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

[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."

[pecked_by_birds]

"Mmm, when it comes to Robin, he much prefers to be the one making the entrance. I've never known him to like being upstaged..." Prometheus countered.

[harrowgate]

Felix couldn't argue that directly, obviously, so he inquired instead, "You've known Robin for how many centuries? I know the puck has a temper, but surely you're not... afraid of him?"

[pecked_by_birds]

"I'm not afraid of him, no. ...I fear seeing any sign of hurt or upset on his face," the titan confessed. "We have known one another so long, and I am often vanishing. ...Too often."

[harrowgate]

Felix spread his hands briefly, but they were at the point of decision now, with the front door of the club only steps away. "I'm certainly not qualified to give relationship advice to men who have lived since the dawn of history. But if you want Robin, you should tell him. And if you don't... you should tell him that, too."

[pecked_by_birds]

"The puck isn't mine to have. He is free, as am I. This isn't a lovers' quandary, it's- Slightly more complex than that," Prometheus said softly. "I love the puck, and he is wise enough to not love me in return. We share something though- History, I suppose. When I vanish, I believe it's just a reminder of how fleeting things are, even when it comes to the world's seemingly more permanent fixtures."

[harrowgate]

Privately, Felix thought the real reason was a bit less philosophical, but he didn't know the puck and the titan's relationship. He only knew Robin just slightly, but he didn't know him to be quite that deeply introspective.

"You've known him longer," Felix said, which was just as good as saying nothing at all. Then, he sighed. "Listen, if you show me where the back door is, I can get us in. Locks are something of a specialty of mind. I can't guarantee Robin will be delighted to have us breaking in to his bar."

[pecked_by_birds]

"No, he'll be cross, I imagine," the titan chuckled. "Still, let's do it," he decided, gesturing for him to follow.

[harrowgate]

Felix did follow, glancing behind them to see if anyone noted the two of them strolling casually down an alley behind the building, but no one seemed to. He rubbed his hands together as they went; it was still cold and he'd been without his coat for awhile now.

At the back door, Felix lifted one hand, palm out, to over over the door's handle and lock mechanism. He paused, and frowned. In the shadows, a number of little pale green lights flicked into existence, shaped vaguely like chrysanthemum flowers, giving Felix's pale skin a somewhat sickly cast. "He has a security system, I think. I can disable it, of course... would you mind getting in to the left pocket of my coat, there, and handing me the bag you'll find there? It has my rings."

There was, indeed, a small draw-string bag in the pocket just where Felix said, which clinked dully with the sound of metal and stone.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus wasn't shy about being in the wizard's space, slipping his hand into the pocket and gingerly removing the bag.

"These are like focuses, I imagine. Yes?" he asked, holding the pouch out in offering. "If you need a moment, I can very briefly pause time around us. Though I must stress the briefly part. My power isn't what it once was."

[harrowgate]

"You can stop time?" Felix repeated incredulously, slipping on the rings without even looking at them, knowing by touch which one fit which finger. They were silver, set with moonstones, that glinted dully in the green light. It seemed inconsequential to explain their usage when offered such an incomprehensible magical feat.

"I really ought to tell you no, that it's contrary to the laws of nature, but if you really can..." Felix couldn't resist. If it were real and possible, he had to know. His curiosity was insatiable.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Pause time," the titan corrected, as if that were different somehow. "And nature's much more flexible than people assume."

The titan didn't use his powers often, it had a habit of drawing unwanted attention- However, Zeus clearly already had one eye on him. The old wanker would simply fume a bit harder later. One hand in the air, the titan didn't use magic so much as he used a deeper knowledge of the partials and elements all around them, shifting things in a way that caused everything to stop. Everything outside their personal bubble, anyway.

"Thirty six seconds. That's the best I can do, I'm afraid. Longer than that and I start to loose my grip and things slide about. ...I don't think London fancies an earthquake or a heatwave."