[center][color=DarkKhaki][img]https://i.imgur.com/VDJxaIT.png[/img][/color][/center]
[center][@Crowvette][@Letter Bee][/center]
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There was a bit of silence as they took in the information overload that William had just dumped on them. Then, finally,it broke. Slowly at first, but a shattering seemed imminent. 

[i]Clap... clap... clap...[/i] 

Vera slowly clapped, something about it making the hair on the back of Wolf's neck stand up. He had a bad feeling about this. She looked too calm.

[color=magenta]"A narcissist? But one who uses his narcissism it to fuel good deeds. Well, it's certainly something a narcissist might say,"[/color] Vera told him. [color=magenta]"So, now we're bringing back the dead to manipulate people? Gotta say, I'm impressed. I mean, really, I'm starting to lose track of who the bad guy is here!"[/color] She smirked and leaned toward William. Truly, she did almost appreciate how devious it was. She hadn't expected it from him. But at the end of the day, it was still the same plan, just with a new motive. [color=magenta]"That's fucked up."[/color] Slowly though, the smirk faded and her usual, cold disdain came back.

So now William wanted to bring back Galbrek's dead brother? The whole thing was stupid and opened up a can of worms she thought was best left closed, but that... that rubbed her the wrong way for a completely different reason. William had devised a plan to bring back the dead, and this was what he was choosing to do with it?

[center][b]. . . A Few Days Ago . . .[/b][/center]

In a strange turn of events, Vera had shown up at Wolf's house and invited him to get lunch with her. It was really later in the day than lunchtime, but she'd waited til' he was done training with his father for the day. To no one's surprise, she had an ulterior motive. They ate mostly in silence, but as the food began to dry up, she finally spoke.

[color=magenta]"So... what were you two talking about?"[/color] she asked him.

[color=DarkKhaki]". . . what?"[/color] Wolf needed more context for that one.

[color=magenta]"You and Meredith. She loses her shit and kicks me out, then drags me back in and loses her shit even more. What were you two talking about?"[/color] Vera scowled. [color=magenta]"It feels like you're keeping secrets from me."[/color]

[color=DarkKhaki]"She was just worried about me-"[/color]

[color=magenta]"Why?"[/color] Vera asked. [color=magenta]"If she was worried that means something is going on. Why don't I know this?"[/color] She didn't like not knowing things. [color=magenta]"I mean, [i]I[/i] was the one who had bad things happen to them, but you're the one who gets coddled?"[/color]

[color=DarkKhaki]"No- Well..."[/color] She wasn't wrong, technically. He let out a long, tired sigh. [color=DarkKhaki]"You know everything that happened. It's just between not being there for you and my mother's portrait, I wasn't in the best place. That's what really set [i]her[/i] off too."[/color]

[color=magenta]"The portrait? I mean, I get it. It's a nasty thing to do, but... all that?"[/color] Vera asked. [color=magenta]"You know, you never talk about her. I know she's dead, but... still seems weird. I feel like I should have heard something by now."[/color] There must be something there. Wolf wasn't that old, so neither could his mother have been. That and the silence said something.

[color=DarkKhaki]"It's... hard to think about her..."[/color] Wolf admitted. [color=DarkKhaki]"She was great, but... with all the good memories still comes the bad."[/color]

[color=magenta]"Bad? But she was great?"[/color] The implications were a bit concerning.

[color=DarkKhaki]"Yeah. She was strong. Kinda strict, but always there. Looking back... she put everything she had into being a mother. But... it's just that..."[/color] His face fell into his hands for a moment. When his hands fell away, he looked more distant. [color=DarkKhaki]"She died in front of me."[/color] There, it was out there for her to know.

Vera began shifting uncomfortably. She was regretting asking. [color=magenta]"Like... in a hospital?"[/color]

[color=DarkKhaki]"No."[/color]

Her face turned pale. [color=magenta]"Oh."[/color] She swallowed and looked away. [color=magenta]"OK."[/color] And that was all she could think to say.

[center][b]. . . Day Before The Tournament . . .[/b][/center]

Disapproval wasn't a strong enough word. Disgust was closer. Hate was probably becoming more worthy by the second. Vera stared at William as if he were less than an insect.

[color=magenta]"Don't worry, William, I wouldn't call you a narcissist,"[/color] she said, no longer even projecting sarcasm. She was stone cold serious. [color=magenta]"There's so many more relevant options. Idiot. Fool. Insane. It takes that mix of things to come up with such a ridiculous plan and then double down on it. You know, I was willing to just sit back and watch it all happen. Not my problem either way it turns out, but now?"[/color] Her hands slammed down onto the table they sat at and she pushed herself to her feet. [color=magenta]"You do remember who he is and what he's done right? And now [i]he[/i] gets his brother back if you have your way?"[/color] 

She lifted her arm and looked at her wrist. She waited for a few seconds. [color=magenta]"Bam. Someone else just died. In fact, a few people probably have since we got here. Coulda been old age, coulda been murder. You wanna stop tragedies from happening? Well guess what, you officially suck at it. You're a failure. No ones death is any more or less tragic than any other, and there's almost always someone left behind missing them!"[/color] she snarled, face twisting up.

[color=magenta]"So a guy who you admit is a threat to us gets his family back because it suits you? Well fuck you! You don't even know what you're asking!"[/color] At this point she was openly shouting. That sinking feeling in Wolf's stomach was only getting worse as he watched in shocked silence. She'd reamed him the first time he'd brought this up, like scolding a child, but somehow Vera seemed almost personally offended this time. [color=magenta]"Why should we sit here and listen you go on about bringing back someone else's family when we could be missing our own!?"[/color]

That cemented it then. Wolf knew exactly what she was getting at. Part of him was in disbelief, but it made sense in a way. She'd just found out about his mother, however many fine details she was lacking. And then here she was hearing William talking about resurrecting someone for Galbrek. He wasn't happy to hear it either, but now that Vera had said that... he couldn't get the thought out of his mind. His mother. The possibility of resurrection.

It stung.

Vera began to walk away, but as she passed by William she stopped, hands balling into fists so hard her arms shook. She spun on her heel, lifting her hand up.

[color=DarkKhaki]"Vera!"[/color] Wolf's own hand shot out to grab her wrist before she could hit him. [color=DarkKhaki]"It's OK."[/color]

[color=magenta]"No it's not!"[/color] Vera pulled away. Honestly, he'd never seen her this upset, not like this. [color=magenta]"Fuck..."[/color] This time she left quietly, but she'd already made more than enough noise.

When she was out of earshot, Wolf took a deep breath. 

[color=DarkKhaki]"Look... I'm not gonna sit here and tell you everything is fine and that Vera's just being how she is,"[/color] Wolf said to William. [color=DarkKhaki]"But nothing has changed. It doesn't matter if I agree with you. It's up to Andras, but I'll tell you clearly now. If she goes, so do I. I have no stake in your plan."[/color] 

With that, he could only wait and let Andras speak.