Priss
Priss sat in the kitchen and wrapped her hands around the warm sides of the cup she was holding. Aromatic steam drifted up towards her nose and she inhaled appreciatively, face sad and withdrawn. She was still struggling to come to terms with what had happened a few days ago. Bastet had taken Nyx's magick from her. That had never been done before. This incident with Mouse must be more important then she knew. Priss carefully put the cup of tea down on the table and started to cry into her hands. This was all getting to be too much. Who would want to hurt a sweet girl like Mouse? And she wanted to help her, and it was forbidden...she wasn't even allowed to look. Priss's shoulders shook as tears coursed down her face, weeping silently.
Giles
Giles walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of tea, and then put and arm around Priss.
"There there, Prisilla, everything will work out, just wait and see. But in the meantime, just let it all out, darlihng," he said, holding her as she wepr.
Priss
Priss leaned into his warm body gratefully. "I'm not even allowed to help the others look...I feel so helpless. Why Mouse? She's just a child, and she's already suffered greatly. Rupert, my mother took Nyx's magick when she defied her and said she'd go looking anyway. Bastet has *never* done that before. Never..." Tears flowed down her face, looking more like a child then ever despite the age in her eyes.
Giles
"Sometimes that is best, Priss. I've had to bind Willow's powers before, when she flew into a rage over the death of her lover, and I once had to bind Ethan's powers after somebody attacked me in the streets in London. Bad things happen. Often more bad things than one person should ever have to face. But Jane will survive this, I am sure of it, and she will be a stronger person for it," he reassured her, gently rocking her.
Priss
"Will she? Or will she break? I'm so afraid for her, so afraid..." Priss closed her eyes and shuddered. "She doesn't have anyone. She doesn't have her Pack, and she doesn't have her love. She is alone, and as far as she knows, no one is coming. She may break."
Giles
"Well, my dear, we have to have faith that that will not happen. And we have to know, that if it does, she will have people there to help her heal. Please, Priss, just keep the faith," he said, kissing her cheek.
Priss
"Have they not suffered enough? Can not the Fates just let them rest? Poor Taylor and Jane. After what hast already happened to him, he will be so desperate, so fearful for her." Priss wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Those poor children..."
Giles
"And we can think of them, and pray for them, and be there when they get back, to help them heal. But remember, Priss, as much as it hurts, we have our own children to take care of, here and now. Our slayers need us," he reminded her gently.
Priss
"Mouse is mine responsibility as well," Priss said back to him. "As my mother's Claimant, she has a strong hold on me and my protection. But if my mother say to me nay, I cannot help her in her hour of need." She picked up her cup of tea again. "Thank thee for listening, Rupert. Sometimes one just needs a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for doing that for me."
Giles
"I will always be there for you Priscilla, as long as I can be," he promised her. "But I am only human."
Priss
"I know, Rupert, I know..." Priss's eyes glimmered with tears again. "But for now...just hold me?"
Giles
He gladly held her, just rocking back and forth gently, stroking the side of her face.