[ Oh, he thinks at the text, but isn't surprised. They'd known if this was some trick of the Fae or whatever it wouldn't be long. He'd gotten used to disappearances, too. But this isn't quite the same, is it? ]
Thank you. Technically not. And technically yes. You are you and he is him and some complicated mix, right?
[ It's not avoidance so much as guilt that doesn't have him reach out again. So much guilt - but then, he's always full of that, isn't he? He keeps busy at the shop because now he has a deal with that he didn't quite agree with but doesn't hate anyway to keep. ]
[ But he sees them, eventually, and it's not immediate he tries to make a connection. He knows there's one last thing he needs to do - should do - but it still feels weird. It's not like their specific relationship is suddenly better - it's probably worse - and really, would this Loki want to see it?]
[ The 'Do you have a moment?' text is typed and written and stared at for longer than he'd like to admit and.... Almost as if Loki reads his mind the text comes in. He huffs a laugh to himself, backspaces out of written text: ]
Three wonderfully calm, flamethrower and antics-free days for Billy, very probably. His life is much improved without Cliff throwing it into constant chaos. However, he really shouldn't be surprised if one evening, he returns to his rooms above the shop to find a boy once again sitting cross-legged on the floor. Given that there are chairs, this seems to be a purposeful decision for some reason.
If he keeps his windows locked, then there is a faint clattering sound on the roof followed by a rapping on the window.]
...Hey.
[a slight pause]
If I turn you on too much, tell me, and I can put a bag over my head.
[ Honestly, he lowkey probably expects it, which is exactly why the windows are unlocked. In the interim between the party, though, he's had his own self-finding adventures (literally, going on a mentalscape to find his memories with Strange). ]
Hey.
[ Billy colors just a tinge in embarrassment but snorts. He'll take a seat. ]
Don't worry, you won't. As in, I'm not really in love with you.
[he had rehearsed some of what he was going to say, about how no matter what he wanted them to be friends, about how he had pondered his sexuality for three days (which was kind of a lot of deep existential horror for a teenager) and maybe he wasn’t ready for that right now but he didn’t want to completely rule it out or anything, about how his feelings for Billy weren’t what he interpreted as romance, but that didn’t mean they weren’t strong feelings, that maybe if it was ok to just keep going the way they had he would try to figure it out but he needed some time, but honestly no matter what the important thing was that they could still be themselves around each other
Wait did Billy just mentally torture him for three days for nothing]
[ she doesn't wait that long to go looking for him again. the more time she holds onto the memory, the more chances there are of losing any details. it's preserved well, given her practice with sharing telepathic images, but she wouldn't be able to bear the weight of her shame if she screwed this up.
once she is sure that he is back to himself (or, rather, the version that she knows), agatha treads now familiar ground to practical magick. the name makes her snort derisively. but, as usual, most of it is for show. there's part of her that quite likes the 'tongue and cheek' of it.
agatha slips into the shop, hands in her pockets, squinting at the inventory as if she wasn't just here. perhaps it's nerves, prickling at the thought of what she must do and the emotional swell that would inevitably follow. ]
Knock, knock. I need an outfit whipped up immediately. For a hot date. Tonight. You can work with that kind of timeframe, right? [ she pauses to grimace at her own joke. because there's only one person he'd assume the date would be with. ]
[ There's very few things that their shared magick - or whatever fae traits - hid from him about Phoenix's time here. The stuff with Agatha was one of them, so naturally, Billy doesn't anticipate his arrival. ]
[ He's a little anxious at having his own shop - something that feels wildly beyond the possibility of a sixteen-year-old even if the logic behind it felt sound. After all, if money wasn't real, if places can be bought on skill and talent alone, wasn't it a good way to get to do more of something he liked doing? ]
[ Thus, the teenager is mid-fixing a self to the wall when she storms in (with magic, even, be proud of him! He doesn't even lose focus when she comes in). His attention takes a moment to turn to her and when he does it's with a raised brow: ]
You sure you want me to put you in something after everything? [ The quip is out of his mouth before he can stop himself and then an added: ] Please tell me you two aren't a thing again.
[ the corners of her mouth twitch in a smirk at the mention of 'everything', knowing her must mean the road outfits. but when he continues, she's quick to drop the act, instead pretending to assess his work on the shelf very closely.
but ignoring his addition entirely would be more telling than not. she purses her lips and shrugs one shoulder. wait. she shakes her head firmly, trying to put aside the memories of the time they had spent together as their alternate selves. ] No, we are definitely not a thing. [ she gives him an accusatory look. why would he assume that? and what does he mean again? he was never there to witness it. she huffs, eager to move on. ]
To be fair, that '70s look wasn't so bad... But that's not actually why I'm here.
[ Thankfully, this is made less spooky when there's fewer Adopted out where the shoppe is - this is partly intentional - and he can't hear the Fae anymore. So he's aware Cliff is there before he speaks or the eyes. ]
[ He looks concerned all the same from his desk, brow furrowing. ]
[ Either left outside the door or handed over in person is a handmade mug. Steve has themed each mug around the person as much as his developing pottery skills have let him. ]
Happy Hanukkah, Billy. Thanks for the party. I had a really good time.
Left in his shop on Christmas day, the package resembles a hat box. Pinstriped and a deep, emerald green.
Once opened, within lays a black tiara, glittering with limitless small stones.
When worn, Billy's vision changes dramatically. Most of the Faerie world fades into a softened, near-monochrome darkness, whereas all items that have belonged to, or interacted much with the Adopted, hold a nuanced and colored light, like auras, that will remind Billy, obscurely, of the owner. Recent contact between the Adopted are also hinted at, [OOC: pending player consent] in the admixture of color and tint, in the places or near the objects where the residents of Faerie spoke, sparred, or otherwise entangled.
Occasionally, the flickers of light might even suggest who they speaking about.
The card simply reads: "Some things are clearer in the dark." It is signed 'Claudia.'
xmas drabble 2025; (Three Times Clifford Was Right And Billy Shouldn't Trust Her [Already])
1. Total coincidence: at a café, Billy’s glass breaks. Cuts his hand. He heals it fast. Magic. But the sudden scent of blood, sweet and alive, forces her eyes away, narrowed.
2. Somewhat accidental: she loses the enchanted cloak. On Boxing Day. Has to have a replacement. Pastel, perhaps? A week later, she has two beautiful garments. Funny.
3. Entirely intentional: she's slow for her kind, but swift everywhere else. Billy's about to meet that Coriolanus again. Her fingers snakes out and back. Turning up his shirt tag, that someone watchful, particular, and concerned with appearances might tuck it in.
Merry Christmas and/or Merry 5 Days After Hanaka (sp?)
I just got you a present so I'm outta ideas cause I'm kind of bad at this but it's the thought that counts.
[Inside a box is a piece of note paper resting on top of a bunch of torn up stuffing paper that says "One (1) Free Punch in the Arm Whenever You Try to Say You're a Bad Person JK but no really." Inside all the torn up stuffing paper is a blue-gray scarf approximately the same color as Billy's eyes and some cookies and candies.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
text | un: loki
Re: text | un: loki
I'd like that.
Castle kitchens again or somewhere else?
no subject
(no subject)
-> action
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
cw: child death
Re: cw: child death
(no subject)
(no subject)
cw: more child death from this point on also metaphorical suicide
Re: cw: more child death from this point on also metaphorical suicide
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
ok i'm back | text | un: loki
i mean technically.
technically not, also.
no subject
Thank you.
Technically not.
And technically yes.
You are you and he is him and some complicated mix, right?
How are you?
no subject
mostly i'm relieved i haven't done anything too destructive.
although that could be fun in its own way...
you're still your alternate universe self then?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
text | un: loki
now?????
Re: text | un: loki
[ But he sees them, eventually, and it's not immediate he tries to make a connection. He knows there's one last thing he needs to do - should do - but it still feels weird. It's not like their specific relationship is suddenly better - it's probably worse - and really, would this Loki want to see it?]
[ The 'Do you have a moment?' text is typed and written and stared at for longer than he'd like to admit and.... Almost as if Loki reads his mind the text comes in. He huffs a laugh to himself, backspaces out of written text: ]
Yeah.
Present now.
Where do you want to meet?
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
no subject
Three wonderfully calm, flamethrower and antics-free days for Billy, very probably. His life is much improved without Cliff throwing it into constant chaos. However, he really shouldn't be surprised if one evening, he returns to his rooms above the shop to find a boy once again sitting cross-legged on the floor. Given that there are chairs, this seems to be a purposeful decision for some reason.
If he keeps his windows locked, then there is a faint clattering sound on the roof followed by a rapping on the window.]
...Hey.
[a slight pause]
If I turn you on too much, tell me, and I can put a bag over my head.
[humor defuses all tension right
right??????]
no subject
Hey.
[ Billy colors just a tinge in embarrassment but snorts. He'll take a seat. ]
Don't worry, you won't. As in, I'm not really in love with you.
no subject
[he had rehearsed some of what he was going to say, about how no matter what he wanted them to be friends, about how he had pondered his sexuality for three days (which was kind of a lot of deep existential horror for a teenager) and maybe he wasn’t ready for that right now but he didn’t want to completely rule it out or anything, about how his feelings for Billy weren’t what he interpreted as romance, but that didn’t mean they weren’t strong feelings, that maybe if it was ok to just keep going the way they had he would try to figure it out but he needed some time, but honestly no matter what the important thing was that they could still be themselves around each other
Wait did Billy just mentally torture him for three days for nothing]
…That was a fast turnaround.
It’s the hair, isn’t it.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
no subject
once she is sure that he is back to himself (or, rather, the version that she knows), agatha treads now familiar ground to practical magick. the name makes her snort derisively. but, as usual, most of it is for show. there's part of her that quite likes the 'tongue and cheek' of it.
agatha slips into the shop, hands in her pockets, squinting at the inventory as if she wasn't just here. perhaps it's nerves, prickling at the thought of what she must do and the emotional swell that would inevitably follow. ]
Knock, knock. I need an outfit whipped up immediately. For a hot date. Tonight. You can work with that kind of timeframe, right? [ she pauses to grimace at her own joke. because there's only one person he'd assume the date would be with. ]
no subject
[ He's a little anxious at having his own shop - something that feels wildly beyond the possibility of a sixteen-year-old even if the logic behind it felt sound. After all, if money wasn't real, if places can be bought on skill and talent alone, wasn't it a good way to get to do more of something he liked doing? ]
[ Thus, the teenager is mid-fixing a self to the wall when she storms in (with magic, even, be proud of him! He doesn't even lose focus when she comes in). His attention takes a moment to turn to her and when he does it's with a raised brow: ]
You sure you want me to put you in something after everything? [ The quip is out of his mouth before he can stop himself and then an added: ] Please tell me you two aren't a thing again.
no subject
but ignoring his addition entirely would be more telling than not. she purses her lips and shrugs one shoulder. wait. she shakes her head firmly, trying to put aside the memories of the time they had spent together as their alternate selves. ] No, we are definitely not a thing. [ she gives him an accusatory look. why would he assume that? and what does he mean again? he was never there to witness it. she huffs, eager to move on. ]
To be fair, that '70s look wasn't so bad... But that's not actually why I'm here.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
[Since they're living together now, Billy gets ominous glow-in-the-dark eyes after midnight in his bedroom instead of a text.]
Are you busy?
I need you for something.
[Billy knows it's serious because Cliff is asking politely instead of just forcing him.]
no subject
[ He looks concerned all the same from his desk, brow furrowing. ]
Not enough for you. What's up?
no subject
[He grins, though it's tempered by some emotion that's hard to discern.]
C'mon. We gotta go to the castle. ...And don't bring your Leaf.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Heeeeey Billy...!
[The front door of Practical Magick opens and Cliff's voice comes drifting up upstairs.]
I've, uh. Got good news. I made a new friend!
[If it's good news, why does he sound so sheepish?]
He's... coming over. Wanna meet him?
no subject
[Okay, well, he'll curiously come halfway down the steps to raise a brow. ]
Don't tell me you got in a relationship first.
[He's teasing because why is Cliff THAT sheepish?? ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Delivery
I recommend making a cloak with it.
Strange.
Christmas Gift
Happy Hanukkah, Billy. Thanks for the party. I had a really good time.
S. Rogers.
xmas gift 2025;
xmas drabble 2025; (Three Times Clifford Was Right And Billy Shouldn't Trust Her [Already])
on christmas
I just got you a present so I'm outta ideas cause I'm kind of bad at this but it's the thought that counts.
[Inside a box is a piece of note paper resting on top of a bunch of torn up stuffing paper that says "One (1) Free Punch in the Arm Whenever You Try to Say You're a Bad Person JK but no really." Inside all the torn up stuffing paper is a blue-gray scarf approximately the same color as Billy's eyes and some cookies and candies.]