The weather outside is frightful and will is wearing a shirt that's not delightful (OPEN)

[willcabot]

Jaw set, Will trudged out against the weather and turned his collar up. Tightening his coat, his fingertips lingered where his heart had been before his hands slid away into his pockets. He had expected it to hurt more, that somehow it would be more painful than his wife's departure, her betrayal, but it wasn't. Letting that Harpy woman, that sea witch, take his heart had been easier than he expected. And now, he felt at peace or rather, he felt nothing which was almost just as good.

Bracing himself, he barely smiled when a group of kids threw snowballs at him and he ducked his head before tucking the bag of goods closer to his body. He was going to see her, not his wife because he knew better, but someone else. Someone from his past. He kept thinking about her, even without his heart in place but it was different somehow. He didn't feel guilty about it any more. Like being with her, or going to be with her was perfectly natural.

Stopping to help an elderly lady up her stoop, Will pressed his lips together in a small smile before heading down the street. He'd be there soon, at Trina's, and then hopefully she could warm him up. He wanted that after all, not his wife.



OOC: Will sold his heart to the Harpy matriarch, find him out wandering in the snow as he heads out to a certain Trina Moon's place.

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[do_what_thou_wilt]

Auryn's had an interesting few weeks.

He'd sat back and let himself be entertained as that potion-maker all positivity and intoxicants had spread utter chaos through the humans of the Cove in the name of egalitarianism. Auryn's not sure he wants to share, particularly, but on the other hand, it's been interesting seeing how humans cope with their number casting spells. With a much larger majority than usual using magic in public. In the end, of course, any harm done would have been ascribed to the witch himself, he's sure.

Now he's got a snowstorm, and as he rarely manages to get cold, it's a perfect time to wander, watching the weather.

He stops, though, as a tall man, handsome in a way that seems as much born into than blessed by genetics, passes. There's something about him. Something -- empty. It fascinates Auryn, and he takes a drag on his cigarette and tilts his head, watching the darkness for a second.

"What did you do?" he can't stop himself from asking bluntly, turning his cigarette into ash and brushing his hands off.

[willcabot]

"Excuse me?" Will asked, turning as he hears a voice calling out to him. Pushing his hands further into the recesses of his coats pockets, he raised an eyebrow before smiling puzzled. The heart so filled in pain, ripped from his chest hours earlier leaving only himself again. No pain. "What did I do? I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

[do_what_thou_wilt]

Auryn tilts his head and puts his hands in his pockets in an unintentional mirror, walking closer. "You're missing something," he says, and gives him a small cat's smile that indicates that Auryn's being vague intentionally. He can't tell exactly, how much is in holding, but the closer he gets, the more faintly dark a glow he can feel, and the slight shimmer of general power as well.

"It's not really my business," he says, "but I hope it was a good deal."

[willcabot]

"Oh, that." Will said dismissive and bemused. She'd been older than his grandmother, maybe, and willing to take away his pain. He'd been glad of it, he didn't need anything else but that gone and she didn't want anything but the thing he wanted rid of. "You say that like it's a bad thing. I got rid of the one thing that was causing me grief. It's just a heart, it's not like it's my soul or anything."

[trinamoon]

Trina isn't one to miss work especially not at at time like this when the town is in a panic and a mild state of emergency with all the snow headed for them. If her boss hadn't essentially yelled at her and sent her department home (who needs lifestyle staff during a snowstorm Trina? he'd asked) she would be at work right now. Not trying to figure out what to do on a Monday night that didn't involve deadlines and eating dinner hunched over her computer. She barely knows what to do with herself. That's why it's good to hear from Will because she doesn't think she wants to be alone.

Though once he is on the way Trina takes a look around her fancy gourmet kitchen and her pantry and realizes she hasn't shopped for food since before Christmas when her parents came to visit. Well, good thing she has wine, she thinks, popping open the vintage red someone had given her as a gift and waits for Will.

[willcabot]

Knocking on the door, he leaned against the frame as he held the groceries high up in his arms. He'd already been accosted by the old lady, a single mom, a worried looking old guy, and so his load was lighter by the time he'd gotten to Trina's but he didn't care. Because he just didn't feel... like his world, like his heart had been ripped from his chest any more.

"Hey, I brought snowstorm staples. And marshmallows," Will said, clearing his throat as he looked down at Trina with a heated look.

[trinamoon]

Trina opens the door, wine glass still in hand, and of course there's Will with a bag full of groceries. He's perfect that's why, and it is as heartwarming as it is annoying. But she is relieved because there's absolutely no food in her house that is edible, and she teeters up on tippy toes to get a look in the bag.

"What is snowstorm staples according to Will Cabot?" She asks with a raised eyebrow. "It better be salad." Her voice only goes mildly threatening.

[willcabot]

Ducking to get through the door, Will lifted the bag up easily with one arm high above his head and out of Trina's reach. Kicking the door gently shut behind him, one arm went round her waist before he smiled at her comment.

"I'm not sure I know what salad is," Will murmured, lips tugging into a smile. "Bread, milk, toilet paper... and then chocolate, chips, really good steak, maybe a salad. Maybe."

[trinamoon]

Trina frowns at the sound of all those calories for dinner as Will's arm goes around her waist. That night up at the lodge had been good, and she shifts around towards him and puts her hands on his shoulders because, well, she likes being close to him.

"Maybe salad," she ponders returning his smile, peering up at him. He looks a bit lighter today, and she hopes that's a good thing. She has hated to see Will so down. It just didn't seem right. He's always so happy and charming, and she had wished she could cheer him up. "When did you learn to cook?" She asks instead of how he is, pulling him gently down by the neck to draw him closer. "I also can't promise there is anything to cook said steaks in but have at it."

[willcabot]

"There might be a carrot, if you're good I'm sure I can find you a leaf or two." Will replied, the smile on his lips not quite reaching his eyes. A muscle memory, one with no heart. It felt good though, to be near her and nothing hurt. There wasn't anyone he wanted to forget right now, he just wanted to live in the now. "I can't cook. I can grill meat though."

She pulls him down easily and he follows. Putting the groceries down on the side, he draws both his arms around her before tugging her closer. Until his hands are in the small of her back and his lips are almost brushing hers.

"Have at it? At what exactly, Miss Moon?"

[starsfallen]

It's instinct when she texts him. Even as she's snowed-in at Les'. He excuses himself to take a phone call, and she hears an exasperated female voice on the other end. Maybe it's April. Who knows. It gives her the opportunity to check in with Will, a fond memory upon her. [Remember the hot tub in the snows of Reykjavik? Hope that keeps you warm ;)]

But as she goes to press send she realizes she can't. It's not fair to allude to pasts when she's broken his future. Harmless flirting isn't so harmless anymore.

So she deletes the words. Replacing them with more neutral ones instead. [Hope you're staying warm xoxo]

[willcabot]

He pushes his hands into his pocket, pulling it out and stares at the name that flashes on his screen. The Mrs. Her name, the words had caused him pain hours earlier and now? Now, he felt nothing. Not regret, not fondness, not aching loneliness, just nothing. It felt good to not feel.

Pressing his thumbs, he tapped a reply back before sending it back. He changed her name to Corrine, something he never called her, and deleted the picture of her. He'd always loved that picture.

[TXT: Hey Corrine, just finished up some business in Harpy Bay. And you know I don't feel the cold.]

[starsfallen]

She sucks in cold air at the words she sees on her screen. Harpy. Corrine. Whatever his business is, the response is not a friendly one. She's never been Corrine. Not to him.

[TXT: Whatever are you doing in a place like that?]

She imagines its to do with her. The threats of his father's harpy associate. Whatever it is, it's likely nothing less than she deserves.

[TXT: Don't sell you voice to any sea witches, honey]

Corry reaches out to hug a pillow close. He may not feel the cold, but she is certainly feeling his chill.

[willcabot]

His phone buzzed, reaching into his pocket he picked it up and looked at it almost indifferently. It wasn't irritation, or loss, he just felt nothing. She had told him, it would be like that but well, sea witches lie sometimes.

[TXT: Like I said. Business.]

He smiles as he glances at her text, looking at the last comment.

[TXT: It wasn't my-] Present tense. He glanced at the sent message before correcting it after the fact. [TXT: It wouldn't be my voice a sea witch wanted. I'm not that good a singer.]

[starsfallen]

Corry just stares at her phone before formulating a response. Les talking animatedly from - the bathroom for some reason. And Will... his responses unsettle her in a way she can't fully explain. But maybe it's just how things are. What can she expect with what happened between them?

[TXT: And what would a sea witch want with that throbbing manhood of yours?]
[TXT: Just be safe. It's getting dangerous out there. Don't do anything stupid honey.]

[aoife_coombs]

It wasn't the Cabot Aoife needed right now, but Will could come in handy either way. She wanted to get Ed something silly, a welcome-back-to-Siren-Cove gift that he'd only understand, and part of it was horrible candy (the ones that stained your teeth and therefore made your mother shocked).

She just couldn't remember if he hated licorice or sour worms more. And surely Will wasn't in that much of state to be unable to answer that question?

"William!"

[willcabot]

He turned at the sound of his name. The usual goofy, playful look not flickering across his features as he stared down impassively at Aoife. Stopping, he waited for her to catch up before smiling. He smiled but it didn't feel... like anything. It felt like nothing at all.

"Aoife, what can I do for you?" Will asked.

[aoife_coombs]

That didn't sound too bad. Of course, he was a Cabot. He knew how to keep up appearances.

"Just a quick question. Ed's worst candy nightmare: sour worms or licorice? That's all I need. I know, it's very silly, but some traditions have to be honored."

[willcabot]

"Cockroach clusters, or chocolate covered ants." Will answered. He couldn't remember what sweets his brother did like, Ed's tastes changed so quickly that he never bothered learning a favourite. Not when whatever cause he'd take up would change and Ed would change everything else to suit that. "What tradition is that?"

[aoife_coombs]

"But that's no-" Aoife's pretty sure those aren't the tainting ones, but she won't protest Ed's brother, especially not in this time of his life. He probably thinks she's being a child right now, anyway.

"Thank you, Will, I mean. If you could not tell your brother about this as well, it's better when it's a surprise." That was a thin line to balance on. "Have a nice day."

[suisen]

Although Hana's world is largely devoid of sound, she's come to perceive the ambient emotions of the people around her the way that hearing people do with sound. Walking past someone so empty of any feeling is like jumping headfirst into frigid water, shocking and suffocating. Hana can't help turning, gawking at the other man.

Hana's never met a ghost before but now she's wondering if it's possible to be alive and be one anyway.

[willcabot]

He helps the old woman up her stoop, smiling the whole time even though the smile never quite reaches his eyes. It feels good though, like a stone in his chest had been left until he felt nothing. It felt wonderful. Turning round, he glanced down at the woman staring at him.

"Can I help?" Will asked, confused by the way she looked at him. There was so little of him left, so devoid of feeling- any feeling. But it was only his heart, it wasn't like he'd sold his soul.

[suisen]

Hana shakes her head, squinting at him. She's seen this man from a distance, in gossip rags and on the campaign trail. He'd seemed...warmer in the photos.

Something is missing from you, she signs. Her aura wavers toward him, as if she might restore balance to the vacuum by allowing him some of her empathy.

[willcabot]

He feels the brush of something and he jerks back, pulling away. He could feel it trying to give him something but he doesn't want- he didn't want it. That was why he got rid of his heart, to not feel any pain.

"Don't- I chose to be this way. It was my choice," Will said, looking at her. "I don't want to feel."

[suisen]

But why. How could he want to be so empty, a husk. The lack of emotion makes her feel ill.

You're empty, she signs again.