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When Candace was stressed she would do a number of things; she would read a book, take a nap, do some work, relieve tension through...physical activity, or shop. Well Candace had done all of those things except shop. Aria and Molly were right, she really did need a hobby. How could she shop if there were no portals? It wasn't fair. The horsemen couldn't possibly be a huge threat to them right now as they had been before when the portals were shut down. Why couldn't they have just one ******** day? One day to just relax and pretend their lives were normal like any other person's? To make matters worse it seemed a number of the trainees were getting cabin fever. Had it magically become contagious? Seriously now. They needed a distraction. She needed a distraction. Something. Anything.

Today Candace was sitting on her sofa with a recently finished book in hand. Crime and Punishment had been dark and heavy just as she had anticipated given not only H's but Jordan's review. She should really return this now that she was finished with it, and it had been awhile...

It would do.

She stood, grabbing her coat on her way out and making her way out of the dorms and to the Life labs. Maybe she could get a nice pick-me-up from the doctor; he was good at that. It wasn't very late, just around the middle of the afternoon, so he would be in his office, right?

Wrong.

Candace was standing in the doorway with a look of surprise, letting herself into the unlocked office and closing the door behind her out of habit. No sign of the doctor...damn, there went her plans for sex. She pouted, approaching the desk and looking it over for any kind of memo or note that would tell her of his whereabouts or how long he would be gone for. Setting the book down, she picked up a note pad and skimmed the last few pages. Nothing informative. The pad was put back where she'd found it and another paper was picked up for inspection. Boring paperwork. Again, nothing helpful. Damnit! Next time. It looked like she'd just have to leave the book and go. With a disappointed sigh she grabbed the note pad again and tore out the last page, helping herself to it and borrowing a pen of his own as well.



There, he'd like that. The note and book were placed in the middle of the desk where they'd been seen easily, and she turned to leave. Candace got as far as putting her hand on the door knob when it hit her. His sweet plum...she knew why he called her that now, and the day she had learned it she had come with a purpose. Candace suddenly grinned and stepped away from the door as she turned in her heel to face the office again.

Maybe she could do some shopping.

Not making a sound except for the clip of her heels on the floor as she walked around the room, Candace gave every storage space a thoughtful look. Her shoes, her shoes, they were in here somewhere. If they weren't here they were in his room, a place he had said she was welcome anytime. Here was a good place to start. She started with his desk, simply opening the drawers that looked big enough to hide a pair if expensive shoes. Nothing of importance to her, though a pair of figurines did catch her curiosity. No! Not right now. Later, maybe. No shoes. A glance was given to a nearby cabinet...no, the shoes would not be in there. She knew that. She moved on, fingers trailing lightly along the edge of the doctor's desk until her eyes found the closet.

The closet! Of course! Grinning, Candace moved away from the desk and hurried to open the door. Clothes, his own shoes--what was this? She blinked, picking up a gift bag and opening it. There they were, her shoes. The ones he had been keeping from her for god even knows how long. He wouldn't give them to her? Fine she would take what was hers. She had told him she would only ask once. What if he'd been waiting for this? Candace took one of the shoes out of the bag, looking it over with a contemplative hum. She had warned him he'd just take them if he didn't give them to her honestly. What if this was what he wanted? For her to take matters into her own hands? Take what she wants, not ask.

Even if that wasn't his intent it was damn effective.

Suddenly she squealed and put the shoe down, removing her own shoes so she could try them on. She had to see herself in them now, she'd been waiting so long! Candace had designer shoes, sure, they...they were her hobby. Collecting shoes could be a hobby, right? She had them but none of them were nearly this expensive, none of them were considered rare. The shoes were put on and she quickly stood, taking that first step and watching the platform light up. Candace giggled and squealed again, clapping her hands excitedly and hopping in place. This was the pick-me-up she needed! This right here. Shoes never broke her heart, they never insulted her, or pointed knives at her, or tried to get under her skin or to rile her up or belittle her in some way. They weren't unhealthy or abusive or depressing or stressful..no wonder her weapon took the form of a shoe. It was perfect for her. God, she missed Atropos. Atropos would probably be making fun of her right about now...heh. Her smile softened as a hand slipped into her pocket to give the tablet inside a brush of her fingers. Still nothing, but her presence was enough. Atropos would come back to her...she had to...

Candace turned her attention down to the shoes again to distract herself away from sadness and her grin returned. It was terribly materialistic of her to put so much value in something like this, Candace was well aware of that, but at the moment she didn't really care. This gave her that little something, even the smallest victory was enough to make her feel better right now. Enjoy the little things, right? This was enough for now. Everyone needed a 'win' right now, and this was hers.

The shoes were taken off and put back into the bag, her own shoes put on again so she could grab the bag and just go. Candace wasn't wearing these shoes out. No dirt would touch them and she had to get to the dorms to put them somewhere safe. Hmm...should she thank him for these now or later? He would find out eventually, he always seemed to know these things. Might as well be a grateful lady and thank him now. She grabbed her note again, quickly writing a new addition to it:



That would do. The note was placed on the book again and Candace finally left with her bag, with her shoes. Ohhh this had her excited now. Getting these shoes on her terms raised her spirits enough. Atropos would come back, she would respond to this text about specialists, the death of the council didn't bother her, Lance would be okay.

Everything would be fine. They'd all overcome this like they always did. It would take time but it'd be okay.

Candace even sang a little on her walk back to the dorms. Shopping really did make her feel better.