entrancelogs | hypocrisy is digging in (open)

Entry tags:

hypocrisy is digging in (open)

Who: William Whele + anyone.
Where: Bar, Stairwell, hallways.
When: Month of February.
Rating: pg- 13 warning for alcohol consumption to forget problems.
Summary: William decides that drinking is going to be the cure to all his depressing thoughts.
The Story:

[It starts almost innocently enough in a way. Wonderland is no longer being kind to the principate of Vega, or ex-principate as the young man now labels himself in his head. He hasn't been principate of anything for almost half a year and he's pretty sure the title doesn't count by this point. Things had been as okay as they could get for a while, but now it's all upside down. The love of William's life has been brought to Wonderland and everything has become awkward and, for him, upsetting. Back home they'd been the best of friends and betrothed through necessity. William loves Claire and knows full well that she doesn't love him, and that was okay. They'd even managed to get married, and when he'd found out she was pregnant with the Chosen One's child he had struggled to get past that and offer to bring said child up as his own.

It just so happened in the same exact moment, Claire found out that William was the lead black acolyte, and needless to say their marriage and friendship had ended in that instant. And now Claire was in Wonderland with the Chosen One, and from a point where she knew what William was. If there was such a thing as torture, this was it. Suddenly the young man is fed up with Wonderland and everything it supposedly has to offer, finding it tedious and wanting nothing more than to go home. He may be exiled to roam outside of Vega, but he'll take it. William not only misses home but his father too in some weird way. William will take that jerk over most people in Wonderland any day.

And so William finds himself in the bar more often than not, sitting there in a silent and drunken daze as he waits to go home. Gabriel could talk the talk, had managed to talk William into accepting Claire wouldn't give him the time of day enough to take his wedding ring off, but it didn't mean it wasn't going to hurt. The alcohol had originally been intended to help sleep at night, lying down to settle merely meant his brain kicked into overdrive to remind William on how differently he could have handled things. And as such it's started to spiral out of control, William finding it easier to be drunk and not have to dwell on things than actually get over them. He knows that drinking to soothe problems is wrong, but at the end of the day the young man has spent a lifetime watching his own father drink and David Whele has done well for himself regardless. The alcohol dulls his ability to thought and William is just fine with that, able to ignore the hurt and sinking feeling in his stomach that seems to haunt him.

Anyone who approaches William at the bar will find him idly turning an empty glass in his hands, or staggering out in a drunken quest to find his room on the tenth floor. Considering the amount of stairs he could be bumped into in the stairwell where he's sat down to rest his eyes for a second on some steps. Or perhaps he's wandered onto the wrong floor and is in the hallway wondering which way his room is.

[ooc: feel free to bump into william in the bar or in the hallways/stairs. he'll be drinking in the bar every day for a good while so this log is open for the month.]

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[Gabriel won't cry over one bottle gone? William briefly wonders where it's gone before shrugging harshly. Absolutely no idea, he just knows it was nothing to do with him at the time. With the arm at his shoulders the principate feels a bit more sturdy, running a hand through his ruffled hair absently as he peers down the bar.]

I'd still feel bad or something. [Another huff.] This place is ridiculous. Even I could run a mansion better. At least I'd do something about the stairs. Right. Yours then? [William hiccups once and gets to his feet, not even waiting for an answer as he starts to make his way towards the door.

Or where he thinks the door is.

He's somewhat positive it's not where it was....]

[Gabriel lets the young man slip out of his grasp to go wander blindly for one side of the room. He sighs, finishes off his drink and stands to follow after him.]

Are you looking for the loo? Or the exit?

[A motion to where the door actually is.] Because the exit is that way.

[William blinks as Gabriel turns up next to him, peering over at the other side of the room where the door actually is with some surprise and a hint of suspicion.]

I was looking for the stairs. I didn't realize the bar door moved as well. [Considering the dining room and kitchen downstairs liked to, it doesn't take much for William to jump to the same conclusion and he motions with his hands helplessly. By now he just wants to go the hell to bed.]

Did you need the bathroom?

No. I'm fine.

[He'd point out that as an Archangel they don't have bodily functions like that but it's unnecessary. He'd also point out that the door hadn't moved and that William was just incredibly drunk, but refrains there as well. No need to argue with the newbie alcoholic. He'll just put a hand on William's back to both help guide him and keep him steady on his feet.]

Do you want me to carry you? Save you the pain of climbing the stairs for one trip?

[The hand at his back gets an odd reaction, William frowning slightly and moving away. If it'd been on his shoulder he'd have shrugged it off, and the Whele stubborn gene is starting to show itself in rare, brief glimpses that evening for Gabriel's viewing pleasure.]

I don't need to be coddled. I just want to go to sleep. [At that William freezes, outright horrified that he's snapped at the archangel Gabriel of all people. He puts the palm of a hand to his forehead and closes his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath.] I'm sorry, that was rude of me when you were just trying to be nice.

[As the other pulls away he'll simply shove his hands into his pockets and follow. He's somewhat taken aback by the tone and words snapped at him, hearing a good deal of Whele Sr. in it. He shrugs it off and motions for the steps.]

Go on then. I'll be right behind you.

[A pause and then he adds.]

But if you get tired I can help. All you need to do is ask. It wouldn't take much to go out a window.

[He's willing to bet he hasn't even though of flying and 5 floors is nothing with the beat of his wings.]

[William is starting to look more like himself after that outburst, albeit paler with dark rings under his eyes. But at least he seems to be aware of what's going on, expression completely apologetic as he heads for the stairs. He hadn't thought of flying and the mention has his eyebrows rising.]

I'd probably be sick if we flew. [Well, at least drunk William is an honest one and he grabs hold of the bannister wearily as he starts on the steps. He hunches forwards so there's no chance of him going backwards; keeling over and flattening Gabriel is just not on the cards. When he talks, William just sounds as tired as he looks.] And I'm already tired. Of this whole fucking place.

At least we'd be outside.

[A soft joke, but it quiets down as the other continues his groaning about Wonderland. There's a brief flash of surprise at the drop of that F-bomb from the ex-principate.]

Mn, I'm sure we all are by this point. Not much we can do but cope for the time being. Which... I'm not 100% that's what you're doing at the moment.

[He knows what not coping well looks like.]

Edited 2015-02-13 14:27 (UTC)

[The young human takes a few more steps before stopping to catch his breath, or re-establish his center of gravity. They're only about ten steps in and barely anywhere near floor six. And if Gabriel is shocked at William's language he doesn't know anything about it, keeping his grey eyes fixed on the steps so there's no chance in his mind of falling up or down them.]

Nothing else works. What am I meant to do, pretend everything is fine? It's hard work and I just like to sleep without thinking of all the crap when I lie down. [It's not a lie, but then William can't see how badly he's coping at the whole thing.] A few drinks never killed anyone.

[Gabriel pauses and stretches an arm across the steps to grasp the bannister, keeping most of his body behind William just in case he teeters back.]

You'd be surprised how little it takes to kill someone. But I'm not about to make you paranoid.

[Be it alcohol or falling down the steps, it doesn't take much of anything to kill humans. He'd rather not have the boy locked up in his room more than he'd already been for the first few months.]

It may not seem like it now but things will get better with time. You just have to take it one day at a time.

[He's trying to be encouraging at least.]

Wonderland just happened to have dumped a lot of shit on you recently and no one can blame you for not handling it all that well. Some days it beats you and you need to drink to sleep properly.

[Certainly not taken from experience at all. Nope.]

Angels, devils, demons, humans, Wonderland and it's stupid events, there's more in this place to kill me than some drinks and stairs. I think that way would be less painless anyway.

[William gives a small, bitter laugh at that as he starts to walk slowly up the stairs again, listening to the archangel as he concentrates on putting one foot in front of the other. No matter how inebriated, William will always make a point of listening to Gabriel. What is he meant to say to all that though? Time didn't heal anything, William only had to look as far as his father to know that much. David Whele was an asshole, but he was an asshole who still missed his wife and dead kids. Time wasn't healing that.

The young man pauses as he teeters a little, grip on the banister tightening as his center of gravity kicks back in and he takes the next step.] Wonderland won't stop dumping shit on us Gabriel, that's why it exists.

Edited 2015-02-14 10:49 (UTC)

[If he knew what was going through William's mind about David Whele he would call the man weak to William's face. David chooses to continue suffering and being insufferable for it.

He scoffs.]

Would you really want to have one of your deaths on the board as being too stupidly drunk to navigate stairs and not break your neck?

[He shakes his head feeling his frustration with all this wallowing start to rise. A hand moves when William teeters, giving him a little support and a gentle push forward to help his momentum and center of gravity.]

No. Wonderland won't stop dumping shit on us, but you can eventually stop wallowing in your own self loathing and personal pity party. But you have to want to make it better.

[Gabriel may be a hypocrite for saying so, considering how much of his drinking is his own wallowing in his agony and loss. But he has faith William can get over this woman that never loved him. Losing a father, LOSING GOD, is a different story.]

[The gentle push helps immensely as William seems to find his pacing again, back to taking the steps one at a time as he holds on to the banister. Personal pity party? Was this what it was? William isn't too sure if it's anything as silly sounding, and if he could read thoughts he would point out it isn't just that Claire doesn't love him. William knew that in Vega. It was more that people in Wonderland got their families and friends brought in, even the Chosen One now had his father and lover. They could all hang out and be happy in between events.

Back home William could do his principate work and not worry about the fact his father could barely stand him for long period's of time without them starting to grate on each other's nerves. Back home William could distract himself from the fact Claire didn't love him, and he could go sort out the rest of the acolytes.

For all his attempts, Wonderland has yet to yield a flock William can tend to, and now he has too much time to think things through. Even in his fuzzed-up logic state, William knows the topic should be changed, pronto.]

What was God like?

[That one question leaves Gabriel stopping in his tracks a moment. What was God like? How is he meant to explain that to a human? He missed his father deeply and to talk about him wasn't easy.]

You're asking me to try and describe God to you?

[He shakes himself from his brief feeling of loss to straighten out his shoulders and try to push William along.]

Warm... comforting, strong. Everything a father should be and more. He was distant at times and sometimes I didn't understand him but... there is no doubt in my mind to how much he loved us, all of us. And yet I had to watch how much humanity hurt him, disappointed him until he could take no more as you destroyed every gift he gave you.

[He draws himself back, realizing for a moment he was seething. He clears his throat, glad for a moment that William is as drunk as he is. He can wave his emotions off as his alcohol soaked mind exaggerating things.]

You may yet still have a chance to see your father here, but mine will not return to me until I can get back to our world and finish my work.

[He's quite done with the slow trek up the stairs now and he'll stoop to sweep Williams feet out from under him so he's smoothly cradled in his arms. He carries him with ease up the flight of stairs.]

It'll take us well into morning at the rate you're going.

[William isn't sure what he's expecting when he asks that question, but an actual answer is a surprise. Gabriel could have dodged it or merely ignored it, but instead decided to reply with honesty. God sounded like what everyone wanted from a father and despite his drunken haze William can't help but take in the part about disappointing God. He can't deny it. The principate has read the history books and knows humans turned on each other when they had nothing better to do. Wars, famines, diseases were all man-made for the most of it, and it was a small wonder that God was disappointed in the end. Humanity had taken something beautiful and wrecked it, and anyone with an ounce of sense just had to look at Vega and it's systems to see that. And that was before anyone looked at the wastelands outside of its walls.

It's difficult to not feel ashamed of his own kind, William ducking his head and ignoring the fact his eyes are stinging. Why were people so shit? Even people who were happy and had everything they needed would normally wind up being some kind of jerk or asshole. There was no such thing as the perfect person and William knows that all too well.]

I might see mine here. But he'll still be him and when we go home we won't remember and I won't be able to see him again. But that's the way it is. And I know it doesn't mean much, but I'm sorry humanity turned out to make your father leave. I- [Whatever William has to say is cut off when the archangel scoops him up, the young man instantly hunching his shoulders as he tries not to make any sudden movements. He may be drunk but it's not above William to feel both mollified and suitably embarrassed that Gabriel feels he has to carry his acolyte up some stairs.] You don't have to.

[He's quiet as William speaks of David and that he's sorry about humanity. No amount of sorry would mean anything, but at the same time its because William is sorry that Gabriel chose him as one of his own. Those tears stinging at the edges of the Principates eyes are what make him worthy. That guilt and disappointment he feels. It doesn't change anything but it makes all the difference. The rest of humanity will defend its mistakes until it dies out and all that is left are the ones willing to repent and bring his father back. They will pay for what they've done and Wonderland will never shake his resolve in that.

And despite everything he'll never admit that this one human feeling for him, understanding and apologizing for everything, is enough to quiet his anger. At least for this moment, long enough to get William to bed.]

This was my purpose at one time. To guide you and carry you when you were weak. Perhaps I too failed Him.

[Luckily enough William is still too tired and drunk to give two hoots as to who sees an archangel carrying him up the stairs. And in all fairness he hadn't demanded Gabriel do it, and so it only takes a few seconds before the principate is resting his head on Gabriel's shoulder, too weary to bother holding it up any more.

Somewhat comfortable William can feel himself starting to doze lightly, lulled into comfort by the motion of Gabriel climbing the stairs. One time? He can't help but wonder about that, curious to know what "one time" was like way back when. If William ever remembers their conversation he'll be sure to ask another time. Instead he'll just talk with his eyes closed because really, what is effort?]

You didn't fail, you're still trying to guide us now even when we're being shit.

Am I?

[His eyes are straight ahead, narrowed in on the steps as he climbs each one quickly. They'll be on the 10th floor in no time and Gabriel isn't even feeling winded.]

Sometimes I feel as though I'm just putting all of you in danger.

[Which was true and he's very convincing when he speaks as if he cares. He knowingly has not only his Acolytes but his Angels wrapped around his fingers so they are so loyal that they are happy to throw away their lives. That was the purpose of what he does. He becomes their light in the darkness, their savior, their friend and leader. He may not spoil the humans as he does his angels, but he doesn't need to. Not with William there encouraging them with his "teachings" and messages to keep them strong.]

[It's definitely for the best it's going this way. Had William been left to his own devices he would probably have dozed off in the stairwell. The worst part is that it will be something to look forwards to in the future.]

You're looking out for us now. There's danger everywhere. You're not putting us in it?

[William's brow furrows slightly when he tries to figure out why Gabriel would even think something like that. He has no idea it's a ploy to have him wrapped further around the archangel's finger. The thought doesn't even come across William's mind, even in a drunk fugue. Blind devotion has it's perks and for those afflicted with it, they never see the downside of it all.]

Why would you think that?

Danger lurks, but even more so for you and your Acolytes hidden within the walls amongst your people. The risk is great. If you are found you'll be killed. Many have already died for our fight and I'll mourn them all.

[He mourned the passing of his brothers and sisters, but the humans? Their lives were barely the blink of an eye for him. Not that William needed to know that. He looked wounded enough by the loss.]

[It's something William will have to think through when he's sober enough, a point well made by the archangel that stirs a memory. One of asking his father to keep an eye on the other acolytes as he's being exiled, and Whele sr saying nothing on it whatsoever.

But for now the young man is still just going to chill out. He's not being harassed by the stairs and Gabriel's footsteps are still working their magic in lulling the principate into a false sense of security. He can't see the wounded look on Gabriel's face, but then William doesn't need to see it to believe it. Why would he have doubt in anything the archangel said?]

There's not many left now. So it can't be much longer.

[He frowns softly, shifting the young man in his arms around a bit as he carries him, making it easier or more comfortable for both of them.]

All the more reason I've felt the way I do at times. But don't worry, with my most recent Gambit, your work in Vega will have paid off. I'll want to pull your acolytes out to safety when the time comes.

[Or so he says, he's quite willing to sacrifice them all if there's no clear way to get them out. The damage is done, Vega will crumble from the inside out. And little did he know but his Acolytes were already dead thanks to David Whele.]

Almost there now.

[Another flight or so.]

[The idea that Gabriel would even sacrifice the acolytes just like that is an impossible one, one that not even William would consider regardless of how much of an asshole strategist his own father is. They're the ones that follow Gabriel and the archangel wouldn't be silly enough to kill off his own small hold on Vega.

His work having paid off though? That's enough to get a small smile. He may have lost everything; family, wife, home, but at least something went right.

William actually dozes off for a few minutes, blissfully out cold until Gabriel reaches the last few stairs. And when the steps even out to flat hallway the acolyte suddenly jerks awake as if someone had just gotten the jump on him.]

Huh?! I can just walk the rest that's okay.

[Gabriel is content to let William doze in his arms but when he suddenly jolts awake he nearly drops him because he wasn't expecting it. He manages to juggle the thin body in his arms, adjusting his balance and hold as the other squirms a bit. He sighs and pauses in his walking to set the other on his feet.]

Sort of pointless, it's not that far, but... who am I to argue.

[And he pointedly stands between william and the stairs they just climbed.]

I'll follow you.

[A small smirk as he speaks jokingly.]

You do remember the way don't you?

[William puts a hand on Gabriel's shoulder for support when he's deposited back on his feet, the young man taking a few breaths as his center of gravity starts to kick back in. And despite before, it's better than it was, and he removes his hand and takes a step forwards. There's almost relief there when William doesn't go and faceplant into the floor, and the acolyte has enough confidence to pocket his hands and give a bitter smile.]

534. And on this side too. I'd better make sure otherwise I'll be walking right into Alex and Claire's room. Pretty sure that'd ruin their evening.

hypocrisy is digging in (open)

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