Room 406, afternoon

[izzyalienqueen]

Cuddled up under a blanket, Isabel was alternating between doing her reading for tomorrow's Villian's class and thinking over the last two days. Between talking to Anders and the trip into Special Collections with Dawn, the day had passed quickly. And the evening's trip to Caritas had been informative as well. She understood Rose's unwillingness to tell her too much, but that didn't mean she wouldn't ask more questions at another time.

The door was open.

[OOC: Post is primarily for mparkerceo. Ping me on IM if you want to send someone by. RL is sort of kicking my ass at the moment.]

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker knocked, bearing an extra chocolate rose and a six-pack of Diet Coke. "Isabel? You in?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Nope, I'm merely a figment of your imagination," she grinned. "What's up?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker wandered over and flopped down at the foot of the bed, handing over the chocolate rose. "Courtesy of Annette, who looked very worried I was going to try to strangle her again. Just wanted to stop by and catch up."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Why thank you," Isabel laughed. "I got one as well. It was nice to actually talk to her this time. And I had to thank her since we're doing a Game Night Saturday night. She gave us the idea. Charades."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker groaned. "You mean we gave her the idea. God." She rolled her eyes, then grinned and popped open a Diet Coke. "Well, I'm sorry I'll miss that. Not."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh come on! Think of the flailing!" she said, reaching for a soda of her own. "This time without the life or death consequences. So where will you be? Hot date?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Outer space. Possibly with space pirates," Parker said taking a sip. "River has a problem she wants help with. Assuming her squirrel-built ship isn't a complete disaster, I finally get off this ball of dirt we call Earth."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's not all it's cracked up to be. I mean it was pretty neat when we went to Professor Harrington's world. But when we went after Aeryn? It was like landing in a particularly cracked out flea market run by Muppets."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"See, and I'd even take that, if it just meant getting a context for some of the people I've met here." Parker grinned slightly, then sobered. "We *should* be back early next week, but if we'll be later, I swear I'll call. Somehow." She grimaced. "Assuming that's possible."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You better be back. You wouldn't want to miss Valentine's day would you?" Isabel teased. "I bet Weiss will show you a nice time. Would you really pass on that for space pirates?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"If Weiss remembers, all to the good. But I seriously expect nothing." She shrugged. "We just passed the boyfriend/girlfriend dateline less than two weeks ago. That's a bit soon for huge Valentine's Day stuff." Parker curled up on the bed, and reached over to snitch a chocolate leaf. "Reminds me. Jack's birthday is Tuesday. We need to do something nice for him, if we can."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't have to be huge. But it can still be nice," she pointed out, leaning back against a pillow. "And that's right, I almost forgot. We will, but let's not involve anything small with sharp teeth okay?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"God, no. Not after last year. Nadia and Pippi would *kill* me." Parker made a face. "And he gave the sword to Cedric. So yes, something simple." She stretched her legs out. "I'm going to see a hockey game with Weiss tonight, after Teal Dear sets up. He handled hearing about this weekend well."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel snickered. "I heard all about the sword. Just like I've heard all about the wand. Cedric enjoys making me blush." She crossed her legs to give Parker more room and reached for more chocolate. "That sounds like fun. I've never been to one although I did get Michael tickets for his birthday. He's obsessive during hockey season."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"It should be, I think. Weiss is into it. And gloating over her brother. It'll be a lot more normal than most of our outings have been." Parker made a face. "It'd be nice if I were here for *one* normal weekend, but so far that hasn't really happened since we got together."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Soon," Isabel promised. "There's only so much wackiness this can toss at us without a break. We're due for it soon."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I'll believe it when I see it." Parker took a sip of her drink. "So, anyway. Space. I'll bring you back a souvenir. And hopefully not get hurt at any point." She reached over and stroked Annie's fur. "And maybe River will quit having nightmares, if we do this, successful or not."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I hope so. I don't know her that well, but I wouldn't wish nightmares on anyone." Stretching, Isabel eyed Parker. "So what you you discussing so intently with Mr. Winchester yesterday? Neither one of you looked happy."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker flushed suddenly, keeping her eyes on the kitten. "Curses. I wanted to know if you could tell when someone's cast them." She tapped a finger against her Coke can. "And how high a price there was for casting one."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Why? What are you planning?" she asked warily. "Because I can't see how it would be worth it."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't planning anything. I just wanted to know." She sighed. "It's moot anyway, I suck at magic, and I have Logan as a bad example. I just wish there were a simple way--" Parker looked away. "To wish something. 'Let them get what they deserve.' That kind of thing."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yes Logan does stand as an example of what not to do," Isabel agreed. "I kind of believe in karma. So I really do think everyone that deserves it will get what's coming to them. Eventually. It just might take awhile. And doing anything to speed things up has a nasty habit of coming back and biting you on the ass."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I know, I know...." Parker looked tired. "I just-- there's a lot I still have to do. It gets overwhelming, sometimes."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No, I guess I can understand that. But think of it this way, when it's over and done with, you'll know you did it yourself."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker hid her face behind her hair, bending to pat Annie. Isabel didn't know. Couldn't know. "True." Her voice was steady. "No questions. No worries. No prices I don't expect." She let out a slow breath. "Justice and then it's over." She looked up and smiled. "I had to ask, though."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No, I can understand," Isabel nodded, reaching for more chocolate. "If you knew what I wished on Tess..."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker nodded quietly, then said, "Here's hoping she stays on Antar until you can take a garrison to arrest her. Nothing new from her, lately? Or from Lonnie? No news from Max?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Nope, all quiet on the home front," she said with a wry smile. "Which of course makes me wonder what they're really up to. But the latest email from Max just talked about what he and Liz have been doing. I haven't deleted it yet. I read it when I can't sleep and then I'm out cold."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker snickered. "Ah, still as scintillating as ever. Good." She finished her drink, and sighed. "Things still good with you and Greg?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Isabel smiled. "He's around. Glad to be solid again of course. I actually need to get into town and find him something for Valentine's Day."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I still owe you as many drinks as you want at Caritas for helping with that. Or as much chocolate as you can eat." Parker's smile brightened. "I'm glad things are going good for you. Minimal angst in our lives is a goal."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yes. So you'll need to stay out of trouble on your trip so we can keep it that way."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Waving a nonchalant hand, Parker got to her feet. "No worries. Everyone comes back in one piece, or I demand a refund on our tour package." She grinned, and patted Annie on the head. "Have a good weekend. I'll stop by as soon as I'm back, okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yes. I'd rather have that then the chocolate you mentioned before," she nodded. "Be safe."