Action;

[nobodyneedknow]

[He's standing in the Square; he looks like he's deep in thought. He's wearing a waistcoat and he's reaching for a cigarette, and he's about to put it into his mouth when it becomes clear that he has nothing to light it with. So instead he finds a bench and sits, tucking the cigarette back away in it's case

Comments

Action! And placeholdery, alas

[primrosella]

[Dress shopping, actually, is what brings Rosella out to the Square today. There's a ball coming up fast, and she needs to find a dress for it, and that's never an easy task when one is a fairy-tale princess bound for a party better suited for the Upper East Side. So she's learned to start shopping well in advance.

After an hour or so of frustration, it's an unexpected delight to see Caspian--or at least, she assumes it's Caspian--here as well, seated on a bench. He's dressed differently than usual, though; perhaps Blair has gotten to him again? She does have a penchant for dressing people up, after all.

In any case, she'll walk right over with a bright smile on her face.]

Hello, Caspian! How are you today?

Action! Aha okay

[nobodyneedknow]

[Dorian doesn't realize that the pretty blond girl who isn't in a corset is speaking to him, at first, but oh well, she is a lady, and so he stands, tugging down the front of his waistcoast. When she heads right for him, he is confused, but covers it up quickly.]

Pardon?

Action!

[primrosella]

[Or, then again, perhaps it's not Caspian at all. The voice isn't quite right, somehow, and her cheeks flush a little as she comes to this realization.]

Oh! Goodness, I'm terribly sorry, I thought for a moment you were someone I know--a dear friend of mine. Do forgive me.

Action!

[nobodyneedknow]

[He offers her his hand, in a polite fashion]

It's no trouble at all. I'm Dorian Gray. Who do I owe the pleasure of speaking to?

[agorramdoll]

[Today feels incomplete, and River found it hard to breathe inside her prison and apartment. Too far removed from home, too many emotions and thoughts crowding her head. The square, although it isn't empty, is less crowded than her apartment building, packed like sardines in a concrete can.

She passes by a man seated in the middle of the square and takes a glance at him, but looks away in less than a second. Everything about him looks and feels wrong. All wrong.]

[nobodyneedknow]

[Dorian spots the girl, and he keeps quiet while tracing her with his eyes. Too young, maybe, or too fragile, or maybe just too dark for today. For whatever reason, he doesn't approach her, not yet. Instead he nods his head when she looks at him.]

[agorramdoll]

[He isn't as he seems - a snake in gentlemen's clothing, wrapped in silks and satins and materials that rustle. Simon says not to talk to strangers, but Simon isn't here anymore]

They took you apart at the seams until only the rattling was left. Bare bones. [She nods at him, almost knowledgeably]

[nobodyneedknow]

[He stands up and tips his head, just a little]

Pardon me? Are you speaking to me?

Action;

[misterblackbird]

[How very strange and unexpected to see someone dressed something like himself. How reassuring, too, since he feels, by turns, to be very peculiar in comparison to a great deal of the City.

So, one gentleman to another, curious as to whether their worlds might be the same, or at least, similar, he finds he has to speak to this stranger.]

Good afternoon.

Action;

[nobodyneedknow]

[Finally, someone dressed sensibly - which isn't to say that Dorian doesn't appreciate how short the dresses are]

Good afternoon. Would you mind telling me where I am? I can't say I'm familiar with this part of London.

Action;

[misterblackbird]

Unfortunately, this isn't London, though I am glad you know the place.

Action;

[nobodyneedknow]

This isn't...London.

[There's a pause. He wasn't drunk last night, from what he can recall, but then he was a bit wild with grief]

Then where would this place be, sir?

Action;

[freckleddoll]

[Doll is passing through the Square, arms filled with groceries and a small dog following at her heels, close enough that she has to watch her step so as not to trip over him. She's dressed in clothes a typical lower class boy might be expected to wear in the Victorian era - in spite of how long she's been in the City, she hasn't changed the way she dresses.

When she passes the man on the bench she offers a friendly smile and nod, something she's only learnt to do since arriving in the City, because back home she'd never willing approach someone so clearly upper class as he was. But those lines were blurred here, and when she notices he seems a bit lost she pauses a moment, wondering if he's a new arrival.]

Action;

[nobodyneedknow]

[He pauses and looks at her - a girl dressed like a boy, and catches it immediately, in the way she walks, in the way she moves, in the softness of her features.]

Girl. Stop.

Action;

[freckleddoll]

[She does stop, used to that tone of voice when being addressed by someone like him, even if she doesn't necessarily like it.]

...yeah?

Action;

[nobodyneedknow]

[He stands up, and his face has a slightly imperious set to it, but there's a smile at the corner of his lips. It's not a kind smile, but it may appear that way.]

Are you heading to Whitechapel?

[necromerchant]

[He walks by and notices someone who almost seems to be...choking? Now, that could lead to the acquisition of some 'merchandise'. He gets out his Zydrate gun and walks over.]

Oh, you're alright.

[Not really concern. He's disappointed over the false alarm.]

[nobodyneedknow]

[Bastard]

Fine.

[And a once over. Ugly coat]

[necromerchant]

[A once over from Graverobber too. Looks pompous, asshole-ish. Might have money.]

Well, try not to have any more close calls.

[nobodyneedknow]

Close calls?

[He takes a moment]

I wasn't dying.