selfhelp | [IC] Appointments Post

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[action],
[voice]

[IC] Appointments Post

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[Action, January 1st]

Thanks!

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[He has to laugh at that, however faintly. It's not a particularly pleasant sound.]

"Thankful"...

[She reaches out and lays the tips of her fingers lightly against the back of his hand, the touch barely there. Her gaze is thoughtful, but serious.]

I know you expect everyone to be upset with you for what happened. I don't blame you. Mistake or not, this was... This will take some time for everyone to come to terms with.

But yes. [She gives him a faint smile at that, tapping one of his knuckles with her fingertip.] Thankful. I meant the words I said. And for what it's worth? Thank you, Billy. I choose to take what you did as a gift.

[Geez. Zatanna's a bit taken back by how out of it he seems, and she's half-tempted to wave her hand in front of his face or something. But he does reply, and she can only hope that it's a positive sign.]

I wanted to check on you. See how you were after what happened. [Of course a spell of that magnitude would take a toll on the caster, not to mention the trauma she knows he went through beforehand. Still, she hadn't realized he'd be this out of it.]

[That earns her his full, undivided attention, wide-eyed and mortified, searching her expression as if trying to find the cruel humour in her expression instead of sincerity. How... how could she... is that true?]

Why would it... I mean... how... a gift?

[Billy falls silent for a long moment at that, mulling it over, rolling it around in his head a few times to give himself a chance to find his response.]

...I don't think... Teddy trusts me anymore.

[His gaze drops to the floor at that, shifting a bit to press more closely against the window. Then, wordlessly and briefly, he spreads his arms out as if to say, well? He feels as okay as he looks, and he doesn't look particularly okay.]

[Yeah, he looks horrible. And after days spent in the clinic recovering, no less. But Billy also isn't exactly offering up much, and Zatanna wonders how far she can safely push to try and figure out whatever it is she's hoping to get from him. Answers as to why, the solemn promise he won't do it again--she's not even sure right now.

But silence isn't it.]

You could've died. That spell was massive, and I'm pretty sure it would've killed you if you hadn't been stopped, just from the strain.

[She gives a soft laugh at that, dropping her gaze, pulling back a little. There's something careful in the way she chooses her words.]

Because it was perfect, while it lasted.

[And she'd been blissfully happy. All three of them had been, down in their little house by the stream. It had only been a taste, but... It had been perfect.]

Hm? [Not wanting him to think she's staring, Mia picks up her plate and takes it over to the little sink in the corner. She doesn't say anything until she sits down again.]

Why do you think so?

[Wow, did she actually get him to smile? She'll go ahead and call that a win for today.]

Unfortunately not. It kinda came with the magic.

But that's pretty typical in my genre. I mean, did Sailor Moon get to choose to run around in a miniskirt and gogo-boots? It's tough being a magical girl! I'm just thankful my magic didn't come with bazooka boobs or a stripper outfit...

So that's it. It's over now. It's all gone. [He says bitterly, but with sorrow creeping into his voice. It's still so hard to process it.]

[Teddy looks at her, and... he does wonder if he can talk to her about some things. She's a magician, a skilled one, even if she isn't the adult one he reads about in comics. Maybe she could get a handle on what's wrong with Billy... And she wasn't involved with the spell, so... maybe.

He turns his head, glancing at Billy once more, then purses his lips and looks away.]

Somewhere else. You know... [It's bad enough talking like this with Billy right there. He could pay attention any second.]

[That quick look to where Billy still sits is what clues Zatanna in, and she nods.] Yeah; sure. Do you want to go into the other room?

[Which is a pretty loaded question. Teddy seems uncomfortable being this far away, and Zatanna doesn't know if that's because it's too much distance, or because of what he can still see. She would offer to put up a glamour; silence should be doable. But using magic right now probably isn't the best idea.]

[Teddy nods, and he's starting to lose hold of what was making him look so okay with things. There's no smile on his face, and his shoulders start to droop, and he grips his arm, knowing that this will be hard. Still, he's agreed to it. He needs all the help he can get, he knows it, and he's seeking it out no matter how hard it is.]

Is the kitchen okay?

[Considering Billy's taking up the soundproofed room, and his own room is right beside it...]

[She nods, not exactly having a preference. Right now it's about making sure Teddy's as comfortable as he can be--which isn't going to be very, from the looks of him. But now he's at least acting honest with her, and Zatanna sees that as a definite improvement over the fake smiles.]

Come on. [She can find her way there easily enough given that she lives in the apartment just below. So Zatanna makes her way there, sparing a glance behind her to make sure Teddy's following--and if he doesn't, she'll stop and wait on him.

It's hard, but he's agreed to it. That means she isn't going to let him back out now.]

[Billy can only nod miserably. It's the truth, isn't it? Unhappy as it sounds.

The truth really does always hurt.]

I'm sorry...

[...Yeah, he's... kind of still in shock over that. It shows on his face.]

I didn't... do that part, though. You chose it. I mean- it was my spell, but that life... came from you.

[Ha... if only.]

It probably... would have been better if I had.

[At least then Teddy would have been safe.]

You made it real, Billy. It came from us, yes, but it was a life... we're not likely to duplicate. It was perfect and yes, brief. But it was wonderful while it lasted. And it wasn't the Malnosso trying to be cruel. It was you trying to make us happy. Which you did. So thank you.

Sorry...

[He repeats to himself, and it feels so hollow. With this much raw pain, he thinks he recognizes this feeling. He just hasn't quite placed it yet.]

Which part are you sorry for? [For casting the spell... or for having to stop it?]

[Was he going to apologize again? Kate frowns a little at the thought, suspecting just that. Dammit, Billy. Even if she knows recoveries don't happen overnight, and that wishes are full of crap, she can't help but wish things could happen just like that.

She hates seeing Billy this depressed. She hated it the last time - after Cassie and Jonas died and the team broke up.

Sigh.]

That's a start.

I haven't given him a good reason to, have I?

[...The mental image that one brings.]

Sorry... I don't know much about magical girls. But costumes can be pretty ridiculous sometimes... and I do understand the importance of keeping a secret identity.

[Which brings to mind one other important question.]

Why tell me?

[Mia reaches, slowly, across the table, intending to cover Billy's nearest unoccupied hand with hers. If he draws away, she'll pull back, too.]

You and he love each other. That's a good reason.

[...Ah...

Billy doesn't know what to say to that. He truly, honestly doesn't. The prospect of being thanked for any of this had never actually occurred to him, after waking up and realizing what his spell had done. So he looks down, stunned, and remains silent. She was grateful... amazing.]

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