if the elephants have past lives

[invoking]

WHO: GIL and YOU
WHERE: anywhere! The park, a grocery store, the streets, around his workplace, etc.
WHEN: between 12/10 and 12/13
WARNINGS: references to Thunderhungerdome events
SUMMARY: In spite of everything that's happened, Gil has to try and carry on with City life.
FORMAT: starting with quick but tagger's choice!


[ If there's anything Gil is always quick to buy, no matter how stingy he can be with money, it's cigarettes and a brand new lighter. He's not too fond of those cheap ones from the corner stores, even if they do work in a pinch. But so do matches. (The odd stare every now and then doesn't both him when he's craving a long drag of nicotine. While he's well are of the laws against public smoking, when he really needs (re: wants) a cigarette, he can't help himself. When he's working, he avoids it as long as he can before he lights one outside the building.

Attempting to quit doesn't cross his mind. There's a lot on it.

He's even lost count of how long it's been since that night in the stadium. There are fleeting moments it feels like it was a decade ago, buried under the other painful events that seemed to consistently plague his life-- and then the vivid moments like it was just yesterday and his senses are overloaded with the smell of copper and screaming ringing in his ears.

It's the brief seconds of remembering Lenalee and Damian's bodies that jostles him out of his daze and he needs to stop and catch his breath. ]

Comments

some park

[psychomancy]

[Overall, Gemma had been blessed with a relatively quiet month. She had watched all the awful things that had happened to other imports via the network and the news stations, but she had managed to avoid the fray herself. To say the least, she was thankful. To say the least, coming upon uneventful days in the City had seemed to happen more seldom as one spent more time trapped in it. After over two and a half years, she's due for some relaxation. Right?

Nowadays, she tends to spend as much time as she can in the park. Away from the worries of work and Matt's strangeness, away from the sadness of NOHoPE's patients. She knows that it isn't good and Christian of her to avoid them, especially with the holidays on the horizon, but she can't help it.

So this afternoon she's taking Pippa for a walk. She seems to like the cold, and wrapped in a fur-lined wool coat, Gemma doesn't mind it so much either. She's almost in a daze, letting the huge dog lead her around. Sorry if she comes up and noses at your hand, stranger.]

[invoking]

[ Firstly, that's not a dog, that's some kind of bear. At least, this is Gil's initial reaction when he feels something cold and wet bump against his gloved hand. He's seated on a bench, although upon a quick glance it would seem he's falling asleep or has already.

Which isn't the case, he's just slouched over and once again in deep thought until Pippa is entering his personal space. ]

Huh? What is-- oh.

[ Just a dog. A really large dog. ]

[psychomancy]

[She is a dog and a lady, and nobody will convince Gemma otherwise.

And unfortunately, she isn't able to stop the dog before she's already snuffling at Gil's hand and soon whichever of his legs is closest to her. The redhead's eyes widen and she gives a gentle tug on Pippa's leash--feel free to be amazed that this is clearly enough to get her to stop and, as it becomes obvious a few seconds later, sit. She is simply one hell of a well-trained animal.]

Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry, sir. She's just curious.

[invoking]

That's alright. [ He straightens his posture before rising to his feet before Gemma. ] She... [ SHE... ] didn't bother me.

[psychomancy]

[Gemma tilts her head back slightly so she can follow his face as he stands. An apologetic smile makes its way to her face, and she pats Pippa on the head.] Are you certain? I know that she can be a bit intimidating...

[invoking]

[ He has to crane his head slightly to get a better look at Gemma. And hey, she doesn't have an accent much different than his. His undivided attention is all hers for now. ]

It's no trouble. [ He looks to Pippa briefly. ] She seems well behaved.

[psychomancy]

[It's always nice to meet a fellow Brit in the City! Of course, she doesn't expect that he's a subject of the same Queen she is. She's found that it's best not to assume as much in the this world, considering the time from which she'd come.]

Well, thank you! I've had her for nearly a year, and I've trained her myself.

[invoking]

[ Everything is a mystery in Pandora Hearts. :|a ]

Ah, I see. It wasn't any trouble, honestly. I wasn't doing anything...

[psychomancy]

[It certainly is to me, since I've never played it.]

If you're sure... [A beat.] Oh! I'm being terribly rude--I'm Gemma. [And she sticks her hand out for a shake, so unladylike.]

[invoking]

[ If only he was aware Gemma was from a different time herself. The handshake isn't foreign however, Gil being accustomed to how people greet each other in the City. Back home, women often curtsied and men bowed their heads and tipped their heads.

And with that indoctrinated in him, he does take her hand (after a short pause) but nods his head to greet her. ]

Gilbert. A pleasure meeting you, miss.

[psychomancy]

[Really, if he had bowed to her, she certainly would have curtsied. Habits like that, which have been bred into a girl since birth, aren't broken by much of anything--not even years in a modern city like... the City. Her upbringing, even if presided over by tutors and Sarita, had turned her into a lady at heart, whether or not she chose to show it in these times.

She smiles effortlessly.]

Likewise, Gilbert. And this--[She gestures to the dog, who actually inclines her head at him.]--is Pippa.

[invoking]

Pippa. [ He doesn't reach out for the dog, however. It's impolite to pet someone's dog without asking... he keeps his hands at his side. ]

... Ah, I'm not delaying you from anything, am I? [ Here they are exchanging names, but Gemma could have plans he's holding her back from. ]

[psychomancy]

[The gesture--or lack thereof--doesn't bother her at all. She's used to people (well, adults) not wanting to pet Pip. Children, however, usually seemed more than happy to drape their arms around her neck and hang off her like some giant toy.

A short laugh escapes her, and she shakes her head, red-gold curls swinging around her face.] No, not at all! I was just taking her for a walk. I hope I'm not doing that to you, though.

[invoking]

I was just... sitting. [ He knows that sounds odd. It feels weird to justify it in the next moment. ] It's not a bad winter day.

[psychomancy]

[She understands that. Gemma herself has done this same exact thing many times. A smile comes to her face, and she makes a gesture forward.]

Well, it is indeed. An even better one for a walk, if you would care to join me.

[invoking]

[ He leans his head closer and blinks profusely, almost as if he didn't quite hear her at first. ]

Join you? [ Evidently surprised by the suggestion. Shy with women and reserved by nature (at times), he wonders how to respond to Gemma in return. ]

[psychomancy]

[Whoops, she hadn't meant to unnerve him! Honestly, just a few years ago she never would have considered asking a man she's just met to walk through the park with her. But nowadays, doing something like this seems much less daunting than it used to. Besides, Pippa is there. To... act as a chaperon. But her resolve falters, and her smile turns apologetic.]

I mean, only if you would like to, of course!

[invoking]

[ There's an impoliteness to declining a lady's invite, even if sometimes it needed to be done. However, this isn't an invite to a formal party, dance, or marriage proposal, so there's way less pressure than usual.

At the moment, his mind finally drifts from the events that transpired in the stadium. ]

Alright. Is there anywhere in particular you'd um, like to go?

[psychomancy]

[She can't hide how pleased (and relieved) she is that he's accepted her invitation. Though she's literally just met him, she still would have been a bit put out if he'd said no. Not for any particular reason other than being rejected in a way, of course.

But, as he's said yes, a smile lights her face and she simply gestures in front of her.]

Not really. I was just planning on walking around the park for a bit.

[invoking]

That's fine, then. [ He'll just allow her to lead the way. ]

[psychomancy]

[And she will!]

Might I ask how long you've been in the City?

[invoking]

Is it that obvious that I'm an imPort? [ Not realizing that Gemma herself is one. ]

[psychomancy]

[She laughs lowly, cheeks going pink.]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I suppose it's... you're mannerisms.

[invoking]

Really? [ He's still just as surprised. ] You don't need to apologize-- I'm mostly surprised.

[psychomancy]

[She still looks apologetic.] Mostly it's just that I've been here long enough to be able to tell the difference between a native and an import.