Room 406, evening

[izzyalienqueen]

As always, Monday's workshops were entertaining. Afterwards, Isabel hauled her stuff back to the dorms, responded to an email from Parker, and then finally went down to Jack's room to retrieve the TV and DVD player he'd told her she could have. And that's when she found the letter.

Currently Isabel was attempting to rearrange furniture to accomadate the TV but she was occasionally distracted by the paper lying folded on her desk.

The door was open.

Comments

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal felt the need for a walk before he attempted to sleep, and his path led him down the hallway. The sounds of furniture being moved in one of the rooms drew his attention and he recognised Isabel. Tapping tentatively on the door frame, he said, "Isabel? Would you like some help with that?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Hi Karal," Isabel smiled. "Sure, help would be great. Thank you."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He smiled as he walked into the room, looking around quickly. "Your room mate is not here?" he asked, nodding at the other bed while he waited for her to direct him as to what to move where.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I live alone," she told him. "Somehow I've been lucky enough to avoid a roommate since Xander moved out last year."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Oh. I have a roommate, which is something I'm not used to," he said. "She seems very nice." Even if it was very odd to be sharing a room with a girl. "Are you well, Isabel?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh? Who is it?" Isabel asked, giving the bed one more shove and then sitting on it to check out the view. "Anyone I know?"

There was another question?

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Aravis Tarkheena," he answered, looking at her curiously because he noticed she had not answered his second question. "She is highborn, which," he shook his head, "when I first arrived I thought it very strange that they would place a highborn with me, not to mention one who was a girl." He gave a faint smile. "But I am learning that neither of those are of great importance here."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh she's nice," Isabel smiled. "I was showing her how to use the computer in Stupid People last week. Which was much more fun then today's class."

She got to her feet, adjusted the angle of the TV and then returned to the bed. "That's better. And no, they're not. Who or what you were doesn't matter. This place gives you a second chance if you want it. Some people don't. Some do."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Yes. I am learning that here I am able to just be me, which is a great relief." And that was a massive understatement, but he smiled again and didn't explain any further. "But you didn't tell me, are you well?"

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

After persuading his door to open up for him and unpacking his things, Peter decided to see how everyone else was doing.

Strangely, he knocked on Isabel's door first.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"What were you before you came here?" she asked. "And you can sit down. Please make yourself comfortable."

"I'm fine. One of the benefits of being made the way we were is that we don't get sick."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's open," Isabel called. "I think the doorknob's been sufficiently coaxed."

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

"Sure about that?" Peter asked. "I had to promise mine flowers and some oil. Which I think is illegal in this state. Hey."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal ducked his head and nodded, taking a seat on the other bed, smoothing his robes down as he thought about how to answer her question. "I was many things, most of which I never wanted to be and none of which I was ready for. But there was no one else to do them, and so they fell to me," he finally said, voice light, which he knew was an answer without an answer. "I only ever wanted to be a Scholar-Priest. Life," and Vkandis, and Solaris, "has a way of interfering. But truly, you never get sick? Ever? That is quite a gift."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I threatened to melt it actually," she laughed. "Which means I'll probably pay for it some day when I'm late for class, but I had my hands full so it was a time for desperate measures."

Isabel drew up her feet, leaving a spot for Peter to sit if he'd like. "Hey yourself."

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

"Doing okay?" Peter asked as he came in. He looked her over. "You seem like you're in one piece."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure you did the best you could," Isabel said. "Which I'm willing to be means you did wonderfully."

"We can get...out of balance," she told him, remembering how sick Michael had gotten that one time. "Fortunately that's only happened once. It shouldn't happen again."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm all in one piece," Isabel promised. "Katara finished healing my arm last Thursday and I got to kick CIA butt and help rescue a friend without anymore injuries. It was a good weekend."

"Although it could have been better."

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

"Without the CIA, the injuries, or a friend needing rescue?" Peter guessed.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He blushed and looked at his hands. "Yes, well, thank you," he said, giving her a quick smile. He had his doubts, but it was kind of her to say that. "Out of balance," he repeated. "That would be very frightening, I would imagine, if it is something that is not supposed to happen. Are you immune from emotional hurts as well, or only from the physical?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"More the company, I love Peter to death but he had a little to much on his mind to play tour guide once the rescue was over," she explained.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It was," she nodded. "We almost lost Michael but with some help from our friends we were able to save him." Isabel looked down, watching as Annie poked her head out from under the bed. "No, not immune unfortunately."

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

"So plenty of opportunity for me then?" Peter asked.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh yes," Isabel told him, pushing back her hair. "Plenty of opportunity."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal followed her gaze and smiled when he saw the cat. "Hello," he said softly and leaned down, wriggling his fingers to try and attract its attention. "Are you an ordinary cat?" He looked back up at Isabel. "Michael is your brother?" he asked. "I am very glad your friends were able to help him."