ϡ - Chapter ThirtyFour; The snowy white day and the curse [Action (for House 44)|Voice|Written]

[folklorist]

[ There’s the rhythmic clink of a knife cutting through vegetables and on the cutting board. There’s a small humming coming from the person doing said cooking before they stop. ] Ah! G-Good afternoon everyone. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves today. It looks like we have a bit of a snow storm going on, hm? Make sure to bundle up if you do go out.

[ There’s a hum and then another chop or two. ] Snow. Snow lots of it. Plenty to do with it though. Speaking of I have two ideas I thought might be nice to bring up. First one being a delivery service of sorts! It'll run out of house forty four and we can get you anything you might need during the winter...during times like this, for example. Because walking out in this kind of weather is just dreadful. H-having teleportation magic makes it loads easier a-and I think it'll help people out just a little more. I-I suppose requesting things over the journals would be the fastest way to get it to you. I haven't quite worked out all the details for it yet. But having it as a service available for the winter months might be beneficial all around. [ He'll clear his throat before continuing. ]

The next is a bit more fun and less serious. I thought up the idea back in December, if you saw my snow sculptures walking around that one day. How does a nice, light, fun snow sculpture competition sound to everyone? You can make teams based on the community buildings, houses, or simply join up with your friends! I-I think…it might be nice to do. It’ll help with the recent going ons around here. [ Lots of people leaving some good old fashion fun wouldn’t hurt. ]

As for prizes…well I’m not quite certain what one could ask for when you can get whatever you want. It’s a rather tricky thing to come up with prizes here, but not impossible. Ah! But…there is the hot springs. Perhaps the winning team can take a few hours or a day to have the hot springs to themselves. Maybe having the food of their choice cooked for them while up there? [ Just going to be chopping some more yup. ]

I don’t know when to have it either, actually. Maybe right after Valentine’s Day? [Oh boy Valentine's Day. That is coming up rather soon, isn't it? ] Depending on the amount of snow we get. I-I’m sure it’s not going to melt anytime soon. Could always make more too…

But, yes, if you have any feedback for it I’d love to hear! A little community fun can go a long way after all. I think Luceti could use- [there’s a long pause and then a muted cry of pain comes over the journal. It comes out as a pained gasp and the knife he was holding clatters to the floor but only after Helios cuts himself. Damn. He'll just quickly grab a nearby towel and press it against the wound. Helios turns off the voice function as soon as it happens so no one else can hear it. But, oh, damn he hopes no one is home right now. It’s back, this pain, oh gods it’s just like getting it the first time. He’ll just brace himself against the kitchen counter as he bites back those tears. The next part is said shakily. Helios manages to keep his voice level however. ]

S-sorry about that. But I think everyone could agree that Luceti could use some fun. I'll be around so-so if anyone has any questions feel free to ask. Th-there's also the ah... [ Give him a second he's trying to brain things while all this pain is hitting him at once. ] Th-the meeting tomorrow, too. I can answer things there as well, if-if people need t-time to think on it. S-Stay warm today everyone. Hot chocolate is a wonderfully good remedy for this sort of weather. [ Of all the times to get back his curse. It was bound to happen. He knows that. Nothing ever lasts forever. ]

Comments

[folklorist]

It's a start at least. Luceti could always use some meaningless fun. [ A pause. Then softly. ]

I'm sorry.

[herotypical]

...Everyone's very sorry. Somehow, it doesn't help. [ a beat. ] Not this time.

[folklorist]

No. It doesn't, does it? No matter how many times you hear it...sorry never really does. [ He knows from experience unfortunately. ] But he...he can come back. There's al-always that. [ It's not much, really, but it's something to hold on to at least for now. For whenever Giles does come back if he does at all. ]

We all know the possibility is always there. But it...doesn't make it any less painful when it happens. Is there...is there anything I can do? To help?

[herotypical]

Come back? S-sure. But what about when he goes again? This feeling. Over and over.

I don't know if I can...[ survive it. ]

[folklorist]

[ Helios winces on his end. ] I-I know. It's not...it's not fair what they do to us. But at least if he was...here... [ the alternative wouldn't be applicable. ]

No matter how many times it happens the feeling never gets any less severe. Never diluted or-or any different. It's one of the things I dislike most about this place. If only there was some way to have them sent somewhere different.

[herotypical]

[ she is of a different mind. the dead, she thinks, should probably stay that way. for their sake as well as hers. ]

What? Like to a different barrier? [ a twisted thought; she shivers. ]

[folklorist]

N-No. [ He winces slightly at that. Heaven's no. A different barrier would be terrible. ]

I-I mean when we leave. If there was a way to send them to a different world. [ Give Giles and anyone else who has nothing for them back home a second chance. ]

[herotypical]

You don't think that's what's already happened? Dying -- moving on -- going somewhere else?

[folklorist]

If you're speaking of the afterlife then yes, you're right. I suppose it's...all a matter of it being entirely unfair to keep...taking those who-who were at peace and bringing them back. Especially to a place like this.

[herotypical]

[ her voice shudders. ] E-exactly. [ deep, tangled layers. contradictions.

she remembers peace far too well to deny it to giles. ]

[folklorist]

[ He notes the tone and is about to ask but, no, he shouldn't really. He swallows thickly. Thinking about whether he'd ever allow for Elise to wind up here. After having nothing to go back to not even an afterlife. ] I'm not sure if...if I'd want someone I knew to go through the same thing. I-I understand to an extent. It's not their right to-to take people out of heaven or-or whatever awaits them afterwards. But at the same time...is it selfish for wanting them to comeback?

[herotypical]

Selfish? Yes. But...understandable, too. [ maybe. almost. she can understand when she looks at her sister's face. ]

Doesn't mean it should be acted on.

[folklorist]

No. No you're right. Such power like that...it shouldn't be used for-for this. It shouldn't be used at all. [ And yet if he had a way he'd try to bring Elise back. Contradictory? Extremely so. But if anyone deserved a second chance it would be her. A soft sigh on his end. ] Fighting a war that isn't even our own. But the Malnosso have made it quite clear that they have little to no qualms about using the most inhumane methods to achieve their goals. It makes you wonder if they believe in such things as the afterlife. I-I mean if their own people are simply...brought back like we are. Then it...it would make sense that they don't have a clear understanding of it because it doesn't exist entirely. [ A pause. ] Still dying and-and being brought back even here...I sometimes don't know if I should be grateful for that.

[ When he was supposed to die all those years ago instead of Elise and yet again cheated death here? ]

[herotypical]

Their...own people? Helios, the Malnosso claim to be flotsam from other worlds just as much as we are. I don't know why they'd lie about that. Their ethics are certainly hinky but their motives are about as human-natured as they could be.

[ dry, dark humour. human nature? she understands it as an occasionally very cruel thing. ]

[folklorist]

Ah. Y-Yes you're right. I forget that they're just as stranded here as we are. But it...still does make you wonder about them. But human nature, hm. It would...explain things to an extent. [ He's seen the worst of it firsthand. His own brother, Nero. The Council. Human nature was a very cruel thing indeed. He heard from a demon once that humans were just as bad as they were. Put demons out of business as he said it. ]

They're just trying to help their own as much as possible, wh-which is understandable given the circumstances.

[herotypical]

I always worry about the newbies coming in and getting the wrong impression, you know? Seeing the Malnosso as cruel gods. Giving them too much credit. Too much power.

They're just cruel people; thinking otherwise? You forget that they've gotta have weaknesses, too.

[folklorist]

It's a common misconception for new arrivals to have, but understandably so. What with everything the Malnosso can supposedly do. I think it's a good idea to remind people that they're as stuck as we are, perhaps even more so. Since people are constantly being sent back home.

[ A sigh. ] Everyone has weaknesses. No matter how perfect they may seem to be.

[herotypical]

Hey. Perfect-seeming can be a weakness all on its own, I bet.

[folklorist]

You might be right. Being perfect would possibly be quite lonely. But I'm not sure there is a perfect. The gods I've met and spoken to in my world have even said as much. Perfection is...something unattainable and even if it was there's always something to be improved upon to be honest.

[ A shrug on his end. ] It also depends on the person's idea of what it is exactly that makes perfection.

[herotypical]

[ she's...surprised to find helios taking her words so seriously. they'd been something of an off-cuff remark. typical sunnydale dryness. hmm. ]

Mostly? I try not to think about it.

[folklorist]

[ After the week he's had...he's a bit beyond joking at the moment. But, no, such discussions weren't something he typically liked to get into and so: ]

Ah! I'm terribly sorry. I'm being so very...dreary at the moment. Y-You probably don't want to, ah, hear such things. Especially right now. I apologize.

[herotypical]

Cool it, Helios. I'm pretty sure you can't actually outdrear myself at the moment. So feel free to drear away. I can take it.

[folklorist]

I-I don't...I don't want to make you feel worse, Buffy. [ A sigh. ] But if it's one thing I've learned in my time here it's...that talking to people can be a very positive influence when the time calls for it.

[herotypical]

Oh, I'm a big fan of talking. Just...[ she knows helios had been close to giles but there are still all those gates up in place between herself and the man. she isn't sure how to access those feelings with him. ] Maybe not yet.

[folklorist]

It's quite alright. [ There's nothing but sympathy in his voice as he says that. ]

Just know that...I'm here if you ever want to talk. [ About anything, really. Helios is one of those easy to talk to kind of people or at least he tries to be. ] So. Do you think you'll be stopping by for the snow sculpture competition? I think with the group we have it'll be...exciting. [ Or a disaster or both. ]