VIII. Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you!

[epigrammatical]

[AUDIO, public. The morning after the event ends and Tu Vishan starts moving again.]

I am not alone, I gather, in detecting a change in the air here. It is rather like waking on the very first day of the Season, with all the possibility that lies ahead—or waking the morning after the last day, with the happy knowledge that one need not be at home to anyone that day. We have, I suppose, escaped the fate of Des Esseintes's tortoise.

---

[AUDIO, private to Dorian Gray.]

I have finished Mr Findley's novel, Dorian. A most marvellous book; quite gorgeous and affecting.

But I must ask you, dear boy—is what he writes about Oscar true?

[He's already guessed that it is. This is less a real question than the confirmation of a sense of creeping dread.]

Comments

[video]

[poeticverses]

That poor tortoise.

[Jehan recalls that book, loaned to him by either Henry or Dorian. That poor, poor tortoise.

And even if we don't OOCly know how team seven went Jehan would still, likely, comment on this if only because yay distractions]

[video]

[epigrammatical]

At times I fancy that the man must have forgotten that even living jewels must eat.

[video]

[poeticverses]

I believe he forgot that tortoises are not meant to become jewels.

[video]

[epigrammatical]

And yet one docks the ears and tail of a dog, or adorns a horse with finery. Is that so different from a horse?

[Does he believe what he says? As always, it's open to debate.]

[heartofgraces]

...Des Esseintes?

[Asbel has no idea what you're talking about but you sound smart!]

[epigrammatical]

[Ah, a new voice, and one who was undoubtedly not there for Lord Henry's original disquisition on the subject.]

He is the hero of a charming novel called Á Rebours—a man of noble birth who sequesters himself from society to pursue all possible aesthetic experience.

whoops yes audio

[heartofgraces]

Wouldn't that get lonely? If he'd cut himself out, he'd never get to discover anything about people that surprised him.

[Asbellogic.jpg. He's curious, but there's not a lot about this philosophy that makes much sense to him.]

audio, because buttons are hard

[kazilik]

[The speaker here is sounding very pleased with herself, almost as if she has been spending the morning flying about and lazing in the sun in her apartment. (Which she has, of course.) It is rather odd, though, that her voice does not sound entirely human, though her words belie that fact just as much.]

Oh, yes, it is lovely; I have just been out flying almost properly for the first time in weeks.

audio

[epigrammatical]

[What a curious voice. Henry can't quite put his finger on what sounds so peculiar about it.]

Flying, my dear [the faintest hesitation] lady?

audio -> video

[kazilik]

Yes, I have not been able to since the turtle fell ill. [She huffs a little at the screen -- and is that the sounds of talons clicking on buttons? It certainly seems like it, because a few moments later, there's the video clicking on and Iskierka is peering at the screen, looking quizzical. Once she is satisfied, she settles back and curls her tail, comfortable.]

It is quite nice to be able to fly again.

audio; encrypted 60%;

[aloadeddie]

While I'm as relieved as the next guy that we're not all about to die in a fiery turtleocalypse, I can't help but be a little concerned about the return of all these powers. [He wasn't really worried about the turtleocalypse thing, of course, but you know. Semantics.]

Can't say I relish being back in a position where saying the wrong thing means someone might turn me into a hamster.

audio; encrypted 60%;

[epigrammatical]

Perhaps, but there are those here who are more than capable of responding violently to poorly-chosen words with nothing more than fists. [Such as mad women from some godforsaken corner of the Empire.] After a certain point, I rather think that one threat is much like another.

audio; encrypted 60%;

[aloadeddie]

I'm not saying violence is entirely the purview of people with powers - just that I know how to deal with someone who tries to punch me or shoot me. Someone who could set me on fire with their mind, or turn me into a frog? Can't defend myself against that.

video;

[notdreaming]

It's nice, isn't it? Although I can't tell if it actually smells nicer or if it's just the effect of having all my energy back.

video;

[epigrammatical]

[Oh ho, who is this charming young lady?]

Have you too been afflicted? Ah, but I beg your pardon; I should not ask so personal a question when we have not been introduced. I am Lord Henry Wotton, at your service.

video;

[notdreaming]

I am Kara Zor-El. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. [ She has been well trained in manners, though she rarely uses them. ]

And to answer your question, yes. Normally under a yellow sun I don't need to eat or sleep, so this past few weeks has been very tiring.

audio; private

[depicted]

[And with that simple question, Dorian's mood loses its sense of flight.]

Ah. I forgot you didn't know. Yes, it very unfortunately is. In the historical details, that is; I have no idea if Oscar knew a second immortal. I wouldn't be completely surprised if he did.

audio; private

[epigrammatical]

[He doesn't really hear the part about whether or not Oscar knew any other immortals. He's disturbed enough at the idea that Oscar will be toppled so mercilessly.]

You know my feelings about the man, of course. But—

[A pained sigh.]

He does not deserve that.

[To say nothing of the implications of what Oscar's downfall might mean for Henry, something he's already been mulling over at some length, and with considerable dread.]

audio; private

[depicted]

[Dorian's tone becomes almost sharp.] Of course he didn't, he deserved so much better than any of us, but he's dead a century now. There's no point dwelling on it.

[It's a wound. Dorian loves Oscar. His suffering hurts Dorian. So like a child with his hands over his ears, he tries to forget it ever was. After all, Oscar doesn't suffer now.]

video;

[chiot]

Ain't nuffin' you just said made a licka sense.

video;

[epigrammatical]

It was nothing but trivialities, my dear Gavroche—merely an expression of pleasure at matters being set right again.

video;

[chiot]

Why ain'tcha just say that, then? "boy, m'real glad things are better."

voice;

[candystriped]

"That year the seasons seemed to have changed places; after a long succession of rain-storms and fogs, blazing skies, like sheets of white-hot metal, now hung over the earth from horizon to horizon."

[ Stocking pauses after quoting the opening line of the thirteenth chapter. ]

Reads almost like a prophecy if you're really drunk or happen to be stuck on a giant turtle.

voice;

[epigrammatical]

[Henry, it must be said, did not see that coming.]

Ah! You are familiar with the work of M. Huysmans? Wonderful.

Re: voice;

[candystriped]

Hmph. I told you I read a lot, didn't I?

[ But there's no real ire in her tone, she's too relieved to be back to her usual angel metabolism. In fact she's actually in what one might call a good mood, for an Anarchy sister. ]