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(no subject)

Who: Residents of houses 40 and 50,

consultmybooks
What: Dinner at the Shinsengumi house
When: July 19, evening
Where: House 50
Summary: Ayumu finally managed to convince Giles that she really did mean that invitation to dinner. Hopefully he won't regret accepting it.
Rating: G, unless dinner gets really weird.

At house 50 there's little sign that there will be a guest at dinner tonight: the house is always spotless with Ayumu around, so that's nothing unusual, and she hasn't planned to make anything out of the ordinary for dinner. But there's an extra place at the table, and she's preparing enough food to be certain that Giles will still have plenty to eat even with Sanosuke as competition.

{{OOC: Feel free to threadhop, skip, and/or jump. Just be aware that Ayumu wants everyone to behave tonight so they don't scare the guest. :|}}

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Ten apocalypses.

The end of the universe.

A hell goddess.

An army of Turok-Han.

An angry Buffy.

Giles could list several dozen things off the top of his head that should have been more intimidating than having dinner at a friend's house. It wasn't making a lick of difference, which was why he spent about fifteen minutes sitting under a tree just in sight of the two houses, trying to gather his nerve.

Lots of people. Lots of people he didn't know all at once. New Feather parties were one thing, this was an entirely different animal.

...but Ayumu and Okita were his friends, and Helios had told him that he'd need to take some steps to make life better than the bloody mess it had been all this month and last month. This? This is a good thing. He can believe that.

And so, on time, Giles steps up the porch steps to the front door of House 50, takes note of the sign, and knocks at the door.

Only a moment later Ayumu opens the door, greeting the man with a bright, friendly smile. "Good evening, Giles-san. Welcome, it's good to have you here." The 'finally' goes unspoken but could likely be heard nonetheless— the original invitation had been given quite some time ago, after all, and then all the other issues that had cropped up more recently, she had been beginning to think he'd never come and visit.

She steps back to allow him inside, gesturing toward the living room behind her. "If you'd like to have a seat, I can bring you some tea while you wait for dinner to be ready? It'll only be a few more minutes, though, I'm sure."

The implied "finally" was heard loud and clear - Giles couldn't really blame her. One thing had led to another and then another and circumstances had piled up. That seemed to be the way of Luceti, when all was said and done. But all of the extra complications had only made him more determined to actually make this happen. It was the Sunnydale way.

"Thank you, Ayumu-san." He nods politely before stepping inside, taking in the living room - it's been a very long while since he's been inside this house. "Tea sounds quite nice."

Very little changes in the main living areas of this house, no matter who might come and go, as Ayumu is quite careful to maintain order (though with the incident at house 40 the same might not be said over there, but... that was an exception rather than a rule). She sees him to a seat, then inclines her head and turns away toward the kitchen again.

"I'll be back in just a moment," she begins, then hesitates and glances back over her shoulder with a smile. "I don't believe Okita-san has returned just yet, but as soon as I see him I'll let him know that you're here."

Giles takes that seat without a word and inclines his head in turn. He's determined to be a polite guest, if a slightly helpless one.

"I don't see how he could miss me, sitting out here. But, um, yes, Ayumu-san. I would appreciate it."

"Of course." Okita couldn't miss him, but neither could any of the others who might come wandering through in search of dinner. Hopefully they'll behave, but... she isn't really counting on it. Ayumu just smiles, though, and heads off into the kitchen to deal with both tea and dinner.

Someone new in the house? That was unusual. Heisuke was over visiting with Shinpachi and Sano and taking a look at the giant bird thing outside when he hears Ayumu welcoming someone in. Once she's off for the tea that she's mentioned, Heisuke pulls open the back door and sticks his head in, curious.

"Hey. Who're you?"

And so it begins. Giles looks around at the sound of the back door opening, and nods politely at the man looking in.

"Giles. I'm, I'm a friend of Ayumu-san's and Okita-san's. She, um, invited me around for dinner tonight."

It's an old dude. Why is there an old dude in their house. Heisuke blinks at the greeting and pulls back slightly, eying Giles from around the door frame.

At least until he mentions Okita and Ayumu.

"Oh."

He pops in then, tapping his shoes off at the door.

"So you're the guy who they were talkin' about. Hey. I'm Heisuke. Just got a look at the giant bird. You seen it? Crazy, huh?"

Giles brightens up noticeably at this conversation point. He nods several times, unconsciously going to rub the top of his head at the thought of the Chocobo.

"Tammy, yes. We've, um...we've met. In the past. Generally when she's made off with the laundry. Still in good health, then?" He's been worrying after that bird ever since Ayumu promised to turn her into sandwiches.

"Yup. Still good health, still cute as ever. Damn big, but still cute." Heisuke stops mid-step, remembering back to the time he just spent with the giant bird. Ruffling her soft feathers. Feeding her greens. Talking with her. Which was weird. It's weird talking to animals. Like...really weird. Weird enough to pop him out of his mental vacation.

"Huh? Oh! So, you known Okita-san and Ayu-nee long? I just got here a couple months ago. Kinda the newbie."

"A very big bird, yes. Wish I had the faintest idea what she was."

Heisuke's mental rerouting of his train of thought is...mildly amusing to watch, and Giles doesn't snap him out of it. On some level, if he knew, he would understand. He knows, for example, that it's entirely illogical and nonsensical to dislike one small piglet as much as he does. That was before Saizou was introduced to his immediate universe.

"I met them both back in the fall." He does mention that this was technically back in the fall four years ago. "Ayumu-san got here about the same time I did."

"Dunno, but I don't really care. Just matters that she's cute." And that's the bare facts for Heisuke. As long as something is adorable, he couldn't care less what it was. He sighs and wanders over to where Giles is, giving him a short salute by way of greeting.

"An' you're just gettin' round to coming for dinner? Man, you've been missing out! Ayu-nee makes the best food ever. I mean ever. Just ask Sano. Guy'll make himself sick eating it."

Speaking of. Heisuke stops and turns, looking over his shoulder. "...Wonder where the big guy went anyway."

"I've heard very good things about Ayumu-san's cooking, yes. I don't think I've had the pleasure of meetig this, um, 'Sano', though, so I can't really comment on that front."

Giles follows Heisuke's gaze over his shoulder. "Is he supposed to be here soon?" Part of the point of this endeavor, in Okita's words, was to meet more of his friends. And Giles, despite himself, is curious.

Heisuke shrugs and tosses his hands up behind his head. "Eh, he's 'round here somewhere. Sano's never far off when there's food to be had. Haha!"

Which was true. Harada Sanosuke could eat any of them under the table. It wasn't even a boasting statement - it was simply fact. Heisuke turns and looks out into the living room, then back at Giles. "Yeah. Since it's dinner we always get together. I live across the road with Yamanami-san and Tatsu-san."

"I think I've met Tatsu-san. During yet another of Tammy's escapades, I'm afraid. But, um, the others aren't ringing a bell. Okita-san only mention that he'd gotten quite a few new arrivals from home, when we last spoke."

Giles was, therefore, not at all sure what to expect with this dinner. Someone who could eat them all under a table would probably be blessedly minor.

"Ah! Yeah, he's the guy who usually gets roped into goin' after her when the chickenhead decides to go runnin'. Okita-san should since he's the one who's supposed ta' be takin' care of all these pets we keep gettin' but--" Heisuke stops and drops his hands, thinking for a moment. "...Come ta' think of it, I dunno why he doesn't. Eh, whatever."

He smiles and jerks a thumb at himself. "I'm one of 'em . Then there's Sano, Tatsu-san, and Yamanami-san. Hijikata-san used ta' be here, but..."

Heisuke stops suddenly, feeling extremely self-conscious about that particular topic. He rubs the back of his head as his smile vanishes and he looks away. "Anyway, you go on in. I've gotta go see if Sano and Shinpatsuan are around."

"...did I say something wrong?"

Giles sounds genuinely concerned with the possibility. He looks confused by the sudden change in temperament, and suddenly a little out of his element.

"I'm sorry if I did."

He makes to go inside, ducking his head.

"Ah? Nah, nah, don't worry 'bout it." He waves a hand and motions Giles further into the house as he turns to go out to find his friends. He gives Giles a wave over his shoulder, heading toward the bedrooms.

"Just me thinkin' 'bout stuff. See you at dinner, Giles-san~!"

They're late, but only because Sannan's quest to find a decent bottle of sake in this place took a little longer than expected. However, it doesn't sound like dinner's already started, so he's safe for the moment.

He stops to read the sign - another guest? First that Homura fellow and now, well...as always, he can only assume that Ayumu knows what she's doing. He looks back and nods to Tatsu before pushing the door open and removing his shoes before padding into the house.

"Ayumu-san? Sorry for being late. We brought a bottle of--oh, hello." Sannan catches sight of their guest inside. It's a Western man that looks vaguely familiar. "Ah...welcome. They haven't started without us, have they?"

"No, they haven't. Ayumu-san says that dinner should be ready shortly, however."

Giles politely bows his head to both Sannan and Tatsu from the seat Ayumu left him at. "...hello, by the way. I suppose I would be the guest that was mentioned."

They're both familiar. Giles is finding it quite interesting that he's been seeing these people all over the village without connecting the dots. He never knew that he was quite this absentminded when it came to his friends.

Honestly, Tatsunosuke himself can't say just how good of an idea it is to be bringing sake to dinner. But Yamanami insists, and Tatsunosuke isn't about to argue with the man who is now both his direct supervisor and the senior officer of all present Shinsengumi. So he's toting a rather large bottle (given the presence of the trio, it's a must), and trailing behind Yamanami when they run into the mentioned guest.

"Oh. Hello again." Tatsunosuke clutches the bottle securely as he bows to Giles. At least time they won't have a rampaging Tammy to deal with, or so Tatsu hopes. Otherwise Ayumu will probably just poison their food, or worse. "It's nice of you to join us."

Possibly. Tatsunosuke looks down at the bottle in his hands, then over at Yamanami. Maybe this really isn't a good idea after all.

"Yes, it certainly is," Sannan says, nodding his head in agreement, completely oblivious to his subordinate's reservations. To him, sake is a fine way to relax (and they definitely need to after all the kidnappings and disappearances and injuries of the past month or so), and it's even better with friends.

He is also just far more accustomed than Tatsu to the impromptu parties that the Shinsengumi enjoy having so much, particularly when there is sake to go around.

"I'm sorry, I'm sure we've met before," he begins apologetically to their guest, "but I've forgotten your name. Would you remind me?"

"I'm sure we have, and it's fine. I'm...afraid yours' is slipping my mind at the moment as well. Why don't we start over?"

And this time he'll actually get to his feet to give both a bow.

"Rupert Giles. Nice to meet you, a-and thank you for having me over."

For his part, he's well aware of Tatsu's reservations, even if he doesn't quite know what those reservations might be. He's not entirely certain where he stands on the sake. He certainly doesn't object to it, but he probably won't be asking for any.

Unfortunately, the wrong person has taken notice, leaving Tatsunosuke with no options beyond praying to whatever forces may be able to hear him in this strange world that Ayumu has hidden her make-up well. Because while Tatsu may not be as familiar with the parties themselves, he couldn't possibly forget the face painted across Sanosuke's stomach on their first meeting.

"It's nice to properly meet you, Giles-san." A western name, but Tatsunosuke notes how the man at least seems acquainted with their customs. He turns to Yamanami. "Giles-san was one of the people who helped me when Tammy got out of her pen before."

The poor man. And the sake might just make him an innocent victim once again.

--an incident which Sannan did not have the privilege of observing, although he might have laughed it off anyway even if he had.

"Ah!" Sannan perks up a bit at the name: he knew the man seemed familiar! "Yes, we have met before. I recognize you now; we spoke briefly a few months back." Of course, he only remembers this because Giles was one of the first western people to approach him, and it's hard to forget those types of people, particularly when you've seen next to none of them before. "I'm Yamanami Keisuke--at the time, I think I also introduced myself as 'Sannan'. That name's fine too. I'm, ah, also currently the senior officer here of our group."

He looks at Tatsu in surprise when the younger man mentions the episode with Tammy. "Oh, he was?" It's interesting how this man seems to have already met so many of their group without anyone connecting the dots- or talking about him. He nods politely to Giles. "Thank you for your assistance then."

"You're welcome." Tammy is the only one of Okita's pets who actually seems to tolerate his presence...albeit with the same propensity for biting him...so Giles won't deny that he has a bit of a soft spot for the bird. "I'm glad to hear that Tammy is still with us."

He looks back at Sannan, frowning thoughtfully. "Yes, I...yes, that name does sound familiar. Well, the journals don't always allow for proper introductions, in any case. It's nice to properly meet you as well, Yamanami-san."

While Giles already had connected the dots where Tatsunosuke was concerned, the others were proving a surprise. Looking back? Giles knows that he probably should have put two and two together before now. But, well, it...probably wasn't a good idea to make such assumptions. Or so he was telling himself.

"Who else is coming by, if you don't mind my asking?"

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