14511/Everyone is back in time, although a different time for some

Everyone is back in time, although a different time for some
Date of Scene:	13 August 2022
Location:	Le Grand Andely Convent, Normandy, France
Synopsis:	Willow and Nick travel to visit an old, very old new friend.
Cast of Characters:	Hellequin, Phantasm (Drago), Willow Rosenberg

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Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Okay, I debated telling you someone, but I decided to show you."

Willow was babbling. Or so it would seem. She had tossed and turned the pros and cons of telling him - anyone really - the truth. Well she'd told Buffy, but that didn't count. Right? To tell someone who could turn it around and tell Henri? That was definitely something she didn't want.

Until, she had thought it through.

Which was why she had decided to let Nick into the secret.

"We're going to take a short cut. I've got friends." Willow really meant working friends, but that was neither here or there. "We're going to France. And then we're going to go on a trip. Just a wee little trip. I want you to meet someone and help me make a decision."

Nick Drago has posed:
It started off like any other time Nick's gotten contacted by Willow. And if history is anything telling it's that when the phrase 'I want to show you something.' is uttered by a Rosenberg or a Summers. It's best not to make plans for the rest of the day.

Because weird shit is about to go down

The trip over to see Willow wasn't long. But the mention of going to France makes him blink. "...We're not messing with that coin again, are we?"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Maaaaaaaybe?"

Okay. Maybe Nick would be easier to tell than Willow thought.

"It's not the coin. It's simpler if I just show you."

Nick Drago has posed:
As Willow starts to avoid answering the question, Nick tilts his head back, starting to frown. "Willow, That was a one- two time thing. We can't ke-"

When she follows up with the actual answer, he straightens, "Ah... Ok. Just no time travel. Okay?"

Hellequin has posed:
When Willow and Nick finally reach their destination thanks to Willow's friends short-cut, the sun slowly descends towards the horizon, but its last rays still provide an almost magical luminosity around, reflecting on the centuries-old walls of the Grand Andely convent in Normandy.

The courtyard of the Covent is surrounded by high walls, to let the sisters live their life in peace without laypersons intervening with their vocation. Only rare visitors are admitted, and they must be pre-approved by the Superior. From shared acquaintances, Willow Rosenberg was on the list of those receiving such privileged authorization.

The main point of interest in the courtyard is the ancient St. Clotilde's well, said to have curing virtues. Around the well, a few stone benches are placed in a horseshoe shaped arrangement.

A young woman is sitting on a bench by the well, her gaze lost in the depth of the water. She is wearing the novice clothes, a white blouse, light blue skirt, and tan shoes. Around her next is a large black rosary. The young woman is not giving any attention to her surroundings, and she doesn't notice visitors coming into the small garden.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow notices Heloise immediately, and holds out her hand to detain Nick.

"I guess I should explain. I brought Heloise here. I know I said differently. But I lied. She couldn't stay there. And this time was as good as anyone else's time. Plus, there was no way she would be called a witch. Right?"

Of course, there were new problems. There were always new problems.

"I thought St. Clotilde's would be perfect. As an interim, or forever."

Nick Drago has posed:
Willow had mentioned going to France. But she didn't mention a convent. A curious glance is given to the area while he's likely also given some as well. But being that he is with Willow, he is allowed in.

The quiet scenery is momentarily appreciated but the glance around stops as he spots a familiar figure. Feeling Willow's hand, he turns his head to look to her.

The explanation is taken in and received with a nod. "It didn't sit well with me to leave her behind as well." He admits, "At least bringing her to present day is a way to avoid altering the past in a notable manner." He frowns, "Does she know about Henri? Does Henri know about her?"

Hellequin has posed:
Although they live within the walls of their convent, the sisters are still in tune with their times. Small cameras monitor the entrances, and when a man is visiting, only the inner garden is allowed, the rest remains locked and off-limit for the men and most visitors. The sisters also remain indoors when such a rare occurrence happens.

Sitting alone on the bench, Heloise is merely distracted by the voices still a distance from her. If they get closer, she will probably look around. For now, the young woman is too lost in her thoughts to be totally connected with reality, a very very strange reality to her. At least here, within the ancient convent's protection, she's not faced with all the modern monstrosities.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
That's where Willow shakes her head. "Neither of them knows of the other. As far as she knows, he's long past dead or some such. And he believes she died naturally 800 years or so ago. I wanted to see her. See how she is."

With the caveat: Should she tell them?

With Willow, and a love story, there was always a caveat. Always.

"Come with me to visit her? See how she is doing?" See if Heloise actually could digest that Henri was here? Or not. Perhaps she would do better not knowing. Either way, Willow needed to know.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick frowns. "...They should know." He comments. He takes a breath, "But yes. Good to check on her."

In agreement with the witch, Nick steps forward, the pace is relaxed and when he's sure Heloise can see them, he offers up a smile and a wave.

Hellequin has posed:
Was it the voices, or the hint of movement around, but finally Heloise leaves the security of contemplation into the well's water to turn her head around.

Upon seeing Willow and Nick, she automatically frowns a bit, out of concern. After all, the young woman has been living in the comfortable company of the sisters for many months now, and strangers are a source of concern. Nonetheless, as she recognizes both visitors, Heloise forces a smile on her face. The last rays of sun highlight the rich brown colour of her hair and creates a sharp contrast with the pallor of her face, which is totally devoid of any makeup.

"Oh," comes Heloise's calm voice, "Bonjour." And the rest of the conversation, each one using their own language, is magically translated to them - which means that someone must be carrying the coin.

"Please, come sit with me?" The question seems more like a plea than an invitation.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
~They should know..~

That phrase echoed in her brain. That same thought had troubled her the entire time Heloise was here. Willow countered: would he want to know if she had ended up, say, in the 1850's? 1300's? Somewhere in between?

Her brain said no. But her heart said yes..

At least in this time.

But her heart was not the same as his. Or hers. That's where she fell down. That's where Willow could not make up her mind.

Apparently, Nick has a different opinion.

At Heloise's greeting, all thoughts are banished for the moment. With pink cheeks, Willow said hello. "I really didn't know if you wanted visitors or not. And it got so long.. I'm sorry for waiting this long. Are you well? They're treating you nice? Have you made any friends? Gosh. Look, I brought Nick!"

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick's arm lowers as Will brings up his presence, giving a nod. Yes. It is him. Sometimes Michael. Sometimes Nick.

The invite to join Heloise is not ignored as he moves over to a nearby bench to sit down. The positioning is chosen to allow the time displaced French woman her space. Leaning forward, Nick rests his arms against his upper leg. The way the hands are cupped together causes for the scar on his forearm to be exposed. "It is good to see you." Nick states. "I too would like to know if you are doing well here."

Hellequin has posed:
With a gentle movement of her hand, indicating the benches around hers, the young woman's smile broadens. "Greetings, Willow and Nick."

"I am very... fine," Heloise starts, not sounding quite confident in her own words. After a moment, she adds, "The sisters are good to me, good comrades. They teach me so many things, strange things. The Superior told me you would come to visit me when she felt I was ready to meet more people." She paused, and a very light laughter escaped her lips as she adds, as in a whisper, "The good mother is afraid that I am weak in the head. But I am not." That said, the young woman continues, "I did not know that Nick would accompany you. So, my happiness to see you is even greater at seeing you both, for I consider you both as my best friends." She pauses, frowning a little, "I mean, living friends."

Chasing whatever sad thought had crossed her mind momentarily, Heloise's eyes study Nick for a moment, "I recognize you from my mother's house. But your voice is the voice of the angel Michael who came to save me. Which one are you?" Indeed, the voice at the stake she thought was of St. Michael, but he was called Nick by Willow. This was obviously confusing the young woman.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Heloise may have chased her sad thought away, but not before Willow had registered it.

She giggled at the reaction to Nick. "He was a spur of the moment invite. I guess I was nervous about meeting you. The Mother Superior was mostly right. I wanted you to find yourself in this time before I came." Just maybe not quite so long!

"They aren't so certain of miracles in this time. So when you talk about them, people don't see the truth." Willow smiles. "I like you too."

Nick Drago has posed:
Hearing the question, Nick glances to Willow for a moment before looking back to Heloise. "Well, I am both the one who came to your house and the one who pulled you from the stake." He answers, "As for the differing names, it is because I have more than one. My first name is Michael. My middle name is Nicholas. Over time people started referring to me as Nick."

Nick straightens up a little, considering the woman before him, and Willow's words regarding miracles "I do not know what she knows of your situation. But considering the trials you've experienced, she is mistaken on the weakness. Life as you knew it changed drastically. And that can be upsetting. And it takes time to adjust. If anything, that you're still here and trying is more a sign of strength."

Hellequin has posed:
The young woman is silent for a moment, registering what is said. And maybe listening to the strange sound of a car driving by the walled courtyard.

Heloise considers Willow for a moment, slightly tilting her head. "They do not believe in miracles, and they live among miracles. All these, hrm, contraptions, like the cart without oxen they call an automobile," this being carefully worded, "Or the one that is like a metallic bird and flies in the sky, with people sitting in it. To me, they are miracles."

So yes, the good sisters tried to bring Heloise to the present times.

And then Heloise's gaze turns to Nick, "Very well, I will call you Nick then." And that is settled. "Another miracle that I have seen, is the apparatus they call a television. Images in a box. Images that move. Oh, I have seen miracles there. Women speaking and sharing their opinions, this is a miracle." If anything, Heloise's smile brightens at the mention of women speaking out for themselves. "But yes, I am strong. God is my strength, and He is still around."

On that, the young woman pauses, taking time to collect her thoughts. Then she continues. "I was strong when they questioned me, when they tortured me. I would have fought them but..." Pause. "Then I learned that Henri had died, and I thought I would rather die as well, so we would be reunited. Oh, did I call after him to come avenge me. But God would not allow him to return to me and punish my accusers." Or did he?

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow could not help but smile.

"They have a different way of looking at miracles. I think there are so many things to be regarded as such, that people's brains would have shut down to view the world that way. I believe in the sanctity of life. The way we interact between people; the way we interact with nature; the way we interact with everything is a miracle."

"That's why it's so important how we are. We can do anything we want, but anything isn't the correct way - is it?"

Willow looks at her, and grows very serious. "And if you had the chance, would you go back in time - earlier - to go off with him and life your life together, would you? Even if it meant you have be able to tell your mother where you were? Would you?"

Would she want to go forward in time, and live with him, and all he has become? Would she?

Nick Drago has posed:
Mike nods in agreement to Willow. "When raised up around things of that nature all your life, one tends to lose sight of how important things are. Perhaps your outside perspective will benefit you here." Nick muses.

The mention of her calling for Henri to avenge her causes for the smile to fade. He looks over to Willow, brow raised. "...If your call had worked, how would you feel?"

Hellequin has posed:
Heloise listens carefully, as always. And as always, she takes the time to think.

You speak true, Willow," the young woman replies, "No matter the new inventions, only God's creations are important, nature and mankind." She frowns a bit before adding, "Even mankind in its imperfections. Still, yes, we can interact, and that is what our soul will be judged upon."

Then the silence that ensues is broken by a sigh, before she answers the questions, both Willow's and Nick's, since they are related.

"I would not tell my mother about my whereabouts," Heloise states firmly, "She is the source of my predicaments. I have no desire to go back to where I was, to be ill-treated by men who think they are equal to God in deciding who can live or die. I will stay here, I have so many things to learn." At the thought of Henri, her smile fades away, "I miss my dear Henri, but he has met his death, while I am still alive. It is my Christian duty to remain alive until God decides otherwise."

Then Nick's questions seemed to trouble the young woman. "I am not sure I understand your question, Nick. "If my call, you mean, my prayer for Henri to come back from the dead to avenge me? Well, if God had allowed it, then I would have no concern if it worked, because God would have permitted it. But God decided that it would not be. If Henri could be back, even as a ghost, I would still love him. I still love him, no matter what."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow touches Heloise on the hands and squeezes briefly.

"I have no doubt we'll see you again. Probably sooner than you expect." Letting go, she stands, and this time she is smiling from ear to ear. "Coming Nick?"

Nick Drago has posed:
You could think of the last question I asked as more food for thought." Nick replies, smiling at the response Heloise had given. He turns his head as Willow indicates it is time to go.

A nod is given as he starts to stand up. "Once again, it is good to see you. I am glad you have found yourself in a peaceful place." He bows his head to Heloise, "Until we meet again. Be well."

Hellequin has posed:
The young woman stands as well. She might be 800+ years old officially, but she's in perfect shape for her age.

"You are leaving already," Heloise says with a hint of sadness, "But my heart is glad to hear that I will see you again soon. I will wait for you, like the good servant waiting at night for the Master. And yes, I have food for thought, as you say."

On that, the young woman smiles and quickly bows her head as a gesture of respect, "May God lead your way and protect you both."