Kalen took William to the one place that William knew would be safe, despite the fact that he knew that it wasn't safe. It was just such a force of habit that his mind built the world there. If Kalen was going somewhere, Kalen would see GRace. If Kalen and Grace were together, they would be at the warehouse.
It was as William had remembered, with his room largely intact though a ghost town because he barely maintained any sort of residence wherever he went. The library was still a work in progress, and Chloe- Grace's poor houseplant- was still in very real danger of being executed by the Virtual Adept.
William had recused himself to the shower immediately coming home (Home? Was this home? it had been, once, given Jenn enough cause to be concerned because he shacked up with some stranger he'd just met and was immediately withdrawn shortly thereafter.)And did not remove himself for at least an hour. He was still nursing a concussion, and a fairly bad one at that. Though Kalen had assisted him out of the house he hadn't given any indication that he was going to be assisting the younger Hermetic in fixing his damages. No, William would have to do that on his own.
The hour he took in the shower gave Kalen time to talk to Grace. What Grace did after that shower was completely up to her. William shut himself in the library, piled up books, and tried to find solace there.
Not Grace
She has to announce herself with a "Hey." for him to notice her appearance. Grace always did seem to just appear from nowhere, whether or not teleportation were involved.
The library feels like her -- as though the books themselves might take wing. It is her place. Her home. She does not look happy -- but who would?
"I've talked with Kalen. Hopefully some sense into his skull," she says, walking into the room, leaning her head back against the bookshelves. She prefers to stare at the ceiling rather than at him.
William
She wouldn't look at him, or rather she did what Grace does and looked at the ceiling instead of the person because Grace was never particularly good at people. William found himself staring at the book in front of him, and though there were words and diagrams and everything there, not a word of it made sense. His brows knit, his eyes narrowed and when he turned his attention back to Grace his distress was obvious.
At least he wasn't covered in blood anymore.
"What did he tell you?" he asked warily, "I... I don't know how well the house is warded since Sepulveda left, but... you might be able to see- I don't know. It's- it can't be that bad."
He doesn't believe it himself. William obviously doesn't believe it, and he wears his fear openly.
Not Grace
"Well, not gonna lie -- he told me you fucked up," she says, to the ceiling. "Ned and Margot are dead, there was some invocation of demons or whatever..."
She rolls her eyes at that one, because technomancer.
"It's pretty bad, Eli... Will. But. Not so bad that I recommend throwing you at The Order. They might think they have some claim over you just because you signed on the dotted line, but fuck that, honestly."
William
"It wasn't like that-" quick, clipped "-he wasn't there, he didn't see it- something was breaking through we had to stop it. I-I don't know what happened after that..."
He looked from Grace back to the book. The words that didn't seem like anything more than scribbles and the useless words. Brought his mind back to the useless sigils- how did he know it wasn't like that.
"But... we have to tell them. I can't- it... I wouldn't do that."
Why would I do that? it sounded like. William was baffled, confused and offsettled by the idea that he would do such a thing, that he would knowingly lead a ritual that would end the way it did, but... he had to have known. He had to have figured something. William Holmes wasn't stupid, and there was always some question as to whether or not he understood the implications of his actions.
What if he did know what he was doing this whole time?
Not Grace
Grace sighs, crosses her legs in gangly form. "Well, regardless of how it happened? What happened is an embarrassment to them."
You, Will, are an embarrassment. You know that, right? Every group that takes you under its wing is taking on a liability.
"They won't exactly be in a forgiving mood. Even if it wasn't entirely your fault, a Verbena is dead, and it looks like a Hermetic conjured demons to do it. Politics are going to get... shitty."
For the first time, she peels her gaze off of the calming ceiling, to give him a look that feels like she's trying to pin him to the chair.
"They might decide that you are expendable. And I don't agree. We need a neutral, trusted party."
William
There are things she says and things that he hears. And someone didn't have to say it to make it true- he was a liability. They knew it in Baton Rouge, they knew it here, and now the entire Order would know it.
"I guess it was only a matter of time, I guess? Before... y'know.. something like this happened or got this bad," he said again, nodded along because he trusted Grace. he trusted Grace's judgment even though they'd had ups and downs. "Can't I-"
He looked back at her, and he didn't move from his spot. She was talking about a neutral party.
"What if I just left? No more people, no more other mages, no nothing. Just... somewhere else. Somewhere not here.
"What is that neutral third party here to decide?"
Not Grace
"If you just left? Talk about making everything worse, man. That would not look good. Remember, you are dealing with a bunch of people who can find you wherever you decided to go.
"No. That would not help."
That gaze of hers meanders down to the floor, apparently unable to even look at him again.
"That 'third party' would... decide if you can be salvaged. I know a guy. I trust this guy, Will. Enough people trust him that if he looks into this and figures out that you don't need your soul ripped apart, they'll back off.
"Just don't make this worse, Will. Please."
You know you're going to make it worse.
William
"Salvaged?!" his voice broke at that, eyes finally as far away from the useless book as they could be and he shrunk back into his chair. Heart was racing as it started to dawn on him what exactly it was that Grace was talking about and all he could think about was Eleanor and how she'd said these things to him before.
"I'm not a burned out processor, I'm a person," he said.
There was the awkward, long silence. She wouldn't look at him, but he looked at her. Looked for some sign of weakness or some sign to say that she knew what was happening and that she would sympathize or-
"... what do you think?"
Not Grace
"Ugh, of course you're a person," she says, arms going into the air and a hand landing over her eyes. This whole thing is giving her a headache.
"I think that... as a person who legit cares about you? I think that my plan is the best chance you've got of making it out of this alive. I don't know what happened, okay? Maybe some malevolent entity framed you or whatever. My point is that there are powerful people out there who will come to some conclusion about what happened, and it's much better if they don't have some ulterior motive in mind when they do."
She bites a lip, looks up at him again with a worn-out look to her. "For the record? I think whatever happened, your heart was in the right place. It always is. But sometimes, man? Sometimes... that's not enough."
William
"This... this can't be- something has to be up, though. I heard Ned, I heard Ned and Doc and I swore I heard Kiara and two of those people weren't even at the ritual so why would I hear them? Something isn't right here... it..." his thoughts were moving faster than his brain, and his brain was already fuzzy on account of the fact that he had a rather impressive concussion.
He stood up, the stillness hadn't suited him and the young man took to doing what he usually did- he paced. He moved, he couldn't sit still because he had to think and none of this made sense, but-
"What if your third party doesn't believe me?"
There was the undercurrent there, the feeling of something he knew and gnawed at him; people weren't going to believe him. What was worse? An executioner who didn't believe your innocence or a jury that knew you were innocent and sentenced you anyway?
He stopped and looked at her, "I swear I tried, Grace. I did everything right it... it just... none of it makes sense now. The books, the signs, the ritual- none of it."
He swallowed, and found himself faced with the idea that, perhaps, he had done this. Lies work best when you believe them yourself.
Not Grace
Will paces, and Grace stays staring at the floor, tired perhaps? Or just done trying to follow him.
"Mike's good at this, Will. It's his... obligation? Duty? To get this right. He'll do right by you, I promise. Isn't that the better option? I don't hand out promises like candy, you know. I trust him that much. I'd trust him with anyone's life."
With anyone's death.
She doesn't promise that Mike will believe him, after all.
William
"Will it hurt?"
Not Grace
This time, it's Grace's voice that cracks. Another person might run up and hug him, but this this Grace, and as long as Will has known her, she just doesn't do that. "It doesn't have to."
"I'm sorry, Will. I wish I had some better choices to offer."
William
[Manip+Subterfuge: I'm totally not running away from my impending death]
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8) ( success x 2 ) [Doubling Tens]
Not Grace
[Perception + Empathy: You totally are.]
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 1, 2, 10) ( success x 1 )
William
"I... I know, I know it's hard, this can't be easy for you. And, for what it's worth, I'm... I'm really sorry," he told her. Somehow, he felt the need to apologize. Somehow, he felt it was necessary to calm her down and make things okay even though he was the one who was probably going to die in the next few days. "I never wanted to hurt anybody."
"I... uh... figure I should swing by the house and see if Sera is around so I can let her know what's up. Go out with a party or a shit ton of booze or whatever," he laughed, a huff of air and sound, "I mean, it's not like there's any problem with it. Best case scenario I'm celebrating and worst... Well, it's better to go out without regreting anything."
Damned hedonist to the end, shot Grace a grin before sobering up some.
"How's Kalen handling this?"
Not Grace
"Kalen is... being Kalen. Drinking a lot of tea and whiskey probably, and being very restrained. He always wants to seem so strong."
He's not strong though. No, he's blaming himself, isn't he? Couldn't stop you from fucking everything up.
"Will. Don't... overdo it? There's still a chance you can get out of this, okay?"
If you even want to get out of this.
William
"C'mon, when do I overdo it?" he said with a grin. The young man started to head out to grab his things from his room. He didn't have his phone with him, but that was probably for the best. Didn't need someone tracking him any easier than he already was.
"Just... wait a few days for me, okay? Please, at least a day, I need to put in for a substitute for my classroom."
Not Grace
"I can't promise that, man. Don't go to your class. This is a little bigger of a deal than that, okay?"
She doesn't grin back at him. Just shakes her head.
"Always. You always overdo it. I'm asking you, please, just stay low, don't tell The Order just yet, let me try to help you. Be good."
For once, do the smart thing? Eh, Will?
William
"Fine, fine. I'll be good and low key," he acquiesced, although it hardly seemed like he was having to bend hard to do what she'd asked.
"I'll be good... just... worst case scenario, make sure my parents find out I'm dead, okay?"
A little more grim than his intention seemed. Resolute, almost like he was going to go quietly.
Elijah never did anything quietly.
Not Grace
"I'll let them know. I've got to let Doc know, and... everyone else besides," she says, and crosses over to a window, slumps against it as she stares outside.
William
He nodded, and with that he started to head back to his room. He might have wanted to go out, but at that juncture his head hurt too much to be able to really function. He had no idea that the sun wouldn't come up when he woke up, that there would be no sun. That people wouldn't acknowledge it. Just another thing that was wrong that nobody seemed to see.
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