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

/huggles She's so kyuuuuuute!

[consultmybooks]

My call, my head, yes. And I take better care of it than most people seem to think. [Considering that it's the rest of the world out to deal him crippling head wounds.

Still...at this last, Giles tilts his head slightly, regarding the girl with new found curiosity. After a beat, prompting gently:]

Who's, um, "everyone", then?

And she's your child~

[daddies_girl]

Everyone in the village? [She gives a small wave of her hand, gesturing at the not-present general population of Luceti.] Aunt Buffy? Aunt Tara and Willow? Mom? Papa? Not Aunt Grune, she's too nice to say that. You know, everyone.

*squees* If not today, then someday she will be.

[consultmybooks]

I know everyone, yes.

I confess, though, I'm curious as to how you do. you, um, seem to have a great many aunts, actually.

Probably more timeline differences, of course.

[daddies_girl]

[She gives a sage nod.] Timeline differences. I don't think I'm born yet in your timeline.

So that's why you got to go back to the village.

[consultmybooks]

[...alarm bells. Seriously loud alarm bells.

No. Goddamn. Way. He can't be reading this right. He can't be hearing her right. No. No chance.]

...that's, um, why I have to go back to the village, yes.

...I, um, I suppose I'll properly meet you there, then?

[daddies_girl]

Not for a few more years. Mom says it took forever.

[consultmybooks]

[And he can't help but smile, at this, because even if he can't find the words...well, Giles is pretty sure he knows who you are now, little girl.

Because, yes, it will take forever. Sorry about that.

But, still. He has to ask. She should know that much, at least.]

And who would your mother be?

[daddies_girl]

No way, it's not fun if I tell you.

But I can tell you a story instead.

[consultmybooks]

[You pretty much just did.

You are your mother's child, Tara.

Giles takes a seat next to her, putting them at least approximately at eye level.] Then, um, tell me a story. I certainly have time.

[daddies_girl]

[Her mother's child indeed, but also her father's. She smiles at him now that they're closer to eye level.]

So there was once a scholar, a knight, and a magician that all lived together in a nice house in a nice village. And they all got along and were happy. The scholar and the knight loved each other, and they both loved the magician in their own way, though the magician never accepted it because he thought he wasn't worthy.

Once day, spirits possessed the three and they believed they were really in love each each other and they were happy and everything was nice and they decided to get married.

[consultmybooks]

[A scholar, a knight, and a magician.

...fitting, for a kid who's parents first got together during a fairy tale experiment. He wonders if the bedtime story of Giles the Dragon ever got told.]

The, um...the knight, the scholar, and the magician all got married?

...what, um, what happened after the spirits..."left", then?

[Apart from dragging Helios back to the house.]

[daddies_girl]

[Giles the Dragon was a very popular story, especially when the parts were acted out and sound effects added in.

Tara nods.]

The three of them were very happy, but once the spirits left, they grew uncertain. The magician left on a journey and the scholar and knight had to bring him back to their home. After a long search, they found the magician and were able to bring him home.

And for awhile, everything was quiet and nice again.

After a few years, the scholar left on a quest to get three golden rings.

[consultmybooks]

I'm surprised. [And concerned.] I, um, I didn't think "magicians" had quite such a talent at hiding.

[And then he listens patiently to the rest.

It's a good story. She tells stories like he once told stories to Grune, before she reminded him that the bad is often just as important as the good.

Finally, softly:]

Th-That, that was...um, very...wise of them. V-Very, very good for warding off evil spirits, rings.

[daddies_girl]

Magic, and well-placed missions. [Tara nods a little sagely at that.

She grins a little, just like her mother.]

And so protected from further evil spirits, the three decided to get married and live happily ever after.

[She glances at Giles.]

By the way, Mom says that was the same thing you said when you gave her the ring.

[consultmybooks]

[He ducks his head at her knowing expression, but grins a bit all the same.] Yes, um, well. It's a well known fact. Well known magic fact, at least. Rings are, um, very good at providing protection. So are amulets but, um, those are a bit less inconspicuous in turn.

[daddies_girl]

And cold iron is good against fairies, and silver crosses and wood stakes are good against vampires.

[consultmybooks]

[Mildly, because that is a very good breadth of knowledge for a kid:] And werewolves?

[daddies_girl]

Silver. Oh, and we're not allowed to tease Uncle Ra because we're crunchy and would go well with ketchup.

[consultmybooks]

To a dragon god? Yes, I'm sure you would.

I, um, I suppose we could be..."crunchy" together, then. [Because, with all Giles has heard about Ra, he can only imagine that he's probably not terribly helpful imparting that particular lesson.]

[daddies_girl]

Probably. He kinda hates in the way you know they like you and don't think you're bad, but they're still going to give you hell anyway.

[consultmybooks]

A way that I'm much too familiar with, sad to say.

[...have a hug, Tara. Just, without saying anything, Giles leans over and tugs his daughter...his daughter...into a hug.]

[daddies_girl]

[Tara squirms a little, as young teens do when they're embarrassed, but she returns the hug soon enough.]

So you got to go back to the village. Otherwise Tatiana and I aren't going to exist and paradoxes suck.

[consultmybooks]

[Too bad, kiddo. He is your father and he will embarrass you. He will also spoil you silly. So probably a fair tradeoff.]

Yes, um, they do. Believe me, I, um...I know.

So...I'll be back. Soon. A-And, um, I suppose I'll...see you in a few years, then.

[daddies_girl]

[That is the role of a father, yes. All right, it's acceptable. Besides, daughters get to embarrass their fathers too.]

And then we can go on long hikes in the wood and have ice cream by the river, right?

[consultmybooks]

[Fortunately, some daughters have aunts who have made sure their fathers know that it is done mostly out of love.]

Of course. I-If, if that's what you want...of course.

It, it sounds wonderful.

[A pause, and then Giles laughs softly to himself, and hugs her a little tighter.]

Can, um, can I know your name, at least?