ϡ - Chapter TwentyFive; the price of battle [voice/action]

[folklorist]

[ It’s almost surreal, really, how at one moment the person you cared deeply about is there next to you alive and well and the next moment not. If he had only been a little bit faster a little bit more conscious of where Giles was during all that chaos...none of this would have happened. Instead he’s sitting in his room and has been for the past few hours thinking of something to say. Something to notify everyone out there who knew him that Giles was dead. The pain doesn’t ebb or go away but only gets stronger and hard to focus on something else. The scene replays out in his mind on constant repeat until he has to shake his head and just focus on something else. This is real it’s not a dream or something equally as mythical. It’s nothing but real and nothing but the price one has to pay for living here.

There’s a shaky sigh and a deep breath that comes out on the other end for anyone listening into the broadcast. The voice that speaks next it not colorful or usual in its tone it’s not anything, really. Lifeless, dulled, colorless in its presentation. He wants to apologize, but refrains. ] For those of you…who, who didn’t know…didn't hear. [ didn't see. ]

Giles, he—[ another semi-profound pause. He told Buffy he would do this for her, for him. And he will make that one last leap. ] he’s dead. It happened yesterday in all the, the fighting. S-So he should be back in, in about a week. The twenty-fifth. [ He doesn’t know why but it’s odd saying that. Odd but true. He and many others are proof of that here. ] Please keep an eye out for him. If-if you don't know what he looks like...he’s a bit taller than me. Has a British accent, wears glasses, and has brown graying hair. He might need some assistance, even if he’ll say otherwise. Just help him...when he gets back I'm sure you all will though.

Th-thank you.

[ Shaken and exhausted he’s not sure which is worse. He can't stay here, not right now, he needs to walk and get away from the confinements of this room. And so he does, he'll be sitting on one of the bridges, the one near house P and G. And one might see Helios simply staring out over the running water and they recognize him as a man who lost someone, someone easily capable of being family to him. He'll wipe away at the stray tears every now and then and compose himself for those passing by. A brother…a friend…

They comeback. It's a mantra in his head; he can't help but feel the Malnosso will trick him again and do the opposite though. It puts him on edge, makes him afraid of just how badly Giles will return next week. More profound is the pain that stems from once again not being able to protect someone he cared deeply about. First Elise, and now Giles. He can't protect anyone from the aftermath of his announcement either, but they all had a right to know, a right which is not his to deny them. Or perhaps it was? He's not even sure himself anymore. It will be the toughest week Helios, and many others, will have to endure. It could have been avoided...and that thought alone sparks a small bit on anger in his otherwise tired mental state. ]

Comments

[ voice; filtered ]

[herotypical]

[ she holds her breath throughout the news. it's worse, hearing it again.

of course, helios had told her already -- and she had fled to jack's house on the shore in a rather instinctive attempt at...what? finding comfort? getting answers about what death here was actually like? or just to hide?

it isn't until much later in the day -- practically the evening -- that she tries to contact helios in a heavily filtered message.

her voice is quiet and oh-so-carefully controlled: ] Thanks. The -- the announcement.

[ voice; filtered ]

[folklorist]

[ Helios would have filtered it himself but he can't read. He knows it's his death penalty now. No use denying it but there's no oomf there to tell anyone just yet either. So he's sorry about any undue unwarranted attention his unfiltered announcement might cause.

But he'll look up from his position still at the bridge; he's been there for awhile, just to collect his thoughts. The voice isn't a surprise. ] You don't have to thank me, Buffy. How...how are you doing?

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Good God.

[There's a pause, as a drugged brain tries processing this.]

What fighting? What happened?

[voice]

[folklorist]

[ A small wince on his end. ] Archie?

It might have been one of the villagers? O-Or the third party. I don't know. She was attacking people, damaged some buildings and she destroyed the-the village clinic. I-I don't know who it was.

[ He doesn't know Noel or anyone else related to her. ]

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Frederic knew of what happened already and so went to find his friend, sure enough he eventually found him and walked up to the other.]

Helios, it's me.

[ action ]

[folklorist]

[ He doesn't look because he knows the voice and who it belongs to. ]

S-Sorry. I just, had to leave to clear my head for a little. I-I should have left a note.

voice;

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

[...]

How did he die?

voice;

[folklorist]

[ He doesn't want to detail it at all. ] He, he was protecting Robert. S-Someone, I-I don't know who she was, was attacking people. And she went for R-Robert...and Giles-- [ he just stops there. Not really wanting to go on anymore and not really pushing himself to do so either. ]

[ voice ]

[hippocraticly.livejournal.com]

...Damn it. I'll keep a look out.

[ voice ]

[folklorist]

[ A voice he isn't familiar with. It is a bit strange hearing it. ] Thank you. It's very appreciated--Mr...ah, I don't think we've spoken before.

[voice]

[poorneedyand.livejournal.com]

[It hasn't been that long since Kay was promising Giles that she would keep an eye out for Helios' return. She blanches at the news, staring at her journal like it might offer some further answer; when she does speak, her voice has none of its usual verve.]

I'll be watching for him.

[voice]

[folklorist]

Thank you, Kay. I-I'm sure he'll appreciate knowing so many people...are watching for him. For when he gets back.

[Voice]

[ufo-fanboy.livejournal.com]

No! What- what happened?

[Mulder would find it a hell of a lot more uncomfortable to approach Helios given the awkwardness of their fist, uh, "meeting". But Giles has been one of his good friends here.]

[Voice]

[folklorist]

[ He hates having to keep telling it, but he has to. Because these people mean just as much to Giles and he does to them. This man's voice is familiar it's only been a few days since their meeting awkward as it was. Yet he feels it right to tell him. ] He was protecting R-Robert from...from a woman who was just...attacking everyone. I-I'm sorry.

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

[Giles is one of the few, very few, very few people Ami considers close to her. There are perhaps three of those, four at the most.

She's horrified.]

Giles is?!

[folklorist]

I wish I could s-say that he wasn't. But-but he is. [ A pause. ]

I'm sorry.

[i_speak_softly]

What?!

[folklorist]

[ Oh Don. He wasn't expecting you...not after what happened between him and Robert. His voice is flat, almost uncaring, but he reprimands himself, tells himself it wasn't Robert's fault. Wasn't anyone's fault and Giles throwing himself out there to take that killing blow was going to happen. But no, it still sparks some anger even now. ] H-how is Robert?

[Voice]

[goldenglasses]

What? He...





...I'll keep an eye open for him.

[Voice]

[folklorist]

Thank you. I think he'll appreciate it, very much. A-All the support for when he gets back. [ Helios hopes he won't need it, but you can't be sure here. ]

[blessedbyfarore]

[There's actually two parts to Link's message. The first, as he reads it, is just a sharp intake of breath, and the sound like someone was about to speak but couldn't form the words.]

[The next part, a few minutes later, is from an abjectly miserable Link.]

Th-thanks for telling everyone. I'll watch out for him.

[folklorist]

...Link? He'll be back...but, yes, that's all we can do for now.

[voice]

[all7seas]

...I shall circle the date on my calendar, of course.

[voice]

[folklorist]

[ He's not sure if you're being funny, or what. But he doesn't really like it, not right now. So his reply is terse almost angry but it falls short and is just tired. ] Keep an eye out for him as well. Thank you.

[daisy023]

[Giles. The person he had spoken to in the draft.]

Understood.

[She reads the rest of the replies.]

Any word on Robert?

[folklorist]

[ Any word...they had a few. ]

He-he's fine. [ Well physically. Helios can only imagine what he must be going through mentally. ]

[mikangirl.livejournal.com]

[Someone else Noel killed.

She won't respond, but she marks the name like she has the others. And she'll keep an eye out for Giles when he returns.]

written

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[The writing is a bit more shaky than it normally would be, the lines less straight, etc.]

I am sorry. You have my condolences.

voice

[folklorist]

I'm sorry I-I can't... [ can't read right now. But he knows or can infer what the message is. A shaky sigh escapes him before he composes himself enough to finish. ] Thank you.

[voice]

[thedicearecast.livejournal.com]

[Amelia's reply starts off with the sound of her journal hitting the ground, then silence. A long, lasting silence.

Finally, however, she works up enough will to reply.]

I'm sorry.

[voice]

[folklorist]

[ Another unfamiliar voice. It's so strange to hear all these people giving their condolences. He's not sure why, but it is. ]

You knew him as well, then? He didn't...he didn't deserve to have what happened to him happen.

[not really here]

[intangible-girl.livejournal.com]

[Giles... no.

Ingrid, exhausted from playing runner at the clinic, has been lying in bed trying to nap and failing. When she hears Helios' voice, she shuts the journal, curls up in the blankets, and finally lets herself cry.]