video; Seelie locked

[depicted]

[Dorian Gray has been doing a great deal of growing up. When he addresses the locket, his expression is set firmly, and his famous youth is only in his features. This is war. And he does not wish for death. So he is short, to the point, avoiding all of the excesses of his normal speech patterns.]

I've produced protective stones as a product of my research in warding magic. [He holds up one: a simple stone, with runes carved in, small, lightweight, very portable.] I have made as many as I could as quickly as possible. It will guard the bearer from the first strikes set against them by taking the damage in their stead, but it can only bear so much—up to a broken bone, perhaps, or a deep but non-fatal cut. Still, it is one more chance of survival.

If any wish for one, you may come to me in the library of Caer Glaem, or I can deliver it to you anywhere in Seelie territory.

Comments

[depicted]

[Yay, jam! And the things jam goes on!

He looks up, confused, a split second from shoving jam (and the rest of it) into his mouth but Toby said a thing and it's rude to talk with food in your mouth.]

I don't understand you.

[Like most people tired enough to be nearly drunk, Dorian speaks with a certain finality of his declarations, as if this statement is very important and he needs to deliver it clearly.

Then he shoves his jam into his mouth.]

[monstrous]

I wish I could say the same about you...

[still in sullen brat mode, but not really. He goes to make himself something to eat out of Dorian's tray of goodies]

[depicted]

[Dorian eats and drinks a bit until he feels better. Then he smiles at Toby in an expression of a pure and radiant gratitude, of openhearted affection for one who has been kind to him. It is a smile that last centuries, but has appeared less and less as time made its invisible marks.]

Thank you. You're very kind.

[monstrous]

[Toby is pretty sure that may be the only time he has ever heard Dorian call him that sincerely. He feels sick. He looks down at his hands, undamaged. The only hint of any violence is dried up blood on his hands, traces of the bloody nose Dorian had kindly provided.

Toby brushes crumbs off his hand, his snack only half made and not eaten. He looks down at Dorian. He smiles the kind of smile reserved for strangers who hold the door and old ladies in the market] Yeah, well I better let you have at it. You still've got that order to fill for the troops. Just don't push yourself too much. [Toby grabs his half made snack at the last minute, a show of something he's not sure of, as he had no intention of eating it] Cheers. [and he's just going to peace out]

[depicted]

[And Dorian can only watch Toby go. He doesn't understand the sudden departure; he doesn't understand the look on Toby's face.]

Oh. Farewell, Mr Matthews. Be safe.

[monstrous]

[and Toby wanders the stacks for some time.

And then he appears back where Dorian is again. Sitting down without invitation. Intruding like a boss]

Show me how to do what you did, with the compassionate magic. I want to make those magical rocks, too.

[depicted]

[Oh. Well that was unexpected?? Why do you do what you do, strange vampire man.]

I can lend you my notes to look over. There is no way to know how to do it but to practice.

[monstrous]

Yeah, alright, thanks. Do you know how to apply it to things that aren't music? I can't really do much musically beyond the basics, but I can paint.

[depicted]

[He knows that painting can be magic too, but hearing it from Toby affects him. He looks at him, and he wonders at his portrait. At what might be done.]

Yes.

Magic can be done with painting as well.

[monstrous]

It's just... [he pauses, trying to articulate his thoughts] With music, it seemed pretty cut and dry. You go hmmm hmmm hmmm [and with his hands he mimics Dorian doing the piano movements] and then the rocks do it back to you. I don't get how that would work with painting.

[depicted]

Well . . . Painting is easier, in some ways. Making an image of a thing naturally sets up a sympathy. You might be able to paint a thing, and then decide the rules of the link between the thing and what you have painted.

[monstrous]

Seems easier and quicker the way you do it. You don't even need a piano.

[depicted]

Hold a moment . . . [He grabs one of his notes and hands it over to Toby. At the bottom of the leaf is a note on the name of a book on art magic, and another specifically on painting magic.] Pick that up. It should have something.

[monstrous]

[Toby looks at the note, eyes scrutinizing notes all those notes that just so happen to be on painting magic. He looks up at Dorian, words slow and careful in hopes of avoiding any confusions] It's here? [and he does not mean research books on painting magic.]

[depicted]

[Dorian meets his eyes, and he does not say anything for a long moment. Tobias Matthews will one day be his friend. Dorian cares for him in that. But Dorian has many friends here, and where he has been able to, he has hidden from them all the truth of who he is, of what he is. Four people know what he is; two know that the portrait is present. Dorian didn't tell even one of them those truths by choice.]

It should be on the library shelves somewhere. The librarian can point you to it if you have trouble finding it.

[And his eyes flicker down. He is too frightened to tell the truth of the picture of Dorian Gray.]

[monstrous]

All right. Cheers. [he is going to to go off to find those books, but before he goes] If anything else is here, keep it to yourself. People will use it against you. They always do. [and now off to find books about magical art]