ϡ - Chapter Eighteen; birthdays are sometimes bittersweet [action/voice]

[folklorist]

[ Good afternoon Luceti. In the silence of this post you can hear the crinkling of a single sheet of paper. It is a lone letter, one from a man who is no longer in this world. You might also hear the whistling of water from a tea pot and the familiar sounds of someone preparing tea. A few moments later you will hear some banging coming from the same specific journal post today. It sounds as if someone has fallen backwards in their chair. A loud bang with an 'oomph!' will be issued from voice alone. Don't mind the sound of a chair being righted and such, just Helios being a derp, the normal you know? ]

To-Today's the fifteenth?! Since when? Oh dear, I think my memory is going with old age. [ Helios will give a laugh but if you're good at spotting it, there's a very prominent sadness in it. ] Is it always hard knowing when people leave this place, even if--you know it's for the better? Does that make one...selfish I wonder; to want to keep people here I mean? No, no of course it is. What a silly question, forget I asked it.

[ He'll sigh and pause for a few moments before continuing. He's trying to sound a bit more cheerful, but getting news of Giles leaving really just...ruined this whole day. And the letter he got and what it said just made things so much more difficult. But he really needs to get his mind off of things and so a simple question will be asked. ] What would your perfect birthday party consist of? If you could have it any way you wanted of course.

Comments

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Frederic was in his room and heard Helios' entry, especially that loud bang sound and decides to come out soon after.]

Helios?! Are you all right?!

[ action ]

[folklorist]

[ Don't mind him he's just straightening himself and his chair and all that. Totally fine. ] Oh! Frederic, I didn't realize you were home. Aha I'm-I'm perfectly fine.

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[He walks over to his friend and makes sure he doesn't have any injuries.] Are you certain? There's nothing I need to heal for you?

[ action ]

[folklorist]

[ He will dust himself off and take a seat again, sigh. ] I'm fine, really. Thank you for your concern though. [ He pauses looking at the letter on the table and biting his lip he turns back to Frederic. ]

I suppose you...heard about Giles?

[Voice]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[The loud bang makes her jump a little. But she relaxes a bit when he starts talking--at least it doesn't sound like he was seriously hurt? That first bit of rambling especially catches her attention.]

It might be selfish...but sometimes it's hard not to think like that anyway. Of course people who leave are going to be missed by those close to them. I know most of them are better off at home, but...there are some I've wanted to keep here.

[Voice]

[folklorist]

[ No no he's all right. Just caught off guard with the whole date thing. ]

Yes, you're right. But...home wasn't any better for him I don't think. [ It's hard to explain but Sunnydale the way it was described was like another Luceti. ]

[Voice]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

...oh. Well, maybe he will return? It's happened before. A friend of mine was sent home, only to return weeks later.

[And then disappear again, but that's not the point.]

[Voice]

[folklorist]

That's always a possibility, yes. But remembering who we are, were, that's another story entirely.

[voice]

[screwthegods]

Do you think you're wrong, to feel that way? Selfish, that is.

[voice]

[folklorist]

I-I'm not sure, to be honest. On one hand having them here and having met them was a wonderful experience. Yet they went through so much at the expense of being here. Would it be worth it again, I'm not sure. [ He'll sigh and run a hand through his hair on his end. ]

Yet the world they returned to...wasn't much better.

[voice]

[screwthegods]

It's a difficult question to answer, I suppose.

Regardless, all you can do now is treasure the memories you have of that person, and continue to live in a way that fulfills whatever promises you might have made. Questioning the morality of your feelings won't give you comfort, nor will blaming yourself for having them.

You have lost someone, and they will be missed. That is the extent of the truth you should accept.

[voice]

[folklorist]

[ He thinks about what this man is saying and it does make sense. Perfect sense actually. He knows there is still things that need to be done with the ring. ] You're right, absolutely right. Even though...as humans we can't help but second guess and blame ourselves for having such thoughts. The truth is the truth though, despite it being painful to accept.

[VOICE]

[polishrule.livejournal.com]

[He's pretty sure he can manage voice with you, Helios.]

Why is it selfish? I totally don't think it is because you like people and if you like people you want them to stay with you.

And haha, you're totally not old at all.

[VOICE]

[folklorist]

[ He better be able to! ]

Because...it's not a very nice place to want to keep someone I suppose. And he went through quite a lot while here.

Ah! Yes, well, I suppose in relation to some people I'm not. [ He's smiling a bit. ] I guess it's just a standard response for one's birthday.

[VOICE]

[polishrule.livejournal.com]

But like, doesn't it mean you really like the person if you want them to stay with you? I'd be way bummed if Fryderyk left.

It is? I don't know. Getting old is lame so why do people always say that, then?

[VOICE]

[folklorist]

It does, yes, but for them to have to be here of all things. I'm not sure if it's right or not to want such a thing.

I suppose it's a bit of a joke, or perhaps people coming to terms with getting older.

[herotypical]

Helios.

[She knows you were close with Giles.]

[folklorist]

Mm? Yes?

[herotypical]

It's just...I--[she falters.] That question you asked? About people leaving? I always find it tough -- even if I know I'm gonna see them again back home. [Like Giles.]

[voice]

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

Is it selfish if the alternative is death? [Of course, the person he has in mind isn't even here.]

[voice]

[folklorist]

[ Silence before a reply. ]

When you think about it that way...it's not. [ Giles returning back to that? No, he didn't--he wouldn't think about such things. ] Yet remaining in such a place that does such things to its residents...is it really worth it sometimes I wonder.

[voice]

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

Anything is worth it, if there is a chance to finally be reunited with Martel. [The Malnosso and their experiments don't worry him all that much - merely another obstacle. without a Cruxis Crystal, though...the obstacles are quickly stacking up against him. But giving up has never been an option, nor will it ever be.]

[voice]

[forgiatura]

How's it selfish?

[ He's really just asking because he'd have the same reaction if someone important to him -- namely, Luca -- ended up here and eventually left. ]

[voice]

[folklorist]

[ Sigh. ] Just...wanting them to stay in such a place I suppose. It's not the most wonderful of places. [ Especially everything he went through. ]

[voice]

[forgiatura]

But what if they made friends here, or somethin'?

That's gotta make up for it a bit, doesn't it?