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

[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?

[daddies_girl]

[Tara rests her chin on his shoulder and smiles.]

Tara. Tara Amy Solsprenles.

[consultmybooks]

[Giles lets out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding.

Perfect.]

It's...i-it's very nice to meet you, Tara. Or, um, will be, I'm sure.

[Tara will probably notice the little tub of ice cream appearing by her feet before her father does. With two spoons.

What? The mundane will pay for a happy show as well as a miserable one.]

[daddies_girl]

Nice to meet you too, Dad.

[She draws back and sits happily at her side again. Yes, that ice cream will be noticed very quickly. She picks it up and offers it out to him.]

Want some?

[consultmybooks]

Oh! Um...of, of course.

[After all, it's not as though it matters here. Which is good just as much as it is bad.

Time paradoxes do suck, after all, and Giles doesn't want to ruin anything.

He opens the ice cream, tears off the paper on top, and takes a spoon for himself. But then he nods to Tara.] Um, care to do the honors?

[Ladies first, after all.]

[daddies_girl]

[Tara gives a small laugh and digs in with her spoon. Mmm, ice cream. Tara clearly inherited her mother's sweet tooth.]

...Hey, Dad?

[consultmybooks]

[She must have. Giles' sweet tooth was the result of careful and extensive training. Nature versus nurture, if you will.]

Hm?

[daddies_girl]

Tell me a story and Mom and Papa. [Helios-Papa, that is.]

[consultmybooks]

Hm? I thought I...oh. [Catching on now.] You, um, y-you meant Helios. Right. Um, of course. [He knew that. Just...mentally facepalming, here.

...and then thinking very hard. Giles realizes then and there that he doesn't know very many stories about the two of them without him. Not really, at least, not without cheating.

Except...]

Did, um, did either of them ever tell you about the time we were all turned in to children?

[daddies_girl]

[Tara laughs and shakes her head, already enjoying another bite of ice cream. She tries to imagine her parents as children, fails really, because trying to imagine ones parents as anything but is always odd.

...And Giles-Dad is so old too.]

[consultmybooks]

[Yes, dear daughter, but once upon a time he was a half pint little brat. Any tantrums you threw as a kid probably paled at the kind of fuss the twelve year old Rupert could have kicked up.

He smiles at the recollection, despite himself. The world had been a strange place, seen through twelve year old eyes. But they'd had one another, and a dog, and after meeting Buffy they'd had Cheez Its.

Life had been good.]

Well, um, we were. The, the three of us were all called away together on a mission, by the Malnosso, a-and that mission involved the three of us becoming twelve years old for a little while.

[daddies_girl]

[...Probably true. Sure, Tatiana threw stuff around with magic and might have almost set the house on fire once or twice, but the most Tara did was yell and sulk angrily. And maybe run away to Aunt Grune's. And stole Giles' sword.

Tara laughs again, still trying to imagine her parents as twelve-year-olds.]

What were you guys like?