strangetrip | [GP] Shoot that poison arrow

None of the guests noticed when the spiky-haired man-child in jeans and purple t-shirt, wrists wrapped in cheap leather and metal bracelets, arrived at the Madonna Inn a few hours before midnight on February 13. That, in itself, wasn't all that surprising. Eros, otherwise known as Danny Valentine, had millennia of experience doing his job without being spotted.

What was surprising was that the dude at the front desk did see him. Tall and Nondescript waved him over and then gave him a room number 'in case you wanted to rest'. But Danny didn't.

Want to, or rest. He spent the time before the clock struck midnight polishing his love gun. Not like that. He'd find a girl to spend his nameday with. He always did. No, this little beauty was made by Hephaestus himself. It shot love darts that disappeared on contact.

At midnight, kitted out with more love darts than there were people in this pink and gold monstrosity, Danny left his room and shot the first person he saw--and didn't wait to see what would happen.

No point getting a slow start. He had a lot of work to do.

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Wyatt snapped his head back in embarrassment and surprise. "God, I am so sorry." He took his coffee and went immediately opposite her rather than beside her. If he hadn't been the type of person that faced things head on, he would have bolted. Wyatt wasn't, which was why he'd sat down rather than taking off.

"I swear I don't go around kissing strangers." It finally sunk in what she'd said about wanting her and he felt his face flush in response. It had been a long time since he'd blushed like a school boy but he'd seemed to have done it twice in one day.

Phryne lifted her hand to his cheek, smiled briefly, and then lowered her hand. "No harm done, and Miss Pryde doesn't seem the type to hold an innocent kiss against you." Phryne had no doubt about his interest in Kitty. She was a detective, after all, and more importantly in this case, a woman.

Kitty's name being brought into the conversation had Wyatt thinking about the kiss he'd shared with her. While there had been similarities, the feeling of needing to kiss to comfort or distract, there was also differences. The glaring one being he hadn't felt the need almost immediately from his lips touching hers. He also hadn't felt a disorientation of what was he thinking with Kitty. These were things he needed to examine closely, later.

"No, she doesn't." He didn't bother to deny his feelings toward Kitty. "I just can't explain it." Wyatt's head snapped up from looking at his coffee into her eyes when he realized how that sounded. "Uh, not that you're not attractive and anyone would want to kiss you but..." he trailed off with a sheepish smile. "I'll stop now before I dig the hole deeper."

"Aren't you sweet," Phryne purred, delighted with him, even if she had no interest in acting on it. For the first time since she'd run into Jack and River, Phryne felt almost herself. It wouldn't last, but for the moment, she would enjoy it. "Don't worry about a thing, darling."

She gave him a knowing smile when under different circumstances, she might have pouted and sought a compliment as an apology. Truthfully, only one man's opinion really mattered. So she immediately put him out of his misery. "A number of people have been similarly affected, beginning early this morning. Doubtless it's something to do with the holiday."

"Valentine's Day?" Wyatt was a little confused at first and then his brow cleared. "Are you saying something like a mass mind suggestion?" If so why make them kiss random strangers? It still didn't connect that what happened with Kitty at first might have been part of the same thing.

"It seems less 'mass' and more random, but this is not the first time today I've experienced the effects of the suggestion." Secondhand, of course, but that had been close enough and this was far less unpleasant. "The hotel repairs its walls when you damage them. I don't think inspiring kisses is beyond it."

"It does?" Wyatt blinked in surprise. "I didn't realize that it would repair walls." He suddenly grinned, "do I want to know what you did to damage a wall that it had to repair?"

As though she'd been waiting for the cue, Phryne merely smiled slyly and said, "A lady never tells."

[GP] Shoot that poison arrow

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