Deck, Monday Morning

[bitten_notshy]

It was a warm morning, at least for November, and Jack had a little spring in his step as he returned to the dorms from a weekend visit home. After going upstairs to drop off his bag, he clattered back down to the deck with a large thermos of coffee, an apple, and a new-to-him novel of Hungarian history. It wasn't half-bad, for what it was.

He was eying the fire pit idly as he turned the pages, wondering if the warmth and appeal of a fire was worth the effort of collecting the wood.

[OOC: Open like a deck, yep!]

Comments

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

Alex didn't have a class today but that didn't mean he wouldn't be outside, making up for a lazy weekend. He passed by the deck, head down initially, before looking up and catching Jack and his book.

Smirking a little, he detoured closer to the deck and joked, "Practicing to be a teacher's pet, Jack?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack laughed and set the book aside. "Some of us can read, Alex. I don't even need help with the big words these days."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Everyone likes to read on this damn island," he said, dropping into a seat and shaking his head. "Nerds, all of you."

Considering he spent some of his own time reading, it seemed like he had to classify himself under that label too. Oh well. He read in secret.

[bitten_notshy]

"We have to have something to fill the time when we aren't smashing marauding pumpkins," Jack said mildly. "Why, what were your plans for the morning?"

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Smoking," he said and shrugged before digging out his cigarettes and dropping them on his lap. "I'm surprised I'm even up this early. Not usually a morning person."

[bitten_notshy]

"I just got back to the island," Jack said with a little shrug. "I shouldn't spend too much time reading. I have to get to class soon. Religion."

He didn't sound like it was his favorite class.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Religion?" The disdain in Alex's voice pretty said Jack's sentiment was shared. "Sounds positively exhilarating. I can see how eager you are to get there."

[bitten_notshy]

"I didn't mind it at first, but since she decided paralyzing the class was the only way to teach us to accept what comes I'm not terribly in favor of it," Jack said -- not entirely fairly, but he was rarely fair when he disliked something.

"Have you ever had Professor Atreides? Leto's sister?"

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

Alex shook his head and, after hearing Jack's description of one class, was pretty damn glad he hadn't. "That was a fucking a class? And she got away with it because it was educational or some shit?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I suppose? Or if the principal didn't know." He made a small, hopeless laughing sound. "I walked out and she gave me yardwork for the week instead."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Yard work?" Alex snorted and shook his head. "Plant you some flowers, Jack? I can hook you up with someone else with an interest in gardening if you've got the urge to make that thumb greener."

[bitten_notshy]

"More raking leaves," Jack said. "And thank you, but it was as much as I want to do all year. Who do you know who messes about with plants? Don't tell me it's Griff."

... even though it would be funny if it was.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Oddly enough, it's not Griff," he said and laughed. Griff didn't need any more things that Alex could use as ammo. "Nah, it's a girl."

Besides the actual gardener in question, Alex found himself wondering who he could say that wasn't actually a gardener but would have an amusing reaction if asked about gardening. There were a few choices.

"Might just be her little secret though," Alex said after a pause. "A hobby that she doesn't like everyone to know considering her outward persona."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda felt good. She was pretty sure she'd figured out the new dosage to stave off her withdrawal symptoms and still retain her faculties.

And hey look, a cute boy she didn't think she'd met before.

"Good morning." she smiled.

[bitten_notshy]

"Good morning to you," Jack said, eyes flicking over the girl in return. "How is the day treating you?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"So far, pretty good. How about yourself?"

[bitten_notshy]

"About the same," Jack said. "I just got back from a visit home, and I have to go to class in a bit. But It's nice to enjoy the sun."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Where's home?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Baltimore, 1899." Which didn't explain the accent, but it as true enough. "Where's home for you?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Bordertown. I'm not sure what year. Time flows differently there. Oh! By the way, I'm Leda."

[bitten_notshy]

"Jack," Jack said, but looked slightly confused. "... even if the year was different, shouldn't you know what it is? Or do you not have calendars?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Well it's also not consistent. I mean, we keep track of months and days there, and of course we know when a year has gone by for us, but we don't really bother with numbering them. Sometimes a month goes by for us and only a few days have passed out in the world. Sometimes just a day for us, and a month outside."

[bitten_notshy]

"... all right." Jack gave her a skeptical look, a smile teasing over his mouth. "You aren't just making that up to sound more interesting, are you?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

She laughed. "No, I'm not I promise. I don't think I'd have to make up stuff about Bordertown to make it interesting. In some ways it's like this island."

[bitten_notshy]

"Oh?" Jack asked. "Any vegetable attacks in Bordertown?"