OTA

[pecked_by_birds]

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?

Comments

[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."

[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.

[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?"

[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.

[harrowgate]

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

[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."

[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.

[pecked_by_birds]

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

[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?"

[pecked_by_birds]

"If you'd like. Might stop me from vanishing back into whatever void I've emerged from if someone's nearby," he mused aloud.

[harrowgate]

"Then I'm your companion until such time as you feel firmly rooted in this world," Felix assured him -- for Robin's sake, if not for Prometheus' own.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Thank you," the titan nodded, looking over at his companion and observing him more closely than before.

Leaning over, he wasn't shy about examining the man's tattoos- Or markings, whatever they were being called now. He was dreadful at keeping up with terminology. He was mindful enough not to touch though- intruding with his eyes rather than his hands.

[harrowgate]

This was something with which Felix was quite accustomed. Though the light was low, he offered his hands on his own lap for Prometheus' inspection. One, palm-up, showed the faint blue lines of a stylized eye in the center. The other, palm-down, showed the intricate inter-twinings of vines and three-pointed leaves in gold, red, blue, and green. If it had been done with needles, it would have taken hours, and probably hurt like hell.

[pecked_by_birds]

"You're not much like your peers, are you," he mused thoughtfully. "Though it's been some time since I encountered any of them."

[harrowgate]

"I'm not, and they would happily tell you so." After pinning him down in a holding chamber and studying him, Felix was certain. Likely not long after declaring Prometheus anathema -- like anything that lived an unnaturally long life. "I'm afraid I'm not the most popular among my set."

[pecked_by_birds]

"No?" the titan replied, glancing at the wizard and then smirking. "Hmm, me either, I suppose."

[harrowgate]

Felix visibly bit his bottom lip to hold back a laugh, though it felt cruel, recalling the legend of Prometheus. "Mine haven't chained me to anything just yet. I believe they're concerned I might enjoy it too much."

[pecked_by_birds]

"It's less fun when something's eating you alive," Prometheus assured him.

[harrowgate]

"I... would rather not imagine," Felix said with an acknowledging tip of the head.

"I think we're nearly there," he added, as the cab started to slow down. "Ready?"

[pecked_by_birds]

The titan nodded, sighing a bit as he looked out the window at the puck's club, trying to recall why he'd left the other creature's side, and failing.

[harrowgate]

When the cab came to a stop, Felix paused long enough to pay the driver, then slid out and pulled the door open for Prometheus. "Come, darling. The lions await."

[pecked_by_birds]

The titan looked unsure, feeling a pang of fear at the thought of seeing Robin. Not because he feared the puck, but because he feared facing any pain he might have caused him.

"Yes," he said quietly, getting out of the car and adjusting the borrowed coat. "I suppose they do."

[harrowgate]

Felix was willing to take it slow. He closed the car door behind Prometheus, and then escorted him toward the club, at whatever pace the titan wanted to take.

After all, Felix wanted to see what might happen, see if Robin would actually be affected by something, if the puck had real feelings beyond sarcasm and lust. Besides... he couldn't leave without his coat.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus slowed as they neared the club, then wet his lips with a nervous flick of his tongue.

"...Perhaps we should go in through the back."

[harrowgate]

Felix didn't look entirely convinced about that, but he was a very different sort of person. And he hadn't expected Prometheus to be... afraid. "If you're sure, though there is something to be said for making a splash entrance."