Room 406, early evening

[izzyalienqueen]

So the week hadn't been going too badly. Isabel had spent time with Cedric and Jack, contemplated a career as a jewel thief with Parker, signed a petition, hunted zombies and played at angels and demons.

Then she had a conversation.

Isabel sighed and stared at her phone. Talking to Greg only reminded her that she had yet to call her parents or anyone in Roswell. But she still had no idea what to say.

Looking for anything else to think about, she turned to Annie, giving her the barest smile as the cat stared at the sealed shut sock drawer in the dresser.

The door was open.

[ooc: post is open, occasionally slowish due to RL through about 7:30 EST. Links will be added later.]

Comments

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec remembered the message Isabel had left him a few days ago as he was walking up the stairs. After double-checking which room was hers, he went to drop by, knocking lightly on the doorframe as he leaned inside. "Anyone home?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It depends on who you're looking for," Isabel smiled. "Me, the cat, or the drawerful of obnoxious socks." She waved him in. "Come in, take a seat. How are you doing?"

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"Definitely not the socks," Alec assured her with a smile, taking a seat on the extra bed and making himself comfortable. "I'm okay, actually."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, they're pretty annoying. I whammied the draw the drawer shut till they're back to just being socks again." She took a seat on her own bed and shook her head. "I'm glad you're doing okay. Did the petition help? I sighed."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"I have no idea if it helped in an official way, but it made me feel better," Alec said, grinning. "I didn't expect anyone cared enough to stop and sign, but I'm not going to argue."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"If there's one thing I've found out about Fandom, it's that most people take everything in stride," Isabel said. "You're a good guy. It seems to me you're looking to make a new life for yourself, who am I to say no?" Her face grew grim, "Besides, I have serious issues with anyone that plans on disecting or otherwise taking apart another human being. I patched my brother up after he spent time as a lab rat with the FBI."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec smiled slightly at her assessment of him and nodded. "I wasn't really thinking about that so much as being somewhere they couldn't find me," he said. "What'd they do to him?" It was morbid, but sort of comforting to know not even just their home-brewed soldiers got treated like that.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I get that. It's weird being someplace where everyone knows who and what I am," she nodded. "I almost hate going home because then it's back to keep secrets and hiding in plain sight."

Isabel pointed to one of the pictures of her and Max on the wall, ignoring twinge of pain caused by recent events. "That's Max, my brother. The Special Unit of the FBI, the alien hunters got him one day. They tried to cut him open to see how he worked."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"I kind of miss having secrets," Alec said softly, a note of bitterness around the edges. He looked up at the photo, kind of wistful. "I'm sorry he went through that. He's lucky to have you."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

Feeling bored in his own room, Cedric wandered down the hall and greeted Isabel by saying, "I'm bored. You should entertain me."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" she laughed, glad for the distraction. "Should I tap dance?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"You know how?" Cedric asked. "If you do, yes, please. Let's see the Isabel Tap Dancing Revue."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel got to her feet and did an impromptu softshoe routine. Isabel should not plan on a career on Broadway. Snickering, she sat back down. "Satisfied?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Oh, bravo," he said, applauding wildly. "If I had a flower, I'd throw it."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Wild applause required a acknowledgement, she stood up and executed a mock curtsey. "Thank you. My audience is my inspiration."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He grinned and came inside the room. "Now that my boredom has been sufficiently curbed, how are you?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm okay," Isabel said automatically. "And I'm delighted I was able to help cure your boredom. People have died from that you know." She scooted back on the bed to leave him plenty of room and patted the spot in front of her. "Come sit, if you're still bored I can tell you stupid jokes."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker came by a little later, dolled up for dancing, and knocked on the door. "Hey, you. Up for a night on the town?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Any other night Isabel probably would have agreed, but between last night's nightmares, and today's conversation with Greg, Isabel decided it was better to stay in. "I think I'll pass. I need to be mellow for a while."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Ah. Too bad. What's been going on?" Parker asked, wandering into the room, and pausing to tickle Annie.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Nothing much," she said. "Just going to classes and hanging out here mostly."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Mmmm." That didn't jibe with needing to be mellow, but if Isabel wasn't up for chatting about it, pushing her would be a mistake. "Jarod hacked my computer. I spent most of Forensics yesterday learning how to build a better firewall. Which just means a better toy for him, next time."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Why would Jarod hack your computer? Did he find out what we did?" she asked. "Or is he looking to see what your next step is?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker started to pace restlessly, stretching out her arms. "Both. Angelo tipped him off that... well." She took a breath. "That I was going to confront Rumor on Sunday. So, yes. He's planning the next step now. And he's saying there's no part for me in it."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel sat back and blinked, trying to process Parker's words with memories from six months earlier. "You went. Did you bring back-up?"

As she glared at Parker, Isabel wondered exactly what Jarod was planning. She had a sneaking suspicion she knew who was helping him.