folklorist | ϡ - Chapter TwentyThree; In which one deals with tricky spells [video/action for housemates/voice]

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ϡ - Chapter TwentyThree; In which one deals with tricky spells [video/action for housemates/voice]

[ You can have a view of Helios leaning back in his chair, rather comfortably actually. He's in his room and in said background are scattered papers and objects. Incidentally he doesn't have his glasses on today, might be due to the fact that he's conducting a delicate experiment in his room. Keyword being delicate. If you catch a glimpse of any of the papers in the background it'll make no sense if you can't read runes. Though one in particular has the diagram of a ring with various lines and runic lettering on it. Helios will lean forward smiling at the journal. ]

Ah, I hope it's on. Erm, yes. [ Clearing his throat he still doesn't get these things. He just brings a hand to his chin, characteristic thoughtful pose is go! ]

I wonder...many of you know about magic, of course. But how many of you can actually apply magical attributes to an inanimate object? Like--ah, enchantments! They're rather tricky and if done wrong they can well...blow up in your face- [ Or you colleague's faces. ] -but they can be used for all sorts of things. Like making a sword into a flaming sword by applying a fire spell to said sword, and when the right incantation is spoken it alights!

[ A thoughtful hum. ] Also are there any myths or legends in your worlds based around objects? Like Excalibur, hammer of Thor, or maybe even the holy grail? Just wondering...all out of curiosity. [ And possibly to further his own research, maybe even get some help on the little project he's been doing since Halloween. Except during his little questioning session the spell he was trying to place on said inanimate objects will begin to sizzle in the background. Smoke is going to start clouding the video and sparks can be seen as well. His eyes will widen as he turns abruptly knocking the journal on the floor and turning off the video function but not the voice. ]

Oh! No-no not again. This wasn't supposed to--! [ There's a very loud bang and the room shakes with it. Sorry housemates there will be a spillage of black, with what seems to have shards of diamonds sprinkled throughout it, smoke coming from Helios' room as he slams the door open. Helios' face will also bear the marks of said explosion as he tumbles out of the room, face and clothes covered in black soot, but he at least has journal in hand. Also people over the journals can hear him coughing rather a lot. Before long you'll hear him laughing though, replying rather amused. ] Ah, yes, very tricky!

[ Going to be brushing off the fact that just happened. You didn't hear anything, everything is fine. Okay, well, Frederic and Giles might be a tad bit annoyed. ]

Um, right, welcome to Luceti all of you who've just been brought here! It takes a bit to get used to everything but we luckily have a nice welcoming committee! You're free to answer those questions as well if you want to! Anyone can as they are open to everyone to answer.

[ Don't mind the fact he just blew himself up, nope. A brief pause on his end. ]

Hm...oh, is that on fire? That is on fire. Just-just a moment. [ Going to go put that out now yup and you can just...talk to him after wards. Derpy derp nice way to introduce yourself to all the new people, Helios. ]

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Robert...do you-do you want me to stop by? [ Helios sounds genuinely concerned because he's never heard you like this. ]

I'm so sorry. It's...it's never easy. You...you shouldn't be alone right now. [ Even if it's not him Donatello or someone else should go over there just to be safe. ]

[You shouldn't be alone right now. It's almost ironic.]

I-If... if... i-if I never, n-never got close, then... then...

Th-then I... I wouldn't have...

[He trails off brokenly, unable to put words to this concept. The same concept that drove him to flee a five year relationship after it failed instead of trying to fix it. The same concept that drove him to isolate himself during his formative school years. The same concept that has made him hide in his room before in Luceti; that's making him do that now out of the same sick, gnawing terror.]

...

What if it takes you or Don - [His voice breaks there. He'd been desperately hoping against hope that it wouldn't and now the sickening possibility has very literally been thrown in his face.

Maybe it's selfish to want to keep them here, away from their real worlds, just for his sake.

But he doesn't want to be alone anymore. And the hardest part is that, now, the only thing he can think to do is be alone.]

No. Robert it wasn't... [ A small sigh. ]

It wasn't your fault at all. When people go home...we can't control that.

I can't say it's not a possibility but-but you shouldn't blame yourself for this.

I... I... it's... i-it isn't that, that it's m-my fault that... that sh-she, that she went h-h-home...

...

It's... m-my fault... for, f-for letting... letting her mean so much...

[He loves her. He loves her so deeply and so dearly now - he hadn't even truly appreciated it until it was ripped away painfully... His daughter. His Vivi. He's never going to see her beautiful smiling face ever again, never going to hear her pretty voice, never going to see that one particular hat atop those blonde tresses...]

...

I-Is... is it worth all this... pain...?

No it's not your fault. How could you have known that this would happen? It's-it's always hard finding out someone you were close with has gone home. I-I know, it's happened to me before when, when Giles left. [ It did hurt and yet it was worth the pain. Except learning that when he had gone back home and had died that...that hurt too. ]

It is. It's worth every single blow because you have fond memories of her, memories that you can carry with you to make you stronger.

[Robert almost feels selfish then, knowing that Helios must have suffered like he did. Perhaps almost worse than he did... though it doesn't make his own pain about Vivi's loss go away, it does put it in context. A little.]

...

I... I d-don't know if I can be strong, Helios...

I... I w-want to hide again...

[This might be a plea to stop him before he can't stop himself.]

You can. I know you can. It's hard...I know but you-you can't let them win. You can't stop yourself from getting close to people just because you know the outcome might be them leaving this place. It's a hard concept to even justify but being alone is never a solution for this place.

I'm not going to let you do that, unfortunately. [ And you can hear him getting up out of his chair and he'll drawing a teleportation circle after doing so. Helios is coming over Robert because you obviously need someone there at the moment. He wonders if Donatello would be angry though and decides there's not much time for debating the issue. ]

[By this point, Robert has broken down again, and he's sobbing gently in his room. Hearing Helios' voice both hurt and helped - but mostly hurt because it makes Robert want him there but he can't because he can't be close because getting close is dangerous...

"I'm not going to let you do that". Part of Robert had hoped to hear that Helios wasn't going to allow him to be alone. The other part fears this fact, but knows there's little he can do to stop it.

When Helios actually teleports into the apartment, he'll probably find Robert curled up in a seat, looking like complete shit. His face is streaked with tears and he looks bedraggled and in general probably needs to be held a very long time.]

I-I'm here. [ He did look horrible, absolutely horrible. And Helios immediately goes to the scientist side a cold comforting hand finding itself on his shoulder. Helios gives a light squeeze just to make his ] Robert look at me, please.

[ His tone is soft, barely above a whisper. He wants to help...because he knows how it feels to lose someone like this. It's a pain that's hard to accept and come back from and for someone like Robert it's probably ten times as difficult. ]

[Robert's only response at first is to shiver gently against the chair, barely looking up at Helios' words - and then Helios puts a hand on his shoulder and it makes him break inside all over again. A real friend, somebody who bothered to want to come and comfort him when he was sad, and at any moment Robert could lose him through something he couldn't even control. It wouldn't even be his fault this time.

It's a struggle, but eventually he manages to lift his chin and meet the headmaster's worried gaze. He has a profound expression of loss in his foggy gray eyes, and they're bloodshot and swollen from far too much crying.

I know that I want to be alone, but... ... but don't leave me alone...

He just wants to be held and loved right now. Wants somebody to promise to stay with him, just for a little while...]

H-Helios...

[ Helios is conflicted he doesn't know if he's doing the right thing or not. But he can't just let Robert stay here alone. Those eyes, god, Helios is reminded of himself. It's almost like looking in a mirror, because what Robert doesn't know is the other loss--Elise. Obviously it's not the same because Vivi was certainly alive and well back home. But still the sheer amount of pain Robert is in over all this makes him think of himself three years ago. ]

I'm not going anywhere. Don't worry.

[ He gives a gentle smile back at Robert allowing him to do as he pleases. But he will slowly, and a bit awkwardly, wrap his arm around both of Robert's shoulders now. ]

[Helios' awkward half-embrace prompts Robert to lay his head against the other man, his body wracked with another shuddering sob. He's so goddamned wonderful, and that's precisely the reason Robert hates how close he is; how beautiful a person he is - a person who would've been impossible to meet on Terra for him, because he didn't know to try to reach out - and the whole reason he didn't was because of loss like this.

He wishes Helios could really mean those words. But... it's good enough right now.

One of Robert's slender little arms, if allowed, will snake around Helios' waist to hold him close. But Robert's definitely going to cry softly against him, either way.]

I... ... she... s-she left a letter... a-and, and a r-replica of... of her h-hat...

Oh gods Helios, wh-what I wouldn't g-give to... t-to be able to s-see her...

[He knows she has a family at home...

... but, damnit, she feels like his daughter, just like Helios feels like his friend.]

[ Helios actually doesn't mind that or at least he may shift a little but that's the only motion that showcases his discomfort. He simply gives Robert another reassuring squeeze, just to make it known that he cares. ]

I'm so sorry Robert. I-I'm sorry I can't do anything for you, besides be here and tell you everything will be alright.

[ At this moment in time Helios isn't sure if it is...but he, he'll do whatever he can to make the other feel better at least. ] I'm sure she appreciates all you did for her.

That's... th-that's more than enough, Helios... [Oh gods, Robert loves Helios. Please don't take him away too. I need him. It's shameful and terrifying to admit that to himself, that he needs this man in many ways... he's so vulnerable here, so delicate. Helios is almost like a buttress. Why does he depend so much on this man? Why can't he be independent...?]

I-I... I hope so.

I...

I wish she would... remember.

[But like everybody else, she probably won't.

And that's almost the worst thing.]

I-I'm glad I could at least do something. [ Helios looks at Robert shaking his head a little. ]

She might, you never know. Some people retain their memories. A-And I'm sure she'd never forget you if she does.

[ He's trying to make it better. But he's not sure it this will. ]

Just... j-just be here... th-that's all I want right now...

[Be your loving, wonderfully-understanding self. That's all Robert can ask for. And that's all Robert has ever wanted.]

P-Perhaps she will...

Perhaps.

[It does make it a little better, though Robert's too cynical to think it. Still... Helios' presence, and those cool hands on him, are helping. He shivers gently against Helios, biting back the reflexive "I love you".]

[ Helios can definately do that. It's the least he can do. ]

It's nice to think about it that way. Giles remembered, and Frederic as well. It's not entirely impossible.

Would you...like me to make you something? Tea perhaps? O-or not I can understand if you don't want anything. I-I just think you should eat something.

[It is a possibility. And that makes Robert feel fractionally better. As does Helios simply being there.

The second suggestion is... well, ridiculously sweet. But Robert hasn't eaten for quite some time and isn't entirely sure if he wants to...]

P-Perhaps...

I... I just... I d-don't know... p-perhaps tea...?

[He picked up that habit from you, Helios.]

Tea it is then! [ Helios might get up then and look back at Robert. ]

Any kind in particular you'd like? [ His voice is still soft, comforting. If making tea would make Robert feel better then it's the least Helios could do for him. ]

I d-don't particularly have a p-preference at the moment... [He really couldn't care less; he just wants to something warm to drink to soothe a throat parched from too much crying, and somebody to sit there and listen to him ~~that isn't his boyfriend likely stalking him~~.

Robert leans back against the couch then, deliberately moving to the side more so Helios has somewhere to sit on it if he wants (but he doesn't have to sit on the tearstained side, since that's where Robert is). Part of him loves the fact Helios is here; part of him hates it. It's a constant reminder of "this is what I never had at home" dovetailing with "this is what I could lose at any time".

He wishes there was some way to make sure people didn't leave at random - and then immediately hates himself for wanting to cut off peoples' avenue of escape from this place just for his own sake.]

[ Then Helios will make one of his favorites allowing for the other to keep to his thoughts. Helios isn't sure if it's a good idea, but, he hopes his words have at least put Robert a bit more at ease. Tea always cheers him up at least and he's hoping Robert has no objections to a simple Earl Gray Tea.

In a faster time it usually takes water to boil, thank you fire magic, Helios will bring back two cups of tea handing one to Robert before taking a seat next to him. He'll sit and swirl his tea focusing on it a small smile on his face. ]

Mm I always liked this kind. It reminds of me of calmer, peaceful times. I think it's because I always have it before the day starts. Just before classes began and before all that rush of school started.

[ He'll take a deep breath, breathing in that aroma before exhaling slowly. ]

[Robert has no objections whatsoever to Earl Gray; it's a nice refined tea, simple but at the same time elegant, and it's soothing to have something like that now.

He takes the cup gratefully from Helios, relishing the other man's presence (and trying to push away the part that wants to go hide in the corner now and cry because of it).]

It... i-it is a nice tea, isn't it...

... Thank you f-for... introducing me to the blends here...

Thank y-you for... everything, really.

[And Robert takes a sip of his tea, a small one, looking over at Helios.]

... I... I-I... I don't understand how a-anybody could find you a-anything less than... wonderful.

[He refuses to think that Helios is not an amazing person.]

[ That smile in turn has a tinge of sadness in it. ]

Th-there's many way, really. [ It was accident he knew it was an accident. But he couldn't change what happened, couldn't even do anything to bring her back. The people in his world had all the reason to think him anything less than wonderful. He still thinks himself a horrible person and quite possibly always will. ]

I guess it's all a matter of someone's perspective.

I d-don't... don't see them, Helios. I don't think I ever w-will.

[Robert means this statement, as truthfully as he can ever be about anything, and he is already the epitome of truthful.]

...

I... I love you. At the least as a friend. A v-very good friend.

[And as more than that. But he doesn't say that part... doesn't know if he should acknowledge it aloud anymore, even if Don knows about it.]

... Perhaps I... simply have a biased one...

Perhaps you won't. [ Because Helios will probably not tell you for a long time.

Oh and there's that word again. That word he hasn't heard in a very long time. Helios might blush, faintly, but it's quickly masked as he takes another sip of his tea. He can't understand how Robert would still even feel like that. ] I think you're as a very good friend too, Robert.

[ It's a small smile touching his lips but still a smile nonetheless. ]

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