hypocrisy is digging in (open)

[whele]

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.]

Comments

[whele]

[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.

[onlyhomemade]

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.]

[whele]

[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?

[onlyhomemade]

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.]

[whele]

[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.

[onlyhomemade]

[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.]

[whele]

[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.

[onlyhomemade]

[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?

[whele]

[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.

[onlyhomemade]

Well, drat. There goes my entertainment for the evening.

[A soft sigh and he'll follow obediently behind the drunken acolyte.]

[whele]

[That's enough to have William pausing in his shuffle towards the room, peering at Gabriel with almost concern on his face. Was that a joke...? From Gabriel...? Did Gabriel even make jokes? It's difficult to tell and so William merely shakes his head to himself and wanders back to the door of his room, pausing when he puts a hand on the door handle. Even in his state he can hear Zadkiel approaching the door from the other side. That lion didn't know how to stalk at all.]

Thank you for making sure I got back okay. You didn't have to, but you still did. [It's awkward and William will just keep his eyes on the door handle for now, almost as if he's ashamed he had to be escorted back. That being said, he's not apologizing or saying it won't happen again.]

[onlyhomemade]

[His brows loft at the pause and questioning, if slightly confused and uncertain look he gets. He just sort of gives a questioning look back before the young man continues on as if not wanting to know.]

I'm joking.

[Well, half. It would've been really funny if the other DID walk in on Claire and Alex. He pauses, hearing the little lion probably good bit before William did and he forgives the other for forgetting his invitation. It can be for later anyway, he did say anytime and really... the other had enough to drink.]

Eh, it's no trouble, I was going this way, I do live here you know.

[A motion to his door, which he'll be moving to and most likely spending the night inside his own place drinking.]

[whele]

[The last comment does get a small, amused smile from the principate, enough that he almost looks as he normally does albeit with ruffled hair and smudges under his eyes.]

Obviously I was in luck then. [That's a half joke too, William opening his door a fraction and sighing when a paw swipes out to bat at the floor in Gabriel's direction. There isn't enough space for the lion to get out, but obviously he knows where the archangel is enough to take a chance anyway.

William reaches is, hoisting the cub up and holding him against his chest firmly as he frowns slightly.]

Enough of that, Zadkiel. Really now. [William pauses when the lion opts to purr and rub his head against the acolyte's chin, shooting Gabriel the most foul looks a lion ever could, promising a world of hurt one day.]

[onlyhomemade]

[Gabriel watches as that little paw swipes at him and falls impossibly short. He's amused at the lions sad attempts and tiny glares at him, but he's well aware those teeth and claws are sharp. He's tempted to ruffle William regardless of the cub in his arms, but refrains.]

Yes, well, have yourself some water before bed, take care William.

[He'll part ways then with a fond smile and open his own door to go inside.]