Thursday evening, Blake Suite, Dolphin Hall, Oxford

[mparkerceo]

Even while keeping in contact the last couple weeks through tiny Isabel and teeny Bridge and their keepers, e-mail with Zero, and text messages from a transformed BoyIsabel, having people actually staying with her was going to be a treat

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[cantgetnorelief]

Anders stumbled out of the portal an hour or so later, with white chalk streaks all over his face and what looked like a large fleur-de-lis pattern singed into the right shoulder of his shirt.

"Oh, frak me, that was worse than the random thunderstorm in the Yukon Terri -- hey, where'd everybody go?"

He didn't even think about going over to check on the note on the door, though; instead, he dropped down onto the couch and looked pitiful.

[izzyalienqueen]

Fortunately he didn't have to look pitiful for long. It had been a long few days and Isabel was sort of tired, so they passed on making time with the Rugby players (It was post match and despite showering, they were still sort of smelly) and headed back to Parker's with food for Anders.

"Anders!" Isabel smiled. "You're here! We were worried!"

[cantgetnorelief]

Anders picked regretfully at his singed sleeve. "Yeah . . . so was I for a while there," he said with a sigh. "But random detours through, like, revolutionary France and some archaeologist's dig site in I don't even know where the frak aside, I'm here. And in one piece."

He eyed his duffel bag ruefully -- the half of it by his feet, and the half of it that had fallen over by where the portal had dumped him out.

"Which is more than I can say for my luggage."

[izzyalienqueen]

"Oh that is rough," Isabel replied, studying the bag and glad it wasn't Anders. "I'll fix your stuff later if you'd like. I've got mad skillz."

[mparkerceo]

Parker came up the stairs humming -- she'd run into Alex in the midst of all those rugby players, and made a date to see him on Monday, after her guests had left. La la laaaaa....

"Daisy! You made it!" Victory arms from Parker, and then careful step over the broken luggage. "Mostly."

[cantgetnorelief]

"My toothbrush and razor will thank you, big sis," Anders said, poking at the duffel bag remnants with his toe. And then there was a Parker, and of course he had to hug her. "Hey, you."

[mparkerceo]

"Hey, you," Parker responded, hugging him back. "Long time no see, Daisy. Way too long. I at least got to see her over New Year's!" Isabel yawned and waved to them, mumbling something about crashing as she headed into Parker's room. Parker waved back, saying, "Night, Isabel." She turned to Anders to study him, smiling hugely. "This'll be fun. You can have the couch or Stella's room, your call. She's still on her break in Spain."

[cantgetnorelief]

"I'm good with the couch," Anders said. "I always feel a little weird in girls' rooms. Girls who aren't my girlfriend, anyway. Yeah, it's been . . . it's been a semester, let's just say that."

He glanced back toward the direction in which Isabel had disappeared. "Thanks for having us. I think she could really use the trip."

[mparkerceo]

Parker shot the door a worried look, then turned back to Daisy. "Okay, is there more than just the horrible almost-death, and various transformations into tiny people and boys, that I should be aware of?" She settled herself on the couch, and pulled over a pillow to make room for Anders. "Spill, if there's anything to spill."

[cantgetnorelief]

"She didn't tell you." Anders blew out a breath, then dropped onto the couch next to Parker with his hands clasped in his lap. "Yeah. Last weekend there was a whole clusterfrak with Wyatt turning evil somehow."

[mparkerceo]

Parker pulled up one leg, keeping her gaze on Anders. "Okaaaay. Was this a Fandom thing? One of those AU weekends, with wacky bank heists? Or something worse?"

[cantgetnorelief]

"Pretty much worse, yeah." Anders fiddled with his singed sleeve again. "Believe it or not, something to do with an evil teddy bear and an alternate crazy evil powerhungry Wyatt with bad facial hair. But he frakked with her, locked her up in the boiler room in the basement and stuff. Don't think she's taking the whole thing too well."

He bit his lip. "Which . . . I know the feeling."

[mparkerceo]

"Oh, crap. Doesn't she ever get a break?" Parker blew out a breath in a sigh, then studied Daisy, reaching out to brush away a little dust and ash from his shoulder. Just an excuse to check to see if he was okay. "Yeah, you would. Although the teddy bear is new. It's fixed, I'm guessing, or she wouldn't be here, but damnit."

[cantgetnorelief]

"Just so you know," Anders said with another glance back toward Parker's room. "I figure between the two of us we should be able to help her through some of it, but seeing him so different . . ."

[mparkerceo]

"Yeah, that had to mess with her." Parker grimaced and ran a hand through her hair. "How do you stand with Wyatt at the moment? Is he sporting any nice new shiny well-deserved bruises?"

[cantgetnorelief]

"Not from me," Anders said, a guilty expression crossing his face. "That'd be kinda stones and glass houses if I did, after the Source and Briana and all. I should probably go talk to him, though, when I get back."

He took a deep breath and leaned back into the couch. "It's pretty freaky to realize what can happen when somebody with that much power decides to use it the other way."