Room 406, afternoon

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel had reached the point where studying just wasn't happenening any longer. A quick phone call had Parker appearing, loaded down with gifts.

The door was open, the carols were playing, Annie was wearing a wee Santa hat and Parker and Isabel were laughing like demented elves as they ate chocolate and drank eggnog while waiting for people to come by so they could hand out holiday presents.


[Assume handwavey phone calls telling their friends to stop by!]

Comments

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Might be," Anders replied cagily, taking the envelope. "If you think it's a bottle of ambrosia, you'd be right. And these -- holy frak, you're awesome!"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker hugged the bottle and looked smug. "Yes I am, and so are you! Yayyy, ambrosia! I'm going to have a good New Year's Eve no matter what!"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I'm all in favor of those," agreed Anders. "I should try and do that, myself. Wow, baseball tickets . . . can't have enough of those," he added, bouncing in a rather Bridge-like fashion.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I thought you'd say that." Parker grinned. "Are you going home for Christmas break, or sticking around here?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders spread his arms and shrugged. "I'll be here. Why miss an Earth holiday when I won't get to celebrate it at home? Only problem is, it'll probably be kind of lonely, but what can you do?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker cocked her head. "Well, not Bel, for one." She smirked. "And for two, I guess, hang with everyone else who's staying. Which sadly doesn't include me."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders coughed and turned bright red. "I would never do that," he said quickly. "Really. Never. I just -- no."

He pouted a little at her last bit of news. "Everybody I've talked to is going home, seems like. At this rate it's going to be me and the goldfish."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Isabel is not staying, Cedric, Jack, and Sam are staying, I believe. And some of the others, Bridge, I think?" Parker smiled. "But I'll definitely call on New Year's Eve, if I'm not here. Just to make sure you're having a good time. And behaving," she added without missing a beat.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders tucked the tickets into his jacket pocket and crossed his arms, giving her a mock-offended look. "I always behave," he said. Deliberately leaving out the 'badly' qualifier. "Well, at least there'll be a few people to hang out with. People I haven't hung out with as much as I should, maybe. And you better call, so I know you're having a good time."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's why I'm calling after I leave Athens," Parker said reasonably. "Unless Daddy turns his back and I pick up a Greek jockey named Spiros, or something. In which case, I'll definitely call."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders chuckled. "If he's got a friend, any chance you can pack him up for me? 'cause if you end up getting lucky before I do I might have to be a little jealous."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I will send him to you air-express," Parker vowed. "A really, really cool Christmas prezzie."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"That would be the best Christmas present in the history of everything and I would love you forever," Anders declared. "And I'd take just as good care of him as I took care of Bel's frakking egg."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker stopped, and gave him a look of what? "Bel made you take care of his egg? Hunh now?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, he had me egg-sit for a little while yesterday," Anders said, waving a dismissive hand. "Didn't want it to break while he had an errand to run."

Hell of a time for him to finally learn discretion, really.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Ah." Parker boggled a moment, then moved on to: "And what's the going rate for egg-sitting these days?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Hell if I know," Anders replied with a shrug. "He still owes me for that one."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Ah." As usual. Parker rolled her eyes. "Yeah, just... y'know, shutting up now. Anything I could say here would be pushing it." She smirked at him. "ANYway...."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Although," Anders mused thoughtfully, "me showing up in a towel and making him freak out could've been payback enough . . ."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker stared at him, then chortled gleefully. "Seriously? Oh, Anders. Daisy! I am *so* proud." She put her hand over her heart, looking sentimental. "This is a glad, glad day. Payback has been rendered."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders smirked, looking horribly self-satisfied. "See? I can be evil."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"You really can." Parker patted his cheek. "I think I shall cry. No, I'll drink a toast to you with this ambrosia when I open it, that's what I'll do." She grinned. "I'm going to the Hannukah party in a little bit, see you there?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You will," Anders promised. "I'm gonna go run down to the garage now and make sure Bridge's birthday present is all presentable before we give it to him. See you in a bit, Parker."