folklorist | ϡ - Appointments Post

[Robert just stares at his feet, and for a few long seconds, he doesn't move or say anything.

Finally, he mumbles, almost inaudibly:] I... I just meant to give you this book. That was all. You don't have to... have a-any other dealing with me.

[He's almost proud of himself, in a twisted way, that he's managing not to cry despite the shake in his voice.]

[ That hurts...rather a lot. But he can't say he wasn't expecting such a reply from the other. ] S-Stop. [ Helios looks at the floor too, his voice wavering even as he tries to keep it level. ]

Robert I. I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to not...not talk to you for this long. I-I'm not, I'm not angry with you. I-I still want to...have something to do with you.

[ He just wants to apologize for everything and being an idiot for letting this go on as long as it did. ] It was uncalled for, what I did.

[Robert's hands shake, and he nearly drops the book. A month. A month of silence. And the last thing Helios said to him - screamed at him - reminded him so very painfully of the alternate world where Helios did hate him and it had been all Robert could do to not want to never talk to Helios again and not be a problem except for this -]

... But...

You d-don't hate me...?

[It almost feels... impossible. After what he allowed to happen. After what happened because of his foolishness, no matter how much Giles insists otherwise.]

No. God Robert I didn't...I didn't mean to not talk to you for so long. [ Helios looks and sounds ashamed. It's written clearly on his face. ]

I just...I was so ashamed the way I acted, what-what I said to you...I didn't think. I was so angry at not being able to help Giles that I took it out on you. I was so angry at my own incompetence that I hurt you in the process.

[ It's all said genuinely and Helios still doesn't look at the other in the hallway. His hands curl and uncurl as he speaks a soft shuddering sigh passing his lips. ] I'm so sorry.

Your incompetence? Because of me, Giles died - [Robert cuts himself off at Helios' apology, clearly bewildered.]

I'm sorry. I... I d-didn't mean for it to happen... I w-was the one who... who was supposed to die.

[Robert meant to get in the way to protect him, not the other way around.

Still, being out in the hall like this is a bad idea, especially with what this visit is supposed to be for. But Robert can't bring himself to ask.]

I-I could have prevented it. I just...I wasn't fast enough. If I... [ he stops and shakes his head. When all is said and done what's done is done and nothing can change that. ] You didn't deserve to die Robert. No one deserves that. I'm sorry I said those things to you after you having gone through all of that. It, it wasn't right of me, and I just...couldn't bring myself to talk to you.

[ He felt so much like his alternate selves, the Luceti valley experiment and the mirror one. ]

I missed you, H-Helios. I... I thought you hated me. I... thought you n-never wanted to speak to me again... [Robert cringes and curls his fingers in against his chest. He's afraid; so afraid of Helios' anger, because Helios means so much and he doesn't want to lose him, can't lose him... very nearly almost did, it feels like.]

I... I apologize, I just...

[He wants to throw his arms around Helios and just... reassure himself the other man isn't going anywhere.]

[ Helios will flinch a little at those words. How could he still miss him after everything he's put him through? ] Why-why would you still...miss me? After everything I... [ He bites his lip nodding slightly. ]

I can fully understand where you got the impression. I'm so sorry Robert.

[ He'll rub his eyes. ] Please don't apologize. Would you like to come in still? [ He's just now noticing the book, though he has no idea what it says. ]

Or, ah, you probably have some reading to get to...I-I wouldn't want to keep you.

N-No, the... the book is for you. [Robert's tone turns more pleading. He's not supposed to bring attention to himself, but that is exactly what this is doing.]

... M-May I come inside to c-continue this conversation, if... if you do not mind...? [It might throw Oroku Saki off, if he's watching this. Which he very well could be.]

For me? [ Oh dear. ] Ah, th-thank you. But I um... [ Maybe he can get Giles to read it to him...

Helios blinks and nods motioning for Robert to come in now. ] Yes please! Do come in.

[And so Robert ducks inside. He knows he shouldn't say what the book is for, and the note is hidden fairly well - as far as Robert can do so - but the temptation to is great.

He promised Don, though.]

Th-thank you, Helios... I, I appreciate it.

[Robert places the book on a table as soon as he comes in, treating it with extreme care - even more than he usually has for paper objects.]

... Is there, er, a problem? [He didn't entirely miss that waver.]

No need to thank me Robert. Simple courtesy that's all. [ He'll close the door and turn back to the other. Noting the way he handles that book. ]

Ah...we-well. I um... [ He looks awkward, embarrassed even. ] Let's just say I haven't been doing a lot of reading on my own lately.

... Why not...? [Robert knows Helios is an avid reader. He wouldn't just stop reading without a good reason.

... It's an obvious answer but Robert doesn't quite catch on to it yet.]

[ Sigh. ] Robert. I can't read. S-So you, you can have your book back. I-I apologize for you having brought it here.

[ He'll touch the cover of the book lightly with his finger tips. ] It's my price...for dying.

[Sorry Helios, he's pretty dense to implications.]

... Ah. [Well. Shit. This isn't good. Robert feels a little stab of anxiety go through him.]

N-No, it's... there is something else. Something... important. [Damnit. If he'd known that Helios couldn't read...

There's nothing to be done about it but to get close. So with a murmured apology, Robert leans in close to Helios and whispers right against his ear.]

There is an extremely important note in that book. You were meant to read it and then burn it immediately after...

[ Helios will back away a few but stop as Robert's breath tickles his ear. His green eyes go wide with the information just disclosed to him and he nearly hits into the table right beside him. ] I-I don't...

[ His stomach drops a little, this is confusing, very confusing. It has to be sensitive information to have to burn it. He'd make a joke about being a spy right now but no...this, this serious. ] I don't understand. What's wrong? What is it?

[Saying it aloud is a risk, a huge one, and by now Robert realizes how much danger Helios is in if Oroku Saki connects the dots.

But this is exactly why Helios has to know.]

There is a very dangerous person in Luceti right now... and if he finds out certain information about the barriers, you could be in serious danger...

[Robert wishes he could tell if Saki was scoping the area out right now. He can't, though. But...]

Are... Are there any kinds of magic that r-restrict sound to a certain area...? B-Because then I could... b-be more specific without risk...

[ Helios' eyes widen. He knows there are dangerous people here. He knows the barriers are a huge risk and that they put him in danger. He knew that from the moment he agreed to put them up anything could go wrong. Grell already knew about it and she was quite possibly one of the more dangerous beings here. ]

I could try to implement the one I've been working on. I-I don't know how well it'll work though.

[Robert nods tersely. The fewer risks taken, the better.]

I would... appreciate even the attempt. This is... very sensitive information.

[... The question is whether it'll work, or if it'll work long enough.]

All right. It'll take a few moments. [ Helios sets off to get a piece of chalk off the table top in the corner of the room. He'll get down on floor then and begin to draw a sloppy looking circle. Symbols will be drawn, expect Helios doesn't know if they're right or if they'll work. He can't exactly read them and that's what makes this all the more distressing.

He's going off of memory so he might pause every now and then shaking his head as he looks at the symbols that literally mean nothing. At least this might give him a chance to finally test this new spell. He'll rub the back of his head and sigh. ] I-I'm not sure...I-I can't look over my work. You'll have to step inside to have a full effect, for now.

[Robert simply nods, hoping that his own physics don't cause the spell to fail. They didn't last time - just weakened it when he tried to use it - so hopefully...

He steps cautiously into the area of the circle.]

G-Go ahead.

[ Helios' inability to read his own symbols might be the main causative agent to cause the spell to fail this time. Either way the headmaster will start to murmur under his breath. A faint undulating light will slowly rise up around the outer circle first green, then red, and now blue. Helios' eyes will glow that familiar green and then the light turns pure white.

Unlike other spells though this light will remain until the spell runs out or is canceled. ]

I-I think it might have worked! [ Helios looks around with an almost satisfied smile. ]

[Robert stares at the light, entranced. It's... actually very pretty - mostly primary colours, huh? - and he catches Helios' eyes glowing out of the corner of his own eye.]

Is... is there a way to test that? [Because he doesn't want to operate under the mistaken impression it's working when it isn't.]

There is. Perhaps standing outside the circle while I speak within it will do the trick. [ Helios is looking at the circle, contemplating. ]

Well there's only one way to find out.

[Robert steps outside the circle, curiously. He doesn't want this to go wrong, of course, and it's best to test something before trying to make it work.]

Please go ahead...

[... He hopes it works properly because this is probably the most important thing he's had to tell Helios in awhile.

But, honestly? It's also kind of nice to get to work with Helios again.]

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