Dr. Victor, after dropping Dr. Melange off at her respective place of current residence, made his way towards Apartment number 505. He remembered the board, all too clearly. Taking up the half-empty bottle of fancy shmancy merlot he invested himself into all ready, as well as a pair of reasonably clean glasses, he found himself at the threshold. His lips pursed, his brow furrowed and he all but stopped breathing as he tried to think of the flow of conversation; of how to discuss things with little meaning like the weather or gossip, of what the next few weeks would entail. By the time he figured out there was nothing truly to say, his lips began to ache.
Maybe wine was too formal? Should warm beer be the official substitute? I'm over-thinking this thing... it was just enough to ask him to become the official courier for the UWMC building and 403, right? Sure, he had a nice torso, deliciously flavored and toasted nicely; that didn't change the fact he was one of the fastest and most intelligent runners we had. He was a damned soccer player, Victor!He ignored the little harp singing about how he 'doth be fibbing' and leaned against the wall aside from the door.
In about five more minutes, I officially become a creep.Dr. Victor decided to wait a bit, musing about the hallway.
He absently let the wine bottle gently sway, hitting the door outside of room number 505 by accident, twice, and solidly. He casually, and awkwardly, leaned against the side of the door, intently wondering if the glasses were cleaned enough. He froze, knowing the noise was sufficent. Something made him begin to sweat; it was the initial confrontation or worse, the thought Columbo might answer the door.
Thierry answered the door. "Hello, Doctor, come in!" He held the door open. The room inside was lit by fat candles under open-topped glass cylinders flecked with reflective material.
Dr. Victor paused at the sight of the dancing candles; the wine glasses chimed together as he shook a little bit. He took a deep, steady breath, and entered. His voice was a little smoother than he had thought possible. "Oh, sorry to make an unannounced call on you, Thierry. I, uh, I brought some wine, if you w-want." Swallowing hard, Dr. Victor moved closer into the room. "I hope it's not too late for a little conversation."
Thierry turned around in his living room and sat on his couch, arms wide, draped over the back. "Never. In fact, it's a good time, as Dr. Melange came up with some manner of work for the mad one. We shouldn't be interrupted for a good while."
The wine glasses clattered again and the doctor glanced up at the ceiling to avoid exposing his widened eyes. "Oh... well... uh, right." Dr. Victor sat down on the couch, a few feet away. He glanced at the bottle top and inspected it intently. "So, there was a thing or two I wanted to... to go over you- I mean with you..." The doctor rubbed his forehead, setting the glasses and bottle down on the open space. He knew his chest was tightening, he felt the breath catching in his lungs. Dr. Victor sunk back against the couch.
Can I go through with this "I wanted to ask you something, Thierry. I wondered if you'd be able to help me."
"Oh? Well, our leader saw to it that Easter could be a day of rest, even for atheists like myself... though sadly, not for doctors." He bought his hands forward and rested them on his knees. "Anything you need, sir."
"Thierry, I came here with a two-fold question, but... I'm not sure one should be spoken... but... I have been under a lot of stress lately, especially with the hidden undercurrent of politics and fears. I want to understand what is going on..." Dr. Victor shifted uncomfortably, trying to open the bottle and struggling. "I mean, what... what do you feel we... we should... should do?" The cork popped out loudly, slipping out of the doctor's fingers and onto his scrub top. "Oh, no." He put the cork into his pocket, trying to smile but seeming almost childish. He poured two half-full goblets. "Do you have... any thoughts?"
Thierry had a sly look for a moment, but it melted into a purely pleasant expression. "I'm not entirely sure what you're asking, but if you mean to inquire about what I feel this little society's purpose should be, I can say that plainly. Any just society must care for all of its members to the best of its ability, and whenever possible co-exist peacefully with its neighbors. In this situation, I feel serving the larger needs of the human species as a whole is more important than ever. We could just do our best to destroy all the undead we can find, re-build the city, eventually more, but there's a notion that the mummies may try to strike at us again. If that is true, destroying them must take priority over rebuilding our world. But until we can find out how to do that, simply doing the best we can to help each other must be sufficient. What do you suppose?"
Dr. Victor nodded slowly, handing Thierry a glass of wine. His sigh was without facial expression, but he did adjust his body into the couch, seeming to enjoy the atmosphere as if for the first time. "I like the way you think.“ He picked up his own, raising it. "I believe we must dismantle the bomb and not ignore it. I feel we need to forge stronger alliances with people around us. And... and I want you to help me with this, Thierry." The doctor swallowed a sip of the wine, licking his upper lip absently. "I need your expertise, Thierry, because I see no one who is better for the job. I'd be in your debt."
"Oh?" He sipped the wine and lowered the glass to his knee. "What could you have in mind?"
Dr. Victor turned to face Thierry, his wine glass gripped at the top of the glass by his fingers, dangling over the side of the couch. His head tilted to the left, a mix of fear and aprehension cooling into stone honesty.
"What do you think of me, Thierry?"
"Well now..." He took a slightly more vigorous drink of the wine and rested it again. "You seem very intelligent, very complex... Hard to know what to think of you, honestly. But for now, I trust you...and find you rather alluring, of course." Thierry winked and smiled.
Dr. Victor felt his head nod slowly. It was what he expected to hear, almost down to the letter, which was better for him, and slightly sad; the sorrow grew on his face a little bit. "I wanted to see if you'd be able to go with me in a few days back to UWMC." He glanced down at his wine, swirling it a little too fast. "I hope you say yes." He leaned forward a little bit, inching forwards on the couch towards Thierry, keeping his gaze averted at the spinning swirl.
"It seems like a lot of work just to ask a man to escort you on a short stroll... It is nothing, I will do it."
He put his glass down on the end table and rested an arm on the back of the couch, welcoming the doctor.
"I'm sorry, Thierry, but I do appreciate this... because it's important. I don't like putting people at risk needlessly but they have what I can only imagine... and our workings are limited, but combined..." Dr. Victor felt himself slowly bridging the gap between himself and Thierry, leaning his head against the hand that rested on the back of the couch. "We could possibly stop this... or find something... to help each other." His words grew softer, and inching anymore would put is head on Thierry's chest. He glanced up, turning slightly away from him. "You do understand, Thierry, that I ask you this not as a doctor or any other lame excuse. I ask you because I see the strength you carry, and the power you have. I respect you."
Thierry let his hand cradle the doctor's head, and came a bit closer himself. "It's just physical discipline, not super powers.” He smiled. “You think there may be a medical way to stop this? It seems incredible."
The doctor melted against the touch, eyes all but rolling out onto the floor. "Stop it, maybe. I... I plan on ending this... game... they are playing." Eyes glazed, he looked at Thierry. "I need this..." His breath slowed though his heart raced.
Thierry's smile threatened to escape the boundaries of his face. When he smiled, his eyes became gentle and sweet in a way that could give the
Hang in There cat performance anxiety. He relaxed his mouth, and kissed the doctor.
Dr. Victor returned the kiss, slow at first and then all but stopped, feeling the odd brushing of facial hair against his upper lip. He shivered, turning away from Thierry's face, setting the glass down on the table. He felt the other man's fingers against his cheek and nuzzled them. He moved his back against Thierry's chest, curling his chin down to his own chest. He let out a low, breathy sigh. Dr. Victor felt comfortable against Thierry, nuzzlign and snuggling against him, but still held a frame of worry against his face.
Thierry accepted the doctor into his arms, his breath warm on the man's ear and neck. "Make yourself at home, sir. Buy the way, it feels ever stranger to call you by formal names at this point, in this place. What was your name?"
Dr. Victor caught his breath, swallowin hard. He began to trace his fingers along Thierry's exposed flesh, the veins in his arms most interesting. It was comfortable and so uncomfortable at the same moment, his head was spinning from the whiplash. "Ch- Thierry, call me Charlie, please?"
"Charlie it is." He ran his right hand through Charlie's hair casually and let him mess with his left arm. "Would you prefer me to call you Dr. Victor in other company?"
"I don't want company right now, Thierry. I want..." The doctor swallowed hard, leaning down and kissing the delicate veins with his lips. He leaned back, exposing his neck, and lips. That subtle smile on the other man's lips was too powerful to resist. The body of a greek god to make Alex look nothing like a child; perfection had a name and it wasn't Dr. Victor's any longer.
Thierry kissed the doctor's neck with ardor, and traced a path to his lips. One hand held the side of his head and the other was firmly on his chest.
Dr. Victor felt the blood rush through his face, his neck, and several other regions of his body. He returned the kiss without reservation, pulling Thierry's head close to his own. He slid himself upwards, sliding Thierry's hand lower down his torso. He felt the dam busting underneath the pressure of that accent, that smile, and those muscles he pressed against. His tongue darted wildly.
Thierry gripped the doctor firmly and ran his hands ove the man's muscles, feeling him up with excited movements. He kissed firmly and pulled him close. The doctor felt a warming lump against his lower back.
Dr. Victor thought he all but lept off the couch, his foot flailing against the small table, causing the wine bottle to wobble noisly. He adjusted his scrub top, and bottom, panting heavily. Adjusting his hair, he spoke quickly. "Thierry. I... I'm I'll see you around... soon... okay?" Snatching up the bottle, he stepped casually over his empty glass, eyes darting about the room as if it was on fire. He turned, offered the man a small weak and feeble smile before flinching and forcing out a slightly less than demure look.
Thierry held his palms up like a peace offering and smiled reassuringly at the doctor, though he couldn't disguise a hint of amusement at the surprising shift in mood. "Yes, very soon. You're welcome any time, Charlie." He rose to see the doctor out.
Dr. Victor took Thierry's hand as they approached the door, still blushing, but mostly because it was the wine. He nibbled a bit on his lip before leaning over to steal one last kiss. "I will take you up on that offer, Thierry." He turned and slipped into the hallway, swaying the bottle like a basket of flowers in his hand.
Thierry stood in the door a moment, watching the doctor leave with a smile. He went back in and closed the door.
