMT -5
Valentine started when Erik threw him the gaze, almost as if he'd actually been smacked across the face with words alone. Everything the older man said was very true, and though they had just met, Valentine was convinced that Mortimer was not the type who deserved being taken advantage of simply because he was fairly generous with his trust.
All this, however, left a sinking feeling in Valentine's stomach. "Ah think wot yer friend 'ere is troyin' t'say, Moortimer, is that Ah'm t'go..." and likely not come back. In some way. Hopefully he would be traveling on foot, not carried away in a coffin.
Yes, that would be the one thing he would definitely hope for the most.
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Post by Mortimer on Nov 28, 2008 11:31:34 GMT -5
The little man frowned and tugged on Erik's thin hand.
"Erik will help find Vlanetine somewhere near to stay."
He insisted.
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