First Floor Lobby, evening

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

After visiting the big picnic, and picking out most of the new people by sight, Evie retired back to the dorms and settled into the lobby couch to people-watch. With a book. Or possibly, five.

[open!]

Comments

[by137.livejournal.com]

A.J. beamed a little. "You think I'm masculine? Well, assume I'm masculine, since we just met and everything..."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie laughed a bit. "Well, yes. And you're not a giant turtle! Or a frog. That always makes questions of gender a bit more complicated, doesn't it?"

[by137.livejournal.com]

A.J. laughed, because that just seemed so random. "Maybe not to someone who is a turtle or a frog," he pointed out.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Well, no. I'm sure it's all very clear to them," Evie said agreeably. "And therefore, yes, you're quite masculine enough, as a boy." She tilted her head. "Where are you from, A.J.? I'm assuming somewhere here in America, but it's always good to check."

[by137.livejournal.com]

A.J. nodded a little. "Yup. I'm a Jersey boy, born and raised. How about you? British accent, right?"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Yes, London and Cairo," Evie said, nodding her head. "Are you here because you, um, wish to be?" She inquired, hoping that wasn't too awkward. "Some people seem rather startled when they arrive here."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"I got, uh....in a bit of a....we'll call it an artistic difference with the administration at my last school, got kicked out, and my parents threw up their hands and said, 'Boarding school!' This is the one they could afford the easiest, it seemed."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Ahhh," Evie said, nodding. "Well, you're not the only one who's had difficulties at their previous schools. And we have a few refugees too. I'm here because my parents were worried I'd be hurt in London, and felt that America would be safer."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Hurt in London?" A.J. asked, frowning. "How?"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"The War," Evie said matter-of-factly, then paused. "Um. Has anyone mentioned that some people time-travel to get here?"

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Oh, God," A.J. groaned, rolling his head and tilting his head back against the back of the couch. "Time travel, too? Seriously?"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"There, there." Evie patted his arm. "It's only your first day. No one says you have to learn it all at once. My first day? I found out about magic. I spent most of the day staggering around in disbelief."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"You had it easy, then," A.J. sighed. "Let's see. Time travel, magic, zombies, trolls, different worlds, bars that serve minors without legal reprecussions, demons..." He paused to think of what he might be forgetting, "zombies, super powers....Probably several other things my brain is psychologically trying to block out because it's too traumatic..." He did grin, though, at the end of all that, shaking his head. "Maaaaaan. This feels like one crazy ass trip."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie laughed. "And it's just beginning, and you haven't met your instructors yet! It evens out after a bit, but it doesn't get less strange, really." She shook her head. "Most of the people here are very kind, though. So if you find yourself in over your head, they'll definitely help."

[by137.livejournal.com]

After a bit, A.J. added, "I see why the bar serves minors now. Preservation."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Quite possibly."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Okay, so...you said...the War," A.J. looked at Evie thoughtfully. "The big one? World War Two? Different one? And you said magic left you dazed, so is it safe to assume you don't have any weird powers?"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"No powers whatsoever," Evie said a little regretfully. "And no, World War One. Which is thankfully, if the history I learned here holds true, starting to wind down a good bit. My brother is in Jerusalem right now, he should be safe until the end." She gave A.J. a sympathetic look. "Technically, I'm one hundred and six years old."

[by137.livejournal.com]

A.J. let out a soft laugh. "Well," he said, grinning, "you look great for your age...."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie beamed at him. "You're very kind to say so, A.J. I wish I could just say it was good bones, instead of cheating."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Combination of both, maybe? Happy medium? A good disposition helps a lot, too."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Thank you!" Evie blushed a little, then laughed. "You're very good-natured when you've been drinking, I see."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Oh, well," A.J. laughed a little. "I like to think I'm good-natured when I haven't been, too. Maybe you can tell me next time you see me and I'm drier."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Then I look forward to finding out when we next meet," Evie said, amused.

[by137.livejournal.com]

"As do I, Evie," A.J. grinned. "As do I."