ϡ - Chapter FiftyThree; recovery [action|voice]

[folklorist]

[ Action ]

[ The draft had left everyone feeling disoriented and he was no exception. It might also have to do with the fact that his right wing was broken, along with his arm and a few ribs. His arm and ribs have healed quite a bit since then. The injuries now only light sprains that he wears a brace on his arm for. His wing, however, is taking much longer to heal and it's left him bed ridden for several days since the draft ended. Despite his general and easy return to almost full healthy Helios has been resting in the clinic for a few days. But today he's probably well enough to get up and have a short stroll around the village, maybe even play a little with Luminair and Maggir who are in Saori's care for the time being. Helios can be found at the bakery, library and then the clinic (when he's finally yelled at and dragged back there for being a bad patient) for most of the day. He looks better than he has been and he's not nearly as tired as he was, so overall he's making a pretty good recovery.

It's later into the evening when everything is winding down that he'll make a voice post over the network. ]

[ Voice ]

I know it-it's been rather rough on most of us these last few days. So I was w-wondering if anyone would like to do a potluck sort of endeavor at-at the welcome center? It could help us all wind down from the obvious thing. But, ah, it's-it's just a suggestion of course.

[ Because food makes everything better, right? ] Also if-if it's not too much trouble would anyone be willing to, ah, talk for a bit? It doesn't have to be about anything in particular, really. I-I've just been having a hard time sleeping lately- [ pain does that to you and of course the creeping sensations he gets when he dreams. Like he's being watched by something and it doesn't go away, it just never seems to go away.] -so perhaps I'll start off with a question. What's your favorite memory of home? It doesn't have to be one specific memory or event. I remember when I was little of going to the town near the castle and getting this fantastic ice cream from the ice cream parlor there. It was homemade, sweet and creamy, absolutely delicious; I haven't had ice cream that lived up to those standards yet. I've always tried to make it myself but it just never tasted quite like that type. [ Helios supposed that was a good thing. It would ruin the true artistry of the ice cream back home. ]

So if you want to talk, feel free to answer. Otherwise I hope you all have a good night.

Comments

[folklorist]

[ Helios looks up from his book when he hears Saori come in. She looks, well, she looks quite bad and that is saying something. Helios' expression drops as he watches Saori with a careful eye. He nods though at the question. ]

I-I think we all have. At least those of us who-who landed there first. [ Those of us who died and were sacrificed, he wants to say but that sort of thing doesn't need to spoken right now. Helios bites his lip as he shifts in his seat. The dull throb of pain from his wing radiates through his entire body when he does so. ]

How are- [ no that was a stupid question to ask ] -do you want to-to talk about it?

[windandrain]

[It's a long moment before she replies, as she honestly has to think about her willingness to talk about it. But...it is Helios, and ultimately the answer is yes, as there are only three people in any universe she'd trust more.]

I...do. That's why I came.

[She jitters slightly as she raises the cup to her lips, spilling some of the hot liquid onto her hand. It doesn't seem to bother her though, but she's quick to set her drink down and wipe it off with a napkin. She's past the point of feeling mundane pains, with the horrible memories of that...thing...and the agony it'd inflicted on them.]

It...did something...I didn't think was p-p-possible...

[folklorist]

[ Helios listens his own eyes filled with worry and remembrance of what had happened. It left him cold and shaken every time he thought about it, so he tried not to, despite the nightmares.

He'll lean in closer and rest a cold hand on one of Saori's shaking ones. His expression trying to be comforting even if he had the same sort of reaction towards it. ] I know. I-I don't know how they did or why...

[ But having the power to kill even a goddess like Saori makes Helios even more wary of the cultists now. ]

[windandrain]

[Solidarity is never uncomforting, Helios. Her fingers instinctively curl around his, eyes closing in an almost childlike expression of fear. She doesn't want to think about it, or deal with it...and she knows he's dealing wit hthe same thing. Only...]

I...it...shouldn't have...done that. My body can be destroyed...but my spirit? I felt it unmake me...Helios. And...and...[Tears come now, sparkling lights falling down her cheeks.]...I was so alone. I...my grandmother...my grandfather...my family...there wasn't anything t-t-they could do to...s-stop it...

[Her head sags, and she draws her legs up against herself, suddenly shivering.]

I'm...not supposed to b-b-be able to be...destroyed l-like that. Just...cease...t-that's why I agreed to become w-what I am. So I...wouldn't ever stop existing...

[folklorist]

[ His grip tightens just a little bit more. He hated seeing Saori like this, he hated seeing her this upset and he had no power to really help her. ] A part of my own spirit was lost with Elise's death. [ That portion of his soul was devoured by Apep a long time ago. It's one of the main reasons he wakes up in a cold sweat night after night. He'll clutch his chest with a pained look on his face. ]

I never imagined my own friends would-would have to share that s-same pain. [ God it was terrifying to know that the cultists could do something like this to them. ] I don't understand why they-they had to do this.

[windandrain]

[Saori's breath comes quicker, a little hoarse and very unsteady, but she does look up at Helios now. She'd...known...about Elise, because of Apep. She'd dealt with that creature, and seen the damage it'd done. And it chilled her every time she thought about it.

The solidarity, at least, helps push aside some of her worries.]

I...it...it...there's nothing...we can do about that now. We're...back. And we beat them. That's something. Even...even if we had to go through that. It was stopped. And it...it won't happen again. V-Vegeta promised. And I promised myself the same thing.

[She lets out a little exhalation.]

Have you...had nightmares too?

[folklorist]

I'm s-sure he'll keep to them. I'm sure it-it won't happen again, not after what was witnessed. [ Even if he despised them, the Malnosso couldn't let something like that go. Perhaps there would be a tighter crackdown on those types of weapons. ]

Nightmares...yes. [ He looks disconcerted and nervous. ] Of course I have. It's always the same thing for me.

[windandrain]

[Saori doesn't mention the promise she and Vegeta had made. A suicide pact. They won't be sacrificed again. And...if something like that happens again? She'll go out of her way to make sure Helios escapes it too, even if it means killing him.]

Nightmares of...that...thing? Or of Apep?

[folklorist]

[ Helios flinches at the name. He's been having many nightmares about a good many things lately. That thing and Apep only being a part of it. ]

B-Both. And-and other things. Things I thought I'd f-forgotten about here and back home. [ It does him no favors that his face goes pale after saying that. ]

[windandrain]

[She immediately regrets asking, and leans forward to pull him into a hug.]

I've...had similar nightmares. Of H-Hatsu. And that...thing.

[She swallows.]

And...I've felt it watching me, when I'm alone.

[folklorist]

[ Helios returns the hug because he hates seeing his friends and family hurting this way. ]

Me too. It's horrible and I-I don't know why it's going to stop. [ If it ever will. ] There has to be something we can do about it.

[windandrain]

I...already tried to remove the memory with my crystal. It...won't work. It's too deep.

[She hugs even tighter, her head resting on his shoulder.]

M-maybe we could change some things around the house? To make it feel less empty?

[folklorist]

[ If Saori had to resort to doing something like that...gods it must be very bad. ]

I think that might be a good idea. Did you have anything in-in mind?

[windandrain]

First...more lights. A lot more of them. I don't want a dark corner...at all.

[That's important, okay?]

And second, maybe...more constant noise? Running the dryer a lot?

[folklorist]

Ah. I-I can't say no to more lights. [ Helios has a thing about dark rooms anyway. He's been getting a bit more agitated since these nightmares started. But he won't say anything in regards to that. ]

We can certainly do that too, if you'd like. Or perhaps I could enchant some instruments you prefer to play a consistent melody?

[windandrain]

Then we can add lights. Lots of them. And I think the dryer would be good. I have several enchanted instruments of my own...but, music in an empty house might make it feel more empty.

[And she has another thought.]

And...maybe, we could start sharing a room, until all this passes? If...not a bed. I wouldn't...want to make you uncomfortable. But s-sleeping alone isn't easy.

[folklorist]

I-I have been having some trouble sleeping in the dark too. [ He shifts in his seat, looking slightly embarrassed to admit that. ] But if-if it'll help we can definitely run the dryer periodically. It's a good thing we're not charged for electricity here.

[ He smiles a little at that but his smile disappears as a more awkward and slightly taken back expression finds itself on his face. ] I-I don't...ah. I mean sh-sharing a room is t-totally fine. [ But a bed, oh dear. ]

If it...makes it easier. I d-don't mind sharing a bed either. [ It's not as if they hadn't before...granted it was because of the Valentine's day shift. Besides he was better with that whole situation thanks to his time with Max. It wasn't too terribly awkward for him anymore, at least he thought so. ] I want to help as much as possible.

[windandrain]

Well I could power it even if we were. But it just makes the right kind of white-noise, I think. Like there's something big and noisy just around the corner.

[The expression of shock mildly worries Saori a bit, because even if she is afraid, she doesn't want to push Helios too far. But then he agrees...and she lets out a relieved breath she wasn't even aware she'd been holding.]

I...think that would be best? Just...for a little while. I can wear my thickest gown and make a blanket-roll, and I...think it'll help. And be as comfortable as it can be f-for you.

[She really, really loves Helios but has no real interest in him that way. He's a good friend. And she knows he feels the same way so it's alright... right?]

[folklorist]

Yes it'll definitely get rid of some of the lonesome atmosphere in here, won't it? [ Everyone has left, so it does strike a nerve to think about.

He'll fiddle with the glass of tea resting in both his palms, his expression thoughtful. There's a soft but hesitant smile on his face as he nods. Even if it was pushing too far Helios wouldn't complain. Saori has done so much for him as is, this really wasn't anything too terrible to achieve. Besides they were practically family so of course there wasn't thing in those regards to mull about. ]

Ah. A-Alright. That sounds fine with me. As long as you're comfortable too, dear. I-I don't want you to feel, um, like you have to wear such heavy clothes in the middle of spring. [ Then again his cold skin is probably a bit off putting. He can't really blame her for wanting to wear those kinds of clothes. ]

[windandrain]

We should...fix that when we can too. This big castle doesn't do much good otherwise.

[She'll nod at his hesitation, but smile as brightly as she can under the circumstances (which isn't very). She can cope with the clothes and the cold. Her body was naturally cool anyway.]

Tomorrow we'll add the lights, then. And tonight? [Her hand squeezes his own gently.] It...it will be like a slumber party.

[folklorist]

Mm well there's always room for people to stay. [ But honestly the castle was just too big for the two of them now. ] Perhaps we could get more pets...

[ NO BAD HELIOS. No more pets. ] But it's really not the same.

[ He'll pause in this thinking as he nods to Saori. ] Slumber party...y-yes of course.

[windandrain]

More? [She shakes her head.] No, no we really don't need more pets. But people would be nice. Perhaps...we should look for likely new feathers, in July?

[She offers him a cheerful, if...somewhat strained smile.]

I...think it will help, at least. Having someone to hug at night...that would be good.

[folklorist]

[ He smiles a little more genuinely this time. ] I think that would be good too. We haven't been getting too many new feathers as of late, have we? But either way we may as well offer up the chance for anyone who wants to take it.

[ He still looks a little unsure but mainly about himself. After all this isn't a normal ritual for him and he hopes he doesn't make it anymore awkward than it has to be. ]

It does help...on those nights when you can't sleep. [ He remembers that well enough when he used to be plagued by nightmares. ]

[windandrain]

We'll have to see who comes through then.

[Because he's right. It was a lot emptier after Daisy, Makie, Yuuna, Poland and Frederik left...]

And...yes, I think it will help. Just...for a little while. Till things settle down. I'll come down to your room tonight then.

[And with that, the matter of beds is settled in her head.]

What sort of lights do you think we should get, though?

[folklorist]

I'm sure between the two of us we can find someone or someones. [ Helios smiles happily as he thinks on the last occupants. This house was definitely better when it was full of love and life. Helios doesn't say anything else on the matter. He can survive a few nights of this. ]

I'm not sure. Something soft, but warm and...soothing, maybe?