[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]

[Of course he does... Maybe. Robert has told him a thing or two, but he's certainly not going to pry into some things. He gives Robert a sympathetic glance.]

It's never easy to encounter death so up close and personal, no matter what the situation... and especially when it's a close friend. I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[semper_cogitans]

[It's not as if it isn't blindingly obvious anyway.

Robert shudders slightly, stiffening almost defensively despite himself.]

... H-He... he did it to, to save my life.

[That's the barest-bones reason of the "why", and Robert himself can't understand the true thought process behind it.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don abandons his parts - they don’t fit together anyway - and comes to perch on the arm of the couch next to Robert. You know. In a just-friends way.]

[ufo_fanboy]

[Mulder can understand how that feels, being grateful to have one's own life spared but guilty at what it cost.]

And I'm sure he won't regret that, either, when he's back among us.

[semper_cogitans]

I... most certainly hope not.

[Robert has difficulty articulating all these feelings to Mulder. Wondering why he deserved it. Why Giles would die for somebody that probably wasn't that important to him. Why violence had to exist here.

... And why he was thinking about using it, now, himself.]

Whatever he loses, I can only expect it to be... a terrible loss.

[i_speak_softly]

[Discussing how a dead person will feel when they come back, and what they will have lost for their sacrifice, is still too surreal for Don. He shifts uncomfortably.]

There's... probably no chance the Malnosso would count his eyesight as the loss, is there.

[ufo_fanboy]

[It IS pretty surreal. Mulder is pretty casual about all of the weirdness. He thrives on weirdness.]

Unfortunately, I don't think they'd go that easy on him... but anything that's taken can be regained, after a couple of months.

[semper_cogitans]

Is there... any knowledge on that p-process, beyond what the guide details?

[Having never seen this himself before, Robert is entirely uncertain what to expect, though he finds this apparent "John" fascinating and does want to communicate with him eventually.]

[i_speak_softly]

It probably relies on a Shift. Subject willingness - isn't necessary.

[The barest bones of what Buffy told him, when it was Derek's turn.]

[ufo_fanboy]

The process is a lot like a kidnapping, so I'd have to agree about the use of Shift technology. Beyond that, I doubt any villagers know of the specifics. I've at least been told it works.

[Hearing it from a trusted source makes him more willing to trust the idea.]

[semper_cogitans]

[It seems... promising, but...]

For... f-for Giles' sake, I certainly hope that is the case.

[He just hopes Giles will be... okay to deal with things. Helios was very much less than okay when he first returned.]

[i_speak_softly]

[This is too much planning ahead for Don. He brings the conversation back to a more immediate subject.]

Mr. Mulder, can I get you a drink?

[ufo_fanboy]

It'll just take time, Robert... [As all things do when there's trauma involved. Especially on this level. Mulder has so much curiosity on what it must be like to get over one's own death.]

[For now, he turns to Don and nods.]

Thanks, I'd appreciate it. An iced tea would be great, but if you don't have any, I'm not picky.

[semper_cogitans]

[So does Robert, though it pains him to admit this.]

... I... I am not certain if I have any... [Nervously:] I, er, tend to have... warmed teas. [Because of Helios. That's a sore spot there.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don thinks iced tea is a kind of blasphemy, but he keeps his opinion to himself and goes to look around the kitchen.]