fandomhigh | Library, 3/13

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library

Library, 3/13

Parker is hungover, unhappy, and really not glad to be back from break.

The Library is open.

Do not taunt the Library aide. This morning, she bites.

[ open for all your library needs ]

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"I can't. I've tried. He talks to me about responsibility, and loyalty, and suddenly I'm agreeing with whatever he says. Until later, when I just feel sick." Parker folded her arms across her stomach and smiled without humor. "If I'm the frickin' princess, Jarod is the unknown kid they rescued off the side of the road. And now expect to slave away in the dungeons out of gratitude for the rest of his life." Her smile turned evil. "But at least he's not there now."

"Well, if this was the kind of tale the bards tell, Jarod would be some sort of prince in hiding," Callisto drawled. "However we both know that the world rarely works like that ~~even though it actually does in my canon~~."

"Even if it worked like that, it wouldn't help. He doesn't have to be a prince. He's the golden goose, or the harp. I don't know. A wizard." Parker swallowed. "He was a prisoner. And one of the only friends I had. Which was not something that made my father happy, when he found out. If he knew where Jarod was... he'd have his trolls drag him back."

"It's a good thing he has protecters in the form of a tiny ninja and a crazy hooker then, isn't it?"

"Very good." Parker smiled, then sobered. "But. It does make getting even more involved with him rather problematic." She studied Callisto for a moment, then said, "Forgive me for bringing this up. But you, and Angel-- are you planning on sticking together past graduation?"

Callisto rubbed the back of her neck. "Honestly? I don't know."

Parker was quiet for a second, then said, "Marty and Angela, I can see making it work, even with a weird ten-year age gap. Rory and 'someone', still have a lot of options, even with a helluva commute. Jarod and I-- even if I thought it was a good idea, even if I didn't wonder if he just imprinted on me like some baby duck-- it's got a limited lifespan. So I guess, I wonder, is it worth it? Knowing that. You could stay here. Or he could go with you. But you can't stay in high school forever."

"Parker, nothing in this world lasts forever," Callisto finally said. "I don't know what's happening after, and frankly there's a large part of me that doesn't want to think about that. But right here, right now, I have a chance to be happy, and I'm damned if I'm going to let that go."

Parker bit her lip. "I guess that's the question. Happy even for a little while." She pushed her fingers through her hair, thinking. "I don't know. I can't tell what he thinks or feels, I never have, unless he told me." She gave Callisto a troubled look.

"I know what Angel would say, and he's an idiot. He'd say being with someone when it puts them in danger isn't worth it. But he's let people beat him down on that. But this, this isn't a danger to Jarod I can't control. Not yet. A decade or so, maybe then. But now? No."

"Then don't try to control it," Callisto said. "You'll only make the ucler worse. Do what you can now, and ask for help with what you can't."

Parker looked down at the arms crossed over her stomach, and laughed. "That obvious, hunh?" She let out a slow breath, then nodded. "I may be asking you for that help, sometime before your graduation. And as for Jarod--" She shook her head. "I guess we'll see. Maybe it meant something to him. Or maybe it was just goddamn Shakespeare again."

"And I'll be here to give it." Callisto shrugged. "Does Jarod strike you as the kind of guy to do something like that if it didn't mean anything?"

"I would say no, except I jumped him. And." Parker looked away. "He really doesn't have much experience. I can't hold anything against him, when I was coming on that strong."

"Next question, do you really think you could make Jarod do anything he didn't want to?"

Parker laughed hysterically. Then calmed down a little. "No. Never." She shook her head. "I'm not sure he'd really think about the implications, though. He's an eighteen-year-old guy. He's not a monk by choice."

"And you know that because?"

"I said prisoner, didn't I? I wasn't kidding, Callisto. He barely got to see anyone while he lived in Blue Cove. His teacher, some of the doctors, a friend of ours who'd probably get the Court Jester's job if this were a fairy tale, and me. That's it." She sighed. "He hadn't seen anything else female for fifteen years, until four months ago. See my problem with recent developments?"

"Let me put this another way," Callisto leaned forward. "Has Jarod, who works in a brothel, shown any indication of running amok and shagging every willing female he sees?"

Parker stared at her, color working its way upward across her face. "No."

"So maybe credit the guy with a little self-control," Callisto said. "Also sounds like he's known you long enough to at least have some idea what he's be getting into."

"Some idea, yes. Much better than most, really." Parker crossed her arms again. "Damnit." She smiled shakily. "So. I guess I just have to suck it up and deal, don't I."

"Pretty much. Love, and lust, make fools of us all," Callisto said. "You think I intended to fall for a vampire with an overactive hero complex and the destiny to match?"

"True." Parker looked gloomy, then rubbed her eyes. "Lee Adama, Jack Harkness, Xander Harris, I couldn't fall for one of them? It'd be a mess in any of their cases too, but at least it wouldn't be a life-threatening father-defying mess." She shrugged, and got to her feet. "Thanks for listening. I meant it about needing help, maybe, sometime in the future. But that's up to you when I can be more specific. But this-- this was enough help for now."

"Glad I could help," Callisto was surprised to find that she meant it. "In any case, I really should get working on my mid-term, so if you could lead us out of here before newtness happens?"

Not that Callisto actually worried about being turned into a newt. Nor did she keep checking her hands for signs of being newtinated until they were far, far away from Special Collections.

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Library, 3/13

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

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Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections

Re: Sixth period - Now NFB, in Spec Collections