[OPEN]

[monstrous]

Characters: Tobias Matthews and YOU
Date: 21 April 2013 sometime after sunset.
Location: A cafe in the Fire Sector
Situation: Toby is just chillin' like a villain in a cafe, because that is a thing to do.
Warnings/Rating: None that I know of? Will edit if that changes.

[Toby is sitting at a table in a cafe, flipping through a well worn copy of Wordsworth's Poems, In Two Volumes. He's also sporting a mild sunburn, emphasis on mild considering how severe sunburns can be for him. Either way he's seeming pretty relaxed more or less and amicable and friendly enough when the server comes to take his order. So bother him at your leisure, or not, whatever floats your boat.]

Comments

[monstrous]

You do have a pretty little neck and a very pretty voice.

[depicted]

[He is way, way too easily flattered.] That I certainly do.

[And then Keeliai blew up because it couldn't handle all that ego.]

[Ugh but the drawing is not automatically fading out. It's just all smudged on his arm now.]

You really are wonderful at painting, though. If you didn't do things like this, I'd enjoy seeing more of your work.

[And he likes the expression Toby gets when he's painting. He always did, but he was a little occupied trying not to screw up very badly with it.]

[monstrous]

And I don't care what you say, I still like this [Toby gestures to Dorian's arm.] I'll have to see if they have something like henna here. Then one night when you're sleeping I'll get to properly finish without you having to ruin it.

[depicted]

[Indignant as a cat, Dorian yanks away.] You will not!

[Of course, his body will reject it, but it's principles at stake here!]

[monstrous]

Is that a challenge?

[depicted]

No! No, it isn't.

[monstrous]

All right, all right. I surrender. It is funny though, of all the versions of the book you could've gotten...

[depicted]

I don't see why I couldn't get my own copy of it.

[monstrous]

You've got your painting back and you've got a version of your book. Stop being so whiny. If it bothers you that much, why not just find a way to replace the cover or make a new one.

[depicted]

Shh! [Overly paranoid about the painting a little too late in life? Maybe, but Dorian still isn't going to take about it in public.] And I have every intention of replacing that godawful cover with something more suited. Nothing to be done about the typesetting, unfortunately.

[monstrous]

Right, sorry! [Toby does feel bad about the first part, but he can't help but smile at the second bit] You are such a snob.

[depicted]

It isn't being a snob to have a sense of aesthetics.

[monstrous]

Nothing to be done about the typesetting?

[depicted]

[Dorian gives Toby a sharp, irritated look.] Typesetting is important. It affects the whole experience of a book.

[monstrous]

Typesetting is important. It affects the whole experience of the book!

[Toby makes a face that is meant to be a terrible and exaggerated impersonation of Dorian. Toby is clearly operating on an extremely sophisticated and mature level today.]

[depicted]

[He will point this out.]

Sorry, are you counting your age in centuries or in months?

[monstrous]

I was counting it in font, actually. Sized and spaced appropriately, of course, as it does affect the whole experience.

[depicted]

I bet you don't know the first thing about typesetting.

[This speaks poorly of Toby's character, for the record.]

[monstrous]

Or maybe I know the first thing, and the second, and maybe even third through tenth.

[depicted]

Bet you that you don't.

[monstrous]

Friendly wager then?

[depicted]

Friendly wager.

[Dorian leans back in his seat. Prove him wrong, vampire. Just try it.]

[monstrous]

Terms? I personally would like to waive the usual carte blanche. Instead, I reserve the right to paint that book cover and hang it in your home in the place of my choosing, and you cannot take it down or conceal it for at least a month.

[depicted]

What? [Dorian actually jerks back in horror.] No!

[monstrous]

Why not? You can pick your terms, too.