ic contact 2 mask or menace

[infomodder]

"Gone fishing."

[ so don't leave messages to ruin the after fishing glow !!!

your one stop shop for not leaving him alone, previous contact post can be found here ]

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[theminotaur]

[ all pale and distressed, abigail pales further, shaking her head, eyes wide. wide to the point it's like how do they not roll out of your head? like really. ]

I work there! It's my shop, too! I don't want him visiting.

[infomodder]

[Why are shoelaces an impossible task when he's in a rush? Fuck shoelaces, seriously, he gives up on undoing them and just shoves his socked feet (they are not matching socks, one is whiter than the other) in, giving Abigail a Seriously? face in exchange.]

Wouldn't you rather he come to the shop instead of our home? I'm not going to invite him to stop by, for God's sake, I just don't want him...seeing something in the house and finding us that way. You know he's smart enough to do it.

[theminotaur]

I don't know, go... somewhere else. Like Pluto!

[ she recognizes that she's panicking, she's self aware enough to realize that, snatching her scarf off her desk and expertly twisting it around her throat even though she hasn't worn a scarf around the house in months.

pluto is probably not an option and she huffs, upset that it can't be. ]

[infomodder]

[Meanwhile, Will recognizes the outburst for what it is, and recognizes himself as the adult here. He straightens up, fixing the last of the buttons over his undershirt, and keeps a calm, level voice to match a neutral face...and counter slightly shaky fingers, ignoring the scarf's resurfacing.]

All right.

[Just like that, he agrees. He obeys.]

I'll head to the dog park. Should be back before dinner.

[...if he says it out loud it will be true.]

[theminotaur]

[ should be.

she shrinks at the silent implication, dropping unceremoniously into her desk chair. ]

Okay. [ a beat. ] Don't say no to him again.

[infomodder]

[He stills, briefly, struck dumb by the request. Struck dumb that it ever had to happen, more accurately. His top button goes through and Will crosses, eyes and attention all for Abigail as he lifts a hand to gently push some of her hair from her scarf.]

If you want to talk to him, do it. If you don't, don't. I won't make that decision for you.

[And then, for the first time outside of his own dreams and hallucinations, he lifts his hand to gently touch her cheek while he leans down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. With Hannibal here, the fear of reminding her of her real father seems so simple and stupid and, as such, he stops letting it stop him.]

I love you, and I'll be back as soon as I can.

[theminotaur]

[ this time abigail is the one left speechless. it's not the "i love you", she's heard that and it's heartening every time she hears it. but she's not unaware of will's reticence to act fatherly toward her because of

reasons.

eventually, perhaps too late, she murmurs, ] Okay.

[infomodder]

I'll send Frederick a message along the way, too.

[In a murmur that matches her own exactly, pulling back to look at her face.]

So you don't have to worry about anyone else, got it?

[He wants to stay, just like this. He wants to be grounded here, to ground Abigail in return, anchor them both in safety...but it's only a matter of time before he comes knocking. Nowhere is safe for them now, not like it had been. His heart hurts, heavy in his chest, but his feet aren't the same. That smile loses it strain and Will detaches. His trip from her room won't be rushed...as soon as he gets out the door of their home, however, that will change.]

[theminotaur]

[ her head bobs in an unsteady nod, already worrying about many other anyone elses. anyone else they've ever spoken to. april and grey and thomas.

april.

her chin quivers but she nods again, pushing out a slow and shaky breath. ]

Yeah.

[infomodder]

[He stops at her door for a moment, staring. He keeps that calm as best he can, but she knows. She must know the potential outcomes. Will might as well be leaving for war for all he might return, or return in damaged condition.

One last look, that's all. He raises a hand, wiggling his fingers in a goodbye wave that's weak but better than nothing, and he's gone.]