Main Campfire - Wednesday Morning

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

It was too nice a day to not take advantage of before being cooped up at work all afternoon and evening, Claire decided. Which was why she was out at the main campfire early with breakfast sausages and a huge iron skillet she found that would cook eggs over an open fire.

She was in an excellent mood, now that her boyfriend was no longer puppy-shaped. They had handwavily spent the previous evening snuggling and watching movies.

For now her excellent mood translated into making breakfast for anyone who happened to stop by.



[Open campfire! I know I'm not the only one stuck at work and not off on vacation.]

Comments

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Well, my boyfriend is no longer a puppy, which is nice," Claire said. "I work today, but tomorrow is my day off from everything. What about you?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I... am well enough, I guess. I have work as soon as I finish my meal here and no one I know closely seems to be stuck as an animal at the moment."

He didn't mention the ice cream parlor... agreed time. Yes, he'd just call it that. Not until he knew what it was.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Where do you work?" Claire asked.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Today," he told her, turning the sausage and lowering it a little, "the Cafe Fina. Fridays, I'm at the Book Haven. I've been considering a job elsewhere but I haven't decided yet if it's a good idea."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Wow, yeah, three jobs would be kind of a lot," Claire said. "I work at the comics shop. We do have some days available though."

She made a mental note to check out both businesses he mentioned though.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Not so much, as both jobs only require one day's attendance," he said with a quick grin.

"If I had a job in the Emerald City, I would scarce have an hour to myself between work and rest, at least, any job I could get."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Wow, that doesn't sound fun at all," Claire said. "I mainly got the job so I could have a little fun money."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"It's a living. My friend, Trism, works for a veterinarian and he does well enough, but his skill with animals is rather fantastic."

And he hoped, desperately hoped, that Trism was still with the good doctor.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire nodded. "That's cool. Especially if you find something you love. I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Nor I, though I don't see it as much of a problem."

To Claire, he would more than likely end up saying something to the effect that he would figure it out along the way. Privately, he was reasonably sure he was going to get himself killed before he really had to deal with it.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Nah, me either," she admitted. "I figure there is time enough to sort that out."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Exactly. What, er, year are you, incidentally?"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Uh... I'll be a junior in the fall," Claire said. "I'm not sure if I'm considered a junior now or if I'm still considered a sophomore."

She shrugged. Taking classes in the summer was kind of weird. "What about you?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"As will I, actually, something that I find somewhat baffling. I still feel as if I am new to this place sometimes, and more often than not, something will pop up and confuse me all over again."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"How long have you been here?" she asked.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Over a year and a half," he said, "and I entered as a freshman. To be coming upon Junior year... it's rather odd. I'm still somewhat amazed I haven't been asked to leave."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Why do you think you would be asked to leave?" Claire asked. "This place seems to be the most tolerant place I've ever encountered."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

That made him laugh.

"There's no such thing as free schooling in Oz, and I've no living family that will support me. I am on my own, by choice and circumstances. I spent the first few months convinced there was some sort of mistake; one doesn't generally go from living on the street and eating from trash bins to a private school."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Wow."

Claire couldn't even imagine what that kind of existence would be like.

"Well, it's good that you're here."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He raised an eyebrow, curious as to which part had gotten such a reaction, before shrugging.

"I should say so. I'd have most likely joined the Home Guard had I stayed in Oz and I've found out here that I've not a martial bone in my body."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire nodded. "What do you plan to do after you graduate?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"As I said, I haven't the faintest idea," he said with a shrug.

"I can't go to Shiz, obviously enough. At least, not at the moment. And I don't have the funds for something in another world. I'm not worrying about it, really.

"Yourself?"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Well, I meant more along the lines of if you were going to stay in this world or go back to your own," Claire said. "But I guess that's hard to know now."

She shrugged. "My parents want me to go to college. I guess we'll see what happens between now and then."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

That made him curious.

"Why wouldn't you?"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"I dunno. It seems like it would be a waste of money if I have no idea what I want to study," she said.