INTERMISSION Thingie-ma-jig (by Jin Satoshi that loveable cow)
Muhaha. I get to keep you all in suspense. See, Rei's last chapter gave me the biggest writer's block of them all. So, instead of hurting my head too much dwelling on what the Artist, Tom, Nemo and Dorian can do, I decided to make you all wait.
Welcome to the INTERMISSION- Uhm. Okay. I changed my mind. It's not really gonna be an INTERMISSION. It's just a … songfic inside a fanfic, sort of.
Awh, heck. You'll see.
WARNING: Sappiness awaits!
By Myself Lyrics © Roch Voisine
I didn't want to have to make you cry
I didn't want to say good-bye Couldn't bear to face the truthI was me and you were you
The soft flicker of firelight was all that illuminated the dim library, it's occupants separated into two groups. Three stood by the large doors that lead towards other rooms, whilst the other, in his pin-stripe suit and ruffles, stood by the fireplace, staring silently into it. Behind him, Dorian could hear young Tom Sawyer, Captain Nemo, and that completely abhorrent Ferdinand Pierre. Oh, how he loathed all three of them. But there they were, trying to work out where on earth their Rodney Skinner could be.
The name sent a pang through Dorian's long-dead heart.
"Listen, Mister… Ferdinand." Tom had his hands on the Frenchman's shoulders, shaking him a little. Ferdinand was smiling stupidly. "You're… an ex-villain. Who… decided to become good, and join us." He took a deep breath. "Now, Ferdinand… what… what on earth do you think you could bring to the League?" Tom waited for a few moments, Ferdinand not replying but still smiling. "Exactly. Ferdinand Pierre, you are an ex-villain because you don't. Have. Anything. Special about you."
The smile slowly faded on Ferdinand's face, replaced but a stumped stare. He slowly frowned, however, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Mister Sawyer, I'm afraid you don't know me well enough. And anyway, I don't have to be apart of your League. I can easily be a freelance hero, who happens to also be looking for Skinner."
Tom let out a loud sigh and threw his hands into the air, eyes rolling. Nemo remained enigmatic, breaking into the conversation before Tom had a chance to shoot the Artist.
"Does anybody know where he could have gotten to?"
All three slowly looked towards Dorian.
Dorian remained motionless, his fingers clasped about the top of his staff, steel blue optics somewhat dead to the world.
"Poor boy." Ferdinand whispered to the other two. "It's always depressing to lose the one you love."
Tom arched a brow, looking towards Ferdinand as if he was a fungus on the bottom of his foot. Nemo simply smiled.
I didn't want to have to let you down
I didn't want to hang around
Pretend that we would make it through
Cause you lost me and I lost youWhen Dorian had first met Rodney, the thief was raiding his library. He had stolen a few valuable things, including a very expensive Karma Sutra book. Dorian had only just returned from his … 'escapade', and, well, was feeling rather lonely. Why he had decided to pick on Skinner, he didn't know. Maybe it was because of the loss of M. Dorian had thought that M loved him. If he did, then why did he leave?
That's what Mina and Dracula did.
That's what Henry did.
That's what Basil did.
That's what… Skinner did.
Why do they all leave me? Am I that horrible? Am I hated that… much? Dorian had never wanted to lose Skinner the way he did. He hadn't even planned to kiss him. He hadn't planned for anything, really. He'd started to, but then… Skinner had always, always gotten in the way somehow.
Why did he feel that way? God damnit.
I'm by myself
My heart is shaking
Was I mistaken?
There, in the fog and the rain, Dorian had felt Skinner so close. He almost laughed when the other man caught a feel.
That was all in the past now.
He didn't want to go after Skinner. Skinner had left him in the first place.
I didn't want to have to start
And then I didn't want to face the end
I didn't want to hold the pain
I can't afford to feel again
"Get out." The snarl dripped from his lips so easily, the beautiful young immortal slowly looking over his shoulder towards the three, who now stared back, dumbfounded.
"But… you…" Ferdinand started.
"Listen here, Gray- It's your fault Skinner's gone, so you're gonna help us find him. Or, like I said before, you'll get a harpoon through your gut." Tom roared.
Dorian spun so sharply he almost knocked over a chair. Lifting his caned sword in the air, his eyes glaring darkly and… somewhat glazed over.
"Then shoot me!" He slowly opened his arms out wide, invitingly.
Nemo, Tom and Ferdinand froze. Sawyer hadn't expected Dorian to do this.
Slowly the immortal smirked.
"Cowards."
But this is where I'm in my lifeAnd I know somehow I'll get by
I didn't want to feel the cold
But babe I have to let you go
Insanity. Pure. Dark. Insanity.
That's all Dorian saw.
He didn't need Skinner.
He didn't need Mina.
Not M, not Basil, not Henry…
He didn't… need…
Skinner.
God.
Skinner.
That was when Tom first saw a hint of emotion in the Immortal's smirking features. For a fleeting second, Dorian let down his guard. Hurt, anguish, and worry, all flooded to the surface so briefly it needed Tom's sharp sight to see it.
He thought he would be repulsed at the thought of loving another man. He thought he would be repulsed that Dorian would love another man. But he wasn't.
"Gray…" Slowly he whispered, taking a step forward. Dorian's eyes narrowed sharply again, and he took a defensive step back.
"Gray. We wont force you." Nemo finally spoke up; his husky, wise voice breaking the tense atmosphere, more than Tom's whisper would ever have.
"But please, you're the only one with the contacts and the knowledge to save him. Wherever he is." Ferdinand finished.
I'm by myself
My heart is breaking Was I mistaken?It didn't take much else to persuade the immortal.
They left him to his own devices for a long while, and soon he reappeared, dressed to 'impress' as it were.
Dorian's silver orbs scanned Ferdinand, then Tom, then Nemo. He pinched his lips together, and nodded curtly. His hair, now, was tied back with a thin strip of leather, locks of dark tresses slipping from the binding to frame his immortal features. Ferdi grinned.
Dressed to impress, indeed.
Beside myselfOur love is fading
And I'm slowly breaking away
I didn't wanna have to make you cry
Tear. Everyone cry. Damnit, now!
Awh. See, Dorian DOES have feelings.
Or… maybe 'cause Skinner's just so irresistible.
Well, stay tuned. The next instalment will be coming right…
Right…
Right…
NOW.