New York I love You (But You're Bringing Me Down) - OTA

[pecked_by_birds]

Honestly, he couldn't say why, but sometimes it wasn't the madness or the pain that drove Prometheus to travel. It was just a itch, a need he had to fulfil. Lately it had been clawing at him again, and though he'd done his best to put it off... New York was calling to him. He needed to go. He'd return to London, of course, he always did after all. Though to ensure he returned sooner rather than later this time, he'd hung a 'Help Wanted' sign in the window of his shop. With any luck he'd find someone to run it in his absence.

Soft music filled the shop, and as usual the titan was behind one of his canvases. Paint tinted the tips of his fingers and was splattered all over his jeans as he neared completion on his latest piece. He'd taken a sharp turn back into realism lately, and dark hues and clear lines presented an image of a ratty looking bookshop on a corner in New York.

(OTA! This is Prometheus' last post until he returns next year, so if you need a chat, now's the time. <3)

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[miss_ives]

Vanessa walked into the shop with a briefcase, but was temporarily distracted by the painting. Instead of greeting Prometheus in a more traditional manner, she asked, "Where is that?"

[pecked_by_birds]

Glancing back over his shoulder, the titan studied Vanessa for a beat before answering.

"New York, Greenwich Village to be exact. Or, simply, 'The Village', if you prefer," he replied.

[miss_ives]

"I don't really have a preference," Vanessa answered, amused and fond, as she walked over to the counter and set the briefcase down. "That's the rest of the 19th century."

[pecked_by_birds]

"You work quickly," he said, visibly impressed as he put his brush aside and wiped his hands clean on his t-shirt.

"Thank you," he said, not for the first time. "It means a lot to me to have all of this taken care of."

[miss_ives]

"Hardly all of it," Vanessa replied with a smile. "There's a lot left on which I must still work." But her attention went back to the painting. "Another shop of yours?"

[pecked_by_birds]

"One of my favourites," Prometheus nodded. "That shop is nearly as old as the city itself. ...I lived there many times."

He was silent for a moment, then frowned. "It's been in my dreams lately. I intend to return to it for a while."

[miss_ives]

"You're leaving us," Vanessa acknowledged, unable to help a small pinch of sorrow. Prometheus owed her nothing, but he was one of the few to really see her, she felt. Perhaps because his own history was so much more complex. Perhaps because he didn't fit in, either.

She smiled, still, a smile that reached her eyes. It was his choice, of course, and she was happy if he, at least, knew what he wanted, what he needed to go forward. "Will you leave a forwarding address? Or shall I sit on the rest of your journals until you return?"

She hoped that he would, but what was time to someone who had lived as long as he had? A mortal life must seem so short to him.

[pecked_by_birds]

The titan looked thoughtful for a moment, then hummed.

"I can do better than an address," he decided, moving to the counter and pulling a spare key from the drawer. He studied it, then held it out in offering. "I'm hoping to find someone to run this shop while I'm away. Incentive to come back sooner rather than later," he explained. "Even if I don't manage to find someone for the job, however, you're welcome to come and go as you like. I'm sure there are things in the basement I've not laid eyes on in eons that you might find interesting. ...Or useful."

He paused again, then added. "Though if you'd like an address as well, I can provide you with one."

[miss_ives]

Vanessa paused for a moment, then took the offered key with a grateful nod, and met his gaze, her own quietly hopeful. "I'm a terribly old-fashioned person. I like to write letters." That was to say, she would like to write to him, in his absence.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus nodded in understanding, then smiled, returning to the counter again and digging around a little.

It took time, but eventually he procured a very old looking business card for a shop called, 'The Gift Of Knowledge'.

"Here," he smiled. "The address remains unchanged."

[miss_ives]

"Thank you," Vanessa told him, meeting his smile with one of her own as she took the card. She studied it, then looked up at him again. "And for the key, as well."

For so much more than that, beside.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus smiled faintly, then nodded. "Thank you. I'll look forward to your letters."

[miss_ives]

"I can only promise that they will be lengthy, and hope that they will not be tedious," Vanessa told him, poking fun at herself.

[goodfellow]

Robin had known that Prometheus would leave again. And at least this time he'd had some warning, Prometheus confessing when he started to feel the itch to leave. So he was unsurprised when he walked into the shop and saw the help wanted sign and the painting of New York.

He walked up behind him. Rather than greeting him he said, "What if I came with you."

[pecked_by_birds]

"And abandon your club? Your friends and lovers?" the titan asked, touched, but frowning slightly in concern as he lowered his brush and looked back at the puck. "Is that what you really want? You know you're welcome, but I don't believe you'd be happy for long, Robin."

[goodfellow]

These were of course fair points, and Robin had mixed feelings about the idea as well. But he also didn't like the idea of Prometheus just disappearing again.

"I could use a vacation," he finally said.

Though he paused a beat and added, "I wasn't sure if I was part of the London you're escaping."

[pecked_by_birds]

"It's not an escape at all," Prometheus sighed, turning away from the painting and studying the puck.

"I just need to be there a while. Not forever, just a while."

[goodfellow]

Robin was starting to feel very foolish. This was why he didn't like getting attached. He wasn't sure what he'd expected - for Prometheus to be relieved, thrilled, at the offer? Robin wasn't even sure why he'd done it, except that he missed Prometheus when he was gone.

And maybe, he acknowledged, it was just that he wanted to be the one to leave, this time. On his terms.

"I can see why you might rather be alone," he finally said.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Robin, if you want to come, I'd adore your company," Prometheus assured him. "I didn't mean to make it sound as though I wouldn't. ...I only worry you'll grow restless. Though I suppose, if you do, you can always return before I do."

[goodfellow]

"... right," said Robin, who had a pretty good feeling that was exactly what would happen.

He moved closer to Prometheus, and stood behind him, sliding his arms around his waist. "Like I said, a vacation. With you. We could start by getting a fancy hotel room and then not leaving it for a while."

[pecked_by_birds]

"I actually have a place to stay in mind," the titan confessed, gesturing at the painting.

[goodfellow]

Robin looked over Prometheus' shoulder.

"You want to live in a bookshop?"

[pecked_by_birds]

"Above," the titan replied. "Do you not remember it? ...That was you, wasn't it?"

Honestly, sometimes time blurred into a strange mess of faces and places.

[goodfellow]

Robin looked at the painting again.

"... oh. That's right. I had to figure out what to do with that place after you bailed."

[pecked_by_birds]

"I still own it. I haven't been back in years though..." Prometheus confessed, turning around in the puck's hold to face him.