Reflections in the park

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth had wandered into town after advanced negotiations, idly glancing in the windows of the various shops, and eating places with none of them piquing her interest.

She's listening to her iPod, and it seems like she's skipping every other track, for fear that it will make her cry.

She wishes that there hadn't been so much talk of families recently.

The fact that her niece was turning twenty-one in a few days time had hit her, and she had just begun to think of everything she was going to miss. Her dad's 70th birthday. Emily's sweet 16. Her parents golden wedding anniversary. Alexhad turned 40 earlier in the summer, and she could just imagine the party that would have taken place at her parent's home.

She sits down on a bench by the pond, turning her head as she sees the duck family waddle past her. Her head is bowed, and she skips yet another song.


[[ooc: Feel free to interupt her]]

Comments

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige was wondering if the pond might help to inspire her with her letter to Geoff, she goes towards the bench and sits down absent mindly, not even noticing the other girl at first

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

The previous song having come to an end, Elizabeth immediately moves to skip "Mad World" as soon as the first note plays. Not. Going. To. Cry.

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige looks at her notepad for a second, it's covered in scratched out words, she wonders how to approach the girl.

"Hi" she says loudly so she'll be heard over the music

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth hears someone say something, and turns to see that another girl had sat down beside her. She pulls out the earphones, and turns off her iPod.

"Hi."

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige smiles weakly, she's had a bastard of a day and it's not over yet. "I'm Paige, we've not met have we?"

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth's returning smile is as weak as Paige's. "No, I'm Elizabeth."

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

She sighs, "You look like I... well look I guess, but feel is what I meant. You're not in ethics are you? That's one of the many reasons I feel like," She bites her lip "crap."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth laughed wryly. "Could you tell, huh? Yeah, I'm in ethics."

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige nods, "Well being asked why you wouldn't kill your own sister if it was saving her from future pain and if you'd unplug the lifesupport machine of someone you loved for pretty the same reason gives you a certain look I guess. I'm seriously considering dropping out. I mean I've had a bad enough week as it is without all that crap you know?"

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth frowns. "Professor Maclay asked you that? I mean, she asked me if I could kill someone I loved, but didn't specify."

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

"she asked me if I could turn the life support machine off, but it was Angelus who was pushing the thing about whether I'd kill my sister to save her from being tortured by a madman. There are something's you just don't want to think about especially when it's not even been a year since your parents died.:

She sighs, "I'm gonna talk to Tara about quitting."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"I had an interesting conversation with Angelus as well," she sighs. She looks at Paige, sympathy evident on her face. "I'm sorry about your parents."

"Maybe you could try one more class?" she suggests. "Angelus is a sadistic bastard, and that might have been his intention... his fun for the day was to try and force someone out of the class? Maybe if we're not talking about death and killing someone it'll be easier."

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige nods, "But he's always goona be there isn't he? Trying to upset people."

She looks over at the ducks then back to Elizabeth, "Any other week I'd have been able to cope, but this week's just been a nightmare. I came home after class and just wanted a hug from Geoff, but he wasn't there, no one was"

[janet_fraiser]

"Hey." Janet sits down next to Liz on the bench. "You look like you're feeling down."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth manages a slight smile. "Just thinking about family," she says with a sigh.

[janet_fraiser]

"Oh," says Janet, her voice full of understanding. "Do you want to talk about it?"

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

She half shrugs. "The baby I first held at 8 days is going to be 21 on Sunday. Then next year is going to be my dad's 70th, and my parents golden wedding anniversary.

And I won't be involved in any of it."

[janet_fraiser]

"It hurts," says Janet. "It hurts so much. I know." She puts an arm around Liz. "I'm so sorry, sweetie."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth leans against Janet's shoulder. "I know I'm not the only one, God, you've got Cassie... but it all just seems to be coming to a head, and with Naomi's birthday..."

[janet_fraiser]

Janet starts stroking Liz's arm soothingly. "I didn't mean to imply you were being selfish." She sighs. "Of course you're upset. She's your niece. You love her. You want to be there for her."


(OOC: For real soothingly! No subtext, even! Pervs.)

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"She was the first baby I'd ever held," Liz began, relaxing under Janet's touch. "She was so tiny, and I was scared I was going to drop her. "And because Alex and Nick weren't at home still, I was the first of us to hold her."

[ooc: I know! Although it's not the worst they've done out of subtext... ;)]

[janet_fraiser]

"Tell me about her," says Janet, leaning in closer to Liz.

OOC: True enough. *laughing* But this is actual sympathy touching!

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"She's my eldest brother's eldest," she says. "She's just this female version of Peter, my brother. The last time I saw her was just after she graduated high school. She's at the University of Chicago, majoring in Slavic Languages and Literatures... she's really the only one of my nieces and nephews who's old enough to remember their great-grandmother."

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

[ooc: Okay, and thanks for the offer! She might take you up on that in the future]