The Owl

Marceline’s face had been neutral when talking about her experience with time travelers, but John’s words caused her brows to furrow, her lips frowned. “Funny thing about fate. It likes to hit back.” She said. Walking over she leaned on the table looking him square in the eyes. “I’ve been doing everything I can to change that fate. It’s not like I said, ‘oh I’m destined to be alone let me sit around and eat bonbons til my fate comes to pass.’” Marceline said.

Marceline leaned against the counter and crossed her arms in thought. “I dated one once. She… Was certainly something.” She said. “My ex told me my fate, about how I was destined to be alone.” She admitted. “Seems like that is going just as she said.” Marceline added with a shrug.

Definitely more personal then. John wasn’t really equipped to handle personal talk, he generally avoided it. But then again, the focus wasn’t on him so it was easier to bluff his way through the conversation.

Flipping a few more pancakes, Marceline placed them on a plate before setting them in front of John. “Yeah. I guess.” She said. “Just really hate time travelers. A bit ironic really when I was with them for a small period of my life.” She commented with a shrug.

“Any particular reason why? Or just a general hate?” John quizzed, thinking there was more to it than just hating time travelers cause they can mess with time. It seemed like there was a deeper, more personal reason.

“I pretty much have given up on ever finding someone.” Marceline said. It was a sad thought for sure, but she just hated having a taste of what she wanted only for it to be ripped away. Crossing her arms, she watched as Ray got his face painted.

“Yeah. She has been living with me for a while. She was in Hub City for a while, but things just didn’t work out there.” Marceline said. “Yeah… I’ve been ditched a lot at restaurants, some of them pretty expensive places too. Pretty much deleted every dating profile I had. Got tired of getting my hopes up of ….” She trailed off.

“It doesn’t matter.” Marceline said. “Looks like your up next for face paint.” She said patting Ray on the back pushing him towards the face painter. Crossing her arms she looked at him with a soft smile.

“Oh, I lived in Hub for a couple of years, out by the University. It was nice.” Of course that had been in the late fifties, when the houses were new and the city flourishing. “Well, they missed out, not you. I bet when you’re not looking, you’ll find someone.”

Marceline let out a soft chuckle. “Shame there’s no one to witness this grand occasion.” She joked. Thinking about his question she let out a soft sigh. “Well I brood over the Legends existence, go to work, and take care of my only family member.” She commented.

“The brooding thing is a joke. I do have strong opinions on how they do their job, but fuck it. They are gonna do what they do and some how things work out.” She said.

“Why waste the energy thinking about the Legends if things work out anyway?” John countered, settling back in his seat. “I don’t pay them any piece of mind,” Lies but John was so skilled in that area no one ever saw though them. “As you said, the Legends are going to do what they do. None of us would be any the wiser if they changed time as the changes would just be history. So… no point in dwelling on thoughts of them.”

“Do you not want Pancakes?” Marceline asked as she flipped one of the pancakes out of the frying pan only to catch it. “Shouldn’t take to long to make a stack of them for two people.” She commented. “Unless you need to go. Which I would understand.” She added.

He considered passing up having pancakes and then thought, why not? “Yeah, alright then.” He moved to find a seat, growing stiff standing and leaning against the bench for too long. “Anyone would think you’re actually starting to warm up to me.”

Plonking on a chair, John tried to work up some small talk, feeling awkward sitting in silence. “So what are you doing these days when you aren’t picking strays out of the garbage?”

Marceline had to think about it. She wasn’t as familiar with Central City as maybe she should be, but then again she wasn’t exactly having to go to every nook and cranny as a Vigilante. “Quite a ways off. That pub I believe is way on the south end of town.” She commented. “Unless I’m thinking of the wrong one.” She added.

A little frown came to his face at that, not recalling much after the pub. But it was obvious he had left at some stage to end up in a dumpster. Possibly he attempted to walk back to his apartment. However he ended up from the pub to the dumpster was anyone’s guess - Marceline clearly not knowing and therefore not able to provide the information.

“No matter, love. Just morbid curiosity.” John shrugged it off and continued to eat the morsels of bacon. He could back track his steps but at the end of the day there was no point, he had gotten all he could out of that source. “Right, well, guess I’ll be on my way then. That is, if you don’t need me for anything?” 

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Marceline said. Finishing up the bacon she scooped it out onto a plate. “Must of been a hell of a party.” She said holding out the plate towards him.

John took the plate with a nod of thanks, picking up a bit of bacon between his fingers and taking a bite. He chewed for a moment, nodding again at her statement about the party. “That’s one way to put it,” the magician replied after swallowing his food. 

“Out of interest, how far was the dumpster from the pub near the city morgue?” John couldn’t quite place the name of the pub and the morgue wasn’t exactly the most know of the city’s landmarks, but he was curious. 

“Kind of a house guest, only she has moved in with me. Which I don’t mind. She is a wonderful person.” Marceline said with a smile. A soft chuckle escaped her as he commented on what constituted as a flock. “Being ghosted is horrible and that seems to be my life lately. Just being ghosted and left at a restaurant alone.” She said.

“The pants would probably be a little tight, but I’m sure you could rock the tank top.” Marceline commented with a slight smirk. “How did you end up in a dumpster anyway?” She asked as she cooked.

“Tempting. Pity I’m not summer ready. Maybe next time.” Not there would be a next time if John could help it. While he appreciated the assist from Marceline, he wasn’t fond of owing people favors. And being fished out of a dumpster definitely counted as owing one.

“Wild party got a little too wild.” John replied casually, not willing to share much in the way of details of his previous night’s escapades. At least, what he could remember of said escapades.

“Dumpster smell is never good on anyone.” Marceline said. Taking the bacon, she started to cook it before looking over at him. “No I don’t have any of your clothes here, you might be able to to wear one of my blue jeans and tank tops.” She commented.

The offer was kind but John shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, pet. But doubt your lovely wardrobe would fit my skinny arse.” He replied in a self depreciative manner. “I’ll just take whatever breakfast you’re offering and then be on my way. No need to trouble you anymore than I have already.”

“That is because I often pretend to be a fully functional adult.” She said dryly. Marceline was hardly the world’s best functioning adult. “If you don’t mind handing me the bacon from the fridge, that would be great.” She said as she moved about the kitchen.

Marceline clearly had a small bit of a routine, usually she winged it, but today she actually felt like she had a solid plan of things to do. “At some point you might want to consider a shower. Your smoke smell only covers up so much of the garbage smell.” She said. Though she knew all to well how hard getting the smell of dumpster out of clothes was.

John did as he was asked, handing Marceline the bacon out of the fridge before moving back away from the food. He was actually a really good cook - one of the very few things he could succeed at - but didn’t want to rock the boat as he was just a temporary guest.

“Not a fan of the musk?” John joked, pulling a card out of his pocket and turning it over in his hands. It wasn’t one of his own, probably one slipped in his pocket at the bar. He slipped in back in his pocket to investigate later. 

“Guess I’ll head back to my place soon then. After all, don’t believe you’ve got any spare clothes of mine lying around.” Nor would John want to borrow anything. When it came to clothes, John tended to stick with the same outfit. It was comfy, functional and recognizable so why change. 

“No she isn’t sick. She is kind of like me. We are the black sheep of our family.” Marceline said. “Yeah therapy has been a good thing.” She said. “I know. My luck has been to the point where I get ghosted by people who were interested just moments before.” She said with a soft yet sad smile.

“Not much really, been working, and taking care of a family member.” Marceline said. “Well and still going to therapy because it has helped a lot.” She said with a small shrug. “It’s been nice having quiet moments, afforded me time to try and date, even if that hasn’t exactly gone anywhere for me.” She explained.

“Yes I’ve heard many a tale of the great zombie that walks among us.” Marceline said. “It’s Friday.” She added. Part of her really wanted to added some random year to the end of the day, but she decided to forego messing with him.

“I have food around here. Weather or not you feel up to getting out of bed. Fair warning I won’t make you breakfast in bed.” Marceline said as she walked out of the room. Heading to the kitchen, she started to work on breakfast.

“Great zombie. I like that. Remind me to add it to my business cards.” John quipped back, his tone completely and utterly sarcastic. Friday. That wasn’t too bad, not missing a day or month or year.

At the mention of no chance of getting breakfast in bed, John mocked a pout. “No problem. I can c-…” The words died on his lips as Marceline exited the room. Obviously morning conversation wasn’t done in the bedroom.

Gingerly pushing himself out of bed, John stood still for a moment to maintain his balance before wandering out to the kitchen. Leaning against the bench, John watched what the woman prepared. “I was going to offer to cook. But you don’t seem to need my help.”

“Yep. Carnival games.” Marceline said. “Smallville? That’s Kansas right?” She asked. “I’m not really great with geography.” She lied. Well half lied, major cities she knew, small towns were a complete guess.