[audio]

[theothermrgray]

[Excuse the random audio post, but Dorian has something he needs to get off of his chest.]

Well... It seems my birthday is approaching once more.

[He hesitantly sighs.] It's very strange. Before I came to Wonderland, I was sure that at least three weeks had passed...

[Since the incident with one of his old friends. He dare not speak of it, not on the network, but the guilt is trickling back and he needs some excuse to feel it in front of all these perfect strangers. Anything.]

... I don't know. Should I ignore it this year or celebrate it twice? And if I do celebrate, how?

[OOC: Possible content warning for gore. Dorian won't bring it up himself, but he's going to be thinking about it.]

Comments

voice;

[heroica]

Ah - "three weeks?" [ She shouldn't ask, but... well, she's curious. ] May I ask what you mean?

[theothermrgray]

[Sigh.] Well. Right before I was taken to Wonderland, at least three weeks passed since my birthday. I find it particular that, after being here for a month or so, that the same day is passing me by so soon.

[It also brings that tragedy that had just happened from Dorian's perspective. It's all so soon...]

... Quite jarring, don't you think?

[heroica]

So you are living the same time of year again, here in Wonderland. [ She nods in understanding. ] Why not celebrate? The change in location doesn't erase your birthday.

[ And there are so few causes for celebration in the mansion these days... ]

[theothermrgray]

Because it feels redundant!

[He seems rather defensive for a bit. At least he takes a quick moment to calm down.]

... Besides, if I were to celebrate, how? I hardly know anyone that well here.

[heroica]

Well, you don't have to. [ Robyn chuckles. ] It was only a suggestion.

[ At the question, she tilts her head slightly. ]

I celebrated quietly for my own birthday, here. You needn't make it into a big event to celebrate for yourself.

[theothermrgray]

... You know what, you're right.

[He sounds pleased by the revelation.] Perhaps I can save the bigger celebration for next year... Wonderland or no Wonderland.

[heroica]

And for this year, give yourself a day to do some of your favorite things. Would that be so awful?

[theothermrgray]

Of course not.

Even though I would do some of my favorite things anyway.

Thank you for the advice, Miss...

... Forgive me, I nearly forgot to introduce myself. I am Dorian Gray. Pleasure to meet you.

[heroica]

It's nice to meet you, Dorian. [ And a little bittersweet, considering he shares a name with someone who she had been close with in Wonderland. ] I am Robyn Cousland.

[ Sans titles, which have proven essentially useless, here. ]

How long did you say you've been here?

[theothermrgray]

Robyn... What a lovely name.

[She sounds lovely as well. Too bad this is audio.]

About a month, a think. How long have you been here?

[heroica]

Thank you. [ He may be able to 'hear' the smile in her voice. ] Hmm... almost a year and a half, now, I think. A year and a few months, at least.

[ Quite a bit longer than a month, but the time has really flown by (for good or bad). ]

[theothermrgray]

Oh dear...

I'm sure you must be dearly missing home.

[heroica]

[ Now her smile softens. ]

I do, but... I've made friends here, had experiences here, that I would never had had otherwise. I'm grateful for those opportunities.

[theothermrgray]

...

[Sigh] I understand completely. You see, I've also managed to make a few unlikely friends in Wonderland. It's a decent place when there is no event going on.

[Decent meaning it actually has beautiful things and interesting people at little to no apparent cost. The not aging thing is a plus.]

[heroica]

Decent enough. [ Though sometimes dangerous and terribly sad. ] I hope you've not run into much grief, here.

[ She hopes the same for most residents, honestly. ]

For some, it's... a haven. Home is not so forgiving.

[ People also don't return from the dead in Thedas. Usually. ]

[theothermrgray]

Oh, no. It's been fine, for the most part. Though I would have appreciated a warning about the Halloween Candy...

[And the murder children event. And the weird triangle dream... No, the triangle dream must have been only a dream. Right?]

Not so forgiving, madame? What do you mean by that?

[Were the women treated worse than in his home world or...?]

[heroica]

I came from a time of war. [ She answers lightly, with a tiny smile. ] That aside, if you are killed in my world, you aren't brought back to life as it is here.

[ Would that be better or worse? It might be more of a curse than most people think. ]

[theothermrgray]

[England wasn't at war, last time he checked. However...]

Frankly, my dear, I believe most worlds don't offer resurrection from the dead.

[heroica]

I know. [ At least, she hasn't heard of any others. ] This one is... unique.

[ In more ways than one. ]

[theothermrgray]

Very.

[And for once, being unique has its downsides.]