folklorist | ϡ - Chapter Forty; In memoriam nos durabimus

[ After the weeks Helios has had prior to being possessed by Apep he’s taken some time out to think, be alone, cope with what has happened. He’s kept himself pretty much isolated the entire week only going out when necessary. But after all the support and help he’s had to give, thanks to the Kin’coran’s, his initial idea of isolating himself wasn’t working. So, instead, he coped and is still coping as he tries his hardest to make it up to the people he’s hurt. He spent several hours thinking on how to make it up to people and how to possibly convey his gratitude but nothing ever seemed good enough to really add up to everything. But sweets…that could be a start couldn’t it? All this baking also helps keep his mind from wandering too much today. So today on the 10th every sort of baked good you could think of will be set outside in the town square by the fountain. Cupcakes, cookies and a few pies. Luminair is enjoying the sun and walking up to people to grab their attention by pulling on their pant legs or chirping at their heels for them to follow and take some nice tasty sweets. Helios will also have refreshments out as well they’re all ice cold despite the sun and heat. It’s only when he’s settled back into his seat that he’ll make a short little announcement over the journals. ]

I-I’d like to, um, welcome all the new f-feathers that just arrived. It’s a bit startling but, we try to make everyone feel as welcomed as possible. If you have any questions most people are more than willing to answer. There's also the W-Welcome Center that can help you get a-adjusted with things too.

[ A pause. ]

Um, I’d like to also say that-that there’s some freshly baked s-sweets for everyone to take. They're out-outside by the fountain, y-you can't miss it. If-if you want any delivered that c-can be arranged too. Ah and lastly, f-for anyone interested, there’s a book club held at the library every last Sunday of the month. I’d also like to ask if a-anyone would be, um, willing to help with a little project in regards to the club. It has to do with the battle dome, but I’m afraid I’m not very good at those sorts of things...

[ His voice is low and stuttering not much different than usual at least. But there’s something else there too. A tiredness and sadness that he can’t help have permeated through his tone. Today was…a hard day for Helios. Anniversary of Elise’s death and their engagement party, that on top of everything else that’s happened, well, it’s not really any surprise that Helios is a bit dour. So once most of the sweets have been taken or devoured Helios will head over to the flower shop to get a bundle of flowers. Next he’ll go to the Memory Garden and then lastly you can find him outside in the plaza until it gets dark. He’s not doing much besides sitting down and reading a rather old and worn looking book. It appeared in the library a few days ago and ever since then he’s kept it in his possession. It was the last gift Elise gave him as a surprise gift and then his engagement ring popped up just the other day. It’s been two years since he’s seen that ring and now he absently rolls it in his palm when he next speaks. ]

Do your worlds have a concept of soul mates? And if so d-do you believe in it? Love at first sight I mean. And being so perfectly matched to someone that your share a part of your soul with them? Have you ever thought you’ve found that person in passing on the street, or in a class at college?

[ A pause before he sighs and laughs a little. ]

I apologize. That’s a bit personal, isn’t it? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. M-Maybe something more open then. Imagine if you could…see the memories connected with a certain item or place. I wonder what you could, ah, gain from it if you could. History often teaches us rather a great deal after all. To be able to t-tap into the memories connects to things, like books, or jewelry and see their own history. It would…be interesting, wouldn’t it?

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That would be as ridiculous as claiming that fate is also a concrete and influential force in your world.

If-if there was p-proof of having a soul mate though...then w-would you believe in it? [ A pause as he gives a shaky breath. ] Because they do exist in my w-world. Soul mates give one another power a-and when one of them passes on, it's only a matter of time before the other does as well. Th-that's how powerful the bond is between them.

[ Unless you have a evil chaos god inhabiting the portion of your soul where your soul mate once did. ]

I find it very unlikely that proof exists.

[But, yes. She would prefer evidence of some sort.]

I'm...some form of p-proof. [ The admission is painful and his tone is full of it. It hurts to even admit because of what it makes him remember. The idea of soul mates and the loss of his own is a hard topic to speak about. But talking has always lent itself to helping him. ]

[She's momentarily hesitant to inquire further. She can almost hear Booth or Angela telling her to proceed with caution and be sensitive. But curiosity gets the better of her.]

How so?

[ There's a prominent look of pain on his face, and in his voice when he speaks. ] I had someone like that.

[ It's a short reply but the emotions behind are clear enough to speak for themselves. Love, passion, loss and grief. All of it rolled up into one simple sentence. It's taken him two years to even speak about this as he is now, and even through all of the change...it still hurts. ]

[There's brief recognition of the emotions. She's felt them herself. Too much in the past year and a half. Watching Booth with Hannah has been... painful. More than she cares to admit.

But it doesn't stop her from prying.]

Are they here?

[ It's cathartic in a way for someone to ask. Helios has had far too much on his mind in the past weeks for him to ever want to stop. But the hesitancy is still there, and the pain too. His voice is shaky and barely above a whisper when he next replies. ]

No.

I - [She knows the right thing to say here. Angela and Booth have been good influences on her, after all.] - am sorry for your loss.

[ Just a shaky breath of air escapes him. He manages to conceal it partially by pulling away from the journal. It's a few long seconds before he composes himself enough to reply. ] Th-thank you. Maybe one d-day...she might come here.

[ Maybe one day he might be able to touch, hold, and feel Elise again. But is it selfish to want that here? ]

[Maybe one day, she might be less impervious. Booth might be less angry. She wouldn't think it selfish at all.]

There does not seem to be any logical pattern in how people arrive here.

[It's meant to be reassuring.]

No there doesn't. [ He doesn't sound very confident though. Two years and yet...no one from home has ever shown up here. ]

I'm still not sure if it's...selfish to want her here. To have to go through all of...this. [ It was probably wrong and yet she would be alive, and be able to have another life aside from the one cut so short. ]

I admit, I would not mind seeing my best friend here - regardless of Luceti's more peculiar events.

I wouldn't mind...seeing Varron or Ra here, either. I'm not sure Ra would like this place very much. But...my friend, Varron, he would be enamored with all the different places and magic here.

[She frowns at the word magic, still unsettled by the concept. But for once, she remains quiet on the subject.]

Are these friends of yours from home?

Oh! Um, yes, they are. I met Varron in-in college and...Ra helps me at the Academy. [ He leaves off the part about him being a dragon god, for now. ] Ra has...helped more than once before. It's...hard getting along with him at times but, but I think he means well. As, as much as he tries to let on at least.

Angela and I met seven years ago at her art exhibit. I was high impressed by her command of underlying structure and initiated a conversation. A month later, she agreed to assist me in providing a facial reconstruction for a murder case Booth had brought to the lab.

She's an artist then. It sounds like...you enjoy working alongside her quite a bit. [ He smiles on his end, sad, but it's there. ]

That's always important. H-Having a good relationship with, with the people you work with.

She's my best friend. [And that relationship is important to her, even more so than any professional one between them. She never had a best friend before Angela.] Though I would agree. I am generally fond of most of my co-workers at the Jeffersonian.

[And she misses them. A lot.]

ϡ - Chapter Forty; In memoriam nos durabimus

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