you know enough to know the way
It's late afternoon when Rupert Giles steps out of the library closest to the Kashtta with a pile of books in his arms. As far as he's concerned, his first day in Chicago has, thus far, been completely successful.
Ten months ago, Giles was in Sunnydale. It was the year 2000.
He's still not exactly sure how it happened-no one ever is, according to ( Read more... )
Ten months ago, Giles was in Sunnydale. It was the year 2000.
He's still not exactly sure how it happened-no one ever is, according to ( Read more... )
He misses Sunnydale. Mostly for the people, but there's been Buffy. There's been three Buffys, and one Willow that disappeared along with one of the Buffys. However, there has never been a Giles.
However, there he is. In his unmistakable, tweed glory.
"G-man?" Xander freezes on the sidewalk. For once, he doesn't have food with him which is good as it would end up on the sidewalk right now. From the books and the specs and the tweed, I'd say... Yes."
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But then he realizes that if he were, it would likely be a hallucination of Buffy. No offense, Xander.
He blinks and very nearly drops his books. "Xander."
You know what, Xan? You're gonna get a hug. Just as soon as Giles puts these books down.
...okay. Awkward hug time.
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If he were to hallucinate someone, it would also be Buffy more than it would be Giles.
"Yes, there is the British speak to go along with all those things. If it looks like a Giles, sounds like a Giles, it must... be a Giles."
And awkward!sauce forever is Xander.
But there is definite awkward hugging right back, okay/ He missed Giles. Totally wished he'd had a more Giles-like figure for a father. "Hey, man. It's... uh, really, really of the good to see you." Expressing things other than wit or sarcasm is hard. "How long have you been here?"
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We are all manly men here.
"About ten months or so, give or take a week. Not here, though-I've been in Britain. I came through the rift in Rome. I only meant to come to Chicago for research, bur now..." He trails off, then stares at Xander. "Is Buffy here?"
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There's no need to get into emotional details.
"Ten months? How have you been here that-- Oh. I was going to say. I've been here like a year, G-man, that's impressive for us not to meet, but if you were hanging out in another country, I get that." He looks up at Giles and then nods. "Yeah, she's-- It's the third one that's been here. Kinda hate the Rift for the revolving door thing, but she's here. And she's... from way into the future but she's Buffy."
Buffy is always Buffy, no matter how much of an age gap there is between them now.
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His brows furrow at Xander's explanation about Buffy. "I see. Well. She's here, at least, and that's..." All that matters.
They can deal with the age gaps and time differences later. A bridge to cross when they get to it, so to speak.
"What about you? What year was it when you wound up here?"
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"2009. End of," he admits quietly. "I've been here all that time. Mostly because there has been a revolving door of Buffys so I figure that this is the place to be."
She pauses slightly.
"She'll be really happy to see you." And possibly have a ridiculous amount to share with her. "What's the last thing that happened in your Sunnydale?"
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He purses his lips, thinking.
Poor Xander. Poor all of them. But at least they have each other now, right?
"The last major thing was Adam. Were you around for that? Er-him."
It.
Whatever.
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Poor all of them for sure.
"I was not around for it, and the other Buffys did not mention any Adam. But they were both from about four, five years in the future so I guess... the random dude was not really an important subject. What was he? A villain or something? I like how we can... measure our lives in the big bads," Xander says, folding his arms across his chest. "Uh, the last thing I remember it was a few months before high school graduation, which apparently I do graduate. Go me."
There was some uncertainty about that.
Even when he fell through.
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It's a bit of a long story.
They all are, aren't they?
"Congratulations, though," he says, not-so swiftly changing the topic. "On graduating, that is. Or... doing so in the future. Which... is now your past..."
He shakes his head. It's all bloody confusing.
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There are so many long stories.
"Uh. Thanks I guess." Awkward head scratching is inserted here. Yeah, it's all complicated with the all of them coming from different times and all of them being here for different lengths.
He clears his throat. "I didn't actually do it, but I'm... awkwardly going back to school this year to graduate. I have a job, and the angel will give me a raise if I graduate. So... there's that." Slight pause. "Uh, do you need some help with all those books?"
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Giles would have liked to miss it, really.
But then he perks up, because Xander is going to school! And has a job! Those are good things!
"I'm very happy to hear it. Good for you. And, ah... yes, actually. If you wouldn't mind."
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(UNSURE).
He steps forward, grabbing some of the books from him.
"Where you headed anyway? I mean, are you staying here now or going back to fancy Europe?" He clears his throat a little. "There's a Buffy. I think. I should remind you."
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Look at Xander, being all adult-like. Who'd have thought, eh?
"That was the original plan, yes," he says, then nods in the direction of the Kashtta. "But now that I know you and Buffy are here, I don't think I have to tell you that I'm not going anywhere."
Pause.
"Although I do need to get these back to the Kashtta."
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He makes wood projects for money!
He smiles when Giles fills it in for him. He's staying! "Good. I didn't think you would, but... I don't know. It's been awhile," Xander says and then clears his throats. "Buffy and me are here though. Even when she goes, usually another Buffy appears. Like magic."
Pause as well.
"Hey, that's what I'm here for and you can move into the Kashtta. You been around for any of the creepy stuff?"
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"Well... I do hope the one that's here now stays."
He doesn't want to play Buffy shuffle, either.
"Does the fact that the Tower look as though it's about to collapse at any moment count as creepy? I've heard you have a bit of a ghost problem."
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