ϡ - Chapter ThirtyNine; In a world without color

[folklorist]

[ He awoke behind the town bakery today. Not a scratch or mark on him as he sits up and dusts himself off. There’s no rumble or rain or even left over marks that what had happened had even occurred. But he had died and the feeling never got old. It was...strange to say that he's died more than once, stranger to even think about so calmly. Still it left him with a heavy head and an overbearing tiredness as he lay there. It’s only when he opened his eyes that he’ll gasp with surprise. Everything was gray, white, and black. As if someone had come to Luceti while he was gone and sucked it dry of all its color. He’ll flinch and shy away from the bright sunlight almost as it’s too powerful to withstand. He can barely see a thing like this so a spell to darken his glasses is of the utmost pertinence at the moment. Because he really can’t see at all at the moment and his staggering to his feet and wincing with a hand covering his eyes is clearly indicative of this. Still he’ll manage to get as far as the bakery before taking a small break there and then continuing to the item shop to look for a pair of sunglasses or anything to keep the sun out of his eyes. He finds it more or less easier to see in low light that’s offered by the rooms in these buildings and it’s not as jarring or painful for his eyes.

Sometime after picking up his ingredients for his spell to darken his glasses, and performing said spell in his room, he’ll head home to House 44 and pick up his journal. It’s a short while later that he’ll make a voice transmission over the network. ]

I-I’m so terribly sorry I-I wasn’t here to help this week. If-if anyone needs anything I-I can try to help however p-possible. Why...why hasn’t the town gone back to normal, d-does anyone know? It’s just like that time with the earthquakes.

[ The town is still a mess and he feels almost guilty about not being able to help fix it; though he knows that thought isn’t going to help much and he's being far too hard on himself given what happened. Next he’ll try to filter a message to Rue but it breaks after several tries. And then he realizes that she isn’t here anymore. Rue’s gone…

He’ll head out then to the plaza once more making a small detour to the memory garden to help clean it up and also to plant some flowers for her. After that, as the sun gets lower and evening sets in, Helios will be sitting by the fountain eating some sweets, cookies mostly, and Luminair will be curled up and lightly dozing next to him. He makes all different colored birds of light. Some of them are mockingbirds and maybe even a mockingjay or two, most are just regular sparrows and typical little birds you see flying around and possibly other things too. But none of them are colorful to him and he isn’t even sure what colors they’re turning out to be, but he knows they’ll be beautiful for anyone who stops by to watch or see them. ]

Do you think a memory or a world without color is any different than one with it? Hypothetically speaking if we could only see in shades of gray, black, and white would the memories and world we live in be less potent due to them being less vivid and colorful? Or would it be more uniform and peaceful, or perhaps more dull and dreary? There’s other senses of course to make up for what’s lacking and there are creatures out there that live perfectly happy lives with only seeing in monochromatic shades. Ah, that's what it reminds me of. There's a book...called The Giver in my world that has something similar. A world without color, hm, strange to think about really. [ But it could have been worse. He could have come back worse and he's thankful that he hasn't. He'll get used to it and it's only for four months but it will take...some adjusting. ]

Comments

[Action]

[adele_leblanc]

Soleil?

[He hadn't been in the village when she returned. Hadn't come back with the draftees. Those that had been abducted. There are a handful of conclusions she can make but...right now she simply needs to be certain he's well.

It'd taken awhile to unlock the door but. He's here now, standing in front the house and looking positively horrid. Her first instinct is to pull him into a hug. She steps forward to do so before catching herself. Sighing. Taking a step back.]

You. Do not look well.

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ A handful of conclusions indeed. Hopefully none leading to the right answer of him being killed. He rather not have anyone else worry about him what with...all of these other concerns. Thankfully House 44 is in relatively good shape and Helios thanks the gods that his work had managed to stave off the storm.

He'll enter the house carrying bag full of seemingly random objects. Some black dye, sand, a few candles and some chalk. When Adele says that he blinks and looks at her with a neutral look. He doesn't look too bad, he's been worse really so he manages a small smile and shakes his head. ] No I'm perfectly fine. Um. I-I apologize about not being here to help clean up the place...

[ And then there's the tapping of claws along wooden floors as Luminair comes running down the hallway. Excited chirps and tail wagging he'll practically tackle Helios, if he was so small that is, Helios just beams as he places his bag down and bends down to pet the dragon. ] And I'm sorry I left you as well. But I'm sure Adele and Sabriel took very good care of you, too.

[ He'll look back up at Adele. ] He wasn't t-too much trouble I hope?

[Action]

[adele_leblanc]

Helios-

[She shouldn't pry. But he'd been missing, and with Lupin yet gone and the village in shambles and the odds and ends in his hands for some sort of spell...]

...what happened?

[Further questions are cut short by Luminair bounds over to his father. She steps to the side giving him room to move without being struck the the energetic baby dragon.]

He was morose. We could not make him leave your room for anything- we had to feed him there, and sit with him until he would fall asleep. More often than not I had to stay in with him, otherwise he would be lonely.

[Action]

[folklorist]

N-Nothing. Nothing happened. I was just...taken with the others is all. [ A lie, of course, but he didn't want anyone to know. Didn't think anyone needed to know especially not right now when everything was a disaster and people where still missing. He didn't want anyone to worry either so he gives a shaky half smile. ]

I didn't see them coming and before I knew it...well. [ It was a nice lie and yet he felt guilty about having to do so. Helios' expression goes sour at the information. He knows his death wasn't broadcasted given the fact that Adele didn't know what happened and with Rue gone...well he was certain that no one knew and he was going to try to make sure no one did. He didn't expect it to have such a profound effect on Luminair though and he feels guilty leaving the poor baby dragon in such a state. ] S-Sorry. I-I didn't think he would...

[ He'll just shake his head a small sigh escaping him. The baby dragon will just continue to wag his tail and let out happy little chirps as if everything Adele has said on the matter would be a lie. But, no, Helios knew the little dragon wouldn't take well to him being gone especially for a whole week and even more so after the storm. Oh Luminair whatever is he going to do with you? ] I'm so sorry Luminair but I. I won't be going for a long time. So you don't have to worry anymore, it won't happen again. [ An empty promise all but makes him flinch as he says it. It would be nice if he could keep it and he'll certainly try for the people who care about him. ] Thank you for, for t-taking care of him Adele you and Sabriel. I, I don't know how to thank you.

[ He gives Adele another smile then, sad but grateful at the same time. ] Th-the house. It, it's not...damaged is it? I-I didn't see anything outside. But I can f-fix up whatever needs to be...or try to. I-I confess I'm not much of a carpenter.

[Action]

[removeimpurity]

[Syre is passing through the plaza when she spots him. She is certainly messed up from the draft; various bloodied bandages and such cover her person.]

[Quietly, simply, she sits beside him by the fountain. She's silent for a long while, looking at the birds with Helios.]

[The birds are a pleasant distraction. The draft still haunts her.]

[But, for now, she is at peace. If only for a moment.]

...it's... surreal, isn't it.

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios half jumps half flinches when Syre sits down abruptly next to him. Luminair will crane his head curiously looking back at the strange woman. Oh. He knows you! Have a friendly little welcome chirp and tail wag.

Helios will look over at her with a small frown. ] S-Somethings here can feel that way, yes. S-Strangely surreal for even people who have seen things far beyond what they thought to be able to exist. [ He'll follow a brown and reddish colored robin as it flutters and spins through the air. It's a culmination of grays and whites for him though. ]

But, ah, Luceti tends to-to lend itself towards such a classification.

[Action]

[removeimpurity]

...it certainly does. In this past month alone, I've seen so many things that, until now, I would have never thought possible...

[Her gaze, though directed toward the birds, is glossy and unfocused. She can still hear them: the cries of the Third Party cultists, the scraping of metal against metal as swords clashed --]

[--the screaming of her "brother's" voice, pleading for her to listen to reason as she thrust her sword into the impostor's chest--]

[She is deathly silent, but tears begin streaming down her face. Everything is still fresh in her mind, it seems.]

[Action]

[i_am_not_cute]

[On her way home from doing cleanup work elsewhere in the village, Pao-Lin see Helios creating those beautiful lightbirds by the fountain.]

Those are really nice, Mr. Helios.

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios looks up from the cupped little sparrow in his hand which flutters and takes off after a few seconds. He gives Pao-Lin a smile as he moves over a bit for her to take a seat if she wants. ] Oh! Ah you think so? I-I thought they might...help lighten the mood.

[ Or that was the intent. ]

[Action]

[i_am_not_cute]

[Yeah, Pao-Lin will take a seat. She's definitely tired.]

They definitely do. They're so bright and colorful, and fun to watch!

[Despite her interest in the lightbirds, however, she's also eyeing that pet dragon of his.]

[Voice]

[de_bel_survivor]

A world without colours? I guess that would be interesting to think about.

['Sup, Helios.]

[Voice]

[folklorist]

It certainly puts a different perspective on things. I-I mean the absence of color would definitely change a good deal.

[Voice]

[de_bel_survivor]

That's right. For people who can see the colours, we relied on them and put a lot of significance in them.

[lostinmyway]

[Helios shouldn't be surprised in the slightest to see Grune working away in the Memory Garden. The poor thing took a real beating during the storm, along with all the other gardens in Luceti, which has left Grune with tons of catch-up work to do.

Being herself, she won't notice him right away; he'll probably need to get her attention.]

[folklorist]

[ No. Helios really isn't surprised, not in the least, but he does smile and then pause for a second before walking over to Grune silently. He'll bend down then and start helping her with fixing up the garden. ] H-Hello Grune. Do you, ah, m-mind if I help?

[ Helios has been feeling rather out of sorts since he got back earlier. Seeing the utter disrepair of the town only makes his heart sink lower at each passing moment he walks through it. So much damage, so much that wasn't fixing itself... ]

/waves hands all over this tag

[lostinmyway]

[She doesn't jump at hearing his voice, but it's a near thing, even for her.]

Helios!

[She whirls to hug him hard. She had gone looking for him earlier in the week, to ask him if he wanted to come to Sophie's birthday party and to bring him some cookies, and then....

But he's back now, so everything is all right. Thank goodness.]

[Action]

[faithfulflame]

[Its been a while since she heard from the mage, so when he appears in the garden...and NOT wearing his charm, she quickly walks over and bows, looking first at Luminair. Phobos and Deimos wheel around her, dancing and darting in the air before landing at their feet.]

Helios-san. Where is your charm?

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Excuse him if he can't exactly tell who you are at the moment the light of the sun makes it near impossible for him to look up from his bowed position. He'll bring a hand up over his eyes to shield them just a smidgen more, but it hardly helps. Still he recognizes Rei's voice at least. But his stomach drops at the question. Oh. Gods he completely forgot to bring it with him last week during the storm. He completely and utterly forgot that it was meant to protect him and that Rei promised him it would. If she found out... ] O-Oh. The charm, gods I'm so sorry Rei. I, ah, I f-forgot to b-bring it with me today. I-I was going to go back to the house to get it along with some other things though...

[ Nevermind that he just came back from the dead and didn't have it on his person when he died, which might have been a good thing considering he doesn't know if it would have come back with him. ]

[Action]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei walks over and gives the man a sad, somewhat disappointed look. She hadn't seen him for some time, and his broadcast earlier had at least somewhat confirmed a suspicion.

Her voice takes on a bit of a firm edge. She's not a child, and doesn't like that he's lying so transparently.]

Helios-san, please don't lie to me. You forgot it before, didn't you?

[Action] LET ME KNOW IF THIS ISN'T COOL.

[quicktoanger]

I was browsing the items shop for more of my gear- the slightly scorched condition of my staff had made acquiring a blasting rod an obvious priority, and if I didn't find it, I was going to have to make it, which would be a pain.

What I did not expect to find was one mage, slightly battered, shielding his eyes from the sun as he stumbled inside.

"Holy shit, Helios, where've you been?"

[Action] It's not. Get out! :)

[folklorist]

[ The sun is blinding and painful okay? Helios is just blinking his eyes rapidly as he tries to focus and see again his surroundings. He'll hear Harry before he sees him though and his head will automatically tilt upward to respond. ]

H-Harry? O-oh! Oh, I, ah... [ what does he even say. Oh, right, lying now and deflecting yep. ] I-I've just...um, the droids seem to have gotten me. I apologize for w-worrying you and everyone else for that matter.

[Action] FINE I WILL *FLOUNCES*

[quicktoanger]

... Really.

"Helios, I like you. I do. You're a pretty good guy, and there was a whole camaraderie-by-fire thing we had going on there when the droids attacked, and you've been helpful with that whole magic group idea."

I stared down at him- not difficult, at my height- and paused a second before continuing.

"Don't lie to me unless you're a good enough liar to pull it off."

[action]

[kindhearted]

[Roji is rummaging around for random supplies in the item shop when he spots Helios.

He didn't see him on the draft, or in the village when he got back. He found out about Helios's fate the hard way when he went to check up on him at his house and well...he wasn't there. Inquiring about him only made it worse, but it was still good to know.

After the horror and stress of the war and the destruction of the village, it's safe to say that to Roji, seeing the derpy headmaster is the best thing that's happened in quite a while. He quickly trots over, trying to keep his composure. There's just something in his eyes, okay?]

Mister Helios! You...

[Then he sees the state Helios is in. Oh. Well. He quickly wipes the corners of his eyes.]

Oh jeez... Mister Helios, do you need help?

[action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios looks back at the direction the voice is coming from with bleary, teary, eyes. He'll shake his head and close his eyes rubbing at them with a forefinger and thumb. ] R-Roji?

[ Oh dear. When his vision is finally somewhat stabilized he sees how upset Roji is and he can't help but give a sad smile. The other's worry and care over him was quite endearing. ]

Oh! Oh n-no I'm, I'm alright. Thank you though y-you don't have to do that. [ He is totally okay, okay? ]

[action]

[kindhearted]

[Helios man, you just came back. Roji's not entirely convinced here.]

Are you sure? You look... [He gives the man a concerned look.] Well, horrible, to be honest.