A Compulsion

INT - Windgrace Manor, evening

Dorian is fresh from taking Irene out on a foggy ride, like most recent rides given the pervasive foreboding cloud settled on the isle. There was other recent business done this morn, such as bringing Drystan fresh flowers and a bag of goodies from the patisserie, in case he woke up. There was informing his sleeping? brother about the status of the family operations, yet stalled due to the preternatural inclemency. There was the need to pick up a few palmsful of dirt to pocket, to try to find a way to eat. This even though none of the methods had worked so far, Dorian was still trying. Whistling like he hadn't a care in the world, rather than two wounded siblings and a hit to revenue, he'd stroll in, kicking the door shut behind him and make for the kitchen, ears perked for if anyone was in there.

He'd left his recent bad eating habit's remnants in trouser pockets, in bowls, in spit out pebbles on the manor floor, even, but he thought he was being rather careful.

Lance Song is in fact present in the kitchen, though as he hears the door open he becomes deathly still. Waiting for whoever it is to make themselves known, much as a serpent waiting among the grasses for an oblivious rodent to stray just too close to it, to stray just within range of its fangs. As soon as the man comes within eyesight, as soon as he makes eye contact with those shimmering blues, Lance would smile and beckon Dorian closer. It's a rather disingenuous smile, more threatening than kind. The kind of smile that's more encouraging you to disobey, to turn heel and flee with all haste, just so that the bearer can have the joy of chasing you down and crushing your hopes of escape. "Ah, Mr. Dorian. What a pleasure to see you."

Dorian was surprised and maybe a little disappointed to see there was company in the kitchen, but he played it off, since he was looking to desecrate another pudding. Ambling nearer to Lance for reasons he did not fully grasp, Dorian replied more genuinely, "Mr. Lance, the pleasure is mutual of course." He was pretty sure there was no way anyone knew about his nefarious eating habits of late.

He came to a stop a good armslength and a half away from the other gentleman, and a faltering half smile whose like usually could disarm in conjunction with other charms.

Lance Song smiles, and takes a step forwards, reaching out as Dorian strays just without arm's reach. Now that Dorian is within his grasp, his fangs metaphorically sink into the rat's flesh. A gloved hand reaches onto Dorian's shoulder, reminiscent of a certain cheetah setting paw to an Antelope's. "Mr. Dorian," he begins, "I've been wanting to chat with you about a certain something. After all, as you are aware I have been tasked with overseeing the Estate's affairs yes? Moreover that in due course I have a vested interest in the wellbeing of your family's health - a task which of course includes you as one of my /highest/ priorities? Of course, not merely limited to that, I as well have been tasked with oversight of the general staff, which includes cleaning, and meal planning of course?"

Dorian had no idea where it was going, this line of rhetorical? questions, but he followed the trail that was laid out answering with a couple of golden headed nods before words, and he intoned with a mystified drop off in reply, "Yes sir, I am aware of those facts, and moreover am grateful for your diligence, truly... ..." Though he was the dim one in the family, even he could tell this was headed somewhere but for all the world he had no idea.

Lance Song smiles here, and this is where his hand on Dorian's shoulder comes into play, turning from a gentle hand of friendly comfort to a firm grip on the man's shoulder which refuses to allow for escape. It is far from painful at the moment, but of course shouldst Dorian attempt to flee, that might change. "So," Lance continues, "What is this I hear of you preferring to consume /the literal dirt off the ground/ instead of my carefully curated meals? Moreover, that you have soiled your clothes with it, dirtied the hardwood and rugs, left tributes to your diet within the very bowls that we serve you your dinner within?" At this, the threatening aura of Lance's smile comes to full fruition, as he maintains it even despite the words he now hurls at Dorian, "Surely this is not intended to be a slight against us, Mr. Dorian?"

Dorian wasn't the touchy-feeliest guy in the world, but the hand on his shoulder carried gravitas into the conversation before the proverbial shoe dropped. Once it had, so too would Dorian's jaw, leaving his mouth ajar for a few protracted moments while guilt colored his expression from wide eyes surprise into knit brows and a tension around the edges of the lips in a line where that smile had just been. Too oblivious perhaps, or too trusting he did not feel danger so much as the fact that he was in trouble which led to him scruffling the back of his curly head with one hand before he'd answer. "Ahhhhhhhh.... about that.... you .... you know about that?"

He was sure he'd been so careful, but having never spent a day in his life on land cleaning up after himself he forgot perhaps that dirt and messes didn't usually just disappear. Someone did away with them.

Lance Song: "Oh yes," Lance replies, clearly waiting for an answer, an explanation, a solution from Dorian, "Mr. Dorian, I am afraid you might not grasp just how much we the staff know about you. We know your sleeping habits. We know where you go during the day, and what time you'll be back. We know your favored snacks. We know even how to disguise Liver in order to get you to eat it when it's on the menu."

Dinah was not the sort to like being cooped up. She didn't like being babied and coddled by the housemaids but at the same time, she was....incapable right now. Sweet little Hoshi, her maid, had been doing her best, of course, but Di was restless. The balcony and all her books were useless when her crab was recharging, and so now she wandered tentatively around, one hand up to feel her way to the door, quiet and pale as a victorian ghost.

She didn't disguise the blindness in her eyes, but she did look somewhat more drawn. Partially because she wasn't wearing any of her makeup, partially the sickly look in her sightless eyes. She bumped against the bannister with her palm, following it down with hesitant steps to head towards the rest of the house, nightdress be damned.

Dorian looked into the bright blue of Lance's eyes and showed with a few short nods of understanding that he'd gleaned something serious from the foregoing remarks. Quietly as a chastened child, he'd murmur, "I meant you no disrepect Mr. Lance. I-- I have nothing to say for myself other than... I know it is not right. We have, all of us been under some strain of late..." As if that explained eating dirt, smuggling it into the house.

"...and I ruined a perfectly good rice pudding a few days past. I... I do not suppose you know a solution to this problem. What I should do to quell the drive?" Rather than getting defensive, since he was found out he fessed up, asked for help, embarrassment was already reigning on his face in shades of deepening pink on his cheeks.

Lance Song sighs heavily, raising a hand to rub at his face, "What is driving you to eschew proper food, food prepared specifically for you, in order to consume filth? Mr. Dorian, unless I am mistaken, we have taken every pain to ensure you a comfortable life. Especially in terms where your diet is concerned. You hardly have to show up at the dinner table even if you are feeling particularly shy, and should you feel peckish, we at the kitchen would be more than happy to prepare something simple so as to sate your desires."

Dinah had made it most of the way down the stairs, but the last few steps, she slipped and gripped tighter to the rail with a stream of curses in a language not meant for human comprehension. She stuck close to the wall, trailing around it until she found the giant musical box. The handle was easy enough to find, and she gave it a few turns, leaning her weight against the wall as she listened to the quiet, sad music it played with a frown. Voices, though? she tilted her head, listening to what she could catch over the song of the carved musician.

Dorian spoke in somewhat hushed tones, but for him and his twin--well surely she'd pick up the crests and valleys of his urbane gravel, "No, no I must not have made myself clear, sir. I know that I have wholesome food available to me, but it is.... like unto a.... a... compulsion. I thought eating some would get the thought out of mind, but it is a week gone now and I...." He stopped short of admitting he had loam in his pockets at present, but once he'd said as much his silver eyes would be asking if there was a way to fix it again, other than asking for the sort of excellent provender he was provided at home.

He could feel, more sense his twin's approach, passively having heard her start up the music and maybe even her cursing. And ordinarily he'd be going to her but perhaps he could get his dirty diet sorted first.

Lance Song raises a brow. "A compulsion?" he asks, "Is it magical in nature, or purely psychological?" There is a pause, and then, "Is there anything else you can tell me about this condition?"

The man pauses, looking up to the ceiling as he hears those curses. Though, by now, he has grown to expect strange sounds from this house, and were Dinah to wish his assistance she would surely call for it.

Dinah kept her hand out towards the wall, trailing her way towards the kitchen. Small surprise, she could hear her twin in there of all places. Perhaps it was best at least that she didn't hear the nature of the conversation just yet. She maintained her wall-hugging trip, nearly knocking over the bunny plate until she came to the threshold to the kitchen. Venturing into the kitchen by touch alone was a risky task she didn't much care to attempt, not wanting to put her hand in anything sharp, burning or otherwise accidentally smear something.

"Dorian?" her spoken voice was still a little hoarse and whispery. "Mr. Song and lovely Baihe" she gestured her free hand "Would someone be so kind as to tell me how many steps backwards I need to take to find a chair? I don't want to trip near the fireplace. Please."

Dorian shrugged to Lance's question because he did not know the answer. And to keep from speaking about it any further he'd put on a cheerful tone and turn to his sister to look at her, "Sister dearest, let me help you." Lance and Baihe got an apologetic dip of his head as he backed toward his twin to do as he'd said. He was apparently dropping the topic altogether. He'd go to stand in front of his sister and guide her from his mirroring position. He surely still smelled like horse. "Let's see, do you remember how to tango? I would lead you two steps back if we were dancing it, swing forward one and then a third back, and then you'd have your choice of two chairs, the high backed one, or one of the comfortable ones.. Three steps." He had taught her the steps, but the dance was a complicated one and that had been some years past. He usually preferred jives and quick steps these days.

Lance Song nods, nodding at Dorian as the man steps away. Not that this would be the last of this, however. Dorian would be finding a lot more Liver cleverly snuck into his foods, and not just because iron deficiency is a cause of Pica. His attentions shift to Dina, "If you take about five paces directly behind you, you ought to bump into the arm of a chair... Though I am sure your brother will guide you with some care as to avoid such a travesty, ma'am."

Dinah smiled at her brothers' cheerfulness, glad at least he wasn't fretting, but she scrunched her face up when he got closer and she could smell the horseness.

"been with Irene this morning?" she smiled wryly, though her steps were somewhat faltering and her free hand reached out until she grasped leather, nodding gratefully to scoot herself between them and plant herself to safety.

"thank you darling." she turned towards the sound of Lances' voice, giving him a smile too. "I daresay a bump would be the least concerns, I'd just rather not trip on the edge of the fireplace and end up falling over it. Have I had any mail today, Mr Song? One of my students borrowed some books before... all this." she waved her hand vaguely. "and if he comes by to borrow more, I should like to make sure i'm not skulking about the place like miss havisham"

Dorian explained nothing further to anyone, just patted his pockets full of dirt, determined to turn them out at his earliest opportunity. He'd watch Dinah get to her chair, but not just that, he'd follow her there and stand between her and the fire just to make certain. He did manage, "You are nothing like Mrs. Havisham, Dinah." He'd made his way though the ponderous pages of Dickens with some trying, given the author's dense diction and Dorian's dyslexia. Before he could compare his sister to Isabella, he'd shut up and let Lance answer her quandaries directly.

Lance Song hums, and looks off towards the door as Dinah poses her question, "I have not had opportunity to go through the mail as of yet," he replies, "Though if you wish, I shall expedite my goings on to attend to that right away... And of course, rest assured that if someone does come to the door searching for you, we shall be sure to send for you as soon as possible... After making sure that you are properly presentable of course." The man smiles, and asks, "Speaking of, are you sure that you do not wish for more attendants?"

Dinah rested her hands on the arms of the chair, staring up towards the ceiling and closing her eyes. She chuckled at Dorian's words. "...I always loathed that book" she muttered, but she smiled and shook her head at Lances' questions.

"there's no rush, dear. But thank you. Unless there is anything that is an immediate warning that I need to make myself presentable" she shifted, pulling her legs up underneath herself. It was a strange instinct, wanting to face people whilst she spoke, even if she couldn't SEE them.

"More attendants? No, thank you. Too many people will just get underfoot and I am far too particular to have to teach them when I am already short tempered. I sent little Hoshi out to buy some more charcoal disks for Helios. She will be more than enough otherwise, at least when I do not have him activated. I don't plan on going terribly far otherwise, but I shan't be made an invalid" she shot a sunny, if somewhat gaunt smile over the back of the chair. "you are one of the bare few staff that has more than exceeded expectation, mr. Song. Thank you for that."

Dorian: "I was just telling Mr. Song the same thing, he has been exceptional, even helping me when I go awry, he is a true and a thoughtful gentleman when it comes to taking care of us," Dorian agreed.  

Lance Song is not weak to flattery. Dorian is still getting an increased helping of liver in his food. But he does raise a hand to his chest and offer the pair a bow, "I'm pleased to be of service to you," he says simply, "And I am sure that that is true for all of us with the staff. Of course, I have a slight advantage over the others, and in service to that I try my best to make up for it by working harder." He clears his throat quickly, and then looks between the pair, "Speaking of, is there anything I can get for the pair of you?"

Dinah was unaware that there might be dirt-scolding alleviation in Dorian's words, but her own at least was free of that. she rested her cheek on the back of the chair.

"some tea, please." she curled her arms around her chin, closing her eyes again. "Mr Song, stop me if it is too personal a remark...but is it true that snakes do not have very good vision?" she turned her head towards him again "I suppose their other senses must make up for this? I had never really considered such a thing before this little malady."

Dorian pointed at himself when Dinah asked for tea, requesting the same. He yet stayed quiet because he was interested in the answer about snakes. He'd linger between kitchen and sister, somewhat relieved that Dinah had gotten him out of squarely in front of Lance's scrutiny.

Lance Song hums, setting about getting tea ready for the madam. As she questions to the nature of his sight... Or perhaps, merely the sight of snakes in general. "You needn't worry about such a question," he remarks, "It is a fact, of course. Though I do not share such a weakness. You are correct however, that a serpent must rely on its other senses to make up for the weakness... Taste, touch... And of course, a trait which allows one to glimpse into a world of color which the human mind can but wish to comprehend."

Once a teapot is prepared, Lance brings it out along with two cups, setting them in the middle of the seating area.

Dinah hummed in thought and she  nodded, worrying her lip with her teeth. "I had wondered if i might try to make such adaptations but I am not sure i would be able to... parse it correctly." she said curiously. She tilted her head, listening to where the cup was and reaching out for it, finding the edge of the table first and creeping her fingertips across it.

"Either way, I hope...I believe this will be nothing more than a temporary inconvenience so I would be unwise to make drastic changes before I need to." she hummed again "oh! as an aside. there is a cat in the household now. Except sometimes he doesnt appear like a cat but a rather naked young man." she smiled wearily. "just in case you find an undressed white-haired catboy in the house. he's allowed to be there"

Dorian ambled over by the fireplace to stand by his sibling, awaiting tea and listening to the exchange between them, fretting about his dirt eating. But trying to not think about it he'd glomb onto news about the naked cat boy. (Someone who'd likely benefit from Dorian finding liver in his meals). With surprise once more overtaking his fair fine features, he'd add on, "You know Darius! He said so, that he'd met you, Dinah, but how can you trust a cat? I have told him that he needs pants if he plans to wander about, and gave him a pair of my own pyjamas."

Lance Song frowns at the revelation of scantily clad young men traipsing through the house. There is a moment of consideration, and then Lance asks, "Forgoing my advice on whether you ought to attempt to borrow the strength of a serpent, I would first ask of this... Feline Fellow. Am I allowed to dress him?" Finally, Dorian has a good idea. Good job Dorian. +1 point with Lance. Now you are only at -99. (kidding, of course.)

Dinah tilted her head towards Dorian's voice and she smiled "Darius? A good name. he did want a D name. I was calling him Darling" she smiled towards Lance and she nodded. "you are welcome to try. I mostly threw blankets at him to cover his modesty. The interesting thing is, he isn't a person at all. he is very much mentally still a cat, so this is all very new to him." she tapped her fingertips against her teacup.

Dorian didn't take up tea, not yet, still marvelling about the common sighting of one Darling Darius. He even repeated it aloud, "Darling Darius, he walked into my room like he thought it was his own, so I named him after the Persian Shahanshah and he curled up in my lap before he... he... became a boy. He has a cat's single-minded desire for chicken. The promise of it will coax him into trousers." It was amusing that his sister had chosen a name so close to the one he had, not that the cat had shared. "He said his mum called him a little prince. He just needs the right influences and I daresay you fit the bill sir." Surely Dorian's extra reverence toward the butler had nothing to do with having lately been scolded, except entirely.

Lance Song nods, and sensing that the tea is now properly brewed, steps forwards to fill the cups with brew. "Interesting," he notes, "I would like to hear the story of his transmogrification another day... Yet alas, I must be about my duties. Meal plans to be prepared," He looks at Dorian, "Clothes to be washed," another look at Dorian, "And of course a thorough combing down of the place to make sure that nothing untoward has affected the place in case of guests." This time, not a look at Dorian. "I do apologize for the departure, of course."

Dinah chuckled at Dorian's words, and she nodded "if it's any consolation, he was asleep on my bed when he became a man-shape. I think had I been asleep in that bed too, there would be a man-cat shaped hole in the brickwork" she admitted. She turned towards Lances' voice and she smiled, bowing her head again gratefully as he filled her teacup.

"thank you dear. I shall promise to not cause any calamities in your absence." she would TRY at least. unlike some.

Dorian gave a shallow bow to Lance and Baihe and bid them, "Thank you ever so much for your help and your forebearance, I shall also try to do better."

He didn't specify what he meant, but he was sure that Lance understood his drift. He'd turn to the table and pick up his tea then and take a sip before remmarking, "The tea is excellent as always sir."

"Now then, Di, I had a thought, tell me if it is too silly, but shall I read to you for a change? I bet you haven't given yourself time for a novel in months."

Lance Song smiles, and turns to depart the pair. As he goes, he does turn his head back to toss one final word at Dinah, "Ah, Miss. If you /do/ wish for the senses of a serpent, you need only ask. I am sure it is within my power to grant a boon, should someone desperately desire for it."

Dinah cocked a brow at Dorian "doing better", and her expression turned quizzical, though she hummed and shook her head at his suggestion, reaching her free hand for him.

"I appreciate the offer, darling, but I know how much you loathe it. I will be happier with you happy too, and that is enough. It's just so damned strange" she sighed, taking a sip of her tea. "And annoying. Mostly annoying. As soon as helios is recharged, I will be fine again"

Dorian bent down, knelt down beside Dinah's chair, staring at her and wondering if he should tell her about his strange abhorrent behavior. It was almost as if he had to given she'd mentioned damned strangeness, so he sipped at his tea from his crouch staring up at her milky irises, then admitted quietly, as much as he could, just now which was little, "I will be fine. Do not worry about me, it is you and Drystan we need to focus on just now. I mislike that I let him go on without me and that he got hurt on the Atlantia."

Dinah reached her free hand out towards where his voice came from, finding his hair and twining her fingers there.

"you WILL be fine means you arent" she pointed out with a frown, but she sighed. "he knew the atlantia was dangerous. it could have been anyone that was hurt. I am more worried that he hasn't woken yet" she admitted, twisting her fingers around his curls.

"he will, though. I have faith."

Dorian 'mrrrrred' at having his head petted and lolled his honey-golden head her way, into her hand like Darius would, though this meant he wasn't looking into her face any longer. He'd reach a hand to put it upon her leg, atop her nightgown, and would just let it rest there. "Of course he will be. He could not leave me the business in good conscience. Blimey, I do not want his job, so he'd better, and soon. We can both pray for that. I ahmmm...."

When he floundered out of words he'd press his fingertips into her leg a little more and then finally managed, "I have been eating dirt. I thought it was discreetly, but Song noticed. It's fine. I mean it isn't. It tastes horrible and it feels horrible. I figure my nerves are just a bit off with everything going on lately. Now, I only told you because I wouldn't want you hiding your maladies from me. So... think of that before you recoil from me in disgust."

Dinah tittered and she shook her head, sighing with a faint smile "ah, yes. all of the responsibility would be back to you if he doesnt. at least the ships arent coming in" she added bitterly, but then when he spoke of eating dirt, she paused and frowned.

"...why?" she asked, wrinkling her nose. "...I honestly don't understand...why... dirt?" she leaned forward, grasping out to set her cup down before reaching for his cheeks, bringing her brow to his. "you should have said, darling" she chided softly, pressing a kiss to his brow with the familiar thrum of healing magic pulsing from her. hopefully, if nothing else, it might take the edge off

Dorian was comforted that she didn't recoil, that she gave him a magic kiss, though hers always felt like that to him. He'd shrug, and probably look juvenile in the doing, but he explained as best he could, "I wish I knew, I just... I guess perhaps I am finally cracking up. Never in centuries, and now? I hadn't gotten around to it today, but I am going to stop. I know, it makes no sense to me either. It just seems like it should be good. Or the next mouthful will quell it but for good? Like I said, I shall be fine. Between the Atlantia and the tunnel, and the fog.... I know I saw something Dinah, and I hoped it was one of ours. You had said our gods are out there, didn't you? But this is /not/ them??? I do not know what to think."

Shit was whack and Dorian didn't think fists could fix it, nor blades, and where did that leave him?

Dinah kept her face against his brow and she sighed into his hair, drawing back to drape herself across the arm of the chair again, though her fingers lingered.

"it IS one of the old ones. Or at least, another walker of the path. I saw the deep ones, the creatures of dagon, summoned. Something is calling them, using them like this. There were deep-kin on the ships, and something made them change. Deep ones do not normally act this way, they do not go to war on such a scale as this. someone is doing it on purpose" she explained softly.

"so in a way...it is another walker of the path but. This...this is an encroachment and I shall not abide it. someone wants to come and leave great bloody stamps all over MY city? I shan't allow it" her tone turned curt. As if the blind girl in the nightdress could be intimidating.

Dorian knew the blind girl in the night dress was tres formidable. He was sure Dinah's sight would come back, she was such a prodigious healer. Until then she had her crab, and now he had an answer about the gods and the goings on. One that was still dire, and he offered, "Well when it is time for fighting my way, you will let me know, won't you?" His voice was a quiet murmur since they were so close, "I could not let my queen down. Not after I already did on the Atlantia."

Dinah made a soft noise of assent and her fingers reached from his hair to his jawline, leaning down to press a kiss to his cheek.

"When we find who has caused these problems for our family, we will take their head. Perhaps I will baptise it in the font of yog-sothoth so i can rewatch the last few moments of their miserable life over and over again. I'll fall asleep to it" she whispered. "My blindness is inconsequential. This is a test. But they hurt drystan. they attacked our ships. our crew. I will have them flayed to messes and staked out in the sun for the gulls."

Dorian didn't have to affirm that he'd be there every step along the way, so long as she could suffer him, and he was of help. She knew that. He was not the least bit distubred by her remarks, he nodded, and knew she could feel it because her hand was upon his face. He'd reach for her wrist then plant a kiss upon the bottom joint of her thumb, an eyeless place. Then he'd pull her hand so that her fingers could linger upon his jugular that she might feel her ardent talk made his heart thud hard and quick. And for that reason he'd offer what he did, "Come, let's dance, you don't need to see to do that, I will be your eyes. It has been far too long."

He'd pop up, and be pulling her to come along, leading her tothe open space near the orrery.