Chapter Text
Dorian: I have arrived!
Dorian: Oh wow didn't expect the smell.
Rilienus: lol
Rilienus: Everything good tho?
Dorian: Yeah good. I'll go and see a place later today, let's hope I don't have to look for too long. This inn is cheap for a reason.
Dorian: Skype tonight if I can get wifi?
Rilienus: Of course.
Dorian meets the building manager outside, and her handshake is just as enthusiastic as her expression.
"You're not the partying kind, are you?" she asks suspiciously, after she's pulled her limp hand away. "We have a few vets in the building and we impose strict quiet times during the evening and night time."
"Not at all," Dorian says, following her in. "I don't even know anyone in Kirkwall yet."
The woman doesn't look interested, she just leads them to the lobby.
"Bottom floor is mainly the horned folk, the apartments are designed with wider doorways and higher ceilings so they are more expensive," she says, waving her hand. "You don't have to worry about them, none of them are Qun." She pronounces it with a long u and glances at Dorian. "I guess you don't have many of them around where you're from."
"We—“ Dorian starts but the woman turns her head away before Dorian has a chance to complete his sentence.
"Elevators work, of course," she jabs the elevator button with her finger. "Upper floors are mixed folks, we got mostly elves and humans, dwarfs don't like to live high nor do they want to pay extra for the space on the ground floor so we don't tend to get many of them."
Dorian nods swallowing his answer, following the woman into the elevator.
"And here we are," the manager says when the doors open and she walks to the first door, knocking it surprisingly quietly. "It's just me, knight-commander. Going to show the apartment to someone."
She pauses for a moment but it's all quiet inside. She turns to Dorian, shrugging.
"Ex-templar," she says. "Can be a bit jumpy so I tend to give him a warning. Mostly harmless, though."
Dorian wonders about the word, mostly, but the manager is opening the neighbouring door, holding it open for Dorian.
"100 gold a month, water and heating included. You pay for internet and cable and whatever else you want. Deposit is two months rent, non-negotiable. And non-refundable if you break the building rules." she lists. "Feel free to look around."
Dorian steps in, curious.
It's certainly different from the Circle dorms Dorian is used to, or his parents’ home in Qarinus. The apartment is not big but it’s clean, with a view to the back alley. Dorian opens the window and cranes his neck to look out but doesn't see anything but parked cars and and elf on a bicycle. Kitchenette has gas stove and a place for a microwave, and Dorian runs his finger on the imitation wood counter out of habit but finds it not dusty, to his surprise. The manager seems more interested in her phone now than in him so Dorian goes into the bedroom. Inbuilt closets line one wall and he measures the distance between walls with long strides - it should be big enough for his bed.
"If I want it," Dorian asks, sticking his head out. "How soon do you need the deposit?"
"Payable on signing," the woman says not lifting her eyes off her phone. "It's not yours before that."
Dorian comes back out, surveying the living room. There’s Qunari living downstairs and his next door neighbour would be a mostly harmless ex-templar — but he wants it. Wants to make this decision on his own for himself and show his parents and Rilienus that he can do it. Dorian clears his throat.
“I’ll take it,” he says and then a little bit louder because the manager didn’t seem to hear. “I’ll take it.”
The manager lifts her head, pocketing the her phone.
“Great,” she says “We can go and do the paperwork now if you wish.”
As the pass the first door, Dorian can hear shuffling from the inside and the manager stops again, fingertips barely touching the door.
“It’s just me, Evelyn…” she says quietly but there’s no reply this time either.
She makes no further comment and Dorian doesn’t ask.
***
In the evening Dorian drags his laptop downstairs to the lobby and finds a relatively peaceful corner where he gets decent reception and plugs in his computer. First he sends a brief email to his mother of his new address and move-in date - he doesn't mention that the apartment is in Lowtown, or the building's diverse occupants. His mother will always find out, some way, and Dorian will deal with it when the time comes.
Dorian: You home? I have wifi.
Rilienus: Gimme a second.
Dorian waits and within seconds Rilienus' icon turns green. Dorian puts his headphones on and hits the camera button. Rilienus picks up almost immediately, and there is that few seconds' pause when they wait for the video feed to stabilise and then Rilienus smiles. Dorian breathes out, he hadn't realised how much he needed to see a familiar face until now.
"Finally!" Rilienus grins and for a second Dorian feels a sting in his heart.
"Finally," Dorian smiles back, something in his chest is moving. "I'm in the lobby, they don't have internet in the rooms so hopefully you can hear me."
"It's fine," Rilienus nods and he doesn't seem to be able to stop smiling. "But Kirkwall! Tell me everything. You got the place?"
"I got it," Dorian says "It's... well it's not Minrathous, but I knew that much. Mixed building, though it seems peaceful enough."
"Mixed! How Free Marches!" Rilienus laughs delighted. "You mean just elves... or the whole deal?"
"Whole deal, as you say," Dorian grins. "I didn't actually see the whole deal yet but that's what I was told."
Rilienus leans his chin to his hands and looks at Dorian. "I swear, if you have all the fun to yourself..." His tone is playful despite the pout.
The request is right there on Dorian's lips but he closes them and smiles.
"Tomorrow I'll go and see Alexius about the job," he says instead. "Imagine that, me with a job."
"Never!" Rilienus pretends shock. "Those delicate hands were never meant for that!"
"I'll hardly get callouses from lifting a few books," Dorian chuckles. "I'm sure it'll be dreadfully boring and all that. I'll text you when I know more."
Rest of the call is just mundane pleasantries, both avoiding talking about the distance and carefully tiptoeing around any subjects they had already agreed not to mention. When the call is over Dorian stares at the screen until it goes black, and then carefully closes his computer. Noise in the lobby is starting to give him a headache and he soon retires to his room.
Sleep takes him quickly despite the noise of the traffic outside.
***
At breakfast Dorian checks his mail on his phone. One from his mother, telling him that her and his father would be more than happy to help with living expenses so that he could get "something nicer". Dorian resists the urge to just delete the email out of frustration, but ignores it for now. Rilienus has sent him a link to a film trailer which Dorian watches, grinning because it's just the kind of movie he hates and Rilienus loves.
You go right ahead, Dorian writes back, and don't tell me about it. Take Antonius, he adds and then promptly deletes before pressing send.
There's also an email from Alexius about their appointment today, giving him instructions on how to take the bus to Bibliopola, and Dorian reads them few times and then saves them for later for when he doesn't have wifi.
Dorian dresses up, feeling anxiety building up in the pit of his stomach as he stares himself in the mirror. He looks immaculate of course, hair carefully arranged just as he wants it, moustache tips on point. Dressed casual in a carefully calculated way, copying his mother more than he would ever admit, down to his rings and the heavy pendant carrying the family crest, warm against his skin. He frowns at his image and then relaxes his face to a warm smile he knows can charm just about anyone.
Right. Let's do this.
***
Dorian decides buses in Kirkwall are confusing and is glad of the extra time he had prepared with. It's a warm day and the bus is positively boiling, and he can feel sweat trickling down his back as he surveys the scenery out of the window. Lowtown changes into Hightown and he sees how streets here are visibly cleaner and buildings better maintained, and as he steps out of the bus with two elves he realises that everyone in the bus must be workers here only to serve the rich before returning back to their families in the evening. Workers, just like he's about to become. The thought is strange and exhilarating.
Bibliopola is located on a peaceful side road and Dorian watches the shop for awhile from the other side of the street. The storefront is black, with the name Bibliopola written with heavy brass letters in an old fashioned Tevinter font, and the words "books for magic users" painted in white underneath. During the five minutes Dorian observes the shop he can see one customer exiting, and she's not carrying anything that Dorian could interpret as a purchase.
He checks the time on his phone and when it's exactly 7 minutes to noon, he enters the shop.
The bell on the door rings and a man sitting behind a stack of books looks up and a smile of recognition spreads across his face.
"Dorian!" he says getting up and before Dorian can reply the man has taken him firmly by the shoulders and kissed him on both cheeks.
All his carefully practiced lines get stuck in his throat as Alexius pats him on the back.
"Felix!" he booms. "Felix! Dorian is here!"
There's shuffling in the back and then a young man with a shaved head appears from between shelves. When he smiles his resemblance to Alexius is striking and Dorian forces himself to smile back.
"Welcome," Felix says and to Dorian's relief Felix doesn't try to kiss him.
Instead he gets a warm handshake and a cheeky grin. "My father has talked about nothing else but you for the past two days," he says. "If you're even half as amazing as he claims I think we just might be saved."
Alexius grabs Dorian by the arm, pulling him further in.
"Come, come, my dear boy, we must talk," he says. "I'm so glad you're here! Tea?"
Dorian has just about time to nod before he's sat down at a table that Alexius attempts to clean off books.
"You boys get acquainted, and I'll get some tea and cookies," he says and picks up a few more volumes before disappearing to the back room.
Felix looks at Dorian grinning.
"Well, I sure hope you're prepared to put up with him," he says.
"I was under the impression," Dorian says clearing his throat, "that this was an interview."
"Oh Maker no," Felix says waving his hand. "Is that why you're dressed up so fancy? Don't worry, the job was yours as soon as he got the email from Halward about you coming here."
Dorian's heart sinks a little but doesn't let his smile waver.
"I always dress like this," he says instead and Felix cocks his head.
"I guess that's what they wear in Tevinter?" he asks. "We don't go back much anymore, so I don't really keep up with it."
Felix himself is wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans and Dorian suddenly feels overdressed with his designer shirt and embroidered vest.
"Nevermind," Felix says, and maybe he can read Dorian better than Dorian would like. "Tell me about you. Have you found a place yet? If you haven't please tell my father you have, or he'll force you to move in with us."
Dorian can't help but to smile and it’s genuine this time, something about the younger man's demeanour is completely disarming.
"I have, actually. I signed a lease yesterday." Dorian says. "I get to move in next week, my stuff should have arrived by then."
"You should have said something sooner!" Alexius says, coming in with a tray. "We have room in our house, you would have been more than welcome to stay with us."
Felix lifts his eyebrows at Dorian and Dorian doesn't suppress a grin.
"Thank you, but I won't impose," he says. "The place I found is just fine."
Alexius puts the tray down and pours tea for everyone. It's an earthy Free Marches brew and Dorian sips it cautiously.
"About this job," he says. "I would like to hear what it entails."
Alexius nods, satisfied.
"I don't know how much your father has told you about our situation?" he says more serious now, and Dorian shakes his head a little. "Felix is going to be working less, so I need someone to help me around here."
Felix doesn't look at Dorian anymore, his face impassive now.
"And he keeps telling me that we should open... what is it again Felix?" Alexius asks and Felix gives him a slight smile.
"Online shop, dad," he says and turns to Dorian. "He can't even write emails if I don't help him. But it's the only way now, we have so many rare books we can't sell because no one knows they're here."
"I'm not sure why it's so important," Alexius waves. "But I'm sure you know all about it. So I need someone who understands our customers needs and can help with categorising new books. And who can stand in for me and take care of the shop when I can't be here."
Alexius looks at Dorian and his smile is gone now.
"Maybe it doesn't sound like fun to a young person like you, but it doesn't have to be permanent." There's something in Alexius' voice that makes Dorian uneasy. "But I would really appreciate you helping us out. I'll pay you a salary, and all the books you want to read."
"And work hours?" Dorian asks, pretending that it is a negotiation.
"10 to 5," Alexius says. "An hour for lunch. I promise, our customers are nice and quite infrequent."
"Alright," Dorian says. "I'll take it."
***
He ends up staying for longer than intended, looking at the shop and chatting. Alexius insists Dorian call him Gereon and soon they are engrossed talking about history of magic and Felix leaves them to it. But when he's leaving Felix slips him a piece of paper with his phone number with "Let's go for coffee sometime" scribbled on it, and after refusing Alexius' offer to drive him back to the inn several times, Dorian is soon back on the bus with a copy of Arbatel de Magia Veterum under his arm.
Dorian: I got the job. I like Alexius, he's not like I imagined him.
Rilienus: How so?
Dorian: Him being a friend of my father's, I imagined him more like that. But he was very nice. Met his son too.
Dorian: May go out for coffee with him sometime.
Rilienus: Sounds nice.
And there is a pause while Dorian stares at the phone, wanting desperately to dial the number and hear Rilienus' voice and his tone when he says it. Or just, hear his voice.
There is no Skype that night: Dorian doesn't suggest it and neither does Rilienus ask.
Dorian falls asleep with Arbatel de Magia on his lap.