so_far_fallen | For withallofmyself

Aria had woken early and left Basil slumbering in his bed. He planned to make him up a tea tray and some breakfast to take up, it was something they often did for one another if they didn't have to be anywhere urgently in the mornings.

As he padded downstairs to the hall Aria noticed an envelope had been put through their letterbox so he went to collect it. He didn't recognise the swirling handwriting the address was written in, and it was very rarely that they received letters from anyone who wasn't Lord Henry, but he gave a shrug and took the letter to put it on the side of the tray with Basil's toast, deciding it couldn't be anything more sinister than a commission from a fan of Basil's art or perhaps a cheque for outstanding payment for a piece.

Once the breakfast was ready Aria took it up and put it on the stand beside the bed, then leaned down to press the softest of kisses to Basil's cheek.
"Good morning."

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"Basil tells me you've been travelling, Mr. Gray," Aria says. "How was your trip? I imagine you saw some wonderful things."

"Yes." He says, a bit slowly. He seems surprised that Aria is speaking to him and that Basil is allowing the younger man to have social control of the situation. "I went all over the world. Basil would have loved it. So many beautiful places. And beautiful boys, so lovely and so sweet and willing." He went on to describe his romps through the near east and the upper reaches of the African continent, and the Mediterranian (where he and Harry had "many wonderous exploits", he claimed) and of his visits to New York and Chicago in the US. He rambled at length without much care for the fact that Basil was looking sicker by the minute.

"Goodness," Aria remarks, when Dorian pauses for breath, "That sounds very exciting. Probably a little to energetic for us, but what a wonderful experience it must have been."

He leans forwards to pour tea for himself and top up Basil's cup the way he likes it.

"So if it's not too bold to ask, what brings you back? And to the door of our humble abode to boot?"

"Oh I got tired of it. Came to see what I could get up to here at home. Missed the parties and the dens." Dorian says, shrugging. "Of course I happened to pass by Basil's and thought I'd see what the old thing was up to but you were gone, dearest." He sighs. "So I went straightaway to Harry's to ferret the answer out of him."

"Yes, well here we are," Aria says, lightly. "It's so much quieter, easier for Basil to work. And a smaller house is so much more manageable."

He feels like he's talking for Basil, but he's aware of how anxious his lover seems and doesn't want to watch him struggle and be uncomfortable.

"I'm sure having a new muse living in makes the work very easy, yes." Dorian says and there's teasing contempt in the way he says "muse".

Aria ignores the comment and just nods.

"Are you staying close by or will you be returning to London today, Mr. Gray?" he asks.

"Well, I thought I might stay a little while. Take the country air, catch up with dear old Basil. He's clearly been up to quite a bit since I left."

"Do you have rooms? There's a lovely guest house in the village, I believe it's called The Old Granary."

In other words he's not welcome to stay here in the house.

Dorian looks shocked, blinking at Basil before turning a sugar-sweet smile on the painter.

"Basil won't mind a bit if I stay, will you darling?"

Basil looks pale.

"The house isn't really s-set u-up for..." He mumbles helplessly.

"We don't really have the room," Aria adds, to help Basil. "Sorry, that must seem very unfriendly, but we wouldn't have a bed for you here. You'd be so much more comfortable down the road."

Dorian looks aghast at Basil, who smiles thinly.

"I cannot do anything about the s-size of the house, Dorian, there simply isn't anywhere s-suitable..." He can't imagine Dorian Gray sleeping on a sofa, and judging by Dorian's expression, neither can he. The little blond narrows his eyes at Basil.

"We don't really entertain," Aria explains, "We don't have much cause to. We tend to keep ourselves to ourselves here. I'm sorry if it's a nuisance."

He sounds as genuine as he can possibly manage.

Dorian looks annoyed.

"Fine." He hisses. "I'm not sure how I'll get there, the cab from the train station has already gone." He glares at Aria, since he seems to be the one with all the answers while Basil sips his tea.

"I'll walk you there, it really isn't far at all," Aria offers, trying to sound bright and cheery. "It's quite a lovely path to stroll actually, I'm sure you'll like it."

"W-we'll all walk." Basil declares, suddenly afraid to leave Aria alone with Dorian. "It really is lovely. There's wild roses all along the path, it's beautiful."

"Oh yes, that sounds lovely. Perhaps we could have our supper there? For a treat?" Aria suggests. It's another way of making sure Dorian is in the house for as little time as possible.

Dorian looks increasingly disgusted.

"I think I'll see myself along, thank you. I'm not so stupid as to see that I'm not wanted in this little dollhouse you've set up for yourself, Basil."

Aria scowls.

"That's hardly fair, Mr. Gray. You can see for yourself we simply haven't the room. What would you suggest we do?"

He puts his teacup down and sighs.

"If you'd given a little notice before your visit Basil could have told you so himself."

"He's never minded my spontaneous visits, have you Basil? You used to delight in my company and not want for anything else in this world." Dorian says, with the tone of a child who has discovered a toy they once abandoned has been picked up by another, and is suddenly covetous.

Aria prickles and feels himself becoming uncharacteristically venomous.

"Yes, well, I think 'used to' is the key phrase there. That was rather a long time ago, wasn't it? Things are quite different now."

"How dare you." Dorian says, sharply. "What are you, anyway? Some little nothing from a gutter? Basil has allowed you to believe yourself above your place. He'd do anything for a pretty face, including forget all sense."

"Dorian, stop, please..." Basil says, putting a shaking hand on Aria's arm.

"I find you a very rude man, Mr. Gray, and I may have come from nothing but I have more decency, kindness, and manners than your high and wealthy upbringing have managed to afford you, and that's certain."

Aria stands.

"Basil, I think Mr. Gray should leave."

Dorian glares venomously at Aria.

"Yes, perhaps I had better. Basil, will you see me out? Or do you intend to sit there while your little shrew wife orders me out?" He spits.

Basil gets up and gently indicates that Aria should sit.

"I'll see you to the door, Dorian." He says, hoarsely.

They leave the sitting room together, but a moment later there is a harsh cry from the front hall which could only be Basil's voice.

Aria watches them go, glaring after Dorian but biting his tongue. If looks could kill Dorian would be flat on the floor.

He sits in the sitting room, steaming and trying to stop his trembling hands from shaking so much in his anger, but the moment he hears Basil's cry he jumps to his feet and rushes to see what has happened.