Dorian meanwhile seemed to be moving closer to Sanger, although Sanger could have just been imagining things. "I knew an American once. He was a loud sort, not kind to those who wished to silence him. I managed to leave him speechless, however." Dorian said.
"Would you like me to do the same?" he continued. Sanger nearly moved away, but something froze him there. Dorian seemed like a nice young man, and… well, not nice, but certainly the other two things, and he seemed to be lonely at heart. But Sanger also felt like he needed to set some sort of boundary here. "Uh… no…" he said, taking another drag of the pipe. Was it him, or did Dorian seem more lucid than he?
Tom was a bit peeved that Dorian had given him the slip like that, but soon shrugged it off, helping the crew to move boxes and luggage about the ship. This meant that he saw a few areas that Nemo likely would have wanted him not to see, but, Tom being Tom, he didn't take any note of there being anything of particular interest there. He just did as he was told and put boxes and luggage away.
Dorian pressed a hand to Sanger's arm, moving nearly on top of him and looking up from his position almost… lovingly? Like, well, he actually cared about Sanger. Dorian meanwhile couldn't care less about Sanger beyond what he could get out of him. Every single relationship he had, with Mina, that Nemo bastard, Efraim, et-cetera, was all transactional. All a game. And Dorian intended to win, get the best deal and leave his competitor in the middle of the sea with the sharks.
(Lol angsty time ig)
However, as Mina walked, her steps began to falter. Her body shook. At first, she was confused, but then she recalled the moment when Dorian pressed her hand to his chest. Numbly, her feet took her to a spare corner, and she crouched down. It was such a small thing, why was it affecting her like this? Maybe the fact he was finally back was getting to her. Or maybe it was that he seemed to really see her as that friend from so long ago in that moment. Whatever it was, she stayed there for awhile, shaking and trying to remember to breathe.
(Oof)
Sanger didn't notice that Dorian was running his hands down his sides, nor did he notice the close touches or the way his eyes looked so hungry, in a way Sanger would later think he hadn't seen since General Zaroff. He didn't notice the hands up his shirt, but he did notice the opium was starting to cloud what he noticed, and he moved away from Dorian, but Dorian was quick to move closer, as if trying to bury himself in Sanger's ribcage and make a home there.
(Ice do you mind if Efraim keeps hanging around Sherlock for a bit? Just wondering)
(yeah np! Sorry I haven't been answering much)
(Alright cool, and it’s okay ^^)
A little overwhelmed by everything that was going on, Efraim stuck to Sherlock like glue. If one cared enough to look, they would see their floating notebook following at the detective’s shoulder.
Sherlock had just gone where Nemo had wanted him to go, and was standing unobtrusively by the side. His gaze found the notebook, and he smiled faintly. "Hello, Efraim."
Efraim smiled back, even though Sherlock couldn’t see. They tapped twice on his shoulder as a quick way to say hello back.
Sherlock took a deep breath, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket and looking around the ship. "What do you think of all this?" he asked them, raising an eyebrow at the empty space beside him.
The notebook opened, and Efraim wrote, It’s so grand. I do not think I’ve seen a ship like this before. After a pause, they continued, I think I should like to try my hand at sketching it, but of course, I have not really gotten a good look at it yet.
He nodded slightly. "This ship is certainly a marvel of engineering." he said. "I wonder at the fact that Nemo has kept it a secret for so long." he ran a hand through his hair, thinking of what this all could mean.
Sanger eventually felt the danger behind Dorian's eyes, and groggily pushed the man off of him once more. "Stop, 'm'tired. Don't wanna do this… this, this thing." he said, not sure what Dorian's intent for him even was beyond that it didn't feel very good. But Dorian was persistent. "You'll like it, once you let the drugs kick in." but the drugs had already kicked in, and Sanger was feeling nauseous. "You like this, deep down." but Sanger didn't, not really. Eventually, Dorian got sick of fighting with an idiot, and went off to cause trouble with someone more sober, packing up his chemicals and opium and pipe, and leaving Sanger in a corner feeling strange and a little violated. Eventually, the drugs wore off enough for coherent thought, and Sanger went to find Dorian, seeing him conversing with a much younger man and seeming to be in a bit of an argument. Sanger dragged Dorian away, and though Dorian protested, he didn't seem to bothered by Sanger initiating contact.
(Been thinking that Almost Human by Voltaire is a tragically Luci song.)
He nodded slightly. "This ship is certainly a marvel of engineering." he said. "I wonder at the fact that Nemo has kept it a secret for so long." he ran a hand through his hair, thinking of what this all could mean.
If Sherlock listened carefully, he may have been able to hear Efraim’s quiet snicker. You really are a detective, they wrote. The mystery of this vessel certainly seems to appeal to you.
(I’m afraid I have never heard it!)
(Honestly Voltaire is a fantastic artist, as in, the musician not the historical figure.)
Sherlock let out a faint laugh of his own, though it was almost more of a hum than anything else. "Yes, well. There are many mysteries here, are there not? It is why I was chosen, I assume." though he was not sure how well he could fulfill that. With how sick he had felt on occasion, lately, he was not sure if being aboard something floating in the water would be good for him.
I suppose I didn’t quite see them until you pointed out, Efraim wrote. The Lord has given you an intelligent and inquisitive mind. It makes sense that it is what you were chosen for.
He hummed very faintly. "Yes. I am glad of it, most days." he replied, voice soft and quiet. He didn't agree with Efraim's comment about it being a gift from some God, but he didn't say so to Efraim. That would be rude.
Sanger eventually wandered around far enough on the ship to interrupt Efraim and Sherlock. "This one is causing too much trouble." Sanger grumbled, at which Dorian let out a purring burst of laughter. "Please. I only smoked with you." Dorian said, to which Sanger glared. "Do either of you have or know where I can find rope that I can use to tie this arse of a man down and keep him put?"
Dorian was barely holding back his more salacious and indecent comments, but one glare from Sanger caused him to hold up his hands in surrender and do as told, which was to sit down and shut up. He seemed all too amused, though.
Sherlock stared at the two for a long moment, taking a deep breath. "I wish I could help you with that, but I am afraid that I do not know where some rope would be." he shrugged his shoulders.
"That wasn't a serious comment, I'm sorry." Sanger said, sitting down. "I'll leave you three to it, then." Dorian said, but Sanger caught him by the ankle. "You gave me the slip twice, fool me thrice and shame on both of us."
