011 - Voice/Action - Forward-dated to the morning of August 24

[lostinmyway]

[It looks like this time, she's one of the people protecting the village. It makes her very happy that she'll be able to help out, and she's determined to do her best.

But, before she goes, there are two very important thing she needs to do, and so she opens her journal to leave her messages.]Hello, everyone! I'm going to be going away for a

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[semper_cogitans]

...

If... if you w-would like, Grune, I... I could care for your flowers for you.

[Grune might notice that Robert sounds... subdued. Sad. He's not the same brand of miserable he was during the last draft, but he's certainly not having the easiest time either - almost all his friends will be gone again. And last time Helios died.]

... Will you... b-be alright...?

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[lostinmyway]

Thank you, Robert! Don't worry, I'll be just fine.

[Then she pauses. He doesn't sound very happy at all.] Is something the matter?

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[semper_cogitans]

...

[Softly:] These... th-thrice-damned wars...

... I lost a c-close friend of mine last time. And... and he is going again. As are... a-almost all of my other friends...

[He breathes in, slowly. It hitches once.]

... I w-want them to be... safe.

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[lostinmyway]

[She listens quietly while Robert speaks. Then, gently, she asks:] Who's your friend? I'll do my very best to protect them while we're away.

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[semper_cogitans]

[I'll protect him. Robert doesn't hold it against Giles, but that's what Giles said, too. And then Helios died.

And then Giles died, to protect him.

Who else is going to die?]

... His... his n-name is Helios Sprensonne...

[There are so many things in that name when Robert says it. Helios is his best friend, one of the people he trusts most in Luceti - somebody he has lingering feelings for, somebody he wishes he could protect even knowing there's so little he could do.]

... I... I would appreciate... th-the effort, Grune. But... but p-please keep yourself safe as well...

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[lostinmyway]

Don't worry. I will. [Her voice warms slightly.] And I'll make sure to take good care of her.

[Er.]

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[semper_cogitans]

[... Her?]

Ah... are we talking about the same p-person...? [Because Robert does not know of any women named Helios. Never mind the fact the person in question is female-bodied right now...]

The H-Helios I know... identifies masculinely...

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[lostinmyway]

Oh, maybe there are two people named Helios here.

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[semper_cogitans]

I suppose that... c-could be possible, but it seems... unlikely.

He has... b-blond hair and green eyes... [In both forms, even!]

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[lostinmyway]

Oh, so does the other Helios! Isn't it nice they have something in common?

[So not getting it.]

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[semper_cogitans]

...

I think we do mean the s-same individual, then.

His body was... temporarily m-modified, so that might be the cause of... confusion.

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[lostinmyway]

…Temporarily modified?

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[semper_cogitans]

By the M-Malnosso... [Whelp, time to be blunt.] He was... made female-bodied, I believe. Or at least... greatly feminized.

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[lostinmyway]

Oh. All right.

Then I'll make sure to work very hard to protect him.

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[semper_cogitans]

Th-thank you, Grune. I... I appreciate it.

[Softly:] When... when you return, perhaps...

... Perhaps we could have that... picnic?

[It is a shy little attempt to extend some real gesture of friendship.]

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[lostinmyway]

[Her voice is warm when she replies.] Oh, yes, I'd like that very much. Maybe we could invite our friends, too--like Helios.