The Youngest Siblings are Always Trouble (For Felix Caelus)

[smartass_captain]

Usually Jim's on the other end of this situation, leaving a lady to guess his intentions and plans. Keeping people at arms length is safer. So why wait around at a winding down party for a guy he's just met?

For one, Schon is a friend and Jim was legitimately excited to come to this. For two, Felix has been incredibly fun to chat and dance with and not at all what the Captain expected. For three, open bar.

By now, Jim is well into tipsy and enjoying watching the little floating candles around the bar area. He's glad he came to this shindig, even if Felix doesn't come back. All he'd have been doing instead of this was sulking in his quarters alone like he does every other holiday.

He'd come back, wouldn't he? Shit, Jim downs his drink. Why does he care? He had fun. It should be good enough.

"Give me another." He murmurs to the barkeep.

Comments

[conjuredskies]

Why so surprised, captain? Felix catches that look, even if he's distracted by mention of his brother a moment later. He pulls a slight grimace on reflex.

"Oh, I'm having the best night in a very long time. ...And my brother is fine too, for now." More importantly. He nods at Jim's bruised leg. "What did you get up to without me?"

[smartass_captain]

Because what if Felix got sick of him, obviously. Or any number of other reasons Jim will never admit to ever.

"Wanna talk about it?" Jim points toward the barkeep. "We've got all night." Jim looks down and laughs, and his expression changes back to the confident, energetic Jim Felix saw earlier.

"Clint was showin' me how to be Hawkeye. Turns out, okay? Those old practice arrows I borrowed from his place? They weren't practice. And one of them was a grappling arrow. So we head to the ballroom right? And he fires it into the huge ass chandelier and is like, 'go for it' and I was like 'Hell yes I'm going for it!'" He laughs then, honest and amused at his own antics.

"Turns out you're not supposed to take a running leap with a grappling hook. Cable went taught and jerked right outta my hands, dropped about twenty feet and tumbled ass over teakettle into Groot." Jim shakes his head. "Now I know why Clint's always so banged up all the time."

[conjuredskies]

"I just picked up an interesting rumor about him. It won't be good leverage if I share it right away." Is he preserving his hold on Stratos, or leaving himself open to bribes? It's usually both. "I'll have whatever ale is left, though," he adds to the barkeep.

Sipping while he listens, he makes an impressed sound at the mention of grappling arrows because that's a fantastic idea. And then his interested smile widens into a grin as he sees where the story's going and yes, he's simultaneously wincing and chuckling. "The man has to be part Wood Elf. You're going to need a good healer just to survive that costume."

Guess who's volunteering.

[smartass_captain]

"Didn't break nothin' all in all I call that a good night. Plus, for about five seconds there, I was frickin' Hawkeye. How cool is that?" Jim titters into a series of giggles and shakes his head.

"Nooo he's not part elf. Can't be, cuz then I'd be part elf too, and I'm a lot of things, but elf is not one of them." Elves are pretty with pointy ears and Jim knows people who fit that description much better than himself. "Aww, yeah. Guess this shade of purple don't much match the outfit, huh." Jim peers down at his leg and shrugs. "Where'm I gonna find a dedicated healer this time of night?"

[conjuredskies]

"Ooh. Right. I didn't think of that. You are too tall. And you don't have the cheekbones." There's a lot of elf-descended people back home, especially in the magical crowd. You learn the signs.

He leans on the counter and grins at Jim's question. "I don't know, that looks like it really needs a healing spell. If only you had some kind of mage with you, right?"

[smartass_captain]

"Right? Someone who wouldn't mind....someone who hopefully wouldn't nag at me about my awesome ideas...." Jim shakes his head in a sort of 'it can't be helped' kind of way. "If the magic word is 'please' I'm gonna be laughing too hard to sit still, fair warning."

He chuckles even at the idea of it.

"C'mon, let's go...wherever you wanted t'go. You can check me out there. My whole left side is one big ache the booze is only mostly dulling."

[conjuredskies]

Felix laughs. "No nagging. I'm far better at encouraging great ideas."

He'll offer Jim an arm to lean on, wondering how bruised up the captain is. But if Jim's still able to stand by now, Felix trusts he can mend the rest.

"It'll have to be one of the rooms upstairs," he judges. "Unless you want to wander the Nexus for somewhere even more private. Not fun when you're cold and sore, I promise." You had to meet him the one night he isn't carrying potions against both ailments.

Sorry I got distracted by books before work

[smartass_captain]

"See? You get me. This is awesome. You're awesome." Jim is going to take that arm if only as an excuse to drape himself over Felix while they wander around. "Lead the way, you wanted to go somewhere else earlier, I'm all yours if it means I get to see more of that sweet ass magic you were showing me earlier." Conjuring feathers and balls of light and other neat tricks.

Not to mention being a surprisingly quick study of the art of dance. Felix is full of surprises.

"For once, I'll pass lead on to you. Lead on, magic man."

Books are a good distraction!

[conjuredskies]

Everyone remembers he's a soldier, lately: they forget that he calls himself a conjurer. What's the point of conjuration if you can't surprise people?

And then bask in the praise, obviously.

"Of course. I have to impress you somehow." If the pyromancy display Naugus was putting on hasn't given Jim his fill of magic, so much the better for him.

Felix leads them out toward the staircase. He's banking that the risk of drawing attention will ward off any nosy officer who might want to kill his little brother's fun. Just to make sure though, he stops them for a minute while he calls up a flare of purple light beside him. The ghostly wolf that emerges sniffs the air a moment, then bounds up the stairs ahead of them.

[smartass_captain]

Jim is contractually obligated to never be impressed by anything Naugus does. Because one--he and Ixis do not get along at all, and for two--because jim is friends with Schon. The fire show was really awesome, but Jim is inclined to think he had help and/or was trying to steal Schon's thunder. Hmph.

"You following me in dancing was impressive enough. The magic is even cooler." And more magic! Purple ghost wolf that looks so real Jim actually reaches out to touch it, but then it runs off.

"...Did I just see that? Or am I more drunk than I thought I was?"

[conjuredskies]

"It's so nice to be appreciated for once." Felix, you can't sigh properly if you're grinning at the same time. It just doesn't work.

"See what?" Felix chuckles. But the wolf is still ahead of them when they reach the next floor. It runs smoothly along the hallway, sniffing at the doors as it stalks that elusive prey: a secluded room. Every so often it looks up, ears twitching. It's smart enough to understand when its summoner asks it to help evade the other mortals.

When it finds an unoccupied room it scratches at the door, then sits and waits for them to catch up, ears perked. Semi-transparent though it is, it's perfectly solid to the touch, bright-eyed, soft-furred... and tolerant of its conjurer's tipsy friends.

Felix checks there really is an empty bedroom on the other side before he shows Jim through the door. "Don't worry about our furry friend. He's just a little conjured familiar."

[smartass_captain]

"He's so fluffy." Felix has so much blackmail on Jim in this moment he doesn't even know. If Verity knew he was on his knees petting a ghost dog and cooing at it, but not her chau? So much shit. "You're a good boy aren't you? Lucky would like to meet you, I know he would. Good boy."

Jim that's a wolf. At least its tolerating him.


"Have I mentioned you're just the best?" Jim gets to his feet whenever Felix has deemed the room to meet his expectations.

[conjuredskies]

Felix takes a moment to lean against the door and enjoy the scene. Even if his goofy grin has a wry edge. Damnit ghost wolf, you always steal his attention! (In the back of his mind he's really, deeply grateful it's a spirit and not a live wolf.)

He is snickering though when the wolf sniffs at Jim and then licks his face (its tongue barely warm and entirely dry), because he can feel that's familiar-speak for good boy, I see you, stay friendly.

"Let me take care of those bruises and you can keep telling me all night." Felix offers him a hand up, all the better to pull him close and draw him inside. Give his captain back, ghost wolf. You're on guard duty, the kissing is his job.

[smartass_captain]

Jim's maybe a bit past tipsy. Still capable of walking and talking, but definitely missing some key cells in the 'captain, no' idea department. His sense of judgement is tenuous at best, and despite his claims otherwise, alcohol does not improve them.

Spirit magic wolf gave him doggy kisses and it doesn't even stink. This is the best doggie. Beat. Second best. Lucky doesn't need magic to be summoned. Just pizza, and Jim can do that.

"..." Oh hell yes. Abort question making of adopting Felix's familiar for the ship mascot. Begin thinking of ways to thank Verity. Wait. Charmingly witty one liners first. Dammit brain, keep up.

"Thanks. I should..I mean that. Not just because of the whole...hooking up thing." Suave Jim. Also, Felix just offered to be your friend for the night, don't make this weird and ruin it. "...The magic word isn't 'please' is it? Because begging is not in my nature."

[conjuredskies]

"I guessed that." Could he look any more pleased? Well, give it a little while. "Don't worry. The best magic doesn't need words."

He spares enough attention to summon another ball of light and cast it at the ceiling above the bed. No, he isn't up to speed on any electric lights and isn't interested in hunting for candles. Locking the door, on the other hand, is a must. "Although I do have to check no bones are fractured before I work the spell. Just to warn you."

Focusing on the medical magic first might be smart. Even the way he was drilled for it, it takes some concentration to get right.

[smartass_captain]

"You know? I don't think I'd ever get tired of seeing that." Magic, he means. Jim is staring up at the ball of light with a grin on his face, and doesn't look back until he hears the door lock.

"Might as well get this over with." He has no idea what healing magic is like, as the only time he's experienced before he was bleeding out and very nearly dead. Jim gives a tilt of his head to one side. "How does this work? Do you need me to sit?"

[conjuredskies]

"Mm, all this flattery from a man who travels among real stars." Oh, he's not complaining. He's reveling.

"Sitting is easiest. Just show me where you took the fall. I'll probe the bone to make sure it's not serious, then work the spell." Easy! Unless there are any cuts and scratches to stop and wash. Fouled wounds are so very much the last thing he wants. "It won't hurt once the magic takes effect, promise."

Before that, though - well, he has to check the bones, and he was tutored by a retired soldier, not some temple healer. His technique has more emphasis on accuracy than subtlety, a lack he's sorely aware of at moments like this.

[smartass_captain]

"Yeah, sure. Any pretense you need." Jim will grab one of the wooden chairs in the room, spin it around with one hand by one of it's four posts and drop into it. He leans his head to the right and slips one arm out of the plunging V-neck of the Hawkskirt so Felix can get a look at the bruises already formed and discoloring down his left side.

"I assume you can see the ones on my leg? Or do I need to hike up my skirt a bit more?" Always the smartass, smirking like the jerk he is.

[conjuredskies]

Felix settles beside him, wincing sympathetically as he takes in the scale of the bruising. His breathing automatically slows and steadies as he gathers pale light around his fingertips. He's trying to rely on the magical probe more, to keep a light touch as he prods along the lines of shoulder and arm and ribs...

"You don't trust my motives?" he murmurs. "Half the Nexus would hate me if I fused your ribs crooked." Actually, the ribs aren't going to be a sore point: they don't need much prodding and it's easy to sense that they're whole. The shoulder is where things get complicated- especially when he's trying not to laugh at Jim. "Honestly, that skirt's not hiding anything. Come on, I need you to flex your shoulder."

[smartass_captain]

"You already have me in a private room with the door locked, Felix. You hardly need an excuse to touch me." Jim snickers and rolls his left shoulder so Felix can check it out. It's sore, and something pops, but that's just a joint and Jim honestly sighs in relief when it does.

"It's hiding enough." Jim murmurs, slipping his eyes shut and letting his personal healer get to work.

[conjuredskies]

"No, I really don't." But he does have to check Jim's leg, even briefly. Everything seems basically sound, so after a minute he adds, "All right, keep still now."

Jim will know when the magic happens. It's a golden light that Felix holds centered over his bruises, but that escapes to wrap around the patient. It brings a rush of warmth and a tingling sensation as the pain and swelling retreat, until it looks as if the bruises were never there at all. It's likely to heal any other aches and pains along the way, as the spell encourages tissue to regenerate pretty indiscriminately.

[smartass_captain]

The poking and prodding are honestly less aggressive than Bones usually is to Jim (though no less careful) so Jim doesn't seem all that concerned. His blue eyes snap open at the tingling, and he screws up his face slightly and stifles a laugh. He was told to hold still after all.

"Oh man, augh. Feels like you his my funny bone but like, everywhere." Yeah no he's giggling like the dork he is after a moment, but has managed to more or less hold still, only the minorest of flinches. When all is said and done, he's grinning huge.

"I know currency exchange is weird around here, but this should be pretty universal." And before Felix can work out what Jim means, he'll lean forward and make good on his promise from the dance floor, pulling Felix down to his level if he has to and kissing him thoroughly.

[conjuredskies]

"I didn't realize you were so ticklish," Felix remarks, with the kind of amusement that says he may use this information to his own fiendish ends later. Making Jim giggle like that again, for one...

Not that he's getting the chance before Jim pulls him in. Before he knows it he's on one knee and almost in Jim's lap, sliding an arm around the captain as they kiss. The flush in his face is less noticeable than his smile when they pull apart. "If that's how you thank people, remind me to do you more favors."

[smartass_captain]

"I can be extremely grateful, when I have a mind to be." Jim raises an eyebrow and looks up to the Imperial. "And I have a mind to be very, very grateful at the moment."

If it weren't for the blue of his eyes being swallowed by his blown out pupils, Jim would look entirely unaffected by this turn of events. He's smiling easily, with Felix more or less on top of him, just staring up at the conjurer.

"You want to take a look at the other side too? Just in case? I hit the floor and rolled pretty hard, after all..."

[conjuredskies]

“Mustn’t leave the job half done,” Felix agrees. “The last thing I want is to leave you stiff and sore.” He succeeds in tearing his gaze away to draw aside and pull off the thin white gloves. Easy to forget, when they interfere so little with touch or magic. “I suppose I’ll just have to check that, too.”

[smartass_captain]

"I see what you did there." Jim's murmuring now, laughter nothing more than a few huffed out breaths as he slips out of the other sleeve, letting the shockingly purple fabric pool at his waist where he's seated.

"How long does the wolf stay outside?" He asks quietly. "Do you have to concentrate to keep it summoned? Because that's gonna get real difficult when I'm thanking you for taking care of me like this."

[conjuredskies]

“It can do without my attention for an hour or two.” Felix shrugs easily. There’s the brush and warmth of renewed magic as he runs his fingers down Jim’s other side, almost as if he really is checking for bruises. “Think that’ll be long enough?” He flashes the captain a sidelong smile. “To start with?”

[smartass_captain]

"Felix." Jim's voice is quiet, but it sounds almost disbelieving. And definitely impatient. "I'm impressed by the magic. I really am, but if you don't start matching my state of undress and moving us somewhere more cozy I am going to have to make you. I was joking, dear god do not be this much of a tease right now or you're going to ruin your own reward."

The way that Felix seems to actually care if Jim's hurt is touching. And touching is moving this from fun to romantic. And that is a word Jim does not touch.

[conjuredskies]

His gaze snaps to Jim’s face at that tone, immediately attentive. In answer, Felix rises, catching Jim’s wrist to draw him up, gentle but insistent. Then over to the bed, the covers dragged aside one-handed behind him. “Mm. As if I’m letting you go now.”

…Although once perched there he needs a little more patience, Jim. He’s entirely underestimated how finicky these clothes are. Specifically the shirt. Stupid over-tight buttoned-up foreign costume. Give him a minute to get it open and cast it off like the nuisance it is. Beneath it the Imperial is lean, unscarred but for one faint mark that curls around his left shoulder. The rest is more easily shed before he slides back to join Jim properly, down to his medieval briefs and relaxing much better without the funny clothes on.

No wasting time. He took the point, captain.

[smartass_captain]

It's quiet when Jim comes to, quieter than he thought it would be. He must have dozed off after...well. After.

The party is probably winding down by now, if not entirely over. His skin goosebumps at the loss of blankets to cover himself with in the dark unused bedroom--they should have lit a fire because man it is cold in here now. Funny, he hadn't noticed before.

Even in the darkness, he should be able to find Clint's obnoxiously loud outfit and shimmy back into it. He pauses when he passes the bed, staring down at the Imperial under the blanket. Instinct says to leave, but he doesn't know how long this magical party mansion is going to stay conjured. Last thing he needs is Felix getting stuck in Schon's nether dimension for a year until Halloween comes round again.

"Oi. Wake up." Nudge, nudge.

[conjuredskies]

“Mmf?” Felix has effectively burrowed in and cocooned himself against the cold. It’s a necessary reflex where he’s from, especially for a thin-skinned little Imperial. He doesn’t want to stir, but the nudge rouses him enough to realize that isn’t Stratos’s boot prodding him. That makes him immediately more agreeable to hearing its demands.

The sight of Jim when he turns over brings a sleepy grin. “There you are.” Already dressed, he notes with a soft sigh and a chuckle. “Time to go, hm?”

[smartass_captain]

"Well, I don't hear any sounds from the party, and the realization that this whole mansion was conjured and could go poof somewhere else at any time mmmiiight have hurried me into getting ready." It's a convenient excuse to what he was already going to do.

"Last thing I need is you lost in wherever this place goes when it's not here until next year."

[conjuredskies]

From the way Felix blinks at him, the excuse wasn't necessary. Still, he pulls a face and pushes himself up. The cold makes him shiver vigorously, but it's best when you get it over with. "Good point. I need to get my armor back before they sell it."

Time to round up all the costume bits, hooray.

[smartass_captain]

Oh hell. Jim has no idea what to say. He never does this. He licks at his bottom lip while counting the arrows in his borrowed quiver to make sure he has everything he needs to return to Clint.

"You...want a hand there?" There we go. That's progress. Pretend you're back to flirting and not inwardly panicking Jim.

[conjuredskies]

Up to this point Felix has just been hazily contemplating the cold and troublesome process of getting back to his own camp and the disapproval waiting there – with a vague sense of bemusement that hah, for once both he and his companion are sneaking out.

Something in Jim’s voice makes him pause with shirt in hand, frowning at the dark before he realizes it’s the quiver of uncertainty. He shoots a glance over, trying to gauge the other man and think clearly enough to pick the right answer. He’s a little surprised Jim hasn’t disappeared already.

Not sorry about it, though. And he doesn’t want to give that impression.”

“Ah… if you happen across the coat I was wearing, that would help.” There’s a touch of reassurance in his tone: relax, captain, he's not going to make things awkward. Provided he can remember how not to.

[smartass_captain]

Jim would have disappeared if he didn't have a conscience. Magic is an unknown and legitimate concern for him. He'd feel really really bad if he fucked off and something happened to Felix.

"Oh, that." Jim wanders back to the chair Felix had him in earlier, dropping down on hand and knee to peer under the furniture to find just where all of the pieces to Felix's costume had gotten to.

"You got your costume here, right? So we have to get you to the main hall before this place pops out of existence." Great. Just...great.

[conjuredskies]

‘We’? Felix blinks at that, but knows better than to remark on it. He’s not messing about trying to dress neatly, just pulling clothes on as he finds them. It wouldn’t take any time if half of them weren’t black to begin with. Things like the gloves are easy to find. “Local tailor, I think. If they haven’t packed up, we have time.”

And if they have- well, no need to stop and turn the costume in.

[smartass_captain]

"Wait! I have an idea." Jim pops up form behind the chair so suddenly you'd think he was trying to scare Felix. "Why not send your wolf to go fetch it for you? Or guard it until you get there?"

Beat.

"Well, uh...you didn't stay in costume long enough to get it dirty, so that shouldn't be a problem."

[conjuredskies]

Felix is wide-eyed in the darkness, and not just at how fast Jim’s sprung up. He’s all for using his magic to solve life’s problems, but it hadn’t occurred to him under these circumstances. “Oh. I suppose it wouldn’t cause any real trouble here, would it?” He laughs. “Yes, why not? Hard to clear out when there’s a wolf sitting on your stock, I expect.”

He’s quiet for a moment, but he could do this in his sleep: ready the spell, call and bind- and hello again, ghost wolf. This time it shakes itself as if glad to be back, peering around the room and padding over to sniff at Jim. Heading over to the door, Felix silently orders it to heel so he can give it an impression of what to look for. Which is basically 'my normal scent, emphasis on the leather'.

[smartass_captain]

It's okay spirit wolf, there's a lot of scent swapping in the room and it's best just not to ask questions. Upside is, Jim doesn't distract it again by hugging it and cooing at it this time. He's much too sober to admit to something like that now.

Plus, he's busy dropping back down to crawl around and find those blasted gloves of Felix's. Jim maybe shouldn't have been so eager in chucking things earlier.

[conjuredskies]

You can act tough now Jim, but the immortal spirit will remember what you did. Forever.

Of course it has no concept of pride or blackmail so what you really need to worry about is the Imperial with a mind to gain some leverage over you.

For now he's just fishing a belt out from the shadows by the bed. And hey, turns out the other shadowy lump is the coat. "All right- I think it's just the gloves now. Think I tossed them down by the chair..."

[smartass_captain]

"Yeah yeah, hurry up. I hear you keep your shirt on." Ironic given the night's evens and that Jim is flashing his very skimpy underwear as he reaches under the armchair for the gloves. How they got there is anyone's guess but he's allllmost got them....

"Aha!" And snag! Jim wriggles them closer until he can get a hand around them and then pulls back and settles on his heels, holding the white fabric over his head like a trophy.

"Got 'em! That should be everything."

[conjuredskies]

"Thanks!" Felix strolls over to take them, offering a hand to pull Jim back up. Being this close brings back memories of the night, but he knows the rules well enough. Lingering affection would be presumptuous: gratitude is usually fine, so he gives Jim a smile before he steps back.

The wolf's doing its work: he can vaguely feel its excitement as it tracks down the exact pile of clothes to sit on. There's no sense of hostility, which is a relief. "We'd better get downstairs."

[smartass_captain]

"We'd better get downstairs without using the grappling arrow. It'd be a real shame to get all bruised up again after everything I went through getting rid of them." Jim snickers and leads the way back downstairs.


((Scene? Unless you have anything else you'd like to do??))

[conjuredskies]

((Breaking here is good for me!))