driftfleet | home is where you find it

Who: Felix Harrowgate and Anyone
Broadcast: private for Crowley only
Action: The Goldstone and Libuscha IV (various locations
When: All month

A. Goldstone cargo hold - during the drift

[After leaving the junk planet behind, the crew of the Goldstone may find, while visiting the hold for any reason, that the space is dominated by a large pile of parts that their engineer had acquired during the stay. The bulk of it remains hidden under a sheet while he work on it, though there are telling bits and pieces strewn about - tires here, a headlight there - should one bother to investigate closer. Felix tinkers on this project obsessively over the next week, assembling the growing bulk of the thing, where he can easily be found during the drift - likely with his head poked under the sheet as he works.

The reason for this becomes apparent when the next planet comes into range.]

Private communication to Crowley: Come to the cargo hold. I have something that may interest you.

B. Libuscha IV

[Felix isn't especially keen on the cold weather nor the attraction of decorating and gift giving that always tends to come with these winter holidays. What little he can be found out and about in the town is in passing, driving the small black four-wheeler over the roads to one destination or another. You may catch him at a small feast, smiling broadly and toasting with the locals, or browsing a cluttered bookstore for additions to his library, or at the castle, wandering the halls or standing on the battlements, looking down at the glittering lights on the town with a contemplative and wistful expression.

The rest of the time, however, he and Crowley are ensconced in the room of a cozy inn, fireplace ablaze and bed piled high with extra blankets]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh? Well, consider my curiosity well and truly piqued. I'll be right there.

[And, because Felix has actually earned it more than anyone else- he actually does show up right away, instead of going off to do something else first and making him wait. He flashes Felix a grin as he enters.]

Could it possibly be under the large, conspicuous sheet?

[Felix, leaning back against a nearby wall, returns the smile with same enthusiasm]

Well, I could hardly surprise you with anything else I could put under a sheet at this point.

[He pushes away from the wall and towards the mysterious shape dominating the bulk of the cargo hold]

Probably true, though I'm sure you could give it a good go if you really wanted to.

[Still despite the flirting, he is curious as to what's under the sheet. He follows Felix, peering at it.]

Iiiiit's big?

As big as it needs to be, darling.

[And with a flash of a lazy smirk, he grabs a handful of the material and tugs it swiftly aside - probably not as smoothly as he might have wanted, as it snags here and there on a few corners before it all piles at his feet. Underneath is a small ground vehicle with large, heavy-treaded tires. It has two seats made of black leather that are clean but clearly patched, and a small bed at the back suitable for, at best, a couple of large suitcases. The body of the thing is shiny black, though one door panel has been painted by hand and doesn't quite match the rest. While not enclosed, it boasts a cage of metal pipes and small roof panel. The side mirrors and headlamps are chrome and don't entirely match the style of the rest, but are a clearly necessary touch.]

What do you think? Not quite the same as your old Bentley, but hopefully it will do.

[And just for a second he sounds nervous, his eyes darting from his creation to Crowley, though the smile remains in place.]

[It's very rare to render Crowley speechless. The demon usually has a whole library of quips stored away for any possible scenario, ready to fire at will. But this...this takes his breath away. If he, you know, breathed.

He moves over to it, fingers brushing over the door, over the tires. It wasn't the same as his old Bentley, but then...nothing ever would be. But this... He turns, offering Felix a rare, very genuine smile.]

It's perfect.

[In all its mismatched glory. Because Felix worked on this, he did this for him, and that...well, that just about means the whole universe. Crowley crosses the room to Felix, taking hold of the other's shirtlseeves, before leaning in for a kiss.]

You sneaky bastard. Is this what you've been up to?

[Felix comes out of the kiss slightly breathless, but it isn't really the kiss that's to blame but the smile, and the knowledge that he was to blame for putting it there. Just like any time he gets attention he deserves, he shrinks into himself a little at the praise, his shoulders hunching just a little and his head bowing, a touch of coloring forming on his pale skin. He smiles back, and it's his own real smile - crooked, and small, and shy. The fact that this almost entirely comes from the knowledge of something implanted in his skull makes it all worth it.]

Yes...well...I stumbled on an opportunity and seized it. And now we won't have to walk everywhere we go...as is so clearly beneath us.

[It touches him in ways he doesn't really have words for- that gentle smile of Felix's. It's a far cry from the man's usual smirk- the one where a biting, snarky remark is always moments away. He loves that smile, too- but not half as much as he loves this one.]

It's very, very beneath us, this is far more our style.

[He looks at it again, and Someone if it really isn't just...perfect. He turns back to Felix.]

Thanks. It's... definitely in the top ten best gifts I've ever gotten. [A beat.] Top three. [Another beat, then he leans in to kiss Felix's jaw.] Okay, best one.

[And, because they rarely actually put the feeling into words, even if the actions are very much there- and because it feels like the right moment for it.]

I love you, you big sap.

Why, thank you.

[Felix's smile widens slightly and he leans into Crowley without doing anything so overt as going for a hug. A kind of shiver passes through him at the words]

...I love you too. [It's said quietly, little more than a whisper, his face close enough for that moment that his forehead brushes against the demon's. It's still hard to say, but it doesn't fill him with the same kind of dread it used to. Maybe, only a little]

[Then, with a sigh, he pulls back, putting on a grin]

Now, are you going to get in?

[The dread certainly is less. They've made it this far, after all. Perhaps they can go the distance and not have what always happens to them when they've shared this emotion with others in the past. They can but hope. ]

You know, I think I absolutely will.

[He circles the car another time, before hopping into the drivers seat, letting out a soft "oooh".]

You know, I'm genuinely impressed.

Don't be. At least not until you've driven the thing. I can't be sure nothing will fall off once it gets going.

[Which is only partially true. He may not be an natural engineer but he's meticulous when he wants to be, and he's been obsessive about this. Still, it's natural to deflect the praise with a little self-deprecation.

Felix circles around to the other side of the car and leans against the passenger door, smiling at the sight of Crowley curled on the worn leather like he fits there. He almost has to shake himself out of the look of appreciation before gesturing towards the center of the dash.]

I took the liberty of installing a radio. Of sorts. It connects directly to our network.

I can. If I need to, I can hold it together by sheer will alone.

[He managed that with the Bentley while the world was falling apart around him. He can manage this, he's sure. He flashes Felix a grin as he moves to sit beside him. It almost felt like when they were back in Paradisa, heading out on drives into town. It almost felt like home.]

Maybe that means the Queen curse is lifted.

[He turns on the radio to Another One Bites the Dust.]

...Or not. Good collage try, though.

home is where you find it

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