londoncallingrpg

The past month- Months?- Had been strange. One night he'd found himself compelled to go out, as though something was calling to him. A silent siren song that had coaxed him into his car and out into the country.

Where had he gone? What had he done?

Those were the questions he had to ask himself when he woke up in the middle of Hyde park in a rumpled suit and a brand new body. ...Possibly brand new. Certainly new to him in that moment, since he couldn't recall much of anything from the past few weeks. His head was pounding, and he was in agony.

A large bird sat upon him. A hawk, he thought absently- Or maybe not. He couldn't seem to focus on it. Not when his gaze was so strongly drawn to all the blood. ...His blood.

"No," he said softly, trying to chase it away with a weak wave of his hand. "I'm free, you can't- He can't," he insisted, right before the world went dark. ...Not that it mattered. It would heal, he would heal. He always did. How else could the punishment continue?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

harrowgate

Not that he really expected the puck to open up to him, but Felix had never heard anything quite like this about Robin before. Certainly not from Robin. "You're saying that he has feelings for you," Felix surmised, clearly processing this as new information.

From:

pecked_by_birds

"I'm saying we've known one another a very long time, and he doesn't like it when I vanish on him without a word. I've done it one time too many, I'm afraid," the titan replied honestly, not wanting to assume why the puck disliked it so.

From:

harrowgate

"I understand, objectively, that sort of thing happens when feelings are involved." Felix's tone was dry, but not critical. He was more inclined to Prometheus' point of view, at any rate: there was no one he had loved enough to miss since he was a very young child.

"Our cab should be just up here," he added, leading Prometheus to the street, consulting his phone the entire way there. "Or, well... if you prefer I don't go with you, I quite understand."

From:

pecked_by_birds

"No, please, come with me. Perhaps you can stop Robin from slapping me should we cross paths with the puck," the titan insisted. "Besides, I have a few questions to ask, if you don't mind indulging me."

From:

harrowgate

Felix nodded slightly in acquiescence. He doubted he could keep Robin from doing anything the puck truly wanted to do, but given permission, he wouldn't miss this reunion for the world. "Are they the sort of questions that will cause our driver to think us quite mad? I only ask so I'm prepared to provide the proper gratuity," Felix noted, blinking and squinting into the street until he identified the cab that was waiting for them. He led Prometheus in that direction, and got the door when they reached it.

From:

pecked_by_birds

"Nothing terribly strange, no," The titan promised as they walked. "Though perhaps before we enter the car I should ask this one question- What is the date?"

From:

harrowgate

"It's the ninth of February," Felix answered, then paused, and added just in case, "Two thousand seventeen." Then he caught the door of the cab and pulled it open, magnanimously gesturing Prometheus inside with a flourish and a bow.

From:

pecked_by_birds

The titan frowned at that news, but nodded his thanks. ...About three months then. Three months that he couldn't account for.

"Thank you. That helps," he assured him.

From:

harrowgate

Felix couldn't imagine walking through life not even knowing what day it was. He considered Prometheus warily for a few moments, then nodded, and slid into the cab with him.

After giving the driver the address for Saturnalia, read from the screen of his phone, Felix tucked his mobile back in his pocket, and turned to Prometheus again. He hesitated, then spoke slowly, being careful of his words. "Robin is well, if you were wondering. We see each other fairly regularly."

From:

pecked_by_birds

"Of course he is. If there's one thing Robin does, it's flourish and survive," The titan said warmly. "Are you close then? You and the puck?"

From:

harrowgate

"I think I'm a bit closer than he is," answered Felix with a short laugh. "I've been trying to convince him that we're friends for at least a year. I think Robin prefers the 'with benefits' amendment," he added in a lower voice. It was only to spare the driver, not Prometheus. One didn't enter a relationship with Robin Goodfellow expecting chastity.

From:

pecked_by_birds

"We're all slaves to our nature," the titan chuckled. "Dear Robin is no exception."

From:

harrowgate

"He enjoys causing trouble for me," Felix allowed, waving a dismissive hand. "My lover doesn't like him. It's a drama worthy of daytime television."

Sighing, he turned more attentively to Prometheus. "You had questions?"

From:

pecked_by_birds

"Mmm, I was hoping you might be able to tell me what I've missed. I've been- Away, let's say, for the past three months. What events have come to pass? Anything I might be expected to know?"

From:

harrowgate

"Well, America elected a wealthy orangutan as their President and the world lost its mind over it," Felix said conversationally. As a member of a magical order who had been guiding -- when not outright controlling -- English politics for centuries, the arrival of a single man at the head of another country held less than the usual significance for Felix. "It's all desperately ugly, I'm afraid.

"George Michael died, rather unexpectedly," he added in a not dissimilar tone. "I quite liked his music."

From:

pecked_by_birds

The titan scratched his jaw, frowning to himself. "I feel terribly left behind."

It had been a long time since he'd lost so much time at once.

From:

harrowgate

Felix offered the other man a placating smile. "Simply be continually outraged at the injustice of the world, and declare vehemently that 2016 was the worst possible year in history, and no one shall notice a thing. Do you think you'll re-open that shop of yours?"

From:

pecked_by_birds

"I think it may have remained somewhat open in my absence. I have a friend- Miss. Ives- She was looking after it for me. Opening it when she had time," the titan admitted.

From:

harrowgate

"I have a friend by that name. Miss... Vanessa Ives?" Felix asked, somewhat surprised. Their conversations had not touched on this.

From:

pecked_by_birds

"One and the same, yes," Prometheus nodded. "She was looking after it while I was away in New York with Goodfellow, but I believe she's continued to keep an eye on it and even open it on occasion during my, ah, unexpected absence."

From:

harrowgate

"Perhaps I ought to listen to my friends more closely," said Felix, wry, since he hadn't noticed any such new venture in his talks with Vanessa in the last months. "I've been assisting her recently with some security measures at her home," he added, vague enough that the driver wouldn't think anything amiss, but it was clear enough to someone who knew of Felix's magic to presume just how he was helping.

From:

pecked_by_birds

Prometheus nodded in understanding, frowning thoughtfully at the reasons Vanessa might need such a thing.

From:

harrowgate

It could be that Prometheus didn't know of the dark cloud that hung around Miss Ives, though he had quickly sussed out Felix's own magic. Perhaps it was different when supernatural influences pressed from the outside, and weren't inherent in one's very being.

"Regardless, you're only just returned," Felix went on briskly. "And we'll reach Saturnalia soon. Shall I go in with you?"