Fifth Thesis | [Action] | Backdated to a more reasonable hour

[intangible_girl]

[Ingrid stares at the bubble in the Battle Dome clinic where the droids have dropped her off. She's clearly supposed to go back in there, and should really do so post-haste. But...

...she can't bring herself to do it. Can't even bring herself to call up Aella for the magic cleansing first. Aella will be there in a few hours. But who knows when she'

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[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Yes, Robert is home, and he is... not expecting Ingrid, by any means. At the knock on his apartment door, he opens the door - and sees Ingrid.]

... Ingrid! [The first reaction is that of joy. She's back! She's back and... not wearing her device. Panic mixed with some well-intentioned annoyance takes over.]

What are you doing outside of your bubble? Did the Malnosso drop you here?

[... They're gonna need Aella again, aren't they.]

[semper_cogitans]

[The visible flinch at that suggests... well... not great, to say the least.]

... "Distinctly unpleasant" would not even b-begin to sum it up.

[intangible_girl]

Robert, what happened?

[semper_cogitans]

You are... aware of Giles' recent d-death, are you not...? [Robert's back is turned to Ingrid, but she may still be able to make out the fact his hands are shaking, even as he goes to make the tea almost nonchalantly.]

[intangible_girl]

[Oh. Ingrid looks down at her own hands and swallows.]

Yes. I... spoke to him after it happened.

[semper_cogitans]

[Softly:] He... he died for me.

[Uncharacteristically, he does not immediately offer an explanation, though he doesn't seem like he will refuse if asked, either.

Instead, he just quietly works on boiling water.]

[intangible_girl]

[Oh, Robert...

Ingrid stands up and walks over to Robert, habit being the only thing keeping her from hugging him, and puts a hand on his shoulder.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[semper_cogitans]

[The tea provides something familiar - comforting - to immerse his mind in, to distract from anxiety, as he begins to talk softly to himself, almost as if in some kind of dreamlike state.]

I wandered onto the... battlefield [- for that was what it was -] in the afternoon. Giles... Giles was fighting the m-monstrous sapient there. She gave us the name "Kusanagi", though when we first spoke... it was Ms. Noel Vermillion.

... I asked her why she could... do what she did. Killing and maiming and... b-burning, indiscriminately, like that. [His shaking hands almost make the water spill, but he controls himself.]

She told me "destruction".

[His voice is empty when he says that, as empty as Kusanagi's was.]

[intangible_girl]

Robert...

[And now she does pull him into a hug, because he looks like he needs it.

She finds it wonderful to be so close to another human being, but... something is off about it. After blinking for a moment, Ingrid pushes it to the back of her mind.]

I'm so sorry...

[semper_cogitans]

[He can't tell. But Robert hugs Ingrid back with his own brand of lovingness and loneliness, though his mind screams at him that this is just like the day where Ingrid nearly died in his arms and he doesn't need to have that happen again.]

...

... I am s-sorry too. I am sorry I... ever put Giles in that position.

Nobody should... sh-should feel like zie has to die for my sake.

[intangible_girl]

That's what friends do for each other. [-she murmurs.]

[semper_cogitans]

My own... inadequacy killed him. [No matter how many times Giles says that it isn't Robert's fault, that he would've died anyway, that it was only a matter of time... Helios' words bite into him and remind him that yes, it was. He caused it. If he hadn't done something so... Terran, Giles wouldn't have died. Or at least he wouldn't have died then.]

...

I cannot... a-allow that to occur again. Not without... trying to do s-something.

[intangible_girl]

Good. [Ingrid holds Robert at arm's length, trying to remember when he got so short, and gives him an encouraging smile.] Then I'm sure it will be alright.

[semper_cogitans]

[He's always been this short. Ingrid just never noticed before, apparently.]

... I hope so.

Th-thank you, Ingrid... [He tries to smile, but it dies on his lips and eventually he just goes to finish the tea. At least it smells nice.]

[intangible_girl]

Is this tea best with sugar?

[Change of subject as well as genuine curiosity. Her father was a coffee man through and through, so all she knows about tea comes from a smattering of mentions in books.]

[semper_cogitans]

[That's almost enough to revive the embers of the smile on Robert's face.] Ah... I have several opinions who would say yes...

... But you can try it without, first, if you would like.