video;

[brushoff]

[ Dorian's sitting down on a small, jet black armchair, tucked in the corner of an all too busy bedroom. There's a bookshelf stacked to the brim with books to the left and a medium sized oil painting hanging on the wall, a Romantic seascape with more emphasis on the clouds than the water, clouds painted in dark, stormy, gray brushstrokes. Dorian gives the camera a small nod, then starts to read from a book, in an even, measured tone, perfect for audiobooks. ]

"It was the strangest book that he had ever read. It seemed to him that in exquisite raiment, and to the delicate sound of flutes, the sins of the world were passing in dumb show before him. Things that he had dimly dreamed of were suddenly made real to him. Things of which he had never dreamed were gradually revealed." [ There's a pause, while Dorian flips the pages and continues reading. ]

"'I am so sorry, Harry,' he cried, 'but really it is entirely your fault. That book you sent me so fascinated me that I forgot how the time was going.' 'Yes, I thought you would like it,' replied his host, rising from his chair. 'I didn't say I liked it, Harry. I said it fascinated me. There is a great difference.'"

[ Dorian closes the book, as he looks to the camera. There's a hint of a melancholy tone in his voice as he continues—somebody's obviously been lost in memory. ] Words written by Oscar Wilde—today's his birthday, by the way. Wear a carnation and take some absinthe in his honor. But the words of the post aren't what I want you to think about: the content is.

Let's talk about books, network. What's your favorite book? Or perhaps your favorite author? And, if those are questions you simply can't answer, what's your favorite genre? And finally, has there ever been a book that so captivated you the way the one Oscar wrote about captivated me?

Comments

[deadtective]

Oh man, no fucking way. Demons have an eyeball quota they're not allowed to go over.

[brushoff]

She had so many eyeballs, [ he can't help but mutter. ]

[deadtective]

Tell me about it, I popped one open once.

[brushoff]

She probably deserved it.

[deadtective]

She fucking deserved way more than that.

[brushoff]

Ah. Let me guess, bad blood between the two of you?

[ soooo much bad blood it seems ]

[deadtective]

Not really, I only met her once.

[it's c o m p l i c a t e d]

[brushoff]

It must have been an absolutely horrible first impression.

[deadtective]

Nah, just a clear one. But I meant it doesn't really fucking matter either way now, right? She fucked off.

[brushoff]

Of course it matters: she might get Ported back. And then, I'll know precisely who to bitch with when her 'I'm a creepy abomination who can't pass for human' schtick runs thin.

[deadtective]

That's a bad pick, dude, I charge for bitching sessions.

[brushoff]

Then it's a good thing for you that I'm filthy rich.

[deadtective]

Not for long now that you tipped me off to jack up my prices.

[brushoff]

I'm afraid if that's the case, I'll just be a one-time customer.

[deadtective]

One's all I need.

[brushoff]

You're going to jack up prices that much?

[deadtective]

Gotta maximize efficiency, man.

[brushoff]

Dunno. I might be wonderful enough to be a repeat customer.

[deadtective]

If you've recently had your frontal lobe removed, maybe.

[brushoff]

Thankfully, no. I don't know how I'd respond if my brain was missing and I certainly don't want to try.

[deadtective]

I dunno, it doesn't really seem to hurt most of our fellow imPorts too much.

[brushoff]

Ooooh touche! [ Dorian can't help but remark, with a little laugh. ] And I'd argue that for some jobs, having your frontal lobe removed is simply part of the application process!

[deadtective]

Might make you overqualified, actually.

[brushoff]

Ahhh damn. And here I was hoping I just squeaked by.

[deadtective]

You'd have to do some A+ bullshitting to duck in just under, man.