[ $ 1 ]

[strangelyliteral]

[Action]

[Waking up unceremoniously in Luceti with no idea of where she is and what she is doing there is of course a disorienting experience. Anya finds herself out on the beach, lying prone on the sand. It could be Sunnydale, except the area she's been deposited in doesn't have much surrounding it besides sand and blue skies.

Her back hurts, and by the time she sits herself up and reaches back there...] Wings? Is this a joke?

[Some more time passes with her half-ranting to herself, trying to get oriented and squinting at the placement of the sun. She almost misses the fact that the journal is there completely, save when she finally starts to walk and nearly trips over the thing, half buried in the sand.]

[Accidental voice]

- Ow! I have sand in places that I don't want to think about, there's no sign of anyone - what is this, a book? I don't even get a pair of shoes, or even suntan lotion, I just get a lousy book? [She turns the journal over in her hands, pages rustling, her image still not visible, though there's the sound of the ocean's waves in the background.] ... my name is on this book. This just entered a new level of creepy.

Comments

1/3

[herotypical]

[ it shouldn't surprise her. not any more, at least. not when dead people roll into town. or -- from the sounds of it -- the shore just a little ways beyond the town.

and here she is. surprised. shocked, even. ]

2/3

[herotypical]

[ the math is quick and riddled with guilt: one year-and-a-bit back home; four years here. hell, today as good as marked that anniversary.

the journal's voice option registers a long-suffering sigh. ]

3/3 also voice.

[herotypical]

Anya. [ five years and the voice is unmistakeable. somehow, that's a comfort. to know that she hasn't forgotten so much that she can't recognize the voices of her own dead. ] The books not as lousy as you think it is. Hold onto it. You'll regret losing it.

[ there's a quiver in her tone. she's trying so hard to be stalwart. ]

[voice]

[handing]

I can't really promise it'll get better, but the book is important. [Pepper keeps her tone even, sympathetic in the face of the woman's frustration. So it's that season again.]

You mentioned sand. Are you out on the beach?

1 / 2

[strangelyliteral]

[She barely registers the sigh, but then a voice starts coming out of the book.] What -

2 / 2

[strangelyliteral]

[And she finally turns the book over properly, as she looks closer at it.]

Buffy, it's you? What happened?

[voice]

[strangelyliteral]

[And now there are more voices coming out of the book. Voices she doesn't know.]

Yes, I've been told that. [She is ever so blunt.] And yes, I am. What do you know about it?

[herotypical]

...That's a question with a whole lot of very long answers.

[strangelyliteral]

I'm practically naked on a beach with wings and no towel. I don't remember this being in the plan. What's with the talking book?

[herotypical]

A towel's hardly gonna h--[ help.

be patient, summers. ] The book's not talking. I'm talking. I'm just talking through the book. Kinda like a hipster version of a cell-phone. [ ... ] When you said practically naked, you mean you are still wearing the dress. Right? The white one? 'Cause if not, I can totally bring you something.

[ spontaneous nudity: just about one of the few things that can repair old, long-dead bridges. ]

[strangelyliteral]

Oh, I still have it. It's about all I have. Even if it isn't actually mine. [She pauses. They're getting off the bigger subject. Even she can realize that.] Does this mean you're nearby, or something?

[herotypical]

...Technically? No. But I can be nearby in a blink. Seriously. It's possible. There's this whole machine and it --

It doesn't matter. But if you're at the shore, I can be there. Provided it's the shore I'm thinking of.

[strangelyliteral]

It's pretty empty here. The water must not be warm enough.

Oh. There might be... something in the distance. [She shades her eyes, studying the dark shapes.] They're not moving. I think they're boats.

[herotypical]

And have yourself a good long look up the beach. Do you see a house? Or maybe what looks like the poorly-aged ribs of a stone fort?

[strangelyliteral]

There is some kind of building over there. Is that where you're all hiding out?

[herotypical]

Not lately, no. And I wouldn't go a-knocking too eagerly, unless you wanted to meet the world's most dour admiral. [ and buffy took a moment to imagine anya and norrington exchanging pleasantries. hah. ]

Maybe you should stay put. I'll come to you?

[strangelyliteral]

Well, fine then. [And for once, she bites her tongue on how she once had to curse an Admiral once. Some topics just brought back sore memories. And speaking of sore, as much as she thinks it might be better for her to make some progress, her sore back reminds her that maybe she should take it easy. At least for a little bit.] I'll wait here.

[herotypical]

Good. [ she sounds almost distracted. ] Good. I'll bring you what I can. Just...do us both a favour and don't stray too far from your book. And try not to touch the wings. You need those, too.

Re: [voice]

[handing]

Okay, good. [The bluntness Pepper can take in stride, at least for the moment. New Feathers have a lot to work through when they first arrive, and a little hostility isn't unusual. She's already doing better than some by not trying to wreck anything or rip off her wings.]

Well, I know it means you're pretty far from the village. [And Pepper is less familiar with the beach, so she's not entirely sure how to guide the woman.] Just what have you heard about the place you're in so far? Not the beach specifically--this world.

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[Well what do you know. Rock Lee has chosen this area to do one of his daily jogs at an oddly incredible speed. But once he catches a New Feather dress out of the corner of his eye, he veers and hurries over at a less blur-like pace, skidding to a stop several feed from her.]

Excuse me, Miss! Are you new here?

voice;

[entreats]

Just wait until you find out that it goes even further beyond just the name on the book. They're practically stalkers.

[ Yet she says fairly calmly. All things considered. ]

[strangelyliteral]

Fine, fine I get it. No touchie. No losing the book. Ugh, you are not making any sense right now!

[voice]

[strangelyliteral]

Just the part about the book and wings being important. Buffy's taking her time with the rest of it. Though - world? Did someone wish us into a wingy dimension? That's all I'm getting from this.

... Who are you, anyway? Why are you talking to me?

[Action]

[strangelyliteral]

[It takes her a little by surprise to see another person running around out here. Buffy had mentioned a stuffy admiral, but she had a feeling the woman wasn't referring to this ... energetic person.]

That depends on what "here" is.

voice;

[strangelyliteral]

[More people talking. Well, she does have some time before Buffy gets there.] Yes, I was under the impression that it would be more than just the name on the book.