pullmeoutalive | RO > call me out; a forever open RP post, version 2

If that turns out to be the case, then I'll just kill you and be done with it. No great loss to me one way or another.

[ He lets out a quick, barked out laugh. ]

"Be special or die," is that it? And I thought my parents had unrealistic expectations. That's a great deal of pressure to put on one person, don't you think?

Are you nervous? I guess you must be, since this bravado was nowhere to be found when we spoke earlier.

[ Warren raises a hand and etches out a mark in the air with his magic, black lines flowing from his fingertips. When he's done, whatever is blocking Dorian's magic vanishes. ]

Go ahead. Show me how special or not special you are.

[ And just like that, his connection to the Fade reestablishes itself, snaps back into place like the string of a bow once pulled taut -- and for a moment, he nearly heeds Warren's instruction, nearly coats himself in ice and flame and hurls himself bodily at the wizard.

The bars blocking his way, however, pose a problem.

So instead he waves a hand dismissively, head tilting to one side. ]

Say I did happen to show you something remarkable, my dear Lucas, what then? Do I stay here like your little pet? A puppet to your whims?

"Dorian, be a darling and do that thing again, would you? You know how it entertains me."

[ Warren doesn't bother to correct Dorian on his name- better that he doesn't know for the moment anyway. ]

Nothing so trivial. I either figure out how to use you abilities myself, or I figure out how to make you use them for me.

[ He makes a scoffing noise. ]

And how would you expect to do that? Ask nicely? Ply me with sweets and pastries?

Just so you're aware, you're off to a terrible start. You've quite a hole out of which to dig yourself.

[ Warren simply scoffs. He’s content being underestimated- it usually works out in his favor.

Once more, the wizard raises a hand to cast. This time his motions are quick and angry and well-practiced, and a wave of force slams into Dorian like an oncoming car.

He’ll have to fight back eventually. ]

[ a pained gasp escapes him, and his head rocks back against the cell's wall.

Well. That had hurt..

It's not the most painful thing he's experienced, however, and if that's the best the wizard can muster, Dorian thinks he could take it. He can hold out against this for a while. If he reveals his magic, he's not sure what consequences he might face. The man before him is mad enough to do something remarkably stupid, he knows at least that much, but the specifics elude Dorian. Better to keep his magic to himself for now.

And surely-- surely Charlie must be suspicious by now, yes? Worried something had happened when he doesn't arrive at the store. It's a blind hope, considering he could literally be anywhere in the world, but he clings to it as surely as a drowning man would a length of rope. ]

I don't know what you want from me. [ Whenever he manages a breath again, he grits the words out between clenched teeth. His arms are wrapped around his middle protectively. ] I've already told you -- I'm not capable of whatever it is you think I am.

We’ll see about that.

[ He does it again, harder this time, sending Dorian back into the wall. He doesn’t want to resort to breaking bones just yet. ]

Stop.

[ gasped out. sharp. Arms tightening around himself as if that could ward off the ache. ]

I'm telling you, I'm not-- I can't do what you want me to.

[ A shrug. ]

Then you die.

[ Into the wall one more time? Yup. ]

Do you know where we are? We’re half a world away from Colorado. No one’s going to come for you. You want out? Fight back.

[ His head cracks against the wall that time -- not hard enough for any lasting damage, but for a moment, he sees stars. His breath leaves him in a rush, and it takes a few seconds for him to regain it. ]

Fight back? [ said between breaths, and his lips curl in a small, sardonic smile. ] And put a stop to your prattling? It's been so long since I've been properly threatened. I'd hate to interrupt.

Who’s prattling, now?

Do you know what a Destroyer is? I can take you apart, one piece at a time, without ever having to move from my chair.

[ This time the spell Warren casts doesn’t fling Dorian back. It does not rend flesh. It bypasses all of that and goes for one of his ribs, cracking it suddenly, cleaning, and without the slightest feeling of impact. ]

[ He breathes in sharply, a distressed noise bubbling up from his throat, and he hunches over to wrap his arms more tightly around himself. ]

Stop. [ Through clenched teeth. Spat out on a shaky exhale. Eyes screwed shut. Pain in the crease of his brow, in the tight line of his jaw. ]

[ The answer is a simple, mild, ] No.

[ This time Dorian gets slammed into the wall again. Enjoy that with a broken rib. ] Perhaps I should have nabbed the Maxwell wizard as well. That would have provided you with the proper motivation.

Ah, well. I'll make a mental note.

[ He groans after the impact that time, letting out a stream of curses in a foreign language. But he doesn't respond -- at least, not the way the man wants him to. Dorian is many things, but he's not sure, at the moment, of his stubbornness is currently a bane or a boon.

But then Warren had to go and bring Charlie into this, didn't he?

Because Dorian's gaze shoots up, eyes blazing. ]

Don't you dare.

[ And even as he says it, his hands crackle with electricity, sparking and arcing across and between his knuckles and jumping from his fingertips. ]

Stay away from him.

Why should I? [ There’s something wicked in the way Warren smiles as electricity springs, unbidden, from the mage’s hands. ] I grabbed you easily enough, he shouldn’t give me much trouble. How long can you hold out, I wonder. Until I’ve broken every bone in his body, or will you buckle sooner than that?

[ In retrospect, he'll blame his loss of control on the pain, the way it muted his inhibitions and made the man's threats seem so very, very real.

Weakness, he would say. Silliness, he would think.

But in the now, blink and miss it: the way the ambient temperature drops. The way Dorian surges forward, crouched at the far end of the cell one second, then standing with one fist clutching the bars separating between himself and Warren the next, a trail of melting ice the only thing signaling his passage. The way the air around him crackles with unseen energy, the way electricity collects and sparks across his knuckles, reflects off the silverite of his rings. ]

Stay away from him.

[ And there it is. Warren smiles, an unkind slightly unhinged expression. With a snap of his fingers, the enchantment on the bars reactivates, nullifying Dorian's magic yet again ]

If I'd have known threatening Maxwell would have worked so well, I'd have saved you a broken rib.

[ It's as good as a wall slamming down, severing him from the Fade, and the lack of it leaves him feeling empty, dizzy. Tired. He leans heavily against the bars, breath ragged. ]

Satisfied, are you?

For the moment.

Dorian, was it? I'm Warren. Get ready to be here for a while.

[ Warren.

Ah.

He's heard the name, of course, and hearing it now makes a few things click into place. It's why he just chuckles to himself, something dark and mirthless, and he thinks again, Of course. ]

If that's the case, I have some objections to the accommodations. The quality is simply appalling.

I'm sure you do. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're comfortable. I just needed to be sure of some things before I went and gave you furniture.

Lovely. I'll just wait here, shall I?

If you don't mind. Maybe take a nap.

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