PSL: Travels outside the Barge (w/Malcolm)

[empathicfault]

Piloting their new ship is a little difficult. It takes reading the (somehow enclosed) manual back-to-front and learning the control panel, now situated in what looks like a little closet on the window side of the living room. It's in the new hallway that leads to the small courtyard, which Will intends to decorate once they get this one chore done first.

Thankfully, the majority of the controls are intuition-based, going off the person who puts their hand on a small orb on the panel. The rest, as it turns out, is tweaking. And luckily (or otherwise), no tweaking is necessary for their first flight.

They're heading to Will's home world.

But Will doesn't specify where, just a year later than he left. he inadvertently brings them to where he'd left. The door opens from a wall of Hannibal's cliffside home, and looks out onto the driveway. The Dragon's wings are still there, staining the cement. They overlook the grey day and the churning seaside.

Will finds himself stuck in the doorway, unsure whether he's compelled to walk out and remember or slam the door shut and take them elsewhere.

Comments

[empathicfault]

Will stifles a laugh at Malcolm's response. He loves how petty it is. The tension leaks out of him as he picks a previous location and sets the ship to move.

"I have been 'getting by,'" Hannibal responds, amusement coloring his voice. "Are you familiar with Psuedo-Dionysus' early angelic hierarchy? There are many types of angels. I would envision Will Graham as an ophanim."

Perhaps this ophanim would burn down the church before singing in the choir.

[abrightboy]

“Ah. The Thrones. Shining like fire and enacting God’s justice. That’s where I’d put him too. So… what? Are we best friends now? That’s fantastic,” Malcolm enthuses without giving him a chance to answer. “I love that for us.” He doesn’t bother covering the receiver with his hand when he shouts as if to another room, though he does lower it from his face a bit. Small mercies. “See, Will?! I told you he wouldn’t try to kill me out of jealousy just because I’m sleeping with you and he wishes!” He brings the phone back to his ear. “So do you need a ride or something? Can we pick you up somewhere?” he asks breezily. “We could have the best road trip ever. Do you know how to play the licence plate game?”

[empathicfault]

Will breaks out into a chuckle at Malcolm's call out to him, even as his fear spikes. Malcolm certainly does love pushing buttons, doesn't he?

"I haven't had the pleasure," Hannibal replies calmly. "It would be an engaging game with the both of you. That said-"

Two things happen. Will activates their ship, essentially teleporting them to that tree down the hill on Molly's property. And Hannibal audibly gasps.

He recovers quickly. "I believe you'll find me outside. It's encouraging to note that dear Will is no longer bound by the laws of this earth. A fitting state for him."

Will joins Malcolm, staring at the phone. But he lets Malcolm speak for both of them. He might be in agreement about his 'state,' but he's not giving Hannibal more ammunition. They'll be face-to-face soon enough, apparently. He looks up at Malcolm, eyebrow-raising. A silent question if they're both ready for this.

[abrightboy]

"Yeah, like I said. He's absolutely ethereal." He meets Will's gaze. "Shines like a star," he says with complete confidence. "See you soon."

He hangs up before Hannibal can respond.

"Are... we sure we want to give him the high ground? Maybe we should pop inside the house first and check on the condition of Molly and her son."

[empathicfault]

"He's outside," Will states plainly. "He wouldn't have slipped at all if he hadn't seen a door pop into existence in front of him. But he was surprised. That's a sound neither of us will ever hear again."

He makes his way to the living room, then to the front door. He stops in front of it. "Hannibal will have Molly and Wally with him. He'll want to make a show of it, so they're relatively safe until we get out there. He would have...tried to set up some clues for us, but we sidestepped that part. That's impressed him, which means he'll be even more dangerous than usual."

Despite the serious tone, Will's face softens and he smiles. His eyes droop to half-mast as a look of adoration crosses his face. "But of course that's never been a deterrent for you. For either of us."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm puts his hand on the door, to prevent Will opening it for a moment.

"Let me go first," Malcolm says in a soft, grave tone. "I can get him to release the hostages. But only if he can't see you. I'll connect with you on the phone and keep mine in my pocket so you can hear everything. So you know when to come out. He'll have me by then, but I'm not prey." Not like Molly and Wally. He gives Will a wicked little smile. "I only look like it."