#if i were wiser i wouldve waited a day and reread it and then posted

[sporesgalaxy]

WELL GAMERS I told myself I should get more of the sequel done first. I told myself I should draw a new picture. But ive never been famous for my self control or patience, have I 💚

If I regret my writing choices after watching the finale later this week, thats between me and God.

•••

quick reminders abt how this is Canon Divergent:

1. Philip never directly witnessed the portal, and/or something happened that forced Circe to suddenly stay in the Demon Realm a bit sooner than in canon. The point is Philip never made it to the Boiling Isles.

2.

ok teehee time to get sad.

CW: Philip's never outright transphobic but like. Some of the things he says about refusing to accept witchcraft may sound like it.

•••

?: [distantly] Philip?

?: [closer] Philip!

?: Philip Wittebane!!!

P: [weirded out cuz hes in the middle of the woods] What in the--

C: [running up to him excitedly] Philip!!! It's SO good to see you again!!!

P: [backing away] Er, excuse me miss. Do I...know you?

C: !

C: Come on, Philip!

C: Surely the King of the Witch Hunters can recognize the Dread Witch Beezelbella when he sees her!

---

P: ...

C: [smile falters nervously] Erm...Philip?

[Philip bolts]

C: Wh- Philip!

[He sprints through the woods as fast as he can, but weaving between the trees is slowing him down.]

[Circe suddenly cuts Philip off, riding on her staff]

P: [nearly falls over] GAH!!

C: What are you running away for?!

P: [shielding his face, peeking at her erratically, as if afraid to look directly at her for too long] You're not real!! You're some cruel illusion!!

P: Sent to-- to torment me, or tempt me to forfeit my soul to the devil!

P: Well it WON'T WORK!! So-- gh-- [flails his hands in her general direction] BEGONE!

--

C: [trying not to laugh] No, no...! I promise, no tricks!

C: [REALIZES SHE IS LEVITATING] Ah!!! Er...

[she jumps off the staff and holds it behind her conspicuously, too frantic to remember to store it as a palisman]

C: [smiling nervously] I meant to save that for later.

P: [incredulous] Did you?!

C: Yes, but-- really, it's harmless!

[gestures for emphasis, but is still holding the staff in one hand, and ends up accidentally waving it between them.]

[Circe realizes she's still got the staff out. Philip is staring at it like it might explode. She reduces it to just the bird and pockets the palisman in her cloak]

C: Er-- mostly harmless!

C: [smiling apologetically, holding up palms to show she's unarmed] I'd never dream of hurting you, anyhow!

P: [mentally recalculating] ...Is that so?

C: [beams] Of course!

P: [less defensive body language, but still clearly a little wary] Hm...

--

C: Before anything else, I'll need to re-introduce myself!

P: Re-introduce...?

C: [trying to stay chipper but looking more stressed] I told you! It's...it's me!! [she pulls her hair back into a ponytail, looking a bit uncomfortable] See?

P: The...Dread Witch Beezelbella.

C: [frustrated] Your s-- your sibling!!! You know, the one who raised you?? Who spent all those years putting gruel on the table??

P: [playing dumb but also being mean] The one who died seven years ago?

C: Er-- well-- yes and no! I had to go away for a while, but I'm back now!!

C: [trying to bulldoze through it] And hardly anything has changed!

C: But I HAVE learned I'm much happier being your sister! That's not too complicated, is it? You understand, don't you?

P: I...suppose--

C: [bulldozing again] Spectacular!!!!

C: So, you'll now call me Ci-- [seems to realize something] Er...just C.C. is fine for now! [smiles nervously]

[Philip gives her a perplexed look]

C: Probably easier and, er...good for an Adjustment Period! [nods to herself]

P: [mostly just baffled] ...C.C.

C: You've got it! And none of my old name, pretty please? [before Philip can reply] Great!

C: Now, with all THAT out of the way: It's YOUR turn! Tell me everything! How are you?! What's happened while I was gone? Tell me all about what you've been up to!

--

P: Oh. Er...

P: I'm...doing very well. I... ["thinks", bringing a finger to his chin a little too theatrically]

P: ...Goodness, so much has changed, I'm not even sure where to start!

P: Perhaps you could just visit the house with me and see what's changed for yourself? [grabs her arm and gently tugs]

C: [Withdraws, very nervous] Oh, no no no, I reeeaaallly shouldn't go into town.

C: You and I of all people know how they are about--!

C: ...!

C: [Squints]

P: ...Is something the matter?

C: [Squints harder]

C: It's been a long time, but I haven't COMPLETELY forgotten what it sounds like when you're LYING, Philip.

P: >:| ...

C: >:[ ...

P: ...I have no idea what you're talking about.

C: UUGGGHHHH.

C: [crosses her arms] Well, I've no plans to set foot in that town ever again, so it's no use to try.

P: Then perhaps you could wait here, and in just a moment I'll return and we can-- [beginning to walk away]

C: [Grabs his arm to stop him leaving] [exasperated] I'm not an idiot, Philip!

C: [sighs] Look, I know magic is going to be a lot for you to take in, but it's really not so bad!

P: [MAIDENLESS STARE]

--

[Circe continues holding Philip's arm to keep him there, and for now, he lets her.]

C: As it turns out, you DON'T actually have to sell your soul!

P: [no longer hiding that he's not buying it] Is that so?

C: [frustrated] It's true! I could prove it to you!

C: Well, I guess I can't PROVE that I still have a soul. Not that I know of. [to herself] I wonder if there's a spell for that...

P: [extremely sarcastic] Perhaps we ought to enlighten the entire town to the existence of this fascinating *benign sorcery*.

C: You're making fun of me. >:T

P: Nonsense. Since you can *prove* that it's harmless, then why wouldn't you prove it to everybody, hm? It would make our lives *so* much easier...

C: Philip.

---

P: Why, no one would have to do chores ever again.

C: Philip!

P: Maybe we could all be in one big witch's coven together.

C: Philip, STOP!

C: I'm not here to waste my time on them!

C: I'm not even here to talk about magic!

C: [taking his hand in both hers] I'm here to talk to *you*!

C: I...I need to tell you-- That is, I *should've*--

C: [squeezing his hand, struggling to find the words] What I mean to say is, I never explained that I--!

P: [Rips his hand away from her, furious] Enough of this!!

-----

P: I'm no idiot, either!!

P: You expect me to believe you're here to *talk?!* [scoffs]

P: Just where in the world could have you gone, that you'd *vanish without a trace,*

P: and then-- *reappear out of thin air,* only to TALK?

P: [facetious] I suppose you could have *dropped by to chat* at any time in the last seven years, but you weren't in the *mood!*

C: Well...perhaps, but I--

P: [more outraged] What?!

C: Now, hold on--!

P: Then where have you *been??!!!*

C: I *wanted* to visit, Philip! But I couldn't-- I couldn't just-- it's complicated!

----

P: So you just LEFT me here to assume you were DEAD???

C: Wait--

P: I spent YEARS trying to hunt down that *witch*--

[Circe grimacing/wincing rxn shot]

P: [gesticulating wildly] YEARS hopelessly wondering what might've become of you!!!!!

C: I was--!

P: I WASTED my LIFE searching for answers, when you could have just TOLD ME!!??

C: Please--!

P: I suppose you were too busy learning WITCHCRAFT in-- in-- WITCH-LAND!!

C: 😟

--

P: [still angry, but also tearing up] And what a cruel joke, that you'd finally deign to visit *now!*

P: [reaching subtly for his knife, which is holstered on his belt] After I'd finally managed to give *up* on you.

[Circe hugs him. like that portrait oooo!!!!! he freezes, hesitating over the knife]

C: I'm *so* sorry, Philip.

C: I *do* care. I *did* want to tell you.

C: But...

[she squeezes tighter]

[Philip, over her shoulder, looks desperately lonely.]

C: Truthfully...

[She steps back to look him in the eyes, still holding his shoulders.]

[Philip regains his composure before she sees his face again. His hand twitches over his knife.]

C: ...I thought you would be better off without me.

---

P: [genuine confusion. His hand looks less ready over the knife.] What...?

C: [drops her arms, steps away][bittersweet amusement] I was the one always getting us into trouble.

C: [sitting on a fallen log] And you were so smart! You could accomplish anything you put your mind to!

C: You could...fit in.

C: I never could. Not really.

[Philip seems confused that she'd say this about herself, and about him.]

C: [sighs]

C: I told myself that leaving you was a sacrifice I could make to give both of us everything we wanted.

----

C: ...But it wasn't just my sacrifice to make.

C: I don't regret leaving Gravesfield--

[Philip's expression darkens momentarily]

C: --but I regret leaving *you*.

[he's taken off guard by this]

C: I'm sorry, Philip.

[He tries, but can't hold on to the anger. His hand falls slack, no longer considering going for the knife.]

C: [brushes her hair out of her face] You don't have to forgive me. But you deserve to know.

C: And I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.

[Philip looks at a loss for words]

C: [gazes into the woods, fidgeting] ...I-if there's a way I could ever even *begin* make it up to you... I'll gladly try.

----

C: [looks sadder] ...But if there's nothing I can do, I understa--

P: [sudden, desperate] *Come home.*

[Philip looks alarmed that he blurted that out]

C: [wide eyed. that was the last thing she expected him to say, too]

P: ...*please.*

C: [sadly] Philip...

C: I can't.

P: Why not?!

P: If-- if witchcraft really doesn't cost you your soul, then-- couldn't you just...*stop?*

--

C: [serious] It isn't about magic.

C: If I'd never used a drop of magic in my life, my days would still be numbered here.

P: What??? Why???

C: [thinks for a moment.]

C: ...I was always scared in Gravesfield.

P: [concern, confusion]

C: I tried not to let you see it-- I was supposed to protect you. [rueful amusement] I wasn't supposed to be *scared.*

C: But the older I got, the more terrified I became.

C: I knew that I would eventually do something... wrong.

C: Too wrong for just one humiliating punishment.

--

C: The moment that anyone found an excuse...I would be judged unfit to even *exist.*

C: Because I couldn't...

C: [as if it puts a bad taste in her mouth] I couldn't be who *Gravesfield* thought I should be, *flawlessly.*

C: And if I couldn't be a *perfect* witch hunter, or *stay* a perfect witch hunter until the day that I died--

[shot of Philip with next line. He looks like he understands, and wishes he didn't.]

C: Then that would make me a *witch.*

[back to Circe. Looking very serious]

C: Magic or not.

--

C: Most of all, I was scared I would bring you down with me.

C: I was rash. And stupid. But I only ever wanted you to be safe.

C: Truly, I did.

[Philip looks conflicted, frustrated, trying to find his anger and righteousness again]

P: I...

[He gives up. Looks upset-- sad, frustrated...tired. Sighs, pinches bridge of his nose.]

P: [plops down next to Circe on the log]

[Circe watches him, wondering what he's thinking now.]

P: [closes his eyes tighter and leans forward, resting his elbows on his legs. He presses his forehead against his clasped hands.]

P: [whispering] Lord...give me strength...

[shot of Circe looking at him sadly]

P: [offscreen, over shot of Circe] [quieter] *please*...

P: [in frame now] [very desperate, and quieter still] ...**please**...

--

C: ...Are you happy in Gravesfield?

P: [Hands still clasped, but eyes open, looking into the woods] ...

C: Philip?

P: [flatly] That doesn't matter.

C: [Leaning forward, trying to look in his eyes] ...It matters to *me*...

[Philip unclasps his hands and instead holds his elbows, which still rest on his legs. Does not look at Circe.]

P: [cold resentment] Does it.

[Circe shrinks back]

[the two sit in silence for a moment. Birds chirp, and the bare tree branches sway in the breeze above them.]

--

C: [quietly] ...are the trials as bad as they used to be?

P: ...

P: [even tone] Less frequent, maybe.

C: [hopeful] That's good.

P: ... [furrows his eyebrows]

C: Do you still--

P: Yes.

C: [guilt] ...

P: I've prevented what happened to you from happening again a dozen times over.

[Circe pales with horror. Philip still is not looking at her.]

P: [clearly bitter about something] And *I'm* actually *careful.* [seeming more vexed than proud] I've done more research than *anybody.*

C: [examining his face] ...Research?

P: ...

C: [dawning realization] Do they...*understand* that's what your doing?

P: [intensely, looking only at the ground] It doesn't matter. I can prove it to them.

C: [putting the pieces together] Philip, are you in danger?

P: [breaks a twig off a branch on the fallen log with his left hand] [curtly] *No.*

P: [looks annoyed at the stick momentarily. passes it to his right hand] *I* am not a witch.

P: [slightly hesitant] ...obviously.

----

[Philip starts doodling in the dirt with the twig]

C: [losing patience with his stubborness] Do you honestly still believe that only real witches get accused? Get *punished?*

P: [stops drawing. gives her an angry sideways glance. then glares at the dirt again] ...

P: ...*Yes.*

P: As long as you do it *correctly.*

C: [furrows eyebrows] ......

[Philip resumes, scratching the dirt more forcefully.]

C: But--

P: Witches die because they are born doomed.

[as he says "doomed," Philip finishes drawing The Belos Mask with a final, forceful scratch]

C: That's what we were *told*! That doesn't mean it's true!

[Circe looks at Philip, expression somewhere between frustrated and pleading, but he won't look up from his sketch]

------

P: [darkly] What does that mean for you, then?

[Circe is taken off-guard]

P: Do your witch-friends know what you used to do?

P: Or are you lying to them, too?

C: I--!

C: ...

C: [quieter] ...Not all of them know.

P: [snidely] Hmph.

C: [with a bit more conviction] But, the ones that *do* know...

C: They know that I was scared. And trying to keep us safe.

C: There are people who understand that I truly thought I was doing the right thing.

C: [guilt] That I would give anything to undo it now...

C: [focusing on Philip again] They trust me, and love me, even though I've made...terrible mistakes. Even though I'll *always* make mistakes.

C: [trying REALLY hard to get through to Philip] *Gravesfield isn't all there is.*

P: ...

[Philip scratches out the doodle forcefully.]

P: [unhappily] Good for you.

----

[a prolonged beat of silence, save Philip's stick scraping against the ground as he scribbles slowly, randomly on the spot where the doodle used to be]

C: If you want...I could show you--

[suddenly, Philip throws his stick to the ground and turns to Circe]

P: [frustrated noise] Would you get this over with already?!

C: What?

P: I don't care what you want anymore! Just take it already!

P: You win! So stop tormenting me with this awful vision!!

C: [taken aback] Wha--! I-I'm not--! You still don't believe that I'm real?!

-------

P: You *can't* be!

P: [breaking a little] I only *want* you to be real!

P: I *want* you to be *alive*!

P: I don't *want* to be *alone* any longer!!

P: But you insist on making me offers that I have *just* enough clarity of mind left to refuse!!

P: [becoming more desperate than angry] Why won't you just lie to me?! Tell me you'll come home? Tell me that nothing's changed?

P: *Something*-- *anything* that's easier to convince myself to accept!!

[Circe looks deeply hurt]

P: Won't you at least let me die thinking I was reunited with-- with you?!

P: [losing steam] ...What could you possibly want that you haven't had the chance to take from me already...?

[a beat. Circe's expression has closed off considerably. Philip holds his head in his hands.]

P: Please. Get it over with.

P: Or for God's sake leave me be.

[wide shot of them sitting in unhappy silence]

------

C: [very quietly] ...Alright.

[Circe stands, brushes her skirt off. Philip remains sitting, not looking at her]

C: I suppose I've done all I can.

P: ...

C: I won't disturb you again.

P: .......

C: I'm still thankful that I could see you one last time.

P: ...........

C: [trying to keep composed] Please...stay safe. Take care of yourself.

P: .................

---

C: I love you.

P: ............. . . . . . . . .

C: [offscreen] Goodbye, Philip.

[she walks away]

[a beat passes]

[Philips resolve breaks. As he looks up--]

P: Ca-- C.C., I--

[--he realizes he is alone again.]

P: ....

P: [slowly, he stands. brushes his jacket off. walks away.]

-----

been trying really hard to do things with my spare time over the last week besides rewrite the circe clawthorne au intro but youll never guess what happened