Clarity
“Technoblade I would like to talk to you.” Wilbur could see how the hybrid visibly tensed. Why? What did the great Technolade have to fear from long and lanky Wilbur Soot.
“I’m busy.” He mumbled, even though he was clearly just reading one of his war books.
“You’re clearly not.” Wilbur said. “What are you hiding from me? Why do I feel like I know you?”
“I don’t know! Stop talkin’ to me.” Techno growled. “I don’t want to be associatin’ with some scrawny, weak English bitch boy like you.”
“You take that back!” Wilbur flinched at Tommy’s loud and fairly annoying voice. “Wilbur is fucking amazing, and you don’t get to fucking talking like that to him you bastard!”
“It’s fine Tommy.” Wilbur groaned.
“No, no it’s not!” Tommy yelled again. “He doesn’t get to talk to you this way.”
“TOMMY!” Tommy paused, looking up at Wilbur who had just now raised his voice for once was glowering down at his younger brother. “Leave it.” Tommy nodded nervously leaving the room. Wilbur turned back to Technoblade, who was now hiding his face in his book.
“I’m giving you a chance to tell me before I find out myself.” Wilbur said softly, leaning over the hybrid and pulling down his book. The sadness he saw in Techno’s eyes surprised him as the hybrid looked up. Red eyes locking with brown.
“Wilbur, for both our sakes, you need to let this go.” Not only had Techno used Wilbur’s actual name, but it was with a serious sadness and anger that wrapped into that voice. “You’re a curious person, you want to know everythin’, but you can’t. You shouldn’t. Just let this go.”
“Stop talking to me like you know me.” Wilbur scowled.
“Well maybe I do.” Techno replied, getting up and walking away with his book.
“So the last trial, it’ll be the same thing?” Ari asked Schlatt as they sat in a conference room.
“Who am I to critique the past?” Schlatt replied. “After all, it worked out well for him.”
“Someone died.” Ari replied.
“Well the goal is different.” Schlatt replied. “It’s not like I’m throwing him to a maniac. It’ll just be a trap.”
“It just- it doesn’t feel right.” Ari said. “Doing all this, it won’t help things.”
“I don’t want to help things. I want to win.” Schlatt stated simply, taking a sip from his glass. Bitter liquor ran down his throat. “Are you sure it will be him?”
“Of course it will. He’s stronger than anyone, even Dream.” Ari replied. “It’s just… the other two don’t know. They might never know.”
“Phil will tell them if he sees fit.”
“He won’t. He thinks he’s protecting them, in his own way.”
“At least he’s trying. He’s a bit better than the two of us.”
“I suppose so. Still, he’s no saint.”
“At least he doesn’t pretend to be.”
“I would’ve done better with those two. I would’ve had the time for them.”
“Maybe you can still give them your time.”
“They’ll hate me after this. It won’t matter.”
“They’ve got no reason to hate you. They’ll go after me and you’ll just be on their way.” Another sip of his liquor.
“You should stop with that. It’s not a good look.”
“I’ll clean up for an appearance don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about what goes on outside of that.”
“It won’t matter anyway. They’re too busy worrying about each other. You’ve been planting the seeds right?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Then soon nothing will matter.”
“Phiiiiiiillllll, Wilbur yelled at me!” Tommy yelled. Philza pinched the bridge of his nose and looked up. He was so tired already. He’d been up all night organizing security for the final event with Vik.
“Tommy you yell at everyone all the time. So what?” Phil replied.
“Yeah, but he was acting all weird. Trying to talk to Technoblade. I dunno why.” Tommy didn’t clock how Phil stiffened up. Clearly distressed at this fact.
“Do you know where he is now?” Phil asked.
“Not a clue, but I can find him.” Tommy replied.
“No, I’ll find him. Go on back to your room alright?” Tommy grumbled something about an old man telling him what to do, but left regardless.
Phil found himself pacing down the halls, listening for Wilbur’s voice. He finally found his son, in the library reading about paranormal activity and muggles. Phil approached cautiously, almost as if to hunt prey. Wilbur looked up to his father, taking off his reading glasses.
“What do you want?”
“Tommy told me you snapped at him.”
“So? He’s rude to me all the time.”
“He said you were speaking to Technoblade.”
“And? I thought you’d support talking to the Ilvermorny students.”
“Wilbur, mate, you and I both know that you are too much of an introvert to suddenly start getting buddy buddy with people you don’t know.”
“It’s none of your business Phil.”
“You’re my kid. It is my business.”
“I’m your kid when you want me to be. Otherwise I’m just someone that lives with you.”
“I’m just trying to look out for you mate.”
“Look out for me, or look out for you?”
“I’d hate to interrupt, but I’m collecting up all the champions.” The voice of Ari interrupted the conversation. Behind her was Techno, Dream, and Tommy. “Because of the danger of the last task- as proven by tournaments prior- we’ve decided to officially let the champions know what it is ahead of time.”
“Oh, alright. Go on mate.” Phil said, stepping aside to Wilbur could stand up. The five walked off, leaving Phil distraught. He needed to finish that talk. It was important he did. Not only for Wilbur’s safety, but for his other son’s too.