Streets of Town, Thursday Evening

[bitten_notshy]

Jack had handwavily agreed to help Allie with some shopping, and now that the sun was down it was time for them to go. He turned his jacket collar up against the evening chill as he waited for her to arrive.

The Christmas lights everywhere were pretty, he thought, and contemplated whether he still had a few gifts of his own to buy.

[OOC: For she named in the post, pls!]

Comments

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"Thanks for helping," Allie said as she walked up to Jack. "I'm new at this."

[bitten_notshy]

"I don't mind," Jack assured her. "Besides, I could stand to pick up a few more gifts myself. Is there anyplace in particular you wanted to start?"

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "What makes a good gift for someone? How do you pick the right thing?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack shrugged. "I didn't exactly have a large family to buy for growing up either," he said. "I get jewelry for girls that looks like things they already wear, and men usually like flasks or books."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"Now that you say that, it doesn't sound hard," Allie replied. "It's something like what I was thinking when I picked out your birthday present. I guess it's just a matter of looking for ideas."

"Who are you shopping for? And what were you thinking of?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I hadn't gotten anything for April yet," Jack said thoughtfully. "Now she might not be the jewelry type. I may get her a book. What about you?"

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"It's a very short list of people. Mike, Kitty, Kaidan. Maybe one or two others," she answered. "Jewelry would probably work for Kitty. I don't think Mike's a book person. Kaidan might be. But definitely not a romance novel."

As for the others on her list? Well Jack, Allie was going to take note of what caught your eye as they shopped.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack chuckled. "You might get Kaidan a romance novel and see what he thinks of it," he suggested. "Perhaps one set in space, so he can complain it's not at all like that."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"Maybe. But only if I can find something nice to go with it." Because the offer Kaidan had made meant a lot to Allie.

"I have a question. You said you had friends that got stuck here like me. Could they leave the island to go other places?" Allie asked. "Maybe to your home or somewhere else?"

[bitten_notshy]

"It wasn't a lot of people," Jack said thoughtfully, trying to remember. "But I know they went on at least a few trips. So -- yes, I think so."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

So she couldn't go home. But she could possibly go visit other worlds. Huh. "Just when I think this place can't get any stranger," she said, shaking her head. "I'm going to have to try this out now. And hope I don't get stuck somewhere else."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack turned his head, smiling at her reassuringly. "I could go with you, if you can wait a week or so," he offered. "So if we got stuck, at least we'd be together?"

He realized they were by the bookstore, reached to pull the door open.

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

The bookstore, Allie's favorite place, as evidenced by the way she hurried through the door Jack opened and waved at the NPC shopkeeper.

"I can wait. It's not anything urgent. I just want to know it's possible," Allie explained. "So if I get another invitation I don't have to turn it down. But then again, I don't want to see you get stuck somewhere. Maybe if we go somewhere you've been before?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Whatever you want," Jack assured her. "I do have an evening class Tuesdays next semester, if you want to listen to a discussion of economic theory."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"If you've been there and back, it's probably a good place to start. I doubt I'll understand your class, but it'll still be worth it. Thanks Jack," she smiled. "I appreciate it."

"So, where do we begin? Any ideas? Besides the space romance?"

[bitten_notshy]

"It's not a problem," Jack said, waving it off. "I'd appreciate the company on the commute, anyhow."

He glanced around the shelves, considering her question. "For April, I think a book of photography?" he guessed. "I'll be in that section."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"I don't know April, but that sounds nice," Allie replied. "I've looked through a few books like that. Some places are gorgeous."

"I'm going to go look around and see if anything jumps out at me. Maybe I'll be lucky."

Or maybe Jack was going to have to remind her in a little while that she had a purpose for being in the shop and that it wasn't a browse endlessly kind of night like it was on so many other nights.