The demi-god rarely concerned himself with fashion, it was one of the things he just had to adapt to depending on the era he was summoned. Hawaiian shirts so far were his favorite, they were colorful and he never felt bad ripping them. However if the god was going to meet William’s mother for the first time he wanted to look his best. Maybe Elizabeth being there influenced his wardrobe of choice as well.

”One of my new trials.” he smirked and winked to the animal controller. ”and it is a shame, adversaries push me further to be the best I can be. They always prevent me with opportunities to show me what I am capable of. Fortunately living in the city has presented me with opportunities. The city is certainly chaotic at times.”

The elevator shook as Hercules laughed, being in the confined space didn’t help anyone with enhanced hearing or regular hearing. ”It truly was a tragedy what I had to do to those birds. However I couldn’t let them continue to slaughter the livestock and children like they had been. They were beautiful creatures, aggressive and highly territorial but beautiful none the less.” he said his eyes welling up recalling a few of the creatures last moments, the smashing of eggs.... the blood on his club....

Tears streaked freely, his voice didn’t change though. ”..... there are Gryphon’s in this era?” the god sighed loudly, ”Then I failed one of my trials... You shall have to point me to his nest.” he didn’t ask about how she dated a Gryphon. His father often shapeshifted into other creatures to seduce women. A gryphon would not have been a form of his father. A royal pet maybe but not a form of his choice.

Hercules’s eyes shifted from Elizabeth to his master and the healer DocProf and watched making sure not to interject into their conversation. WIlliam was an inquisitive boy, this was just part of his process. “Regeneration!?!?” his voice was loud and full of surprise, so much so the god chuckled. ”I trust them with my life.” the god added. ”Elizabeth here was the one who talked me out of robbing a bank, and from what I have seen the Healer has an important role healing all of the children at the school for mutants I told you about. Lovely campus.”

“Oh! She’s the one?” William’s face seemed to be brighter than it was clearly more excited about the events were about to unfold. The doors opened and they were greeted by the familiar smell of cleaning supplies. The wheels squeaked once more and the god led the way to the room where William’s mother resided. A orderly was busy refilling the water in one of the many flower vases that littered the room. Flowers that William knew his mother appreciated.

The orderly smiled at the two familiar faces, “No change, though I could have sworn I saw her fingers move when I changed her pillow.” William’s expression saddened a little and Hercules started to cry silently again. The god didn’t say anything but wheeled his master over to his mother and then took a few steps back to their guests. ”This is William’s mother, please do your best Docprof.” William reached up and grabbed his mother’s hand and held it tight. “Mom.... Herc found you a healer....”

“I’ll say,” Liz agreed readily enough. Chaos in the city was the story of her life. It was fortunate indeed that the mansion was enough removed from the hubs of action that it could act as a sanctuary and a relief. Sometimes she got overwhelmed when her powers slipped and she started hearing the city from a dozen different pairs of animal ears, all at different levels and distances. And the smells were even worse!

Elizabeth felt herself getting drawn in as the man spoke about the birds. A wistful smile played over her lips and she sought to imagine the birds. She knew the stories, she knew the speculation, but she could only imagine. He had actually seen them, or at least he could pretend. But Liz wanted to believe. Besides, he was scoring major points from his passion for animals.

“There’s at least one gryphon,” she remarked off-handedly, then put a finger to her chin in thought. “Though ‘nest’ is indeed a great way of describing his room.” Not that Liz had seen Carrick’s room in years (if it was even the same room he’d had) but she had not been presented with any evidence to suggest Carrick’s cleaning habit had miraculously changed during the time.

She sighed. “But I reckon it’d be frowned upon if I sent you to his room to beat him to death.” No matter how appealing that seemed, sometimes. Huh, maybe she should find out if Hercules had a business card of his own. “The school would probably lecture me. And eviscerate you.” She maintained that wistful smile though. One could dream, no?

Her face demonstrated blatant and mild surprise at Hercules’s declaration though. With his life, did he? Interesting. He really didn’t have any kind of filter and he trusted very, very easily. Liz stared at him in evaluation. It was...refreshing...in a naive sort of way.

“Hercules gives me too much credit,” she said simply, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles from the legs of her jeans. “Very little of my talking did anything to change his mind.” Waste his time? Oh yes indeed. But actually convince him to abandon his quest? No, even the bullets hadn’t come close to that. It didn’t seem polite to argue too hard, at least not until she had a better sense of Hercules and William, as well as their relationship.

“I do some work outside of the school, too,” the Doc said, noting the discrepancy in Hercules’s apparent story and the one Elizabeth had given him. He’d let them sort that out later. “I cannot be everywhere, but I make my services available to many of the local hospitals when needed.” It was a very positive sign that his status as a mutant was not going to cause difficulties. It was less and less the case among the younger generation, but one could never know for certain.

When they entered the room, the atmosphere seemed to change. Liz smiled politely and nodded as the orderly left. She hung back, well aware that she wasn’t part of the situation at all. She wore a placid mask of sympathy and refused to dwell further on the feelings William and Hercules were so obviously dealing with. It was an awkward position to be in. She reached up to lay a reassuring hand on Hercules's shoulder, her eyes still taking in the scene.

DocProf addressed the woman by name in his grandfatherly voice. “I’m going to examine you now - it won’t hurt. You’ll feel a warm presence…” His voice trailed off as he laid his hand on her arm. His eyes closed and he frowned in concentration. For several moments he stayed like that, though it felt like an eternity, then his frown deepened. He removed his hand.

“I...can’t find anything wrong with her,” he said in a dumbfounded tone. “This is very strange,” he murmured. He held his hand up and stared at William, occasionally flicking his eyes to Hercules. “Whatever the source of this coma, it’s neither injury nor illness. I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to do anything for her.”

The hand did little to distract Hercules, no sympathy could make this better. The demi-god looked to who didn’t respond but his face seemed less bright as if suddenly all the joy left the boy. Hercules eyes started to well up while a faint glow started to overtake his body from under his clothing. It was almost what the boy was feeling was being channeled into the god.

“....... I see.....” the boy finally said. William exhaled loudly then looked down making sure not to show too many emotions. Meanwhile Hercules started to cry. ”What do you mean?” his voice low trying not to let it break. Nothing about the man broke, not even his voice. ”Neither injury or illness?” what else could it be? Mortals don’t typically just not wake from slumber so why was she like this? Did he have to travel to Morpheus realm again? No... that wouldn’t help. Hercules didn’t know what was wrong with her but knew that wouldn’t solve anything.

The god’s hands clenched into fists. He wanted to hit something, feel something that wasn’t this sadness. William.... Hercules gave the boy hope just to have it crash into another wall. ”William.... I’m sorry....” the god of willpower looked around making sure to avoid eye contact with anyone. Finding the closest thing he could that was not important he found another chair lifted it and ripped it in two then tossed it harmlessly into the corner of the room.

“It’s fine... I don’t know why I got my hopes up. It’s like I’m cursed or something.” the words caught Hercules’s attention. This all started when the demigod was stolen. When William took the manacle of power. Hercules was only summoned after the care wreck and fire that tried to kill all in the vehicle. If not for him William and his mother would have gone the way of his father. ”A curse then? That’s the only way to describe it!”

The giant strode past Liz and Doc and took a knee next to William. Even kneeling next to the boy Hercules still towered over him. ”William....” the boy didn’t respond. ”William! Look at me!” the boy finally did. ”I promise you, on the river styx.” Hercules body glowed even more as he tried to quell his rage. ”I will lift this curse and you will have your mother back! No matter how long it takes! I might not be able to break my curse but I shall break this one!” tears still streaked down his face and there was a moment where all they did was stare at each other.

William was the first to break eye contact by averting his gaze to his mom. “It’s.... okay.... I believe you....” Hercules put a large hand on his masters shoulder and gave it a small sympathetic squeeze. His glowing subsided and he stood. Hercules was no longer crying. “We have to pay for that chair now....” he said forcing a sad quick chuckle.

”I’m sorry the trip was a waste of your time healer! Elizabeth.... thank you... we know now it isn’t in the world of medicine we find our answers but magic.” he said confidently. Some might think he was jumping to conclusions but Hercules had always been bold.

”Is it still possible to look into my master’s” “Will’s” his master interjected clear the boy didn’t like to be called master, ”Master William’s legs?” he asked looking to Doc hoping that his legs weren’t curse as well.

The weight of Doc’s words hit Liz solidly. A lump formed in her throat. “Oh…” she said very quietly. She looked to Hercules and then to William - if she was having this reaction, then they must be devastated. The hope in Hercules’s eyes had shone so bright, and nothing was worse than having that last hope torn away from you.

Doc nodded slowly and gravely. “I cannot say for certain,” Doc said in a measured tone. “This is a world of any number of mutants and mutations, many of whom have powers that behave in way hard to pin down my modern science, or even biology. Regret creased his face and he saddened. “Whatever this is, it’s beyond my power to even detect.”

Liz’s hand slipped from Hercules’s shoulder. She barely even flinched when he smashed a chair,her mind starting to whirl. It wasn’t biological or physiological? Well what else was there? Spiritual? Mental?

“What about psychic tampering?” she asked the doctor quietly, slipping over to his other side as Hercules knelt down with William. “Could her mind have been stolen or displaced? Like me?” She waved a hand over herself. Whenever she possessed an animal, her mind fully transitioned over to the animal, leaving no consciousness of any sort left behind. Her body ran on autopilot with just enough brute mental activity to keep her body breathing and such. She effectively left her body in a coma each time.

Doc shook his head. “No, Elizabeth, I don’t think so.” He glanced at the woman again and stood up, drawing his colleague away from the bed to give at least a semblance of privacy to the others. His voice lowered, he continued. “I don’t have a particular attunement to psychic activity, but I can tell when brain waves are gone. Hers aren’t - it’s as if she’s asleep. Deep, deep asleep. Just without REM.”

Liz frowned. “But what else--”

Doc silenced her with a pained look. “I don’t know. It’s a mystery to me as well, my dear. She’s going to need a miracle if she wants to wake up.”

Elizabeth didn’t respond. She turned to look at the giant man and the boy, her eyes getting a little misty. Doc turned with her.

“No, I’m sorry I could not do more,” Doc said swiftly and assuredly, his face open and sad. “You may always call upon me if you need aid - it is the gift I was given, a gift I freely share.”

“The same goes for me,” Liz added, looking first to Hercules’s eyes and then to William’s. “If there’s anything I can do for you as well, please let me know. And I’m going to keep all three of you in my prayers.” Because that was the only way she could think to get miracles.

DocProf nodded twice. “Yes, of course,” he said to Hercules, sliding into some clinical detachment. “Whatever I can do.” Doc stepped around the bed and in front of William. “Do you mind?” he asked, slowly holding a hand out.

The Healer and Elizabeth ruled out a psychic messing with William’s mother which the God of strength was happy about. The ancient hero did not fair well when fighting psychics, they were a weakness he didn’t like to advertise. They made him think too much.

”You are too kind.” Hercules finally said stepping out of the way for the healer to approach. The generosity the healer was showing was enough to bring a tear to his eye. Mortals never ceased to amaze him. This time it was from the kindness the healer was showing.

Hercules didn’t comment on the praying. While yes it often did help other mortals, any prayers on the god were wasted. His pantheon abandoned him long ago and he personally didn’t think there would be any other gods to help him. Not with his curse branded onto his flesh the way it was. Mentally slumping into his thoughts while his young master reached up to take DocProf’s hands.

”Apologies... striding over to the chair he destroyed her piled it into a corner and bent some of the metal into a ball so it would be easier to clean up. Keeping his back turned to the healer and his master he saw a small glow of light on the white walls he was staring at. ‘Please heal him...’ was all the god could think now ashamed for getting his master’s hopes up for his mother.

Elizabeth stayed where she was, folding her arms across her stomach in a sudden realization that she didn’t know what to do with her hands. Her viewpoint kept Hercules, Doc, William, and William’s mother all in one line, so Liz wouldn’t miss anything. She found herself leaning in as Doc reached out.

When William’s hand met his own, the Doc closed his eyes again. His power activated and images began to fill his mind…

Liz could see the exact moment the Doc’s heart broke and she almost started crying herself. As it was, a tear rolled down her cheek as the Doc gasped quietly. She didn’t know the full extent of his powers, but Liz thought he gleaned some kind of psychometric insight into what caused injuries. Considering the types of injuries she knew he’d worked with, this one must have been truly horrible.

Doc breathed out and tightened his grip on William, redoubling his will and effort. He shoved his surprise to the side with years of experience in a clinical setting. No distractions.

Golden light erupted from between the clasped hands, causing both hands to appear bright red as the light poured through them. Power swelled up inside of Doc and he directed it with surgical precision and industrial might, pouring it into Will’s body, bypassing his organs and most of his systems until it could be released into the young man’s legs. There it would begin reknitting flesh, repairing bones, fighting off infections, instigating regeneration, and a thousand other tasks. The legs would heal and the boy would be restored and…

He frowned. The light started weakening. His frown deepened and the light flared once more. Sweat burst onto his forehead. Something was wrong. What the…?

Doc gasped and broke contact, involuntarily wobbling away a couple of steps.

“Doc!” Liz said and sprinted to his side, her hands flying up to catch and balance him. “Are you okay?”

“I think so,” the man wheezed, coughing once. “Just...that took far more out of me than I expected.” He frowned at William. “Are you a mutant, son?” he asked, not accusatory, but with clinical detachment as an idea struck him.

All the boy could do is watch as the glowing light seemed to give him a sudden boost in energy which slowly faded as the light did. While the boy was small and in a wheel chair he attempted to catch the healer when he seemed to develop sea legs and not the sturdy kind.

“Herc!” the giant across the room who was busy throwing himself a pity party snapped to attention and with incredible speed and grace closed the distance to the two of them and Elizabeth who seemed to have the same idea in mind. Steady the healer. Instead he focused on William seeing as Elizabeth was already tending to Doc.

“No.... I.... don’t think so?” William looked a little shocked at the question. He didn’t think he was one and as far as Hercules could tell he didn’t think so either. “I mean... I could be? I never checked really.” the boy said putting his hand to his chin thinking on it more. ”No, I don’t believe he is... I have only formed a pact with two ‘mutants’ over the centuries and the power they give me is different....” Hercules said thinking on the subject as well. The term ‘mutant’ was a foreign one to the god as well, he was still trying to get used to it.

”Do you’re powers not work on mutants?” Hercules asked curiously. He was supposed to be the healer of the school full of them so either he wasn’t a very good healer or something was wrong with his master. ”Did it not work?” his jaw clenched looking from Doc to Elizabeth then to his master who still remained sitting wondering if he was a mutant.

Elizabeth shot a glance over at Hercules. What on Earth did he mean by mutants providing a different kind of power? And what kind of pact was he involved in that gave him...power? Her focus intensified and she dropped her hands from Doc and stepped back to give him some personal space. If that gave her a bit of room to move in case something happened, so much the better.

Doc’s frown deepened. “No no,” he said quickly. “I can heal mutants quite well. Non-mutants too. It’s just...well, something is neutralizing the healing.” He studied William for a moment and looked over at Hercules. “I can feel that some healing took place, but only a small fraction of what I expected based on the amount of effort I put into it.” He shook his head and looked back at Will. “You should be jumping up and down by now.”

“Then why does it matter that he’s not a mutant?” Liz asked, shifitng her gaze over to the Doc.

Doc nodded a bit absently. “Right, right,” he said. “Some mutants act as living batteries or conduits for energy of one form or another. They either absorb energy to power their abilities or for sustenance. I had thought there might be a reservoir in effect, siphoning my healing energy away for purposes other than physical restoration, but clearly that’s not the case here.” He chewed on a lip in thought. “The power is just...vanishing.”

Elizabeth cocked her head. Powers that drained power? That didn’t sound like a battery to her, that sounded like a parasite. Something taking power from something in order to sustain their own existence.

The strands of thought began forming a web in her mind and she started to see a picture.

“Hercules,” she addressed the man who claimed to be a god from ancient Greece. The one with the fascinating moving, sometimes-glowing tattoos. The person who was able to keep going and going and going despite bullets, vaults, and being frozen in a block of ice. “What did you mean when you said you’ve formed pacts with people? What…’power’ are they giving you?” Her tone was level, her face blank except for a piercing, raptor-like stare.

Both Hercules and William remained quite listening to the healers theory and explanation as to why it wasn’t working. Elizabeth’s question mirrored William’s so he stayed quite a little longer. The god frowned already knowing the answer as to why the healing didn’t take place once the explanation was given.

It took a second for William to catch up but the look he was giving Hercules wasn’t one of anger. It was sadness and pity. His master was sad for him. Hercules almost started to cry, it was rare the demi-god got pity from anyone. Even those that knew his curse.

” I can not say.” he said looking to Elizabeth unfazed by her predator like stare. His eyes shifted to William when the boy spoke. “Hercules... it’s fine. You can tell them.” ”Are you sure William?” the nod confirmed it, “They have a right to know. They have been helpful to us.” ”As usual you are right.” Hercules said grabbing his shirt and ripping it off revealing his tattoos.

They started to glow when they were revealed and William felt the draw of power as Hercules siphoned some energy. ”Your power wasn’t vanishing healer.... I was taking it without realizing it.” he stated calmy.

” In exchange to keep me tethered to this plane of existence I must form a pact or deal with at least one mortal capable of summoning me. William is my master, for he is who summoned me and keeps me tethered to this world. All I require is energy. It seems however my curse is effecting his healing...”

“I had a feeling that was the case.” his master sighed loudly. The tattoos danced along Hercules’s chiseled physique replaying battles one, trials over come. “He also warned me before we made the pact.” he said looking at Hercules, “But I didn’t think it would effect my body that much.””Most of my masters have never been injured so severely so I didn’t think about it. Forgive me William.” Hercules dropped to one knee in a bow.

The god knew his curse effected his masters just not to this extent. “It’s fine. As long as you help me get the bastard that did all this.” Beaming once again full of pride for his master. ”But of course! For my word is my bond!”

Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow but otherwise retained her steady gaze. For once, Hercules appeared to be withholding information, blatantly at least. She subtlely shifted her stance. She wasn’t preparing for a fight, not exactly. She had no doubt nothing in this hospital could stop the man. The posturing was more for her own mindset, to center herself. If he didn’t cough up the information--

William intervened. Elizabeth cast her gaze over to the boy. Master, indeed. There was more going on here than had been revealed, she suspected. If only she could access human thoughts like she did animals’.

Her expression remained unchanged, like a hawk standing sentinel. Hercules did indeed describe himself as a parasite, sapping energy from William. But then she recalled his protectiveness and her initial encounter with him - robbing a bank to pay for medical bills. No, not a parasite then. A symbiote.

Liz relaxed ever so slightly. Symbiotes did not destroy their hosts. At worst, they did nothing, but in most cases they were beneficial. William’s symbiote was willing to risk life and limb to help him. He was an ally, a friend, and, based on his promise to William, a champion as well.

She inclined her head slightly and softened her stare.

Doc looked the pair over and clasped his hands together, bowing slightly. “My apologies, William, that I am unable to do more for you,” he said with a sad smile. “There is some healing happening in your legs, but it is negligible, just enough to prevent decay. It is unlikely they will ever be able to fully heal within a standard lifespan.” He paused, to let that sink in. It was not his intention to be cruel, but he did not want to hide William from the truth.

“As long as all your energy is pouring into this pact, your situation will not improve.” He shook his head softly. “But, if you wish, I can set up regular sessions with you, as my strength and schedule allows, to provide you with as much healing as I can. It will still take years at the very least, likely decades, but it would mean eventually you would be able to walk again. You do not need to decide now, though. My offer stands.”

While the god never dwelled on it telling people what he was other than a god often gave him a mix of reactions some he welcomed others he didn’t know what to say or do. Looking to Elizabeth he stared for a moment as if wanting to apologize for not being truthful about what he was but then again he was sworn to secrecy with his master. If anyone knew William was the one that was his source of power.... again the God did not like to dwell on what could be. He preferred to dwell on what is.

The healer clapped his hands bringing the two to attention William looked up to him and Hercules looked down. Some sad news, it would take years at this rate. ”Well then...” Hercules boomed regain his confidence and flexing his body started to glow slightly a monster coiled around his bicep as he did so. ”If it shall take years, with me having one master I shall seek others out as well. If I draw less from William then he should heal faster no?” he said as if it was so simple.

“If it was that easy to find others to give you power you would have done it already.” William sighed loudly, teenager talk for ‘you’re exhausting’. ”While it might not be easy I will redouble my efforts to find those worthy of my power!” Hercules started to flex more his body shifting into some poses as William nodded his head to DocProf, “If it means I can walk again, I’ll take you up on your offer.... I’m tired of this stupid chair.” he adjusted one of the wheels so it squeaked proving his point. The chair was stupid.

“Thank you both for helping us today, it might not have been what we wanted but it was what we needed. Gave us some more information at least.” William smiled and offered a handshake to Doc then to Elizabeth. The act made Hercules cry. Once again he was amazed by William’s determination. Hercules however didn’t offer a hand shake but rather scooped both Doc and Elizabeth in one giant hug. ”Thank you again!” he said lifting them both off the ground then setting them down.

“Oh and if you can keep all of this quite we would be grateful.” he said adding one last plea or warning. ”It is confirmed now that there is someone out to get my master and the last thing either of us want is for you two to be in danger. While I can be summoned to my masters side in the blink of an eye I won’t be able to do that for you. Though I will try!” he flexed again then gave them both a wink. His eyes however lingered on Elizabeth.

Elizabeth watched William and Hercules carefully as Doc laid out the facts. A small part of her thought that perhaps some kind of HIPPA convention was being broken by sharing this information when she and Hercules were in the room but that was rather the least of her concerns. As it was, Doc wasn’t here in an official capacity anyways.

It wasn’t hard to see that Doc’s news was still a blow to the others, although tempered by motes of hope. A long and slow process, but the ability to walk again. Not everyone got even that much of a chance.

“It should stand to reason,” Doc said, acknowledging Hercules’s suggestion with a nod. “Without knowing the exact nature of your pacts, I would imagine if you spread your power drain out over other sources without needing to solely extract from William, his body will be able to direct more of his own energy into healing himself.” It was his subtle way of probing for more details, although he held himself back from prying. They were entitled to their secrets.

Liz wasn’t quite so satisfied with the lack of specifics. “Perhaps if you provided us with a list of qualities that make a person ‘suitable’ for your bonds, we might be able to assist,” she slid in smoothly. She hadn’t missed how Hercules never did answer her question about the type of power people provided him, and why mutants were different. Did he merely drain the vital energy from humans, but maybe powers from mutants? She stared at the man calmly and with veiled curiosity.

Elizabeth and Doc had similar smiles, expressing both sadness and the warmth of hope as they shook hands with Will. “I am sorry I could not do more,” Doc said with another bow of his head.

“It has been a pleasure,” Liz said, following up. “Your mother is very fortunate to have a son like you looking out for her. You are quite impressive.” Her smile glowed with pride. Yes, there were many long and hard days ahead of him, but Liz had seen several kids like this before. Fighters who overcame insurmountable odds because they didn’t give up.

And then they were caught up in an aerial, lung-crushing hug. “Oof!” Liz managed to breathe out as Hercules pulled her and Doc into a tight embrace. She had to steady Doc again after they returned to Earth, his advanced years not quite as adaptable to the motions.

She regarded Hercules seriously and nodded. “Oh course,” she said simply. “Likewise, you have but to ask and I will be there to help you as well. Either of you,” she added, glancing at William as well. She pulled two business cards out of a pocket and passed one to the boy and the other to his symbiote.

“Come by the mansion around noon this Saturday for our first healing session,” Doc said. “Hercules should know the way by now.” The old man winked.

“Yes, just make sure to call ahead first so I or someone else can greet you,” Liz jumped in, smiling mischievously. “I’d hate to see another battle just for a doctor’s appointment.” Her vulpine grin turned up to Hercules and she looked him over. “As for you, mister, we’ll talk more later. Spinelli’s, tomorrow night at eight. Don’t tear the door down. I hope you like pasta.”

William threw up a hand to help steady DocProf but then recoiled as Elizabeth seemed to be on it. She helped steady him and the teen shot a glare over at his tethered god. “I told you to stop doing that. People don’t like to be picked up.” ”Apologies! I’m just so happy should I not express my joy at the prospect of healing you?” Hercules boomed and took a step back.

”An escort would be welcomed though I’d like to challenge myself again with the one who greeted me recently. His powers reminded me of a few other gods I used to spar with. It keeps me honed and ready for whatever challenges come next!” Hercules said flexing some more. “You fought someone already.... at a school?” the galre deepened and Hercules could feel the disapproval seeping into their psychic link. “Sorry about that.” the teen said as if apologizing was enough to make up for Hercules’s.... self.

The prince of power looked to Elizabeth and frowned sadly, ”No, this is my burden. I’ve tried it in the past where people try to search for ‘honorable’ masters for me. I’m quite particular on who I take on. They must have qualities I deem admirable.” Hercules said somberly recalling the way William was ready to give up everything to save his mother and father. He was too late for his father.... something the god will never forgive himself for.

”I will however take recommendations.” he said smiling to Elizabeth, ”Seflesness, proud, and determined.” he said naming a few qualities, ”Bascially everything William is.” the teenager’s face filled with color and he made sure not to meet anyone's gaze. ”My power is not meant for those with sinister purposes.” Murder, Hercules wasn’t a fan of. If anything he liked to beat his challengers and let them get stronger then challenge him again! Revenge, however was something he understood and could get behind. William’s motives in Hercules’s eyes were perfectly normal.

”Oh ho ho!” Hercules grinned to Elizabeth who gave him a time, date, and place for their dinner. Hercules’s gave William a thumbs up who covered his face embarrassed about how obvious the god was. ”Pasta happens to be one of my favorite carbs! I’m excited to see you there. It’s a date!” he flexed again bringing his fists up in his ‘hype up’ stance.

Hercules made note to ask William about proper date edict in this era.

Elizabeth nodded seriously, yet her eyes didn’t leave Hercules’s. He was being obfuscatingly enigmatic. With his cards held closely to his very impressive chest, Liz was unable to immediately determine any markers that would make someone a suitable candidate to...provide him power, as she understood it. He simply listed personality characteristics, like a military recruitment ad, and still said he’d handle it himself. Interesting, interesting.

Liz could respect a secret. Liz could also respect a secret and still try to figure out what that secret was, especially when it and other things this man said alluded to something far, far bigger than a need for a simple healing. The zoopath was quite confident there was a world of things not yet said, or at least had only been referenced. But, she thought, there was always dinner. At the very least interrogating him would certainly provide no end of conversation starters.

“Very well,” she said with a polite smile. “If I should find such individuals I will refer them your way, for your approval.” Which would reveal much in and of itself. If he gave her no more clues about what he needed, she could start cross referencing the referrals. The smile turned to dust. “Good,” she said. He was not into murder. Good to know, typically assumed about most people, but it was strangely reassuring that Hercules was so quick to point that out. How interesting that was where his mind immediately went….

Doc coughed softly as Hercules confirmed the date. “Well, I think we should be taking our leave now,” he said, tipping his head to William and Hercules. “I have a few more patients staying here I’d like to visit while visitor hours are in effect. Elizabeth?” he said as he partially held out an elbow.

“Of course,” she said, flashing another smile at the boy and the man. “See you later, William, Hercules.” She accepted Doc’s genteel gesture most graciously and with a bemused grin and together they started heading toward the door. They’d done what they’d come to do. It wasn’t much, but at least it was something.

At least there was hope.