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[ Hey gang, look who's alive and well and not crispy. Dorian's in his room, sitting up against his bed, looking at the camera. He...has very mixed feelings about all of this. Because he died, and they stayed dead and then got revived and none of this should work like that. So normally, he would be making some sort of grandiose "yes, I AM the Dorian Gray, I'm a sinnerrrrrr" blah blah blah kind of post.

But he died. And he really shouldn't have died. And he really shouldn't have died like that. And he shouldn't have come back to life, to proper life, so easily and with seemingly no repercussions. So have an oddly introspective Dorian, nodding at the camera ]

So, as you can see, I'm, um, alive. [ no shit. ] And I feel like I need to explain things.

[ Why did Lunatic target him for starters. Lunatic killed sinners, Lunatic killed Dorian, therefore Dorian was a sinner. Deduction at it's finest. And he KNOWS that he's just gonna have some Jojos up his ass about Dio (thanks buddy) and possibly some astute people have put together the fact that he is that Dorian Gray, and if not then he'll probably have to confess with regards to the sinners bit and this is way too much talking about the parts of himself that he doesn't want to talk about for Dorian's comfort level. ]

Ask away. If you've got a question about me or about what happened, I'll do my best to answer it. [ pause, and then ] Also, if you know someone who can get scorch marks out of carpets or wood, then please tell me their number. This is unsightly. [ and a reminder that guess what! You died! which Dorian doesn't really want. ]

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[ paaaaaause. ]

I don't know. Alright? I don't know. None of this should have happened.

I'm sorry. [He closes his eyes, for the moment appearing apologetic.] I'm simply...concerned.

[For various reasons.]

Forget I asked.

[Though he has other questions...but maybe now's not the time for those.]

No, Yuri, wait. You've got a right to be concerned. [ because let's be real, he totally has a right to be concerned, Dorian died. and here, he's realizing that maybe, right now, Yuri cares for him and he cares for Yuri and people who care about each other tell them things. ]

Yeah, there is something you can do for me. Can we just talk? For a bit? You're the one who knows the most about me, so you can see why I'm a little bit shaken up here.

Of course.

[You're the one who knows the most about me... That sticks in Yuri's mind like a sliver. It's both a reminder of the way he used Dorian to get what he wanted, and a reminder to be cautious going forward. If no one else knows as much...that means he's near the top of the list of suspects.

It means going out of his way—especially as he's out of town right now—but it would be strange if he didn't suggest it at this point, also.]

It might do you some good to spend the night away from that room. We could talk at my apartment? Unless...you have plans. [He's seen the way people have been talking. The way you've been talking. It's not that he's jealous...it's just that he doesn't know what to make of it.] In which case we can talk like this as long as you like or need. My time is yours.

I should probably be with Kate tonight. [ but the way he says that, it sounds like it's an inconvenience. like 'URGHHH I need to go be with Kate' not 'I am going to willingly hang out with my girlfriend.' He enjoys Kate and loves her company...but it's a bit different than him and Yuri.He can always spare some time for Yuri. ] Maybe tomorrow morning?

[Yuri doesn't know that he can trust the way that sounds. Dorian's got quite the silver tongue. But...tomorrow morning works better for him. Time to collect himself and his thoughts and his excuses, all the things he'll need to make this work.]

I understand. Very well.

[Like this, then. Until tomorrow.]

Do you wish to talk more about what happened, Dorian? Or perhaps something else less distressing? I am, of course, fine with whatever you choose.

Honestly, it'll probably end up being both. I died, after all. That's not something I'm going to forget easily.

[ especially when you're Dorian Gray and you're hella weird about dying as is. ]

I suspect that must be very...unusual for you. But here, due to the way the Porter works and ah...the nanites, I suppose, is it really so strange?

[He busies himself a moment looking off screen, hands rising to adjust the ribbon in his hair.]

Or perhaps it is strange, but not to be so unexpected.

It's not that. I mean...I died before. Back home. [ and based on his voice, he is oh so cagey about it. ] And I know for a fact that resurrection shouldn't be this easy. I had to have paid a price somewhere during this process in order to be back alive, exactly as I was...I just don't know what it was.

[That's not right. Even Yuri thinks that there shouldn't be another price to pay—dying is its own price. In fact, just because Dorian's revived, it doesn't mean he thinks the other man should die again for what he's done. He's...atoned. Providing he doesn't kill again. Anything more would be excessive.

This business about a price...]

What was the price to pay before? That might help determine if there really is such a thing to be concerned about now.

That doesn't matter, [ Dorian says abruptly. He didn't want Yuri to know about his price. About the three people that he had to kill in order to gain a voice, a body, his youth. About the fourth person he could potentially have killed to get a soul. About the fact that he was perfectly fine with killing three people and remaining soulless.

~~And also because canon hasn't told us that much more about it just yet~~ Yuri didn't need to know. And he didn't want Yuri to know. ]

Dying's easy—anyone can do it. It's living that you have to worry about.

[He doesn't buy that, but he's in no position to argue, either.]

You know, I have to agree. About dying, that is.

[He lowers his hands to his lap, expression more pensive than before.]

That doesn't mean you should have had to...

[In fact, if he'd known what he knows now, he might have reconsidered the way he has with Annie. If only for a short time. After all, Dorian hasn't killed here, and he was keeping Dio from feeding on others, potentially even taking their lives. That's worth something, isn't it? Speaking of...]

What exactly does living mean to you, Dorian?

That's an odd question. [ But one that's terribly appropriate. There's a pause, as he thinks, before he answers with, ]

It's changed over the years. [ going from living for pleasure, to living for himself, to that one brief time where he considered living (and dying) for other people, oh my GOD that was such a major mistake. ] I suppose back home, living meant not dying. It meant that I could go places, see people, do things. [ and do people. ] It meant being active.

It's an important question. Between life and death, the more difficult path to walk is surely life...so one should consider carefully what to do with that life.

[A lock of hair is tucked behind an ear.]

My reasons aren't pious, of course. I simply believe that a man's worth can be determined by his actions. [Worthless people do worthless things, and so on, and so on.] In short, living might not be so difficult if you find something worth living for.

Well I've got something to live for now. [ himself. And, plenty of other things that would make himself feel absolutely better. ]

About that. [...] There is another reason I wanted to know what life means to you, Dorian.

[This really isn't the time, it really isn't, but will there ever be a good time to ask? Yuri doesn't think so.]

The man who informed the imPort community about what happened to you—Dio, was it?

[Hmph. What a bother. He's not exactly sure what to ask regarding that. He just has questions, lots of them buzzing around like flies, all unanswered.]

I suppose, immortal as you are, it isn't of any consequence to you...but being someone's meal ticket, is that really the sort of thing you're satisfied with?

[Never mind the other thing Dorian is to Dio.]

There's more than just me being his meal ticket. We've come up with an arrangement that satisfies both of us.

[ they're straight banging, bro. ]

Besides, I don't mind. It reminds me a bit of home. [ .....don't ask. ]

[...wow, blunt.

And obviously Yuri doesn't appreciate it. Or is it the actual facts he finds more distasteful and upsetting? Either way, he looks displeased.]

Were you ever planning on telling me yourself?

Eventually? Yes. I don't want to keep things from you, Yuri. [ look at that carefully applied bit of flattery. ] I was going to tell you, but we only just recently made up, after all.

[That sounds a lot more like, 'I couldn't be bothered to tell you I was sleeping around with half the community.' But then, Yuri's naturally distrustful of others' motivations. ~~Makes you wonder why he bothers to ask some of the questions he does.~~]

Generally, that's the sort of thing you tell someone before you get involved with them. So that they are aware of the kind of...arrangement. They are agreeing to.

[He sighs.]

I suppose we can wait to discuss that more tomorrow, however. That is...if it isn't too much to ask.

It's not too much to ask at all. We're...really overdue a conversation like this to begin with. [ who's ready for awkward relationship talk, AW YEAH. ]

[Oh, Dorian, isn't that what he just said?]

I appreciate that.

[And for the sake of sounding like a caring whateveritisheistoDorian...]

You'll be safe until then, yes? And at least a little more careful going forward?

[ WRONG WORDS, BUDDY. ]

Wait, careful?! Unless you're saying that one of my close friends is Lunatic, which I highly doubt, why is this suddenly my fault? I didn't know that someone would tell.

[Flat stare.]

I am not blaming anyone, Dorian, there isn't any need to be defensive. I simply meant...if he was able to enter your home once, perhaps take measures to see to it that he is unable to do so again?

My apologies if that offends you, but I truly don't wish to see you hurt.

[ grumpy huff and a frown. ] I don't know how he entered. If I knew how he got in or out in the first place, that would make taking measures so much easier.

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