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duplicitymemes2019-09-12 04:47 pm
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2019-09-12 04:47 pm
Entry tags:
TDM #8
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It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. Yet, solace is found in the lies we tell each other, comforted by the peace of knowing that we're not alone in our depravity, and once on this path, sin itself becomes the lesser of two evils masked in a cloud of normalcy. This is how Duplicity has functioned since the beginning. The divide of power and social standing is overt in that Dominants influence the decisions made both publicly and privately while Submissives cater to the rules presented to them. It is the way of Duplicity to assign random designations at birth with no leeway in altering what has been given. Climate in the Up is far stricter than that of the Down; violating outlined personas for a Dominant or Submissive while in full view of others is punished by degree of infraction. In the Down, many tend to turn a blind eye to these sorts of offenses. To counteract the discovery of the Deceit Gene – a natural "negative" response to all stimuli – the L.I.E.S. program was founded. The program had been designed to introduce new subjects to the current environment and test for the Deceit Gene through immersion in Duplicity's standing society. Sexual impulses and encounters increase the chances of detecting the gene within these individuals. Participants are typically released from L.I.E.S. after a year; however, results have remained unsatisfactory and testing still continues. ... and you’re here! Finally! Welcome to Duplicity. After choosing a door and stepping through to the other side, the first thing that greets you are the enthusiastic faces of people in medical scrubs and pristine lab coats. Their enthusiasm translates to eagerness as they strip you of your clothes to perform a thorough examination—you will be healed, bathed, and given a paper gown to wear until your items can be processed and delivered to your residence later in the evening. You are also given a device that accesses the network as well as the time and location of orientation. If you enter Duplicity into the Up, congratulations! You’re a Dominant, which means you are immediately picked up by a limo after processing and taken to your highrise. Here, it is two Dominants per floor with separate apartments. If you enter Duplicity into the Down, congratulations! You’re a Submissive, which means you are directed towards public transportation with the address of the motel you’ll be living in. Here, it is two Submissives per room with a shared common space for all rooms. Enjoy your free time until orientation! Participation is mandatory by all new and old arrivals. The hellish summer heat is finally starting to subside, and the cool breeze suggests autumn is approaching. |
 After stepping through the door and participating in orientation, LIERS are assembled together in the Up for a tour of Duplicity in its entirety. Seats are in pairs and randomly assigned to Dominants and Submissives alike. Traveling from Fiddler's Square, the train journeys through various parts of the Up, showcasing society and examples of lifestyle. Along the way, frequent stops are made; a variety of passengers can be seen exiting and entering the doors. A Dominant with a kneeling Submissive takes a seat near the front of the train at one stop. A small group of Submissives board and sit closer to the LIERS at another, all seemingly content in their roles. As the tour continues through the Up, the train passes close to the Market and White Wall Bridge and zips by North Park before heading into the Down and bypassing Red Wall Bridge and South Park. The train makes a "final" stop at Riddler's Square, where inhabitants of the Down are instructed to return to their temporary housing. Those who live in the Up are permitted to stay on the train and revisit the same locations while returning. |
 The weather’s getting cooler, and people have begun transitioning from summer clothing to the sweaters and jackets of early fall. With jackets come pockets, and with pockets come a bizarre uptick in robberies. Then again, perhaps the correlation is flawed. In the Down, getting robbed is a constant threat. Gangs of street toughs look for lone or inattentive people who look like they’ve got valuables on hand. Uncontracted Submissives are particularly easy to rob, since authorities have little time to bother with a lowly Submissive without a Dominant to advocate for them. One particularly nasty gang of young adult men, the Bulldogs, hangs out near the train, looking to ambush unwary Submissives fresh out of Orientation. They are prone to violent muggings and will simply beat up their target and leave them in a gutter when they’re finished robbing them. In the Up, the streets are nominally safer, but there have been reports of a group of college-aged Submissive women taking advantage of their designation to attack travelers. They, too, stand near the train and the orientation center, looking to seduce passersby into an alley where a group of them can beat and mug their victims, usually Dominants looking to capitalize on their pretty appearances. But you’re truthfully at risk anywhere in the city. The new arrivals are easy targets, and any brazen thief might get the idea to make some quick cash. The authorities are spread too thin to help, but perhaps LIErs can look out for one another? Or they might just get in on the thievery. Everyone’s out for themselves, after all. |
( CW: potential dubcon, drugs, BDSM/sexual torture, prostitution, public use ) Surrounding a large building near the orientation center in the Up, banners and fliers announcing the beginning of the inaugural Duplicity High Tech Sexpo, a trade show for businesses and manufacturers of adult novelties. Since this is the expo’s first year, admission is free and many excited volunteers are handing out vouchers all over the city. These vouchers can be exchanged for goods and services within the expo, but have no monetary value outside of it. Even if you refuse them, you’ll likely find two or three of them tucked into your bag or pocket. Inside the expo hall, there are dozens of booths pitching a variety of entertainments. Many offer interactive demonstrations, showing off their tech for the crowds of interested onlookers. Competition is fierce, and booths try to attract attention and customers through any means necessary. There are private rooms all around the expo for potential customers to try out the products. Booths will also happily accept volunteers for demos, or try to recruit them by bribing them with cash or free samples. There’s a nasty rumor going around that some are recruiting volunteers via more illicit means, like drugging and dressing them up, but surely that’s an exaggeration… Some of the smaller booths sell more traditional toys and accessories: leashes and collars, specialty lubes and massage oils, fetish gear, strap-ons, dildos and vibrators in myriad shapes and sizes, and other basic items. Others advertise apps for the devices, the most notable of which is HUGGR (which LIErs may recognize as a poorly rebuilt sex-themed version of a certain other app.) The closer you get to the big-ticket sponsor booths, the more elaborate and fantastic the products become. One of the most eye-catching demos is for the Climax VR Headset. You and a partner both wear a VR headset, which displays a collaborative virtual scenario. Both partners can alter the setting and surroundings however they like, and any sexual activity conducted in VR transmits real sensations to their bodies. You can come together without ever physically touching. Symphony Hydraulics have a large, loud booth where crowds gather to watch perhaps the most outrageous demo: a variety of fucking machines. Volunteers get stripped, strapped in, and turned on, brought to screaming orgasms in front of the whole crowd. There is a fifteen minute break between demos on each machine, as some poor intern hurriedly washes and sanitizes them between uses. In the interim, they offer smaller, portable versions for sale or rent at the expo. (Some may note that a few of the Symphony Hydraulics staff members look a bit familiar.) Does all this high-tech equipment have you overwhelmed? Wish you could go back to a simpler time? Sir Robert’f Bedroome Provifionf (sic) is helmed by historical reenactor Robert Plum, who has also created his own line of medieval torture device-themed sex toys. Need a chastity belt to keep your Submissive all to yourself? A rack with an attached spreader-bar? An iron maiden with soft vibrating silicone ticklers inside? All the stocks and whips and chains you could ever need? Sir Robert has you covered. Of course, everything on display is harmlessly altered for sexual novelty purposes, but one might also ask to see Sir Robert’s “special” merchandise in the back. Perhaps the most unassuming booth at the expo belongs to Grandma Hattie’s Snacks and Sweets. Grandma Hattie, a kindly old Submissive, has partnered with a tech company to produce what appear to be completely normal vending machines, stocked full of her tasty homemade bread, snack cakes, and other baked goods. Vouchers are good for a free sample of any treat from a vending machine. They taste amazing and have no apparent odd effects-- until 10 minutes after consumption, when you suddenly gain an insatiable craving for a random kink. Your craving will dominate your thoughts for three hours, or until it is appeased. |
 (CW: potential dubcon, objectification) By far the largest and shiniest booth comes from expo sponsors Sexy Metal Incorporated, who have set up a display of their incredible high-tech sexbots. These life-sized dolls are made of extremely realistic material that feels like warm human skin, and come with state-of-the-art mechanics that give them lifelike movement. Engineers show off how the bots can be plugged into a computer and programmed to act any way the buyer likes. They come in a wide variety of customizable appearances and eerily, some of the bots on display look exactly like people you may know. Booth staff encourage customers to buy these dolls, or to rent them and give them a try onstage in front of the fascinated crowds. If that’s not kinky enough, one of the engineers has purchased a VR headset from another booth, and programmed it to interface with the bot’s controls. Care to slip inside the silicone skin of another person? |
Please read carefully. On each Test Drive Meme, there will be a section noting character roles; these will vary each TDM. On an IC level, characters will still have gone through the doors but assignments OOCly are still randomized. When applying, there is a section of the application that denotes whether the character chooses "left" or "right". When participating on the TDM, there will be a third option. Players may link either a top level or a thread (five or more comments from their character) from the TDM and title the link as "Door Pass". This means that the player is choosing to take the designation that they were randomly assigned on the TDM, rather than taking the designation of a door. If the player decides to select a door rather than use the pass, then they are trying their luck; they may get the same designation they had on the TDM or the opposite. Once the application is submitted, players can't change their choice. To assign roles to characters for this TDM, use the following guide: In celebration of our one year, pick whichever role you want for your character! » A Pocket Full of Pennies: Feel free to come up with any free-roving gangs or petty criminals you like for your characters to tangle with. » New Flesh Like A Glove: Characters can spend money on items at the expo, or may exchange vouchers for what they want. Each voucher has a value of about $5 within the expo and they may be acquired by finding them, having them handed to characters/stuffed in their pockets or bags by expo volunteers, or paid them in exchange for “volunteering” at booths. Characters may indeed try before they buy, either out in the open or using one of the provided private rooms with a partner. The expo has a staff of unpaid student interns tasked with cleaning and sanitizing products if they are used but not purchased. Grandma Hattie’s snacks can inspire characters to have any kink you may desire. » Perfection of the Digital: Sexbots can resemble any player characters, including brand new arrivals/test drive characters. They can also resemble characters that yours knows from home. The engineers have no explanation for this, and the one who identifies himself as the designer will shrug and say he gets inspiration from many places. The sexbots are hot-ticket expensive merchandise, so security is tight around the booth. Characters who attempt to steal or destroy a sexbot (for instance, one who looks like themselves) will be quickly set upon by guards, who are meant to eject them from the expo. However, many of the guards will take bribes from other booths to provide them model “volunteers,” drugged into complacency. If characters want to acquire a sexbot permanently, they will have to buy it or exchange a hefty 50 vouchers for it. Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have fun!! |
no subject
Where had kind men and women like this been when the church was building his mother's pyre. Why now did they appear to him in her stead, when he deserved no such compassion. How could this man apologise for him when he had no idea of the cruel, debased thoughts that rattled about in his head.
His head slowly rose, his hair a veil, between the strands a tortured expression. The quiet helped him to think somewhat, a sentence wasn't quite as painful as it had been moments earlier. ]
I... am not your friend.
[ He corrected, as Alucard had heard Dorian's soft words making up for his base and clumsy actions.
He continued, voice a dry whisper. Whilst his first response may have seemed cruel, as he went on to explain himself its connotations went from hurtful to hurt. ]
You would do well to never have a friend like me.
[ His fingers twitched at his sides like itchy trigger fingers and he moved awkwardly to fold his arms. Those same fingers clutching the soft tissue of his forearms. This man, whoever he was, was pushing Alucard to the limit of his already tested willpower. If he insisted on helping, he didn't know if he would be able to control himself. ]
Leave me... While you are still able to do so.
no subject
The last statement came across more a warning than apology. Dorian's shoulders drew taut, but still he did not move from his rooted spot.]
Who's to judge? [Dorian's voice was a low, quiet whisper.] I only meant to keep those hare-brained merchants away from you, since it's quite obvious you're distressed. If you truly wish me to leave you be, I will. But I certainly won't feel good about it.
[He looked Alucard over once more, head to toe, wishing he had some vestige of ability in medicine and caretaking. Now he felt decidedly useless.]
Do you need to see a healer? I could take you to one.
no subject
Alucard's head rose slightly upon hearing that. His cold, liquid gold and brow knit into a sad expression. Everyone was to judge, he had received nothing but judgement since the day of his birth, whether it be directed at him or his family. To hear words with such gravitas so idly spoken pained him greatly. What a shame, his subconscious whispered, that there had not been more men like him in his homeland years ago.
As Dorian continued to extend his kindness, with wounding talk of help and a healer, it only seemed to quicken the poison's affects. Physical attraction heightened his desire, but add to that an attraction that went deeper, to something personal, and Alucard couldn't hold back.
The poison moved across his brain like a fungus, constricting all centres of reason and rationality until all that functioned were basic needs and wants. It worked as if it were a hallucinogenic. When he looked at Dorian he could've sworn that he saw him in a different light. A backlit, deified silhouette, showing more skin than before, open and relaxed where he stood with... what looked like an ethereal white python recumbent around his shoulders. An offering.
The tight grip of his fingers on his forearms suddenly relaxed with a soft grunt. He couldn't resist the cocktail of drugs in his system or Dorian. Together they were a targeted attack that he just didn't have the strength to beat.
He stared at him for a moment, the retina of his eyes catching the light, giving the impression that they were glowing red. ]
Heh, a healer--[ He echoed, reside to his fate. Sentence midway he moved with a preternatural speed. The gap between Dorian and himself closed in seconds and his hands snapped firmly around the necromancer's wrists. Another second passes and those fine, warm, blood-filled wrists are pinned to a wall above Dorian's head. Alucard finishes his sentence, morose and famished. ]--there are no healers for my ailment.
[ At this proximity it's likely that Dorian may notice a set of vampire's canines in Alucard's mouth. And for Alucard? The desire he had felt from a distance is amplified a hundred fold. ]
Why... didn't you leave?
[ He pleads, leaning in as he tightens the grip on Dorian's wrists (tighter, but certainly not painful at this stage). Alucard's mouth is millimeters from Dorian's neck and he breathes in the scent of him. It's obvious at this stage what he wants. ]
... Parchment. [ He whispers against that taut skin, so cruelly cutting him off from his satiation. ] Midnight candles and smuggled pastries from a loved one... Th--the sun and life. [ His lips part... ]
no subject
The movement happened too quick, a blink of an instant, to defend against. He went back hard against the wall. The area to where he'd followed Alucard was thankfully disguised from the street, but that offered no reassurance now, even if he would have turned down outside aid.
He got himself into this, he could get himself out.
The grasp of those pale, slender fingers around his wrists suggested hidden strength, something far beyond first appearance, but still he tested their hold with a writhing twist.]
Have you gone absolutely mad? [Rasping, breathless from being pinned back, Dorian did his best to ignore the shivering coil of arousal in his belly - which he was shamed to notice - where it slid in alongside instinctual fear. Of course he saw the teeth. He couldn't ignore those sharp white canines, hovering a scant distance from his throat.] What are you?
[And because he wasn't going to be a damsel in distress, Dorian summoned a spell. Mind blast. He didn't require his hands for it. Nothing that would harm, just a flare of defensive spirit magic in one wave of willpower, attempting to knock Alucard back and off him.]
no subject
The question on his sanity seemed to wash over him, it was as if his current state wouldn't let it penetrate his thoughts. But the follow up was just too enticing to pass up. Whilst Alucard would never openly gloat about what he was when in his right mind, now all preconceptions of shame and humility gave way to the ruthless decadence he'd inherited from his father. ]
What do you think I am?
[ He teased cruelly, the very tips of his fangs grazing the sweet, hot skin of Dorian's neck, so close to breaking then skin when--
--he was taken by surprise, he didn't expect this man to be a magic-user. The grip which he had so carefully been measuring failed him (in lieu of hurting Dorian) and he stumbled backwards a few steps, winded. For a moment he stood hunched over, looking primal and dangerous as his hair hid his expression.
Eerily, he straightened into a perfectly upright posture, eyes locked on Dorian's, immovable and intense. ]
You are a magician, of sorts.
[ Alucard didn't move so much as he phased. A blood-red outline of his form shifted without a single muscle moving to stand beside Dorian. The action took place in seconds and didn't seem to affect Alucard's strength or stamina whatsoever. He stood there as if he'd been there for a while, looking at the soft indents he'd left in his neck. ]
I should've sensed it.
[ His brow furrowed for a moment, as if fighting some internal turmoil, but the expression mellowed again in a few seconds.
With a different approach this time he rested the flat of his palm on Dorian's chest. Now he did use that preternatural strength but not to put any sort of uncomfortable pressure on the mage, no, so that he couldn't pull the hand away with any ease.
Slender, shapely fingers tracked down the curve of his chest, being slow - painfully so. Mapping out each peak and ridge of clothed flesh. ]
To think that a mage can't identify one of the most feared and hated creatures of the night. They should send you back to your tutors.
no subject
Unfortunately, his good conscience might just get him killed now. ]
Of sorts. Yes.
[The words came short and tense, flattening his spine to the wall of the building, eying the minimal space between them. The stranger looked half-wild and radiant kneeling there, golden hair caught in a slant of light from the street, where he could hear broken pieces of conversation from the crowds who had no idea what was happening in this private, dark corner. One hand raised as if to brush his neck to ensure there wasn't a wound there; he caught the gesture and lowered his arm.
And then another jolt, another sudden movement. Dorian flinched back. The touch to his chest felt like an iron rod keeping him in place.]
Oh, my tutors taught me plenty about demonic possession. But you don't look possessed, nor do you seem to be a mage. Perhaps I misjudged. I've had desire demons lull me in my dreams, promise unspoken pleasure and endless indulgence... [His voice lowered.] They were easy enough to see through.
[When in doubt, sass the creature that could likely rend him apart before he did any significant damage. He was not exactly a close range fighter. Never mind the hand stroking the planes of muscle on his chest; that was a bit more difficult to ignore.]
I'll ask again. What are you?
no subject
Fingers idly spiral downwards in the soft wrinkles of Dorian’s clothing veering dangerously close to his crotch and Alucard leaned in, back to the newly familiar curve of the mage’s neck. Closer to that soft thrumming of blood, rich with life and vitality, plump with experiences and flavour. He rested his temple on the gorgeous stretch of Dorian’s trapezius, enjoying the angle of it and the closeness it afforded him. The heady scent of life arousing him.
He responded in a whisper, breathy and light. With none of the usual disdain for his nature as he had when sober. ]
I am a vampire.
Hm, [ He chimed, shocked at the ease at which he admitted it. ] How odd… I… don’t typically find it that easy to disclose that.
[ A sharp, searing pain attached his frontal lobe and he winced for a moment, his true personality battling against this uncharacteristic openness. But the pain left as quickly as it had arrived and he returned to the desire-driven creature he had been moments before. ]
Regardless, you must be curious as to what vampires do. [ Those vulnerable, golden eyes darken and Cheshire cat grin accompanied them. His head tilted a little and his lips sealed around that taut muscle he had just been resting his head against. Even with just this hint of a taste Alucard’s head was spinning - he’d never fed from a human before. So many years of holding back, resisting, now finally he could let himself given in. Submit to the dark desires he’d quashed for too long. Talking with his mouth full, but still not having bitten to draw blood, he added. ] Let me shhhow you...
no subject
He didn't know when the man became the creature in his mind. Likely somewhere between the moment he had pinned Dorian to the wall and revealed the gleaming fangs in his mouth. Another flare of heat clenched in his gut at the southward sweep of Alucard's hand. It was too intimate, too personal, trapped alongside an impulse to flee inherent in all living animals. He could tell he was afraid now. He hated that fear, but even when it was mastered in his outward demeanor, it showed in other ways: the rabbit-fast pace of his pulse thrummed through his skin so hard he swore he could feel it when that unfairly beautiful mouth settled over a tender patch of skin.
A vampire. It was a term he'd heard once or twice, but so unknown and little studied, associated only alongside hunger demons based on who it was they possessed - the living or the dead.
Dorian's mouth was dry when he spoke. Time was running out.]
Are you going to eat me alive? Is that what this is? Foreplay for the main event?
[He needed to know whether he should begin fighting for his life, even if it was futile. He wouldn't simply roll over and endure his own death. One hand reached up and took a fistful of long gold hair, and on that he pulled, as if he could force Alucard's jaw to unlatch.]
no subject
Alucard wickedly decided to play along, letting his head tilt back at Dorian's grasp in his hair. His mouth hung open, leaving silver strings connecting his lips to his skin for a second before snapping and disappearing into the black shirt. His preternaturally sharp canines were very much on display now and Alucard rolled his head to the side to get a good look at Dorian. ]
I'm no cannibal.
[ He clarified, insinuating that at least part of him was human. In truth he was shocked that he really didn't know what a vampire was. He thought that the lore had at least some roots in all cultures. ]
Vampires drink blood.
Although, what a funny way to phrase it. Foreplay.
[ Wicked and cruel as he may have been in this state there was playfulness about his reaction to that word. He chuckled at it like a schoolboy in class looking up dirty words in a dictionary. Now there was something much more flirtatious than tyrannical in his expression and whilst his thirst still existed, perhaps there could be a balance struck between lust and bloodlust. ]
Are you planning to fuck yourself out of this sitaution.
no subject
The damp, shiny spot on his throat left bare at the withdrawal was now exposed to the air at odds with the heat of the mouth that had covered it. The hand not buried in long, tumbling hair reached down to wrap around the wrist dangerously close to the crux of his legs. Stop that.]
You'll have to forgive my ignorance. You see, hunger demons are known to consume everything they possibly can, including the flesh and blood of their victims. Though some living counterparts are interested only in the latter. They're woefully under-researched.
[Vampire. For some reason, that knowledge made it easier to deal with. Better to know your enemy so to speak. Knowledge offered an edge. Yet this creature in particular appeared to be highly intelligent; the same could not be said for the hunger demons he'd met.
It was the implication suggested by that last statement that clammed Dorian up, made him flatten even further into the wall, both hands clenching over their respective holds until his knuckles stung. Some of his composure slipped.]
I-- ah, drinking blood can be just as dangerous as cannibalism, and I quite enjoy living, thank you--
[His mouth pressed shut. The crudeness of it, the laconic way Alucard transitioned from cruel to provocative, all brought his attention to one fact he was ignoring: that this situation, despite its madness, had him desperately aroused. Desire demons were designed for that purpose, of course - this was some horrific blend between desire and hunger, and the creature possessed by it was gorgeous.]
no subject
Not the soft, apprehensive expression his lips were accustomed to but rather something darkly amused and self-satisfied. The better part of him, now dormant, would've dismissed the apology in a heartbeat. But as he currently was, he enjoyed gloating at Dorian's lack of understanding. It just added another level of superiority to his position.
His fingers toyed with the hem of Dorian's shirt, tugging at it and idly trying to reveal more of that silky skin. He didn't bother to force this action, rather if Dorian's grip on his wrist allowed it to happen then it would. Whilst he wondered what the flavour of his blood would be like from its font in his neck, another part of him couldn’t help but consider how a long, exaggerated lick of a gash along that slim middle would taste too.
Alucard's eyes were trained on Dorian, watching, waiting for him to flinch or recoil. For the pressure to simply get too much and for him to try something foolish or rash. Eagerly awaiting an excuse to force his hand. And whilst he noticed microexpressions, tiny hints of concern or... something else (excitement?) he still hadn't provoked the outburst he was hoping for.
So he tried a different tactic. ]
Then why don't we make a deal, mage.
Satiate me, with you blood--[ A beat passes as he very obviously gives Dorian's body a slow once over. ]--or with your body, and you may yet live.
no subject
The slender fingers that played with the hem of his shirt managed to edge out a reaction at last. He swallowed a low noise and then hissed:]
Don't think that you can tempt me.
[Another sudden flare of magic came, this time hot and blazing, a ringlet of fire around the wrist he held in one hand - he strove to unbalance his assailant and throw him back, away, with the physical weight of his own body.
It was going to be a dangerous game. Dorian did not have an unlimited amount of mana, and he had to use it sparingly without a staff because lyrium was not available to replenish the need.
That, and he had no idea the abilities of what he fought.]
no subject
Subconsciously he realised that his bloodlust existed along with a desire to pull Dorian into this fantasy. That he could, of course, force his way and simply steal what he wanted but there was something all the more alluring in making him give it. To willig him into offering it like a true submissive, especially when Dorian seemed so averse to giving it. ]
Oh, but I do think I can tempt you. --
[ Alucard whispered, smile growing, lips parting to show perfect rows of sharp teeth.
He opened his mouth to further add to his monologue when he was cut off by a searing heat that cooked the pale skin on his wrist. He recoiled only to find himself pushed, a tangle of hair catching in Dorian’s fingers as he stumbled back.
Oh now he was angry. Standing a few feet away he looked down at the blistered skin under his hand and saw that, in the exchange, Dorian had pulled out some of his hair.
If only he had been in his right mind, he would’ve dismissed this scuffle with the comforting knowledge that it would all recover and grow back days later. But he was not in his right mind at all and when his head rose the cruel, stern look on his face belied a fierce rage burning behind those gold eyes. ]
I offer you salvation and your response is to burn me.
[ Considering Alucard’s trauma regarding fire it was probably the worst element Dorian could’ve used. ]
I rescind my deal then. [ He snapped, all of his flirtatious allure gone in lieu of a cold, hard tone of voice. He took deliberate steps towards Dorian at a measured pace. Menacing and hyper-focused his aura seemed to drain the light and life of their corner. When he stood in front of Dorian, despite little difference in height, his upright posture and glare seemed to make him tower over him.
With vampiric reflexes his burnt hand snapped around the caster’s wrist, the cruel hand that had burnt him. With a deliberate strength he pulled the limb higher, closer and with his eyes immovably locked on Dorian’s expression he held his forearm just in front of his mouth. ]
I will take what you won’t give, after all… isn’t that the human way.
[ And with that Alucard’s razor sharp teeth bit through the material of his shirt and pierce the top of his forearm.
Due to his physiology little pressure was needed to sink his teeth into Dorian’s skin and his saliva (much like that of a mosquito’s) held a mild painkiller and antiseptic to lessen the sting. That wasn’t to say that Dorian wouldn’t have felt it, and in some cases seeing the wound amplified the fear and pain that went along with it. As his jaw loosened the bite his lips sealed around the wound and he felt the soft, steady flow of blood trickle past his lips and over his… tongue.
He had never fed from a human in any capacity, his high morals had forbade him from doing so, but now that he tasted Dorian’s blood it felt as though he was using all his senses for the first time. It was heavenly, Godly, richer than the sweetest wine and robust with not only flavour but with life. He could feel and see snippetts of Dorian’s life, blurs of the highest and lowest moments of his past melding together and making him taste… kind, pressured, ostrichsized, witty and learned.
The way his blood affected Alucard was visible on many levels, the most obvious was to see that the torn hair and burnt wrist immediately healed, skin knitting back to be smooth and blemishless and new, full locks of hair sprouted and matched the length of the rest of his hair. On a more subtle note the anger he expressed mellowed into unmistakable pleasure. Eyes sliding shut, brow submissive as he suckled on the shallow gash like a nursing child.
It may have been worth noting that Alucard didn’t bite anywhere fatal. That he didn’t go for a key artery or vein and instead bit somewhere that would not only heal well but also not prove fatal. ]
no subject
Upon the advance, Dorian held his ground in that corner even as he felt the air succumb to frigidity, as light and color seeped from the surroundings in a bleed. This was a creature more powerful and less ordinary than most (if not all) demons he'd encountered, whose autonomy and intelligence represented a greater threat than first glance. Dorian knew he could fight with everything he possessed, and it could be that he would escape. Or create enough of a scene to draw outside attention and intervention.
He did neither. He couldn't say why in the moment. (Playing the game, maybe, as he should have from the start.) Struggling not to flinch when his wrist was seized and lifted, he anticipated what came - the grasp was an iron and immovable shackle met by those words. Isn't that the human way. A curious phrase, suggesting baggage that Dorian could not parse, knowing as little as he did about what a vampire was of this nature.
The flash of white teeth signaled brief warning before they bit down, tearing through cloth fabric, piercing the paper-thin barrier of dark skin. He let out a startled sound and put out a hand to clutch one of Alucard's shoulder, instinct driving him to push away even if it would not unlock the mouth from his arm. A violent shiver swept through his body. It stung as a sharp knife to flesh, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was the seal of lips - that first, wet suction - which caused Dorian to squirm at last, trying to pull away, a low whimper in his throat. It felt as though his heart was beating into the vampire's mouth. The constant, throbbing pulse of life licked away by a hot tongue.
It was the strangest feeling.
And what he glimpsed, too, in flashes of imagery: golden hair and gentle eyes; a room scattered with vials and instruments; a castle, whose rooms once warm slowly drained of laughter and love until there was nothing but dust.]
That woman. [Dorian was breathless, his concentration slippery, senses blurred.] You look like her.
[A hand impulsively reached to sweep the curtain of blond hair over, so he could see better where he was being bitten and fed on. His brow furrowed.
Blood - his own blood - contained a secret, dark power, potent to magic. He wondered if it should concern him to see it consumed, to see it heal that recent damage. Instead, he felt in some dreamy half-conscious state.]
This won't... change me, will it?
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There was a chance that he would’ve given in to that blood lust and bitten Dorian again to find a new vein of pleasure. But luckily for him (and perhaps unluckily for Alucard) the few words he extracted from their shared moment of pain and pleasure did something to the dhampire.
There was only one woman in his memories who looked like him. His mother.
Her kindness and unbounded love had always grounded Alucard. She was the metric to which he measured his life, his human side. She was the purest thing in him, her genes balancing the aggression and power of his father’s legacy. So when his poisoned mind conjured her image, visualising her standing over him as a child; combing his hair, clothing and caring for him the memory of her warmth evaporated the sickness in him (for the time being at least).
And he became himself again, the quixotic calmness in feeding melted away. The mist in his eyes evaporated into tears and when he found himself he realised what he had done.
What had he done.
In a split second Alucard recoiled, gasping for breath as if waking from an unnatural sleep. He stumbled back, liquid eyes drinking in the horror before him. A man who had offered only kindness to which he had responded in violence and thievery. The revelation of this horror took effect on his face; a deep, unforgiving sadness and a self-loathing strong enough to cripple the most righteous of saints. He had become the monster he had always dreaded becoming and it was breaking him.
He looked away from the injured Dorian and down at his hands, cursed and beautiful. When he eventually spoke his words were ripe with sorrow and a solitary, unnoticed tear ran down his cheek. ]
My… mother.
[ He clarified, so deeply ashamed of himself.
The guilt was crushing him, the poor creature had not yet realised the anger in his actions had all spawned from that small thing he’d eaten earlier. ]
I am--[ A monster, a tyrant… my father’s son. ]--sorry.
[ Why couldn’t this poor, kind soul have just left. Saved himself. Now not only had he hurt him, but he had inextricably linked the poor man to himself, polluting his mind with his memories, feelings.
He shook his head, he had to at least put his mind at ease. ]
You will not change, your humanity remains the same.
I… didn’t--I couldn’t… You must go.
[ Monster. Monster. Monster.
Dracula’s boy. Dracula’s evil offspring. Dracula’s progeny. ]
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It was an apology he did not know what to do with, except draw further scrutiny over the entire situation. Dorian remained close to the wall; his palm covered the mark on his arm, feeling it sting against the open air, a bit dizzy on his feet. He understood with enough blood loss he might lose consciousness, an outcome that would need to be avoided at all costs.
At least "his humanity remained the same." Dorian let out a breath.]
There's this again. [The sadness and anguish like a humid fog. It was what drew him toward this corner in the first place.]
You... are not always like this, are you? [To venture a guess. He did not dare approach for fear of startling the vampire.] It's quite possible something in the environment changed you.
[Or he really was so unstable. Dorian did not know him well enough to say. Still he kept his voice low, measured, composed, because it was the least he could do after that glimpse into another's mind.]
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To his surprise, Dorian remained despite his warning.
And to add to this pain he continued to enquire as to his condition. The knot tying in his belly tightened. This couldn’t be fair. His selflessness was torture after his mistake, he wanted to curl inside himself, split his stomach in two and let that stolen blood fall out of him.
Whilst Alucard wasn’t obvious in his expressions he was still emotive. So this pain, this guilt, it showed in that ethereal countenance. Tortured, taught brow with sympathetic, broken eyes.
Why won’t you leave.
He despaired, frightened of himself and frightened of that kindness. ]
I am not. [ He eventually conceded a reply. ] But I’m not susceptible to influences like most. I doubt anything here could impact on my… demeanor.
[ He took a step back, for his sake. Or maybe for both their sakes, for Dorian’s body and his mind.
Of course all thought of that silly, insignificant bite of food had slipped his mind entirely as it still happily worked through his system, tickling at the edge of his frayed mind. Whispering sweet nothings about how Dorian wouldn’t miss a little more blood. ]
And even if it could, why would you care at this stage?
Do you enjoy soulless monsters hurting you.
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A soulless monster, is that how you view yourself?
[One which apologized and retreated, shed tears over mention of its mother; but also one which raged into violence and cruelty. That duality was not lost on Dorian.
As Alucard stepped back, he moved forward to reclaim the space. It was not without tension and caution; his arm continued to burn. The desire for healing magic, without elfroot potions at hand, stood out in his mind.]
Whatever you may be, I suspect it is more complex than you give it credit. And I'm not so fragile as to cower at a wild animal's bite.
[Curiosity or stupidity drove him, as well as the suspicion it truly was some unknown affliction that caused this behavior now.]
It'll heal.
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The response was internalised, it served no purpose in being shared, apart from perhaps making him come across as even more socially defunct. But perhaps the lack of response communicated his feelings on the matter. Alucard had very little love for himself and what he may have approved of under good circumstances was in tatters currently.
That tear Dorian noticed clung to Alucard’s angular jaw. He had forgotten about his existence until the moment it fell and landed on his collarbone. A flash of fatigued annoyance as he rubbed the wet line that ran down his cheek with the back of his hand. When had that happened.
Dorian’s encroach raised the small hairs at the base of Alucard’s neck. Was he posturing? Why take the risk for someone he didn’t even known.
And then something happened. A hint of a personality, that had been suffocated under the mood changers and his self-hate, showed. Dorian’s comment, whether intended or not, amused Alucard. Whilst sadness always slumbered in his eyes, it seemed passive under a flicker of levity. The very corner of his mouth quirked in a wicked, tiny grin revealing the glimpse of a single fang.
When he quipped back there was a dry, cynical sarcasm that indicated a wit and intelligence. ]
Oh, so in your eyes I’ve graduated from soulless monster to wild animal.
What a pity I didn’t have someone with your positivity to speak for my family a few decades ago.
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Not at all. But you did bite me like a wild animal. Did you not?
[He lifted his palm, revealing the wound, sore and swollen red. Due to the depth of punctured skin, it was still bleeding. The pressure he had applied was an attempt to stem it, but it wouldn't be truly helpful until he could procure bandage to wrap. This city's tools for injuries could work magnificent wonders, he'd found.
Dorian also did not consider how stupid it was to flash that which a vampire craved right in front of their face.]
That's me, an endless wellspring of positivity. Don't be stubborn. How are you feeling, and how is it different from what you normally would feel? Try to describe it in words.
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As soon as Dorian’s blood touched the air it seemed to immediately reach Alucard’s nose. Ah, that intoxicating scent. He felt his mouth water behind sealed lips and his jaw muscles tensed, visible under those razor-shape cheekbones. His fingers gripped into small, tight fists and there was a slight, just audible, grunt.
He stared at the ring of roses, seeping wasted blood into that useless garment. How he needed to--and before allowing himself to finish that thought Alucard robotically turned his head to the side. Eyes locked on the bite mark until the last second.
Describing it in words seemed like an insurmountable task now. Eloquence forfeit in lieu of composure.]
Sensitive.
I am… more sensitive than I normally…
Am.
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I see. Then, there it is yourself: if you were not as sensitive as you feel now, you would not have attacked me.
[It wasn't as though he had proof. He knew nothing about this man and what he was capable, knew even less of what it meant to be a vampire from whatever world he came, but the logic was reasonable if one considered it a struggle of will. To give in, or hold out.]
It's possible it may wear off. I can't say for how long. Though it has never happened to me personally, I have heard it described - consuming something untoward, scenting something strange in this place... and then becoming suddenly possessed of an uncontrollable urge. Usually for sex. I suppose I can't say whether vampirism falls into that category.
[Then again, he could be off base completely. Perhaps this was an ailment beyond the likes of Duplicity's doing.]
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As he continued to listen to his (rather attractive) silky voice the words consuming something untoward hit him. His relaxed expression tightened with confusion, doubt. ]
That elderly woman...
[ He mused, thinking back to the food he had eaten. Tone rife with disbelief. ]
I exchanged a voucher for some food, but that couldn't have affected me like, could it?
[ It was as much a question to himself as it was to Dorian.
The thought of his mother had certainly grounded him, but some elements of the poison(?) were still coursing through his veins. He still felt a desire to encroach on Dorian, to sup on that life, to feel the warmth of that human skin under his fingertips, his lips. Even without the toxins in him Dorian was attractive; wit, intelligence, kindness and non-judgemental - all the qualities Alucard admired.
He tried to physically shake those thoughts out of his head. ]
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I... don't know for sure. [What a question. How could Dorian even begin to guess what might have been done?] You said you were not as prone to influence, yes? Perhaps, even if it did affect you, it isn't the same as it might affect another.
[A personalized hell. That appeared to be the running pattern.
Still he could feel those golden eyes on him, cat-like, the narrow of their focus. He wasn't under the illusion he'd broken the vampire from his trance. How strange it was, to feel the weight of that gaze - and know it wanted him so fiercely. Something dark and primal tightened in his stomach.]
We should at least get out of the street. I'd rather you attack me again than some witless local.
[At least Dorian had experience with monsters and night creatures. He gave a gesture, turning to walk.]
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Did he still keenly observe Dorian? Of course he did. Now that he had broken his promise on feeding on another and his blood was quietly bubbling in his stomach there was no way he couldn't. Whilst he battled the urge to 'finish the job' there were small triggers he noticed that were signaling that the poison was still in his system. Hidden as it was, he could feel his tongue running along the back of his teeth, trying to conjure up the fading memory of his taste. His hands found his pockets, where he ran his thumb over his fingertips obsessively to try and replicate the warmth of his skin and each time he inhaled he could've sworn that he could smell Dorian.
As if he wasn't already deathly attractive, his self-sacrificing nature made him all the more desirable.
A sardonic chortle preceded Alucard's response. ]
I see. So you're trying to further appeal to me with your martyr-like nature.
What's next then, mage? You'll lead me to some nice secluded area where you show me the cut of your collarbone and tell me that my horrific nature is 'not my fault at all' and prostrate yourself in front of me to the point that I can no longer resist you?
[ He smiles, but by God is it a sad one.
He's almost angry at Dorian, angry at this wretched place, to show him the capacity for kindness when he is himself at his worst. A personalised hell indeed. ]
What choice do I have, lead on then.
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