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]

[A happy nod.] Oh yes, I learned about setting the proper mood and that you have to claim them otherwise someone else can.

[consultmybooks]

An unfortunate truth of general society, but...um, yes. Making your own feelings known on the matter generally leads to, um, less confusion and upset feelings all around.

[...] The object of your affections is, however, entitled to not want to be "claimed".

[shadedsunlight]

Oh, I know, and that's okay too. [She actually sounds quite... chipper about this topic.]

And, um, people say I'm allowed to love too. [And there goes the chipperness as she eyes Giles warily.]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles stares back at her, his expression very calm and level, albeit with a good bit of hidden effort on his part.

...after a beat, he takes off his glasses to clean.]

That's, um, something you would have to confirm with Ginia, I'm afraid. If, if you're uncertain.

[shadedsunlight]

...You don't like the idea.

[consultmybooks]

I've been dead or on a train for the past three months, Alice, and you and I were never romantically involved. And we never will be.

My feelings on the matter are irrelevant.

Ginia's aren't.

[shadedsunlight]

...I don't know how she feels. I don't think she'd be... well, no, I don't want to give her any trouble. But it's okay to love someone if it's not romantically, right? Because there are different degrees of love? So it should be okay if I don't love anyone romantically.

[consultmybooks]

[...sigh of relief. Giles all but slumps at how relieved he is with that clarification before he remembers himself, and pulls himself together.]

...it's fine, Alice.

There are, um, different sorts of love, yes. Whoever told you that was, um, very wise. So...yes, as long as you aren't bringing impossibly unmanageable trouble to Ginia, you, you can have your own friends. You can associate with who you like and feel however you please about them.

That, I feel safe in saying as much.

[shadedsunlight]

...Okay. Because I love Grune. And I think I love Helios too.

[consultmybooks]

And, knowing the both of them, they love you as well.

[He does genuinely wish he could understand how. Alice gets a mixture of pity and a sort of mentor-like affection out of Giles, and even that's a leap and a bound from when they first met.]

And of course you're, um, free to tell them as much. I wouldn't expect Helios to be able to form a coherent sentence afterwards, mind. He...um, he doesn't manage very well with direct expressions of affection.

[shadedsunlight]

Oh, Grune already knows! [Alice smiles at that, quite pleased with the fact, because Alice does love her mommy very much. But Helios is a little more complicated.]

...It's probably better if Helios doesn't know.

[consultmybooks]

I think Grune tends to, um, assume, in any case. Part of her charm.

...the fact that you, um, have managed more emotional maturity in that regard than I have, is something I consider to be rather humbling.

[Because he does love Grune, too, with a comparable intensity and just as much uncertainty about it. It's easier with Helios, of course. Helios needs to hear it.]

[shadedsunlight]

...I don't want to make it awkward for him. Or Ginia. But he should know, because he deserves it.

[She gives Giles a pointed glance.]

...Are you ever going to tell him?

[consultmybooks]

[Pointedly:] Her, Alice. We were discussing Grune.

...I've actually said as much to Helios, in the past. More than once, even Not, um, quite as directly, but...close enough.

[shadedsunlight]

...Oh. [Yep. Headmaster on the mind. But Alice smiles!] Telling Grune was easy. No problem there.

......So you three ever going to shack up?

[consultmybooks]

[...that question isn't actually disqualified on the grounds of good taste.

Dammit.]

Th-That...s-seems to be, um, a distinct possibility, yes.

[shadedsunlight]

Oh, that's nice. [A beat.] You have very nice children.

[consultmybooks]

Are you sure the blonde one isn't yours'?

[It's...actually a relevant question, in Giles' mind, knowing what he knows about Alice now.]

[shadedsunlight]

[A blink, then a small frown.] ....No, I don't think so.

.....Maybe it's yours and Helios'.

[consultmybooks]

[Harumph.]

That's, um, that's a biological impossibility, Alice, and you know it.

[shadedsunlight]

Not if one of you became a woman and remained one long enough to give birth.

[consultmybooks]

[...

...

...oh good god, she's right.

Congratulations, Alice, you just broke Giles' mind with even imagining that scenario. He just...puts his head in his hands and tries not to think anymore. It hurts too much.

Even so, after a minute, and very, very definitely:]

Th-They aren't, um, ours'.

[shadedsunlight]

[And Alice lets a little smirk slide, watching him long enough to draw out the silence, let that particular idea settle deeper into his mind. Why not?

But finally she speaks, giving him relief.]

The child is Helios and Ginia's by blood, but you are no less a father, just as Helios is no less a father to your and Ginia's child.

But a third would be welcome.

[consultmybooks]

[Sigh. Of. Relief.

While it's nice to have Alice's mischievous nature turned towards less sexual teasing, Giles has to remind himself after that that she can still spin him for a loop.]

W-Well, um...um, perhaps a third will, will come about. S-Someday.

[shadedsunlight]

Think it'll be a boy this time? Or another girl? You know, maybe it's time you two let Ginia name a child. Middle names are nice and all, but who knows that?

Or maybe I can have a child with one of you. Wouldn't that be something.