Once Dottore finished, Pantalone clapped—causing the Doctor to jolt and finally notice his presence.
A brief flash of embarrassment would cross Dottore’s face at being caught; something Pantalone savoured nearly as much as the music itself.
#dottolone#panttore
Occasionally, Dottore would hum quietly to himself as he worked.
Despite Pantalone’s frequent visits to the lab, he rarely got the chance to hear it. But when he did, he’d settle into his designated chair in the corner of the room, closing his eyes to listen.
Every segment favoured a different tune.
18 liked the melodic airs of Sumeru; 65 preferred the sombre tones of Snezhnaya. 35 and 45 were prone to humming whatever suited their mood—most often songs from the latest performances they’d seen.
#dottolone
🪙“You’ve ruined my shirt.”
🧪“Wear mine.”
A rustle, then-
🪙 “…It doesn’t fit.”
🧪“Nonsense. We’re of a similar build-”He trails off as he sees the blue fabric stretched tight over Pantalone’s chest, the buttons barely keeping the shirt from bursting at the seams.
🪙 “See? Your clothes are too small,” he complains. His arms stretch wide as if to show his point.
Dottore is too distracted to answer—the slivers of pale skin that peek through the gaping buttons and the taut fabric outlining his nipples are making his blood rush south.
Soon, rumours are heard—that the radical zealots of the fake moon god have been obliterated without a trace. The curse of a sealed god that has long poisoned Nod Krai’s soil is finally lifted, leaving behind nothing but two sets of footprints heading north.
He rests his hand over Feofan’s throat with a false gentleness, ready to crush at the slightest whim. Feofan lays his own hand over Dottore’s and looks up at the god with a feverish heat in his eyes.
“No—I merely ask you to make me your one and only follower.”
The sacrifice’s demeanour catches Dottore’s interest. Though his lack of fear and respect is grating, his logic is sound. At least he seems smarter than the pitiful bunch that calls themselves his devotees.
“Hmm… and what do you wish for in return? Your own freedom, perhaps?”
There is no fear, only envy: Envy that he is not the sole individual permitted to behold and worship this perfect being, that some worthless cult knew of this god long before he ever did.
But he has a chance to correct that situation. Luckily, words have never failed him before.
“Your cult has done nothing substantial for you these past 500 years—you deserve better. Someone more competent and worthy of your gaze. You can kill me and condemn yourself to another 500 years of monotony—or I can break your seal and set you free,” Feofan says brazenly.
#dottolone Instead of a lab, Feofan is sold to a cult as a sacrifice for their “moon god”—a god supposedly sealed and erased from the records for rebelling against the heavens.
Strapped to the altar, Feofan is mesmerised by the god’s beauty. In an instant, he is converted.