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Post by Erik on Dec 9, 2008 15:30:17 GMT -5
"Ah," Erik said, realizing his misunderstanding. "Did Henry never try to teach you? Then Erik shall. I will have to find some suitable books," he mused, always happy for a project. He would find practical things to teach Mortimer, things to help him get along Above.
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 9, 2008 15:38:20 GMT -5
"Didn't need to know with Henry. Never left Henry's house."
He beamed, anyway, and slid off Erik's lap after giving him a tight embrace about the neck.
"Erik will work more on music now, is okay. Mortimer will sleep little and go Above."
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Post by Erik on Dec 9, 2008 15:53:46 GMT -5
Erik forgot sometimes that not everyone had the intellectual curiosity he had been born with. The need to know things for their own sake. Mortimer was a practical creature, if very emotional; he needed to know because it was important to his relationships. Erik smiled at him and returned the embrace. "Thank you, Mortimer. And come to me if you have more questions; we can start learning music and words tomorrow, if you like."
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 9, 2008 16:02:06 GMT -5
The little man nodded and then padded off to rest a while, now ready and more sure of his next encounter with Valmont, deciding to try to find the man for dinner the following night after a reading lesson with Erik.
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Post by Erik on Dec 23, 2008 13:45:46 GMT -5
**NEW DAY, POST-VALMONT**
Erik sat at his desk once again, drafting plans for Mortimer's tank. He worried at the back of his mind over what he saw of that Valmont, inviting Mortimer into the carriage, but... what could he do? He had promised to let Mortimer take care of himself, to allow him the benefit of his years and experience. He could not follow him about like a child or a puppy. Erik had never wanted either and it would be unfair to the fellow.
And there was no possible way, he thought, that Valmont would have the sort of interest in Mortimer he was famous for. Mortimer's outsides were attractive enough, and Erik did not mind his appearance in the least. Nor did he consider Mortimer's physical reality a barrier to love--but it would not be with Valmont, he was certain. The man would run screaming.
He finished a line and sat back, admiring his handiwork.
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 23, 2008 13:53:33 GMT -5
The little man came home late, yawning, and it took him a few minutes to find Erik after he stopped in the kitchen to dig up a hidden apple. He gave a tired click and dragged himself up onto the Phantom's lap, wedging between Erik and the desk as he grabbed onto the man's lapels to hold himself up.
He was very tired and perhaps a little pale and disconcertingly experiencing a new sensation that he couldn't name, but he was shivering and did not feel like taking his clothing off as he usually did at Erik's door.
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Post by Erik on Dec 23, 2008 14:01:00 GMT -5
At a pause as he was in his work, Erik did not mind the interruption. He minded it even less when he saw the state Mortimer was in. Wrapping one arm around him, he pressed the other hand to the little man's forehead, though between his temperature and Mortimer's there was no way to judge.
"What's happened?" he asked. "What did that man do to you?"
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 23, 2008 14:07:55 GMT -5
Mortimer frowned and burrowed against Erik's frame.
"Do to? Nothing bad, Care care. ...hm....am shivery, though...not feel well?"
Though he couldn't say he was sick, exactly, not like before. He didn't feel unwell, just uncomfortable. In point of fact he was merely experiencing cold, but had no name for it as he'd never felt it before. It was true he could discern an uneveness in temperatures of water, but warm and cold did not--usually--affect him.
"Shivery after make--" he cut himself off, certain that Erik would not approve of his relationship with Monsieur.
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Post by Erik on Dec 23, 2008 14:20:57 GMT -5
Erik frowned. "Are you sick again? Erik thought you had recovered." Mortimer did not get sick, did not get uncomfortable, and so it worried him. No one shivered without cause. He rubbed Mortimer's back with his hands, trying to make him warmer. "Do you feel cold?"
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 23, 2008 14:31:26 GMT -5
The rubbing seemed to help some and he pressed closer, curling himself small against Erik's body.
"Don't know what is feel cold."
But what if he had fallen ill again? Did one get sick from making love? He frowned and decided he'd better tell Erik, in case that were the issue and then Erik could make him better.
"Mortimer got all shivery after...hm..." he gave a whine "after Valmont, Mortimer make-love."
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Post by Erik on Dec 23, 2008 14:35:11 GMT -5
Erik was more than happy to comfort Mortimer, to warm him and perhaps make him some soup, but such solicitous impulses were driven out of his head by Mortimer's announcement.
"What?" he cried, surging to his feet and dislodging the little man. He looked down, as if surprised to see him on the floor. "This is not a joke, Mortimer." He felt dangerously calm, the outward sort that hid the fury rushing as blood through his veins.
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 23, 2008 14:41:11 GMT -5
He blinked, surprised himself, and scooted back on his rear on the floor.
"Not joking, Erik...am sick now from?"
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Post by Erik on Dec 23, 2008 14:47:24 GMT -5
"What were you thinking?" Erik asked, seething inwardly and neglecting to present a comforting front to Mortimer. "The man's a walking cesspool, an agent of filth. How could you fall for his ridiculous wiles? Did he trick you, Mortimer? Did he take advantage?"
He crouched next to him, attempting to calm himself.
"You cannot be ill from it. Not this quickly, anyway." He doubted, furthermore, than Mortimer's anatomy allowed for the contracting of such illnesses. "But it was very foolish of you," he added sadly.
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 23, 2008 14:54:19 GMT -5
"He didn't trick me."
Mortimer growled a bit and pushed himself up and away from Erik.
"Wanted to make love with M. Valmont. He is handsome and kind and took very good care, very nice, gentle."
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Post by Erik on Dec 23, 2008 15:00:57 GMT -5
Erik would have snorted, had he a nose to do so with. "Oh, I've no doubt of his 'kindness.' When it gets him what he wants. He makes a habit, Mortimer, of having anyone he can. Erik hears much at the opera, and much of it is about him. M. Valmont will bed anyone, or anything, that will tolerate him long enough. You cannot love such a man." He did not for an instant think about how this sounded--how it insulted Mortimer. He was too incensed by the thought of that filthy beast taking advantage of his Mortimer. His dear, innocent Mortimer. Sullied by that fiend, joining a train of conquests stretching across Paris.
Likely he would have been put out by any partner of Mortimer's choosing, none of whom would ever be "good enough." But Valmont was another thing entirely, and enough of a bastard that Erik could not believe Mortimer's protestations to the contrary.
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