In Allie's experience, candles weren't used to provide a lit area for people to read. Fire was dangerous but essential for cooking food and providing warmth, and for various romantic and intimate reasons, but reading by candlelight? That was why things like flashlights and lanterns were invented, so one wouldn't strain one's eyes by attempting to read words in poor lighting.
Since George didn't broach the argument, Allie assumed it was safe to say her logic had won, and she beamed. She enjoyed being right.
Something heavy bumped against the opposite side of one of the closed closet doors near them. A giggle and a gasp followed. Allie quirked an eyebrow and smirked knowingly. Didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on in there. It was as good a place as any to go about activities like that. About as private as you could get around here, too. Amused and curious, she couldn't help but wonder if George was waiting her turn.
She opened her mouth to ask that very question, but paused when George remarked about how films always fell short when compared to their novel counterparts. "I always wanted to be in a movie," Allie sighed, gazing up at the ceiling without really seeing it. "To be able to both literally and figuratively step into a character's shoes, experience what they experience. If you're an actor, a book can't even begin to compare to the feeling of actually being in that fictional world. I suppose that's why RPGs were so popular back in the day."
George shot down all of her name guesses and Allie drooped into a pout. It was like playing a game with Rumpelstiltskin, where she had to guess the correct name to win a prize. Getting a prize from George seemed unlikely, but maybe that was the whole point. If she managed to guess correctly, maybe that would be the key to getting the other girl to open up and be friendlier.
Allie remained optimistic. She sucked on her bottom lip, pondering. There was one name she hadn't tried yet, one that she'd dismissed almost as soon as it had come to mind. It was too simple, and she'd never met anyone with such a name. Actually, she'd never met any Georgannas either. Hmm.
There was the slightest French lilt to George's words that Allie hadn't noticed until now. She canted her head to the side. "Is your name Georgette?"
To date, every person who'd heard the story of the cross-dressing twins had been taken aback upon hearing that it was (for the most part) Allie's idea. The shock value was staggering. No, she wasn't the most convincing display of masculinity, but it had always been fun. Allie was expecting George to perhaps question her about it, but she didn't, instead voicing her thoughts about governmental conspiracies.
"They can't do that. Force us to reproduce. We're not farm animals." When China was intact, it had its One Child Policy, which was harsh enough, but this was America. The government couldn't simply force people to have children. Without meaning to, Allie felt herself drawn into the conversation, every why and why-not springing to mind. "I couldn't imagine trying to raise a child in this world. Or what's left of it..."