Room 406, afternoon

[izzyalienqueen]

She'd needed last night, Isabel realized. After everything that had happened, she needed a night of being quiet and feeling safe.

Eventually she'd made it back to her room. After a shower, she'd called her mom, feigning surprise at the news of the destruction of the Meta-Chem, and quickly changing the subject to the cleaning supplies that were currently working busily around the room.

"I know mom," she said eventually. "Yes, we'll be out for dinner soon. I promise. Bye." Isabel hung up her phone and opened her laptop. Solitaire would be a good way to not think for the afternoon.

[Door closed, post is open! And I'm about to go AFK till about 7 EST. I'll grab pings when I get back. And I'm back!!!]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She wasn't making any move to pull away, at least not away from him. There might have been some pulling over towards the bed so they could sit and be comfortable. "Well I'm here. So that's all that matters now."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I really should lecture you on scaring the frak out of your friends like that," Anders noted, letting himself get pulled, "except I've gotten that lecture from you before so it wouldn't be that effective."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"We can pretend you lectured," Isabel smiled. "And pretend I nodded seriously at all the right places. And promised never to do it again." Except she wasn't sure she could make that promise. There was always going to be some sort of danger, just because of who...what she was.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Just like there was always going to be some danger because of who he'd chosen to tie his life up with -- Anders knew she couldn't really make that promise any more than he could.

"Consider the lecture delivered, then," he said, squeezing her shoulder. "You know, you are one hell of a resilient big sister. I feel like this should make me afraid, but . . ."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel had her own thoughts about that. She'd already died once as Vilandra and been recreated. And now she lived on in Meris's altered body. If it happened again, would it be three strikes? But that wasn't something she was sure she could tell anyone.

"Be afraid," she teased instead. "Be very afraid."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Oh, well, if you say so," he replied gamely. "'course, you do realize, no matter how resilient you are, I'm always gonna worry about you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It'll be mutual worrying then," Isabel grinned. "It's what brothers and sisters do."

"You know, there's no singing now."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

He'd completely forgotten about that in the chaos of the past couple of days. "I'd . . . noticed, yeah," Anders said, confused.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You could always tell me what was so funny," she replied. Not that she really wanted him to. But the flailing would make her feel better.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Everything's funny right now," Anders retorted, though his ears turned a telltale red. "I'm so damn relieved you're okay, everything's frakkin' hilarious."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel tugged on one of those red ears. "In that case maybe we can watch something silly for a bit? I wouldn't mind some company."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"And I'm still not quite sure you're really back yet," Anders countered, "so I'm not gonna say no to hanging around until I'm sure."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Good. I'd like that."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Then I," Anders said, executing a silly bow just before he sat down on the bed, "as your caring and dutiful little brother, am at your service."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"In that case?" Isabel said as she loaded something silly into the DVD player and made her way back to the bed. "I demand your shoulder."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

He patted the shoulder nearer to her and flashed her a grin, however brief. "One shoulder, at your service."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She leaned over and made herself comfortable. "Perfect."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Why, thank you," Anders said puckishly, reaching out to wrap an arm around her.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Why, you're welcome," Isabel smiled. Content for the moment to just be happy in the moment and not think or worry.