Room 406, all day

[izzyalienqueen]

It hadn't been a bad last week in Fandom. Between being social, seals, presents, and reality TV, it was certainly memorable. Even if the good-byes weren't so much fun.

There wasn't much left to pack. But Isabel was taking her time doing it.

The door was open.

[OOC: Good-bye post. *sniffles* Assume handwavey phone calls. ETA: Random bouts of SP for the rest of the afternoon due to RL.]

Comments

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

He had to concede that, which he did by setting the box of cupcakes carefully down and moving forward, fully intent on wrapping her up in a huge, tight hug.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel held on tightly, not saying a thing.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

It seemed like half an hour -- who knew how long it really was -- before Anders finally spoke up. "Gonna miss you, big sis. You, Parker, and Zero all gone now, and I'm gonna have to smack sense into myself when I need it . . ."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm only a phone call away for verbal smackage," she promised. "And then I'll get Parker to call you. And she'll get Zero. It'll be like we're right there." Sort of. Only not.

Then in a quiet whisper. "I'll miss you to."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Aww, a verbal-smackage chain," Anders managed to joke. "The gift that keeps on giving. You guys better have a safe trip, okay? Promise?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I promise. I think the most danger will face is weight gain from all the food at the places we plan on stopping," Isabel grinned.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

". . . there's nothing I can say about burning off the calories that you won't turn around on me to make me flail, is there?" he asked.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Nothing at all," she laughed. "You know me too well. But I promise I'll keep running and hitting the gym as well."

A pause...

"Because you have to work all the muscle groups after all. Not just cardio."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

A strangled whimper escaped him. "I walked into that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Once Isabel stopped laughing she nodded. "You couldn't have set that up any better if you tried."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders sighed. "Would you believe me if I told you I let you do that? One more time for the road?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"If you did? It makes me love you that much more," she told him.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Good," Anders said, "because that's totally what I did. Since you love it so much when I spaz out over TMI stuff."

Hard to tell if he was telling the truth or not . . .

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel wasn't about to question if it was the truth or not. She'd just enjoy the moment. "I do. You turn the cutest shade of pink."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Everything about me is cute," Anders informed her importantly, beaming in just such a way to emphasize his point.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You are such a dork," Isabel grinned, reaching for her camera. "I need a picture so my new roommate can wonder about all the cute guys I know."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Hmm," mused Anders, "would it drive your roommate nuts if I took my shirt off for it?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Quite possibly yes," she nodded. Not that she knew anything at all about her roommate at this point. "Which is why you need to do just that."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Well then," Anders said, and turned around (for no real reason) as he stripped the shirt off, so the tattoo, now mostly healed up, was visible.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel couldn't help the small involuntary shudder that ran through her at the sight of the tattoo. Some memories were still painful over a year later.

"It's healed."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Anders said, then fell silent for a moment, realizing the implications. "Yeah."

He turned around and tucked his thumbs into his belt, posing for the camera. "Ready when you are -- glad I got a chance to get a tan our last couple of stops, too."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Have they seen it yet?" she asked, knowing that it was important to Anders.

"You look very fit and tan."

*click*

Isabel checked the viewscreen on the camera and decided she'd send a copy to Bel and Phoebe as well. They'd appreciate it.

"Very nice."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"No, it's a surprise," Anders replied. "They'll see it when I get there -- they have no idea I was even getting it."

He preened a little bit and tried to peer at the camera. "Lemme see!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"They'll like it. I'm sure."

Isabel stepped back and tried to hold the camera away from him. Just because.

"What're the magic words?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders said nothing, but gave her the puppydog face. Just one last time, to see if it worked.