The FanLib Chronicles

The FanLib Chronicles

FanLib. Outside reality, beyond insanity. Fighting for the future on behalf of fictional characters and writers alike. Imagination is where everything changes, and FanLib is ready.

Shilom walked into the small shop, ready to begin the day. Unlike most jobs, her job was actually fun—sometimes dangerous, always interesting, and generally quite strange. “Morning!” she happily greeted the man standing behind the counter. Glancing up from the magazine he was reading, he nodded to her and smiled.

“Hello, Shilom.”

“No pink today, Ianto?” she asked in surprise as she noted his dark blue shirt and tie.

Ianto arched an eyebrow. “You like me better in pink?”

“We all do.”

Shilom turned to face her twin and fellow FanLib member, Leila, who was standing in the “secret” entrance to the Chathub, grinning. “You’re a little late, aren’t you?” she asked, glancing at her watch.

“Jack followed me home again last night. It took hours to get rid of him. Seriously, Sparrows just can’t let go of the past,” she sighed, thinking of her drunken ex-husband.

“You shouldn’t have brought him to this reality, then,” Leila commented as they walked down a hallway.

“You’re one to talk!” Shilom exclaimed with a sharp laugh. “Lucius is still sulking about, grumbling about how he’s the one who should be married to you.”

“And not my dear James, yes,” Leila finished as they entered the elevator. “You must admit, he can be rather helpful, being a wizard and all.”

Shilom shrugged. “When he chooses to be helpful, which isn’t often.”

After exiting the elevator, they reached a round door that rolled open for them, as a siren warned of their arrival. Shilom couldn’t help but snicker, given that the siren sounded like a Sea Siren singing a spellbinding song. “Yes, I know, I heard it already,” Leila said, grinning. “Very clever, Shilom. I’m wondering if we shouldn’t keep it like that, though. It’s quite pleasant.”

A blur suddenly sped toward them. Neither woman winced, knowing that the blur would not run into them; sure enough, the blur halted right before them. The woman, the twins’ triplet, Flash, grinned, brushing aside a stray hair from her face. “Morning!” Her grin was very mischievous.

“Flash, what did you do?” Leila asked suspiciously.

“You’re so paranoid, Leila!” Flash said, her grin still making Leila feel uneasy.

“Get away from me!” A voice from somewhere deeper in the Chathub echoed in the spacious area full of computers, stacks of books, sketchbooks, stray papers, and many other random items.

Leila sighed. “Flash, you didn’t…”

“I did nothing,” Flash said with a very fake innocent expression.

A man in a tattered Royal Navy uniform suddenly came into view. He caught sight of Leila and ran over to her. “You left me alone with Flash the Slash and…him,” he said with a shudder. “Don’t do that to me!”

“Why not? She thrives off torture,” Shilom commented with a wicked grin. The man glared at Shilom. “Oh, I forgot, you enjoy that…” The man continued to glower at her as Leila spoke to him.

“James, he’s not as bad as all that. He’s really cool, actually,” Leila said, exchanging a smile with Flash. The man, James Norrington, growled quietly.

“James, why did you leave? We were just beginning to have a conversation!”

James grabbed a hold of Leila, wrapping his arms around her both in a protective and frightened manner as he glared at the approaching man. Leila shook her head with a small smile. “Jack, James is married to me.”

“You and your quaint little categories…” Jack Harkness muttered. “Is Ianto up in the store?” Leila nodded. “I’ll just go see how he’s doing this fine morning,” Jack said as he left.

“Have fun!” Leila called after him. “You know he just flirts with you because he loves your reaction, right?” Leila said to James as she twisted out of his arms.

“I don’t understand that man,” James said with a sigh. “By the way, welcome back, love,” James said quietly, lifting Leila’s chin and kissing her. Grinning, Leila wrapped her arms around him, running a hand through his wavy brown hair as she returned the kiss passionately.