(Untitled)

[lucetimods]

Who: Everyone!
What: Waking up to the start of the AU, hurrah!
When: ....Now?
Where: EVERYWHERE
Summary: You wake up confused... disoriented. This isn't your house. This isn't your family! Just what is going on!?
Rating: Probably all over the map.

Probably comment-spam would be the easiest way to do it. Have fun kids |D

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[Action] | Sometime after the whole thing with Vivi, maybe a placeholder?

[semper_cogitans]

[It should be no surprise to Rupert Giles that the eccentric, chronically-overworking heir to the local magitechnological enterprise-turned-math teacher is one of the first to be at the school, after the troubles with Vivi have passed. He seems shaken, but no less worse for the wear, and probably already escorted Vivi to her own class for the day, the same way he'd do it every other day.

Now he's just reorganizing some of the reports that had mysteriously been here at the school rather than at his home like they should have been. He's leafing incessantly through them, pausing occasionally to gaze thoughtfully at some overly-precise diagram.

When Giles comes in, though, he raises his gaze to meet the headmaster's brother and smiles the rare smile he reserves for the members of the village that don't give him strange looks.]

Rupert... I'm glad to see that you made it in after this morning's debacle.

... You look rather haggard... are you alright? [Robert has always been a very blunt-in-a-kind-way individual, and it shows here. He puts his reports down, prepared to do something to assist Giles if necessary.]

Re: [Action] | Placeholder while I sort some things out.

[consultmybooks]

[Giles has no idea who was at school first today. Giles was late. But he returns the smile gratefully - Robert saved the entire family a hell of a lot of worrying.]

I made it. Despite the best efforts of several teachers and the village in general. How is Vivi managing after this morning?

[But he sighs at Robert's other question, taking off his glasses to clean them.] And for what is probably actually the dozenth time today, I'm fine. Just because I woke up in the clinic, that doesn't mean I'm sick. [He's not. All signs point to minor blood loss.]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

She seems to be much happier. Just the initial anxiety of waking up in a strange place... Which is entirely understandable. I'm certain that almost anybody would have felt the same.

She's in her first class now. It seems that many students are still missing, which I suppose makes sense...

[Robert takes a few cautious steps towards Rupert at this. Even here he's aware of all the rumours, and as much as he tells himself to ignore them, that that's all they are - rumours - he can't help but wonder what other people would think if he was to cozy up too much to him.]

... Ah, well, I didn't think you looked sick so much as you looked exhausted. But if you're alright then that is all that matters. I suppose anybody would look... battered, after the morning you had.

[He smiles sheepishly.] I probably look a mess myself. But it was worth it.

[Is he standing too close to Rupert? Is his body language too overly familiar? (It doesn't help that Robert has never been too good at reading body language...)]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

I certainly did.

Most of the students are probably either still trying to track down their families or planning to use the excuse of tracking down their families to come in late. I don't think we can be too hard on anyone today.

[Now that he knows Vivi is safe, Giles seems to be more or less comfortable around Robert, and he returns the smile. Doesn't move any closer, but doesn't step away.]

You look fine. We both did our fair share of racing around this morning. [Internally, though, he winces - "you look fine"? There is no way, with their current situation, that that will ever not sound strange.]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

Of course. A little leniency on logical occasions for it never did much harm. [Pleasant, even conversation with the man Robert wonders if he's entirely too close with.]

... Yes, that is true. Though... thank you for the vote of confidence. [Robert can't help the slight flush on his face at this - he almost doesn't realize he is until he catches sight of himself, and he hurriedly looks slightly away, averts his gaze from Giles.]

... [Nervously:] W-Well, I'm at least glad that this Shift didn't entirely ruin my reports. I intended to have those in to Helios today and it would have been a shame if they had completely disappeared. But I was so certain I'd brought them home yesterday... peculiar things, these Shifts. [Especially that one in February.]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles finds himself shifting from foot to foot a little nervously when Robert looks away. He leans against the wall to mask it. Wonderful. There he goes making things uncomfortable for his friend again. He knows that he shouldn't be so familiar, not with their situation, but when faced with someone who is such a huge part of his daughter's life and his school and so loyal to his brother, Giles can't help but be familiar.

Shaking his head slightly, he tries for a safer subject change.]

Things were disappearing as well?

Oh, dear. I was in and out too quickly to really take a look around the apartment. I wonder if anything's missing...

...I wonder how many students actually lost their books during the shift and how many are just going to use that excuse.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[It is a relatively frequent occurrence, isn't it? Those uncomfortable moments that make Robert's stomach lurch with anxiety and fear and maybe a little bit of longing - he isn't quite sure. Little things, like the first time he'd shook Rupert's hand after a parent-teacher meeting. Or when he came over to his home for dinner the first time (probably mostly for politeness' sake, not that Robert'd know). Or when he and Rupert's hands brushed just a little too long, or they stood just a little too close.

It makes him feel silly, really. He's a grown man, he shouldn't be having these kinds of flyaway feelings; at any rate, they're just getting in the way of a safe, normal friendship, something Robert could stand to have more of here. But of course, he's never been normal in this regard. Especially not with that thing with his half-brother Don...]

I should hope not... but it happened in my case, at least. And perhaps in others' cases as well.

Though I wouldn't put it past the students to use it as an excuse... [A wry smile curls Robert's lips a moment.] At least my lesson for today wasn't going to rely on much in the way of textbooks.

[Offhandedly:] Not like any of them are really focusing, what with the upcoming festival. I'll likely have to take a look at the equipment again. [The perceived unpleasantness of this task is very obvious in Robert's voice. He'd rather be doing anything else other than being at the festival, but with the near-electrical failures that tended to happen when he wasn't around to oversee... well, it was safer for everybody involved if he was there. Even if people would probably prefer him not to be.

There was also the chance of a rendezvous with Donatello there, if he wasn't too busy...]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

To be fair, not all of the teachers are entirely focused as they should be. [Himself very much included, unfortunately. If it weren't for Frederic, the concert would probably be a lot less successful every year than it is.]

[Giles takes off his glasses and starts cleaning them - a stalling tactic in response to the evident distaste in Robert's voice. He's never understood his friend's reluctance to celebrate the Great One and all he and the Malnosso do for this village. If it weren't for their protection, god, he might have lost more than two children over the years.

It's one of the greatest sticking points in their relationship, because the last thing Giles wants is for him to pass such feelings along to Vivi.],/i>

You probably will. Lord knows, I'm certainly in no condition to look after it. I'll never understand how you manage to keep track of it all by yourself.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

... Neither am I, if I'll be frank. [Mostly his was due to worry about Vivi, though. The very real possibility of losing her had come up in the past few days, and it severely bothered him. Loss was not something he handled well when it wasn't self-incurred.

Oh, it's not that Robert doesn't celebrate what the Malnosso have done. It's just that he doesn't see the need to attach any kind of religious significance to it. As far as Robert's concerned, if he wanted to hold a festival for anybody, it would be Sir Catherine, the person who actually physically existed and actually was the embassy to the village and in general did everything that required the Malnossian presence.]

I could bring Donatello along, if his shift at the plant doesn't prevent it. [It's an almost offhanded statement, but Giles will know the kind of investment Robert has in the idea.] But I could manage it myself. It helps when you've been around it for more than two decades. [This is said with no small amount of bitterness. In some cases, that statement was very literal - Robert was practically locked inside his house at points, and fear and uncertainty combined with social insecurity had served to keep him in the rest of the time.]

It's at least something I can do, though. [It keeps the villagers off my back.]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

Well, between the both of you, you could probably finish up in time to take in some of the sights.

[It's a hint - a mild one, but definitely a hint. Giles has always held the impression that Robert's socially awkward nature doesn't help the village's impression of him.] I'm sure Donatello can get some time off, at least.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[It probably doesn't, honestly.]

I'll certainly consider it... [Robert smiles gently and lets one hand meander over his reports.]

... Ah, well, I don't wish to keep you too long, Rupert. I'm sure you have much to prepare for... [Not that Robert doesn't love his company. He just worries he loves it too much.]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

It's fine, Robert, I'm...[Giles glances up at the clock and...frowns.]

...going to be late, actually. Again.

Dammit.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[He had been afraid of that.]

Oh dear... I suppose I'll see you later then, or something? Don't worry. I'll take Vivi home. [As usual. Home meaning Robert's home, of course.

He was more used to the little girl being with him than not, now.]

I hope the rest of your day goes well.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

Y-Yes, please do. See you later, Robert.

[He's already hurrying off.]