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[Action / Voice] House of M Follow-Up
[So... he's probably delayed this long enough, even if a part of him would love to delay it indefinitely. Not only is it a month overdue, but now that he's home again and fully recovered from whatever had been affecting his mind, putting it off any further will just make things more difficult. Frightened as he is of the consequences, he won't get anywhere if he keeps hiding. It's time to apologize for the damage his spell caused, and make things right... if he can.
First, Billy seeks out those he knows personally, friends or acquaintances whom he remembers being affected or involved. Whether they're people he hasn't spoken to since the spell was in place, or people who visited him while he was possessed and halfway out of his mind, he'll try to be as thorough as possible. Teddy accompanies him from place to place, bless him, and they can be found walking hand-in-hand through the village and talking quietly, though Billy will be speaking with the people he's looking for on his own. Teddy's there for moral support, nothing more; the rest is his responsibility.
After those visits, presumably the hard part is over, but there's one thing left to do - reach out to those he couldn't find, missed, or simply doesn't know, as well as the general populace who'd probably noticed strange things going on at the time. They deserve to know about... well. To put it bluntly, the menace to society that he can be. Not that he'd give that reason out loud. Certain people would take issue with it.
They'd be wrong, but.
This time, he uses the journal network, his voice tentative, worried, and sick with guilt, and it happens later in the evening:]
...Hey... it's Billy. Um, Kaplan. I'm kind of a witch. You might not know me. Sorry if you do. ...Last month, October 1st, I was sent back from a Malnosso abduction... kind of a mess. I wasn't thinking straight, and... I cast a spell. It... it screwed with a lot of people. Badly. I don't know the full extent of the damage it caused, or how far it went, but- I do know that- people were hurt. And I know I might not be able to make things right again, either.
["Might". His hope for that one is still pretty pathetic; the forgiveness he's already received is something of a miracle to him. The day's meetings are still weighing on him, and there's an ache in his heart that refuses to go away.]
...Still. I- I need to apologize. Whether or not the Malnosso were the cause, it's still my fault. S-so I'm sorry. I'm sorry... I'm so...
[....]
...I'm... not going to use magic anymore. I'm done. I'm no good. At it. I mean. I- sorry. ...This won't happen again. And if you want to yell at me, or get a better explanation of what happened, or... whatever you need, I'll... be here.
Thanks. For hearing me out.
[And... that's that.]
First, Billy seeks out those he knows personally, friends or acquaintances whom he remembers being affected or involved. Whether they're people he hasn't spoken to since the spell was in place, or people who visited him while he was possessed and halfway out of his mind, he'll try to be as thorough as possible. Teddy accompanies him from place to place, bless him, and they can be found walking hand-in-hand through the village and talking quietly, though Billy will be speaking with the people he's looking for on his own. Teddy's there for moral support, nothing more; the rest is his responsibility.
After those visits, presumably the hard part is over, but there's one thing left to do - reach out to those he couldn't find, missed, or simply doesn't know, as well as the general populace who'd probably noticed strange things going on at the time. They deserve to know about... well. To put it bluntly, the menace to society that he can be. Not that he'd give that reason out loud. Certain people would take issue with it.
They'd be wrong, but.
This time, he uses the journal network, his voice tentative, worried, and sick with guilt, and it happens later in the evening:]
...Hey... it's Billy. Um, Kaplan. I'm kind of a witch. You might not know me. Sorry if you do. ...Last month, October 1st, I was sent back from a Malnosso abduction... kind of a mess. I wasn't thinking straight, and... I cast a spell. It... it screwed with a lot of people. Badly. I don't know the full extent of the damage it caused, or how far it went, but- I do know that- people were hurt. And I know I might not be able to make things right again, either.
["Might". His hope for that one is still pretty pathetic; the forgiveness he's already received is something of a miracle to him. The day's meetings are still weighing on him, and there's an ache in his heart that refuses to go away.]
...Still. I- I need to apologize. Whether or not the Malnosso were the cause, it's still my fault. S-so I'm sorry. I'm sorry... I'm so...
[....]
...I'm... not going to use magic anymore. I'm done. I'm no good. At it. I mean. I- sorry. ...This won't happen again. And if you want to yell at me, or get a better explanation of what happened, or... whatever you need, I'll... be here.
Thanks. For hearing me out.
[And... that's that.]
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I just. ... I never... I never thought that I would-- have children. Of my own. That was never even... Not even on the table. Not! Not that I wouldn't want you! [She back peddles slightly.] I just--
[She sighs, heavily. He is offering to be truthful and honest with her. The least she can do is do the same with him. Even if it uncomfortable or embarrassing. She's the one who brought it up, after all.] I didn't ever think-- there could be a man who could-- love me.
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Oh, god. That's...
Billy is quiet for a moment, wincing. He can certainly sympathize with that feeling; he'd felt it plenty of times, before meeting Teddy. Like mother, like son, indeed.]
...Wanda, believe me... it isn't just my... father. Believe me when I say that in my universe, you're loved by a lot of people, in one way or another. And I'm sure that can be true in any universe.
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... so... you say it's complicated. ... but. ... We're-- happy? With one another? At least? I like him and he likes me and-- you were stolen, but you're safe and-- it's all... ok? Generally speaking?
[Wanda wants a happy family. That's all she really wants. Is to know that they're happy, from time to time. The LACK of a father in Billy's perfect world, plus his 'complicated' answer have her fearing some rather unpleasant ideas, such as one-night-stands or worse. ]
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...It... was. For a while. You were married, you had a home, you had us... but... when we were taken, it...
[Everything went wrong. He doesn't know the full story, but he knows it didn't end well for anyone.]
...He died. And you- she- our Wanda, she... went missing.
[God, but he wishes he had a happy ending to share with her. She deserves it. But he's also done with lying to her.]
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Oh. ... Oh. ... I'm-- I'm so sorry.
[She stops fidgeting with the rock, setting it down in favor of reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. She knows how hard it was when her Father went "missing." And someone she loved died? The father of her children? ]
That's awful. I don't... I'm so sorry.
[She doesn't quite feel the loss for herself, though it's spooky knowing these things happened to some version of herself. She does, however, feel a great deal of empathy for Billy.]
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It's okay. I mean- it's not, it's terrible, but... for me. It doesn't really affect me. I don't remember him... I don't remember anything about that time. Either I was too young, or it was a side effect of being taken away. Until recently I didn't even know his name.
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...yeah... he definitely was. He was an Avenger- a super hero. He helped save the world.
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Wow. ... That's-- good. [She gives a little laugh at how understated that is.] Great, even. ...
[She lapses into silence again, with drawing her hand and picking up the crystal. That's some questions down. The answers aren't all happy, but they feel true, and that matters more to her. Truth is important.
Which reminds her of her other big question.]
... Why didn't you tell me-- who you were?
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I... didn't know how you'd react. If you'd be upset, or if it would freak you out, or... if you'd be too uncomfortable to be around me. I mean, I can't imagine how I'd feel if someone my own age came up to me and told me they were my kid. I guess I was scared that you... wouldn't want me.
[It sounds so dumb, now that he's said it- and now that she's so readily accepted him, not necessarily as her son but at least as family. He'd been worried for nothing.]
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I'm... I'm still trying to figure it out, honestly. ... Your spell certainly didn't hurt, to show what a-- natural fit it is. But ever since I got here I-- I've wanted my family, and -- I just feel so stupid now. Everything I've said to you that you must already know! ... And-- ... I don't know. I understand what you were afraid of. But-- that was never something you had to be afraid of with me.
[Never, Wanda? What about how angry you were with him during/after Luceti Valley? She puts her fingers to her temples rubbing, as if to erase that thought.] Hnng. Mostly never.
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... Does Teddy know?
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Yeah. He was there when I found out, actually.
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... Should I not say anything? Do you not want people to know?
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No, I- ...it's my fault. I asked them... to keep it a secret. I thought we'd all be better off... but not everyone agreed. I know I... shouldn't have done that. But I didn't know what else to do. You're not stupid, who would have expected you to guess this?
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Please, don't...
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[He can't handle it right now. What once was wonderful and warm is now terrifying and oppressive; he'd been so consumed by magic all last month that he'd nearly drowned in it.]
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"D-don't..." [She repeats him, in shock, before looking at herself. The magic running over her is as clear as the nose on her face, and she looks back at him, almost in desperation.]
I--
[Unable to finish that, not even sure how she would if she wanted to, Wanda silences herself, and closes her eyes, drawing in a deep breath through the nose, trying to center herself, trying to not feel cut by his words.]
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I'm sorry. It's not- it's not you. It's me, it's... that spell. What I did. I can't... I can't use my powers anymore. It's too dangerous, it... did too much. I have to stop. But every time I feel it, I...
[I want to...]
...Please. I'm begging you, just... I can't.
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So she is stuck. Trying to get herself under calmed down, but finding the need to be 'calmed down' hurtful, which only served to work her back up again.]
...I'm trying, please...! [She manages to say, through clenched teeth.
How did it come to this? In Billy she had found someone who understood, who was like her. Now, she had gained him as a family, but lost the understanding. Was it her? Did she not understand? She desperately wanted to.
It is not easy, and it does not come quickly, but her hex aura eventually flickers out. Wanda is not... calm exactly. Unable to center herself, she went instead for just "empty." A faux calm. Pushing the feelings away, she has opted for a blankness that cannot last forever, but is good enough-- for now.]
...
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She does manage it, though, and he finally slumps, hands clasping together in his lap. He feels even worse now, but he can't exactly take it back.]
I'm sorry... I'm sorry. I shouldn't expect you to... just stop when I'm around... that's not fair. I just...
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... I don't understand. Why... can't you use your powers any more?
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