ten_fwd | Cue one very baffled angel...

Entry tags:

Cue one very baffled angel...

Who: Phoenix Kaelen
What: He's just got here.
Where: Corridor outside a holodeck. (Locked to Alec Troven in Ten Forward.)
OOC info: OC. Here's a direct link to his tenfwd-specific profile. (Which is now unlocked)
Permissions: Here:
Warnings: This character cusses like a sailor, and his narrative is in the style of his inner voice, so it too will contain cussing.

Open to all:

One minute he's in mid-gate (teleport) to pick up his daughter, the next he's in some kind of odd room. Black walls, criss-crossed with yellow lines give Phoenix the impression that this is one of his uncle's dream-vaults; but after only a few seconds, he realises there was something completely wrong about that last gate-hop.

The angel can feel the soft hum of something in his surroundings. The tech - although a little dated, is recognisable to him as a holodeck. Terran in origin, if he's not mistaken, this is a spacegoing vessel; well past the 21^st century from where he's just come.

Nervous as hell, Phoenix tries speaking to the holodeck computer,

“I need privacy.” Is his first vocalised thought, as his nature kicks in and he needs to asses his weaponry. Just in case. Demons have lured him to similar scenes in his long past. His request is rewarded by a stone cell appearing around him. It's old-world, but the door is solid oak and feels stable enough.

Phoenix hunches down, pulling his quantum disruptor from its holster under his black wool coat. He's not stupid enough to go shooting the thing off on what may be some kind of military vessel, but he can quickly assess it by stripping it down and inspecting the modular components.

Something is really not right. He tugs out the simple-looking cellphone from another pocket, and inspects the temporal functionality of his vortex manipulator. Nothing is working as it should be.

Now he just has to figure out if he's been sent here by 'The Office', for some reason they haven't bothered explaining. Which happens. Or if he's been diverted by a more sinister power. Which also happens.

This is an Earth ship. He reasons, silently. Probably post-contact. This is possibly a warp-drive vessel. Keldra has made diplomatic contact with Earth at around this time. The angel is fairly positive about that, although the Knowledge he usually reaches for seems muffled and foggy. After grappling around in the ether for a few moments, The Knowing slips away from his mind like a heavy gold chain pouring itself off a dressing table.

It's taken him a scant couple of minutes to gather himself, and shove his possessions back into his pockets. Having weighed up the options, Phoenix doesn't seem to have any. He can't get out. He can't call anyone. All he can do is a quick reconnoitre of the habitat. If there's shit - he'll deal with that when it arises. But if it's an Earth ship, chances are the natives will be friendly. If it's military, they’ll probably be officious. Gods. He fucking hates officious mortals. Come to think of it, if this was a military ship, surely he'd have been detected and surrounded by armed guards by now.

“Uh. Yeah.” He says to the computer, standing. “I'm done here.”

“Do you wish to end the programme?” Asks a really rather sexy female voice.

“Yeah. That thing. End the programme.” He agrees, and the room is restored into it's former state. The doors swish open as Phoenix cautiously approaches them, and he steps out into the corridor.

Locked to Alec Troven (

element_wizard ):
(Subject to change according to events before Phoenix and Alec meet.)

Circles of thought have been rattling around Phoenix's mind.

If Q brought him here and is more powerful than Heaven, he's on his own.

If Q brought him here and isn't more powerful than heaven, then chances are Heaven is okay with that or they'd have taken him home, and he's stuffed.

If Q didn't bring him here, and Heaven sent him here. Then Heaven is definitely okay with it, and he's stuffed.

Of course, whenever his people have dealt with the Q, the angel has always been paranoid that his Boss might actually turn out to be a Q. He hates it. It makes him question his Boss, Heaven, all of it. It's easier just to fall and have done with it. But no, he won't go there. Having almost fallen twice, the angel is in no frame of mind to consider that the third time is a charm. So yes, Q.

If Q is not his Boss, and is merely more powerful, Phoenix is still stuffed.

if Q is not more powerful than his Boss, then his Boss wants him here, and Phoenix is stuffed - because Heaven knows full well an angel with his security clearance is no match for Q.

If it transpires that Q is actually his Boss; Phoenix is well and truly stuffed, and he can totally see why Lucifer got so pissed about it.

He can't think of any other permutations right now. So heads off for a drink. Basically he's on his own, and stuffed.

Phoenix is pretty bloody relieved there's a bar. A bar with real alcohol. A real bar with real alcohol and a nice quiet corner where he can sit and pound his head on a table. That'll be good.

Then maybe he'll wake up.

He orders something strong, and slopes off to a corner, tucked away behind a group of standing, chattering, people. The less he's noticed, the more he'll like it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Admittedly part of it is being able to talk to someone who knows him before the ship showed up. It's been sort of lonely in that aspect. Because of who and what he is, he's sort of resigned himself to being alone, never having someone who knew him before.

But those odds just shot up and broke or something or another, he doesn't know.

And the other part of it is that yes... it's Phoenix. That childhood crush which isn't that far away from him currently. Their relationship has always been odd, but that didn't matter.

"You just arrived then? Yes?" he asked. "... stupid question. Of course you have. You got the rundown then?"

For Phoenix, it's been a horrible wrench, facing life without Vahl for an unknown quantity of time. He hasn't seen Alec's older self for some time, but that's never a problem. The angel doesn't mind the odd relationship. There's always been a big part of his heart solely for Alec.

Now, seeing him here, the wrench doesn't feel nearly as bad. He and Vahl have spoken about Alec, and Phoenix knows Vahl would prefer it was this way - than to have Phoenix facing imprisonment alone.

"Little bit." He nods, catching the attention of one of the servers. "I know it's one of the Q. I know this is the Enterprise... and I'm in quarantine, which is frankly ridiculous for an angel."

The young lady comes over, and Phoenix orders another bourbon, turning to Alec. "Want anything?"

It's rare that someone can have a relationship as theirs. And even rarer when it worked, which theirs did.

Somehow they did.

"It's Picard's Q, of course," Alec said. "And you say you're an angel but, how do they know that? I mean your folk doesn't exist here. They don't know you from Billy Bo Bob Brain."

When the waitress came over, he added, "More coffee. I could use more coffee."

Because what he really needs is more caffeine.

"Picard. Think I remember the name from history classes. As to the angel part... maybe I should just say I'm Keldran." Phoenix has noticed that the more advanced a civilisation becomes, the less inclined they are to believe he's a bona fide angel. It's easier to believe he's just an alien with certain abilities; and partially shapeshifting biochemistry.

Being so used to Alec's older counterpart, Phoenix doesn't think to question his partner's caffeine intake.

The waitress smiles and moves off to fill their order.

"Maybe." Alec shrugged. "It's hard to say sometimes what people know and don't know..."

He started to say something else and then cut it off.

"Every reality is different. They all have their weird little quirks and all. Which I know, you know."

He then rested his head on his arms to look up at Phoenix from the table, looking a bit melancholy.

"Yeah. I'll wing it." He grins at the pun, but can see that Alec doesn't look like he's laughing. Phoenix reaches a hand across the table to touch Alec's. His face is warm, eyes loving.

It occurs that breezing into Alec's life and picking up from where they left off with a lot of silly wisecracks, the way he's used to doing, might not be the way to go. Phoenix can already feel how much he's changed inside himself, compared to the way they were all those centuries ago.

"It's the best thing in the cosmos, you know. To find you here." He says softly. "Are you okay?"

Alec grabs Phoenix's hand into his own and holds it tightly, as if it were a lifeline.

Considering that this Alec isn't the Alec he left behind, probably not. He's much younger and less... rough around the edges. He's still has an interest in caring about the world around him as opposed to just not giving a fuck.

"Do you know how often I get into situations like these and want someone I know to be there and not have them?"

"Darling.." Phoenix holds Alec's hand in both of his own. Sure, steady, with the experience of age behind them. "I'd only ever guessed .. the reason I didn't ask wasn't because I didn't care - but becasue I wanted you to be free."

The waitress returns, placing their drinks on the table. Phoenix nods a quick 'thank you', but he doesn't let go of Alec's hand.

"I've got you." He says, meaning every syllable. Alec may be more powerful, but if the angel can be a rock when his partner needs one... he's only too happy to provide it.

Edited 2015-10-22 22:36 (UTC)

There's a tiny quirk of a smile. Not a happy one, but the tired one of someone who's glad to hear something, but knows there's nothing that can be done about it.

"You couldn't have gone to most of the places I ended up anyway. So, there's no use telling you, is there? No use worrying you about things you can't control."

Powers and emotional stability rarely are the same thing. His other hand drifted out so that now his chin rested on the table in what had to be a terribly uncomfortable position, and grabbed onto Phoenix's other hand on top of his.

Though, at Phoenix's words and a desire to push past this emotional crisis (because why should he deal with emotional issues properly when he can just shove them away?) he said, "Are you sure you want to have me? I mean we're in public and all..."

"I'm not worrying. Or fretting, so you can tell me when you feel ready. I'm just here for you." Phoenix is shocked at how mature he's sounding. All those years of therapy must have done some good.

The Knowing is till absent, but he can see, just a little, that Alec is pushing something to one side. That's fair enough. Who wants to get all emotional in a public bar? On the motherfucking Enterprise? It's embarrassing.

"I'd have you across this table right now," he grins and winks. "If I wasn't so old and infirm."

It's weird enough that Alec lifts his head up and gives him a bemused look.

"That is so weird to hear you say... not the having me across the table... because you could still be firm, I'm sure. I mean the other stuff."

"I know. It's Vahl we have to thank for all this .. new man stuff." Phoenix blinks. He knows Alec retains memories throughout his life, past and future, but he's not sure Alec knows that Vahl is no longer Phoenix's enemy. Never was.

Sometimes he gets confused about what Alec may or may not know.

He picks up his drink and takes a sip. "You're right about that firm thing though. As a rock."

"Huh."

It is really hard to say from that statement what he does and doesn't know.

"You'll have to tell me about it."

Slowly he pulled himself back into a sitting position and grabbed his coffee tightly. He took a large gulp of it.

"Maybe later. Not here. I don't know... what to do now," Alec said softly, "I'm glad you're here though. I missed your touch."

Phoenix nods. Assuming Alec might not know, but still not entirely sure. Not that it matters.. he hopes.

"I know what I'd like to do now." He observes, studying Alec, wondering how different things might be, "And no. Not in a dirty way. I'd kinda like to take you in my arms and kiss you senseless. See, I missed your touch too."

And Phoenix is glad he's here. It doesn't matter that he's trapped. He's trapped with Alec. Unless Q starts torturing people, its a pretty good deal.

Alec's not sure what he knows or not half the time. It seems to come and go, memories slipping and sliding around like jello. And then they change on him too. Sometimes he makes the changes. Other times other things make the changes. But he can't always rely on it.

It's frustrating. More frustrating than he lets people know.

He put his coffee cup down and said, "Honestly? I just kinda want to curl up in your lap right now."

There's a short snort. "Which isn't what you're used to, I'm sure."

His older-self isn't much of a lap curler onto. He likes people on his lap, but not so much sitting on other people's laps. Alec isn't sure when the change happens. But right now that doesn't matter. He's not his future self. He's this self and that's what he wants.

"Well, that sounds good to me." Phoenix takes another swallow of bourbon, and chuckles. He's usually the one demanding access to Alec's lap, in their future. It's not a classic Keldran relationship, but the angel likes it when Alec takes charge.

Face with this version, however, Phoenix finds himself wanting to take charge. To be the Alpha. Only... at the same time, he feels like he shouldn't come on too strong. "Seriously. A little privacy would be nice. You can have my lap, my arms, and my heart - and we can talk."

"You mean I don't have your heart already?" A flicker of a smile. "But..."

There's a tilt of his head and that vacant look Alec gets in his eyes when he's checking something out that's not here. Then his attention snaps back to the here and now. "We can go to my room to talk. My roommate's not around. That should be private enough, yeah?"

Right now, as Alec seems to be feeling a bit adrift someone taking charge of his life, even a little for small things, would be quite welcomed. And the fact he's asking permission from Phoenix - or at least his approval is also quite different. As opposed to just flicking them both there.

"You've always had my heart. Doesn't mean I shouldn't give it to you every day."

He's definitely older, more mature. Attentive. The last ten years haven't been for nothing. Phoenix keeps studying Alec, without making his partner feel like he's staring. The angel is noticing all these little things. Changes, differences, the apparent slight lack of confidence.

"That'd be great." He drains his glass.

It's true Phoenix is used to himself and Alec just whisking each other someplace else. It's another new thing. They did it when they were both young. They do it now they're both old. But with Alec young, and Phoenix older, Phoenix likes the change in the dynamic, so far... he just needs to be sure Alec does too.

And that made Alec flush briefly at the tip of his ears.

The olderness is odd for Alec too. He felt a bit off balance because he know Phoenix would expect him to be one thing and Alec wouldn't give it to him. He knows he just flicked the two of them around like pinballs when they're both the same age, but now it just felt... different enough that he should ask for permission.

He shook his head at the thought and gathered up his book before, as usual at least, whisking them away to his room.

It's typical Alec mess. Things stacked here and there in some organized fashion that only Alec could fathom. Because he didn't just toss his book onto any random place, but put it down on a stack of stuff on the desk. The only clear spot is the bed which is, of all things, made.

The mess doesn't surprise Phoenix, it makes him smile. But the made bed is a bit of a novelty. Phoenix had always been organised, neat. A control freak. Alec and their kids over the years, adopted or otherwise, had gotten him out of that to some degree. A degree more easily coped with by the pair of them. Although he still throws a fit when his study is messed up.

"I keep thinking of your future in the past tense." He admits, reaching for Alec's shoulder. "If I wasn't used to temporal weirdness, my head would prob'ly explode. Come here."

The last two words are an invitation, more than an instruction.

Sometimes it's hard to say what goes on in his head. Why the bed is made or why not. Sometimes he's just cycling through versions of himself that are bed makers.

"Well, it is your past, so there's no reason why you shouldn't," Alec said, quite used to it. Though he has the slightly more awkward problem of his future self's memories being his on occasion even if he hadn't done it yet - he'd already done it.

At the invitation though, he fell easily against Phoenix,resting his head on the other man's shoulder. Who smelled like Pheonix. Mostly. There were some differences, but they were still Phoenix. And that's what mattered.

The angel is swept up in a wave of tenderness. He wraps his arms around Alec and buries his face in his partner's hair. Partner. It sounds so formal. Lover. Friend. Saviour. Pack.

"I don't care if this is a prison. It feels more like a new kind of freedom."

Alec lets himself just be held, buying his own face in Phoenix's neck and a little bit under his jacket. He never really thinks in terms of partners, lovers, friends things like that. There's just people he cared about, no matter who and what they were. He didn't need special words. Their names were enough.

"That is one of the weirder things I've heard said about these sorts of situations," Alec said, voice muffled by coat. "But I'm sure you've got a good reason for it."

Making a contented mumbling sound, Phoenix strokes Alec's hair.

"Well, it's lots of things. It's not being on a mission.. so I kinda have downtime. It's being somewhere I thought I'd hate, finding you, and not hating it at all any more." He allows Alec to burrow as much as he likes.

"And before.. when I was going through that really heavy shit, you were the one who stopped me falling. My anchor. My safety. Now I'm strong. I could be what you need me to be. It's literally a godsend, in some ways."

Alec seems to be in a burrowy mood since he seems to be quite happy under there. His fingers curl tightly into Phoenix's shirt.

"Until you leave and I'm alone again."

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