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[Action, July 11th-13th]
[To say that Billy is a bit of a basket case right now would be a severe understatement. His mom is here. His admittedly teenage and therefore doesn't-know-who-he-is-and-kind-of-alternate-universe mom, yes, but that doesn't seem to make the intensity of his feelings about the matter any different. One small comfort is that they're getting along (so far), and their shared powers gives them common ground, but there's still that lingering... risk that he can't stop thinking about. That he won't be able to keep his secrets, that eventually everything will come crumbling down. He's terrified of that.
The first day, he does little else but fret and mull over it, after separating from Wanda; Teddy's kind enough to cancel any of his daily doings, since he's in no state to be pretending like everything's normal. It had been hard enough with Wanda the first time. Today, though, he feels much better. His head is more clear, he's found his center of calm, and he spent at least half the day and night before meditating so he figures he has a firm grasp on his sanity again.
There are certain things that he knows he needs to do, especially since he ditched all his usual priorities the day before, so he's made himself a list, and today he's going through it all. It is as follows: He swing by the art gallery and removes some of his work, namely anything that features the Scarlet Witch (only a couple of pieces, mind you, and they're his, but art theft is still art theft). He attends training with Logan and begs for forgiveness about skipping the day before (beg may be an overstatement of what actually happens because he isn't really sorry at all). He'll attend X-Men Training and try to perform decently despite feeling ridiculously scatterbrained. And finally, he'll probably talk to some Very Important People in the process of completing the rest of his list.
In the end, well... he's decided to track down Wanda again, maybe not now, but some time in the near future. Because despite his fears and misgivings, despite everything he's likely to say to everyone else - that it's a bad idea, that he'll mess things up, that he'll accidentally reveal himself - the temptation of sharing his powers with hers, teaching her, helping her, is too strong to resist. This is about more than a lost family, now. This is about magic.]
The first day, he does little else but fret and mull over it, after separating from Wanda; Teddy's kind enough to cancel any of his daily doings, since he's in no state to be pretending like everything's normal. It had been hard enough with Wanda the first time. Today, though, he feels much better. His head is more clear, he's found his center of calm, and he spent at least half the day and night before meditating so he figures he has a firm grasp on his sanity again.
There are certain things that he knows he needs to do, especially since he ditched all his usual priorities the day before, so he's made himself a list, and today he's going through it all. It is as follows: He swing by the art gallery and removes some of his work, namely anything that features the Scarlet Witch (only a couple of pieces, mind you, and they're his, but art theft is still art theft). He attends training with Logan and begs for forgiveness about skipping the day before (beg may be an overstatement of what actually happens because he isn't really sorry at all). He'll attend X-Men Training and try to perform decently despite feeling ridiculously scatterbrained. And finally, he'll probably talk to some Very Important People in the process of completing the rest of his list.
In the end, well... he's decided to track down Wanda again, maybe not now, but some time in the near future. Because despite his fears and misgivings, despite everything he's likely to say to everyone else - that it's a bad idea, that he'll mess things up, that he'll accidentally reveal himself - the temptation of sharing his powers with hers, teaching her, helping her, is too strong to resist. This is about more than a lost family, now. This is about magic.]
[ July 11th | action ]
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Back peddling quickly, she nodded. No more mentioning Wanda in the present. In Billy's time, she's still missing. Right. Got that? Good. Now to keep her big mouth shut.]
But that whole mother-son connection thing still seems to be there. [Glancing down at the pint of ice cream in her hands, she then holds it out towards Billy. He needs it way more than she does right now.] Jeez. How'd you explain it to her?
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[And seriously, how could he? "Hi, nice to meet you, I'm Billy, your alternate reality teenage kid!" Yeah, that'd go over well. The very idea is ridiculous, so he distracts himself by burying his spoon into the ice cream for a really big scoop. Maybe he'll feel better if his mouth is too full to say anything stupid.]
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[Her voice is gentle and honest, lacking any sort of condescension. There really isn't any good way to go up to a stranger and just announce that you might be their future alternate reality son or daughter. Hell, she had been there when Billy and Tommy had finally found Wanda in their own reality.
And then, Cassie and Jonas had died.]
Let her think it's some strange coincidence. It's probably easier than the truth. For both of you.
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[Knowing that, recognizing that, doesn't make the truth any less painful. Having her right there, and being unable to tell her anything about their shared history? It sucks.]
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Yeah...
[A sigh.]
You'd think someone would have come up with an "Alternate Realities for Dummies" manual by now.
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You'd think. Everyone else I was able to handle just fine, but this... it's just messing with my head.
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[Sigh. He's being melodramatic and he knows it. Relevant, though-]
You know, when I first got here, I actually thought that? There's these simulator machines in the prison, and I wondered...
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...if you never left? [Sigh.] I hate to ruin your existentialist fantasies, but this place is way too bizarre to be anything but real.
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[It seems so nice most of the time- peaceful, friendly, with a collection of fandoms and fantasies come to life. And it's still an amazing experience. It just isn't as great as he'd thought it out to be anymore.]
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Even if it sucks that we were all brought here, I think I'd rather we face this as a team than any one of us on our own. Young Avengers don't leave their own behind.
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[It's just a gentle reminder. Kate's long since come to terms with lacking any special abilities. She could never begrudge her teammates for having what they do.]
You'll get through this, Billy. Just like we've gotten through everything else. You have Teddy. And now you have me.
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[He feels a bit sheepish- it's not like he forgot he was the only one, but he's just so used to thinking of it as a natural solution these days.]
I do feel better with you guys here, believe me. I just need to figure out what to do, is all.
[ July 11th | action ]
Let's start with not mentioning a word of this to her.
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[He's really hoping for the best here.]
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[Billy groans dramatically and thunks his head against his knees. Breaking up with his teen mom. Gross.]
...Guess it's just a matter of when the whole thing comes crashing down on me.
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Oh, okay. That joke fell totally flat.
She sighed, wrapping an arm back around Billy's shoulder again.] Maybe we should just take it one day at a time.
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...Sorry. But I'll be okay- I don't mean to be such a mess all the time, honest.
[Poor Teddy's already put up with so much of it.]
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[And she means it, too. What she would have given to have someone to lean on during some of the hardest times in her life. But while she loved her sister, she and Susan didn't necessarily see eye to eye on a lot of things. Cassie had been her closest friend since elementary school. Before it became necessary to navigate the social minefield that came along with private school.
Self-reliance is great and all. But sometimes, it really sucks.]