[Voice]

[ufo_fanboy]

[Mulder seldom drinks. Unless there's a weird cosmic alignment or the aftermath of a disaster of some kind. Right now... would be one of those rare exceptions, while he's hanging around his place sulking. He's got his vodka. He's got his frozen orange juice concentrate. He is all set[A lot has happened all in a row- the draft, the experiment, the

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

We're doing all right. All things considered.

[Circumspectly:] Were you able to defrag that disc?

[ufo_fanboy]

That's a relief, under the circumstances.

Anyway, yeah. I finally got around to it. I know it's not a huge priority, but let me know when you'd like it back.

[i_speak_softly]

[A pause, then:] Why don't you come over? We could use the company.

[ufo_fanboy]

All right. I'd like to check up on you guys. I can be by in little while, if you're fine with that.

[i_speak_softly]

Sure. [A moment later:] I'm at Robert's apartment. [Because by "we" you probably thought he meant his family.]

[ufo_fanboy]

[He's been pretty worried about the guy, so he's definitely up for any reason to check in on him.]

Ok. I'll see you guys soon, in that case.

[With that he'll close the journal and then head over to Robert's apartment.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don answers the door looking reasonably cheerful. His vigil is supposed to end tomorrow, after all.]

Hi. Come in.

[ufo_fanboy]

[Mulder heads in.]

Thanks. Considering how things have been, I'm glad to see you're keeping your spirits up.

[i_speak_softly]

It's not really a funeral if they're coming back, right?

[He closes the door and calls into the apartment.] Robert? Mr. Mulder is here...

[semper_cogitans]

[It doesn't take long for the scientist to arrive. He looks... well, a lot better than he did, though there's still a sadness about his features that lingers and tugs at him, much like it did when Helios died. This one is stronger, though - he still feels responsibility for this death, and it's haunted him and pushed him to think about things he's never thought of before.]

... Hello, Mr. Mulder. F-Forgive my... inattention to the journals. [It's more than just that, and it's obvious it's more than just that - but Robert's not sure if he should explain.]

[ufo_fanboy]

...and they will be back.

[It helps to be this much of a believer in things, at a time like this. Mulder heads inside and looks at Robert with concern. He'd known that he would have taken this really hard, and can tell it's taken its toll on him.]

Hey, Robert. Don't worry about journals, I don't think they mind being set aside for a while. How are you feeling now?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don resettles himself at the table in the corner, and goes back to fiddling with some technological odds and ends. He's listening.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert draws his lips into a thin, grim line at that.] ... Better. Significantly b-better than I did before.

... It is mostly... th-thanks to Don. [He's fairly certain that if Don hadn't been there, he would probably have just curled up on that couch and not moved for the entirety of the week.]

[ufo_fanboy]

That's a relief. [Mulder nods. He knows they still have some waiting still to put up with, but things could be worse.] It can really help at times like this to know you're not alone... so it's a good thing you have each other. [He looks at Robert closely.] Were you injured out there at all?

[semper_cogitans]

[The scientist can't help a full-body shudder at the last part.]

... Not physically.

But... [He knits his fingers together and wrings them against his thin chest.]

... G-Giles' death...

[Softly:] I, I had never seen anyone... die before.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don glances stealthily over his shoulder at that "good thing you have each other" comment.]

[... Nah. He must just mean as friends.]