(no subject)

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

"Dorian!"

Bull called for him as soon as he was through their front door. It was too narrow for his liking, but the doorways and thresholds in the rest of the house made up for that. So did the ceiling height. He started hiking up the shirt he'd worn while out and about - it was the first thing to come off almost every time he came home. He'd never worn a shirt, unless it was under armor, before coming to Darrow and it was still an adjustment.

With a grunt he paused, momentarily frustrated when he got the neck and short sleeves of the t-shirt stuck on his arms and horns. He'd been in too much of a hurry.

"I found an undead kid today. He talks."

Comments

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

Bull chuckle when he heard Dorian blaspheming or whatever he was doing. The sudden rush of magic made him shiver, but he stayed still.

"It talks. Not very well, apparently there's some mind-body disconnect. It has a personality. But his body is definitely kind of dead."

He leaned close to kiss Dorian's cheek, because it was the first time he'd seen him since that morning, and coming home to him was comfort.

[propertool]

Dorian attempted to fold his arms testily, but gave up quickly and returned the kiss from his tip toes. Bull had delightfully rough cheeks this time of day.

"So. The boy is in there. But the body is dead? And you talked to it why? It wasn't a demon?"

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

"Yes. I talked to it after stalking it for a solid twenty minutes. Didn't try to attack anyone, just sort of shuffled along with his hood up, like he was trying to hide. Have you met undead that try to hide?"

To be fair, most of the ones Bull met were exactly the ones Dorian was talking about: a dead body possessed by a demon, probably trying to kill him.

"I was curious," he said to answer the why part. "Are you trying to decide whether or not you're annoyed with me or intrigued?"

[propertool]

"Yes. When i stop making this face, you,ll know what I've decided."

Dorian sighed and folded his arms again before deciding to pour them both a thick-bodied red wine.

"Usually they're busy trying to chew my nose off and I'm busy preventing that tragedy to all mankind. Tell me more. "

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

Bull leaned down to pick his shirt up as Dorian saw to getting wine for the both of them. He slung it over his shoulder and followed Dorian into the kitchen.

"He's in pretty decent shape, as far as decay. I don't know if he's actually decaying - there's something wrong with him, though. Kind of black, sludgey blood."

He leaned on their island counter, watching Dorian.

"He said he was bitten by something or someone."

[propertool]

"So it is an infection? An illness? But not entirely like the Blight."

Dorian changed expressions. He was still wary for Bull's sake, but his eyes were hungry with curiosity. He handed Bull his glass.

He liked the way Bull held the delicate, stemmee glassware when they drank.

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

"No, it doesn't seem like the Blight."

He loved that look in Dorian's eyes and he tried not to look pleased with himself when he saw it. Bull accepted his glass carefully and stood up a bit more.

"I didn't ask him how it spreads other than biting - if it's blood or saliva or both. I imagine it would have to be. But there's a person in there. He collects things."

[propertool]

Dorian reached a hand out to brush his fingers along the skin of Bull's thick bicep.

"Well if there's a person in there, couldn't it be ... brought out more? If a thing can think, it ought to. If it can speak, it ought to. If it can feel, it ought to."

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

"That's what I was wondering." Bull turned more toward Dorian. "I knew you'd be interested."

He leaned close to kiss him, to catch the taste of wine on his lips. "Your birthday is coming. Does finding this weird kid count as a present?" he teased.

[propertool]

Hmmm," Dorian hummed. "Surprised you agreed with me, amatus. Didn't seem a very qunari position. Anyway, I'm still deciding. And deeply offended you were going to get me only the one gift?"

He tapped his foot in fake disappointment.

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

Bull shrugged one shoulder and took a drink from his glass. "He reminded me a little of Cole," he admitted. "With way less weird conversation about things he found in my head."

He looked over at Dorian and a sly grin crept across his face. "I did have a few other ideas regarding your birthday. Maybe."

[propertool]

"Mmm. I miss Cole at times. At times. He lacked a certain skill with privacy."

Dorian tried to hide his keen interest with a roll of the eyes, and refilled his glass.

"A few ideas? I'm frightened to imagine. Is it a dragon skull?"

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

"Do you remember that dream we had together?" He asked, as if it had nothing to do with their conversation. "And that night at fight club, when I had you pinned?"