"Interesting…" Alaric said, showing no trace of embarrassment or irritation at Will's words. He stroked his chin thoughtfully for a few seconds before saying, "There's something I've been curious about for a while. Mind if I ask? I'm not sure if it's a sensitive topic."
"You're being so polite all of a sudden, it's almost unnerving. What do you want to know?" Will asked, eyeing Alaric with suspicion.
"Since you experience different stages of life with each reset, have you ever gotten married or had kids? Have you gone through growing old, falling ill, or dealing with ungrateful children?" Alaric asked, blinking curiously.
He was genuinely intrigued. Both Will and Azik reset their lives, but Azik's countless cycles clearly included romance, marriage, and children. Had Will done the same?
After all, Ouroboros, the other Snake of Mercury, certainly hadn't. His resets were spent by the True Creator's side, devoid of such human experiences.
Will froze, clearly caught off guard by the question. He took a sip of coffee before responding, "That's quite the question."
"So, have you or haven't you?" Alaric asked, smiling at him.
"…I haven't." Will said, shaking his head without hiding anything. It wasn't some guarded secret. "In most cases, I reset before reaching adulthood... often while still a teenager or even a child. The few times I made it to adulthood, I didn't marry or have kids."
"As a Snake of Mercury, and with Ouroboros hunting me, marrying a normal person would only harm them. Take this life, for example. If it weren't for you, I'd already be resetting."
"Fair point. Your situation doesn't exactly scream 'settle down,'" Alaric said, nodding. Then he added, "No wonder you're so good at playing the kid. In a way, you really are a child who never grows up."
"Exactly! I'm not some thousand-year-old geezer. Mentally, I'm young!" Will emphasized, doubling down.
"Pfft!" Alaric couldn't hold back a laugh. He reached out and ruffled Will's hair, grinning. "Alright, Will, you're definitely just eight years old."
"So…" Alaric paused, his expression turning serious as he looked at Will. "Will, do you want to grow up someday, or stay a kid forever?"
The unspoken question was whether Will's frequent resets as a child were by choice... because he enjoyed that life... or if Ouroboros' pursuit forced him to restart endlessly, trapping him as a perpetual child.
"Don't mess with my head. It'll stunt my growth." Will grumbled like a real kid, then looked at Alaric. "Being a child is fun, sure, but who wants to stay small forever?"
The implication was clear: Will didn't mind living as a child, but he also wanted the freedom to grow up when he chose, not to be forced into resetting.
"Greedy, huh? But that's fine... you're a kid, so you can have it all!" Alaric chuckled, extending his hand to reveal a Joker Club badge that had appeared in his palm at some point.
He looked at Will with a smile. "So, want to join my Joker Club? Once you're in, you can decide for yourself... stay a kid or grow up fast."
"Isn't Ouroboros part of your club too?" Will asked, staring at the badge for a few seconds. "Are you sure he won't hunt me down?"
"I can't guarantee that." Alaric admitted, "but as long as you're a club member and my ally, I'll protect you within my reach. Pretty good deal, right? In one second, you could escape being hunted!" He spoke earnestly, then added with a grin, "Of course, if I ever fall out with the Ancient Sun God' faction, we might end up being hunted together."
"Doesn't sound all that reliable." Will quipped. Still, he took the badge from Alaric's hand, pinned it to his collar, and pulled out a small mirror to check his reflection. Satisfied, he nodded. "Nice taste."
"Of course!" Alaric laughed, then looked at Will. "By the way, Will, a heads-up: the Lord of Mysteries will be born soon. Don't rush into another reset."
"Got it, thanks for the tip." Will said, nodding. He tilted his head, studying Alaric. "So, is it Mr. Door or that friend of yours?"
"No idea! Depends on who's in better shape when the time comes." Alaric said, shrugging. "Right now, Bethel's got the edge."
"So you really can cleanse Outer Deity corruption." Will muttered, his expression a mix of relief and faint melancholy. He patted his chest, looking slightly lost. "I feel like I've lost something. Am I imagining it?"
Alaric blinked, then suggested, "Why don't you stay at my place for a few days? You might find what you're missing."
…
"Why'd you bring another kid home?" Jack Jones said, eyeing Will beside Alaric's true form, then glancing at Lil' Amon, who was curiously sizing up Will. He slapped his forehead. "Great, we're turning into a daycare!"
"Who's this young gentleman?" Klein asked, his tone cautious but probing. After the precedent with Lil' Amon, he wasn't about to assume Lucifer would bring home an ordinary person.
"This is Will, one of the two Serpents of Mercury in the Fate pathway, and my ally. The other is Ouroboros, by the way." Alaric, disguised as Lucifer, said with a smile. "Will won't stay long... just a few days."
"Tch!" Medici, who had already recognized Will, shot Alaric a glance but said nothing.
Medici could see why Alaric sought out Will despite already having Ouroboros as an ally. While he found it exasperating, he had no intention of interfering.
With Adam around, it made sense for Alaric to be cautious.
As for Ouroboros… Medici wasn't exactly in favor of him advancing further. Given Ouroboros' state, pushing forward might not end well.
Still, if Ouroboros wanted to hunt Will, Medici wouldn't stop him either.
"Hello, Mr. Will." Azik said, offering a warm smile and a greeting, keeping things simple.
***
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