coming at you fast, midnight

[cosmiccon]

Comments

[cowman]

You will. They are still taking it easy after the hunters invaded our home, and now with this witch war... ( He looks in the direction of their door and shakes his head. ) But, that we will confront head on soon enough... I called because I was on a work assignment and came eye to eye with Xavier Dolls. Dolls is alive.

[stupetballs]

[Waverly is silent for a long time.

Honestly, the news bowls her over, a tight twisting in her gut where that doesn't feel like the answer Doc should be telling her. She wants to feel elated, but at the same time ...]

Are you sure?

[cowman]

I am sure. Black Badge retrieved his body, brought him to the point of recovery and kept him hidden. Jeremy, Waverly.

( It's a deep betrayal that stings harder than Dolls letting them twist in the wind, going on without him in their fight against Bulshar and then the Clantons. )

[stupetballs]

[Jeremy was involved? The flash of anger comes hard and fast because what the hell Jeremy?! She knows that when the three of them came back from the Garden things were different, but she didn't think they were that different.]

Ooooh he is so lucky he is out of punching range right now.

[But like most of Waverly's anger, it doesn't last long. Instead it fades to something more like concern, because she knows being Black Badge's lab rat is the last thing Dolls wanted.]

Is Dolls okay? Is this a rescue? Do I need to sneak into BBD again?

[cowman]

( And cell range he'd bet if they tried to get in touch with him. )

The team he was working with did not feel like Black Badge. It is possible they nursed him back to health. I could see Dolls splitting off. He never liked being under their thumb in the first place. He can only be so grateful.

[stupetballs]

[There's a period of silence as Waverly connects the dots on this.]

So he's just been out there. And he hasn't said anything?

[Oh. That hurts, possibly more than it should.]

[cowman]

Perhaps he thought it best we all move on with our lives.

( Which is not an excuse in his eyes. )

Waverly. ( Hence his call. ) Wynonna.

[stupetballs]

I have to tell Wynonna.

[She can't keep a secret from her, and definitely not one this big.]

You really don't want me to tell Wynonna?

[cowman]

That is not what I said. She deserves to know.

( He agrees on that. )

[stupetballs]

We need to tell her. Together.

[She's going to need the support, because she can't imagine on any universe this going well. This is definitely going to turn into a fight, and given Waverly hasn't actually seen Dolls ...

Yeah, sorry Doc.]

[cowman]

Alice has plans this weekend and Rebekah is preparing for the solstice with her sister. Saturday may be best.

( He is not looking forward to this. )

[stupetballs]

I can keep it to myself until Saturday.

[She's sure this will be totally fine. But oh, no, these are not nice feelings.]

[cowman]

What will we say is happening. Should we - plan a meal?

( Drinks? What is the least suspicious? )

[stupetballs]

Wynonna will never say no to free food.

[Or drinks for that matter.]

Make sure there's whiskey, and she'll show.

[cowman]

Then we will have whiskey. Perhaps we should do it close to campus. More incentive that way, if she thinks Alice will make an appearance.

( Perhaps. )

[stupetballs]

Maybe. I think she already knows Alice has plans though.

[There was a text, instructing all of her adults that she was very busy Saturday, and please do not panic if she doesn't respond to your texts before Sunday morning.]

[cowman]

Maybe after. Waverly, I will be in touch.

( And with that, he hangs his head, ends the call and returns to his in-laws' apartment, exhausted from the night. )