Aereopagitica: Monday

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana hurries in to open up the store with Phoebe. She straightens things up then flips the sign to open and sits down to chat with Phoebe while they wait for any customers.

Comments

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looks around the bookstore. "I haven't been in here since..."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel yawned as she opened the door to the store and walked in. She'd gotten some sleep after the dreamwalk but she was still tired. But she'd promised Bel some books and this seemed to be the place to get them.

She was surprised to see Lana & Phoebe behind the counter, "Hi Lana, Phoebe!"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiled slightly. "Hi Isabel. How are you?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm okay," she said. "How are you doing?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, it was kind of weird the first time I came in. Mr, Giles is really nice though."

[sensethevisions]

She shook her head. "I'm freaked but determined that I'm going to find something to get him freed from there. He made lana promise to make sure I went to class."

[sensethevisions]

"I'm glad," she said softly. "It just seems weird to me right now, you know?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"And eat," Lana added. "Thus the JGOB." She held up the bag.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I understand."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure something is going to turn up. I know he didn't do it." Of course she didn't add how she knew, because what happened in the dreamwalk was for Bel to share if he chose to. She looked around the store trying to see how the books were organized. "Actually I was looking to bring him a a book or two. Do you know where the Fantasy books are?"

[sensethevisions]

"I'm glad you guys believe in him. You don't know how much that means to him... to us."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel shrugged, "He's a friend, if you don't stand by your friends..."

[sensethevisions]

She nodded. She knew that all too well. "I've never been in here before, so Lana would probably be able to help you find the Fantasy books."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Exactly. Standing by your friends is important," Lana said. "Fantasy books are over here." She pointed out one book. "I gave him my copy of this the other day, so..."

[sensethevisions]

"I miss them."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"I never knew them as well as you did, but I miss them too. And Michael and Ben. And Han. And Shep. It seems like everyone is just going away."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded and was silent for a long moment. Then her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm afraid that he's going to leave after this. He's never going to trust any of the authority figures or laws here again."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I know, he told me. He's finished it, so I'll bring more today." Isabel looked for the T's and quickly found a copy of one of her favorite Tolkien stories. "I'll take this, and this," she said picking up the original story in the series.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Which means you'd be leaving too," Lana said quietly. "I know you too well. You wouldn't stay here without him."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Excellent. Let me know if he wants to borrow any of my books. I have a ton in my room," Lana offered. She rang up the books and put them in a bag for Isabel.

"And please tell him Phoebe's here with me and we're both eating and going to class," she said with a little smile."

[sensethevisions]

"I promised you I wouldn't leave you," she said softly. "And what about my sisters?"

She shook her head. "Either way, I'm going to lose him, you know? I wouldn't blame him if he left after the way he's been treated... but God, the idea kills me."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'll do that. It's one less thing for him to worry about." She gave Lana the money for the books and started for the door. "But I'd better go, I need to stop by there and then get back in time for Western Lit."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana looked at her seriously. "I wouldn't hold you to that promise. Not if it was a choice between me or him. I know which one I'd want you to choose and it wouldn't be me. But hopefully, it won't come to that."

"The authorities... are always going to give people who are different a hard time, but it's different this time. He knows he has all of his friends behind him. He's not alone."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Okay, take care. I'll see you soon." Lana smiled at Isabel as she headed out.

[sensethevisions]

"I'd just take you with me," she said simply, wiping her eyes. "No, he's not alone, and he knows that... but... he talked of running, Lana. What if I can't give him a reason to stay after all of this is over?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"You, me and Bel on the road together. Now that's going to raise some eyebrows," Lana said lightly.

"And honey, if you don't think you're enough reason for him to stay, you haven't examined your relationship closely enough. He's not ever going to leave you."

[sensethevisions]

"Oh, I know usually he would stay for me, Lana... but after this... well, would you want to stay in a place where you've been condemned, aren't even allowed to know who your accuser is?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. But I have faith this is all going to work out. Bel will be released and we'll be able to prove he's innocent. I just have a feeling about it."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded. "When I found out who did this to him, Lana..."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"We'll deal with that later. Right now we just need to make sure he knows he's supported and work on finding a way to prove he's innocent." Lana hugged Phoebe firmly.

"Hey, let's go see him once we're done here. We'll have time before your 2 o'clock class."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe hugged her back. "Thanks, Lana... for everything."

She nodded. "Yeah, let's do that."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"You're totally welcome," Lana said. "Any time. You know that."

After Lana was done they headed over to visit Bel (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomtownies/764757.html?thread=29214549#t29214549).