Room 406, late afternoon to evening

[izzyalienqueen]

After her trip to town, Isabel returned to her room and left a message for Meg. That done, she settled back on her bed to reread her Angelica Desmesnes novels in preparation for the new book coming out in January. It was also a nice distraction from any of the other events of the week.

The door was open.

Comments

[goodgirlmeg.livejournal.com]

Meg tapped on Isabel's doorframe.

"Hey!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Hey," Isabel said, setting aside her book and sitting up. "I might have another Christmas present for you if you're interested."

[goodgirlmeg.livejournal.com]

"Really?" she asked. "Wait, what kind of Christmas present? Cause if it's more streaking I might have to pass..."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh? Who did you see?" she asked. "I ran into Sam, which was highly amusing."

[goodgirlmeg.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I ran into Sam too." she said, blushing.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"The things some people will do for a good grade," Isabel laughed. "I thought of taking pictures, but didn't want to make him hate me."

[goodgirlmeg.livejournal.com]

"I'd be good blackmail though." she said.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It would have been a good Christmas present for Dean. So that he could be the one to do the blackmailing," she grinned.

[goodgirlmeg.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Dean would abuse that power." she said. "I'm not sure Sam deserves that."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders was still staying over at the Arms with Bel and Phoebe, but he'd promised Isabel he'd have her presents today, so here he was, knocking on the doorframe with the arm not loaded down with packages.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Santa?" Isabel teased. "Did you get drunk on egg nog and set out early?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You're one to talk, getting presents out yesterday," Anders countered with a laugh. "I can always wait until Tuesday if it's a problem . . . which, considering neither of us is going to be here, will be a problem."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I just wanted to be sure I got people before they left," she said. "If I won't see people on Tuesday, well, it's important that they get their presents before Christmas. It always feel anti-climatic afterwards."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"New Year's presents just don't quite have the same feel to them, huh?" guessed Anders. This would only be his third Christmas on Earth, and he could already kind of tell. "I wanted to make sure you got yours too. Want 'em?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Nope. Somehow it loses something after the 25th. And of course I do," Isabel told him greedily.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Anders said indulgently, grinning as he stepped inside and held out a square package in red and gold paper and a larger one that rustled and felt like it was wrapped in layers of tissue paper beneath its royal blue giftwrap. "Better early than never?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely!" Opening the square package first, Isabel turned it in her hands, making the turquoise beads roll about. "This is lovely. I know just what to put in it."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan poked his head in the door. "Happy Christmas," he said, grinning. "And Merry Midwinter."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That's right," Isabel realized, "the Solstice. So yes, Merry Midwinter. Only what? About twelve more weeks till we can start hitting the beach again?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan laughed. "Well, if you're that desperate, maybe we can arrange a weekend trip down south somewhere. Also! I come bearing presents!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I keep making plans to run off to Mexico with various people," she admitted. "But they keep falling through. I'm very disappointed."

Isabel got to her feet and started to root through the stack of presents on her desk. "Funny, I think there's one or two in here with your name on them."

[not_in_the_book]

Reaching into his bag, Ronan pulled out two wrapped packages. One was larger than his bag appeared to be -- the wonder of claudications.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel blinked, looking from the bag to the package and back again. "That's a wizard thing? And can you do that to my bag the next time I go on vacation?"

A quick search of the pile turned up two wrapped packages with Ronan's name on them. "For you. And I promise it's not coal."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan's grin just widened. "Open the larger package." He took the two packages from Isabel, but just waited for her to open he gifts first.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Which she did, ripping paper cheerfully. "Really?" Isabel asked hopefully, looking from Ronan to the bag and back again.