You seem like a fine young man

A meeting to check out the competition. How exciting! Dorian loved this sort of business, even when it made other people nervous. Maybe that was the thing. Prey didn't know what to do when they went up against predators. Dorian wasn't hostile, no, but his position above most people made them quiver in their boots. For the few minutes he's met him, he knew Vinanye wouldn't.

Truth be told, there was a lot Dorian didn't know about the fae, and he wasn't going to bother doing more research other than the basic etiquette to interact with them because he just didn't give a fuck about stupid other species nonsense. Maybe that was bigoted. He didn't know, but he wasn't bending to anyone's culture. After all, Manta Carlos was the great equalizer, and their heavens, fairy courts and hell kingdoms meant little in this island.

Despite it all, he was looking forward to meeting Vinanye. Definitely. Dorian sat at a lovely garden cafe at the Courtyard, a teapot full of piping hot tea and a plate of crumpets right in front of him. He wasn't drinking any yet. That would be poor manners!

"Huh," Dorian said with small voice, suddenly caught off-guard. He held the tulip in his hand, stared at it... and felt his entire face burn in embarrassment. What the fuck. He gave Vinanye a look over and scrubbed his cheeks. This was an unfair political tactic. Dorian, almost shyly, put the tulip on his blazer's breast pocket. He went ahead and poured them both some tea.

"English breakfast and crumpets." He paused, and chuckled, "Not to be overly British or anything. I hope you don't mind. And, please, it's alright. I don't mind. I wasn't here that long."

He leaned back into his seat with a smile, trying to ignore how his stomach was suddenly a vibrating jet engine. "It's good to finally meet you, Vinanye. I've heard good things from Milo! You're running, right? What position? And why?"

Dorian nodded at the answer. Seemed like a reasonable one, if anything. Dorian couldn't begin to judge people that had other motives for running, really. He was iffy of his own things himself. Fae were an odd sort, weren't they?

"Ah, I see! I suppose the decision-making for politics, Students or otherwise, wouldn't make sense to an outsider. I think you'll learn a lot of things and do good. You seem like the personable sort, and from what Milo said, you're very helpful." Dorian smiled, then thrummed his hands on his thighs, thinking.

"Truthfully? President has the best vantage point for power. And I like being in positions of power. Being in control of the system means you get to change how things work, make it function the way you want it to. Maybe that sounds malicious. I dunno." This... wasn't the sort of thing that Dorian would admit often, but Vinanye felt comfortable, like he wouldn't judge him for this. "Lenin said the people below need to be led by a vanguard that represents their interests. I like to justify it that way. These people don't know how to help themselves. I do. I have experience, and I have their best interests in mind. Is that so wrong?"

Dorian mentally sighed in relief at Vinanye's approval. Oh, this man was going to give him a heart attack and soothe it all at once. That seemed to be his type. He nodded. "Yes! Of course. There's nothing inherently wrong with wanting power. It's abusing it that's the problem. You see, my dad was that sort of wicked man, the kind that used power to drain people out of their energy and resources. I don't want to be like that. I want to serve the people that choose to follow me and be a representative of their interests. I find that sort of work model has done wonders for me and the people that have worked for me."

It was easy to hurt those below it. He's done it in the past. He wondered if Vinnie knew, or if he was going off solely on his answers. He felt bare under his scrutiny, shy even, surprised that he'd look at the whole of him and find good. He wanted to reach for his hand and touch it. "Well... there's a lot of reasons why people would join student politics, and it isn't usually about the politics. Parental pressure, peer pressure, popularity contests, and all that stuff. There's power in the position. Sometimes people just like to relish in it instead of actually doing good."

Dorian considered the question. "In an ideal world, I suppose that would be an option. But I can't always hire people even half as competent as I am. It's either you accept everybody and expand, or select a few and stay small. If you know good business, you'd know expansion is the ideal direction to go to. It yields you more money and benefits."

Dorian had finished his cup of tea and a crumpet, and smiled. "Have you ever joined any clubs yet, my dear?"