Room 406, Thursday evening

[izzyalienqueen]

In theory, Thursday was supposed to be her busy day, with a whole two classes. War Theory had been interesting. Ethics had been troubling. Not only were the topics disturbing, it was difficult to look to look at a friend's killer.

After spending some time with Alanna, Isabel returned to her room, booted up the laptop and tried to not think while playing multiple rounds of solitare.

The door was open.

Comments

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"You always have a choice," he said softly.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"And I'm choosing to keep living and remember my friend," Isabel said. "Since joining up with my classmates to lynch a teacher probably isn't a wise choice."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I could help you blow him up," Greg offered, rubbing circles on her back.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Don't even joke about it," she said, pulling away to look at Greg seriously. "Anakin was powerful. If he could kill Anakin, then he's a scary kind of powerful. I don't want to see you get hurt."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg kissed her temple. "I know. I'm trying to make you feel better. Why are they letting him teach here?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Okay," she smiled softly. "In that case let's create an elaborate plot that involves setting his cape on fire and then cracking his helmet with a giant nutcracker. As for why? This is the school that let Crazy Squid Lady, who happened to be a vampire, teach psych last Fall."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"...he has a cape and a helmet?"

Trust Greg to pick up on the important part.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"And some kind of breathing apparatus that makes him sound like an obscene phone caller," Isabel added, shaking her head. "Trust me, you'd know Lord Vader if you saw him."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"...his name is Lord Vader?" Greg repeated. "Wow, pretentious much?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Seriously, the problem is," Isabel pointed out. "I'm pretty sure he has the power to back it all up."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"He sounds dumb," Greg said. Which he didn't believe, but he wanted to cheer her up. "Maybe he has really bad acne and that's why he wears the helmet."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You're going to get me killed," she chuckled, tucking her head under his chin. "Because right now I'm seriously trying to figure out how to leave a jar of Clearasil on his desk."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Or maybe he has unsightly ear hair," Greg tried.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel giggled and wondered how she was going to make it through next week's class without picturing Vader with zits and ear hair. "Thank you," she said. "I needed this."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Any time, honey," he murmured. "And if you need someone around in there and want me to crash the class sometime, I can do that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"How about instead of crashing the class? You meet me here afterwards?" she asked, tracing a finger down his arm. "Just from looking at the syllabus, I have a feeling I'm going to be needing a lot of after class hug therapy."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I can do that," Greg said, nodding. "And maybe we can blow up tiny Lord Vader dolls or something."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You'd have to make enough for my entire class. A lot of Anakin's friends are in there," she said.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I could swing that. Just a bunch of dolls with thimbles on their heads and tissues flapping out behind them."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Painted all black," she nodded. "Honestly, he's like a walking cliche."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Does he have minions?" Greg asked curiously. "If I was a scary overlord type, I'd want minions."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure he does, somewhere," she answered. "But they don't get dental. At least not according to Professor Lyman."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg tsked. "So not worth it. I'd give my minions a whole health care package."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel sighed sadly. "But then I'm not sure you'd actually count as an evil overlord. You might be considered a sometimes cranky overload."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I'd make up for it by...kicking puppies or something." Greg looked sad at the thought.