o10

[fratermaior]

[wheeee this is early and lame because I won't be on tomorrow and because I can't think of anything elseSpecial Agent Aloysius X. L. Pendergast, now fully-grown and totally not amused that he spent three days as a child, has been snooping around the stockings on Christmas. He finds his, and curiously takes it off the wall, opening it with a raised

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[sadfreezingbrit]

[ So here's the scoop: Philip remembers killing Pendergast. Well, he remembers Clarence killing Pendergast while he was locked somewhere in the back of their mind, unable to stop it.

He also remembers a few other nasty things. What he doesn't remember is Pendergast killing Clarence back; in fact, he has no idea their body even died. He still thinks it was the ritual that switched them back and Clarence is not about to correct him extensively.

But at the moment that's neither here nor there. At the moment there's only Philip walking past the wall of stockings and noticing somebody collapse into a chair.

He walks up to them, innuendo-free and helpful as can be. ]

Ex...cuse me, are you all riohohgod.

[ Oh hey, guy I brutally killed! Didn't fancy seeing you again! ]

[fratermaior]

Fine. [Pendergast doesn't even bother looking up. He knows who you are, Philip, and my god is he not in the mood for your bullshittery. REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE TALKED, HUH? I BELIEVE YOU HALF BEAT ME TO DEATH AND- okay moving on.] I'm fine.

[sadfreezingbrit]

[ And... Philip... sort of... freezes.

Pendergast isn't looking up, means he's... means he didn't recognise his voice and doesn't know it's him, right?

Otherwise... otherwise, how could he possibly just sit there- just sit there, if he knew it was-- if he thought it was the guy who killed him? ]

{ You heard the man, he's fine. Now unless you wanna grab something sharp and change that I'd say we get the hell outta here. }

[ The resentment in Clarence's voice would surprise Philip, if he was in the right state of mind to notice.

As it is he just... he just stumbles back.

Yep, there can never be enough wordless tags from Philip. ]

[fratermaior]

Unless, [Pendergast adds, voice cold. as. ice,] you have something useful to bring to my attention, I suggest you leave. Fast. [And then he looks up, his eyes just as angry and hurt and cold as his voice.]

[wrotethehook]

[It's bizarre that everyone in the mansion has a stocking, including him. Who hung them? Totally checking this out.

With his hand halfway in his own stocking, cowlick bobbing in time with his steps, he looks up--and stops.]

Pendergast?

[ooc: I need to do things with Bill, so here this is. I realize this is a lot of threads we have going right now, so if you want to drop any of the others, it's okay. >.>]

we crossed the beams XD that's why he never introduces himself in the party thread.

[fratermaior]

[Normally, he'd be all "psh, screw you, I'm having a moment here", but when he hears that voice - when he hears Smithback's voice - his eyes flick up automatically and he freezes where he sits. ..not that he was really moving to begin with, but still.

After a blink or two he straightens up in his chair, palming the ring in his hand.]

Mister William Smithback, Jr. [he says quietly, almost reverently.] I wasn't aware you had, ah... arrived.

[wrotethehook]

[Pendergast runs cool, very cool, and that along with his tendency to be in the thick of any bizarre and dangerous situation, makes Bill very nervous. All the same, at this moment, he can't think of very many people he'd be happier to see.]

A couple weeks back.

[After which he did something highly uncharacteristic: kept to himself. But then he had some things to adjust to.]

Pretty strange place we've ended up in. Great food, though!

[fratermaior]

I see. [Yeah, that's all he has. He seems to regard Smithback for a moment, and then languidly pushes himself out of his chair. He almost seems to lean up into standing, long limbs gracefully propelling him forward, and he holds out a hand.] It is rather strange, indeed, [Pendergast finally says quietly, and then offers a very small smile.]