You Know What Some Might Say [Finished]

[Lucca]

Felix, for his part, was enjoying this greatly. He loved the feel of Colin's feathers, and they were such a pretty -color-, and he knew that the Cardinal must also be musically talented. He was, in truth, itching to talk about that. But the flow of the conversation wasn't quite there, yet. Maybe over dinner...He contented himself, in the meantime, with an absent paw beginning to rub down Colin's back and neck, lightly scratching below the feathers. He probably didn't quite realize he was doing it.

"Mildred?" Felix tilted his head, golden eyes narrowed in thought, before his face lit up, and he turned to face him. "Oh, oh! I think I know her daughter! That's cool, man! That's a long walk from here, though...how'd you get so far off track?"

The porcupine made a head movement that was partway between a nod and a shrug, still a bit bummed about the fact Colin couldn't stay that long. He was growing to like him, and it was really way too rare to have visitors, especially ones that seemed so interested in his company. He was a friendly sort, but some people got...frustrated with him for reasons he was never sure of.

[Lucca]

Colin gritted his teeth at the highly unwanted sensation of delicate claws (and how ridiculous that something that looked as husky and spiky as this porcupine could ever be described with such a word) on his back, again fighting down an urge to run so bad that it made the bile rise in his throat. He couldn't remember ever feeling quite this uncomfortable with a situation. Not even the time he'd managed to fall into the cake at the famous orchestra conductor's party measured up to this level of Do Not Want. His smile was most assuredly forced now, and his frustration was only made worse by the fact that Felix seemed to have no idea whatsoever that he was upsetting his guest.

"Ah yes, Caroline. I've met her," Colin said simply, one foot twitching with the urge to stab the porcupine's eye out. Then maybe he'd get the picture that all this physical attention was very much unwanted...he forced the thought down. Now was not the time. He needed to keep his cool. If only he could think of a polite way to tell the other man to back the hell off.

And now he had to make up a quick excuse. Oh by the cliffs. "Well, I got a bit...sidetracked," that much was obvious, but he knew it wouldn't satisfy even someone as dull as Felix was. "There was a wedding going on," he invented wildly. "They'd blocked off the path I usually take for it, and so I tried to take another way and got horribly lost." He lowered his head in shame. Wow, what an awful lie. He held his breath to see if Felix would buy it or if he'd have to invent more circumstances.

[Lucca]

"Yep! She's a pretty little thing, huh? Very sweet," Felix said, smiling at the thought. In truth, he'd actually dated her a for a little bit...well, for about three weeks. Still, he didn't regret a moment of it. It had been fun, and he really wished he could actually have a steady girlfriend (or boyfriend, he wasn't picky) more often, instead of just the occasional and casual sex from some pretty thing he picked up at a party. Sadly enough, Caroline had been the longest relationship he'd ever managed to have, and it barely qualified as more than a temporary fling. He didn't let this bother him though, because really...having a steady relationship might mean he'd need to actually get a job or something. No thank you.

Luckily for Colin, the porcupine was quite as slow as he appeared to be, and subsequently easy to bluff. "Oh? A wedding? I love weddings!" Felix said, beaming, ears twitching happily. He really did, too. "Especially when there's free wine." Maybe not for the most romantic or sophisticated of reasons. But at least he was too classy to drink beer? Unless of course it was all that was available. And free. Free was good since he'd never pay money for that swill.

"Though sometimes the music is cool, too," he said, slyly (or so he thought) bringing the conversation to where he wanted it to be. "Though I'm sure you know all about that, being from the Villa and all." He gave a smile that held a hint of something flirtatious in it, his claws now idly playing over the cardinal's wing feathers.

[Lucca]

Despite all the tension he was feeling, something in the cardinal did ease up when his excuse was swallowed. He subconsciously pulled his bag closer, wondering how much longer the little Rabbit was going to keep sleeping. Having her wake up and freak out over being around more Cards was not what was needed, though Felix probably wouldn't flip out too much over it. The more Colin was forced to spend time with the porcupine, the lower his opinion of him sank. He was the epitome of Selkie laziness, and seemed to come at all aspects of life with equal parts easy-going apathy and childlike wonder. It was enough to sicken him. Or maybe that was just the wandering claws that were now touching his very sensitive wings.

"Indeed," he snapped, tone a bit shorter than he intended, so he buffered it with a smile. He was about to say something else...when something changed. His favorite subject was suddenly brought up, and Colin felt his mood lifting, the constant, uncomfortable feeling of being touched easier to ignore.

"Quite right, we Villas are famed for our musical aptitude and knowledge," he said, smile instantly becoming less forced. "It's always good to find a fellow music lover, even among the residents from other Realms. Refreshing, you might say, since so many Cards disregard it as a waste of time." He thought sadly of the Court of Spades, which had no music room, and he could only assume the other Courts were just as devoid of that sort of culture and beauty, which was such a pity. Part of being high class should be the ability to afford high class entertainment, after all! "Myself, I play the piano, and do a bit of composing when the inspiration strikes. Where do your musical interests lie?" The smile upon his beak was bright as he actually faced the porcupine.

[Lucca]

Even the porcupine to whom 'subtle' meant putting your arm around someone and flirting with them rather than glomping them the moment you saw them noticed the change in Colin's tone and demeanor as soon as they started talking about music. He knew that would be a great subject! He mentally gave himself a high five for bringing it up, before gazing in admiration at the bird. Not only did he play, but he also actually wrote music?

"Far out, dude!" he cried, expressing his excitement in the best way he knew how. "Yeah, I totally love music. It speaks to the soul, like oatmeal and...sunsets." He turned to gaze back out at the darkening sky, tail wagging a bit in excitement. He couldn't help but be in awe of the fact that Colin could actually write that stuff. He'd always wondered how they did it, how they were able to pull out just the right notes to make his heart sing the way it did. His shining eyes and beatific smile showed this clearly enough.

"I wish we had a piano so you could play something for me and the fam, I know we'd all love it," he said with a light sigh. He truly did regret it, too. "I can appreciate all music, but the best is whatever I can groove to, ya know? Dancing and music just go together." He swayed a bit on the spot, careful not to poke Colin with his quills.

[Lucca]

As the conversation...progressed, Colin quickly remembered who he was talking to, and it was like a bucket of ice water on the fire of his enthusiasm. Talking about music was not always as fun with people from other Realms, and now he was remembering why. Others may like music, or even love it, but they didn't really understand it, which made conversations a bittersweet cocktail at best, and at worst...well...Oatmeal speaking to the soul? Oatmeal? Seriously. Messed. Up. Though his mood fell slightly, he tried not to let it show on his face. After all, Felix was really trying, he could tell that...which made it all the more sad that the best he could come up with was...that.

His heart did give a little leap at the thought of playing, even if it was for...Selkies. But of course, then his brain caught up with what was actually said, and he sighed, a bit wistfully. "That's a pity," he said, leaning his head back a bit. The comfortable subject really was taking away some of the awkwardness, though it was still a constant tremble in the back of his mind telling him to run far away and never look back. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the 'dance' comment though. Of course, Felix did seem the type. He could appreciate dancing in the proper context of course, as long as it was formal, but the use of the auspicious word 'groove' led him to believe that wasn't the sort of dancing that was being discussed here. "Piano music doesn't tend to have that sort of a beat to it, so no, I don't exactly know what you mean," he responded neutrally, trying to squirm away a bit again, seemingly in response to the swaying and the quills, though really it was mostly the feeling of claws on his wings he wasn't fond of.

[Lucca]

"Oh, it can," Felix assured him, nodding vigorously and responding to the movement by shuffling closer and resting his arm more fully on the Cardinal's back, much to the latter's chagrin. "The piano nights at some of those fancy clubs in the Capital? Radical dancing man, radical! And it's actually better for dancing with a partner, which can be fun in its own right, ya know?" He grinned, apparently recalling some memory. But then, of course, the one he'd been dancing with at the time was replaced suddenly and quite vividly with an image of a Villa Cardinal in his arms, swaying and jumping and spinning in time with a lively piano ballad, and then moving closer together as the song shifted to a slower one...

His golden eyes glazed over for a moment as the image proved to be a persistent and not unenjoyable one. Colin's head on his shoulder...his claws in the soft feathers as his arms went around the bird's waist, just below the wings...the music making both feel light and happy even without anything to drink...he leaned his head on the Cardinal's shoulder, still lost in his fantasy, a blissful but vacant look on his face.

[Lucca]

Colin fought to keep from sighing. This was quickly becoming a rather exasperating conversation, though why he could ever expect any different with this fellow was beyond him. There were definitely some people that didn't understand music. But the porcupine didn't seem to understand much of anything, except perhaps dancing. "Actually, I don't dance," Colin replied stiffly, frowning slightly despite his best efforts and forcing it into a smile. "So I'll have to take your word for it." He never had before, anyway. Too much touching involved for it to be comfortable. He sighed slightly, though something in what the porcupine said tugged at him. Piano players in a club? Though part of him hated to think of himself reduced to that...hey, a lot of musicians got their big start inauspiciously, right?

"Out of curiosity, to which club are you referring?" Colin asked, shuddering a bit as he was pulled even closer. This was going to have to end soon or he might just flip. After a minute or so of silence, Colin's eyebrow went up in surprise. Had his question used too many big words for the Selkie, or had he somehow not heard despite his ears being what felt like mere inched from his beak. "Do you remember the name of the piano club?" he asked again, and when there was still no response, he turned to look as best he could at the face that was now resting on his shoulder.

"Felix...?" Colin was rather confused to see a blank, unfocused expression on the other's face. He was also rather alarmed. What had the procupine so captivated that he lost all touch with the world? Given, it probably wouldn't take much, but he was -very- glad indeed when a woman's voice called outside: "Felix, dinner!"

With a great effort, Colin wrenched himself out of Felix's grip, grabbing up his bag, and took a few steps toward the voice, though he realized belatedly that the porcupine's family did not yet know they had a guest. He prodded him with a foot, gingerly. "Did you hear your mother? Dinner appears to be ready."

[Lucca]

Felix, of course, heard nothing, having shut out the world around him in favor of the increasingly lovely vision he was experiencing...he didn't even notice his mother's call, but he -did- notice when he was suddenly short one lovely bundle of purple feathers to cuddle, and he nearly fell over, blinking like he'd just woken up. He glanced up as a claw poked him to see a rather exasperated looking Cardinal, and he felt a hot flush rise to his cheeks, certain Colin could notice due to his white fur.

"Oh, right, yeah, food," he grunted, pushing himself up and shuffling off toward the house with his friend following.

As he had predicted, his parents were more than happy to serve a guest. Dinner was a lovely affair, though it ended all too soon for Felix's liking, and he was further disgruntled when Colin insisted he needed no help to get to the guest room, just directions, though he thanked them very politely for their hospitality. Felix stared up the stairs, listening as the Cardinal shut his door, and his ears drooped, a slightly sad expression coming over him. He hoped he was up early enough to see Colin off, at least...though secretly he didn't want the Cardinal to leave. He...liked him. Possibly more than he should have. But the guy was smart, and pretty, and musically talented...everything that was attractive to the porcupine. He went to bed with a rather heavy heart.

[Lucca]

Dinner was very tense for Colin. He was polite, and social, and gracious; everything he had been trained to be at a dinner party where he was a guest. Except for the part where he was sneaking bits of food into his messenger bag in napkins. Luckily he was subtle enough about it that his efforts seemed to go unnoticed, much to the Villa's relief. When it was finally the proper time to excuse himself, it was with a great sense of victory that he shut his door, finally away from Felix and the other prying eyes.

Smiling tiredly, he opened up his bag, first taking out all the food he'd stashed (mostly veggies, since he figured that would be what Rabbits liked), and then carefully bringing out the little blanket-wrapped bundle, a bit worried over what he'd find. And yet, there was the little Rabbit, apparently having slept all this time. But the sea-blue eyes blinked open at the sudden intrusion, and Colin smiled softly at the creature.

"Hey Mythiril. Have a good rest?" he asked, sitting down on the bed beside the small Rabbit. "Are you hungry? Here." He pushed the food at her, eyes soft and warm. Somehow his protectiveness over Mythiril had spawned some oddly paternal feelings.