extent | duplicitynet

I think I'm fine.

[ he modifies the sentence carefully, like it makes a difference, and settles his hand on ragnor's stomach, which actually does. ]

I don't regret it. I don't feel bad. Mostly I just feel- [ slimy. ashamed. riddled with guilt over the ever complex web of lies he's been building in all this time. ] ...tired.

[ ragnor threads his fingers in nick's hair. ]

Who knows? I know Oliver and Pierce do. Does Nate?

Nate knows a little. He's probably connected a few dots.

[ and there's a whole different level of guilt there, over asking nate to keep his secrets, over asking him to make charms for and against people without their knowledge, over everything. ]

I asked him not to tell anyone.

Keeping secrets helps him.

[ nick's his priority right now, but he can't help thinking there might be others. people who don't have the support network nick has. ]

I know.

[ nick sucks in a careful exhale, one that shudders at the end. but he's determined not to fall apart again. ]

But Oliver's still contracted to him.

Mmh, he pointed out an anonymous call out post would be a bad idea because of that.

[ ragnor's remarkably calm. he hates the situation and he wants to kill the man, but he's very accepting on his role in this.

it's a familiar situation, a group of kids making a huge mess and him having a very limited ability to help. ]

And if he knows his play is falling apart he might get desperate.

Exactly.

[ nick decided a long time ago that the contract situation took precedence over everything - himself included, strangers included, selfish as it might be. nick cares more about the safety of his very real friend than potential, hypothetical victims. ]

It's like, a month. Six weeks. Once it's done, I'm done.

[ it's proof of growth that ragnor doesn't bristle at that. he just breathes in, and keeps petting him. ]

Nick, I need you to know I understand the situation, and I understand why you're doing what you're doing.

But you don't set yourself on fire to keep your loved ones warm.

If you're already in the fire, it's pointless letting someone else run in too.

[ see, he can do metaphors too. ]

They're coming in with a fire extinguisher.

[ he doesn't think nick understands there is no way they will let him go back to william now that the cat's out of the bag. ]

Oliver's out, William knows you two are aware of what's been going on. The smart thing to do would be to play it against him. You are in the position to make William's stay in this city considerably less pleasant by going public about him. Talk to Oliver and use that— if he lets Oliver's contract expire uneventfully, you don't out him.

[ whether they keep their promise to stay quiet is irrelevant. the point is to let the contract run out.

then, of course, the smart play for william would be to rope in a second contract before oliver's ran out. but maybe the man isn't thinking that far ahead. ]

He already knew I was aware. He didn't care, as long as I pretended well enough.

[ it would be easier if he lied again, claimed he was out and staying out, but--it's been months of that, and nick isn't sure that he can manage. however much of a mistake it might be, it's a relief to just be honest about it. ]

Oliver's going back. Or just threatening me with it, I don't know. So.

You need to talk to Oliver, and the goal needs to be for you both to stay out.

[ ragnor doesn't think it'd be that hard. if nick stays out, then william would have to negotiate with oliver, and so far oliver seems to be very clear on his priorities and considerably less likely to take the martyr road than nick. ]

Worst case scenario we kill him and if he comes back before the contract's up, we just kill him again.

[ he might not have meant to say that part out loud. ]

I told him, if he stays out I would too. He just called you.

[ presumably because oliver thought that ragnor would be the most likely to stop nick from doing anything stupid. he hasn't decided how he feels about all of that yet, that's something to be unpacked later. ]

We can't just kill people because we don't like them.

Because he knew I'd prioritize you over him. But I called his boyfriend, who sounds like a very angry young man but I'm sure will stop him from any self-sacrificial moves.

[ It's unsurprising to hear Nick be against murder. But Ragnor is very much in favour, and Oliver seemed to be as well. ]

If I killed everyone I disliked, I'd be sitting in a throne of skulls.

[ Despite his very long life, his kill count had been in the low dozens up until Sammael. He has pointedly avoided thinking about it since, but he has no moral quandaries about putting a mad dog down, especially when the mad dog will come back anyway. ]

Well that's really gross.

[ it's complicated, because nick is very, very non-violent, and has been his whole life, even before all the very, very real issues surrounding violence started to be a problem for nick. so he doesn't really know what to do with the fact that, for maybe the first time ever, he actually wants someone to hurt. sometimes he even wants to be the one that does it, but mostly he just wants to let all the people that would very gladly tear william apart do just that.

but even the thought makes him nauseous, and beyond that, he doesn't want to chip away at any more of his soul for william, so the impulse has to just stay an impulse. ]

Maybe if we figure out how to depower him, like long-term. If he's not powerful he doesn't have anything. But it still runs the risk of him using the contract, it's just--anything is too risky.

We can wait until Oliver's out, but you can't keep going back to him. If he tries to make good on his threats, he'll lose, so you need to stop letting him get into your head.

[ Ragnor is still pro murder, he figures if they kill him after the monthly arrivals show up, and then the man's amnesiac for a week, the contract with Oliver will, for sure, run out before he can do anything. ]

[ he can, but nick doesn't think that ragnor would be very receptive to him saying that right now. instead he just huffs out a quiet breath, turns his head a little to brush a kiss over ragnor's chest. ]

Thanks for, like, coming to get me.

I'll always come to get you, I just need to be told to.

[ it's a gentle scolding. ragnor doesn't want to fight right now, but he does wish nick would tell him things. ]

[ he's probably earned worse than that, honestly. nick is quiet for a moment as he tips his head up, pulls back enough that he can actually look at ragnor. ]

You know if he finds out I talked to you at all, you're in the firing line too.

You know, Nick. I am very measured and dislike physical fights, but I am one of the most powerful warlocks alive.

[ and magnus might as well be the most powerful one. ragnor's come face to face with higher demons, there's very little he's intimidated by. ]

I am not afraid of some wanker who needs to rely on secrecy to make himself feel strong. If this man were as powerful as he claims to be, he would not need to hide.

I know. But I've met you both, and I'm still worried.

[ nick has never really been able to pinpoint what it is about william's magical essence that makes him so uneasy, he just knows that it's getting stronger, that it's old. ]

I won't seek out a fight.

[ he never does, but he will not shy away from one either. ]

And if a fight comes to me, I'll have Magnus with me.

[ that should be reassuring, he's never met a threat that could take both him and magnus out. ]

If he corners you without Magnus? If he stops you before you can use magic?

[ nick's already played the scenarios out, imagined over and over exactly how william could take out eve the immensely powerful people in his closest circles. maybe he's just becoming the bogeyman in nick's head, but he really doesn't see how any of them survive. as if the threat of the contract wasn't enough, now nick worries that just talking will be enough to ruin everyone's lives. ]

Just...pretend he doesn't exist. Please. Just for another month, that's all.

Will you pretend he doesn't exist for a month?

[ because he doesn't see this not coming to a head a lot sooner than anyone wants it too if william goes anywhere near nick again. ]

[ he doesn't want to lie, is the thing. nick doesn't want to lie any more, but he knows ragnor, and he knows oli, and he knows that they'll never willingly let him be just collateral damage. but he doesn't want to lie. ]

Do you want me to tell you I will?

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