Room 406, early evening.

[izzyalienqueen]

To pass the time while she waited for Greg, Isabel continued reading the Nora Roberts novel she'd picked up in the library on Thursday.

The door was closed.

[ooc: locked to the date please]

Comments

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg knocked on the door, carefully holding the orchid he'd finally picked out. (http://www.donnaflorist.com.au/images/orchid%20arrangement01%20clear.jpg)

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel put down her book, grabbed the throw she had next to her on the bed and tossed it over her legs. "It's open."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg stepped in, careful with the plant. "Hey. I brought you an orchid."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's gorgeous!" she exclaimed. Torn between wanting to examine it up close, and uncovering her surprised, Isabel finally shrugged and tossed the blanket aside and got to her feet. "Let me see please?"

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg being Greg, he was more focused on not dropping the orchid than looking at his girlfriend's feet. "It's delicate and stuff," he told her seriously, holding it out carefully.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She took it quite carefully, holding it up to her face and examining the flowers. "I'm going to have to read up on taking care of orchids. I want to keep it happy."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"You should name it," Greg advised. "So it feels appreciated and stuff."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh I will," Isabel nodded seriously. "But names are important, I'll have to think of a good one. Unless she's already told you?" She grinned, "I mean, you talked to the mistletoe the other day."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no, she's shy," he explained without missing a beat.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"In that case we'll have to just let her get settled in." she said, placing the plant carefully on her desk. She turned back towards Greg and gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome," he said, smiling. "Happy anniversary."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Happy anniversary to you to," Isabel smiled. She pulled him towards the bed and took a seat, quickly tucking her feet under her. "I have something for you to. Well it's more like I did something, but I hope you like it anyway."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg sat down, looking curious. "I'm both intrigued and slightly wary," he said.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Well, first I did research," she said seriously. She reached behind her on the desk, pulled off a paper and handed it to him. "Then there was art." Isabel shifted position and carefully placed her feet on Greg's lap. Around her ankles were henna tattoos. But closer inspection would show the chemical symbols for Norepinephrine, Dopamine and Phenethylamine mixed in with the design. "What do you think?" she asked shyly. "It's not quite skywriting but.."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg didn't even have to look at the paper before picking out the symbols, which he traced with his fingertip, his eyes wide. "You...it's not a permanent tattoo, right?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No, it's henna," Isabel assured him. "It'll wear off in about three weeks. That's not the only one."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"It's not?" he asked, still tracing the patterns.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"There's one more." She turned around and lifted the bottom of her shirt to exposed the symbol for Oxytocin. "Do you know what this one is?"

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Looks like Oxytocin," he said when he remembered to breathe. Closing his mouth might be a good idea, too, as he looked a bit like a fish.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That it is. Dawn did it for me." Isabel dropped the hem of her shirt and turned around, smiling a little at Greg's expression. "Do you like it?"

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"It's...you did a lot of research?" Greg asked, still looking a little amazed.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Google and Wiki are my friends," she said. "Once I found the article, it was easy enough."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"You didn't have to," Greg said softly, finally stopping with the gaping.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I wanted to," Isabel said, reaching for his hand.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"You know what they mean, right?" he checked, squeezing her fingertips. "Those combinations?"

And of course she did, since she'd given him the paper, but Greg wasn't firing on all cylinders.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel blushed, "I do. It's not bad, right?" She started to get nervous. Maybe it was too much.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg kissed her as an answer.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel liked that answer. She brought her hand up to the back of his neck and deepened the kiss.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg pulled away for a second and whispered, "I like it. I think I forgot to say that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Good," she smiled. Isabel trailed her fingers across his cheek and down across his lips. "I was hoping you would."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Did you do it yourself?" he asked curiously, trying to look at her feet again.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh no." Isabel shook her head, "I couldn't keep my hands steady enough and contort myself enough. Parker and Jack did my ankles while we had lunch and Dawn did my back for me when she came by later."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I'll thank them," he said, kissing her again.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Not like this I hope," she said, kissing her way to his ear.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Well, not Dawn and Parker," he promised. "Jack and I have plans to meet by the flight shed at midnight. Sorry you had to find out like this."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"His tent is getting mighty crowded," Isabel grinned. "I'm going to be awfully lonely. And possibly cold."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"It's okay," Greg assured her. "It's just a tryst. I'll sneak right back to you, and you'll neeeeeeever even know I left."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Well in that case, go have fun," she said perfectly serious. "I'll keep the sleeping bag warm."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Well, it's all ruined now. What's the fun in a secret tryst when you know about it?" Greg asked, faux-exasperated.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Woe," Isabel said somewhat sadly. "I'll just have to make it up to you."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg raised an eyebrow. "Okay. But at this rate, we're not going to make it out of the room."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Then I'll give you raincheck," she said, climbing to her feet. "Redeemable whenever you'd like."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I'll keep it in mind," he grinned, following her lead. "Are you ready?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I am," Isabel smiled. "Lead the way."