13165/Every Rose has Thorns

Every Rose has Thorns
Date of Scene:	01 May 2021
Location:	Apartment 214, Hugo Building
Synopsis:	Willow came home tipsy. Giles showed up with books. A cursed shield was discussed. Vitali was given a kernel of hope.
Cast of Characters:	Vitali Svyatoslav, Willow Rosenberg, Rupert Giles

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Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
There had been a note yesterday that was left on the table. It was nothing fancy, and had simply said 'Gone fishing. ~V'. Vitali isn't exactly verbose at the best of times. The note was neat and legible, printed rather than written. It's been the rest of that day, a night and most of a day since then. It's evening now, and darkness has started to creep its way across the sky.

The bedroom door to the room that Zhao and Vitali share had been mostly closed for most of that time. It's not particularly a strange thing. It opens, and Vitali quietly steps out of the room. Soraya is on his left shoulder, her beak worrying over a bit of his hair, repeatedly, and occassionally tugging on that very lock of hair. She's trying! There might be the sense of that he's only come out of the room because she's been harassing him essentially non-stop since he woke up after Zhao had knocked him out.

The Siberian looks as though he's slept in the clothes that he's wearing right now. That's not a normal sort of thing. He's wearing a pair of blue jeans, and a dark green turtleneck. He's had better days, from the looks of him, given that his eyes are a bit red and puffy and his cheeks are red. His braid is dishevelled rather than the usual neat, and not just from Soraya's harassment of him. Vitali exhales a breath, and he lifts his right hand to carefully take hold of Soraya's beak in his fingers, and he turns his head towards her. "Peace, Soraya, pozhaluysta," he says quietly, the words a bit shaky. Soraya gives a soft chirp of sound, around the lock of hair she's holding in her beak, which might be comical at another time but right now, Vitali doesn't see the humour in it.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
The last few days have been hectic for Willow, but for the most part good. After all she's got herself a new job!! And tonight she'd been out, *drinking* to celebrate with Buffy and Angel.

Willow. Was drinking. Like more than a glass full.

She just now got home, and wandered to the kitchen, missing the note on the table, wondering was there to eat.. Hrm. Cold pizza? It would have to do.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
There's a sigh from the Siberian, and he lowers his hand away from Soraya's beak before lifting that hand to rub his forehead. His head aches, and he half closes his eyes. There's no such thing as balance to be found, not on any level right now. He's definitely not anywhere near to being okay, at the moment. But he doesn't do anything to chase or remove Soraya from his shoulder. Though that could be because if he were to attempt it, she would just fly back anyways.

As Willow comes into the apartment, his brow furrows a bit and he gives a small nod to her. "Vecher, Willow," he says quietly, not as steadily as he might have hoped. It's a shadow of his usual greeting at this time of day, and there's no 'dobryy' to go along with it. In his perspective? It's not a good evening. It's simply evening.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Coming out of the kitchen, one piece of pizza in her mouth, and one piece in her hand, she had to think.. 'When did I get a roommate..'

Suddenly, she recalls.

"V-mmm-er.. something..d-er-something.. 'dobbry." She quickly finished the one slice. "Sorry. My mouth was full." Willow grins. "You can have some too. I think we have two pieces left. There just from the other day. My BOSS gave it to me." Her head cants to one side. "I think he was coming on to me?"

It was almost a blur now. And she most certainly did not mean to ask Vitali about him. Though he could be a source of information? Maybe.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Just about the time a new boss is mentioned, with pizza and perhaps coming on, there comes a knock at the door. Giles stands there, on the other side, patient. He is dressed casually, in jeans and a dark blue knit sweater. He wears his normal shoes, a leather almost loafer affair. A black leather jacket hangs over the shirt.

Held within his arms is a stack of books, some fairly thick, some less so. For research, most likely. Now that the knock is complete, he puts his right hand beneath the books so he doesn't have to balance them with one hand.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
There's a slight quirk up of one of his eyebrows at the greeting that she attempts, which he'll grant credit for even though it wasn't complete. He seems to wilt a bit, and he lifts one of his shoulders in a bit of a shrug. "Nyet, is not dobryy. Is more... plokho," he says quietly, frowning a bit.

Soraya tugs that lock of hair that she's been holding, and he glances towards her. She ruffles her wings, eyeing him, and then tugs the lock of hair again. Vitali looks to Willow, and he gives a small shake of his head. "Am thanking for offer. Am not hungry, izvinite," he says quietly. He tilts his head a little to one side, and then gives a confused shake of his head. "Am not understanding. Izvinite, Willow. What is boss? What is... coming on to?" he asks, the last spoken a bit more hesitantly and uncertainly.

He steps over towards the table and retrieves the note he'd left there the morning of the previous day. Yet all he does with it is to fold it in half before tucking it away into one of his back pockets. And then there comes the knock at the door, and he wrinkles his nose slightly as he looks in that direction. Soraya pulls his hair and clicks her beak at him. He sighs softly, no doubt being harassed inwardly by her as well. He's had a day. Well, to be fair, it's been more the past two days than just today. He steps over to the door and opens it, one of his eyebrows raising slightly. "Vecher, Giles. Voydite," he offers, opening the door further and then stepping out of the way as he gestures inside. 'Evening, Giles. Come in.' "Need help with books?" he asks in a soft tone, giving a slight nod towards the stack of them being carried.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Giles! *gulp* And here she was tipsy.. for the second time in two days.

"Hi?" Willow hurried to eat her pizza, as she moved to the couch. "Find a seat?" What did he want with those booo.. oh. The Shield. Did she make plans? Oh gosh. She must have. Gone was the conversation about her boss, the new job, pizza, and beer, replaced with trying to be responsible! (Ha!) And hopefully Giles wouldn't notice her being tipsy. As long as she stayed in one spot, she should be fine.. Or so she thought.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles als wears his glasses. Something that is pretty common for him. It's more rare for him to be seen without them than with them. As the door opens, he notices just who it is. It takes him a moment to plaster on something other than a scowl, but he manages. Barely. "Evening... Vitali, wasn't it?" He glances to the books in his arms and shakes his head. "No, no. I'll just set them down. Is Willow here? We have research to do." He does step in through the door as he has been bidden, though.

"Hi," he says, eyeing Willow's very odd behavior. If he notices her being tipsy, he doesn't say anything of it. She is, afterall, an adult and can drink if she wants to. Much as he feels it sometimes, he really isn't her father and has no right to tell her off for drinking. Nothing is mentioned about plans. Perhaps Giles just decided now would be a good time to drop by? "Have you managed any research on the shield yet, Willow?" Over to the couch, books are plonked down on the nearest surface, and he sits down as bidden on the couch, at the opposite end.

Giles glances over to Vitali. "You look worse for the wear. Everything okay?"

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
"Da, am Vitali," affirms the Siberian, giving a small nod. Since his offer of help was declined, he simply gives another small nod at the man's words. And once Giles has entered and moved beyond the doorway, Vitali closes the door. "Da, is here, Willow. Eating pizza," he offers, lifting his right hand to gesture towards the kitchen where she was nomming on it. The eagle sitting on his shoulder gives his hair another tug and chews her beak down it again. If he's annoyed with the eagle's actions, he's very good at not showing it, though there is a furrow to his brow.

"If can ask... why are researching shield?" Vitali wonders aloud, his curiosity stirring up from somewhere within the funk of his emotional state. He quietly makes his way towards the living room, though rather than sit on any of the furniture, he instead settles to the floor, tucking his legs beneath himself in cross-legged fashion. Soraya wobbles a bit on his shoulder, but she has that lock of his hair to help with her balance if her talons are insufficient. At the question that Giles poses, Vitali gives a sigh before shaking his head, his dark gaze downcast to some random point upon the floor. "Nyet, vse ne v poryadke. Xiang Zhao ostavil," Vitali says quietly. He looks away, closing his eyes for a long moment, a flicker of tension passing through the muscles of his jaw as he simply tries to keep what composure he has, which isn't a lot. And he's quiet for a moment, perhaps almost long enough that one might think he wasn't going to say anything further. Except then he does. "Bylo skazano koye-chto. On ... nokautiroval menya. Soraya ne perestanet pristavat' ko mne iz-za togo, chto on skazal yey ne po-angliyski," he adds, still quietly. His voice is a bit shaky, a testament to his emotional state as much as so many other things about him in this moment.

His hands rest in his lap for a moment, and he opens his eyes to look down to them, his fingers interlaced. Soraya half lifts her wings, and she tugs his hair again. She does her avian best.

Translation: No, everything is not okay. Xiang Zhao has left.

Translation 2: There were things that were said. He... knocked me out. Soraya will not stop hounding me about something he said to her that was not English.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow does not understand the conversation, unfortunately. She frowns, and finishes her pizza. "Maybe I could make tea?" And cookies. Always cookies! However she does make a picture, going to the kitchen while wobbling.

Rupert Giles has posed:
"Ah good, I remembered your name," says Giles, a half smile appearing that brings a sparkle to his blue eyes. The eagle is mostly ignored, but for a curious glance. "We're researching how to break a curse on a shield." He looks to Vitali again as the man speaks in Russian. He blinks. "Who is Xiang Zhao?" This in English, likely for Willow's benefit. "And why has he left?" Quiet, once again, as he listens to the Russian. "Things were said. What was said? And what is Soraya hounding you about?" He glances to the eagle, then back to Vitali.

"Tea would be lovely, Willow, thank you." He watches as she wobbles toward the kitchen, lips twitching. "Tea will help with the head," he offers. "As will water."

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
There's a small nod from Vitali, though it's only a ghost of a smile that manages to briefly find his lips at the fact that his name was remembered. "Da, did remember," he affirms, quietly. He's not his usual self, that much is assuredly the case. His brow furrows a touch more as there is some explanation about the shield, and he tilts his head slightly to one side. "What curse have shield?" he asks softly. His curiosity leads him to ask, even though he doesn't know a lot about curses.

"Xiang Zhao live here. Is who make buttons for," Vitali says quietly, still looking down to his hands. Buttons, to go on a guqin case, that he'd never even had a chance to give the Chinaman. That doesn't help, and his head bows a touch further. His composure slips a little bit, and he closes his eyes for a long moment. "On ushel iz-za menya. On nikogda ne govoril so mnoy lzhi, poetomu u menya net prichin somnevat'sya v tom, chto on skazal. Mne prosto ... nuzhno nayti sposob prinyat' ikh, yesli smogu. No on skazal Sorayye ne po-angliyski. YA ikh ne ponimayu. I Soraya ikh ne otpustit," he says quietly, giving a small shake of his head. Then he's quiet a long moment, turning his gaze to Soraya, watching her closely. Soraya tilts her head to one side, meeting his gaze, and in this moment, it is likely rather obvious that there is something transpiring between the two of them. "He say: Wei wo zhaogu ta. Ruguo wo bu likai, ta hui si de. Wo ai ta, dan bu xiwang ta ruci. Zaijian, suo la ya. Then say: Wo ai ni. Then leave," he relates, doing his best to speak the sounds accurately.

Soraya leans in close to him to nuzzle her beak against Vitali's cheek. He slips his right hand free of his left, lifting it to lightly stroke his fingers over her breast as he gives a small nod to her. It's a moment before he turns his gaze to Willow, and he gives a small nod. "Da, tea good," he affirms. He might be able to manage tea, at least. He lets her nibble a little bit on one of his fingers before he lowers his hand back to let it rest in his lap.

Translation: He's left because of me. He has never spoken falsely to me, so I have no reason to question the things that he said. I just... need to find a way to accept them, if I can. But he said not English things to Soraya. I don't understand them. And Soraya will not let them go.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles doesn't really know what the Siberian's usual self is, so he can't really gauge that. Just, the rumpled appearance and lack of smile is wholly different from the last time he'd me the man. In a park. Happily carving a button by hand. "Well. It's less than a curse, and more that evil spirits were bound within it. Right now, it's broken. We need to find the proper spell to repair it, and replace the missing and damaged talismans that are part of it. Then it needs to be put back to rest. 'tis not safe to leave in the Magic Box any longer, I'm afraid, once it's repaired. I'm not sure 'twould be safe in the British Museum, frankly."

Giles listens to the words in Russian. He glances to the eagle perched on the Siberian's shoulder, then back to him. His expression goes a bit distant when he listens to the words spoken in Mandarin, and he looks thoughtful. He takes a breath. "Well. If I am understanding correctly, it sounds like he loves you and is trying to protect you from something. But I'm uncertain. The dialect is.. not entirely familiar to me. There are a few words I'm unfamiliar with."

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
The Siberian frowns a little bit at the information that's shared about the shield, his brow furrowing. He had been happy, that day in the park, when he'd been carving buttons for a gift intended for Zhao. But that day seems far removed from this one. "Evil spirits?" he asks softly, tilting his head a little to one side. "Can try for speak with spirits. Maybe listen. Maybe not," he says quietly. Probably not the safest idea. "Can maybe... mmm... maybe send spirit into shield. Meet with trapped spirits. Maybe can convince for going to Spirit World. Maybe not," Vitali says quietly. Definitely not the safest idea that he's ever given consideration to. He's perhaps not in the best of headspaces right now. "Can make wards. Not talismans. Maybe similar enough. Maybe not. Xiang Zhao make talismans. Different kinds," he adds.

Vitali lifts his dark gaze to Giles as the man offers the translation, or at least a partial translation to what Zhao had told Soraya. And he blinks, and he shakes his head a little bit, almost as though perhaps he's having a hard time believing what's said, and he blinks again. Would Zhao have actually lied to him? To protect him? Vitali wouldn't lie to Zhao to protect him but he would omit information intentionally. Soraya makes a soft sound that seems inquisitive, rubbing her beak against his cheek again. He closes his eyes a moment and takes in a deep breath before letting it out, and then he shakes his head a little bit again, though this time he actually seems a bit... relieved, perhaps. "Xiang Zhao give false words in English. Not think he expect for finding truth of words he tell Soraya. Not need be protected, am not helpless child," he comments softly. He looks to Giles and gives a nod to him, and a bit of a grateful smile. "Spasibo, Giles. Many times, da," he says. His heart still aches and he still has no idea how to fix things, but... he does, at least, know part of the truth. "Am need for finding Zhao," he adds. Finding him and doing what? He doesn't know yet. He'll figure something out! Shifting his weight slightly, he moves to get to his feet, still with Soraya on his shoulder.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles tilts his head, looking at Vitali with a new light. "You can speak with spirits? I'm willing to try anything if it'll appease the spirits. Maybe if you talk to them, you can find out how to put them to rest." He frowns though, and shakes his head. "I'm not certain sending your spirit into the shield is the right move. Willow," he calls out toward the kitchen. "What do you think of Vitali sending his spirit into the shield to speak with the spirits there? I'm afraid he'll wind up trapped by the barrier spell on it. Or attacked by the spirits within." He. nods thoughtfully at the words of Vitali's friend. "If he's willing, I won't say no to help. I don't think we'll have too much trouble, though. Willow is great with wards. It's just finding the right combination of wards that's key.

Giles can't speak for whether or not another would lie to Vitali in order to protect him. He might, if he was in their shoes. But it would depend on the circumstances. "He might not be easy to find. Perhaps best to wait for morning?" It is, afterall, evening time. Not that he'll stop the Siberian if he really wants to leave, of course. Chances are, he's nowhere near capable of stopping the man.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow peeks around the door to the kitchen. "Sending out his spirit.." She quickly goes into the kitchen again, and returns with the pot of tea and a container of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Very carefully, not to spill, she puts them down before answering. "It's hard. I wouldn't, personally. But if he's got the gift.. why is he sending his spirit off?"

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
The Siberian turns his dark gaze to Giles, and then he gives a nod. "Da, can speak with spirits. Am shaman," he explains. "Can sense spirits. Can speak with. Whether listen or not, never certain when start. Maybe will tell what is needed for making rest. Maybe not. Am not knowing. Can... mmm... can release spirit from self, go places as spirit. Usually go Spirit World, but can try for meeting with spirits in shield," he adds, his tone thoughtful. He's not mentioning the danger doing so puts to his physical self. "Is possible may be attacked. Maybe trapped. Depend on barrier. If is barrier to evil spirits, not be trapped. If is just barrier to all spirits, would be trapped. May not be able for enter that way, either," he says, considering it.

Vitali looks towards one of the windows, frowning a little bit. He has no issues seeing in the dark, in certain forms. But Soraya isn't so lucky. "Is maybe hard for finding. Know scent. If can find scent then can follow to him," he says softly. He frowns a little bit, and then gives a small nod. "Maybe morning better. Soraya able to look then," he adds, considering the notion of waiting.

Rupert Giles has posed:
"I... don't really know, Willow. It would be safer to stay outside of the shield. You might not be able to get past the barrier on it. I just.. don't know." This happens, sometimes. Giles not knowing. Not often, perhaps, but it happens. Seeing the cookies, Giles' eyes light up and he reaches for one of them. "Thank you, Willow."

He nods to the Siberian's decision on waiting until morning. It seems like a good idea. Else, he will lack a resource!

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow frowns, and holds her one hand over one eye. The alcohol began to leave her system, and unfortunately she was not one of the lucky ones who could drink and have no consequences. In other words, she has a bad headache coming on.

"If you mean Xiang, I can scry for him. Easy." And despite her headache, she brought out her laptop and booted it up. As for spirits..

If there was one thing that Willow knew, it was how others could put a damper on you, especially if you believed in yourself, but nobody seemed to. "Well, I can't, but Vitali says he can. That's enough for me." However.. "The shield was made especially for the one chief. It's likely he warded with his own protections. And if you weren't careful, you might be trapped. Sorta like us trapping a soul to eliminate it, only he'd use his own spells, and they were very strong. They have lived on past his death."

Laptop booted, she begins to narrow the search down for Xiang.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
"Is many unknowings in sending spirit. Have dangers," Vitali says, giving a small nod. "Is maybe not best idea. Am not wishing for being trapped," he adds, tilting his head a touch to one side. He steps closer to the coffee table before settling back to the floor, tucking his feet bneath him in cross-legged position. Then he reaches out for a cookie and takes a nibble of it. "Maybe speak to spirits from outside shield. Not need for release own spirit to speak with others," he offers, lifting his free hand to lightly stroke Soraya.

Vitali tilts his head slightly to one side, and his dark gaze turns towards Willow, studying her. There's a slight narrowing of his eyes as he gives her a moment of closer scrutiny, and then he gives a small shake of his head. "Pozhaluysta, Willow... please. Am just needing hand. Will help," he offers, lifting his free hand and offering it in her direction. He can fix the alcoholic effects, he just needs a moment and to touch her, mostly.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles nods with Willow's words. "Agreed. If you can do it from outside, by all means. Not sure I want to risk anybody being trapped inside the thing. I'll leave the wards to you two, and do more research on the exact nature of the ritual we'll need to put it to rest.

Willow's scrying shows results fairly quickly, in fact. The cameras right outside this building show him going to a nearby park, first. He is seen within the park chatting with a dark haired woman. Eventually, he gathers his trunk and guqin and starts to walk, only to stop and turn back. He nods and gathers his trunk up in both arms. The woman steps close and wraps an arm around him. The two take flight and the cameras lose them. The scrying picks them up again landing at the Embassy to Themyscira and going inside. That might not be such good news. By being admitted into an Embassy, there's diplomatic immunity to consider.

Giles nods to Vitali. "I don't want you trapped either. Outside is best," he agrees. He's finished his first cookie and reaches for the tea to sip it. Once in hand, Giles leans back against the couch and crosses his left leg over his right, at the knee. He looks curiously at whatever it is that Vitali is offering Willow. Healing? He doesn't seem certain!

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Would you?" Willow was pathetic, it must be said. "I know, I should suffer the consequences." But, she didn't want to! And besides it would significantly easier if she didn't to hold her eye in!

The park was easy. In fact she giggled about it. Thought when Diana popped on by , she did a double take. "Weird.. " Either she knew him, or it was a coincidence. Then again, she had looked concerned. Perhaps, she had some sort of special knowledge? Perhaps..

The rest was very hit and miss, until..

"I know where he is." For now, at least. "But you will need.. something..oh! I've got it."

And she wrote a note:

'Ms. Diana, You know me from the Watchtower. I brought the chocolate croissants to the meeting. I still don't know what my answer will be, but would you mind letting Vitali come to visit your friend Xiang. He's sad, but don't tell him I told you! At least they should meet to come to terms? I promise he won't hurt Xiang. Thank you, Willow.'

Folding it up she wrote 'Ms. Diana Prince'

"There. That's the best I can do."

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
"Can try, da. Am not sure what will happen. Is first time for knowing of item with spirits inside," Vitali says, his brow furrowing a little bit. He lifts the cookie and eats a bit more of it which turns out to become eating the rest of it. He looks to Giles and gives a small nod to the fellow, and there's a little bit of a smile that finds his features. "Is healing. Have some magics," he says, giving a small nod.

Vitali turns his dark gaze to Willow, and then he gives a small nod as she puts her hand into his. "Will not hurt," he promises. He focuses then, which takes a moment or two longer than what it usually does -- it's been a day! -- and he makes a soft murmur of sound at the same time as what he lightly brushes the pad of his thumb over the back of her hand. His magic slips into her and there's a moment where nothing happens as he simply makes an assessment of her physical self. And there is a bit of warmth as he uses his magic to filter out and break down the alcohol from her system, easing in a bit of water to rehydrate her as well. It takes him a few minutes to have it done, and then his magic withdraws from her and he slips his hand away from hers before giving a small nod to her. "Should be better, da," he says softly. His hand returns to his lap, and he waits whilst she does her scrying.

He retrieves another cookie as he rises to his feet, moving so that he can see the screen of the laptop, to watch the scrying results. And he tries not to be jealous about what he sees, but it's hard not to be upon seeing how easily Zhao seems to allow someone else to touch him. And yet when he touches Zhao... he sighs softly, his brow furrowing a bit and a frown touching his features. "Is safe, at least," he says softly. "Many thank yous, Willow. Am... not knowing more to do. Can only hope Zhaoshenka will want to see," he says in a quieter voice. He steps away then and returns to where he'd been sitting on the floor, settling anew in cross-legged fashion.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles shakes his head. "Nobody should have to suffer the consequences except perhaps the one who stole and broke it," says Giles, firmly. He sips his tea as he watches back and forth between Willow and Vitali. His blue eyes settle on Willow, for now. "What's weird?" He goes quiet again until Willow speaks again. "Knowing where he is, that's good. It's a place to start."

He nods to Vitali, at the explanation, and as his thought is confirmed. "Healing is good," he says. "Good to know we have someone around who can heal." He looks sympathetic with the Siberian. "That's all anyone can really do, sad to say. I hope he'll see you. I hate to see anyone heartbroken."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Make certain you give her this note!" Willow bosses, and then she smiles shyly. "Spasibo. See, I'm learning!" And with this she covers a great big yawn. "Would you mind Giles, if we look at those books tomorrow? I'm suddenly tired."

And if they let her, she'll curl up on the end of the couch, and sleep.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
"Actions give consequences. Not always falling on shoulders of who should carry them," Vitali says softly, a thoughtful tone to his voice. He lifts one of his hands, his fingers catching a stray bit of hair and pushing it from his face. "Da, knowing where is, is good. Is place to start. Am hoping will stay there. Am hoping will see. Can only wait, find out. Will go tomorrow," Vitali says, giving a small nod.

"Da, can heal. Leave no scars," Vitali says, a small smile touching at the corners of his lips. He nibbles on the cookie, considering what's said, and then giving a small nod. "Am not liking feeling of being broken inside. Is first time for feeling. Is bad feeling," Vitali says, frowning a little bit. He looks to Willow then, and he nods, a small smile finding his features. "Da, will give note. Many thank yous for making, Willow. Hope will help," he adds.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles shakes his head. "I don't mind, Willow. Rest. I will return in the morning." He watches as she falls asleep and then works on finishing his tea. He lifts his blue gaze from the tea to look to Vitali. "Yes. Very. Consequences land where they will. And often, that is not on the one who deserves them." He looks to the curled up Willow and finishes his tea. "Do you know how to get there?" That seems to be directed at Vitali rather than Willow.

Tea finished, Giles sets it on the coffee table, and rises to his feet. He finds a blanket and covers Willow with it, then takes his tea to the kitchen to rinse the cup and get it dried and put away. "Being broken inside is never fun," he says, with some understanding to his voice that says he has likely had his share of heartache. He comes back from the kitchen and heads to the door. "If you need a ride, do let me know. I'll drop you off on my way into the city tomorrow morning. Take care, Vitali. Good night." And with that, exits the apartment, making sure the door is locked, and then shut behind him.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
The Siberian tilts his head a little bit to one side when Giles mentions returning in the morning, and he gives a small nod. "Da, is often way. Not fair, but... is way," he says, a thoughtful note to his voice. He looks to Willow, watching her as she sleeps. And at his question, his dark gaze turns back to Giles and he gives a small shake of his head. "Nyet, am not knowing where Embassy is," Vitali says, his brow furrowed. He says the word carefully, it being an unfamiliar one to him.

"Nyet, am just... want to feel whole again," he admits, shyly looking down at his hands in hi lap. Admitting things is not easy. He looks up at the offer of the ride, and then he gives a small nod. "If is not imposing, would appreciate ride there in morning. Spasibo, Giles. Will try. Spokoynoy nochi," he offers in turn, a bit of a smile finding his features. He watches the man leave, and then he fixes himself a cup of tea to sip whilst he watches over Willow.