#kc_necropolis

"Maybe she'll remember the good times?" Colton says "Whose to say last is what wins out? "

"Ah.. I guess" He sniffs

"Like...what's the very best memory you think she might remember of you two? The best time?"

"One time, she was missing the sun.. I made this spot light... it burned the clouds away enough so she...well, it'd been so gray...but my device malfunctioned... she had the sun coming down from above, but the spotlight was spitting rainbows at her feet. She..she thought I did it on purpose, so she'd have TWO things, sun and rainbows at the same time. She told me I was the best... I loved it when she did that" The nocker wipes his eyes "Shit..gonna lose two man cards for this one"

"Ohhh...that sounds beautiful...." She looks at the glass form. "Maybe this could be a statue, instead, a tribute to her. Her family would appreciate that, you know? And then when the light shines through it, you'll think of how happy she was then."

"Don't worry about the man cards. I won't tell" Colton crosses his heart

Bertrand disconnects the wires. The storm passes

Sylvi takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Thank you, Bertrand. I think...I know that was the right thing to do."

"I .. should probably sleep or something .I'll thik on that idea about offering it up proper to the DeBukes." He lowers his head.

Colton pats the nocker on the back "Sleep's good. You need an escort home?"

"No..no, I'll be okay" Bert says

"You sure, Bert? I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay here. You need a break from it. And some sleep."

"I'll sleep in my own bed." He assures them, and cleans things up ,making sure it's all taken care of before heading up again "See my family"

"Okay." Sylvi heads up and out of the lab, Flopsy once again getting a lift.

Floppsy whispers 'Good work, sylvi. I saw a movie with Vincent Price once doing something like this... nooot good"

Sylvi whispers back, "Yeah, if he'd done it...." she shudders and doesn't finish the thought.

Colton and Sylvi see him off...and watch him go. Now Colton speaks up, "Wow. Nockers do not take helplessness well"

Sylvi looks sheepish. "Neither do I. You didn't see me yelling at Storm Murray and Chieftain Clem." She watches where Bertand went. "I feel awful for him."

"You YELLED at them both? Wow.. I.." He takes her hand "I feel bad I wasn't there for you then. Yeah, this sucks for him, and for you. I know how close you were to KElby. She was your best friend among the DeBukes, wasn't she?"

Sylvi nods, squeezing his hand briefly. "I thought maybe somebody had made a mistake and only thought she was dead. Or that maybe if she'd just died, maybe Spring cantrips would bring her back. But...I don't think that, anymore." She blinks a bit and clears her throat.

"We're creatures of dreams... believing comes easy to us... when it's the impossible. It's the all too ugly and sudden that's harder to take I think. Kelby was pretty bad ass all around. She and you made a great team"

"Maybe if I'd been there...." she murmurs.

"Don't." he says "Don't blame yourself, or second guess. Trust me and take it from a guy who lost his parents...that'll gnaw at you and do no one any good. "

She looks at him doubtfully, then sighs and nods. "I'll try." A pause. "This sucks."

"It does," he says and takes her hands. His cool glass one and his warm 'real one' and then he kisses her knuckles

A faint grin at the gesture. "Let's go back. I told Kourtney I'd read her a story."

"Cool. " A smile and they walk back "Hey, one day could you read ME a story?"

"Sure," she grins a bit more, and leans into him as they walk together. "Got one in mind?"

"Something more..adult. There's some fiona poetry I can borrow I bet you'd love"

"Maybe...someday." With the unspoken not yet.

"I look forward to it," He walks with her, holding her close "You know, when it's the right time" And he kisses her cheek to show he understands.

"Me too," she says softly, and they go together back through the trods.

(end scene)