All and Sundries//August 26

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Sick or not, Seras still had to earn cash for trivialities like food, text books, and new socks.

So, looking a bit like a heroin addict coming down off a particularly nasty high, she'd shown up for her shift at All and Sundries and began the arduous task of figuring out how Baldrick had been stocking things since she'd been gone.

Seras needed more meds.

All and Sundries is open.

Comments

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn wasn't thrilled that Seras was out of bed and showed up with soup for her roommate.

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Seras looked up from where going over her lists. They were getting to be the size of a phone book, really.

"Hey Gwynn," she said, attempting a smile, "Need anything?"

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn shook her head, even though it showed that she probably needed sleep. She handed Seras to thermos.

"Soup."

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Seras smiled at her roomie.

"Gosh, thanks, Gwynn," she said, taking the thermos, "Care to join me?"

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn smiled. "You're welcome. Friar Tuck told me that soup cures everything." She shhok her head. "You need it more, but I'll keep you company for a bit if you'd like?"

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

"I like."

Seras managed to hop up onto the counter and opened the thermos. It did smell good.

"So, how have you been, Gwynn?" she asked.

With her sickness and one thing or another, Seras hadn't really spent much time with her roommate.

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

"Then I shall stay."

Gwynn managed to smile again. She really did enjoy spending time with her roommate.

She sighed.

"Having a duty sucks," she said using a phrase she had heard recently. "Tim is leaving."

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Seras tilted her head.

"Oh, I'm sorry Gwynn. But, why does that mean having a duty sucks?"

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Oh that's right. She had never told Seras...

"My first love was Phillip... King of England. He would have given up his throne for me and I wouldn't let him. We both have a duty to our country. Then I came here and I love Tim and..." She sighed. "Duty calls him home."

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Seras nodded.

"I guess if you look at duty that way it does suck. But...you also got to learn what sort of person you are. You gave up being with someone you love because it was the right thing to do."

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn nodded. "And I'd do it again... am doing it again. It just hurts and I'm tired of it." She shook her head. "I would never argue to keep one from doing their duty. It's just that in times like this... I get annoyed that I am dutiful."

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Seras swallowed a mouthful of soup.

"Would you be happier if you weren't?"

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn thought for a moment and then gave Seras a rueful look. "Probably not. I wouldn't be me, then, would I?"

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Seras pondered.

"I don't know," she said, "People are supposed to be able to change. So, I guess you have to decide if being dutiful is something you want to continue doing."

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn shook her head. "I promised my father and Phillip. Of course, that was an easy promise to make when I thought I'd never fall in love again."

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Seras nodded.

"I've never been in love," she said, "So, I can't really advise you. But, I am sorry you're unhappy."

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

"I'm supposed to be here helping you and making you feel better, not telling you my problems," Gwynn said apologetically. "But thank you for listening, Seras."

[union-jane.livejournal.com]

Seras shrugged.

"You brought me soup and came to see me. There's not much else you can do unless you're a medical professional. And, I don't mind listening to your troubles."

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

She gestured to the store. "I can help out so you don't strain yourself too much."