Voice testing for luceti and maybe eswareinmal

[consultmybooks]

Right. So, we're doing this again, then, are we?

...at least you're excited. If we both don't want this, well, what's the point? I'll be gone in another month. And I refuse to put anyone else through that again.

Certainly some interesting plans in the works. No...sorry, I meant "horrific". Yes, I'm sure that's what I meant. Yes, that includes the party. Especially if one of them takes it into their heads to make it a surprise party. And depending on when Helios decides to admit what happened over Valentine's Day. To say nothing of all the people who I know fully well are hoping for a chance to shout at me or, um, smack me. Or hit me. In some cases, probably hard enough to knock me unconscious. And, with my luck, I'll probably be tossed at one or two individuals who wouldn't mind another chance at attempting to murder me, just for the flavor, and I don't just mean Drusilla.

Still. Um...it will be nice to see Willow, again. That's...something. Still as far ahead as ever, of course, but...well, you know how it is. I can at least make that work to my advantage, this time. And I most certainly intend to.

As for the other place...all right, fine, it's a shame about the train, but you do recall that having me in two places at once never works out, yes? I don't care how much the three of you are amused by it. We would not do well in a medieval setting. They stoned people like us to death, back then.

...but, we'd, we'd be able to remember one another? Helios, a-and Ginia, and I? Fine. I, um, I suppose my tastes towards weaponry, fighting style, and reading material might finally be relevant. I can only imagine how much that news might amuse Buffy.

And I hope the fact that I very strongly protest being made a ghost is assumed. In other words, I would hope you would know better than to, um, make me argue that point with you. I don't care if it sounds interesting. Things that, um, sound interesting to you rarely end well for either of us.

Comments

[shadedsunlight]

...I'm sorry?

[consultmybooks]

...don't be. It, um, i-it wasn't anyone's fault. It isn't as though you were, um, involved in any case.

[Said all in a rush. Giles really, honestly doesn't want to be angry, and he hates not having any control over his own emotions like this as much as, if not more, than the thought of what happened over Valentine's Day.

Being jealous is stupid, and should be something he's too old for.]

[shadedsunlight]

....But I was involved.

[A beat, a small shift in stance, more ready to run than fight back if it comes to it.]

...This is Alice.

[consultmybooks]

[And Giles gives a mental apology to Ginia.

Three months is a very long time.

How the hell can he still not tell the difference.

Giles takes a very deep breath, closes his eyes, and just...seems to shut down. It's with a great force of will that he makes all the fight leave him, and just focuses on standing here and not moving and not feeling anything as much as he can.]

And so you aren't Ginia.

...therefore, you don't owe me anything.

[shadedsunlight]

[Alice thinks maybe she should go. There's nothing she can do to make it better, only worse. But she doesn't. She stays where she is, body growing tenser.

She partially expects him to hit her. That's what people do when they're angry, right? That was what Helios did when he was mad at Giles during Halloween, so why is this any different?]

...But I do. Because now you're angry at Helios.

[consultmybooks]

I'm not angry with Helios. I'm starting to think that I'm, um, physically incapable of it.

[If only because Helios has a remarkable knack for looking like a kicked puppy under pressure.]

Don't trouble yourself about that.

I'm angry with the Malnosso, and that place, and the fact that I've been gone for three months and the fact that the three of you are entirely within your rights to move on.

[shadedsunlight]

...She hasn't. He hasn't either.

[consultmybooks]

Then they are both, and I say this with the greatest possible affection, idiots.

The fact that I am coming back is, is irrelevant, after all this time.

[shadedsunlight]

You left a lasting impression. And you two were in love? So... it doesn't sound easy to move on. [A pause, another awkward shuffle.] You know her. You know she doesn't move on easily. ...Nine years now.

...Would you really have wanted them to move on?

[consultmybooks]

...what I want is irrelevant. Even disregarding how often I find myself divided over matters like this, a-and I am. I died. They didn't. They were still there, with, with their own affairs to manage, and themselves to look after.

...still. Neither of them are, um, terribly good at moving on. I know that, you're right. I suppose that's, um, at least one point where we differ a bit.

[For all his many faults, Giles at least has a knack for outrunning his pain and not looking back.]

[shadedsunlight]

I guess so. The moving on part. They kinda suck at it, but... I guess they have a lot to remember too.

[A pause again, then an awkward glance at his direction.]

...I missed you too.

[consultmybooks]

[He flinches, slightly, at those awkward words. Mostly because, well...]

I'm surprised.

[She doesn't really have any reason to miss him, does she? Apart from the obvious factor of Ginia.]

[shadedsunlight]

...Someone had to yell at me and keep me in line. Because Grune and Helios are kinda really bad at it.

[consultmybooks]

If you, um, think you need being yelled at, shouldn't you be able to, to monitor your own behavior, then?

I never yelled.

[shadedsunlight]

But no one ever explains anything to me. They just laugh or roll their eyes or shake their head, but they don't tell me what I'm doing wrong or why.

...Talked in a stern and slightly exasperated tone.

[consultmybooks]

...Talked in a stern and exasperated tone, yes.

[He'll certainly cop to that much, at least.]

Odd. That, um, doesn't sound like them.

...granted, Helios and, um, and Grune especially are far more...I suppose the phrase "laid back" is appropriate...than I am. They might not believe that you are doing anything wrong.

[shadedsunlight]

Helios stammers. Everyone else just laughs.

...I don't like it when people laugh at me.

[consultmybooks]

Helios, um, does that for most everyone. Don't take it personally.

[He folds his arms tightly across his chest and looks away, about as uncomfortable as Alice at the thought.]

...neither do I. Um, my sympathies, Alice, i-if you've had to put up with that.

[shadedsunlight]

[There's a tiny snort in there.]

...That's why I want you back. ...You don't laugh at me.

[consultmybooks]

No offense intended, Alice, but you aren't terribly funny.

[He's explained why. There are a great many reasons why Alice just unnerves him.

But he tries to control himself.]

[shadedsunlight]

I don't try to be. Everyone just thinks I am.

[Her tension fades into something a little more tentative as she watches him with a bit more wariness.]

...So... you two going to get back together?

[consultmybooks]

Yes, um, well. People can be absolutely ridiculous sometimes. Seeing me attempting to play the violin is funny. You...just, um, d-don't get out much, and you unsettle people as a result. Or, um, you unsettle me.

...but, um, I'm sure you know that, as well as anyone.

[Fastest. Subject change. Ever.]

That's, um, th-that's the hope. Well, um, my hope, at least.

[shadedsunlight]

...I hope it works out. For what it's worth coming from me.

[...]

You play the violin?

[consultmybooks]

It means a great deal, Alice. You're, um, probably going to be a persistent part of my life, as well, even if not in the same fashion as Ginia. [Which is to say that Giles is never going to consider you romantically while he's in his right mind.]

So, um, thank you.

[...]

I attempt to play the violin. I was desperately bored. And, um, I received a great many complaints.

[shadedsunlight]

I guess. My mun's thought about getting rid of me before, but it probably wouldn't work. I mean... it would, but... [Alice trails off and looks away.]

.....Going to try again in Luceti? The violin.