open + overflow post

[shipping]

OPEN POST

AZIRAPHALE

BUCK

ERIK

HUA CHENG

STEVE

WANGJI

Comments

[incogneto]

Well, I never said I wasn't.

But am I so wrong?

[redchaos]

I think a great portion of the multiverse would disagree.

[Chaos magic is nasty business, regardless of the outcome.]

[incogneto]

I don't do things because people will agree with them. I wouldn't expect that of you, either.

[redchaos]

I'm sure that makes you just as popular as I am.

[incogneto]

You too?

I did get sent away to prison for a murder I didn't commit.

[redchaos]

Is that the worst of your crimes? One you didn't commit?

[incogneto]

...No, there were plenty I did commit. Mostly murders, some grand theft. Once I dropped a stadium around politicians to trap them.

[ That was a thing. He's not explaining. But to clarify the other thing: ]

I hunted down the man who killed my mother. He held no remorse. Murdered the men who killed my wife and child.

They call me a monster, and maybe that is true, but I've regretted little.

[redchaos]

[Wanda listens, and a part of her is relieved. Nothing about the man screams saint, but it would be amiss for him to be horrified at her acts given what he's just shared.]

I regret a lot of what I've done. The people I've killed.

[Intentionally or not.]

But if you hadn't killed the men who killed your daughter, I think I would have offered to do it myself.

[She's decided she likes him that much.]

[incogneto]

[ A lip quirks up. Maybe the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree after all. ]

I wish we had met, previous to this. I'm not sure I would have talked you out of what you did. But I don't want you to be alone.

[redchaos]

[She gives a small nod of agreement.]

Being alone with powers like ours is one of the most dangerous things that could happen.

[incogneto]

Do you still want to get off the grid?

[ He can actually help her with that, but maybe right now she needs a father instead. ]

[redchaos]

Maybe not entirely.

[He's definitely not so bad.]

[incogneto]

Well, you're welcome to stay here as well, I've got a guest room. And I could buy you a new phone.

[ If it's confusing where he gets all his money from, well, they both control aspects of the market, don't they? ]

[redchaos]

You wouldn't mind?

[Clearly, he wouldn't. But she has to ask.]

[incogneto]

Not at all. I think it'd be good for both of us.

[redchaos]

Then I'll stay. Keep you company.

[He seems to genuinely want it, so she won't ask again.]

Chase away anyone who might want to cause you trouble.

[incogneto]

You're very sweet. And you sound just like me.

[ He smiles at her. ]

Maybe we were supposed to meet.

[redchaos]

[He really has no idea who he's calling sweet, but... it's not unpleasant. She can't really bring herself to refute it right now.]

Maybe. The multiverse works in mysterious ways. And you seem to take the idea of more blood in stride.

[incogneto]

Usually, my blood pays a price.

But it seems like you can handle yourself.

[ She's a survivor, like him. He's just happy, that he will be unlikely to cause her death. ]

[redchaos]

I'm not really someone you need to worry about.

[In that regard, at least.]

[incogneto]

Good. I'm not either, if you're worried.

[ And if death comes for him, he'd be happy to be reunited with his family. Aren't they just two peas in a pod? ]

[redchaos]

I don't think it will be that easy for either of us.

[If they're trying this family thing, they'll worry.]

[incogneto]

Nothing's ever easy with me. I assume it's the same with you.

Why fate hates us so, I have never discovered.

[redchaos]

Some people just have bad luck.

[Wanda doubts they can cancel it out around one another, but she at least is stronger, now.]

[incogneto]

Maybe. But it's turning up, isn't it?

[ A pause. ]

I'll set up a room for you.