fourteenth labyrinth

[lord_wizard]

Who: Felix Harrowgate and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Iskaulit - Malúm and elsewhere
When: Now through the end of current star system

[After having a panic attack aboard the Goldstone following their unannounced landing beneath the surface of Mafik's endless ocean, and thereafter being transported to the Iskaulit by a rather concerned Crowley, Felix finally has something of his balance back. Going back to his own ship was out of the question, and thus the wizard has been temporarily residing at Malúm. Quietly, he hates the feeling of isolation, but he hates even the thought of all that water. Returning of his own volition might be easier than that sudden immersion, but...better to be safe. Better not to risk a repeat.

The fact that he's been haunting the bar and the Iskaulit in general has gone largely without acknowledgment to the staff, visitors, or his crew, but eventually the silence has to be broken. Well, in a manner of speaking.]

Regrettably, I haven't been able to join most of you on our current port of call. [He smiles thinly, which is a rather admirable job of covering up the half-truth in those words.] I'm sure it's quite a sight. I did have the chance at our last stop to see some of the impressive craftsmanship of the people who hail from this planet. Should anyone have a chance to pick up some pieces of jewelry - earrings, bracelets, or pins particularly, I could pay you back for it.

You can find me aboard the Iskaulit if you want me for anything. [A sharper, though somewhat more empty smile bookends that message before signing off.

Felix lounges about the bar for a time, but until the fleet leaves the system, Felix does his best to occupy himself aboard the large ship. When he isn't working or reading in his library, he spends time roaming the gardens, investigating other less traveled places like the lecture hall or mural, or even sitting quietly in the meditation room. He has quite a lot of time to explore...regrettably.]

Comments

Bar

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley comes back up to the Iskaulit as often as he can. Honestly, the planet doesn't offer him all that much, and it's significantly less enjoyable without Felix there. He's also worried about him, which he's less willing to admit, but that's absolutely a reason for his regular visits back.

And so, he wanders into the bar holding a little box. Offering it up to Felixs with a lopsided grin. ]

Don't say I never give you anything.

[lord_wizard]

[Felix seems calm enough, nor especially depressed, due to his stay on the common ship, though there's something about him that is wilted, somehow. Weary.

He brightens a few degrees when he sets eyes on Crowley, however, and lifts his hands to accept the box gingerly]

I have never said such a thing, nor so I intend to start.

[He sets the box down on the bar]

Should I be worried?

[onlyanapple]

Just like to keep it on your mind~

[He attempts to give an innocent look, which really doesn't sit well on a demon- even one as awful at being one as Crowley is. ]

Whatever do you mean? Why would you be worried?

[lord_wizard]

Something I believe the scientific community would refer to as 'empirical evidence'.

[He gives Crowley a wry smile that's still soft at the edges. He's mostly sure he's safe from Crowley's pranks, but only mostly]

[onlyanapple]

[True, only mostly. A smirk remains on Crowley's face as he moves to lean around Felix, in a vain attempt to take the box back. He tries to sound offended, but it comes out far too amused for it to really work. Happy even, really. He's glad Felix is doing better here- that he's mostly out of that awful dark spiral being in the water had dragged him down. It's...good. Better...at least.]

Well~ If you don't want my thoughtful gifts, I'll just take them back.

[lord_wizard]

[He counters by playfully smacking Crowley's fingers away]

Don't even think about it. It's mine now.

[And just to prove he doesn't think there might a reason to be nervous, he opens the box without any further hesitation]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley chuckles, moving back. Inside, are two rather lovely pins, one of a phoenix and the other a peacock. Crowley watches with an idle smirk to hide the fact he hopes Felix genuinely likes the bloody things. ]

It took me ages to explain birds to those fish people. They didn't get it at all.

Bar! But likely moving soon after.

[wolfehawke]

What, the crown I found for you wasn't enough?

[He grins wide, serving Felix another drink and knowing full well the crown was the single ugliest thing he'd found so far and that's why he'd gotten it for Felix.]

I'm hurt!

[lord_wizard]

[He gives Adalwolfe a flat look that likely looks more annoyed that he really is]

I'm flattered that you think so highly of my station, darling, but I don't think it's prudent for me to advertise quite so much. I was thinking something just a little bit more subtle.

[And considering his actual taste in clothing, 'a little bit' might actually be accurate]

[wolfehawke]

Which is hoity-toity noble talk for 'I hate it'.

[He is absolutely not offended in the slightest. It was supposed to be a joke.]

Well, you'll just have to make it up to me by actually going for those self defense lessons when my shift is over in ten minutes or so.

[lord_wizard]

[There's a beat, and then Felix sighs]

You're not going to let me dodge that any longer, are you?

[wolfehawke]

Of course not. It's for your own good.

[He dumps a few glasses in the little sink behind the bar and decides whoever is on shift with him can take care of that.]

In fact, I think I'm finished early considering you're the only one in here. Let's take advantage of the extra time, shall we?

[lord_wizard]

'For your own good' is a phrase that seems to rarely precede something pleasant, in my experience.

[And which he tries to not think about too hard. Still, he did promise to try, so he'll slip out of his seat]

Gardens

[halfbloodhatchling]

[ Kai isn't exactly seeking the other man out, but he's decided being on the Iskaulit is a fair sight better than the Caprine and he's bored himself. Any company seems like a better idea. He hadn't minded Felix for their past conversation. ]

We don't come to planets like this one too often, do we?

[ Please. ]

[lord_wizard]

[He glances up from his inspection of some sprouting herbs, somewhat surprised to find he's not alone but certainly somewhat thankful that he isn't, as shown by the small smile he offers]

Is that a sincere question, or a vague hope? [His smile sharpens slightly, though it's certainly rueful. For himself, it's the second.]

If you mean the oceans, it's the first to be nothing but.

[halfbloodhatchling]

Oh, it's an incredibly specific hope.

[ Far too many people have witnessed Kai's attempt to go into the water for him to pretend it didn't happen, so he's not going to. ]

It's awful, isn't it?

[lord_wizard]

Yes. [Which is flatly and incredibly sincere]

And frankly, if you ask me, these people have a lot to learn about diplomacy from the previous culture. Pulling our ships out of orbit like that is hardly the way to win friends.

[Because it's far better to blame the Dasioe than the creeping terror the water inspires in him]

[halfbloodhatchling]

It would be better if we had a few more ships up in orbit, considering how we were recently attacked.

[ And Kai would volunteer up the Caprine, sure. ]

[lord_wizard]

That would be the intelligent thing to do, but it's not as if they care for our safety. Months since the attack and not even an apology.

[It would be hollow even if it came, and Felix knows this, but it's something to complain about]

Library (they needed to talk at some point)

[scanninggaydis]

[This Felix may not have had as strong a reaction to being docked underwater, but he's not the biggest fan of the planet below. Or, more accurately, he's not really fond of having to get around on the planet below.

The options are a small, generally empty ship or a large, generally empty ship. And he can't spend all of his time in his room. And his go-to spot on the Iskaulit is definitely its library.

It actually takes him the better part of a day to strike up a conversation. He reads quietly most of that time, taking occasional breaks to wander the rest of the ship and stretch his legs.

Eventually, when they're sharing the same space at some point, he leans back in his chair and then glances over at the library's other occupant.]

Weird to have it be this quiet.

yes, excellent

[lord_wizard]

[Felix doesn't usually keep to himself for long, but the incident has him more than usually pensive. That said, the offer of conversation is not unwelcome to help fill the silence.

He glances up the book he's reading and gives the other man a vaguely coy smile.]

Well, it is a library.

[Somewhat more seriously--] But, yes, I know what you mean. I suppose most of the fleet is entranced by the current planet.

[scanninggaydis]

[Okay, the smile and the response it accompanies gets a raised eyebrow and a wry look. Not that he can't appreciate the joke, but also come on, not remotely what he meant.]

It definitely is novel, I'll give you that.

["Novel" doesn't sound like too much of a compliment.]

[lord_wizard]

[Felix sometimes makes a sport out of being insufferable and his smile sharpens in response to the look he gets in response]

I'll forgive you the pun in this instance, but I think we both know novel and pleasant are not mutually exclusive.

[scanninggaydis]

[...The pun wasn't intentional. He might be making another face in reaction to it being pointed out.]

I'm sure it's enjoyable for a lot of people.

[But not for them. Obviously. Or they wouldn't be on a mostly empty ship when they could have wide-open (wet) spaces.]

[lord_wizard]

Hm. And here we are, the un-happily interned.

[But will he ask why that is? No. Not unless the other man brings it up. His distaste for the water is a subject he's happy to not discuss]

Is this your first visit to the library?