Main Campfire, Tuesday Evening

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

Alex felt restless enough to emerge from his alcove and head out to the main campfire again. It was easier to both smoke and stay warm since it'd gotten weirdly cold over the last few days. Whatever. He was from Iowa. He was used to this type of weather.

Didn't mean he would pass up a fire.

So, he slouched down against a log, crossing his feet at the ankle and leaning back to blow smoke into the air. It was the second week of classes and, amazingly, they weren't going that badly. Of course, considering the classes, Alex didn't know how they could go badly.

He'd take the good news while he could. It didn't happen often.

[campfires are open things!]

Comments

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

At home, Rose would have found a lounge or the visiting area if she were bored, but here it seemed to be campfires. She gave the boy already there a once-over. At least the scenery was pretty.

"Hey," she said, finding herself a seat against a log. She tossed the guy a marshmallow, mostly to see if he'd catch it. "You're on your own for the stick."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

His instincts were a little dulled but he managed to get a hand up to grab the marshmallow before it did something embarrassing like hit him in the face.

"What, you can't go the distance or something?" he asked, glancing over at her because hey, pretty girl. They got a little more attention. "Halfway there and done?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"I'm pretty sure I went more than halfway by offering to share my marshmallows at all," Rose pointed out.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

His smile was his only response to that before he popped it into his mouth. "What's got you in a marshmallow sharing mood?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Apparently the class I'm taking involves flying ships in space," Rose told him. "Figure I need to enjoy life while I can." She grinned. "That and I didn't think you'd catch it."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"I'm a surprising guy, Marshmallow Girl," he said, happy to have proven someone wrong. It was a habit to feel smug about that. "Ships in space? How very science fiction."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Like anything around here isn't?" she said, making a face. "And I'm good with surprising. Keeps things interesting."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Not everything," he said and shrugged. "I'd like to think I'm not science fiction. Just interesting."

When he let himself show it, of course.

"Are you interesting? That's the more important question."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"When I have reason to be," Rose said lightly. "I'm very interesting."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

See, responses like that got a little more of his attention even if he'd mastered not showing that he was paying attention.

"And what makes you want to be interesting?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"You're not doing too bad," she teased. "But I'm pretty sure you could do better."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"I like a challenge," he said, tucking an arm behind his head to maintain that casual air. "What's your name or should I keeping call you Marshmallow Girl?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Plus an arm behind his head showed off that arm nicely, and Rose was enjoying all these non-super skinny Moroi boys.

"Most people call me Rose," she said. "I answer to it a bit more readily. What about you? 'That guy that caught the marshmallow' doesn't have such a good ring to it."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle blinked a little at the other girl. Was this...

...did she actually miss a newbie?

Well, she'd have to get right on fixing that.

"Hi! How's it going?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Okay, that was enthusiastic. Rose couldn't help smiling back at the girl.

"There's fire and marshmallows," Rose said. "Who could complain?"

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"People who are allergic to marshmallows and afraid of fire?" Turtle offered, with a slight shrug. "I'm Turtle, by the way. Don't think we've met."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Rose. I got here late so definitely haven't met yet," she said. "And I'm sorry for people who are either really."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"I know," Turtle laughed a little, relieved to find out that she didn't so much as miss Rose earlier as it was that Rose was just not here earlier. "They miss out on a lot! But it's nice to meet you, Rose. How are you liking it here so far?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Nice to meet you too," and the strangeness of Turtle's name hit her. She tugged on her long ponytail. "It's not what I expected is probably best way to say it. I thought it was going to be a lot more - boot camp-ish."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Ew," Turtle's nose wrinkled a little. "Yeah, definitely glad it's nothing like that. I'd be awful at bootcamp."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Not so much with getting up at 5am to run?" Rose asked.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Or the running at all," Turtle said, wryly. "I've got to admit, spar practice at fight club is about as active as I get."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Fight club? That was the thing on Sunday, right?" she confirmed. "I was surprised by how many people" - girls, really - "were there."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"It's a biiiiig fighting type of school," Turtle said with a nod. "I'm on the way beginner side, but so many people are just so good, it's kind of nutso."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose nodded thoughtfully. "Good to know. Maybe that's why they sent me here then." She looked up at Turtle. "How long have you been here?"