Surprises of an entirely different nature.

[rebellious_lady]

The Post Office was not a place that Marian often went. She knew of the boxes for each resident, but she felt little need to send notes, nor did she truly expect any to send them to her. Yet, with the new school semester approaching, and having offered to teach again, Marian thought it best to check it every few days in case Remus had left any

Comments

[fangyandgrr]

Spike was on his way out of the compound, heading for home, when he spotted Marian crouched on the path, something clutched to her chest. "Whatchoo got there?" he asked without any particular curiosity in his voice as he drew close. He was just being polite, and all.

[rebellious_lady]

"Nothing of importance," Marian responded quickly, moving the device behind her back, hoping that Spike had not seen it. "Why would I have anything?"

[fangyandgrr]

"...I dunno," Spike said with the beginning of a grin, trying to peer behind her. "Why would you?" His curiosity was piqued now, and he reached around her, trying to grab at--whatever it was. Something with leather and--there'd been a flash of purple, too quick to identify.

[rebellious_lady]

Marian was well trained, and she spun easily out of his way. The look she gave him turned dark. "Spike, this is none of your concern."

[apinkrose]

Walking along the path on the way to the compound, Cecily was happy to see the familiar face leaning down to pick something up. She was one of very few people who knew of Cecily's last week at home, and she was glad to come across her again. She was a most adventurous woman, with a very interesting life.

"Why, hello there!" She greeted cheerfully.

[rebellious_lady]

Marian looked up at the voice, remembering the girl's name and the story she shared just as she moved her hands behind her back, the item rolled into a bundle. "Cecily. Hello. Are you having a good day?"

The burning in her cheeks let her know she was flushed, though she hoped the girl would not notice.

[apinkrose]

"I am, dear Marian." She saw the pink on Marian's face and became a bit concerned, "But is everything alright with you?"

[rebellious_lady]

"Yes I..." Marian was not sure how to explain this, and thought that perhaps truth might be bets. "I found something strange in my mailbox. It was a bit of a shock."

[notforredlights]

Donna had been out for a walk, because, frankly, there wasn't a lot to do some days other than stroll out. The island had some nice foliage going for it anyway. It was roughly lunch time, though, as far as she was concerned, and she was heading back for food when she spotted Marian. Their work at the IPD desk had served as introduction enough for her to smile now and wave. "Hi!" she called, nodding at Marian. "How's it going?"

[rebellious_lady]

"Donna!" Marian looked up in surprise, fumbling with the... The object in her hands, watching in horror as it tumbled to land on the boardwalk beneath her feet. "I... Hello." She tried to snatch it up before the woman might see it, but she doubted her success, her cheeks on fire.

[notforredlights]

"...hi," Donna said again, staring at Marian, bewildered by the reaction and the subsequent tumble and the -- yeah. She looked carefully away, gaze turned upward, her own cheeks burning red. "It's, uh -- careful. Careful there. That's... you should probably disinfect that." Her voice trailed off. What Marian did was her own business, but that didn't make this any less awkward.

[rebellious_lady]

"This does not belong to me," Marian insisted quickly, biting at her lip as she realised exactly how it must sound. "It isn't - I found it. In my mailbox. Someone left it for me, and I simply looked and..."

There was no way out of this, she was sure.

[miss_crewe]

Walking away from the compound with a new book in her hand, already flicking through the first few pages, Sara's attention was caught by a woman who seemed remarkably flustered - even embarrassed. Something to do with the strange object she was carrying, Sara thought, though why she might feel that way, or what the object was, Sara couldn't guess.

'Is something the matter?' she asked.

[rebellious_lady]

It would of course be a child. Marian shook her head, rolling the item in the edge of her tunic. "No, nothing the matter. My head was simply spinning."

[miss_crewe]

Sara frowned for a moment, a little concerned, but the woman didn't look as though she were in danger of fainting or anything else. Whatever the thing she was carrying was, though, it must have given her a shock. 'Are you alright now?' Sara asked. 'Perhaps you should sit down if it's still spinning. I could bring you a cup of tea, if you'd like. My name's Sara. Sara Crewe,' she added, feeling she ought to introduce herself.

[rebellious_lady]

"Marian," her response is terse, for all that she knows it cannot be the child's fault. "I should be fine, thank you. I simply need to get to the compound." And to dispose of this thing she had been given.

[out_of_realm]

"Marian!" Hobbes caused, grinning suddenly when he caught sight of her, pulled abruptly from the day dreams that had sucked him in. He jogged up to her, cocking his head at the bundle in her arms, at first thinking she was clutching a child to her chest. He arched an eyebrow at her. "What's going on?"

[rebellious_lady]

Tom was one of the last people Marian wanted to see. Only Robin would be worse in her mind. Immediately she moved her hands behind her back, a leather strap falling free and slapping her leg. "Going on? There is nothing going on."

[out_of_realm]

He smiled slightly, looking pointedly at the leather strap before sliding his eyes up to meet her guilty expression.

"Maybe because you look like I just caught you with your hand in the cookie jar?" He tried to look over her shoulder. "What have you got there?"

[rebellious_lady]

"Cookie jar?" It is a euphemism she does not understand, though it only distracts her for a moment. Marian takes a step back from him, twisting away so he hopefully will not see. "It is nothing that concerns you."