driftfleet | ninth labyrinth

Entry tags:

ninth labyrinth

Who: Felix Harrowgate
Broadcast:
Action: Pathstone
When: Monday 6/27

Pathstone - Crowley's quarters (& elsewhere?)

[Felix opens his eyes and finds himself staring up at dark metal walls. While the transition is somewhat jarring, there's not the same kind of panic as the first time he'd gone home in his sleep and woke up here. The difference this time is in emotion. The previous times he's been on the heels of pain, fear, and anxiety. Lingering questions about what would happen to him and his brother next. There is certainly apprehension, but the questions don't carry the same mortal weight as they had in the past. His future was no more certain than any person's, to be sure, but this time there felt like a reasonable chance that he could, in fact, have a chance.

Slowly, he sits up in bed, wincing at the ache in his muscles. He isn't sure how long he's been sleeping this time, but he gets the sense - beyond the physical - that it's been awhile. Worry about that fact fizzles in the wake of his next thought: This isn't his room. It's Crowley's. There's a wave of relief that he still remembers the name and that there's still recognizable signs of the demon habitation. Enough to make his heart jump just a little in the very opposite of fear.

He takes his time collecting himself, waiting to see if Crowley will be coming back to his room any time soon. Measuring time is impossible and irrelevant. Regardless of whether or not the demon returns, he will eventually leave the room. First order of business was a shower, which was particularly needed after two weeks of being bedridden, but after that a trip to the kitchen would be in order.]

Video - Fleetwide

[The Felix that appears on screen is his usual presentable self, albeit with a little damp still clinging to his curly red hair. He smiles softly, nervous at admitting what might be considered a weakness]

I appears I've been gone for some time. Hopefully the library hasn't fallen into complete disarray while I've been asleep. Or anything else, for that matter.

Where are we now?

Video - Starstruck only

What is the status of our illustrious crew? Anything I should know?

[Is is safe to come out now? Last he checked, half the crew was knee-deep in some kind of glitch that he had, at the time, no ability to deal with. Thus the reason the wizard had been living aboard for the Pathstone for the better part of two weeks before he had fallen unconscious yet again.]

((ooc:Felix is awake and canon-updated. Feel free to find him anywhere on the Pathstone for the action section))

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[Weeks. That's far longer than the last time, though he can only guess at what that means. Might it be that he's seen the last of his life that the Atroma intends to give him? Or will the next time be months. The uncertainty is nothing new.]

[He nods slightly] I did. Other than stiff from lying here for so long...I think I'm fine. The fantôme, surprisingly, ended up being something of a boon.

[The relief that Felix is here and okay is making Crowley have one of his rare (openly) charitable moments, so he shifts a little behind Felix, putting his hands on the man's shoulders, starting to work the knots out. Of course, he does nothing to draw attention to the fact he's doing this, that would be TOO obvious. ]

That a fact? Did your little ridealong help you out or something?

[Felix does his part by not making any remark about this fact, beyond the exhale of relief that gets half hidden in a weak laugh]

Not the way it would have liked. Nor of it's own volition, truth be told. I'm sure it would have been perfectly appalled that it saved so many lives, but I am fairly certain it didn't survive to be able to express it.

[There's a twitch of a smile at Crowley's lips, the only thing to show he's pleased this is doing Felix some good at least. ]

You'll have to forgive me for not shedding a tear for it. So, saved a lot of lives, huh? Guess that makes you a bona fide hero.

[Felix shrugs, which also does the double duty of pressing back into the pressure of Crowley's hands]

I was saving myself as much as anyone else, as far as I could tell. They certainly didn't throw me any parades for it. My reward was to be exiled yet again, in a manner of speaking.

[Crowley makes a soft 'hmm' sound at that, continuing to work the muscles. ]

No parades? That's just rude. Seems those people of yours have no idea how to be grateful.

[He leans in closer, pressing a kiss to Felix's jaw. ]

Not that I'm complaining that you're back, of course.

The Corambins aren't my people, and they are a terminally serious people. They don't even wear color. I made them nervous, so they sent me off to some far corner of the country. Apparently I have a future career as a lighthouse keeper. That's what I meant by exile. However...

[He tilts his head to the side and, almost absently, reaches up a hand to brush the fingers atop his shoulder]

I am not complaining either.

A lighthouse keeper?

[Crowley sounds a mixture of amused and...well, no, it's pretty much all amused. He huffs out a hot breath of laughter against Felix's jaw.]

Sounds rather too rustic for you. Will you have a jaunty sailors cap? Perhaps a big wool coat? Will you grow a beard?

[He chuckles again, pressing another kiss to the man's jaw. ]

Good. I'm be awfully put out if you were.

[If it were anyone else he'd be far more offended]

Absolutely not. I can't even grow a beard. As I'm sure you noticed.

[Two weeks asleep and there isn't even a trace of stubble. It's one benefit of his Troian blood that he's never complained about.

His eyelids dip closed a little as he sighs.]

I don't know where I belong. Maybe not the edge of nowhere. But at least there I'll have my brother. And at least here I have you.

Maybe you could hook a fake one behind your ears. Don't ruin my mental image of Lightkeeper Harrowgate.

[Honestly, Crowley doesn't know where he belongs, either. Sure, Aziraphale is back home, and the world he was willing to give everything he had up to protect. But back there, Hell would be a constant threat, he'd just be waiting for them to come for him.

Here...though. Here he has family. People who care about him, who have accepted him as a part of their lives. He has Felix.

He stills for a moment, his chin resting on Felix's shoulder. He lets out a soft 'hm' in response.]

Seems your luck has finally turned a little, then?

[Felix lets out similar sound of contemplation and leans back against Crowley in a somewhat negligent manner]

If that's what it is, then it's very strange luck.

[He chuckles ruefully. ]

You say that like you'd expect to get any other kind.

[His answer is more the ghost of a laugh, but it's there]

I don't except any kind of luck at all. Or...I didn't before.

Before the odds turned in your favour a little more?

Maybe. Or, at least, I began to be able to recognize that not all my choices were bad ones.

[He turned his head, his cheek brushing just slightly against Crowley's in a way that was still not quite deliberate]

[Oh, but he understands that. It always surprises him, whenever anyone thinks having any kind of relationship; romantic or otherwise, with him is a good choice. It's rather down in the oldest of records that he is an unequivocally bad one. Still, the fact Felix thinks contrary means a lot to him, even if he's awful at showing it. ]

Well. That's quite the turn-around for you. I'm impressed.

[Ah, fuck it, he's been worried about the man, while all this has gone on. And now he's back and things are okay again and he's relieved. He turns his head proper, leaning over Felix a little in order to press a kiss to his lips. ]

[He hadn't just meant Crowley. This was just one of the many things in his life that he could acknowledge might not necessarily lead to anything but pain and self-destruction. He still was not a good person. Some mistakes could never be erased or atoned for; some stains could never be removed. The irony that a demon might be the only person, other than his brother, to truly understand him does not escape his notice. Especially one that had his own streak of light.

He leans into the kiss, twisting to side just enough to make it just right. The comb in his hand falls absently from his fingers and clatters to the hard floor. He makes no move to retrieve it, instead bringing the hand up to the back of Crowley's neck, prolonging the kiss for just a bit longer]

A lot happened to me in a few months.

[Of course, Crowley is always self involved enough to think these things mean him. It's one of the downsides to having an ego...or at least one on the outside. A protective ego-shell, if you will. He welcomes the prolonged kiss, it's a little anchoring, no matter what happens here, Felix remains one of the few constants in his existence. It's...nice. ]

You have had quite the time of it recently, haven't you? Atroma must really like you at the moment.

[His rueful smile is sharp enough to nearly be a cringe, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he plays with the hair at Crowley's nape thoughtfully.]

I have never been very successful at keeping a low profile.

[Crowley notices, and concern flashes across his features for a moment. He knows better to try and prod at that wound, though. ]

You can admit the spotlight calls to you, if you really want to. I won't judge.

...Well, I probably will a little.

[His smile this time is much softer]

Well...I deserve that much. And frankly, I prefer your judgement to that of most people.

[He drops his hand and finishes turning, pulling one leg up on the bed]

Do you believe that people can change?

[It's a far more direct question that he'd usually pose to Crowley, but what he said is true. He trusts the demon's wisdom, when it can be parsed from the sarcasm.]

I do tend to be a very good judgement of character.

[Well. Like 80% of the time. Probably.

It's an interesting question, but one Crowley can answer easily enough. ]

Of course. It's one of the things that makes people people. They have the capacity to be the kindest souls on the planet, and in the next breath be utter monsters. Nothing has a capacity for change more than people.

That's not terribly reassuring.

[He smiles, though, showing he doesn't hold that against Crowley. He didn't really expected to be reassured.

Felix sighs, and knits his fingers together over a knee. As he continues, he forces his gaze away from his hands to Crowley's face, though the process is gradual.]

Capacity is one thing. It's said that what people do is what defines them. If I've done monstrous things, am I always a monster even if I have managed to be kind? Possibly. But...it does seem true that I don't always have to tread the same path. I have made...assumptions...that I would always do the wrong thing because I could not help myself. Just as I assumed, and everything I had ever been taught in Mélusine told me the same, that the binding by forms was permanent. But the Circle took it off like it was nothing at all. I had also assumed that without that tie, my brother would have left my company as soon as he could, but he did not. I assumed that I could not have an apprentice without abusing my power, but for a brief while I did.

...I suppose that means you're right. [He smiles wryly.]

If you wanted reassuring, you'd have spoken to someone else.

[He watches Felix quietly, listening as he speaks. A lot of it he didn't understand, or only knew about in partiality, but listen he does all the same. As Felix finishes, a wry smirk crosses his lips. ]

There you go then. And if you want my personal opinion on the matter, I don't think you're half as bad as you like to think you are. And I know these things. It's my job to know.

[He's aware it mostly comes off as rambling, but some it he just needs Crowley to know, even if only in the abstract. If the full story ends up being told, then that was fine, but for now just saying it makes it real. It makes him more able to hold onto the fact that it had happened at all.

He smiles at the answer, though.]

I thought it was your job to tempt.

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