eswareinmal | [Orb]

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[Orb]

[The orb shows the beach - grass leading to rocks leading to sand leading to the vast expanse of ocean in the distance. It's a picteresque sort of sight, with the bonus of no dragons around to eat people. Turns out you just can't entirely trust the maps here..]

I've, um, I've found the ocean. It's not as bad as it looks, out here...I mean, um, the thorns are moving rather fast, but it turns out that we're hardly cut off.

Well...hardly cut off yet.

I did stop by the infection zone before I came out this way. The reports are certainly true. For plants, they are moving alarmingly fast. I didn't want to stay in the area. If I'd actually dared make camp there, I probably wouldn't be here now. Still. I, um, I made an effort. A couple of basic identification spells, and a bit of scrying, although s-something about them made that even harder than it normally is, for me.

If anyone has any ideas how I might, um, proceed further, or even get a bit off for further examination, I'm certainly all ears. It's not as though I'll have to walk that far to reach the border zone on my way back.

[...really, though, looking out at the beach, at the ocean and thinking of what lies beyond it, it's actually a little hard to remember that they're all in such terrible danger. The land around him brings up a feeling of nostalgia in Giles' chest that he can't ignore.]

...if worst comes to worst, I suppose we could always build a ship.

[Because, when he finds himself forgetting, now he can summon up the mental image of that great, gnarled tangle of malevolent, thorny evil. That's a familiar feeling as well - consult the books. Fight the evil. Save the world.

What happens next? Well...they'll burn that bridge when they come to it.]

((ooc: Hey, sorry for the edits, guys! Turns out I was a bit mistaken as to the positioning of the thorns. But! Things should be able to proceed from here.))

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[It's a beautiful sight, the ocean, spreading out beyond. Who knew what lay beyond? Yes, there were rumors of a land beyond and a princess turned into a mermaid, but who knew what realities there were beyond. Maybe at the very edge was an invisible barrier waiting to turn them back.

Ginia stares at the ocean, wishing she could be there. She loves the ocean, the relaxing, beautiful properties. She loves the sight and for a bit, her expression is longing.

Beyond her, not much else can be seen. Wherever she's seated, it's very high up, evident when a few birds fly into view behind her. As for the rogue herself, she's traded in her black leather armor for something a little more commonplace, breeches and tunic, befitting a free-spirited lady. The only oddities are the strings of pearls braided into her hair and a gold necklace with a ruby pendant.]

/Maybe if we build a ship, we can seek out the mermaid princess and the Kingdom Beyond the Sea./

[Giles is a little surprised by the signs of finery that weren't there when he left. It makes her look a bit like a pirate.

Bad experiences with pirates aside, it's honestly a rather attractive look on her. He's missed her - looking out at the ocean has reminded him of what they used to have, and where they used to be, and how far they still have to go.

The time alone has done him some good, but maybe Helios can make a trip out here to take him home.]

I confess, the, um, the Kingdom Beyond the Sea interests me rather more than the mermaids. I count it as a blessing not to have run into any so far.

[Dread Pirate Solana, terror of the seven seas. It does have a certain sort of appeal to it.

She's also missed him as well. Oh, she kept herself getting a bit of rest, monitoring guard patrol patterns, going on a stealing spree, and showering Helios with all sort of illegally-gotten goods, but it was still lonely in the mornings and nights.]

/I wonder if there would be a way to contact them, see what sort of trouble they might have on their end, if any. And I myself wouldn't mind seeing a mermaid. I hear the princess is smoking hot./

You really should know better than to believe anything that bloody Sign-maker sticks up on the board.

...back in Sunnydale, of course, mermaids were overall quite repugnant. Here? Well, um, that might be something different.

[He's not entirely sure how he feels about that. The fact that Ginia might be as susceptible to a mermaid's charm as he might is oddly kind of comforting, though.]

As for the thorns, well, I have every confidence that they could grow underwater, if the situation called for it. The "situation" being the extermination of life, in this particular case.

[Ginia smirks and waggles a finger at him. Shame, Giles, shame, have you forgotten who you speak to?]

/But I didn't hear it from the Sign-maker. After a bit of inspiration from Bakura, I decided to see what sorts of rumors and stories there were from previous times. I learned all sorts of things about the prince, the princess from across the sea, old tombs, and the White Mage./

[Her smirk remains as she lets that bit of information sink in. Yes, she's been quite busy discovering things.]

/Liara and I were speculating about whether the thorns could go underwater, or at least float on top and block out anything below./

They've grown quite dense - I can only speculate at this point, thankfully, but I can certainly imagine them being dense enough to sink.

[His expression grows sober - now Giles has seen for himself just how serious matters are, and will soon be.]

And, if they had a mind to, I think they would, Ginia. Um, even if we did manage to escape, we'd only be buying time.

[But, even as Giles speaks, he's pulling his notebook out of his pocket to open it up and start jotting down what she's just told him. Every little bit helps.]

[Buying time. Always buying time. Or in their case, living on borrowed time. Her expression shifts to something a little more reflective, a little more pensive. Ginia hasn't forgotten they're here to stop a threat, but when you haven't seen the thorns... well, maybe she needs to go out and see it for herself. She's been planning on it anyway.]

/...Are you coming back any time soon?/

I thought I'd stop back today, actually. If Helios is available, of course.

If he's not, of course, I'm safe here a while longer. [His supplies are running a bit low, and Giles doesn't entirely trust the sea life here, but if worst comes to worst, it's a possibility.]

...have you been getting on all right, then? [He likes to think either one or the other would call if something went disastrously wrong, but...well, circumstances might have interfered.]

[There's a second where the mention of Helios' name brings a slightly sour expression to her face. Not anger, just mild annoyance, the sort that comes with being tied up and locked inside a bedroom.

Of course, now that she isn't tied up and locked away, that doesn't matter much.]

/I do believe he's unoccupied. I'm sure he'll come running over. I'll get dinner set for three tonight then./ [There were some lovely looking ducks in the butcher's shop...]

/I'm doing wonderfully. I got you some presents./

Oh, um, you don't have to. I still have a bit in the pack, and I'm sure Helios will be tired, teleporting out this far. I, I'm sure you're busy, out stalking the streets. [He means it in the "superhero" sense he's seen her as, when she'd saved him from the three drunks the other night. The fact that the descriptor is still true in all the wrong ways...no, he's out of the loop.

So the mention of gifts makes him perk up a bit, despite himself.]

What on Earth for? [But, privately, he lets out a breath of relief - good, when he and Helios can finally go hunting for the necklace, it will look a bit less strange. A gift for a gift - nothing fairer, right?]

/Please, the three of us haven't been together for a few days now. I'm going to cook dinner./ [She wants to. She enjoys cooking and now that they have their own place, it's been fun. Beyond that, there's something quite nice about the idea cooking dinner and having it all ready when they return.

She smiles at the question.]

/Because. Isn't that a good enough reason?/

...no, we haven't have we?

[Giles can't deny that he feels a bit wistful at the thought. A dinner with the three of them at their own place...it might be just like old times.

And, just like old times, he remembers the last thing that happened when he took his eyes off the two of them, and adds:]

How are you feeling?

[Ginia grins, an genuine, honest, very happy grin.] /I feel wonderful. Though I bet I would feel better if you were back./ [Her grin turns into a smirk as she trails a finger down her neck and to the top of her tunic, tugging it down just to show a touch more cleavage.]

[Giles immediately goes bright red - good god, Lavinia is probably watching right now and cackling - and ducks his head to hide an embarrassed smile.]

Well, um...w-won't be long now, then.

W-Where shall I meet you?

((ooc: And switch to action after this?))

/How about the fountain?/ [Center of town, nice place, enough time to pick up his gifts and maybe a few other things.]

/See you soon, Rupert. / [She smiles, and privately, lovingly for him, then disconnects from the orb.

As promised, she'll be waiting at by fountain, one hand dipped into the cool water. There's a wrapped bundle on her lap and a longer wrapped bundle at her side. She's still dressed in the same getup as earlier. And that cursed necklace? Hidden safely under her shirt.]

[A good thing, too, because Giles and Helios had Words and Giles now knows exactly what's going on, and exactly what to look for.

So it's a pensive, concerned, worried former Watcher that walks briskly into the square, orients himself in the crowds, and then heads towards the fountains.

But he still manages a smile when he looks up and sees her waiting. Because he has missed her, and at least she's okay. And this can be fixed. Whatever it is.]

Hello. [He leans in and kisses her before taking a seat next to her on the edge of the fountain, and tries to ignore the wrapped bundles.]

[Ginia's expression brightens when she sees him, feeling a real rush of happiness, love, and relief. He can take care of himself, but it doesn't stop her from worrying. Unknown world, unknown rules. She leans into the kiss, then snuggles in next to him. There will be new rumors tomorrow, there always are, but everyone can chat all they want.]

/hello. I'm glad you're back./

[And Giles lets her snuggle, wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her close. He's had the romance conversation with his great aunt - really, after that, anything Schwanheim might come up with in the way of rumors doesn't seem quite so terrible.]

And, um, I'm happy to be back. [Trying to make the motion subtle, he brushes some hair back from the nape of her neck, glancing to see if he can spot the clasp of the necklace.] Helios is, um, resting, after the trip. But, um, w-we should be all together for supper tonight.

[The clasp of the gold necklace is a simple thing, one clasp connected to a gold hoop. However, there's also a simple leather cord around her neck, whatever that may be hanging on it hidden under her shirt.]

/i was thinking roast duck, potatoes, and greens would be nice. And cake for dessert./ [She looks down at her bundles and grins, remembering the thrill and rush at getting each item. She holds the longer of the bundles out to him, the contents probably obvious, but wrapped up inside is another sword.] /Go on, open it! /

[Hm...Helios had mentioned a necklace.

Let's see if fortune is kind today. Giles has his doubts but, well. First time for everything.

Of course, he's a bit distracted when Ginia presents him with the package. And when he'd been trying to ignore it, he hadn't recognized the shape, but now, presented with it...

...Giles swallows past a lump in his throat. A sword. Oh, the memories...

But he steals himself, closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and undoes the gold clasp at the same time as he asks:]

W-Where did you find this?

/From the market of course,/ [Ginia replies, which is not actually a lie as she did find it in the market, but she also stole it from a stand in the market.

the clasp is undone, but the necklace shifts a little on her skin. Ginia reaches up and touches the necklace, holding onto it even, and looks at Giles.]

/...What are you doing?/

Nothing. [And, indeed, he'd moved his hand away the second he felt the catch come loose. He pretends to notice her the necklace in place.] Oh, um, d-did the catch come undone? W-We can stop by somewhere, on the way back, m-maybe get it looked at.

[Ginia frowns slightly, old instincts and a lifetime of caution creeping up on her. Her struggle with Helios earlier this morning isn't forgotten either. What had Helios said to Giles when he went to pick up the other man from the beach?

But in light of happier topics, Ginia lets the topic drop and points back at the covered sword.]

/You didn't open your present. This is for you too./

[The smaller bundle is taken off her lap and placed on his. Wrapped up is a long, hooded cloak. Dark black, very lightweight, but still warm, wonderful for traveling and a bit of dramatic effect. At the throat is a silver metal clasp, a green gem at the center.]

[No, he didn't open his present. He needs to stay resolved and focused to solve this, this curse or hex, and he needs to hunt down that magic peddler and beat him to a pulp.

The sword is a wonderfully thoughtful present, now as it was then, but he can't accept it.

Still, refusing twice would look even worse. So Giles unwraps the present, and despite himself he gasps at the contents. He's never been one for cloaks, not in this style, but when it comes to protective gear Giles has a good eye. This is a high quality piece, and the clasp at the the throat doesn't look like it will come undone for anything short of a bolt cutter.]

It's...it's lovely, Ginia. Th-Thank you.

/Try it on./

[She smiles, happy when she sees his expression. One thing never changed over the many years of her life; to give and bring happiness to others is one of life's greatest joys. And while the cloak clasp had come from the Magic Peddler, the cloak itself had been legally purchased from a vendor.

If he does try it out, he'll discovery very quickly the cloak works as an invisible cloak, rendering whatever the fabric covers invisible.]

[Orb]

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