ϡ - Chapter TwentyFive; the price of battle [voice/action]

[folkloristic]

[ It’s almost surreal, really, how at one moment the person you cared deeply about is there next to you alive and well and the next moment not. If he had only been a little bit faster a little bit more conscious of where Giles was during all that chaos...none of this would have happened. Instead he’s sitting in his room and has been for the past

Comments

[ voice; filtered ]

[slaying]

[ she holds her breath throughout the news. it's worse, hearing it again.

of course, helios had told her already -- and she had fled to jack's house on the shore in a rather instinctive attempt at...what? finding comfort? getting answers about what death here was actually like? or just to hide?

it isn't until much later in the day -- practically the evening -- that she tries to contact helios in a heavily filtered message.

her voice is quiet and oh-so-carefully controlled: ] Thanks. The -- the announcement.

[ voice; filtered ]

[folkloristic]

[ Helios would have filtered it himself but he can't read. He knows it's his death penalty now. No use denying it but there's no oomf there to tell anyone just yet either. So he's sorry about any undue unwarranted attention his unfiltered announcement might cause.

But he'll look up from his position still at the bridge; he's been there for awhile, just to collect his thoughts. The voice isn't a surprise. ] You don't have to thank me, Buffy. How...how are you doing?

[ voice; filtered ]

[slaying]

...Do you want the honest answer or the brave one?

[ voice; filtered ]

[folkloristic]

[ Honest or brave. What a funny question to ask. ]

You-you don't have to be brave. At least...not with me. It doesn't matter to me either how it makes you look or the weakness it might show. [ It's true. He's not even staying in the apartment right now because it kinda hurts. How brave can he be, right? That he can't even stay in a place that reminds him right now of Giles. A pause. ]

I don't care about any of that. I-I just hope you're all right, hope you'll show someone else then. If-if you need to.

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

Good God.

[There's a pause, as a drugged brain tries processing this.]

What fighting? What happened?

[voice]

[folkloristic]

[ A small wince on his end. ] Archie?

It might have been one of the villagers? O-Or the third party. I don't know. She was attacking people, damaged some buildings and she destroyed the-the village clinic. I-I don't know who it was.

[ He doesn't know Noel or anyone else related to her. ]

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

[Good thing Archie's in the Battle Dome clinic, or he might have had an even worse day.]

He...[his voice seems to hit a brick wall, and there's a pause.] Please tell me when he comes back. I'm not likely to be on my feet by then.

[voice]

[folkloristic]

Of course. If not me, someone else most certainly will. [ Wait. He heard that right, didn't he? Not likely to be on your feet? ]

Are you alright?

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro]

[Frederic knew of what happened already and so went to find his friend, sure enough he eventually found him and walked up to the other.]

Helios, it's me.

[ action ]

[folkloristic]

[ He doesn't look because he knows the voice and who it belongs to. ]

S-Sorry. I just, had to leave to clear my head for a little. I-I should have left a note.

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro]

[He stands next to his friend and a frowns crosses his face.]

It's all right, I know why you left. It's because of what happened, isn't it?

[ action ]

[folkloristic]

Would it be anything else? [ Just a sad mirthless laugh. ]

If I was just...a little bit faster, he wouldn't have...none of this should have happened. [ But Robert and everything afterwards. He was actually angry at the other about it. ]

voice;

[byakkoyagirl]

[...]

How did he die?

voice;

[folkloristic]

[ He doesn't want to detail it at all. ] He, he was protecting Robert. S-Someone, I-I don't know who she was, was attacking people. And she went for R-Robert...and Giles-- [ he just stops there. Not really wanting to go on anymore and not really pushing himself to do so either. ]

voice;

[byakkoyagirl]

Okay. [She stops him quietly, knowing how hard this must be. It might be cruel, but all she can think of is how much of an idiot he is. She told him that this would happen. That if he brought himself to the level of some martyr he would get himself killed sooner than later. It didn't happen during the Draft, but it happened here.] I'm sorry Helios, and I thank you. Delivering something like this must be difficult on you.

voice;

[folkloristic]

[ Just a shaky sigh. Flatly: ] I-I'll be all right. It's just...a w-week. [ But after everything these last three weeks he's surprised he's holding up as well as he is. ]

[ voice ]

[hippocraticly]

...Damn it. I'll keep a look out.

[ voice ]

[folkloristic]

[ A voice he isn't familiar with. It is a bit strange hearing it. ] Thank you. It's very appreciated--Mr...ah, I don't think we've spoken before.

[ voice ]

[hippocraticly]

Doctor McCoy. I work in the battle dome clinic... he's a friend of my house mate.

[ voice ]

[folkloristic]

I'm sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances. House mate? [ Does he mean... ]