OOM: June 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

[timelessinventor]

Helena disconnects Joshua's phone (to the faint sounds of Claudia swearing on the other end; she does hope she's not too put out) and weighs her options. She's probably best off tying him to the bed, just to be sure; she wouldn't want him taking off before she gets a chance to explain herself, after all. That decided, she makes short work of doing so (...what in the world is this... stuffed thing? Ah, well, it can just - rest on his chest, then).

When she's done, she settles in on the other side of his bed and waits for him to wake up.

Comments

[damncompass]

Joshua's actually a bit surprised that she doesn't pull away, people usually don't seek out his touch, but he doesn't pull away either. "What happened?" He'll stay here and hold her as long as long as he needs to.

[timelessinventor]

"A Warehouse is no place to raise a child," she starts (understatement of the century, that). "I had her stay with cousins for the most part, already didn't see enough of her - some men came to rob the house she was staying in. I believe these days she'd be called collateral damage.

"When I say I've tried everything I can think of, I built a time machine of my own." When Joshua makes an intrigued comment, she shakes her head slightly. "It only works on your mind, and - and all that meant was I had to watch it happen." She'd wanted so much to save her Christina, and yet she'd found herself powerless.

"We just had a... bit of a faff in Egypt. An archaeology dig stumbled across what was left of Warehouse 2 and woke it up; we had to go and shut it down before it overwhelmed Mrs. Frederic. I - those must have been failsafes against intruders, if I had to do anything like that just to go to work every day, I'd lose my bloody mind... And the last one." She nearly sobs again. "The last one, I thought I had her back, I really believed it. Of course, if I'd gone on believing it the floor would have fallen out from under me..."

(Not that she's yet convinced that would have been such a bad thing.)

Helena sighs. "And now this."

[damncompass]

"Oh." Joshua just winces as she tells her stories. "Oh. I'm so sorry. I... I'm not usually in the bursting people's bubbles business." He falls silent, just holding her, and letting her cry. God knows, he wishes he'd had a safe space to cry.

[timelessinventor]

"Hardly your fault." After all, it's unlikely his grandparents were alive when all this started, and she's the one who didn't let herself heal for a century.

Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring BANANAPHONE.

That, at least, is enough to startle Helena out of her melancholy. "Banana... phone?"

[damncompass]

"It's... an internet thing, I think. Claud's fond of quoting it when anyone's phone rings. She got a hold of my phone at some point, and changed all of my ringtones to that." He rolls his eyes, but pulls away and reaches for the phone. "Hey."

[claudiometer]

"Hey! You okay?"
Because, really, when you hear your brother get Tesla'd and you can't get to him? Panic-worthy.

[damncompass]

"Yeah, 'm fine. Those things pack one hell of a punch." He rubs his chest a bit subconsciously.

[claudiometer]

"Well, that is what they were designed to do. Did you get whatever was whammying her?"

[damncompass]

"Yeah. I bagged it. I think it probably needs some goo, but the bag's holding for now. It's a shawl, that's all I know."

[claudiometer]

"Well, as long as the snow stopped, you should be good until we can get it back here. Or I can bring you some goo or something. We're thinking Demeter because of course that would call to the grieving mother, how could that possibly go wrong."
Murphy's Law applies in force when it comes to Artifacts.

[damncompass]

"Hey, did the snow stop?" Joshua's voice is a bit far away for a second, and a murmur responds. "Yeah, the snow's stopped. We're ok. We'll figure out what the shit's going on in the morning." Without thinking, he reaches over and holds Helena's hand.

[claudiometer]

"Good. You guys get some sleep - I think she cut through the bar to get to your place, but that big of a whammy's probably pretty exhausting. Love you."

[damncompass]

"Yeah, I was about to suggest that, actually. Love you too, little sis." Joshua hangs up and puts his phone back on the night stand. "She gets nervous." For some reason, he feels like he needs to explain his little sister.

[timelessinventor]

Helena squeezes his hand. "I'm well aware, and I did give her a bit of a fright. I'm surprised she didn't threaten to have my bollocks on toast or somesuch."

[damncompass]

"I'm sure that'll come at some point." Joshua smiles at her. "She's right, we probably should get some sleep. I... possibly won't be defending tomorrow, but there's still a chance." He pauses, still not exactly letting go of her hand. "I... I can go sleep on the couch if it makes you feel better."

[timelessinventor]

"No, no, I - it's fine. I wouldn't want to put you out of your bed." So long as he doesn't mind her being there as well (she suspects the human contact will do her some good).

[damncompass]

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, and I certainly don't want you sleeping on the couch after that breakdown." He gets up, finally letting go of her hand and walking over to the lightswitch.

[timelessinventor]

"Well, if you don't mind me being here... I have been rather touch-starved of late." (Second understatement of the century.)

[damncompass]

"I know the feeling." Joshua turns off the light, then goes back to bed, climbing in beside her. "Claud's not the most tactile of people." He has a moment of... not knowing if he should hold her or what.

[timelessinventor]

"And I don't imagine this is the sort of establishment where people hug each other willy-nilly." She answers that question for him, taking his hand again (she doesn't want to presume, but she rather needs some contact right now).

[damncompass]

"aheh. Not at all. Scientists are not tactile." He squeezes her hand and in a strange moment of confidence, puts an arm around her and snuggles.

[timelessinventor]

She leans into it (god, she needed this more than she knew). "Thank you."

[damncompass]

"You're welcome." Joshua yawns hugely. "mmmf, sorry. I think the adrenaline's wearing off."

[timelessinventor]

"Quite all right, darling." That yawn proves contagious before long. "No doubt we could both use the sleep."

[damncompass]

"Rather. Sleep well, not-Lara Croft." He smiles, snuggling into her shoulder, and falls asleep before very long.