Forge Contact

[applelimber]

"You got something to say too?"

Comments

[yetsleeping]

[...some silence. And then...]

Helen.

[applelimber]

[She just listens for a moment. But when she realizes that she has no idea what the hell she's listening for, she finally speaks up.]

I'm here.

[yetsleeping]

I'm not--

I mean. I'm still me.

...I know you're hiding, because I can't feel you anywhere. So. I know you can't feel me either.

So... I wanted you to know.

[applelimber]

[More silence, at least on Priscilla's end. There's probably some talking going on between her and Deneve though.]

Hey. Do me a favor.

Say it again.

/ backdated to last night

[halcyonthird]

[Sigh.]

Helen.

[applelimber]

Oh. Hey there.

[halcyonthird]

It's safe to assume the contest is off.

[applelimber]

Looks that way.

Guess we should've had a plan B.

[ Video | Event - forward dated for the 11th ]

[swordofthenorth]

Are you always this abrasive, my dear Helen?

[ There is a smile on his face. It might actually touch the corners of his eyes. ]

It's no matter, you needn't answer that. I think I'm coming to admire your steely will and unruffled constitution.

Tell me, would you be opposed to a visit at the Foxhole?

[ The tone implies he knows she will be, and that he's kind of counting on it. ]

[ Video | Event ]

[applelimber]

['Well, I save the worst of it for you.'

At least that's what she'd like to say. But that smile throws her off her game.

Everything he says sends a shiver through her. And not in the good way.]

Let's put it this way...I'd be less opposed to having my skin peeled off an inch at a time, stabbed through with a thousand rusty poles, and then set on fire.

[Even that doesn't fully articulate the opposition to that. But those eyes...]

[ Video | Event ]

[swordofthenorth]

Oh my... that does sound rather objectionable.

[ Not that he seems deterred in the least. ]

[ In fact, he chuckles softly, leaning a little closer to the camera. ]

[There is... evidence that he's on the move, but the background is obscured by his closeness. ]

Are you so opposed because you would be able to recover from such treatment, whereas you're less likely to recover with me?

[ T-teasing...? May just be! ]

[ Video | Event ]

[applelimber]

[When he leans closer to his Forge, Helen leans away from hers. It's instinctual. After a moment she relaxes, determined to stand her ground.]

I don't know, death is pretty hard to recover from, don't y]ou think?

[A bitter smirk touches her lips.]

Is there some reason you're ruining my appetite for the next few days? Though I guess I should be glad you don't have anything better to do with your time.

[Like. Killing Claymores, romancing Priscilla, and eating guts.]

[voice | event!]

[twoswordjuniper]

Helen. Where are you?

[But the real question is Why aren't you here with me?]

[voice | event!]

[applelimber]

[How is she supposed to answer that? By telling Deneve that Isley is on her trail and calling her creepy things...like by her name, for example.]

I'm just stretching my legs. I'll be home...Damn. I'll be back as soon as I can, okay!

[voice | event!]

[twoswordjuniper]

[Pause of SUSPICION.]

What's going on?

[voice | event!]

[applelimber]

Nothing! Look...I'm just trying to throw someone off my trail. It's no biggie.

['No biggie', she says.]

All you need to worry about is taking care of the bar and feeding Rooster.

[yetsleeping]

[Here comes the audio, and at first it's nothing but sniffling. And then sobbing. And then...]

H-Helen?

Helen?

Voice

[applelimber]

Hey.

[Pause]

I wanna ask how you're feeling, but I think I've already got a clue.

Voice

[yetsleeping]

[And a sniffle.]

I'm all right. I mean... It hurt. The...

It's not the wound, though. You know?

Voice

[applelimber]

Yeah...

[She sighs.]

So I gotta ask. Who are you crying for? [Isley, Senji, or even herself. Helen could understand that.]