paradisa | sixtieth labyrinth

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felix harrowgate

sixtieth labyrinth

[Felix walked into Chimera headquarters and smirked to himself. The castle hadn't missed decorating up here, either, and seeing that gave him a flutter of nostalgia, since it was here that he and Ashura had first kissed. Accordingly, it's the first day he's been in what might genuinely be called a good mood. Maybe that holiday 'good cheer' thing really did work.

He settles into a desk in the offices and gets to work.]

The castle certainly works quickly. I should probably be more surprised at it's abilities. Even accepting it as magic, it's...frankly amazing.

I can't help but wonder, for the rest of you, if you don't believe in magic, how do you explain this? And, if I may ask, why? I've found the reasons for not believing in magic says a lot about a particular world.

It's common in my world, but only because a good segment of the population manifests such abilities. And while we cannot exactly snap our fingers and decorate our homes, it's something the rest of the world simply accepts. I suppose it is one of the few things they do agree on.

[Filtered to magic-users and away from First-Gens, their allies, and people without good intentions towards the residents]]

While I'm on the subject, for those of you that do possess such talents and have not yet heard me mention it - my name is Felix Harrowgate and I run a small group hear I call Chimera. I started it almost two years with several goals in mind - to research any and every form of magic we encounter, both ours and that of the castle, with the hopes of reaching a greater understanding of it. We also, occasionally, get together to use our talents to defend the residents when the need arises.

If any or all of that interests you, or if you have more questions about the specific details, feel free to contact me at any time.

[Duke]

If you're feeling better, I'd like to ask you to come up to headquarters and discuss how to implement your wards for the outpost. Given you almost died producing this crystal, I think we'd be amiss to not put it to good use.

And I'm rather hesitant to go experimenting on this thing without talking to you first.

[Thamuris]

Are you free yet? I have something I want to show you.

[Crowley]

Is the game on this year?

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[He smiles as he opens the door to the offices]

It's not exact, of course. Too much light for one, and the mosaic is a poor facsimile.

[The room inside is windowless but warm with the glow of strings of lights strung up along the tops of the walls, and pine garlands stretch across the bookcases. Felix continues inside towards one of the pairs of large chairs between the stacks.]

I can't complain too much, since it cost nothing except maybe a week of frustration. Which is unavoidable here anyway.

Well, I can't say I mind about the light, and I'll have to trust you on the rest.

[He follows Felix into the other room, and takes a seat after a moment. He pulls a somewhat abused hairbrush out of a pocket, and offers it to Felix]

[He gives the brush a bemused glance as he takes it, then shifts the other the chair so he can sit closer enough to work]

So what do you think? About all this, I mean?

[He gestures around at the room, a strange impulse wanting the other wizard's approval]

[He sounds amused when he answers]

The castle? Or your little piece of it?

[A little sheepishly]

Oh...both I suppose.

[He reached out to start to separate a section of hair to start work on.]

The castle is... a lot to take in at once, I suppose. I think I like it better than the Gardens, but only for the selfish reason that I feel better here, and I'm not being peered at like I'm not human all the time. But it's very different.

This little corner, though... I like it. It feels... well, like you, I suppose. In a good way.

Should I take that as a compliment?

[The answer was wry but he smiled slightly as he started to brush Thamuris' hair with peaceful concentration. It was strange to be doing this when it had never really crossed his mind before, in much the same way he'd never thought about kissing the younger man before.

The nutcrackers safe on their shelves above, may be insisting otherwise]

Well, it was intended as one, anyway.

[Having Felix brush his hair like this is entirely different than one of the acolytes doing it because he was too sick and helpless to manage on his own. And actually rather relaxing, though he's far too polite to just flop over entirely in enjoyment]

[He smiles to himself, silent for a moment as he continues the rather long process, his fingers stroking at the back of Thamuris' neck in a way that was almost affectionate as he carefully separated another section of hair]

I could use you here. I have plenty of people working with me, with as varied types of magic as you'd scarcely be able to imagine, but often so different I find I spend more time on trying to define common ground that it's hard to really get to anything deeper...

[There's a small, involuntary shiver at the light touch - though a pleased one.]

I'm not sure how I could be any help - I can't even do magic any more.

[...that sounds embarrassed and maybe a little bitter, though]

[That makes him pause in shock]

...what?

[And that's enough to startle Thamuris, and he turns to stare in somewhat wide-eyed confusion at Felix's alarm. It takes a second for an answer to click]

...Oh. I suppose I should've said 'shouldn't do magic', but... it's more or less the same thing. Even just conjuring a witchlight was making me dizzy.

Is that...a normal side effect of your illness or...[he makes a vague motion with the hand not currently holding the brush]...the castle?

Illness. I... haven't tried since coming here. [Because while he feels better, the idea that he still might not be able to do magic is something he's trying not to think about.]

You know as well as I do that magic takes our own strength too, and some of mine... more so than most. I didn't have any to spare.

[Felix hides a slight grimace by looking down at the hair in his hand]

I didn't really think about it, since the pythian casting...

[And he's not sure what else to say about that, since it was still something of a thorny topic.]

...Ate away at my body until illness could take root and flourish. [He doesn't hesitate, but there's still some clear bitterness in his words. He's made some peace with his life and his body - but not completely]

But even calling light takes some energy.

But you did one with Mildmay, before we left...

I suppose it's an encouraging sign that you can at least try.

That was four years ago. [And an absolutely terrible idea at the time, but he doesn't want to talk about that.

Still... Felix's encouragement is working. He's quiet for a moment, chewing on his lower lip, and then carefully summons a single, gold-yellow witchlight, hanging in the air before them like a tiny star. It's not terribly bright, but the uncertainty on his face breaks into a wide, bright smile]

[From his seat, Felix's smile is thin but warm, and the brush starts moving again. Mostly, he's just pleased to see Thamuris happy, and something in him unclenches at the sight. He'd never bore the other wizards' darker moods very well, moreso when he could see them hanging about when they were in the gardens.]

See? That's a good start...

[Thamuris releases the spell, untensing slightly]

It's still a little tiring. But... you're right.

There's no reason to rush it.

[The motion of his brushing settles into an easy languid pace, one he's quite used to in tending to Ashura, and it's maybe this comparison, along with the magic in the room he's failed to notice, to take on something like a touch of tenderness. He finds himself leaning forward and over Thamuris' shoulder. It's not an easy angle, but it's enough to lean down for a soft kiss]

I suppose not...

[He's lost in thought for a moment - enough that he doesn't realize what's happening until Felix's lips are on his own.

...Cue sputtering and a little bit of flailing as he attempts to disengage.]

[Not that Felix really seems to notice at first, and he presses the advance a little harder before he leans away in confusion]

[Thamuris is bright-red with embarrassment by this point]

Felix!

[Once the situation completely dawns on him, there's a similar look on Felix's face, though it's more fear and less embarrassment]

Thamuris--

[Then it twists into anger at the castle]

Damn...

[He twists back to a more normal sitting position and tosses the hairbrush across the room]

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