Tenth Firefly - [Action] - Forward-dated to Christmas morning

[presumablyalone]

[Under one of the lit up trees, not too far from the plaza, is a young boy just slumped up against it with only new feathers white pants on.  Snow that had fallen from the tree branches above him is now on the top of his head, his shoulders and lap, but he's too far out of it to feel the icy sting on his skin.  It's obvious he's been out there for

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[consultmybooks]

[And here is one person who Seto's brutal absence has left...something of a dampener on Giles' Christmas spirit. And he'd be lying if he said that he didn't leave the house late that morning hoping to find the boy somewhere safe.

This? This was hardly safe. But when he spots the slumped figure beneath the tree, and his mind catches up with his eyes...oh, the former Watcher moves quickly. Ignore the stupid Santa hat, Seto, one of his housemates made him wear it, really. His jacket is immediately being taken off and bundled around Seto, before Giles tries to shake him gently but insistently awake.]

S-Seto...Seto.

[presumablyalone]

[In response to the jacket and the shaking, Seto only stirs a little, letting his head straighten up for a moment... before tilting back to the side. A small groan follows it. Sorry Giles, he isn't quite ready to wake up.

Want to try again?]

[consultmybooks]

[Already trying again, raising his voice, and tugging his journal closer to hand in case a doctor is called for.]

Seto!

[presumablyalone]

[At that, Seto purses his lips before relaxing again and he opens his eyes just a little. His head only straightens back up a little as he tries to search for the person calling his name]

W-What... ?

[consultmybooks]

Oh, thank god.

[The relief Giles feels is palpable, and his happiness at realizing that Seto is finally alive again is a little dizzying.

So pardon him if the first thing he does is hug you, kiddo.]

[presumablyalone]

[He lets out a small 'umf' at the hug as he wasn't really expecting it. Then again, he can't see what's going on around him or see what someone around him is going to do next.

But despite the fact that he can't see clearly right now (obviously he still must be waking up), he knows that voice. He knows it all too well. So he smiles after a moment of being held]

Hi Giles...

[consultmybooks]

[Obviously. You've been dead for a week, Seto. Clearly the fact that Giles could see perfectly after his return was just because he'd been blind for the two months previous.

Obviously.

He gives a little start when he hears the boy speak, realizes that he's probably not being terribly helpful at the moment, and pulls back a little. Still close enough to help if something's gone wrong with his ability to walk, or something.]

I'm, um...I'm glad you're back.

...M-Merry Christmas.

[presumablyalone]

[It's the last sentence that catches his attention more than anything. Sure the whole 'you're back' has already registered since Giles is there and he can feel the cold (he's shivering now too) but..

Had he really been gone that long? He had no idea.

Honestly, it makes him a little sad, knowing that he missed out on practically everything to get ready for it. He had so many plans... But he manages to smile at the still oddly blurry Giles]

M-Merry Christmas... [Now that he's pulled away from Giles, he tries to rub his eyes to see if that'll help--which it doesn't]

[consultmybooks]

[At least you have a jacket to borrow, Seto. Although, seriously, keep it.

Giles notes Seto's attempt to clear his vision. He waves a hand a bit in front of Seto's eyes, staring hard at how they react.]

...Seto?

[Oh god.] Is, um, i-is something wrong with your eyes?

[presumablyalone]

[Seto jumps at the sudden blur in the front of his face, his eyes a bit slower than usual to follow its waving motion. What is that thing?]

E-Everything is so blurry... [He reaches out to try and grab whatever is in front of him but misses]

[consultmybooks]

[Mhm. Just as Giles feared.]

S-Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you. Only me.

...is it, um, is it just blurred, then?

[presumablyalone]

Y-Yeah... I can't make anything out...

[He swallows, reaching forward to try and grab Giles but ends up touching his neck with his fingers] W-Why...?

[consultmybooks]

[Giles catches Seto's hand and gently places it by the boy's side again. Even if Seto can't make out his face, it might be clear that his next words hurt very, very much to say:]

...I would say it's your penalty, Seto.