dear_mun | On reserves opening at luceti

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On reserves opening at luceti

A-All right, we've, um, we've established that the, um, the both of us together have absolutely horrible timing. N-No need to, um, rub it in any further. And, um, no need to go making any plans you know you won't be able to follow up on. Not with, as you've repeatedly reminded yourself, another class starting. The fact that you've, um, gotten a handle on your work thus far won't mean anything in two weeks.

...of course I want to go back. But could you keep me there? I don't think you could, not right now. Give it another cycle. Three months away let me stay nearly a year last time.

...of course I miss them. Willow and Xander, I mean. Don't you dare think otherwise. I never knew what happened to them. The last time I saw them...w-well, it, um, it was hardly conducive to good conversation. The only ones I'd give more to see are Dawn, or Faith. And just because I'd gotten used to the idea that, um, that they weren't ever coming back...god, I'll have to explain the tree. Someone will mention the tree and, and I'll have to explain. Good Lord. I didn't think I'd, um, ever have to explain the garden. But better me than s-someone who will, will make it sound so...silly.

[Giles sighs tiredly and begins to clean his glasses, hopefully so that no one will see the look on his face.] Can we, um, can we just stop discussing pointless possibilities? Let's at least focus in on the horrifying ones. I have a talent for that. Drusilla. Only just manage to shake Angel, and now she might be coming back. In more ways than one, from what you'd told me. That only makes your idea to, um, downgrade me in the timeline even worse. But, um, I'm sure you're quite pleased with yourself.

Keep an eye on things. Ginia's mundane will help, you know she will, and, um, and she'll warn you if action absolutely has to be taken. I'm, um, I'm not going anywhere until you can put me back in the village. I have nowhere else to be. That's, um, what you've always liked about this point in time for me, isn't it? And if they aren't there in three months...

...well, it, it isn't as though I'll notice, will I?

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[And of all things she chooses to focus on this:] There's a thing with a tree?

...no. Nothing involving trees.

It's not something you'd know. Either of you.

[Good lord, Rupert, again? Not that Yuan would mind seeing him return to Luceti, and he was just about to comment on that when something else catches his eye.]

Drusilla? [That name brings up all sorts of bad memories.]

Drusilla. Vampire from, um, from home. Utterly insane, in an impossibly cunning sort of way.

[An older memory flips a card.] Buffy, um, did mention that she'd been there in, in the past.

She has, yes. Judging from your reaction, she'll be just as prone to causing trouble as she was before.

[That is not something Yuan is looking forward to, as Martel is also in Luceti right now. The last thing he needs is a repeat of that incident from a three years ago.]

Vampires from home are, by and large, incapable of not causing trouble or harm. Drusilla, however, compounds the issue by being quite old, quite powerful, and psychic.

Yes, she'll be just as prone. Perhaps more so.

[Now Yuan's left hoping the reserve means nothing, even if it leads to being called a "rude jerk" by his mun.

Let's just... change the topic.]

... So you're returning to Luceti without a doubt, even if it's likely not in the next New Feather cycle?

[It's okay, Yuan. Giles is right there with you.]

I, um, hesitate to say "without a doubt", just because...well, that's never a good thing to say, back home.

But, um, th-that, that is the eventual plan, yes.

...besides. When the both of us were, um, actually in Luceti, we seemed to have horrible luck finding anyone from home. Perhaps my being gone will, will increase the chances.

[Oh Giles, you actually want to find people from home? By now, Yuan's of the opinion that people from home are best left at home.]

I doubt such a thing could influence the arrivals. Even so, I hope your 'luck' will increase and the newcomers from your world are actually the friendly sort.

[People from home should stay home, unless their names are Buffy and they're eventually going to bring about the end of reality.]

From what I've heard, most of the, um, hopefuls are. Old friends. It's, um, it's been a while since anyone I knew very well and didn't dislike intensely arrived.

One might think the Malnosso are doing such things on purpose, just to see how we'll respond. As for me, I'm convinced the muns are doing it on purpose.

[Hugs first. Tight, rib-cracking hugs if she were any strong, but hey, who needs breathing?

Be happy she's hugging and not slugging instead.]

[Who needs breathing? Giles doesn't. He's dead.

Hope you don't need breathing either, Ginia, because you're getting a rib-creaking hug, if nothing else. And he's still waiting for the slugging.]

H-Hello.

[Hey, what's a bit of pain after all she's been through?]

...Hi.

Y-You can...you can, um, still talk. [He sounds surprised, and promptly hates himself for it. What an idiotic thing to be surprised about.] I'd, I-I'd forgotten that.

H-How are you? Helios? Adele? Um, e-everyone?

[A nod, a bare attempt at a smile.] I can still talk. The, um, the necklace is holding up just fine.

Everyone is... [Fine? No, far from it.] We're... we're getting by. I'm taking care of them. We're managing.

And you? You're... [Her hands move off his back to rest on his chest and she finally manages to look at him.] here.

And is anyone looking after you? [He press a soft kiss to her forehead.] Or are you letting anyone look after you?

I'm all right. I'm here. If things keep proceeding as they have, I'll, I'll probably be brought back soon.

[He tries not to show how much the idea unnerves him, worries him, even horrifies him. What's dead should stay dead - the universe doesn't like anything else.]

[Her head drops down, she blushes slightly.] You know me too well. People have...tried. Everyone is certainly there. I've been... [She laughs quietly, tiredly.] I ran the town meeting. The one I'd been planning for months. It went well, a lot of good idea. Captain Hornblower promoted the idea of watches, building guard towers and establishing a regular watch. So... Luceti may have its own watchers now. [Bad, bad horrible joke, but it's the sort of thing helping her get by.]

I'd ask, but, um, my mun knows and... [He could be alive again. Live and exist and have another chance and not be dead.]

I want you back, Rupert. In Luceti, with us.

And may they do a better job of it than the Watchers themselves did. [Said with the utmost solemnity - the Watchers were monsters, by Giles' time. It's time for the name to be reclaimed.]

...and I want to be back. I...god, I miss you all.

And, a-and I'm sorry I left. S-Sorry for, um, f-for putting everyone through that.

If I get any say, I'm dragging you on watch with me.

[To hell with it all. Ginia throws her arms around him and kisses him furiously. It's hard and angry because goddamn does she hurt and she'll carry that hurt with her and never let anyone but him see because that's how she is. He was right, they were all right; she is strong, but even her strength has her limits and she too can break.

But it's loving too because even if his presence has left a gap in the foundation of her life, she will live and continue on. She loves him, will continue to love him. That hasn't changed. She'll wait for him. Not remaining in one place, withering away, but continuing on in her life, doing as she always does while keeping an eye on the door.

only when she's running out of air does she pull away, slumping against him and gripping him as if he'll fade away in front of her.]

And if I have any say, I'll be dragged.

[He stumbles slightly from the force of her embrace, but he catches her, holds her, kisses her. Bows to her anger and lets her fight, be rough, show him her hurts. Someone has to, and she'll never let anyone else until it's much too late. Giles just concentrates on showing as well as he can that he's still here and that he still loves her, even if only in spirit.

The memories this brings forth all in a rush are nearly overwhelming, painful in their happiness and peace and sunlit wonder, and when Ginia pulls away Giles will hurried avert his eyes, take off his glasses, and swipe the beginnings of tears away.]

[She's gone this long without crying. The occasional hastily wiped away tear, yes, but never crying. She has her dignity, her pride, her need to keep it all together. Grune nearly broke that resolve - twice -, Helios almost did.

She looks away, wiping at her own eyes, taking some much needed deep breaths.]

Can we go back to where we were? What we had?

[Giles takes a deep breath that makes his body visibly shudder. He forces himself to put on his glasses and stare at her, blinking his vision clear.]

I-I, um, I-I would have...n-no objections.

...of course I, I might not be able to, um, have a say.

[Ginia looks back, reaches up and cups his cheek with one hand.]

...We never seem to. Time will... time will tell.

[He reaches up to cover her hand with his, holding tightly, unwilling to let go.]

I-I'll...I'll still, um, want to. I'll s-still try. She'll, um, she'll let me remember eventually, i-if, if she doesn't right away.

A-And you said you'd remind me.

I did. I might be slow, it might take a bit to figure out what to say and when... but I'll remind you.

[She smiles. It's worn and tired, but it's a real smile and it's for him.]

I can wait. I've waited this long, I can wait longer. Besides, the longer you're away, the more pets Helios and I can fill the house with.

[Giles gives a theatrical sigh, at this.]

Are you sure I'll still have a room when I get back, then? Did you both manage to actually find a friendly dragon?

Besides myself, of course.

My mundane is working on that. She's waiting on approval. But, um, Helios did volunteer to become a Pokemon trainer.

If I've any say in it? They'll still be here Giles. You have my word.

Despite the fact that I'm sure they're both driving you quite mad by now?

...thank you, Adele. They're, um, they're in good hands, then.

Helios? A little. For...something between he and his friend, Robert changed. I know not the details, only that it involved a drastic change in temperature. It went from Helios, to Robert, and back again a week later.

[Adele pares down everything there is to be said for Ginia before lifting a shoulder.] Ginia is coping.

...

...and for now Helios and Alice are christening every available horizontal surface.

[Wince.] Y-Yes, um, s-so I've...s-so I've seen.

Did you know that I'm currently sharing, um, space, with Helios' fiancee? Fortunately, she seems to find the entire affair rather funny, more than anything else. Pitiable and, um, amusing. Odd sense of humor.

...I know what happened with Helios. Or at least, um, what was about to happen. Nice that they're finally back to themselves, I suppose.

In a world with magic, an odd sense of humor is something of a requirement.

It's...not for me to know. Whatever it is. He has Ginia to confide in, I simply share a house with him. [Another shrug, and she looks away.]

...I still haven't read your letter. I don't know if I ever will. Ginia was...a wreck. Handing them out. I've half a mind to slap you.

[This gets a half-shrug, even as Giles looks away.]

Go right ahead, then. Ginia hasn't, Helios wouldn't, Buffy can't without breaking my jaw.

It's, um, probably warranted.

If Ginia hasn't, I've no right to do so.

...

[All the same she steps forward and reaches up, slapping Giles upside the head instead of across the face. It's friendlier, in a way.]

If you come back without remembering her? I will hurt you.

[...yeah, that's about what Giles was expecting. It actually makes him feel the tiniest bit better.]

I'm afraid you would have to get in line, Adele.

I am hardly surprised by that, Ginia is well known, and well liked. Though she hardly needs it there are plenty that are protective of her...though I think she may need it more now than she did the previous cycle.

Drusilla, for one. And I've heard rumors of Moriarty. I fear I may have more work in the coming months than I have in the past few years.

Luceti, um, always seems to run short on doctors. Moriarty and Drusilla together...you won't find a better example of the line between genius and insanity.

At least, um, at least Moriarty wasn't actually psychic. But...no, you know about her, don't you?

Enough to be concerned, not enough to know how to best avoid or distract her from those she would do harm.

...Anakin looks to be making an appearance as well. I do not know how Ben will cope with that.

Giles. We'll be here. You know that. We-we won't leave. I-I certainly won't be anytime soon if my mun has anything to say about it.

...no offense intended, Helios, but, um, I'm less worried about you.

I know I'll see you again, when, um, when I finally don't come back.

I-I know and, and it's Ginia who needs to be worried about and-and Buffy. I've been trying my hardest to-to help her in anyway I can. [ It's just hard because Ginia is, well, Ginia. ] I'm sorry I left you with such...such information though. [ Some farewell he got to say, huh? ]

But you are coming back a-aren't you? At some point? [ Don't say that Giles. ]

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On reserves opening at luceti

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