3rd floor common room | late afternoon | wednesday | 20 january

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Jonas was finished with classes for the week. Despite having been on the island for awhile now, having copious amounts of free time was still a foreign concept. He wasn't expected to volunteer everyday in preparation for his Assignment or to spend set amounts of time anywhere. He could just do what he wanted.

That thought had led him into the common room to be able to spread a few books on a few different subjects out. Some of the books were hidden (because they were...embarrassing to say the least) and some were more outwardly visible (and less embarrassing).

Of course, despite the multitude of things to keep him busy, Jonas kept letting his mind wander off into next week's class and what might his greatest fear might be. The answer was hidden deep inside his mind and Jonas was steadfastly ignoring it.

Turning on the television helped that. It also meant his reading kept distracting from the television and the television from the reading. It was a vicious circle.

[open, sure]

Comments

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"As far as I know, there's only one like it and that's also its name," he clarified, nodding. "I would hope there's no other place like that. It's a difficult place to live in."

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

Menolly nodded sympathetically and Beauty made a reassuring noise from her spot on the couch. "I know what that is like. Is here easier?"

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"So far." Jonas nodded. "It's better but that doesn't make it any less hard. It's just a better sort of hard if that makes sense. The challenges are more...varied."

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

"Like the electricity," she agreed.

Probably not what he meant, no.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"That is one thing I was lucky enough to have back home," Jonas said, nodding. "You didn't?"

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

She shook her head. "No, but Jean showed me how it worked. With the switches."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"It's handy," he said, nodding. "...unless it doesn't work like this past weekend. Then, it's not so handy."

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

"And no one seems to have glows here to replace the light with," Menolly agreed.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"What are glows?" he asked. The word was known but the context she used it made Jonas think it wasn't what he thought.

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

She grinned. "They're fungus actually. That glows pretty brightly and lights up the caverns."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Fungus is sort of a plant, right?" he asked, trying to picture that in his head. "And it glows where you're from?"

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

"That kind does," she said with raise of her shoulders. "It glows enough that we use it for lights in all the hold caverns."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Do they work here?" he asked after a moment. "Or is that a silly question since those might not exist here?"

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," Menolly admitted. "They probably would work here, but I don't think they're around." she smiled. "Like fire lizards.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"So, the electricity will have to suffice even if it doesn't sound as interesting," Jonas said. "Did the cold this weekend bother you since there was no electricity?"

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

Menolly made a face. "Still was cold! I had my fire lizards, but we're from the south of our continent and a Sea Hold. I've never seen snow like that. So much all at once."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Neither have I," he laughed, both at her reaction and himself. "The first time I ever saw snow, I almost died and that was pale in comparison to the storm we had. I stayed inside near a fireplace. It made things easier even if it wasn't all that pleasant."

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

Beauty cocked her head at him then chirped twice, apparently checking to make sure he was fine.

"This was much better than almost dying, yes! The fireplaces were nice," Menolly agreed then added with disgust. "Long as no one asks me to cook over them!"

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"I didn't realize how cold it would be and was exposed for a long period of time," he explained, dismissing it with a wave. "I didn't cook but Mat did. He was cooking a rabbit one night after going out and finding one. I didn't eat any, I just smelled it."