ϡ - Chapter TwentyFour; Hello again [action/accidental voice]

[folklorist]

[ The journal might pick up rustling and a brief intake of air before turning off.

He was alive and that was the cool ground beneath him, wasn’t it? It wasn’t saturated with his blood nor was it amidst the rain forest. Instead he was staring up at that beautiful cherry blossom tree at the top of the hill. It was a startling awareness that overtook him in that brief period of time from when he opened his green eyes to sitting up. His clothes were no longer marred with the blood he had lost and looking at them, despite the lack of blood and the shock it would have brought being missing, everything still came rushing back along with the shock. He didn’t want to remember it, those teeth and those claws tearing into him. God he never wanted to remember it and yet here he was remembering like it was only yesterday. His last dying breath was while he was looking into the faces of his two best friends as he lay dying at their feet. He looked at his arms, legs, and back, hands shaking slightly before steadying. His wings were fine as well all in one piece even and he moved them just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming…

He was fine and there was no more pain besides being alive in this place again. No he can’t think like that; he had people here he had to protect and people here he cared about. It was all so…disorienting. Like countless others Helios had been brought back from the dead, like necromancy or...immortality. It was a dream many men in his world would love having. Albeit what they make you give for such a life here…was it all truly worth it?

This was Luceti. This was the town, the same town, with those same individuals that entrusted him to put up barriers to keep away their fears and add a slightly deeper sense of protection. The barriers. Green eyes widened as he realized what his death had meant. ]

Oh no.

[ He had to go…he had to go and check on them. In his attempt at getting up he’ll turn on the voice function once more on the journal. There’s more sound of movement as Helios gets up the voice function still on as he mumbles something under his breath but he doesn't turn off the feed, absentminded as usual. He’ll be stumbling down from the hill making his way towards the appropriate buildings. He had to make sure everything was in place and functioning. He didn’t know what complications his death might have caused and it was best he make sure. He shouldn’t be wandering around like this but he doesn’t care. He does care about who sees him though, so he’ll try as much as possible to steer clear of people’s view. It obviously isn’t so easy for him since he is a derp coupled with the post-return imbalance and therefore he is stumbling and not paying much attention while he’s walking. He doesn’t know about his friend’s announcement, of course, but Helios knows one of them, Frederic or Giles, would have told people by now. God he hates that he had to force that on one of them at all. He didn’t want to see them…not yet. He put them both through so much…it-it wasn’t right. And yet he was so tired and just wanted to go home. Home, home, he didn’t even know what that meant anymore, really. Was this place a home when sent into battle and never told a single thing? Was it a home when friends were made to watch those they cared about die? It wasn’t and yet he was stuck here…they all were stuck here. And he just…had to cope that’s all they could ever do.

If anyone is nearby House 7, House 55 or the Playground or just in the vicinity walking between those places you might just find that blonde haired man with green eyes stumbling and using the trees to right himself each time he does trip. He’s not…paying much attention to anything as he’s still very much out of it. Too much thinking and he obviously needs people to snap him out of it. Or not. Just another day in Luceti though and Helios is finally back. ]

((ooc; Sorry for the tl;dr, derp. Also timeline doesn't really matter since Helios will be wandering aimlessly for a few hours. Probably until nighttime. ))

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[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

(OOC: And continuing from the eventual conclusion of this thread...)

[Getting out of the apartment had been a good idea, after all.

Somewhere around the junction where House 31 is located, Robert (with Don not far behind) catches sight of Helios making his stumbling way through the village. He obviously looks completely out of it - though he visibly doesn't seem injured in any way - and Robert immediately sprints up to him with a downright desperate air.]

Helios!

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Oh that voice, he knows that voice. Helios might look up from his walking. Have an owlish blink you are so not one of the people Helios wanted to encounter Robert. Nothing bad about it, moreso for your own good and his own...but Helios manages a small smile. So much for being undercover, hm? He was never really good at it much anyway. ]

Ah...Robert?

[Action] | Don can jump in whenever? Maybe? \o/

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert breaks into a smile - a real smile - when he sees Helios' smile, weak and small as it is. His eyes are teary, but he remembers what Giles said, and tries to force himself to cut those tears off.

What he does instead - partially to camouflage this, and partially out of sheer love for this man - is run up to and throw his arms around Helios, pulling his little frame close to the headmaster. Gods, he missed this feeling - the familiar, paradoxically comforting feeling of Helios' coldness.]

I-I... I am so glad you have returned...

W-Welcome back, Helios.

[Action] | Yes! Whenever. C:

[folklorist]

[ He wasn't expecting it, the hug. He's never really been missed to this degree though so pardon his sharp intake of breath Robert, arms and body stiff as Robert puts his arms around him. He has half a mind to flinch and break away but it feels nice, this...comfort. ] Ah-!

I-I'm glad to be back. [ He can't help but smile a little more looking down at Robert. ]

Thank you.

[Action] | <3

[semper_cogitans]

[The stiffness is not really registered by Robert - he just clings to Helios in a manner that suggests he's almost afraid Helios will disappear again if he lets go.

His smile softens a little, but he keeps his arms wrapped around Helios for now, just revelling in the fact he's there.]

... I... I w-was not sure it was really true, that... that people came back, but... ... I have f-first-hand evidence, now.

[He is real, here, and alive, and Robert can feel the coolness of him through his familiar clothes. He doesn't want to give this up, right now.]

... Ah... ... but, b-but where are you going to...? [Robert is suddenly worried. He knows people are affected in some manner when they die. Is Helios' "death effect" a loss of direction?]

[Action]

[folklorist]

I-I wasn't certain if it was either. But...I suppose it is. [ Firsthand experience definately enough evidence. It still feels entirely too much like a dream though. But everything feels all to vibrant and alive to be much of a dream.

Helios shakes his head. ] I...I was going to house fifty-five.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don has been hanging back, not wanting to interrupt the reunion between his partner and his friend - awkward to watch though it is - but at this comment he can't help speaking up.]

That's my house.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[It probably is awkward as hell to watch, especially considering the obvious adoration Robert has for Helios. Of course, his adoration for Don is just as obvious, but it's still uncomfortable to watch your boyfriend practically hang off of somebody you know he still has feelings for.

He piques an eyebrow at both this and Don's comment.]

... Why would you need to go to the Hamatos' home? [Robert does know about the barrier, actually... but he probably doesn't know that Helios' death would cause them to be destroyed.]

[Action] Robert - Helios - Don post order? :I

[folklorist]

[ It is awkward can't you tell by Helios' body language? He might move away now, since Don is now actually watching. Helios nods looking back at Don as he comes into view. ]

They might have stopped w-working. After, after...everything that happened. [ After he died. ]

I-I just need to go see. [ The one at house seven was in tact but he can't be too sure here, about anything really. ]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles has been more or less waiting in his temporary apartment all day, at the table, journal open and resting within quick arm's reach. Occasionally, when the waiting gets too much, he'd call for Helios just to see if a response was forthcoming. So far, however, all of his waiting has been for nothing and Giles has been driving himself slowly insane with the frustration of it all.

Then the feed turns on. Then he hears Helios' breath, and his voice, and his movement. For a few brief, shiny seconds Giles feels so happy and so alive. For a few brief, shiny seconds, everything is okay.

Except they aren't. There are so many problems remaining, so many things that need fixing and possible can't be fixed. But Giles pushes those thoughts out of his mind and instead grabs almost frantically for his journal. His voice is shaking, anxious, nervous, when he finally gets the words out.]

Helios?

Are you all right? W-Where...where are you?

[folklorist]

[ He left the journal on. Just his luck to be too out of it to work these things right. He can't even work them when he's trying to so it's not much of a shock. As if it weren't bad enough the other voice coming from it was...familiar. It causes him a pause in his wandering as he tries to steady himself and a sharp pain ripples through him. Of course he knew who it was. Of course he wanted to answer with as much anxiousness and nervousness that the other man on the other side had. Instead it fell short, but not by much.

His voice is tinged with uncertainty and tiredness. Barely above a whisper. ]

Giles. I-I'm f-fine. [ As fine as one can be post death. ]

Around. I-I've been checking around town. Barriers.

[consultmybooks]

[Footsteps. The sound of a door opening and closing. No stairs, though - by rights, Giles should have a lot of stairs to go down. He doesn't.

He knows that Helios isn't all right, can't be all right. But he doesn't say anything to that effect. His friend deserves the right to lie to himself, if it helps.]

Barriers. Yes.

...we need to talk about that. We...w-we need to talk. [Giles is moving so quickly now that his careful practice and training is coming undone - he trips over a tree root, stumbles and almost falls. It's a few seconds before he catches himself.]

Please.

[folklorist]

I-I know. I didn't...I talked to Buffy be-before the draft. [ So she knew the risks. He just..didn't think it'd happen, that he would die. But the tone in Giles' voice... ]

We do. We-we need to talk. I know. [ I'm sorry. He's so sorry for everything. He almost loses himself when he hears that spoken please. It hurts almost enough to make him breakdown right there. Instead a shaky couple of breaths. They need to talk about a lot things. ] Of course. A-Are you at the apartment?

[consultmybooks]

[Giles stumbles to a stop again, at that - largely because it's a loaded question that he still can't entirely deal with. His voice is shaking and unsteady when he replies.]

No.

I'll...I'll f-find you, shall I? W-Where are you? I, I can be there in just a bit.

[He needs to see Helios, needs to the point where it's a physical ache in his chest. He needs to see him in person and sit with him and hold him and reassure himself that the other is really back, that he's not just having a bad nightmare again.]

[folklorist]

[ No? What did that mean? ]

I'm by house, house seven. [ He wants to see the other too. Probably just as painfully. So he doesn't fight it, he's too tired to. Besides he can't run forever especially in such a place like Luceti. And it's not right to keep those who he considers dear to him away. ]

[consultmybooks]

[At the moment? Just stick to the fact that it means he's outside and walking, Helios. The reality is far more complicated.

Giles changes course so he's headed as quick as he can for Marauding Bridge and, eventually, House 7.]

R-Right. Um, yes. I'll...yes, I should be there shortly.

Just, um...y-yes, just s-stay there. [He doesn't say "please" again. But it's so heavily implied that he might as well have.] I'll be there.

[folklorist]

[ But he's already been over thinking this entire time, it'd be in his best interest to stop now...obviously he won't stop. ]

I-I will. [ And he will because he's checking the barrier which is a good enough excuse to not leave. ]

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Frederic was taking a walk home, his expression dull and almost empty-like as if he wasn't there at all. When he spots Helios, his expression does not change nor does the tone of his slightly monotone voice.]

...Helios.

[ action ]

[folklorist]

[ Running into people he doesn't really want to. He sometimes wishes he had a rabbit foot on hand for this place. Just stopping and looking at the source of that voice. ]

Ah...Frederic. H-Hello. [ Awkward? You bet. ]

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Walking closer to his friend, Frederic is slightly glad to see him.] It's good to see you again, friend.

[ action ]

[folklorist]

It's...good to be back.

[ To a certain degree. Helios no doubt is thankful and happy that both Frederic and Giles are alive and well. It's more than he can ask for in that chaotic draft. ]

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

I'm going to get you back to the apartment, do you want to put your hand on my shoulder?

[Frederic wanted to get home already now that he found his friend so they could talk, after all it was a lot to cover.]

[ action ]

[folklorist]

[ He looks away shaking his head. The apartment. He'd have to go back eventually. He can't bring himself to be more of a burden on Frederic, especially when he's just gotten back. ] I was going to go check on the barriers first. [ Another sigh. ]

I'm fine enough to walk. Thank you. Just...just a little wobbly.

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[He nods at his friend, but sighs a little.] Helios, the barriers can wait for now... We have much to discuss.

[ action ]

[folklorist]

[ A slight wince. He knows it's true. ] They...they can, I know. I-I just don't...people have to be warned. I don't know what my...situation might have done to them.

[ He only mumbles this next part. ] Of course we-we do.