selfhelp | [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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, I meant... if you had the power to heal someone who was hurt, and they'd die without it... then you should help them, shouldn't you? It's the right thing to do.

But... if you hated that person... maybe you would rather just let them suffer. If the magic had the sort of sentience to know your feelings before even you do...

It would be pretty telling, wouldn't it? About the kind of person you are.

Edited 2013-12-19 05:54 (UTC)

You're talking like humans are some kind of saints. They're not. We're not. The 'right thing' to do is perfect in a world where everyone gets along, or where no-one has feelings at all.

That would come up even if you were just a non magical human. Do you wait that extra couple of seconds to call an ambulance. Doesn't mean you'd chuck them under a bus though.

Well... that doesn't really sound like something a hero would do, though, right? That's kind of a big part of this.

Can't really say I've ever met a hero. Not the type you see in stories anyway.

I guess the point is, you need to weigh up the good you can do with magic vs what happens if you don't use it. Sure, your magic might not let you save that one person you hate, but you still call the ambulance, and you use your magic to save someone else, and free up an ambulance for another person.

Small things. The big things tend to be out of our control.

[Two months ago, his response to that might have been very different. Now? There's no heroes, here. Not with him around.]

...I've never... been able to accomplish anything important without magic. But I'd rather do nothing than do something bad.

So basically you're saying you're never going to risk doing something good again?

I wouldn't... say that.

[Even for him, that sounds extreme.]

I just have to learn how to do good things without relying on my powers.

There is that. I just... don't let fear of it stop you doing good with them if you can. You might end up regretting it just as much.

...Maybe.

[God, it's so hard. Can he really not win no matter what he chooses? He thought he was doing the right thing here, but now...]

Well, good luck with it anyway. If you ever do want to talk or... whatever...

I... think I'm kind of talked-out on the subject for the day. But... thanks. I promise to keep it in mind.

Understandable.

I don't mean right now. Or this week. Just... if and when. Take care of yourself.

[Action / Voice] House of M Follow-Up

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%

[Voice] Locked 75%