eswareinmal | Always feel like she's runnin on a hamster wheel

Entry tags:

Always feel like she's runnin on a hamster wheel

Characters: Ginia Solana, Rupert Giles, and Helios Sprensonne
Open? No
Where: Schwanheim to the Two Faced Forest
When: Morning of RD 19
What: It's time to put a stop to Ginia's stealing spree and Helios and Giles know just how to do it.
Warnings: Violence and language

There was always a fall. A dark, crashing, downward spiral after the high, after the moment, after that fleeting feeling of success. Ginia knew there would be a fall and now that she was falling it was all she could do to slow her descent.

She barely slept after the heist, laying awake under a dark bridge, making sure no guards were coming after her, too jittery to sleep. Some of the books were safely with Liara, the other half left in the house - she couldn't call it a home, not anymore - as a sort of offering to Giles and Helios. They would know what to do with them, with the information hidden inside. Because even if she wasn't entirely herself anymore, the parts that hung on loosely still remembered her dearest friend and lover.

The morning came too quickly. She stole some pastries from the bakery, sating her hunger and her need to steal, but it wasn't enough. Nothing was anymore.

So when she sees a ring left carelessly on the ground, sun hitting the gold surface just right, Ginia pounces on it and hides it in a pocket, quickly seeing another shiny thing several yards away. That too, she went after. Once she was a thief, meticulous and almost masterful, now she was desperate and predictable.

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He doesn't - in the state he's in, even getting back to the house would almost certainly put Helios unconscious. No, Giles needs him awake, and as alert as he can possibly be.

Most importantly, he needs the help.

Giles kneels down on the ground. He takes off his bag, and sets it at his side. Then, after a second's further pause, he gives it a nudge towards Helios.

"Watch that, would you?" he asks, glancing up at his friend. The flap closing the bag has shifted just enough for Helios to be able to see the necklace glittering in it.

Might as well take the chance now. He gives Helios a slight nod of encouragement, before gathering some blood on his fingertips and beginning to pain the grass.

With nothing else for her to do, Ginia watches. She watches their surroundings to make sure no one stumbles upon them, though they are far enough into the forest that no one would reasonably stumble upon them. She watches the sky, too blue, clear, and happy for her liking. She watches Giles draw out the needed sigils, doing her best to commit each sign to memory in case there's a day where she can and will need to draw the sigils herself.

And she looks down at the bag, catching only a glimmer of silver. Her stomach twists and she pales as she remembers all the riches she stole. Even now her pockets were full of illicitly gained gems, coins, and jewelry. She'll have to return everything in some way.

And Helios looks back at Giles with a vague smile. He flips open the bag and takes out the necklace with its sliver skin and brilliant green emeralds. It glints in the sunlight as he holds it in his good hand. He looks back at Ginia and holds it a bit closer to her.

"It-it's for you. Giles p-picked it out. I-I just...put on some finishing t-touches." Helios gives the other man a smile as he holds it out to Ginia then, his hand slightly shaking still.

"It-it's much better looking than-than that o-other one, don't you th-think Giles?" Helios manages a truer smile that time.

"We thought you, um...m-might want a different sort of necklace, after all of this is over," Giles adds softly. He doesn't look up from his work, but he wears a faint, slightly hopeful smile, as he remembers his and Helios' work together, all for the sake of this necklace and this moment.

"Of course, um, in, in terms of his 'finishing touches'...well, um, Helios is being modest as always."

She'll see when she puts it on.

Besides - maybe being given something, friend to friend, will help. Ginia doesn't have to take anymore. She never did, of course, but now that she's herself again, perhaps she can see that for herself.

Against what they might have been expecting, Ginia coils at the first sight of the silver and emerald necklace. No. No, no more jewels, no more gems. No no no. Was this some kind of cruel trick? A trap? They already used the necklace once to lure her in. Logic regains control, reminding her they had no reason to trap or trick her, and that whatever they might have done in the morning was only to bring her back to her senses.

Still, Ginia continues to hesitate as she looks at the necklace. The mere sight of such finery makes her feel ill, but refusing such a gift would be rude and only hurt them more. Swallowing down her nervousness, guilt, and a bit of bile, she reaches out for the necklace and puts it on.

"Thank you," Ginia whispers, the words leaving her lips out of a gut reaction, and it takes her a moment to realize those were her words from her own mouth. There had been such a necklace before, a much plainer one, in a village nestled in a forest. She swallows, holding back her tears and the burst of emotion, allowing another word to escape instead.

"Why?"

Helios didn't expect her to do that, but he should have known. He looks at her sadly and with understanding as she takes it slowly, tentatively, seeing much of himself in her at the moment. It's only when she asks 'why' that he looks away. His own eyes burn a little because seeing her like this was truly unpleasant and he wished something like this would never have happened. But this world was filled with things they couldn't understand and couldn't really control. If anything Ginia was a victim in all of this as well.

"Because. That's what f-friends...no, f-family, that's what family does for one another. Isn't it?" They would not leave her because they were family and that word rolls off his tongue easily as he gives her a warm smile. They were all in this together after all and a cursed necklace was not going to impede on what they had.

"Because it was something good we could do for you, in the past. And if we could do so for you again...why wouldn't we?

We are...w-we are family, after all."

He didn't need to look up to see her reaction. The subtle changes in the air, the shifting of her body, the trembling in her returned voice...that had told Giles all he needed.

"And...and because I, I love you, and...and I've missed you, almost m-more than I could bear. W-We both have."

And any pain he endures from this fight, well, Giles sees it as just and fitting recompense for having to use such force against her. For her own good, maybe...but that hadn't made it easy to hurt her.

"...it's not the first time one of us has gotten caught up in a curse."

Helios still has the scars to prove that.

"I love you too. Both of you." Ginia's words still come as soft whispers because it's all she can do to keep herself composed. Anything louder and she knows she'll break and it wouldn't be fair to have the two of them take care of her. So she keeps everything contained, remembering again how easy it is to let everything spill out when words are so easy.

Her hands wring together and she holds them in front of her mouth, trying to find the words to say. It was a curse, but it was more than that. It preyed on her skills, her need for excitement, molded and shaped her until she lost sight of what she was.

She lost control. For the first time in years, for the first time since Alice's disappearance, she lost control.

"...It won't be the last, will it." Dour words, but truthful words edged with fear. It wasn't like an experiment, almost predictable depending on the time of year and from past patterns. Nothing was predictable here, and yet everything was. The laws of fairy tales. Things didn't change much between stories.

Ginia knows she should have known better and that bit of knowledge kills her the most.

Edited 2012-09-12 07:47 (UTC)

Love. It isn't a word he's used to hearing. But when it came to Giles and Ginia? It fit, so very well, despite not sharing blood they were the closest thing to a family that he had now. Helios looks sadly down at the ground at both of their words. They had an unfortunate propensity for getting caught up in curses, and mind altering condition. All of them were not of their own will.

"It won't. But...but we'll get through together, just like today and j-just like we have back in-in Luceti." The place and atmosphere here weren't the same, but the patterns were like experiments. Unpredictable and yet...at least the law of fairy tales had some balance to them.

No, it won't be the last. Giles can't stop his gaze from ticking over to Helios, at that, and his heart clenches in his chest. Did Helios ever bury the book, and get it away? Or is even now another cursed item working its will on one of his friends?

"...together. Just like today."

But they're his family, now - they're his world, and he loves them both more than words can say. Whatever happens...they'll come out together. There's not other way it can go.

Giles adds the last line to the sigil, before straightening up, and turning to face them both.

"That, um...that should do it, then.

Ready?"

"Together." Ginia whispers the word, finally managing to bring her head and eyes up enough to look at the two of them. They'd been through so many things the three of them, so much joy, sorrow, anger, anguish, triumphs, so many things binding them together. This was only another one. It didn't make things any easier to process, Ginia still felt the lumps of guilt weighing heavily as she took in the cut on Giles' cheek and Helios' bandaged arm.

But like everything else, this too would pass. They would go on together, the three of them.

She nods, looks over at Helios, ready to support him if he feels a bit weak. The urge to flee still lingers in her mind, but she pushes it away. It's not perfect, she still needs time, but the three of them. Together. The love they all share for each other. Those are the things Ginia clings onto because she has nothing else left.

It has not been buried or if it has, it was since then retrieved. But Helios would never say or mention it all that much, there was far too many other things to deal with at the moment. It was something to tackle another day. For now his sole concern was for Ginia and Giles, his efforts to patch up this mess were his entire focus now. Perhaps the book could actually help, but Helios hasn't actually tried to write in it yet. The forces and power unknown still to him.

Helios manages to get to his feet shakily as he wobbles a little. His face is pale in the growing sunlight of dawn, his eyes strained and tired. But he still gives a genuine smile.

"I think w-we are. Let's go back to-together then." Because that's what family does and that's what they will always do.

And, with that, Giles will use what power he has to activate the circle and bring them all home. The bright light, the sense of calling, the feeling of cold - probably familiar to all of them by now, but no less unpleasant, and it won't be long before they all find themselves, awareness returning, in the familiar environs of the little house they'd claimed for themselves on the edge of the city.

Immediately, as soon as he can think to do so, Giles moves to support Helios. He knows from painful past experience the reaction an injured body can have to teleportation.

Teleporting is much more cold and sudden than jumping about through shadows, but it's a good shock to the system and a wake up call as good as any. Shadows were soft and comfortable, deceptively warm and eager to share you up.

When they arrive in front of the house, Ginia also moves to support Helios, looking worriedly at him.

"I'm sorry." For hurting him, for hurting all of them, for causing all the trouble she has over the last few days. "Let's get you inside right away."

Teleportation does not do anything for bruises, aches, and cuts like they've all suffered. Helios is pale and barely biting back a gasp when they arrive in front of their home. He wobbles where he stands and would have fallen if not for Ginia and Giles supporting him. A shaky breath of air as he nods to Ginia's words.

"D-Don't. You don't have to apologize. Thank you f-for helping." And coming home when he knows it's probably taken so much out of her. But she did come with them and that's all that matters.

However temporarily, they're all together again.

Now all that's left is to move forward.

Giles goes to get a chair for Helios to sit down in. He nods to Ginia, as he helps settle the other man off his feet.

"You, um, y-you know where we keep the, the m-medical supplies. Usual place."

It wasn't her fault, so Giles won't say anything about it. But, this time, maybe Ginia can put her speed to good use.

Ginia takes a second to look around their home. It's only been a few days, but after being in and out and even avoiding the house, the place seems foreign to her, especially during the day. Giles' words bring her back to the present and she nods, remembering where the first aid kit.

She steps into one shadow and returns soon after, the kit in tow. It's not as good as a modern first aid kit, but there are some bandages and salves picked up from the local merchants. Ginia immediately takes out the fresh bandages, salves, then goes to get a bowl of water for cleaning.

Helios, for the most part, will let out a very relieved sigh when given that seat. He's a bit paler than normal, but otherwise fine. He gives Ginia a shaky little smile when she comes back with those medical supplies. Not the most recent of things here, but it'll have to do. Maybe his healing potions were done? No, no, they would need some more time to brew.

Another sigh as he shifts in his seat. He doesn't look entirely...pleased about the notion of having those salves put onto such a wound. But...it needs to be done. And he knew it was going to be painful.

It needs to be done. Medicine is always bitter, no matter the world. And most of that pain will have been caused by Ginia - her hand, at least, if not her mind.

It's an uncomfortable thought. But all the same, he still trusts Ginia to fix Helios up.

If Helios is prepared to let her, of course.

Almost in sympathy, the side of his face gives an angry throb, and Giles becomes aware that he's still fairly bloody, himself. He'll go to the well outside for some water, for Helios and himself both.

Ginia returns with a bowl of water taken from the pitcher left in the kitchen. It's lukewarm from sitting out on the counter, but it'll do for now, at least until Giles can pump some fresh water. She takes Helios' arm and glances briefly at him, looking for his approval before she begins working. Being able to help is a dose of painful and bitter medicine for herself, but she also understands if Helios pulls away and wants her to go.

He knows that it'll hurt, a lot. He knows that he shouldn't shy away and have Ginia feel anymore guilt than she already did. So he tries he hardest not to shy away, and not to flinch when she finally begins to dress the wound. It was an utter mess under those bandages, and he's thankful that he's actually sitting, otherwise he might have ended up on the ground anyway. This was at least a bit more decent.

Yet still it made his blood run cold. It reminded him of his hand and phantom pain shoots through his scarred palm as he thinks about it. Helios will just gnaw gently at his lip.

Giles comes back inside, carrying a bucket of fresh water, just a couple of minutes later. By then, Ginia's started in on patching Helios up, and he's grateful - to her for sticking around and trying, and him for obviously trying so hard to endure his own terror and anxiety.

Quietly, Giles sets the bucket next to Ginia, within reach of the first aid supplies. He grabs an unused cloth, dips it into the water, and goes to work trying to clean the blood off his face.

All the while, he finds himself keeping his gaze on Helios. At first because of what he thought he'd seen, just a little tic, and then because of what he knows he sees.

Giles knows Helios very well, by now, and so even trying to clean the blood from his face, he notices that slight twitch to the other's hand, and he knows it's caused by the starburst of a scar through his palm. A scar Giles put there, in a moment of madness induced by a mask. They've both scarred him now. Hurt him. It's a sickening thought, but it's also why Giles can't hold it against Ginia. If he did, he'd have to reexamine his own actions in hurting Helios in the past.

"...it should heal up," he finally says, trying to kindle the little spark of hope he's feeling into something more convincing. "You'll just, um, have to take it easy, for a bit. And, well...I'll be around to help."

Where he wasn't before, a mistake that he keenly feels now.

Putting a bandage onto the cut is a fumbling affair, as he has to feel along it before he can know where to apply the gauze. But Giles manages not to wince more than once, and he puts the bandage on with reasonable accuracy.

That's him sorted, then.

"Do you, um...do you need any help?" This, he directs cautiously to Ginia.

Ginia works as gently as possible as she unwinds the bandages, being most careful in the areas where dried blood has stuck fabric to skin. She focuses on the task at hand, perhaps thankfully missing the light twitches, though there's no absolving the guilt she already feels. Not any time soon at least.

"I think I got this. Helios, could you roll up your sleeve please? I'll need to take a better look at the cut and clean around it."

Helios jerks his arm away in an apparent flinch of pain. His heart beat picks up ever so slightly, his face paling even more so than it already was. He'll just clutch his wounded arm to his chest, trying to keep his breathing steady. He was doing so well...damn. He just couldn't...he didn't want Ginia to see them. He would go through the pain in order for her not to. It wasn't her, it was just him, and he looked so terribly ashamed in that small second. The embarrassment being replaced with panic. The drastic change in his posture was clue enough that something was wrong.

"N-No it, ah...it's fine. I-I think it'll be alright like this." His voice is shaky and wavering through a whispered reply. He could just do it later, really, no big deal.

Giles puts two and two together very, very quickly. He looks up, sharply, staring at Helios in alarm.

You never told her...?

Giles had never guessed, he'd never thought...he knew they'd stayed with one another, in Luceti, while he'd been gone. He'd just assumed that Ginia would know, by now. And that turned out to have been the absolute stupidest assumption he could have made.

"No, it won't," he says quietly. Then, heaving a sigh: "Ginia? S-Sorry, but...I, um, I think we'll be all right from here."

But he keeps his eyes on Helios, to make sure that's all right with him. It won't be the first time Giles has patched him up, after all. Maybe it will hurt a bit less, if it's him.

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