Common Room, SPD HQ, Thursday Evening

Z was sacked out on the common room couch with a bag of chips and an Angelica Demesnes novel. Life was good.

...or it was until Ghost became visible, leaning over the back of the couch, and asked her, "Whatcha readin'?"

"None of your business," she said, trying to hide the book. "You know it's actually kind of creepy when you do that."

He shrugged and snatched the book from her. "Not my problem. Fire Opals, by Angelica Demesnes." He repeated, incredulous, "Angelica Demesnes?"

"This one hadn't been released when I left Fandom," Z said, snatching it back from him. "Actually..." she did some fast relative math in her head. "I don't think it's been released now. But anyway, I haven't read it yet, and it's not great literature, but it's entertaining, so bite me." Ghost clicked his teeth at her, and she snickered.

"Have you eaten dinner yet?" Z gestured wordlessly to her bag of chips, and Ghost rolled his eyes. "Delgado, that is not dinner. Come on. Come get some food that isn't junk or from a synthetron with me. You can defend your girl book some more."

"Girl book??" He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Oh, you are on, mister." Her eyes glowed briefly, and a Z replicate stood up and left the common room.

"Where are you going?" Ghost asked as Z stood up to join him.

"To get the other books, so I can tell you about them." Ghost began to realize what he'd let himself in for, and groaned. Z just grinned.