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]

"It looks good," he said honestly. "Almost like it did when it first came into my possession."

[miss_ives]

Vanessa smiled slightly. "I've become quite fond of this place." A lot more than she had expected, to be perfectly honest. "But how are you feeling? Shall I put some tea on?"

[pecked_by_birds]

"Please, I feel better but tea is always a good thing," the titan said, gaze resting on her for a moment.

"How have you been, Vanessa?" he asked gently.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa had moved to put the kettle on, and she turned back to him at his question, and gave him a small smile. "Troubled," she answered, although he of all people would have known it already. When wasn't she? "I've had a visit from an old friend. She was... wrong. I need to help her, but I can't find her."

[pecked_by_birds]

"Wrong how?" the titan asked, starting to remove his jacket and shirt so he could change. There was always a spare shirt laying around somewhere, and he selected one from a drawer under the counter. It was splattered with dried paint, but it would do.

[miss_ives]

"I didn't notice straight away," Vanessa admitted, looking away from Prometheus to let him change without scrutiny. It was about respect, rather than modesty. "But she wasn't as I knew her, although I couldn't tell you what it was exactly. But she mentioned a master, and was there and gone in an instant."

[pecked_by_birds]

"Curious," the titan said, tugging his shirt down and then crossing over to her. "Are you certain it was her, not a figment or illusion?" he asked.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa looked back at him when he came closer, and there was no doubt in her voice as she answered, "It was her."

[pecked_by_birds]

"And she mentioned a master? I wish that narrowed it down a bit, but I'm afraid you'll find many beings that demand their captives or underlings call them that. ...Though given the nature of your own affliction- One does have to wonder if it's all related somehow," the titan said, his tone not exactly lacking in compassion, but much more pragmatic than emotional.

[miss_ives]

The nature of her own affliction. The words stuck with her, for how little she actually knew of it. "It seems a bit much to be a coincidence," Vanessa agreed, turning away again to ready the mugs.

[pecked_by_birds]

"It does a bit, yes," he agreed, moving out of her way since she seemed to have tea under control.

Moving over to the old battered sofa that had been sitting against the wall for as long as he could recall, he gracefully slumped into it. It was strange to be home, but he felt more present than he had in a while.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa went through the ritual-like preparation of tea, then joined Prometheus on the sofa, handing him his mug. She blew gently on her own tea, then told him, "I can't help but worry that whatever has happened to her might be my fault."

[pecked_by_birds]

"A side effect, perhaps, if it is related. You can hardly shoulder the blame though," he said, holding the warm cup close to his chest. "You didn't ask for this. You didn't seek it out."

[miss_ives]

"A very logical argument," Vanessa agreed. "A shame, that guilt tends to be so irrational."

[pecked_by_birds]

"A wretched emotion," the titan said gently, though he said nothing more about it as he sipped his tea.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa said nothing to this, letting the silence stretch for a few seconds. She pushed aside thoughts of Mina; it was for her to figure out, and Prometheus had enough trouble of his own. "Would you like to see the vase?" she asked him eventually. "I've put it upstairs."

He had told her that it held some of his power, and she had felt how potentially dangerous it was. Storing it in the flat had seemed like the best way to make sure no one came across it.

[pecked_by_birds]

The titan seemed to consider that, then nodded.

"Please. I think that would be good."

[miss_ives]

"I'll fetch it," she told him, standing and setting her mug down. Keys grabbed, she headed upstairs, and was back a minute or so later with the unopened package Mr Collingwood had dropped off. She set it down on the counter and stepped back, giving Prometheus room to handle it however he liked.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus eyed the package as if it might contain a live tiger- But eventually put aside his tea and leaned forward to crack it open.

The vase itself wasn't terribly remarkable, but the power that radiated from it was palpable. Nervously, the titan reached out and laid hands on it, closing his eyes as he focused on the energy trapped inside.

The contact alone was enough to cause the ground beneath them to vibrate ever so slightly.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa took a couple of hurried, instinctive steps back as the power of the vase seemed to irradiate the shop, setting the ground to shake slightly. Her breath had gone short, her pupils wide, and her hand had gone to the talisman she wore under her blouse, as if touching it, even through the fabric, would allow her better protection.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus was too focused to notice her worry, and after a moment it all seemed to calm.

Opening his eyes, he looked at the vase, then over to Vanessa- Only now realizing she'd stepped away.

"It's alright- It can't hurt you. ...Well, not now anyway."

[miss_ives]

The power felt to her as if it was drawn inside of him, and after a moment, she breathed more easily. "Yes," she agreed, and gave him a small smile. "How do you feel?"

[pecked_by_birds]

"Mmm, alright I think. It's hard to say," he confessed, glancing over. "I can certainly feel a slight amplification in my power."

[miss_ives]

Vanessa watched him for a moment, then offered, "Would you like a tarot reading?" She might be able to tell him more about what had been happening to him.

[pecked_by_birds]

"I would, actually- But, that might not be wise right now. I fear I've got eyes on me, Vanessa. You don't want them on you as well. You've enough to worry about," the titan said softly.