Hello dear Inkdrops,
After some long overdue updating of some other stories I am now updating this one!
To make up for the delay, this chapter is definitely longer than my average.
Back to Laura's perspective, maybe even for more than one chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own BSG only my storyline and OC's

May 1803
The Bookshop at the Corner

Laura Roslin

The area around Piccadilly was busy, as always. There were people hurrying through the streets, merchants arguing, children playing, but Laura did not mind. No, she rather liked the buzz of all those human beings around her, all minding their business. Her carriage had dropped her off a block further down and now it was only her walking around, looking at the shop windows. Even though she had already seen a few things she liked (mostly things she knew she did not actually need) there was only one store Laura really wanted to go to. It was situated at a corner, small and not especially spectacular looking. However, the woman knew quite well what kind of gems were hidden inside so she crossed the tresshold without hesitation, smiling excitedly.

Inside shelves lined the walls, stacked with books of any kind - novels, biographies, encyclopaedias. Laura inhaled deeply, taking in the smell of old and new pages, embossed leather and wood. As usually, the scent calmed her thoughts and soothed her (lately hypersensitive) soul. As she was not searching for something specific, the lady decided to simply browse through what was there. Soon she found herself in the "play" section, passing Shakespeare and Marlowe until she stopped in front of a small book labeled "Mary Stuart". Just when she took it out and started flicking through, somebody spoke up.

"Schiller, he is very much for the Scotish", a deep rich voice next to her stated, "I was surprised to find this in a London book shop. But anyway, Burton was never known for importing only the common ones."

Surprised the woman looked up from her book and straight into a pair of very blue eyes. Only when Commander Adama bowed Laura remembered to curtsy, blushing fiercly. The slightly mischivous smile that was playing around his lips did not help her heartbeat to calm down either.

"You have read it?", she asked in return.

Adama nodded, looking at her thoughtfully. "Yes, just a couple of months ago. He makes Mary the tragic heroine of the whole thing. Beautiful style though."

Laura was definitely not surprised about the Commander's patriotism, most military men were like this. However it was understandable, after all those were the men who literally bled for their country.

"So do you enjoy the theatre?", she wanted to know, genuinely curious.

"Yes I do. But I don't go very often I am afraid, I read the plays instead."

Ms Roslin looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "If you enjoy it, why do you not go? Why only imagining it in your head when you could watch it being acted out? After all, we do live in London!"

For a moment, Adama seemed unsure of what to say. "You see", he started then, "I enjoy drama of a certain standard, so even though the simpler playhouses might have some good actors, to be sure I would have to go to one of the upper-class theatres. And then I don't particularly enjoy being around the people that go there as well. Present company excluded."
His lopsided smile made her heart flutter and she probably blushed again like a little schoolgirl.
"What about you? I would wager you go to the theatre and the opera. Why reading plays?"

"Well, yes, I love the theatre as well as the opera and the ballett", Laura confirmed, "and I go fairly often, I am afraid some people might say too often. But I have to do it during the Season, there is not much in terms of public entertainment where I live in Hertfordshire. I usually read plays that I have already seen. To get a better understanding of the style. And I also read plays that are not performed in England at the moment, especially Schiller and von Goethe. Do you speak German then Commander?"

He nodded. "Probably not as well as you but sufficiently for understanding most things I read. Are you also interested in prose?"

Again Laura Roslin was surprised about how easy it was to have a proper conversation with Adama. And this time there was no Mrs Cain standing next to her. She gave the man a dashing smile.

"Yes, I am. Do you have any recomendations for me?"

Together they walked over to the section labeled "novels". Nearly a dozen shelves were filled with books of any genre, some tall and slimm, others short and thick. William Adama seemed to be quite accustomed to this shop as he made a beeline for a certain shelf. A moment later he returned to Laura, presenting a book.

"I think this should be a classic", he declared, looking at her as if daring her to talk back.

Laura had to smile. "Searider Falcon? Oh yes, it definitely should be. I have read it so many times!", she declared. Of course he was slightly surprised, what had she thought. A man never expected a woman to read anything that was even slightly more challenging. Somehow it stung a little to get this reaction from him.

Then, in an instant, his expression shifted from surprised to appreciative. He seemed to ponder for a moment.
"Do you like mystery novels?", he then asked

Laura nodded eagerly. "I really do. The last one I read was 'A murder on Corfu'. It was amazing."

"Have you heard of Edward Prima then? He is the author of 'Dark Days'."

"Well", Ms Roslin started, "I have heard of him as well as of his book. But I have never come around to reading it. Then, lately, I finally wanted to buy it and now they are telling me everywhere it is impossible to come by. Can you believe it?"

"That is odd indeed", the man answered, shrugging his shoulders a bit. "So what are you going to read then?"

"Well", Laura answered after a second of consideration, "I might try 'Cecilia' by Frances Burney. My friends have been telling me a great deal about it so I might as well read it. I think it must be in the next isle, if I am not totally mistaken."

Both moved over between the next two shelves, scanning the backs of the books. When Ms Roslin finally found the treasure she was searching for, she pulled it out and turned around, ready to show it to her companion. What she hadn't expected was the close proximity she was suddenly finding herself in, an accident for sure but nevertheless very...distracting. For a moment, neither of the two moved, both too caught up in the other's eyes. Suddenly, Adama blinked a couple of times and stepped backwards, clearing his thoat awkwardly. Laura was pretty sure that she must look like a flushed mess again but tried to pretend that nothing had happened.

"Uhm, what book are you ... uhm ... searching for yourself?", she finally got out, feeling like a total failure. Had she not been raised to be above things like that?

"Actually I am not searching for any special book, I was simply browsing. But for the moment I think I am fine so I will go back now to my books at home", the man answered with a slight smile. After an elegant bow, he left the shop, leaving behind a very flustered woman.

Thank you so much for reading!
That was They-nearly-kissed-Scene #1

Of course I had to include the BSG books "Searider Falcon" and "Dark Days". "A Murder on Picon" was changed into "A Murder on Corfu".

Random Literatur Facts:
- Friedrich von Schiller was a German author, poet and playwright. His famous play "Mary Stuart" was firstly performed in Weimar (Germany) in 1900.
The author was (at least for a time) close friends with fellow poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, both helped and influenced their work respectively.
-"Cecilia" is a novel about an heiress, written by Frances Burney