ϡ - Chapter ThirtyEight; Interested questions [Action|Voice] (backdated to the 18th)

[folklorist]

[ Helios has just gotten back from his most recent mission and he has comeback with a bit more than a few scratches. He’ll be making his way back towards house forty-four as he was deposited in the town square with his makeshift sling. His arm was broken in the final day’s fight and he might have some slash marks across his upper torso from shift hunters. He looks bruised, worn, and extremely tired for a man of his age far too old and far too gone to ever get back his lost youth. And yet, and yet he still manages to smile and keep on going. But he’s not going to make mention of those injuries delivered by the shift hunters or the nightmares that are likely to follow tonight. He should really not sleep at the house but he has nowhere else to stay. Maybe the clinic could work…

His arm he can’t really hide, although, he does stop by the clothes shop to pick up a new coat to hide his arm under. There’s stiffness to his step as he makes his way back to House 44 most likely too out of sorts to really try to go off the well trotted path, making him a very easy target. He’ll walk slowly inside, making sure not to disturb anyone as he enters. It’s only in the afternoon where his voice will come over the journal. ]

It’s strange isn’t it? Knowing how small ones planet can be here. I-I mean there are so many other places and beings here from worlds unknown. It makes you wonder just who is out there on this planet as well. S-So many other villages probably and who knows if there’s other versions of ourselves or even p-people we know in our worlds. I-I’m not sure if there can be two versions of one person in the same plane of existence. I’ve known it to happen and nothing good has ever come of it unfortunately. If you met yourself one day…and you were an entirely opposite person it would be strange, wouldn’t it?

[ A pause as there’s a finger tapping against a table on his end. A sigh before the tapping stops and there’s some shuffling as a book in taken out of a shelf and then placed on the table with a thump. The turning of pages fills the silence for a short amount of time before there’s another reply. ]

They say seeing ones doppelganger is an omen. I’m not sure if that’s true or not but…has anyone ever encountered something like a double of themselves before? There are myths and legends in my w-world about them but, well, I’d be curious to know if anyone else has something similar. Fetches, Fylgia, vardøgers. Ah. There are so many instances of doubles.

Oh! Yes before I forget. [ Said with a tiredness to his voice which is masked underneath all that excited air. ] Speaking of myths and legends the book club has been on an-an extended hiatus these past few months. But, well, I’ve recently taken up the duty of running the library a-and well the book club as well. A-Anyone who has an interest to read or loves to do so is very much welcomed to join us; we meet on the third Thursday of every month. It’s open to everyone here of course and I might be trying s-something new for this next meeting of ours. Especially to all you newcomers out there I-I’m sure you’re all wondering what there is to do here. We, um, d-do try to make things for people to join in on this is one such case. A-And if there’s anything either I or anyone else in Welcome Center can do to help don’t hesitate to ask! [Not as though Helios can be of much help right now as it is. But that's hardly ever stopped him before. ]

It’s, um, a pleasure meeting you all and welcome to Luceti. I-I know it's probably hard, getting used to this place, but everyone here is very nice s-so there's no harm in asking questions or needing help doing something. We're all very open towards helping one another.

Comments

[Action]

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue is walking down the path toward the village plaza, her mockingjay sitting on her shoulder, when she sees Helios coming up the path. She offers a friendly wave and a smile.]

Good morning!

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios is going to startle out of his rather dazed weathered thoughts to snap his head back up to Rue and her mockingjay. He manages a small smile and a slight wave with his right arm. ] Ah. G-Good morning, Rue. It's a lovely day out isn't it?

[Action]

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue nods in agreement as her bird chirps out a few notes.] It really is! It's the nicest I've seen it so far! I hope it lasts.

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios will chuckle at the chirping bird. ] Your bird is rather cute too. A mockingbird, isn't it? I-I haven't seen many of those around. But I do hope it lasts too. Nothing like good weather to start off the summer and raise the spirits a little.

[Voice->Video]

[quicktoanger]

"I've encountered a few doubles in my time, yeah. The stories are mostly not pleasant, though. Oh, and I'd meant to ask."

I switched on my video as I spoke. It was more comfortable for me, if I couldn't talk face-to-face.

"Have you given any more thought to that magic group I told you about?"

[Voice]

[folklorist]

[ Helios on the other hand isn't going to switch over. He looks far to haggard and tired. He doesn't want Harry to worry after all so he is just going to leave his to voice. ]

M-Mostly not pleasant...I apologize for reminding you then. [ Wasn't his intention after all but in Luceti it's always hard to know which things are more sensitive to some people than others. ]

The magic group yes. I-I've been thinking about it. Have you spoken to anymore potential volunteers for it?

[Video]

[quicktoanger]

Hmm. No video? Must be shy. Or hiding something. Didn't matter.

"Nah, let's be honest, most of my stories aren't pleasant. The double I'd encountered was the spirit of a sorcerer I'd helped a few of my friends defeat a few months before. He had his allies perform rituals to weaken the veil between the spirit world and ours, and then committed ritual suicide in order to become sort of a superghost. Taking people's shapes was a favorite trick of his."

He'd used it to get to Murphy, and nearly got to Charity as well. It bothered me, thinking about my face being used like that.

"And yeah, I've got a couple people in mind. Did you have any ideas for initial projects? I had one, but I can't really make it work. I'm missing something, I think."

[voice]

[redheaded_rock]

I'd be very much interested in joining a book club.

[voice]

[folklorist]

Good, good that's wonderful to hear. There's never any need to worry towards not being allowed in. So if you know anyone else who would like to stop by the library they're more than welcome to. It's open to anyone after all and, well, I-I suppose I might be having some club meetings in the battle dome in the future.

[ There's a hum on his end as he thinks on his idea. ] Recreating the scene or setting of a book we're reading might be a bit more fun.

[voice]

[redheaded_rock]

Oh, that could be a lot of fun. [Unless it's one of her dad's books; then it might just make her homesick.] You wouldn't mind if I brought some snacks or something, would you?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Being home alone has driven Robert to get out of the house more frequently as of late.

This is why he's able to catch Helios returning - by the time he notices Helios, the other man has his coat on, but it's not enough to mask the haggard look Helios has. Robert has known him too long to miss that entirely.

And so -]

... Helios?

[It's questioning, and a little ginger, as if Robert is afraid he'll run away.]

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios knows that voice and tone. He knows it's Robert standing behind him as he makes his way back towards the house and he can't think of any good reasons not to turn around and reply. So he stops and looks over his should at the other. ]

O-oh. Robert. [ A small fast fleeing smile. ] H-Hello. It's a very nice d-day out isn't it? [ Very hot too. Don't mind the coat and its empty left sleeve, it's a new style okay? And Helios is totally not hiding anything not at all! ]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert suspects something unusual is going on, and generally the best way to find out is to be blunt.]

... Are you well? Because... you hardly look it.

[He's concerned, but it's the kind of set concern that pushes aside any pleasant small talk.]

[voice]

[redjacketthief]

...You don't know doppelgangers until you've had to chase down a few hundred wannabes claiming your name, legacy, and jacket, Helios.

[They were all worthless too, except there was that one guy....nah, not even he could complete the illusion, even if he did fool Pops.]

[voice]

[folklorist]

Oh dear. People try to steal your name and legacy? There's certain magicians who-who do such things. Steal a man's face, life, what have you. I-I don't think I'll ever have trouble with something like that however. [ No one would ever want to be him, not in a million years. ]

[voice]

[redjacketthief]

I have a reputation of being one of the best in my world, Helios. There's a certain degree of fame that everyone wants, but few are actually daring enough to try for. Guess I'm more easy to mimic physically than I thought though--it's a little annoying.

...did you have friends that had this trouble in your world, or did you find some novel in the library?

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune is probably the last person that Helios wants to run into after a tough mission. But maybe he can count on her general lack of observance to get past her.

Maybe.]

Hello, Helios! [She waves at him and starts rambling in his direction.] Are you having a nice day?

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Oh good lord Grune. Helios does not want you to see him like this right now. He is an utter mess at the moment so, yes, she is the last person he wants to see. He freezes in place when she calls out his name and then turns in the opposite direction. ] O-Oh! H-Hello Grune. I-I'm having a... [ a pause ] ...I'm having a very nice d-day, yes.

[ Best to lie even if it's hard and painful right now to do so, especially to someone like Grune. He hates having to lie to her but it's probably the best choice really. ]

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[Okay, Helios, you are a fantastic liar. Even Grune is noticing something is up there.

She starts moving towards him a little more quickly.]

Are you all right? You don't sound very good.

[Action] so late I'm so sorry

[fleurdesel]

[There may be a few more locks added to the front door since Helios left on his mission. Not to keep him out, but. Something about the past few days had Adele overly tense, mildly twitchy. So she'd spent the better part of Helios' absence reinforcing locks and bolts around the house for their protection and peace of mind.

It might make trying to get in with but the normal key awkward, however. Adele's up and about when he returns and opens the door for him, blinking at his appearance.]

...You look like hell, Soleil.

[Action] unacceptable!!

[folklorist]

[ Helios is going to have to have a talk about that when he's in a better state of mind. The amount of locks and things on the door make it very hard to get inside. Adele of course has an easier time of it than he does so he almost yelps in surprise when she opens it from the other side. He honestly didn't think you or Sabriel were home...

His eyes tick down to the floor and his shoulders hunch slightly getting a wince out of him from the action. ] I'm f-fine.

[ He totally is fine just so you know. Nothing wrong here okay. ]

[Action] *sob sob*

[fleurdesel]

Bullshit.

[She steps aside to let him into the house none the less and nods for him to go to the kitchen. Worn as he was there wasn't any way she was going to let him rest without a cursory examination. Boundaries would be respected- but she needs to know if he's hurt and treat him accordingly. Then? Sleep.]

I'll get the kettle going and you can tell me how much morphine I will need for you.

[action] (forward dated to the 21st)

[wise_maiden]

[By the time Raine encounters Helios, it's during a break in classes at the start of the new school week--roughly lunch time. She's pleasant faced, although there is concern there as well.]

Hello, Helios.

[action]

[folklorist]

[ Despite his injuries Helios has gone into teach at the school as well. He knows he shouldn't be overworking himself and he knows that taking breaks is probably for the best so when it's time for lunch the blonde haired man can be seen sitting back against a bench in the school's yard. He keeps to himself mostly his face and features suggesting inner deeper thoughts. It's only when Raine addresses him that he startles out of his musings and looks up at her, blinking, and then with a smile. ]

Oh good afternoon, Raine. Um. S-Sorry I didn't see you there. I must have dozed off. [ And he'll wave in a dismissive gesture with his right arm. ]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

It looks like it's been a long day for you.

[The wave of his right arm draws her attention to the other, and she tilts her head.] You're free to take the rest of the afternoon off, if you need it, you know.