Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 10:04 PM
Giles had grown antsier and antsier as the Red drew nearer to Oireachteigh, and struggled to put the sense of unhappiness aside... however, now that the excitement of Seth's binding ring and the relief that came with speaking to Pipkin once again was wearing off, the general sense of unease was looming in the back of his mind, impossible to ignore.

Somewhat moodily, he busied himself with mending his little-used bait nets, quietly making sure they'd serve him well when the Red finally made port.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 10:07 PM
"So... I see you are still not getting him tanned." It was Gioia, or rather Gioia as Giles.

She leaned forward a bit, looking down at the nets with interest.

"Sometimes he can be such a snob. If he wasn't around I'd say we tan him good. But that would be mean." She gave GIles a crooked little smile. "How are you?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 10:12 PM
Giles looked up into his own face... he still wasn't used to looking at himself and seeing the damage there. It caught him by surprise.

"He is. But it's obviously important to him, and stayin' outta the sun means nothin' t'me, so..." he smiled, faintly. It was a distracted smile. "I'm alright. Someone's gone an' poked my nets full of holes. You?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 10:16 PM
"I just had a visit from an ex-lover whom I thought I was over long ago. So yes, I've been better."

She sighed, hunching down next to Giles. "Also, it is utterly weird to talk to Bonet in my skin. I try to remember that it's him, but it still feels so unnerving. Is it really true that you two kissed like this?" Gioia peeked intently with her single eye.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 10:18 PM
"A visit? On a ship?" Giles asked, worried. "Who is this guy--the...the one we talked about?"

Somewhat embarassed, he brushed a curl from his face and reached out to tap her nose, blushing. "Well.... Yeah. Are you mad?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 10:20 PM
"Morgan. Yes. He's a mage... you know them. Can walk between worlds. I suppose he's rather powerful... but I never really thought about that. He just seemed like such a regular guy to me. He just had worse enemies."

She scratched at the edge of the plate, smiling faintly. "No. Not angry. Just a bit amused that Bonet really would kiss himself. It's a bit cute. I couldn't do that."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 10:22 PM
"So he's a narcissist, big deal. The obsession with tanlines made that real obvious ages ago," Giles laughed, then flashed her a look of concern. "You talk to the captain about that? She's not gonna be happy if folk are walkin' onto her boat without her knowin'. What happened? You give him the old heave-ho?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 10:26 PM
"I told him that if he wanted to talk to me again he'd damn well better introduce himself to the captain first. He... Saints that fish and swim, Giles, he wanted to see if there was any way we could get back together again. If I could forgive him for walking out on me. He wanted me to actually stay with him and be a family with him and his children."

She grimaced, lowering her voice. This she hadn't told Bonet. "And he kissed me. Even though I was a man, which in retrospect is a bit brave since he's straighter than the queensman."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 10:28 PM
Giles hands stilled in the net. He reached out for his--her hand, still so odd--and gave it a little squeeze, looking worried. "He. He did? Is that even possible?" he asked quietly, studying the other man's face.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 10:31 PM
"No." The sigh was a tiny one, but she squeezed the hand back. "And he should know it. He knows about the map. But he didn't stop to think. He never did that you know? He's got a good heart but no sense. I... it just shook me a bit, to have what I might have wanted waved in my face like that. A family. But it wouldn't last."

She chewed a bit on her bottom lip. "Broke my heart a little bit it did."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 10:35 PM
Sympathy flickered across his face. "Gioia... that wasn't fair of him. To offer you something unattainable. Is there no way..."

And then he caught himself, shook his head. If a mage like that could break that map of hers, he would have already done it while they were seeing one another....

"Did you tell him you'd found someone new? I'm pretty sure Bonet could beat the livin' shite outta any old mage botherin' you, if you like. I'd help." He flashed her what he hoped was an encouraging smile.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 10:39 PM
"Well, I might have given him a few hints..." She sighed, shaking her head. "There is no way. I was foolish to fall for him as hard as I did, it was never meant to be nothing more than a fling. But... it's hard to keep your distance I guess. I just didn't think he'd ever show up again..."

She smiled a bit at Giles smile. "Bonet is right. Your happiness is so infectious when you smile like that. He was concerned you wouldn't want to give his body back."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 10:45 PM
Giles laughed. "He said that?! Hah. It's easy t'be happy when you're not bloody well hurtin' all over," he pointed out, amused. "I'm afraid you pair are the only ones who get t'witness it. I like bein' around you, s'all... an' I wouldn't wanna ruin my mopey reputation."

He looped an arm around hers, leaning against her in a show of solidarity. "I know it don't mean much, I understand about distance, at least--I've had my fair share of flings-turned-mushy-and-miserable. Did he follow you here, from wherever you were before? Or was he part of this world, before Neely?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 10:49 PM
"No, I met him elsewhere, from a previous shift. But that world is apparently easy to connect to from this world and the other way around. I don't expect to understand it all, I am not a mage." She leaned a bit against Giles, at least here she didn't mind the discrepancy between their bodies. "And yes... you are hurting all over poor thing, but at least the alcohol is out of your system. But Saints do I want a drink at times."

She rolled her eye a bit. "I just... things were complicated enough without him showing up. Still... is it bad of me to admit I missed him a bit?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 10:52 PM
"S'not bad. S'pretty natural, I think. Gioia, if he can walk between worlds--" Giles bit his lip, and brushed a bit of choppy, unevenly cut hair from Gioia's face. He liked talking about her, it kept him from thinking about his own problems. "Can he not follow you wherever you go? You oughta make it real plain how you feel about him, or he's like t'keep pesterin' you. I don't like that he can enter your life whether or not you want him to... That's not ... healthy. Safe. Fair. I dunno, but I don't like it."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 10:58 PM
"I don't know if he can do that. Like I said, this world is very close, but some of the places I've been... what we'd call people can't even live there. There was this place where everything was fire, with fire elementals living there. I think that's why I can't really burn now. And the underwater place with the whales and the fish... and... I'm never sure what I am going to be when I step on. The woman I'm now is not exactly like the woman he met. And sometimes things change more. There are places there I... I have been thinking about it. But It wouldn't work. I cant ask anybody else to leave everything behind every year or so..."

She looked frustrated and annoyed. "And I don't know how I feel about him. Or Bonet. Saints, why must things be so complicated?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 11:02 PM
"Well, in that case at least, he'd get a taste of what he deserved. Fire-elemental-land doesn't sound particularly appealin'..." he went quiet. "You told him t'stay away, right? He shouldn't follow you if you don't want him. If you want him to, though... it's not up t'you what he does with himself. You wouldn't be askin' him for anythin' he wasn't willin' t'give."

"How you feel... are you that serious about Bonet?" Giles asked, looking slightly surprised.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 11:06 PM
"No matter what I feel about Morgan, he is useful. We are sailing into a war, and if he can help keeping a few people I care about alive it is a small price to pay. That's why I told him to talk to the captain."

She shook her head, chewing a bit on her lip. "I don't know if I'm that serious about Bonet because I can't be that serious with anyone. He knows it. I know it. It's just... Saints, maybe there is a curse on the ship that makes everybody want to jump in bed with everybody else. Maybe that's it. It would explain everything."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 11:10 PM
"I don't want to jump in bed with you," Giles reminded her, with a smile that was oddly blank. "I told you before, Gioia. I don't wanna take anythin' away from you. If you... ah, if you're... attached... to Bonet, I don't want to be in your way. Tell me if I am."

Then, he sighed. "I don't know what to tell you... except that there are rarely coincidences these days, an' I'm not sure I'd take him showin' up aboard this place at this time as a coincidence or happy accident."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 11:15 PM
"Don't be an idiot Giles. You're anything but in the way, I don't think I'd be halfway as happy here without you. And that includes Bonet. I am Not going to have any illusions there, but from the sound of things he planned to grab us both once we reach shore and get our proper bodies back and lock us all in a room and not come out for a day. I think that might be lovely."

She giggled there, a pouty expression on Giles face "And you totally kissed my body. You admitted to that yourself"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 11:20 PM
Again, that sense of unease. He squashed it back with a disbelieving little laugh. "It that really what I look like when I pout?" he asked, poking his nose. "Cute."

"The both of us at once? Ambitious bloke, our Boney." Then he leaned back, and stretched out his shoulders. "It wasn't you I was kissin', it was him--he wears you different, it shows." The look he gave her softened, slightly. "I'm happy bein' your friend. I don't want..." to risk it, change it, jeopardize it. But he couldn't bring himself to say that. "Well, Boney'll just have to content himself with takin' turns."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 11:24 PM
"Yes Giles, you wear your pouts well." Giles shyness seemed to have thawed her unease. "Of course Bonet would be ambitious. he's the high almighty Lieutenant Commander of the Aquitinian Navy!" She tried to imitate the man, falling short.

"You are my friend. That's not going to change.And I think Bonet might be biting off more than he can chew here..."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 11:27 PM
"The high and mighty, oh so noble, infinitely well endowed Lieutenant Commander Davide Bonet." Giles' impersonation was understandably fantastic. "What do you mean, more than... oh, the pair of us? I wonder if he realizes just how tight we are," Giles teased back. And then, red creeping up his cheeks, he blinked at her. "Would you really be alright with that? I imagine it'd be awfully weird..."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 11:31 PM
"I... don't know. I've never done anything like that before, and part of me is blushing like mad now. Not like you though, wearing that skin. But still, I think being around Neely has toughened me up. It's... I mean it's not like we all know and like each other. Or like we conspired to drive Bonet mad by teasing him he both of us. I think... wearing someone else's skin for a while makes everything pale. I mean I already know how you look naked."

In detain. Oh, like she wasn't supposed to experiment?

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 11:35 PM
"Yeah, but--" Giles swallowed. "I get... attached, to people. Bonet's like t'get bored of me once he's had me, an' that's fine, I saw it comin' a long way off. But you... you I really care about. An' I think it'd be hard to do that... casually... with someone like you."

He did raise a brow at that last line, though, and force a tight little smile. "Oh, you do? Just how well?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 11:39 PM
"Oh..." She leaned in and hugged Giles then, tightly. "I didn't think about that, sorry if I sounded flippant about it. I... am probably the worst person in the world to grow attached to like that, you are guaranteed that I will leave you. We'll tell Bonet he'd better take turns then, which will probably be good because it would be sad to break him."

She petted Giles knee, then cleared her throat. "Well, you haven't slept with anyone in ages, and once the hangover was gone, I kept getting... well... hard. Would be a shame not to do anything about it."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 11:45 PM
Giles shook his head, and swallowed, leaning into her. "Don't be. I'll think about it. It's not a matter of you leavin', that'll break me heart whether or not we sleep together. It's more that I've had enough of one-sided affection t'last me a lifetime."

He tipped his head back and laughed at her admission. "Hahaha! I admit, I've had my hands all over Bonet... poor bastard. I'm sure he's much too prim and proper to enjoy you properly, he's so stuffy about bein' a girl."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 22 2008, 11:52 PM
"Giles..." Gioia chewed a bit on her lip, watching the man. "I..." Honesty? Should she go for honesty here?

Of course. What else was there. "If I were to stay in one place, I would fall for a man like you. Someone it could last with. I try really hard to think of you as my brother you know? Because like I said... I don't want to fall for anyone again. Bonet is safer that way. He's a rogue, or at least he plays on being one." She leaned back against Giles, smiling softly. "It's not that the affection would be one-sided. It's that it wouldn't be smart."

She giggled a bit at the other bit. "Bonet is too proper I think, he seemed throughly tired of being a girl. And most of all of being short I think."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 22 2008, 11:59 PM
At that Giles smiled back, looking honestly pleased. "Well, I was never known for being terribly smart. I'll think about it, Gioia, it's... If it would make the two of you happy, it might be worth it. You've made me happy enough, god knows I owe you more than any man could repay. I just..."

He looked away, not meeting her eyes as he tugged at his collar. "Poor baby. Well, he'll be set to rights soon enough. I'm sure you'll be relieved t'be outta that battered body as well."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 12:03 AM
"It was Bonet's idea. I haven't even slept with the man yet. With the way things are going here it's not like we'll have time for much." She tried to shrug it off, because here she honestly didn't know what was the right thing to do.

"I suppose we'll see what happens and feels good. Don't force yourself into anything on my account."

She touched her plate again. "I won't lie. It will be a relief. But we've got to get you something for the pain, I don't think any of us knew how much it hurt still. I told Bonet."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 12:05 AM
At that Giles stiffened, looking embarassed. "Why? He doesn't need to know. It's none of his business."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 12:07 AM
Gioia flushed a little. "I didn't like that he kept treating it like it was nothing to whine about. It is something to whine about, it hurts. And if you're afraid of pity, I don't think you have to worry. He's in the Navy, people get badly hurt there all the time."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 12:10 AM
"I don't... he already thinks I'm a fool, an' far too young. I don't want him to think I'm weak, too," Giles muttered, hands falling to the nets again. His expression was tired.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 04:22 AM
"Then it's good that I told him. Because now he knows it's a legitimate injury and not just you being whiny. Giles..." She placed a hand on the man's shoulder, squeezing it a bit. "There's nothing weak about being injured. Trying to hide the truth from everyone and yourself to the point of alcoholism is... well, not smart. If you really want him to care about you, I think you will have to start to trust him a little too. He's... I think there's more going on under the surface than he lets people know. Or I could be wrong."

The sigh was a little one. "I trusted him with the truth about me. I'm nor sure if it was a mistake or not, but we talk easier because of it. And besides, you are coming off as the macho one here, you never complained about it, but I've been complaining about everything."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 09:47 AM
Giles brushed a strand of hair from his eyes. "I don't want him to care about me. That was never the point," he said softly, uncomfortable. "I just want him t'respect me, I guess. I like Bonet. I like bein' around Bonet. But I'm not interested in fallin' for anyone, it'd feel too much... ah... as though I were tryin' to replace what I've lost."

He reached out to touch the plate across his/her face. "You know, the only I let Neely take me upstairs back in Cecilia was 'cause I wanted someone who didn't matter t'bed me. Somethin' pure an' uncomplicated, an' look where that got me." He laughed with faint bitterness, and looked down.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 04:29 PM
"Honestly I think that Bonet is as uncomplicated as it gets. He's a nice man. He's been around. he can handle himself. And it's pretty hard to imagine a future together with him. Giles, stop worrying so much... you are not going to ruin everything again. And you are not replacing anybody. This is something new. Maybe it's slightly more than just a bit of fun with no feelings, but there can be some feelings without having to go all the way. You need to learn how to not just be one or the other all the time."

She patted his knee a bit. "It helps to get older. Really. Things gets a lot less either-or."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 05:04 PM
Giles was quiet for a moment before heaving a tremendous sigh. "It feels like... I don't know. I know he wouldn't care, he'd want me t'be happy an' probably applaud me for landin' in bed with two beautiful people--but I made such a mess of things, last time. I don't trust myself."

He looked up at Gioia and flashed her a little smile. "Don't get your hopes up--I figure at this rate it'll be a miracle if I see 25," he said, smirking.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 06:19 PM
"I thought the same at your age. But miracles happens you know." She beamed a smile at the man, tapping the plate in Giles former head.

"And if you feel like you are betraying him, then it is too soon. Don't try to force anything, just try to let it happen naturally... and remember one thing. If you told me right, last time you were possessed. it wasn't all you."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 06:24 PM
Giles winced visibly at that. "But I ... I did care for him, no matter how you slice it. I know that wasn't part of me, but I ... I sort of want it to be. I still feel guilty--that he cared for me so an' I've still got no clue how I felt about him." He scratched at his head, mussing the curls. "Not that it even matters now. I'm just... Oireachteigh is not a good place for me. I wish we were bound somewhere else. Anywhere else."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 06:32 PM
"We won't be there for long. Perhaps it's better to face those demons now than later. You can't go around avoiding it forever. At least you won't be here alone this time. You'll be with friends." She gave the man a clap on his shoulder.



Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 06:37 PM
This did not appear to make Giles feel better. He nodded uncertainly, and went back to mending the net with a look of distraction upon his face... change the subject, and fast. "Did you talk to Bonet about this suitor of yours?" he tried. "Or should I keep it quiet?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 06:41 PM
"I told him. We're just lucky he ended up finding me and not Bonet from the start. He is probably going to show up again so... I thought I'd explain the situation. Also..." Here she fell silent, watching Giles.

"I... hope you won't be mad at me for this. I used your powers to drain someone's luck."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 06:43 PM
"You--what?" Giles looked up, startled, and his eyes immediately went to the man's hands--looking for the ring. "Who? Why?!"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 06:45 PM
"Oh the ring works, I just removed it and then put it back." She sounded a bit shy about it, fingering the band. "Tucker's body. Even if half what he told Alannis are lies, the man deserves to have rotten luck. I wanted to even the score."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 06:51 PM
"But--Gioia, it's not ... It's real serious, doin' that. You may have killed him, stealin' that away," Giles said, looking shell-shocked. He set down the nets and folded his arms over his chest, as though it were his present hands were those that had done it.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 06:57 PM
"Alannis spent days hiding in the supply closet crying her eyes out and not eating because she was told that he had slept with three men, and then was on the verge of doing the same with the Puck. She's a virgin Giles, he took that from her. Could land her with disease, with a child... that's serious as well. She hadn't slept, I had to stay next to her so she would even fall asleep. If you heard her cry maybe you'd think differently. It is on my head what I have done."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 07:03 PM
The redhead stared at her, blankly. "I don't...." And then, somehow managing to make Bonet's body look smaller, he merely looked away. "Please don't do that again, without speakin' with me first."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 07:08 PM
"I won't do it again." She smiled faintly, looking down as well. "It... seemed like just punishment at the time. I might not have Bonet's temperament but... I can get pretty upset."

She scratched the back of her neck, her look of shame and worry echoing what was usually on Giles face.

"I'm sorry. I really am. It was an idiotic idea."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 07:15 PM
"I can see why you thought it was right. It's just, after hurtin' so many people unintentionally..." Giles tried, feeling a lump in his throat. He closed his eyes, thinking of Tupac. "Well. What's one more, really."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 07:23 PM
"Oh Saints Giles... I'm so sorry. I didn't think... And you don't have to do it anymore. Ever again." She reached out to touch him briefly to prove the point. "Would you want to be left alone?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 07:36 PM
"It doesn't matter. I was willin' t'touch you. I touched Bonet. I shouldn't mind your usin' it at your discretion.... it's fine," Giles said, shaking his head. The apology however was not enough to set him at ease, and he flashed her a tense little smile. "I can't be very good company.... sorry."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 07:45 PM
"It's alright." She smiled at Giles, pondering. She didn't want to let the man sit around brooding on his own, that would be sad. But neither did he want to talk, that was obvious. Maybe another way...

"Will you show me how to mend a net?" She looked down at the pile near Giles feet. "I feel so useless watching others work."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 23 2008, 07:49 PM
"Yeah. Ain't hard." Giles pulled around a spool of twine and plopped it between them. "Just cuttin' pieces here an' weavin' 'em in. Just gotta be careful what knots you use."

He held the half mended hole up, wiggling his fingers through the gap. "So just watch me once or twice, maybe?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Jul 23 2008, 07:51 PM
Gioia nodded, leaning closer. "I will... it always seemed like such a mystery."

Maybe that was what they both needed now. Some work. In silence.