Chapter 013 - [Accidental Voice]/[Action]

[consultmybooks]

[The journal turns on to the sound of very unhappy, very British mutterings.]

Honestly, just because I might have the good fortune to miss Halloween this year...really, Malnosso, no need to go to any difficulties on my account. I assure you, I would have found a way to soldier on.

At least they had better taste in costuming this year.

The state of the village isn't quite as horrific yet, at least. Yet. It's always "yet". Really, everything seems...almost familiar.

...as though no one's quite gotten the play out of their system.

[A few minutes of silence go by, before Giles addresses the journal proper. The viewscreen shows that, despite being temporarily left out of any tale in particular, the Malnosso have decided to dress him up just in case.]

Hello, everyone. I'm, um, I'm...well, certainly hoping this is another experiment. Otherwise...well, no, this has to be an experiment. Fortunately, it seems to be a...reasonably patterned sort of experiment, at least. From what I've been able to observe.

Haven't had one of those in a while.

[Of course, Giles' luck being what it is, he's hardly going to remain unaffected for long. It all depends on who he comes across or what the will of Luceti decides to throw him into. He'll be wandering the village for the next long while - most of today and most other days. Observing is the main priority, while he's in any fit mental state to observe. When he isn't? Shaking off the grip of the story takes precedence over everything.

But what story will Giles have a part in telling?]


((ooc: Basically an alternative to the log post. got a thread idea, whether we've already plotted one out or not? Feel free to toss it up here if you want. However, for timeline's sake, assume that any action here takes place before Wednesday. Otherwise, pick the day you will.))

Comments

Anytime before Wednesday?

[pugilistinpink.livejournal.com]

[Little Mac Riding Hood has taken notice of a familiar face nearby - and despite meaning just to walk and wave hello - he instead finds himself acting upon the inexplicable urge to prance in Giles' direction. ...Hey, sir. [He pauses to adjust his red skirt and lets out a soft, flustered chuckle, looking up with a sheepish grin. Arrrgh, damn these responses he can't resist!]

Sure thing!

[consultmybooks]

[Giles looks up from his journal at the sound of the voice and...

...huh.

He recovers admirably well from the shock, but...really, what do you say to that?]

Um, Mac, yes? Hello.

...how's your first experiment going, then?

[pugilistinpink.livejournal.com]

[That dumb smile only twitches wider after a moment. He means to express that it's really quite awful and that he's so embarrassed - but that sure isn't what comes out of his mouth.]

I-it's a most lovely day, don'tchya think...?

[consultmybooks]

[Mhm. That answers Giles' question probably more than Mac expects.]

It's a very nice day, yes.

Perfect for running along to Grandmother's house.

[pugilistinpink.livejournal.com]

[One his hands - a little calloused around the knuckles from pounding canvas bags bare-fisted a few years back - flies up to his mouth in bashful surprise.] ...Heavens! Howdjya know?

[consultmybooks]

Because Little Red Riding Hood is a very popular sort of story back home for a great many reasons.

And the red was a bit of a give away.

...it's fine, Mac. You'll, um, you'll be back to normal whenever this experiment ends. Just so long as you stay on the path.

[pugilistinpink.livejournal.com]

[The Red Riding Hood in him speaks up yet again with his Bronx accent.] Yeah... I got all this stuff in my basket for Granny Louis 'cause she ain't feelin' too great, but I, uh, I ain't too sure where she lives no more. Got this weird hunch she's in them woods, but iunno... if I find some path there, I'm gonna stick with it, jus' like you said!

[consultmybooks]

And what are you supposed to watch out for?

[Gently prompting. He'd rather not see Mac get eaten.]

[pugilistinpink.livejournal.com]

[This sounds like a quiz, man. He was never too good at those.] I'm suppose t'be watchin' for somethin'? Oh, wait, yeah... [He is silent for a moment, scratching his head.] Strangers. ...It's strangers, right? I think that's what Ma told me...

Because she needed to see him in that outfit. XD Anytime before Wednesday's good for me!

[lostinmyway]

[It's fairly easy to see what role Grune's been given, judging from what she's wearing. Grune may like dresses in the normal course of things, but this is a little impractical for gardening. Not to mention, she's without her veil today (though her hair is still pinned up as usual), which is downright odd for any location but the beach with her.

As always, she doesn't seem remotely bothered by the shenanigans, and instead, when she sees Giles during her wanderings through the village, she'll beam and call out:] Hello, Giles! That's a very nice outfit you're wearing.

Probably Day 1. So does Ginia, although timelines were against us X3

[consultmybooks]

[It's fairly easy to see what role Grune has been given. Hell, it's fairly easy to see Grune, as primped up as she is today. Even without the veil, which is...admittedly odd. But Giles has probably seen her without it more often than some.

And since, in Giles' odd way, he sees absolutely nothing wrong with this costume choice, he's quite pleased with her compliment.]

Thank you, Grune. And, um, you look very nice as well, today.

XD At least she got to see it anyway?

[lostinmyway]

Oh, thank you. I'm glad someone gave me this dress. Did someone give you your clothes, too?

[She…hasn't worked out it's an experiment yet.]

Yes, she did! I am glad. This was for her, after all <3. And Grune did, as well.

[consultmybooks]

((ooc: And thank you again for doing the research. I just...totally spaced out. I'm sorry I'm so flaky lately. I'll tag in on Grunendorf and [depending on plans] Martel!Grune when others do?))

Oh, no. This costume is mine. [He reaches up to fix his hat.] Or, um, i-it's a very good copy of one I used to own, at the very least. I suppose the Malnosso finally decided to bring it over for...whatever it is that's going on.

Mission accomplished! <3

[lostinmyway]

[OOC: Dude, no worries. If there's one thing I understand, it's flakiness. XD; Tag in whenever you feel able.]

It's very pretty. [She touches a finger to one of the stars on his cloak.]

[consultmybooks]

Do you think so? [He turns, trying to survey his get up. Good Lord, it has been years since he's worn this.] I always did. You know, I first wore this when my shop reopened. Thought it made the entire affair quite successful.

[Okay, Anya might have helped...]

[lostinmyway]

You have a shop? [Had Giles mentioned that to her before?]

[consultmybooks]

I did.

In Sunnydale. Um, back home.

[Maybe not. Sunnydale was a while ago.]

[Written] Delayed to whenever would be best

[shadedsunlight]

[Finally, finally Ginia has a moment of clarity when she can sit down and browse through the journal and see what she's missed.

And oh, did she miss something. That hat. Those robes. Ginia rolls around in silent, uncontrolled laughter for a bit all while kicking herself for having missed him in such an outfit. Better seeing it late than never.]

Nice hat.

After slaying? [Written]

[consultmybooks]

[Hm? Journal's ringing. Giles flips it open and is...mildly surprised when he has to flip back to his message a few days ago.

Tone doesn't always carry over through writing, unfortunately.]

Thank you. I thought so.

After slaying! [Written]

[shadedsunlight]

[Really, she's in a much better mood now that she's hung up her sword and armor for good and previously slain and dragons proved not to be so slain after all.

But that outfit. Wow.]

A pity I couldn't have seen it in person.

[Written]

[consultmybooks]

Well, we've both been a bit preoccupied up until now. [At the moment, the world in general seems to have taken pity and let Giles get back into his regular clothes.] Shame you couldn't, though. Quite a nice costume. Very much in the spirit of things.

[Written]

[shadedsunlight]

At least I saw it briefly. [Probably better she didn't see him in person; she would have never stopped laughing.]

All back to normal on your side?

Re: [Written]

[consultmybooks]

Yes, well, for now it's safely back in my closet. With all the wandering I've found myself forced to do, it seemed the most expedient choice.

For the moment. And it's quite a nice moment.

[Written]

[shadedsunlight]

They let you keep it? Kind of them. I wish I could have kept my armor. It's useful.

I suppose the next question is obvious. Tea?

Re: [Written]

[consultmybooks]

Unless you owned that particular suit of armor back home, probably not. In my case, probably a combination of happy accident and whatever they did to us last Halloween.

That sounds quite nice. When?