Scene: Caspian & Dorian - Don’t disappoint me Who: Caspian & Dorian What: Planning When: A day after this Where: The Cabana Status: Complete Rating: Low
Dorian was still a quiet one. He took orders, followed suit, and picked up work slots for those who needed a break or couldn’t make it. The tall skinny dark haired man had learned to French braid his hair. And now he wears it that way a lot. But evening was creeping over the island and the slot he was working had come to a close.
With sleeves still rolled up and apron-caused wrinkles to parts of his shirt and trousers, he walked along the pathway back to the hotel. Reaching the lobby, he slowed and took in a deep breath. Then he slowly let it out and raised his left wrist to take a look at his bracelet.
’Expecting a message, love?’
Caspian had gotten good at playing chameleon in the many years he’d spent working his way up to the top of the pyramid. Observation could give you a wealth of knowledge unbeknownst to the object in focus and while he usually put Dorian and Jude on that task, once in a while he found himself falling back into the habit of watching people. You never could be too careful. He’d also come to hate the bracelets less. They were a point of contention at times, he didn’t like to be reachable, but the device had grown on him a bit and came in handy in emergencies.
That evening he’d just been browsing. His shift at the cabana bar had been traded for another, more convenient one and there weren’t any major happenings at the music venue. Nate was having a night with his friends and that left the Devil to wander. His fortune was the opportunity to bump into Dorian.
Smiling at the sound of Caspian’s voice in his mind, Dorian turned to find the Devil there. He often felt that he had two devils - one on each shoulder. But Caspian was the one he looked to the most. He was always ready for what his dear friend had for him to do. The talk lanky man still had not pursued anything beyond a job and was on the lookout for any new arrivals who would be good to recruit.
“No. Just checking in case I missed one.” Dorian lowered his wrist and sighed. “How are you?”
Caspian slithered out of the shadows. He smiled at his oldest friend, sauntering up. “I don’t suppose you have but perhaps. I don’t always understand those silly things.” He tilted his head to the side slightly. “Have you uncovered any new developments?” Having a job wasn’t a necessity, and maybe Dorian was better as a foot soldier rather than stuck behind a counter. “Mm..quite well, thank you. I hope that you are as well.”
He tossed his head and began to move along out of reach of any guests. “They’ve lifted the travel restriction some,” he began, turning those blues upon Dorian. “Jude is out of commission, so he cannot travel, but I would like for you to accompany me and Nate for a visit back home. Would you come along?”
Getting back to New York for a day or so would help temper the mood and also help him regain control of things on that side.
Dorian shifted from one foot to the other as he watched Caspian come into the light and smile. “They are not the best, but they can be useful. Nothing new yet other than cautionary messages passed by mouth to avoid the area where Jude and Skylar fell.” Dorian liked to help Caspian with whatever projects he had, like back home. “Good. You’re welcome.” He suppressed the shrug that rested in his shoulders.
“They have?” Dorian blinked and stepped closer to Caspian. That was something that had missed his ears. His brown eyes met those blues. “Yes.” He nodded, his eyebrows templing a little with concern about Jude. The idea of actually going back to New York lit a fire in him. If he could make up for what he let fall apart after Caspian left, Dorian would take that opportunity.
“Useful has its purpose.” Even if it was temporary and those tended to be expendable. “I have my curiosities about that ravine. I want to know more about the animals that leapt out of the underbrush.” Those wild cats. “I’ve heard a rumor of a man who can turn into a lion…I wonder if he could be swayed to help us inquire upon this threat.” That was the backward way of saying he wanted the lion man on this with negotiation if it came to that or by force if not.
“Aye. We could leave as soon as our application is approved. Travel is limited. They’re monitoring us, but I feel like we could reset the clock a bit.” Wind things back.
“Do you have suspicions of who this lion man is?” Dorian asked, curious about it as he began thinking of all the men he had encountered so far on the island. He understood Caspian’s words. There were only one or two times when he did not.
“Is there anything you need from me with the application?” He asked as he met Caspian’s eyes. His right-hand man posture that he had almost left behind in NYC seeped back into his frame.
Caspian nodded. “I do. He’s not a rumor and yet I understand the value of discretion.” Reading minds was so handy. “Find the lion man and see if he can be persuaded to go on a small expedition. Everyone wants something. You’ll find him at the front desk, you can’t miss him.” There was no missing the tall guy with blue eyes. Caspian set a visual of Rex into Dorian’s mind so he would know who to look for.
“I want to know how the process works. How many days of travel we get, what the restrictions are…” his hand circled as if to say he wanted all of the details. “We may be bringing back more than we left with, as well.” It was a task that Dorian would excel at easily. “Let me know what you’ll find. I suspect it should be fairly easy.” And to get a taste of home? Worth the inquiry.
“Okay,” Dorian nodded as he listened and then breathed deeply as he took the details in and then saw the visual of Rex in his mind. “I think I have seen him. And I believe there is someone who works at Poseidon who may be infatuated with the lion man.” The usually silent man was often observant.
He would excel. Dorian looked forward to leaving the island even if it was only for a little while. An idea was already starting to form in his mind.
“Indeed.” Caspian dropped the bit about Fox being infatuated with their lion man into the forefront of Dorian’s mind. “I expect a full report.” He smiled a bit. Dorian was the right person, the only person for this task. “Go easy on the lad. He’s a friend. But the lion man? Use your best judgment.”
Whatever came of this, whatever played out would quell the curiosity and perhaps help Fox find some footing with Rex.
A grin deepened the dimples in Dorian’s face as he took in that detail, that bit of ammunition to use. “You will get one.” Then he lifted an eyebrow. “I will. I already have a plan forming.”
“Ofd you go then,” Caspian replied, smiling. “Don’t disappoint me.” With a wink of a blue eye, Caspian ducked aside and just about vanished. It was time for work to be done.