Mask Or Menace - IC Contact Post

[helpdesk_hero]

This is David Alleyne, I'm not available at the moment.
Please leave your name, contact information, and what this is regarding after the beep.

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[helpdesk_hero]

[The hotel room. That is better. Less history there. David nods and... doesn’t move. Because Damian is so warm and soothing at his back.]

I might ask him to come to me. These places, so much history. My head is full of histories. I don’t want to know them. Please, I don’t... I don’t want to know it all.

[besainted]

[ He considers that for a few seconds, wondering fiercely what information he's missing by not having David's power. He's never run into anything like this power at home, and certainly never had the chance to experience it himself.

He ducks around David to stand beside him, arm curled around his waist, attention bright and curious. ]

What about water, do you think? Floating in a pool, would that give you anything?

[helpdesk_hero]

I don’t know. I really don’t. I wish I did.

[What if he knows ALL the water has experienced? He might cry.]

I’m half afraid to eat.

[besainted]

Then let's try it. It would be useful for you to know.

[ He pulls away, starting for the portal with a cheerful energy. ]

Grab a bathing suit, we'll get you lunch and run a few experiments while your suppressor has its charge.

[helpdesk_hero]

I don’t own a bathing suit.

[He rises, grabbing his clothes to pull on, quick as he can.]

Or sandals.

[besainted]

[ Damian sighs, stopping to wait next to the portal for him. Of course he doesn't own a bathing suit. ]

All this time in LA, and we still haven't gotten you one? [ It's fair, though. It's not like Damian is ever really a fan of swimming. It's hard to look perfectly ordinary with all those scars on display. ] I'll do a shopping trip while you're eating, then.

[helpdesk_hero]

Please nothing embarrassing

[Dressed at last he heads for, and through, the portal. And here he feels safer.]

Why couldn’t they give me something useful?

[besainted]

[ He huffs, stepping in behind him to close the portal. ]

Do you really think you can’t trust me with fashion?

[ Please. He shakes his head. ]

And it is useful. Or it will be, once you’ve learned to handle it. [ He nods toward the room service menu at the writing table. ] Pick something out.

[helpdesk_hero]

I think I can. I'm just worried you're going to try and make me pleasing to look at rather than comfortable.

[If he's light and joking, he isn't panicking, okay? He sighs and heads for the table and considers it.]

Grilled cheese, tomato soup, fries.

[Nothing good. All quick.]

[besainted]

[ Getting him a sexy swimsuit is for later, ok. In the meantime he's pulling out a phone, flipping through swimwear stores for the portaling to. ]

If that's what you're feeling like having. [ Not very classy, but fine. ] Just put it on the tab.

[ Annndd got it. He turns away, tugging open a portal as he goes into the back alley behind the shop he's picked out, and sealing it just as quickly behind him. Be right back. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

It's... it will use the least amount of time.

[But he nods, reaching for the room phone. Maybe he'll throw in a salad.]

Of course, they're also things, if my powers activate on them, would have VERY short experience bases.

[And then Damian is gone. And David's alone. in the silence of the room. Is it wrong that the silence is driving him mad?]

[besainted]

[ He's not gone for long, terribly conscious of the time limit they're working on. It might be the quickest bathing suit run the employees have ever seen, but he's back in a little under five minutes, bag draped over his arm. ]

Got them. [ The bag gets held out; swim trunks, even, not a speedo. You're welcome. ] Let's try this quickly, and come back to your lunch.

[helpdesk_hero]

[David would be so self-conscious in a speedo. But he seems relieved.]

Of course. I'll leave a note to leave the food in the room.

[And with that he stands and immediately starts stripping. Like he's even remotely bothered with being naked in front of Damian anymore.]

[besainted]

[ Hey, no complaints. He takes a seat on the edge of the bed, legs extended and ankles crossed, the enjoy the show. ]

This should be quick. Just into water deep enough to get off the pool floor, pause the suppressor, and find out if you have an easy out or not.

[helpdesk_hero]

And have to live the rest of my life in water? Fun.

[He definitely doesn't sound fully amused by the prospect.]

My toes would get all pruny.

[besainted]

[ He huffs a quick laugh, shakes his head. ]

Of course not, it would just be for a break. You're going to get a handle on this power.

[helpdesk_hero]

You have faith in me.

[He wished he had it himself. But damn if it doesn't sound fond when he says it.]

How did I ever get so lucky as to have you in my life?

[besainted]

[ His eyebrows quirk, but: ]

Looking like you do and talking about tight-fitted superhero uniforms to a new arrival was a great first step.

[helpdesk_hero]

Ah, it's the shallow factor.

[And look, for once he's not arguing the looks. He finishes dressing, grabs a towel, and nods to Damian.]

Pool then. Should we walk down?

[besainted]

[ They could. Or they could portal into a discrete corner of the outdoor pool behind the towel shed. Damian leans to open make just that happen, and gestures toward it invitingly. ]

I hope Rupert makes as good a use of this power as I do.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Well that's definitely something interesting, isn't it? David goes through the portal and waits for his boyfriend to join him.]

I can't imagine anyone uses it as well as you, Dee.

[besainted]

[ He just shrugs; he's pretty much only used it for actual teleportation with David, the really creative uses involved combat that he's probably better off not recounting for him. ]

I think lazily is a more accurate word.

[ The pool is all David's; he drags a poolside chair over to the edge, settling himself down for a convenient seat to observe from. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Actually, David would be proud, and give him pointers. Except he'd wonder why Damian was fighting.]

You're still creative, my lazy friend.

[He leaves the towel near Damian and moves to the pool. Finds himself the deep end and lowers himself in. Even manages a few laps of the pool before moving to tread water in the far end.]

Can you swim?

[besainted]

[ He's content just to watch, same as he had with the skating. He moves to the edge of the seat when David treads near his deep-end post, though, and offers his question a shrug. ]

You won't find me on any competitive swim teams, but I live in a city of canals. [ You know, back home. Not Maurtia Falls. ] It would be a bad idea to not know how to.

[helpdesk_hero]

I just want to make sure that if something goes wrong, you can help. I should probably do the shallows, though.

[He swims to the shallows takes a deep breath. This is something he has to do. Being scared will do nothing.Then he puts himself into a float. Closes his eyes and tries to get comfortable with that before finally, at last, turning off the device.

Water, it turns out? Not enough of a sense of self. Or maybe there is something about it being a liquid. The air itself hadn't bothered him, so maybe it's that? Who knows. But for a moment he doesn't have the device on, and he's at peace. It's perfect.]