4th Floor Common Room - Sunday Late Evening

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

After Fight Club, Rose showered and then realised she was way too amped up still to think about either sleep or trying to reach Lissa again.

Instead she rummaged through the Common Room kitchen, finally finding a bag of microwavable popcorn and sticking it in to pop.

Five minutes later, the Common Room was full of the smell of burnt popcorn, and Rose was swearing at the microwave like it was all the machine's fault. 

Which it was.  Really.

[Open cause it's a Common Room, rabbits!]

Comments

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"You're really observant," Rose growled, trying to pull the blackened mess out of the microwave.

[withoutverona]

"It's one of my special gifts," Romeo told her airily as he found some lunchmeat and bread for a sandwich. "Did you notice there's even a popcorn button?"

He had no idea why he was being a jerk, but it seemed to be where this conversation was going.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Yes," she snapped. "I did. That's what burned it."

It had nothing to do with pushing the button twice at all.

[withoutverona]

"Then the microwave's broken," Romeo decided brilliantly. "I think there's cleaning stuff under the sink."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose scowled at him. "Thanks. You're a regular helpful Boy Scout."

She did, however, go to find the cleaning stuff.

[withoutverona]

"It's one of my duties as a graduate," Romeo informed her, taking the sandwich to a chair.

She didn't expect help, did she?

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Oooh, a graduate?" Rose said, shooting him a look. "What are you still doing around here then? Other than offer advice."

[withoutverona]

"Mostly the advice," Romeo said. "TA for a class, work in a shop, and tell people where the cleaning supplies are. Such is my lot for the next few weeks."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

She was still scowling as what used to be the bag of popcorn cooled off enough to get picked up and dumped. And then more scowling as she tried to wipe out the stupid microwave.

"Wow. Sounds like an awesome summer," she deadpanned.

[withoutverona]

"Thrilling. I wouldn't miss a second," Romeo said. "Who are you, anyhow?"

Never mind that he was in her common room.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Yes, well, if I were graduated, I certainly couldn't think of anything better to do either," Rose said, turning to eye him. "I'm Rose Hathaway. When'd you start to own the place?"

[withoutverona]

"Romeo Montague," Romeo returned, deciding he always had bad luck with girls called Rose.

He was thinking of Rosaline, but the meta worked, too.

"And I don't own the place." That would be Chuck Bass. "I'm just staying on for a bit to help the younger generation who can't even make popcorn properly."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Awwww, that's so sweet," Rose said, completely sarcastically. And Chuck Bass was way cooler, thanks. "You really are a Boy Scout. I bet in your day, they made popcorn over the fire? In a pan?"

[withoutverona]

"In my day we hadn't invented popcorn yet," Romeo said. "We ate it from the cobs only."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose laughed before she caught herself. "Popped it right on the cob, huh?"

[withoutverona]

"Well, we didn't have fire," Romeo said, a sly smile starting to form. "So we had to dry it and leave it in the sun and just hope it would pop."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"And now you teach people how to use microwaves," Rose said, her eyes wide as she tried not to snicker. "How far you have come."

[withoutverona]

"I have learned much in this place," Romeo said solemnly. "Microwaves, popcorn, and I stopped dressing in animal skins and worshiping the sun and moon."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"And they say junk food is bad for you," Rose said. "Do you miss the spell of rotting animal skins? Cause I think that's what the burnt popcorn smells like."

[withoutverona]

"That's why I came in here, Rose," Romeo said. He decided he hated her a little less. "The scent of ruined popcorn reminds me of home."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"I'm just thrilled I could help, Romeo," she retorted. "Hopefully you won't end up crying and homesick later."

And it was going so well.