FTEC, Sunday, Evening Shift [Oct 21]

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan sat down behind the front desk at the clinic, his exhaustion almost palpable, as much as he tried to cover it. One hand kept coming up, subconsciously running along the new scar dividing his left eyebrow; had he noticed, Ronan would have done what he could to stop, to avoid drawing attention to it.

Although, for a new scar, it was remarkably healed already.

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

After not getting any sleep the night before and only a short nap that morning, Isabel had reached that nicely mellow state of over-tiredness. She'd taken a walk to Ching Tai to get some dinner, and was passing by the clinic when she noticed that Ronan was on duty. A visit would be the perfect way to pass some time till it was late enough to go back to the dorms and sleep.

"Hi! Are you hiding from the invading hordes?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan laughed, but there was a bit of a dark edge to it. "Not quite," he said. "I've been gone for the weekend."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Is that good or bad?" she asked, leaning against the counter. "Fun visit home or crisis visit to save the world? Around here? Either is a legitimate choice."

[not_in_the_book]

"... Kinda both?" Ronan bit his lip. "... I don't remember if I mentioned the whole being from a year in the past thing."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You didn't, but you wouldn't be the first person I've met here to be a little time displaced." Something about Ronan's tone had Isabel studying him more closely. "What happened?"

[not_in_the_book]

"I'm, uh. Not from a year in the past anymore."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Ouch. Temporal Whiplash," she said sympathetically. "Are you okay?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan nodded. "Tired," he said. "Really, really tired. I spent the year a couple of worlds sideways. Not, like, a warzone or anything? But I couldn't get in contact with anyone in my world, so I was pretty much on my own. Made some new friends, but..." He shrugged. "How was Parents Weekend?" he asked, very deliberately changing the subject.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I get that. I spent six months on our planet in a war zone and came back to find only six days had passed here," Isabel told him with a shrug. "Sleep, hang out with your friends, and relax. It'll get easier."

Recognizing the subject change, and god knows she did it herself often enough when she first got back, she smiled. "Insane. I was very glad I didn't have any family of my own around."

[not_in_the_book]

"No one came?" Ronan said. "I can definitely understand how you'd appreciate that. Do your parents know anything about this place?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"They do," she nodded. "After we left and I came back while Max and Michael were still gone, I had to tell them everything about us and it kind of spilled over into everything about Fandom. Which makes my life a lot simpler now."

Yawning, Isabel shook her head. "Don't mind me. I didn't sleep last night. The only reason no one came was because Max and Michael are still getting over coming back from Antar. They weren't up for the trip and I'd rather my folks stay home and look after them."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan nodded. "That definitely makes sense," he said. "How long have they been back, now?" He smiled, a bit weakly. "I, uh, can't quite recall. It's been a while, y'know."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Just a bit. And I'm sure you had more important things on your mind." Isabel had noticed the scar, she just wasn't going to push right now. "Just about a month at this point. They're just starting to find their feet."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan nodded. "Yeah, I can see how they'd... yeah." He smiled softly. "I'll be okay," he said. "It wasn't so bad, where I was. It just took longer to get back than I'd hoped."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Which had to have been frustrating," she nodded. "Still, you need an ear, or a shoulder, or a really cheesy movie as a distraction? You know where I live."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan nodded. "Thanks," he said. "I'll... probably be taking you up on that really soon."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"The dooor's always open. Well most of the time. Unless I'm sleeping. And even then, knock. Because I could be awake." Isabel shut her mouth and rubbed her eyes. "Sorry, I'm rambling. I need more caffeine. Or sleep possibly. So I don't do it in the class tomorrow morning."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Here," he said, reaching out a bit. "Do you want me to zap you? Give you just enough of a boost, I mean, to get back to the dorms all right."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

That made her giggle. "Zap me? I'm sorry, I hang out with too many people with twisted minds. I have to ask. Dirty?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan stared at Isabel for a moment before breaking out laughing. "I... I'm sorry, I'd almost forgotten what this place was like," he said, grinning, still chuckling. "No, definitely not dirty. It's just a quick... tweak, I guess. It'll give you a boost without screwing with you sleep like caffeine will." He paused. "Assuming caffeine affects you like regular humans."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel was still laughing herself, happy to see Ronan laugh. "We're going to have to remind you.

"Caffeine gets me just like everyone else. Alcohol is the only thing I need to worry about that I know of. So yes," she said, holding out her arms and striking a pose. "Tweak away."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan grinned, and reached out one hand, his fingers brushing lightly against one temple. He said a short sentence in the Speech, words half-spoken, almost a verbal shorthand, that should leave Isabel with a sudden rush of clarity: less an energy rush, and more a boost of awareness, leaving her clear-headed instead of fatigued.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Blinking, Isabel shook her head. "Wow...That's cool. Thank you. Now you won't find me sleeping under a bush when you head back to the dorms after your shift."

[not_in_the_book]

"Which is a good thing," Ronan said. "Not that I wouldn't stop and help you if I did, but all things considered I'd rather not have to in the first place."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh definitely. I'd rather have my pillows as opposed to pine needles," she laughed. "Which means I should get myself back to the dorms while this last."

[not_in_the_book]

"Pine needles make a better pillow than you think," Ronan said, smiling softly. "But you're right, you should get back. We'll have to hang out this week, though."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Definitely. It'll be fun." Isabel started to step away from the counter then stopped. "I know I didn't really realize you were gone? But I'm very glad you back. Welcome home Ronan."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan nodded, his soft smile maybe just that little bit more real. "Thanks, Isabel. It's... good to be back."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Hug?" she offered. It seemed like he might need one.

[not_in_the_book]

Wordlessly, Ronan got up and moved around the desk, arms coming up as he stepped towards Izzy.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.

[not_in_the_book]

A moment passed, and then Ronan pulled away. "Thanks," he said. "I think... I think I needed that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Any time," she promised. "I've got an unlimited supply."

"And now, bed for me and the mun. Don't be a stranger okay? I meant what I said. Any time." Isabel flashed him once last smile then left to start the long walk back to the dorms.