◈ 002 ; open } { soon your cares will all be gone

[tornadoinheels]

It’s been a rather quiet day in Chicago. Nothing too eventful, which could either be a blessing or a curse, depending on your point of view, but regardless-the day is quiet. And even with the quietness, there are people out and about, going about their daily routine with an odd short of shared obliviousness of anything that could possibly go

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[descendent]

Elena Gilbert is no stranger to Grant Park.

She is, however, a stranger to seeing an elephant this up close and personal. Her foot is caught in some wire, or she'd be trying to get away from it the way the rest of the people are. But this is Elena Gilbert, it's not as simple as just getting up and leaving for her.

There always has to be something, either because the narration is mean or because the writers of the television show she stars in are mean.

Either way, there is never simple.

[isaywe_party]

Buffy doesn't understand why people freak out at the idea of an elephant in the park. So long as you don't spook them, they're pretty gentle creatures. Giant creatures, but gentle nonetheless.

Buffy also knows Elena, however, and likes Elena, so here she wants to help more than she wants to hurt. But that does involve her ambling over and trying to figure out how to use her trunk.

This could take a minute, but eventually her trunk starts to wrap around Elena's waist to pull her up.

[descendent]

Elena lets out a whoa as the elephant pulls her up by the waist, her breath quickening. Her foot comes loose and the wire is left behind. The elephant is actually helping her, and Elena realizes this, but that doesn't take away the trepidation at the fact she is being pulled up by an elephant's trunk.

Her life in Chicago. What is it even?

Swallowing thickly, she turns over to the elephant, already wondering if it's a shapeshifter. "...Thanks."

[isaywe_party]

Lifting someone with your trunk is not as easy as it looks in the movies, especially when you're not used to it. As soon as Elena's clear of the wire, Buffy puts her back down again, but hey -- there's something to work on.

At the thank you, the trunk comes up again, and pats Elena gently on the head -- the elephant version of 'you're welcome.'

[descendent]

... This is so, so weird. Elena blinks as the elephant pats her.

"You really understand what I'm telling you?" Elena asks with a slight and disbelieving laugh. She possibly looks like a deranged girl talking to an elephant on the street, but everyone else has mostly ducked for cover. The odds of someone catching her are slim to none, and she's a curious sort of girl.

[isaywe_party]

She nods. Or, as much as an elephant can nod. Understanding her isn't the hard part -- it's the communicating back that needs some work. Elephants don't have vocal chords, and she doesn't want to trumpet in Elena's ear.

So patting, nodding -- it's the best she can do under the circumstances.

[descendent]

Aw, elephants really are gentle and nice creatures.

Elena is attempting to understand as much as she can... considering she is talking to an elephant that couldn't possibly talk back to her. She still steps forward gingerly and reaches out with a hand to pat it gently, wondering what it plans on doing next.

[isaywe_party]

Well, it plans on trying to get back to the Kashtta and finding a way upstairs for clothes without getting caught by anyone. The whole clothing destruction end of shapeshifting is rather inconvenient. Or maybe it's just for her because an elephant is ginormous.

But the patting feels nice, though. So she'll keep letting her do that.

[descendent]

Elena will continue to pat the elephant, but sooner or later she'll step back curiously to see where it plans on going. She'll be even further curious if it does move closer to the Kashtta, as she's never been confronted with a shapeshifter before.

Or at least, does not know that she has, and hasn't seen someone shift back.

[sortabuffyish]

Buffy is still in the control learning stage, and while she will make an attempt to head to the Kashtta, she will start to change. And shrink a little. Maybe even turn pink.

[descendent]

Elena blinks.

Initially, she believes she is seeing things, but no. The elephant is shifting, as she'd had her suspicions. Her steps slow down until she comes to an abrupt halt, staring in disbelief. "Oh my God."

[isaywe_party]

Eventually, when Buffy is Buffy again, standing naked in the middle Grant Park, she's not necessarily the most pleased naked girl in the world. And really, could you blame her? Aside from the fact she could probably get arrested -- it's really, really cold outside.

"Great," she sighs, her hands coming up to cover herself. "Just great."

[descendent]

Elena's eyes widen considerably and further. There is a naked girl in front of her. A naked girl she recognizes almost immediately. "Buffy?" she asks, before quickly turning on her heel so she is no longer looking at Buffy naked and instead staring across the street instead.

Just as quickly, she shrugs out of her coat and... tries to hand it over without turning back around.

[isaywe_party]

Buffy will help you, and be very grateful for that, Elena. She'll wrap the coat around herself, and tap her on the shoulder once she's decent-ish. Her legs are still bare, but all the important things are covered, and that's what matters.

"Thanks. Sorry about that."

[descendent]

"It's fine," Elena's quick to assure her with an almost awkward laugh. She does turn once Buffy taps her on the shoulder, her arms folded across her chest in a So! This is kind of awkward deal, but it's Buffy, and Elena isn't going to make this worse on her if she can help it.

"I remember you telling me you were a shapeshifter, but it didn't occur to me..." her voice trails off. It was a while ago since Elena made that entry asking about Rift abilities. "Are you okay?"

[isaywe_party]

This is really awkward, but Buffy appreciates her not making it worse. It's a weird situation all around. "I don't think it really sinks in for anyone until they actually see it. It definitely took me a few times to wrap my head around it. And I'm fine. Just ... cold, so -- would you mind if we did this while we were Kashtta bound?"

It's where her clothing lives. And eventually she will find a way where it doesn't take a toll on her wardrobe.