victory_road | Fifty Shades of Lavender [Closed]

Fifty Shades of Lavender [Closed]

Who: Shiro and Dorian
Where: Lavender Town
When: Forward-tagged to February 14th
Summary: Dorian makes good on his promises
Rating: C for Cringe (and warnings for Dorian's salacious come-ons)
Log:

[If Shiro thought the radio silence on Dorian's part was an indication of his diminished intent, the pilot had another thing coming. While it was true that the mage had been avoiding contact with his intended for some time, it was certainly not for lack of interest. After their last conversation, and after plucking up his new swablu, Dorian had set out on his journey.]

[Shiro had mentioned being held back by commitments in Lavender, so Dorian would simply have to come to him.]

[It was not an easy trek, and by the end of it, he didn't feel particularly ready to meet his dashing new crush. Rather, he booked himself a room at the inn and settled himself into a shower that lasted longer than he cared to admit.]

[When he finally clambered out, finally dressed and prepped for the occasion, it was getting on in the day. He sauntered back to the Pokemon center, Viridis slithering along beside him. The Nurse on duty was his nearest target, and he all but coiled himself atop the counter as he spoke to her.]

Tell me, darling, have you seen a man name Shiro about. Dashing fellow, albeit with a bit of a... constipated look, I suppose might be appropriate.

[He batted his eyelashes and waited, either for her answer, a disgusted rejection, or perhaps something else entirely.]

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[Kuro huffs, stamping his front feet a few times, before his trainer's hand on his head puts a stop to that. Just with a touch. No points for guessing who the best-trained member of the team is.]

He'll be fine. They said he was more startled than hurt.

[He follows along, dropping into the seat beside him and pushing a hand through his hair. Dislodging a few leaves.]

Sorry you walked in on our training session. They're usually more successful than that.

That is good then. Not that he was startled, of course, only that he will be alright. [He breathed a sigh of relief, one that was only partially for show. Even if he wasn't attached to the Pokemon itself, he didn't want to see Shiro distressed by anything else. It was clear enough that there was already plenty on his shoulders.]

I can hardly complain about the state you are in. Bias aside, I am the one who startled you. And there are worse things I could have come across. [He lifted his hand, plucking out a lingering leaf. He clutched it between a thumb and forefinger for a moment, showing it to Shiro with something of a grin before letting it flutter to the ground.]

Have you been well of late? I apologize for the so-called radio silence. I very much wanted to take you by surprise. As I said -- the results are my fault.

Yeah... little guy's had it pretty rough.

[What with people vanishing and all. But he doesn't mention that. It seems like when he does, the conversation spirals south. Rapidly. And he'd sort of like to quit doing that.]

[He's about to ask for clarification, but then there's a hand brushing a little of his hair. Pulling out a leaf. He feels his cheeks heat up, and then he's busily scrubbing both hands through it. To shake the rest out.]

I guess so. Could have always come in when Haunter's putting me to sleep.

It's fine, I get it now. [He smiles back, in understanding.] I still can't believe you came all the way out here.

I can imagine. [It wasn't the first Cubone he had met, after all. The concept of an entire race of Pokemon suffering from the loss of its parents still bothered him. He couldn't imagine that on top of being roughed up by a group of Pokemon.]

[A rough time indeed.]

[Dorian noted the fluster on Shiro's part with a smile. The 'gear hadn't done the man nearly enough justice, it seemed. Surprising, considering how stricken the mage had already been.]

[This would certainly prove to be an interesting venture.]

I told you I wanted to see you, did I not? It seemed impolite to demand you to do all of the footwork, when I was just as capable and not nearly as busy.

[They're really depressing when you think too hard about them. And really, really unfair to have saddled Allura with one. But it's his responsibility now. And the little guy seems to have taken to Kuro pretty well.]

[Maybe he'll get better.]

Right, I remember. You wanted to hear about space, yeah? [He laughs a little, and it's almost self-depreciating, in a way.] Sorry I can't offer some kind of fancy dinner for the trip.

We're sort of living off trail mix these days.

[Because guess who would literally set fire to anything he tried to cook.]

Still, though. Thank you, for coming out here.

[He gave a wary look to the beast at their feet, before glancing up at Shiro. His smile widened as Dorian attempted to crank up the smolder. Perhaps he'd been miserable at it over the network, but in person he surely couldn't be turned down.]

Really, I am content so long as I am in your company, listening to your voice.

[Or he would have been, had the man not mentioned his devastating lack of food. It very nearly got Dorian on his feet, ready to sweep him outside and out to the nearest restaurant. The healing cubone was the only thing keeping him anchored at present. It wouldn't make a good impression, suggesting he leave a member of his team behind.]

We'll have to change that, you know. I suggest you think of your favorite establishment around here. We will have two of all your favorites, and you will tell me exactly why you like them. That sounds syrupy enough for this day, does it not?

[He really, really can't help the little laugh when Dorian says that. He thinks it's a joke. It has to be, doesn't it?]

Most people tune me out after a while.

[Because most people are his teammates and most times he's lecturing. Or giving orders.]

[But then Dorian goes on. There's an inkling in the back of his head. Like something is going on here. Something he should be aware of. But he can't quite wrap his brain around it.]

What about you? I mean -- I don't have great taste or... anything.

"Most people" are foolish, then. Your voice is lovely, and you say such fascinating things. [Laying it on thick? Maybe. But then, that was what this apparent holiday was all about, yes?]

[Granted, Dorian likely might have had the same reaction, in his team's shoes. He wasn't the order type. Or at least not the listen to orders and bite back any sort of sarcastic commentary. It was why he had gotten on so well with the Inquisition -- it was hard to be mad at him when Sera, Varric and the Bull were making similar comments.]

Because this is not about me. I am here to treat you. I even worked a few days at a market to do so. [A true horror, that had been. Never again would he attempt something so grotesque as "customer service." He preferred when people were servicing him.]

[... In more ways than one, no less.]

I... thank... you.

[That feeling in the back of his head is suddenly, weirdly, stronger. Because that? That makes color brighten along his cheekbones. Just along the tips of his scar.]

You... don't have to do that. I can pay you back, I mean. I think. [Why does he suddenly feel like a kid on his first date?]

[... is this a date?]

[For a second, he almost falls into that line of thinking. But of course not. It wouldn't be. Why would it be? They'd talked about meeting each other for a while, so. Of course that's what this is, instead.] Thank you, though. And I mean that.

[Such was a sight that, were he the type, it might have made Dorian's heart lurch. As it was, it did bring a smile to his lips, one far softer than all the smirks and grins he had been offering his companion. Once again, the mage found himself taken aback by just how much better Shiro seemed to be in the flesh.]

[And Dorian had already been stricken.]

If you mention paying me back one more time, I'm afraid there will have to be some sort of punishment. [He leaned back in his seat, arms crossing over his chest. He managed a stern look for all of five seconds, before deciding he likely looked too much like his father. Not the sort of look a man wore when attempting to win over a male lover, he thought.]

Your gratitude, however, is appreciated. I recommend sticking with that. It sounds far nicer when you say it.

All right, all right. I give up.

[But it's said with good humor, at least. There's still color across his cheekbones. God, but it's been a while since he just sat here with someone and talked like this. When it wasn't about the fate of the universe. Or an evil empire.]

[It almost feels like being back on earth. Back at the Garrison.]

I'll have to say it again if you're really going to spring for dinner. [He shakes his head, but looks up, when his name is called.] Hang on. Looks like he's ready.

[He'll just go and collect that pokeball. Brb buddy.]

[Perhaps Dorian was almost too eager to see him go. If asked, he'd attribute it to an ending of their argument, a chance to move on to more pleasant things. It'd be easy enough to chance topics once he came back, Dorian could ask about the health of the cubone -- clearly a priority in the face of everything else.]

[But no. The truth of the matter was that he wanted to watch the man go. A pair of light eyes set upon the man's backside, which he watched up until the pokeball was set into his hands. Then his eyes came back, first sweeping over the Lairon and then settling on Viridis. Naturally, the serpent looked disgusted with him.]

[He grinned deviously back at the Pokemon. Everything was certainly going better than expected.]

[Shiro might not notice, but Kuro the Lairon does. Narrowing his eyes with an irritated little huff. Come on, man, it's not like he used Attract on you, here. But once his trainer comes back around, Kuro hunkers down. Feet tucked up under him like a cat.]

He's good to go. Are you?

[Here he is, totally unaware anything went awry.]

[The huff draws a small chuckle from Dorian, and as Shiro turned back, the mage turned to the creature. He winked at the thing, turning his charm up to eleven. It was a shame he wasn't as easily won over as Commander Floppington had been.]

[But those were thoughts for another time. He stood on Shiro's approach and nodded. He thought about sticking his arm out, offering as a man might to his woman, but thought better of it. He'd seen the fire in Shiro's cheeks before -- physical contact might well make him combust.]

[Another thing to come later.]

I was, as they say, born ready. Lead the way?

[Honestly, a physical cue might actually clue him in a little more. But as it stands now, he thinks it's just a friendly meeting. A very friendly meeting, but still. Kuro is clearly aware of what's going on. Just not a big fan.]

[Nevertheless, he heaves himself to his feet to follow his trainer.]

Born ready? I'll keep that in mind. [He actually laughs a bit, nodding toward the doors.] It's this way.

Unless you had something else in mind before we go?

[It isn't like Dorian to keep his hands to himself. With time, and perhaps a little more distance from the Lairon, and he might make a move. For now though, his arms remained behind his back, and each step he took furthering his saunter. His showy sort of stride paused only long enough for him to rush ahead, holding the door open like a proper gentleman.]

The only thing on my mind is you. [He spoke this as Shiro passed, grin on his lips once more. He made sure to keep the door open for the Lairon, and eventually Viridis, who looked none too happy to be moving again.]

[Truly, it was a wonder he hadn't attempted to start a shit-talking dialogue with Kuro. Perhaps it was only because the only thing he hated more than Dorian was anything other than Dorian.]

[Again, he was proud of the creature more than anything.]

[Kuro is just protective. Like Haunter, except Haunter has a lot more ... personable traits than a big steel dinosaur. Haunter would probably get along with Dorian immediately. But the big guy does pause to nudge Viridis ahead of him. Look, see, he can be a gentleman too.]

Hey, I thought you wanted to know about space.

[But he's still smiling. Amused with all of this. He'll pause a few paces out, waiting for everyone to catch up.]

Or did you want to save that for food?

[Being protective isn't a concept he's all that familiar with. Being the solitary lifestyle type, and considering how things ended with those who would have protected him wound up being right arseholes... it was a difficult idea to wrap his head around. Even the idea of Pokemon being protective creatures was odd to him. Viridis never seemed like he wanted much to do with Dorian. He wasn't convinced that he might get pushed off of the nearest cliff, should he give the Serperior a chance.]

[Speaking of The Green, the snake merely gave the Lairon a look, before slithering on ahead. At the very least, the creature managed to withhold its eye roll until after its gaze was out of the metal creature's sight.]

[At least it had some manners.]

[Once everyone was in order and out of the blighted door, Dorian strutted forward, again losing some of his elegance with the speed of his walk. Upon reaching Shiro's side, his arm slid out hand briefly brushing over the small of the other man's back as he urged him onward.]

Space is vast, is it not? I'm sure the conversation could keep us satisfied for a long time. Don't you?

It's not just vast. It's... literally endless. There's more out there than we could ever know...

[Whoops, he's already off and talking. Pausing only long enough to be sure Kuro is back at his heels before he keeps on walking. And talking.]

[It's still a subject close to his heart. Even after it turned out to be a lot more dark and dangerous than any of them ever expected it to be. It also ended up being more amazing. Like the Balmera. Like the Lions. Like--]

[That's a hand on his back.]

[He has to admit it surprises him. A little prickle of electricity down his spine, before he picks up his pace a bit, thinking he was going too slow.]

We thought for the longest time we were the only advanced life forms, right? Turns out, we couldn't be more wrong.

[Dorian thought he might have been more annoyed at Shiro speeding off. Certainly he was disappointed, having enjoyed the warmth against his fingers, but annoyance was the furthest thing from his mind. He wasn't sure if it was the subject at hand or simply the sound of his companion's voice, but either way, he was enamored.]

[Certainly he wanted to reach back out, to try again. But if Shiro preferred to not touch, then that would be fine by him. This whole blighted attempt at courting had been about taking it slow. By now the mage was simply used to it.]

It doesn't surprise me, that you were wrong in making that assumption. [Knowing nothing compared to Shiro had shaken his perspective. Dorian had once been arrogant enough to think of himself as one of the smarter people in existence. Certainly not the smartest, but as one of the men responsible for the application of time based magic (however badly it had ended), he was up there. Arriving in Johto, and later, his conversations with Shiro, had proven that existence was a vast sort of thing. If he wasn't the smartest, then surely Shiro wasn't either.]

[It had to be infinite.]

No matter, though. What did you find that shook that perception?

[Don't worry, Dorian, he'll slow down soon enough. He's not running away. Just trying to pick up the pace for his companion's sake. He definitely slows when his Lairon nips lightly at his metal fingers. Shooting a glance at the mage trundling along with them.]

[See look. Kuro is warming up.]

Sorry, bud. [And then, to Dorian.] It shouldn't have surprised us, either, thinking back on it.

[Though his expression does fall a little flat once the question comes up. One of these days, he's got to steer them to better topics. Anything, really, that doesn't come back to deep space horror. So... he schools it, abruptly. Changes the topic from the Galra ship blotting out the stars to...]

Our Princess. [He can smile when he says it, now.] Well. The Princess, I guess. But we're technically under her command.

And she made it very clear she's the furthest thing from human you can get.

[An interesting sort of tightness stirred within Dorian's chest. The immediate presence of a woman didn't mean anything, or at least that was what he tried to tell himself. And yet, despite Shiro's words, despite the assurance, he felt tense. He forced a smile to his lips, one that came far too easily. This had happened more times than he cared to admit.]

A princess for the prince. How fitting. [Spoken with all the usual amount of charm. In fact, if not for the way Dorian quickly looked away again, one might not have even been able to tell he was bothered at all.]

You will have to explain to me how not being human correlates to being advanced, of course. [Finally his gaze came back, all sorrow or doubt gone once more. It didn't mean anything, he repeated to himself. Not until Shiro said as much.] Where I come from, there are elves and dwarves even the Qunari I told you about. Each of them have their own talents, but none of them are more advanced than the other.

[He laughs, at that. Shaking his head in disbelief. What kind of joke is that? It's funny, at least. But then again, Shiro's sense of humor is pretty crap to begin with.]

She'd be the last person to call me a prince. Second-last. I'd be the last.

[Because she's still important to him. She's their guide. A friend. Someone he owes a very great deal to right now. And who he might never be able to make it up to.] We would just be lost in space without her. And she'd be asleep without us.

She's part of our team. [And then a shrug, thoughtfully.] I think it's advanced -- her people can just change themselves. Size, skin tone... that kind of thing. It's amazing.

Plus, you know. Technologically speaking, they're miles ahead of humans.

... Wait. Elves? Really?

[Well that was reassuring, at least. There wasn't anything immediately poignant about the way Shiro spoke of his princess, which meant Dorian could relax, at least for the time being. He wasn't out of the game yet, at the very least.]

[Still, she and her people hardly sounded advanced to Dorian. Not in a time where magic and potions could easily change such features. It was interesting, absolutely, but nothing out of the norm for the mage.]

[But technology -- that was what he was getting at.]

What can they do compared to, say, a place like this? [Because Johto and Kanto combined both were a wonder to Dorian. Did that mean there was even more potential for development out there? He hoped as much.]

[At Shiro's question, Dorian simply shrugged.]

And dwarves, yes, that is what I said.

[Allura is a friend. A very important one. He just hopes he'll be able to tell her that to her face someday. Not knowing if she knew what it meant to him, her sacrifice... His hand curls around the ball holding her pokemon. Idly. At least he could do this for her.]

[Though he has to think for a minute. Not of examples, but of how best to explain things, slowing his steps in the process.]

They've mastered some kind of technology that lets them control these things called 'wormholes'. They're... basically portals in space and time. Once you jump through one of the ones the Ship's made, you can go basically anywhere in the universe. Immediately.

[Not to mention their life support and medical tech. Or Voltron itself. Or how it seemed like magic just permeated everything Allura did. Though whether or not that was just her family in particular, he has no idea.]

So... elves are... real? For you? And dwarves?

[Does Dorian live in Disneyland.]

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