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Post by Mortimer on Dec 30, 2008 19:16:47 GMT -5
Mortimer sniffed and let go of Valentine's hand, padding awkwardly over to Erik.
"Care care."
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Post by Erik on Dec 30, 2008 19:20:26 GMT -5
Mortimer was still in his fishier guise, and it pained Erik to see it and to think Mortimer felt driven to it by him. "Mortimer," he intoned softly holding out his hand. "Erik is very sorry. He should not have spoken to you so."
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 30, 2008 19:27:36 GMT -5
The little creature put his large irregular hand into Erik's.
"Don't want to be a person now, okay...will stay with Erik, Julian. Not go Above..."
He sniffed again and his large nostrils gave a secondary quiver then flared wider and Mortimer took a step closer to his friend leaning toward him, mouth gaping open.
"Smell...Erik, Valmont."
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Post by Erik on Dec 30, 2008 19:31:08 GMT -5
Erik took his hand, but frowned. "What gave you the idea you're not a person, Mortimer? You're not human, perhaps, but..."
He was interrupted by Mortimer's second revelation, one which sent a quiver of nerves shooting down his spine. "I went to see M. Valmont," he informed Mortimer slowly. "Erik wished to make certain his intentions were not... undesirable."
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 31, 2008 1:49:12 GMT -5
The creature frowned and bent low, sniffing at the man and then shoving his startling face against Erik's groin, the curved fronts of sharp teeth pressing into tender place as he took in the scent and then huffed, standing as straight as he could manage and pulling away.
"Care care..." he whispered, hurt, and shook his head with a snarl, the spiny fins on his body standing out and vibrating, giving off a racous rattling.
"Erik steals Valmont from Wanizame!"
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Post by Erik on Dec 31, 2008 11:10:54 GMT -5
Erik barely had time to shift away from Mortimer's alarming teeth before the outburst came, and alarmed him even more than the sharp points near his nether regions. His heart fairly stopped and he berated himself not only for letting it happen, but for not washing before Mortimer returned.
He'd try not to think about the fact the creature could smell it, all things considered.
"Mortimer!" he protested, shocked. "You don't understand. It was nothing like that."
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 31, 2008 13:14:49 GMT -5
"Now see is why Erik say hurt hurt Shark--jealous Erik!"
The creature worked his maw at his once-friend and sunk nearly to fours, the bony lashing around behind him.
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Post by Erik on Dec 31, 2008 13:19:45 GMT -5
"Erik is not jealous!" Erik said insistently. He'd noted Mortimer's dropping of the name he'd given--and it stung. He was tempted to get angry again. But it hurt, to make Mortimer angry with him.
He'd made a terrible mistake.
"It wasn't what you think at all," he persisted. "I went to Valmont to tell him not to hurt you, to treat you right. And he started everything! He is a better magician than Erik. Hypnotist. He took advantage of me!" He crouched forward, staring intently at the fish-creature. "You must believe me, Mortimer. I did not intend to hurt you."
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 31, 2008 13:30:57 GMT -5
"Lie!" he snarled, mostly in response to Valmont being a magician. He didn't believe anyone could take advantage of Erik.
The tail struck out sideways, crashing into the piano once, splintering wood and snapping strings, making a horrible noise, and then doing it again this time snapping a leg and making the thing crash lopsided to the floor, scattering keys.
"Rotten Erik! Ruined! Broken! Have only Julian--Julian not-person, not real!"
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Post by Erik on Dec 31, 2008 13:47:11 GMT -5
Erik's eyes widened at the outburst, surprised at Mortimer's vehemence, his capacity for hurt. It was altogether a new side of him, and something he'd never imagined.
And it had been damned difficult to get that piano down here.
He rose, pacing.
"Is it any wonder?" he snarled. "Everyone has always hated Erik. Is it any wonder he cannot resist when someone shows him the least interest? Yes, I am rotten. Broken. At last you see it too, like everyone else. Very well, Mortimer. You are like the rest! What a comfort that must be to you. Now you can leave, like all the rest. Leave Erik alone with his not-son, as he ought to have remained from the beginning!"
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 31, 2008 14:08:03 GMT -5
The tail whipped up and curled around, vaguely threatening to crash down onto Erik himself before it melted away, the hideous aquatic form being replaced with Mortimer's more human shape--more perfectly formed than before with ten fingers and toes, no bluegray speckling and a warm and rosy complexion that rode high on his cheeks as it might on someone more than a bit aroused, featuring youth and vitality. The tattoos were gone as well save the curving and startlingly phallic shark on his back. The gill scars still stood out in sharp relief against his smooth sides.
He gave a pout that rested easily on pretty lips.
"Erik does not want Mortimer anymore?"
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Post by Erik on Dec 31, 2008 14:19:33 GMT -5
Erik had not flinched in anticipation, and showed little sign of being startled by the transformation. But it troubled him; Mortimer looked different. Less... innocent.
Was it him, or Valmont, who had done this?
"I wouldn't say that," he said quietly. "It seems to be you who does not want Erik any longer. Or need him." The reality of that stabbed at him; he liked being needed. He wanted to be necessary to someone. And he'd failed in every attempt. "I had no intention of 'stealing' Valmont from you, Mortimer," hoping the man was calmer, now. "I had no intention of doing anything but scaring him. And suddenly he was upon me, and..." He shuddered. "It was his way of convincing me he meant you no harm--I think. It's how he operates. And Erik is, it seems, incapable of resisting."
He watched Mortimer carefully.
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 31, 2008 14:35:29 GMT -5
"Monsieur Valmont is very handsome." he agreed and a took a cautious and graceful couple of steps forward, then a couple more until he was within easy reach.
"Mortimer still needs Erik."
His voice was soft and rung with a warm and pleasant tenor over softer lips which quite suddenly demanded attention.
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Post by Erik on Dec 31, 2008 14:50:07 GMT -5
The shift was disconcerting, as was a new fluidity to Mortimer's movements. But the new manner did not impress itself upon Erik as being particularly sensual, for no other reason than he recalled all too well their former relationship. Two outcasts, young and untried (at least in Erik's case) and united against a world they didn't understand or belong to.
Oddly, Erik thought disconnectedly, Mortimer reminded him fiercely of Julian.
"Erik is glad to hear it," he said cautiously. "I should hate to waste the plans for the tank I've finished."
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Post by Mortimer on Dec 31, 2008 14:58:25 GMT -5
"Hm." he said, non-committaly and wound his fingers into the fabric of Erik's jacket lapels.
"Am I pretty now?"
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