fandomhigh | The Library is open [2/27]

"My summer plans have not been finalized, but in the event we are both here, I would be pleased to help you with that."

He froze, caught off guard by the question. "I -- hadn't given it any thought, actually," Archie admitted. Since the answer was contingent on the unanswered question of whether or not he could actually go home after graduation, he couldn't give it. "It's likely, but not definite as of yet."

"Ah." Parker studied him carefully, then said, "If you're here, you could go to the Naval Academy after graduation. Hard to get into, but worth it, or so I've heard." She smiled. "But that's a ways off. Summer, sailing, swimming and silliness first. I just have to talk my father into letting me stay if there's a summer session." She grinned. "You haven't *lived* until you've seen modern swimsuits."

He couldn't help arching an eyebrow at that. "Yes, considering my only experience in the pool here involved people either fully clothed or thoroughly nude, I suppose I haven't. You would really stay, rather than go home for the summer?"

"There's not much to do in Blue Cove." Parker looked away. "My father's usually busy during the summer-- business trips and board meetings-- so I've always ended up at camp. If he goes somewhere he can take me along, I might do that. But I think it would be more fun to stay here, where I have friends. The only two I have left in Blue Cove would be busy with their own stuff." She shrugged, then gave him a wicked smile. "Besides, I can't learn to sail there, can I?"

"I suppose not, although a name like Blue Cove might be misleading," allowed Archie. "I just may be persuaded to stay for the summer, then. Educational purposes, and all."

He hesitated. "Not that I had anywhere else to go, really."

"It's too shallow, and too far inland for the bay to be much good for sailing, really. It's blue, but that's about it." Parker smiled, then sobered. "You wouldn't be able to go back to-- 17-whatever? I've never understood how the time-travel thing works for you guys. And my Little Brother is from 1057. It's one helluva commute for him."

Archie hesitated, then smiled slowly. "I think . . . I've burned my bridges there, so to speak. In all honesty, I have no idea how exactly it was I got here, so unless something happens, I haven't a clue how to get back either."

He tilted his head. "Your Little Brother? Oh -- that redheaded fellow?"

"Hunh. Interesting. And yes, Thane MacBeth. Who I need to track down again soon, and check in on. Poor kid is having a hard time adjusting to the technology around here." She tilted her head speculatively. "I've never asked him if he's going back to the 11th Century from here either. I really should check on that, and help him find something else to do if he can't." Parker smiled at Archie. "For what it's worth? We'd miss you if you left. I'd hate to read about you in a history book written before 2006, Lieutenant."

"I understand that. It took me until last week to learn to use the telephone, and --" He let out a brief chuckle. "Well, that didn't go terribly well, did it?"

Archie's smile thinned a bit, though he wasn't quite aware of that fact. "I doubt I would merit a mention in a history book anyhow," he said, choosing the words carefully. "But I appreciate the sentiment. Thank you."

Parker looked curious. "It didn't?"

"And sure. May as well make history by conquering the present, right?" She grinned, and added, "But that's down the line. We have to get through high school first. And that's enough of a challenge."

An awkward laugh. "I called Jaye. She said we needed to talk, and well, we haven't talked since. So when you say high school is enough of a challenge, well, I can certainly vouch for that."

"Ohh. I'm sorry." Parker winced, then leaned forward, giving him her best smile. "Her loss, Archie."

"Perhaps." Archie shrugged and returned the smile, his posture shifting subtly to one more relaxed. "I'll be fine in a day or two, truly. Once I get my bearings again."

"I don't doubt it for a minute." Parker shrugged lightly. "It'll just be one more hazard of Fandom in a month." She might be a little more vehement on that than she needs to be.

Archie raised an eyebrow ever so slightly, but didn't push the point. "It's a month for such hazards, isn't it?" he said instead.

"It is and it bites. I blame the greeting card industry." Parker shrugged. "In April we'll be fine, though."

"All the modern to-do over Valentine's Day, is it? I hope so." Archie nodded. "Why April?"

"Another month gone, how can we not be? And the weather will be better, and we'll only be a month from the end of the term. April," Parker said firmly, "May be the cruelest month, but I'm counting on it being good to me."

"A month from the end of term, yes . . . and with the promise of less oppressive weather to boot. Both very good reasons. Perhaps I can have a word with it on your behalf," Archie remarked. "That is to say, if it's willing to listen to me."

~~Weather-modder.~~ "I shall appreciate any efforts you make with the west winds, the north, and the south. I shan't ask for anything about the east," Parker declaimed, then grinned. "the spring, the summer,
The childing autumn, angry winter, change
Their wonted liveries, and the mazed world,
By their increase, now knows not which is which:
And this same progeny of evils comes
From our debate, from our dissension;
We are their parents and original."

~~*bows*~~

Archie raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize you were in the play. All the more incentive to attend, now."

"I am a spirit of no common rate-- in other words, Her Majesty, Titania." Parker gave him a small curtsey, then grinned. "It's starting to be fun, now that I know we have to make room for ninjas and pirates. We'll see how much it sticks to the original script, then." She shrugged one shoulder, and said neutrally, "Your evil twin is playing Oberon."

Archie did laugh out loud at that, and had he not spent this many months in Fandom would have been suprised by the ninjas and pirates. "So I'm the good twin now, am I? And is he? Well. That's certainly interesting."

"Well, you can't be the evil one, so by default, he must be." Parker smirked. "We'll see how that goes, at least he knows his lines." And how to use them. Hoo boy.

"Ah, the irony," Archie chuckled. "Here I was the one who spent far too much time at the theater in my younger days, and he gets the stage glory. This I'll have to see."

The Library is open [2/27]

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