[One For All]: The human bug-zapper

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Insects and other lifeforms intensely allergic to electricity would probably do well to stay away from the section of lab Nikola has appropriated for himself.

Colorful, Serbian curses waft over from his workspace, accompanied by the occasional, impressive shower of sparks.




[ooc: Nikola probably won't electrocute your pup, should you care to stop by. :)]

Comments

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

It's not going to be pleasant, but it has to be done. He has no clue what he's going to say, but he needs to say something. He dismisses the idea of going to Tesla on some pretext. Owen's condition and wiring issues in the SHU had both sprung to mind as perfectly legitimate pretexts to start a conversation. But Will's getting sick of dishonesty, so he opts for the honest approach. As soon as he gets his tears under control, he heads down for the lab Magnus set aside for Tesla.

Hair standing on end, he stands at the door waiting to be noticed.

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"In or out," Nikola growls, not looking up. "Pick one."

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

Will enters the lab. "Can I say something?" he whispers.

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"Unless something tragic has happened to your vocal chords since the last time I saw you, I'm sure you can," Nikola says, and a shower of sparks shoot from the device he's tinkering with.

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

Will winces but moves further into the lab. "I'm sorry, Nikola. If I'm still allowed to call you that. I've been completely out of line and I don't know why. I've just been scared and angry and worried and none of that's any kind of attempt to justify the games I played with you because there is no justification. And I'm not asking you to forgive me because what I did was unforgivable."

He sighs. "What I did was beyond dishonest and beyond wrong. I took psychology, something designed to help people and I twisted it to manipulate you. If you'd like to tell me now what a horrible person I am, I'm listening. The catharsis would probably make you feel better."

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"Feel better now that you've gotten this off your chest, William?" Nikola says, still not looking at him.

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

"No. I feel like a bigger monster than I ever suspected you of being. I mean what I just said and you're never going to believe a word of it because you know what I bastard I'm capable of being. I didn't mean to hurt you. I won't irritate you by laying out my reasoning; I'm sure you have a good idea of that. The flirtation startled me and I panicked. After that, I didn't know how to put an end to things and there was no one I could talk to. It escalated and I let it. So, yeah, I have to say that I'm sorry because I am, on a lot of different levels. But, no, that doesn't make me feel any better because what I did... It's like this nightmare is making me less human."

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"You say that like it's a bad thing," Nikola mutters.

Then he puts his project down and looks at Will. "I don't know why you've come down here, William," he says bluntly. "If you're looking for me to criticize you, yell at you, mock you, hurt you, so that you can get some sort of closure, feel like you're atoning for your wrongdoings or sins or however you view that, I'm afraid you're out of luck. I don't cater to other people's needs, as I'm sure you've realized by now."

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

"It's not about closure; it's about doing what's right. It doesn't matter how you react because nothing you can say or do is going to change the fact that I have to look myself in the mirror every morning with the knowledge that, when it came down to it, doing the unspeakable came natural. But I do need to try to apologize. A guy who knows how horrible it is being alone in the world for 25 years has no business trying to play on the emotions of a guy who's been alone for a century and a half..."

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Nikola laughs darkly. "Oh, Will. You still don't get it. I may be alone, but I haven't been lonely for decades. And any manipulation you may have perpetrated on me hasn't changed that."

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

Will looks relieved. Still pretty full of self-loathing, but also decidedly relieved. "I'm glad. Hurting anyone was never my intention. But, even though I didn't, I'm still sorry. My behavior was unforgivable."

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"Yes, it was," Nikola agrees. "And I must say, this self-flagellation you've got going on is immensely gratifying."

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

Will smiles weakly. "Well, at least there's that. Feel free to drop by any time you want to see it in action." He hesitates for a long moment, opening his mouth, standing there in silence for a moment, then closes it again. "I was wrong about you, and I'm sorry for that, too. I should at least have given you the benefit of the doubt."

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Nikola smiles in a way that sends many people ducking for cover.

"For what it's worth, I was wrong about you too."


[ooc: Gotta run a few errands. I'll be back in about an hour.]

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

"I'm... probably going to regret this, but how so?"

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"You very well could be as devious as I am some day," Nikola says simply.

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

Will goes pale at this suggestion. "Ah. So, uh... Well, again, I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Next time I want something from you, I'll just ask."

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"And I'll just say no," Nikola says, turning back to his project.

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

"I know. Which still won't make me resort to those tactics again. For what it's worth, most of this past week I've been pretty sure I was the one on the receiving end of your mind-game..."

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"What makes you think you weren't now?"

Those sparks are likely not an invitation to stay and chat.

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

"Nikola, far as I can tell, I absolutely was. The impressive part is that there were times when you had me convinced I wasn't. You're good. I'm glad you're on our side."

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"For the moment," Nikola says mildly.

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

"I know. But, right now, 'for the moment' is good enough."

Will hesitates. "Do you still want my blood?"

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Nikola pauses what he's doing for a fraction of a second.

"Don't feel obligated."

[w-zimmerman.livejournal.com]

"I don't feel obligated. The offer still stands. And, if you don't want to be in the same room with me, I get that and I can send you a couple vacutubes a day in the inter-office mail. I believe it could make you stronger and that's good for the rest of us, too. So, just wanted to leave that on the table for you to think about." He clears his throat. "I should probably get back to work."