agogelogs | [SEMI-OPEN] took a power trip

[Just don't go into details about your sexual exploits all over Paris, Dorian will just give you that look like you dribbled down the front of your shirt. Not that he's proper by any means, he spent plenty of time in homes of ill repute...or brothels, he just doesn't talk about it. Who talks about that sort of thing?

Still, it certainly does beat killing and raising suspicion any day.

Music that sounds foreign to the people of this city doesn't really sound terribly foreign to mage, sounding very much like something elven to his ear or from the eastern coast of Thedas. Not Ferelden or Orlesian, but the further into Dalish territory one got or the further north even, you might here something like that. In Orlais it was all waltzes and Ferelden was very folksie tavern stuff.

Not one to downplay his presence, even if he wanted to, he figured it wouldn't be long before Achilles noticed his presence and the attempt at usurping the position of the mage's foot with his own was met with a huff that sounded suspiciously like an aborted chuckle. Certainly a man of culture and taste enjoys footsie, but his response is somewhat more subtle. A brief nudge at his heel, propping his companion's foot squarely on top of his own more elegantly before releasing a bit of energy, barely perceivable to most people, but there was a brief, electric glow about him.

Electricity that would be felt by Achilles, first at the sole of his feet, then it would snake it's way between his toes, along the turn of his heel and ankle. The energy would stop just below the knee. It wasn't painful, or anywhere near it, a rippling, tingling sensation just to let the man know Dorian completely understood the art of footsie and flirting.]

Makes me a bit homesick really. [Dorian said casually, before laying his book down, taking a moment to observe Achilles before laying his eyes on the rolled up painting which he gestures toward after considering it for a moment.] Spoils of war, or a prize for your skilled playing?

[ That electricity comes as a surprise, but he doesn't show it. The sensation is too intense to be ticklish, though it is faint enough to be pleasant. He extends his foot as the electric pulse reaches into his curling toes, pointing his toe downward towards the bone of the other man's ankle and lifting the hem of his pant leg. The current ends just below his knee, ebbing away and letting muscle relax.

His smile is softer, more subdued, looking as though it were a secret as he eyes him.

Being forward can be rewarding sometimes. He's especially pleased by Dorian's receptiveness. ]

Neither, actually. [ He plucks at the strings of the lyre idly, looking over at the painting curled inside the tub at his waist. ] It's stolen goods.

[ And he strums, playing a simple yet traditional melody. He's glad that the music is somewhat familiar to Dorian. Nostalgia may invoke feelings of romance or longing, which he thinks he can redirect to himself if he plays his cards right. ]

Edited 2017-12-01 04:35 (UTC)

[There were other ways to measure reaction and though Achilles wasn't showing surprise on his face, Dorian knew he was pleased, at the very least. The way his toes curled in response to the electrical impulse and the smile on his lips? The mage could tell that much and he knew, of course, having been on the receiving in of magical pleasure he knew what felt good and what could be dangerous. A little ice on the fingertips, a bit of fire under the skin, mild electrical sensations were a very seductive tool, as pleasing as they could be dangerous.

Most people just saw the danger.

It was flirting, this sort of thing, and the Altus was quite the fan of flirting of any sort and he never failed to respond. A habit that was hard to kill and could sometimes be misleading.]

Stolen goods? [He wasn't surprised, more interest, and he kept his voice low and conversational, no need to draw any attention.] It must be good if that's the case, you hardly seem short on coin.

[Was he trying to use music to seduce the mage? Well it might work, Achilles is in his gravity, approaching Dorian to strum his lyre everyone else had to flock to Achilles's side for such a personal audience. He could get behind the privilege of it as for romance...well that is complicated can of worms.

Not really thinking too much of it, he reclined his head back, grinning while the other man played.] Where did you learn to play a lyre?

[ He taps a finger against the lid of the tube, humming thoughtfully but not quite revealing much other than a knowing smile. After all, the contents could easily give away his identity, if someone was interested enough to investigate. Though, Achilles has never been one to shy away from such attention or acknowledgement.

For now, he'll focus on the easy questions. ] Back home; my teacher taught me.

The lyre is one of the many things I learned, though. [ Plucking away again, he smiles to himself, recalling all that downtime he'd shared with Chiron. ] I also know a bit about medicine.

It's been a while, though. I've forgotten a lot. But my fingers remember better than my head.

My nannies insisted I play the lute, of course they also insisted I learn the dankest nethers of my family tree as far back as three ages or more. Bloodlines are serious business after all and they were strict in their teachings. [Dorian props his chin on the knuckles of his finger, and for a long moment he stares distantly somewhere else, his child was a mixture of privledge and oppression and the shadows of it dance across his face.

It's a momentary distraction, he's all pleasant smiles again without missing a beat.] Medicine is useful, I've always been piss-poor at spirit healing. It was of less interested to be than necromancy and time magic, though they don't let you out of the Circle unless you can manage to heal a flesh wound or two.

[Little flesh wounds, Dorian had the basics down, but he wasn't anywhere near specialized in the field.] Muscle memory, perhaps? Regardless your fingers remember well.

[Dorian taps his chin thoughtfully drawing his attention back to something Achilles mentioned a moment ago.] So who taught you these things?

[ This gives him some insight as to who Dorian is -- a boy borne of privilege and status, like him. Though, a man groomed to be great because his bloodline allows him the predisposition is much different than the Gods foreseeing the fate of a hero.

Still, he can appreciate the similarity in their experiences. After all, Achilles had grown up to be a hero, and he imagines Dorian was always meant to be a powerful mage.

He nudges his foot again. ]

My teacher? Giving you his name might give my own identity away. But he's taught many great heroes, including myself.

I loved him like he was another father. [ He'll stop playing, reaching out to drum his fingers against the carved wood of the table. ] When you were a child, had you wanted to be a mage?

[Dorian doesn't consider himself a hero, he's not completely certain what his life experiences and choices would make him. He knew that he was a pariah among his people for not adhering to any of their norms, he knew that he ran away from home after forced into house arrest by his own parents, he knew his father intended to make him acceptable with blood magic that could have done Maker knows what to him, he knew that he went to Ferelden to try and set many things right both with his mentor, his country, and the hole in the sky that threatened to destroy the world.

He wasn't sure what any of that made him, though the idea that most people in the south would sooner demonize him than idolize him might have said something. Not that it mattered, he wasn't there for glory, he was there to do the right thing. And to look dashing, which was less difficult.]

Do you struggle with identity? [Dorian chuckles softly giving Achilles's foot a return nudge, before rhythmically tapping his foot against the other man's] I ask because you're not the first I've met who has expressed some knowledge in medicine, a man named Chiron seemed so deeply fascinated by the subject that I had him read books on medicine to me just for the sound of his voice.

[Dorian recalled the memory fondly, though he was also interested and he needed Chiron's help. Dorian couldn't divine Greek language and he could barely understand any other language that wasn't Latin. He could grapple with words here and there because they looked Orlesian or Antivan, but he hated not being able to read any book he wanted to.] And, admittedly, I cannot read some of the languages here, but he can and that's important...well probably more important to me anyway.

[ Alright, now he's faltering completely. The moment he utters his teacher's name aloud, he's dropping that cool air (that one can usually find him carrying like a jock brandishing their football jacket) and leaning forward with a strange, uncharacteristic attentiveness. ]

Wait -- did you say Chiron? [ It's a weird coincidence that he would have brought up his teacher (who happens to be here) just as they started talking about teachers, but hey. Coincidences are just other examples of fate.

It does make sense that Chiron would quickly find a strong mage, though. Maybe he has plans to form a contract with him. ]

Ah? You know him? [There's Dorian, in true fashion, answering a question with a question, but that does make it easier to connect dots when they start talking about mutual acquaintances. Chiron mentioned that there were others from his world here, specifically a Saber and an Achilles, not that he was going to jump to any conclusions and just assume that this man was one or the other.

He wouldn't know them from Adam anyway. There was no Achilles in Thedas mythos, though his world had it's own heroes, not necessarily mythological ones either. Most recent of those heroes were the Hero of Ferelden and the Champion of Kirkwall, he wouldn't expect anyone but Morrigan to understand who these individuals were...especially since she traveled with the Hero of Ferelden.]

Pretty young man, long brown hair, green eyes, light on his feet?

[Dorian had such a memory for details and he was more curious now in his own expression, not as obvious as his companion, but he could tell this name meant something.]

[ Pretty young man...

Oh, boy. That gets a laugh out of him; the noise rises up through his throat in a bubbled start, before it crests and levels into a more fluid bout of laughter. Okay, so maybe this is an overreaction to such a statement, but this is his teacher they're talking about. He never thought of him in that light, so hearing someone call him pretty and young is jarring, as well as comedic. He's quite the opposite of young, having been quite old even when he'd trained under him as a child. As for pretty? Well, Achilles can't apply such a word to a man who used to throw punches at him with abandon, not barring any of his strength. Achilles had thought of him as cruel back then, but as an adult, he knew that he hadn't shown restraint for the sole purpose of pushing him to his potential, albeit at breakneck speed.

He's... certainly beautiful, but in the same way a lion is. Majestic, even.

And let's not get into the whole "light on his feet" remark. ]

He's with COST, isn't he? [ He catches his breath with a shake of his head. ] Of course I know him.

[ A fist at his mouth, he hides a bit of a grin. ] So you think he's pretty, huh?

You know everyone who is with COST. [It wasn't a question, just an observation, but to have that kind of reaction, which was more emotional than Dorian might expect of just a casual acquaintance. People normally laugh when it is someone that they know more intimately, as though Dorian's objective thoughts didn't apply quite right to the man and only this individual knew the truth of it, but this was what the mage knew of Chiron after their causal encounter.

All he gleaned at the moment was that Chiron was quite gentle and he shared an appreciation for books that Dorian could clearly relate to given his incredible nerd status.]

Certainly, but that only takes eyes, yes? [Dorian offered making a gesture with his hand.] I suppose other adjectives also apply. Handsome, fetching, attractive, startling...but pretty.

[ Oh wow, Dorian. It seems as though Achilles has some competition.

He leans back in his seat, reclining until the back of the chair inevitably stops him from doing so, being a tad too small for his height and build. He lifts a leg, crossing it over a thigh and balancing his lyre within the space between. ]

He's a Servant, too. Like me.

Though, instead of being of the rider class, he's from archer.

I'm surprised he gave you his true name. [ Crossing his arms now. ] That means he trusts you. Perhaps he's considering you as a potential candidate for a Master?

My glib tongue has earned me a great deal of credit, but not for blabbing secrets that are not mine to give. Maybe he's intuitive enough to know that I would keep his counsel, but he didn't appear threatened by me...I'm quite lovable after all. [And vain. Don't forget vain.] Or it might be that he knows I cannot attach his name to anything particularly relevant making me no threat at all.

[He didn't really understand the inherent danger in a name, honestly...well among nobility the who's who game could be dangerous, but it probably wasn't the same thing.]

I...don't think he made a mention of it, looking for a Master...I'm still not completely certain what that entails to be honest. [Masters and Servants have a different implication where he's from after all.] He seemed content to read to me the things he enjoys and the things I like but couldn't read because they were in Greek? I think it's the word. Or other languages.

[So they really didn't discuss it much. He mentioned the Holy Grail of course.] I told him that his name sounds like something out of the Imperium.

[ If there's anyone in COST who is the greatest judge of character, it has to be Chiron. He's actually even more interested in Dorian, now that he knows his teacher has taken notice of him. He wonders if he knows he's a mage, or if their mutual love of literature is what bonded them together.

Maybe both? But given that they're no longer contracted to the Holy Grail War, maybe his prioritizes have changed accordingly. ]

"The Imperium" -- is this a place where you come from?

Yes, the Tevinter Imperium, it's the oldest nation in Thedas and a mageocracy...well not officially. If asked everyone will say it's the magisterium that rules...that the magisterium just so happens to be made up entirely of mages is a convenient coincidence. [Dorian might have said this airily, but it's very clear that he's actually very bothered by the idea of a mageocracy, and he was. It was corrupt and oppressive in some ways, just like any form of government.] The Imperium has...its pros and cons.

[ He lets out a bit of a bullish snort. ] Some things seem to be universal, doesn't it?

What do you think of this magisterium?

Grasping ankle biters who think if they just use enough blood magic their problems will vanish? [That, and Blood Magic was the last resort of a weak mind, or so he'd been told his entire life.] And having been the problem nearly on the receiving end of a blood ritual I've developed quite a distaste for it.

[SEMI-OPEN] took a power trip

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