![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[So Rhy already knew. It's as comforting as it is shocking that the thing looming so large in his own mind, overshadowing every last one of his thoughts, does not occupy the same place in Rhy's mind. To him, it's just one of a hundred things that has happened in the last few days. But Wilhelm can't help but think that if a hundred dominoes fall, the one that tipped first has to be at fault.]
He seemed pretty pissed at me.
[Contrary to Rhy's worries, Wilhelm doesn't mind the shrinking of his space. After days of having only his own thoughts for company, it's a relief to not feel so alone. To have someone warm and solid within reach. Slanting into Rhy, he tucks his head against his shoulder.]
If that spell had worked, none of this would be happening.
[The smallest break in his voice cracks the end of that sentence.]
He seemed pretty pissed at me.
[Contrary to Rhy's worries, Wilhelm doesn't mind the shrinking of his space. After days of having only his own thoughts for company, it's a relief to not feel so alone. To have someone warm and solid within reach. Slanting into Rhy, he tucks his head against his shoulder.]
If that spell had worked, none of this would be happening.
[The smallest break in his voice cracks the end of that sentence.]
He blames himself. For not somehow predicting the future and stepping in before an accident.
[ When Wilhelm leans in, Rhy tightens an arm around him, reassuring and warm. ]
We were all given a card, Wilhelm. Are you sure you were the only one who didn't do what was asked? There were so many ways to be imprecise, intentionally or accidentally.
Why would the most powerful mages in Thorne rely on a spell so easy to mess up, and put it in so many hands with varying magical expertise?
[ Not to mention the matter of trust. Rhy had given the Thornean monarchy the benefit of the doubt largely out of familiarity, perhaps naivete, accepting they had a common goal to keep the magic of this world from fading. His trust has eroded quickly and thoroughly, for obvious reasons.
He turns his head, pressing his mouth to Wilhelm's hair. ]
It's not your fault, Wille.
It's not.
[ When Wilhelm leans in, Rhy tightens an arm around him, reassuring and warm. ]
We were all given a card, Wilhelm. Are you sure you were the only one who didn't do what was asked? There were so many ways to be imprecise, intentionally or accidentally.
Why would the most powerful mages in Thorne rely on a spell so easy to mess up, and put it in so many hands with varying magical expertise?
[ Not to mention the matter of trust. Rhy had given the Thornean monarchy the benefit of the doubt largely out of familiarity, perhaps naivete, accepting they had a common goal to keep the magic of this world from fading. His trust has eroded quickly and thoroughly, for obvious reasons.
He turns his head, pressing his mouth to Wilhelm's hair. ]
It's not your fault, Wille.
It's not.
[It's not his fault. It's not his fault. Wilhelm doesn't believe it yet, but the words are soft and lovely nonetheless, and he wants to hold onto them. One by one, he lets go of the arguments gathered on his tongue. They'll come back later, all the ifs and buts that have weighed on his heart all week. But for now, he tries to see the situation through Rhy's much kinder eyes.
Readily curling into the comfort that Rhy offers, he keeps his head there on his shoulder and clasps the other's hand between both of his. He says nothing for a long moment, neither capable of agreeing nor eager to deny the absolution he craves. Finally, he mumbles into Rhy's shirt:]
Can you just...sit with me a little longer? Please.
[It's nice here.]
Readily curling into the comfort that Rhy offers, he keeps his head there on his shoulder and clasps the other's hand between both of his. He says nothing for a long moment, neither capable of agreeing nor eager to deny the absolution he craves. Finally, he mumbles into Rhy's shirt:]
Can you just...sit with me a little longer? Please.
[It's nice here.]
Of course.
[ Rhy assures him. He takes to stroking Wilhelm's head gently, fingers running through his hair. ]
Did you know? The rosebushes over there by the balcony were grown from seeds, using only sunlight and water. One of the gardeners told me they're her passion project. No magic, she said.
Isn't that amazing?
[ He keeps talking, distracting Wilhelm without letting him go, chatting about inconsequential things and stroking his hair. They can talk about the rest another time. About the war, the burning crops, the hard winter ahead. But Rhy is tired of talking about all that too; he much prefers to tell Wilhelm all he's learned about the garden and let their minds wander for just a little while. ]
[ Rhy assures him. He takes to stroking Wilhelm's head gently, fingers running through his hair. ]
Did you know? The rosebushes over there by the balcony were grown from seeds, using only sunlight and water. One of the gardeners told me they're her passion project. No magic, she said.
Isn't that amazing?
[ He keeps talking, distracting Wilhelm without letting him go, chatting about inconsequential things and stroking his hair. They can talk about the rest another time. About the war, the burning crops, the hard winter ahead. But Rhy is tired of talking about all that too; he much prefers to tell Wilhelm all he's learned about the garden and let their minds wander for just a little while. ]
[ It's nearly a week before Rhy finally comes to from his not-quite-slumber, stuck in a horrible part of the Horizon where no one could reach him. Then, he takes a day or two sticking as close as possible to Kell or Mat, terrified to sleep. Or maybe it's just a few hours. His sense of time is incredibly fucked right now.
At some point, Kell mentions that Wilhelm came looking for him a few times. He goes looking for Wilhem in return. ]
Wilhelm. Are you in the castle?
At some point, Kell mentions that Wilhelm came looking for him a few times. He goes looking for Wilhem in return. ]
Wilhelm. Are you in the castle?
[The message lights a spark in him. After more than a week of worrying and waiting on news—]
Rhy!
Yeah, I'm almost done eating. Where are you?
[Well, now he's not going to finish, because this is more important than whatever's left on his plate. He's already standing up.]
Rhy!
Yeah, I'm almost done eating. Where are you?
[Well, now he's not going to finish, because this is more important than whatever's left on his plate. He's already standing up.]
My room. You're welcome over any time.
If you're in the dining hall, they won't miss a bottle of wine. Bring me one?
You needn't hurry, though. I'm all right.
If you're in the dining hall, they won't miss a bottle of wine. Bring me one?
You needn't hurry, though. I'm all right.
Are you gonna share, or should I swipe two? Haha.
I'm done anyway. I'll be there soon.
[As promised, Rhy won't have to wait long for a knock at his door — a quick knock, the rhythm of which holds Wilhelm's eagerness to see him. Rhy says he's all right, but he wants to confirm it with his own eyes.]
I'm done anyway. I'll be there soon.
[As promised, Rhy won't have to wait long for a knock at his door — a quick knock, the rhythm of which holds Wilhelm's eagerness to see him. Rhy says he's all right, but he wants to confirm it with his own eyes.]
You know I'll share. See you soon.
[ As soon as the knock comes, Rhy opens the door. There is a lingering tension around his face and shoulders, but it softens when his eyes land on Wilhelm. He pulls the younger man in, taking the bottle in one hand and Wilhelm's elbow in the other, and offers a smile that looks distinctly relieved.
Rhy is dressed in a banyan left half-open over his chest, and silk trousers beneath, apparently for lounging or sleeping in. He doesn't look like he'd been ready to go anywhere, so it's probably just as well Wilhelm offered to come over.
Setting the bottle on a table by the window for now, Rhy moves in for a hug, if Wilhelm lets him. ]
It's good to see you.
[ As soon as the knock comes, Rhy opens the door. There is a lingering tension around his face and shoulders, but it softens when his eyes land on Wilhelm. He pulls the younger man in, taking the bottle in one hand and Wilhelm's elbow in the other, and offers a smile that looks distinctly relieved.
Rhy is dressed in a banyan left half-open over his chest, and silk trousers beneath, apparently for lounging or sleeping in. He doesn't look like he'd been ready to go anywhere, so it's probably just as well Wilhelm offered to come over.
Setting the bottle on a table by the window for now, Rhy moves in for a hug, if Wilhelm lets him. ]
It's good to see you.
How to Lie, a speedrun:
Tell them something they want to hear without revealing what you're actually trying to hide
Wilhelm if they come for you it's because I dragged you through the streets, that's why they came for me
Do not tell them about your tarot card
Make up any lie you have to but do not tell them.
Actually, better yet, say it was my fault and you tried to help.
That'll make you feel better I'm sure.
[after this]
Wilhelm, this is Istredd, Lucifer's roommate. He is concerned about your safety. Do you need any help with being questioned by Thorne authorities? I can intervene.
[ Poorly, probably, but he will try. ]
Wilhelm, this is Istredd, Lucifer's roommate. He is concerned about your safety. Do you need any help with being questioned by Thorne authorities? I can intervene.
[ Poorly, probably, but he will try. ]
[He's a little busy panicking, so his response is delayed — and scattered when it does come.]
What? I don't fucking know...!
Intervene how?
[He leaves alone the claim that Lucifer is concerned about him, because he doesn't believe it, but he can't think of any counterargument for why the asshole would have his roommate check on him then.]
What? I don't fucking know...!
Intervene how?
[He leaves alone the claim that Lucifer is concerned about him, because he doesn't believe it, but he can't think of any counterargument for why the asshole would have his roommate check on him then.]
Hopefully nothing
Hopefully I'm just being paranoid
But you're shit at lying and you're going to get yourself in trouble for absolutely no reason
Will you chill out for five seconds and just listen to me
I just left being interrogated about dragging your mess publicly through the streets
I know it apparently seems like some kind of shock but I am trying to protect you and I've done what I can to put any heat on me and hopefully they won't think to ask you about anything else
I can try to talk them out of it. I'm not that well known but I've been teaching mages and creating more powerful wards for them. I also know two people who they trust who may be able to do more.
One would hope that they understand none of us was at our best when there were literally gods influencing us. You were not at fault.
One would hope that they understand none of us was at our best when there were literally gods influencing us. You were not at fault.
You are, actually, because it was whatever god you had yourself drenched in that started the whole damn thing.
That isn't the mess I'm concerned about and not like you believe me but I'm sorry it might be what gets you dragged in. You just need to play into it. I told them I tried to make you into my spy outside of your knowledge.
Just
focus
on
that
Don't let them try and pry into any of your other shit
Page 5 of 24