Second Floor Common Room, Sunday Afternoon

[wwiii]

There were monsters outside. And there was fog that made people crazy. And heaven only knew what else was out there.

Warren had been out in it once, and once was more than enough. He just didn't have the tights for this superhero stuff. What was he supposed to do? Flutter the monsters to death?

And that was why he'd set himself up in a common room with a bowl of popcorn and some kind of goopy Disney movie that he hadn't seen since he was about four. Because pink elephants on parade were pretty awesome at drowning out the screams of a giant freaking dinosaur.

Mmm, sweet denial.

[Open common room is so, so open.]

Comments

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Hinata wasn't so much in denial about what was going on outside as she had decided that caution was the better part of valour and, really, most of the island seemed to be doing quite well without her.

The fact that, periodically, she could check to see if anything was approaching the dorms and would be a danger to the people left inside without ever actually having to go outside herself made her rather serene all things considered.

Let those who enjoyed bashing about in the fog do so. Even though she could tell the difference between what was and wasn't real, Hinata had no inclination to place herself out where that would be tested. She was quietly pleased that Ino-san seemed to be of the same opinion (though Ino-san did seem to be taking it worse).

When Warren wandered down to the common room, Hinata had calmly finished reading a chapter in her latest book, marked her place with a tasselled bookmark, scooped up Yei and padded softly down the hall to join him.

"People are hallucinating outside and you felt the need to bring it inside?" she asked, tilting her head at the screen and looking incredibly dubious. "At least th-this way no one can get hurt."

She was mildly approving of that. She was rather off-put by the oddity of the movie he'd chosen but, ah well. That was not a big deal.

[wwiii]

"Between you and me? I'm watching for the flying elephant," Warren admitted, casting a glance and a grin Hinata's way. "I haven't been out to fly in days. It's either this, or I find out how much room there really is in the lobby for a guy with wings to flap around."

It was funny, he'd spent years with only the occasional stretch of his wings, and now just staying indoors for a few days was enough to send him clawing at walls.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Hinata silently considered the size of the lobby versus Warren's wingspan and... decided that it was a good idea he'd picked a movie to watch.

"Does this help?" she asked, absently scratching Yei under the chin as she wandered over to take a seat. "The little elephant, I mean. I hope things clear up soon outside."

If only because she lived with Warren and eventually he'd get on even her nerves if he couldn't fly.

[wwiii]

"It's something to stare at while I let my brain gel over," Warren admitted. He shrugged, and then crammed a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "Which is easier than actually thinking about much, anyhow."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She eyed him for a moment, weighing his moodiness--really, what was it with boys--with pale eyes.

"Because thinking is difficult, I understand."

Hinata could, apparently, do dry.

[wwiii]

"I have friends out there fighting," Warren noted, thinking of Bobby and frowning deeply, "and there's nothing that I can do for them, out there. In some other world, there's some other me who's this big hero, or something, and I'm not. I'm just this rich kid with feathers."

Which was, for whatever reason, really bugging the heck out of him today.

[life_inshadow]

Right, so Kennedy was out doing ... something. Tara had promised to let her go, and she wasn't nervous.

Right.

In an attempt to distract herself, she wandered into the common room. "Warren," she said, with a little wave. "Ooooh, we're watching elephants fly?"

[wwiii]

"Tara," he replied, smiling her way. "Grab some popcorn? I was in the mood to watch something flapping around, and the little elephant with the big ears fit the bill."

Even if he did kind of wince in sympathy every time they plucked the magic feather from that poor crow's butt.

[life_inshadow]

Tara took a handful of popcorn and flopped onto the couch. "Having a hard time being grounded?" she asked sympathetically. "My -- Kennedy went to be a hero so I'm kind of ... waiting."

Waiting, incidentally, sucked. You could quote Tara on that.

[wwiii]

"Waiting sucks," Warren sighed, frowning in a bit of sympathy of his own. "Part of me feels like I should be out there doing something to help, but having wings isn't exactly the same as being a superhero."

It just meant that there was more of him to cramp up while he was hiding from the giant dinosaur.

[life_inshadow]

"Try being a witch," Tara commiserated. "There's nothing in any of my books about creepy monkeypony creatures, and the spooky fogs are the wrong kinds of spooky fog."

She gave him a half-smile and added, "But your wings are very pretty."

[wwiii]

Warren gave his feathers a little ruffle at that, cracking a momentary grin. It wasn't long-lived, but it was there.

"Pretty and functional," he offered. "You can't really beat that combination. Usually."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She didn't really know the other girl, for all that they'd spoken before, but Hinata offered her a smile and the comment, "Have you seen this one before?"

[life_inshadow]

Tara smiled slightly at Hinata. "Not since I was really little," she admitted. "It's good though. Sweet. Have you?"

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

That got a shake of her head.

"I haven't," she said, with a soft laugh. "I n-normally wind up watching whatever other people have put on. I've seen most of Darkest Night and a fair bit of... reality TV or action films, but not many animated movies."

[life_inshadow]

"You'll like this one," Tara promised. "It's about ... believing in yourself. And it's good distraction from whatever's out there."

Said with a glare out the window.

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah walked slowly into the common room and headed to the refrigerator to see if there was anything to eat or drink... and perhaps some ice in the freezer. She was trying to be smart as she knew if she tried to cast even the smallest spell, she was going to pass out. But, she needed ice and something to drink before she tried even looking at what kinds of wounds she had.

She paused, leaning against the counter to look at the TV.

"Oooh, I love this one."

[wwiii]

"Flying elephants," Warren said, his voice full of forced chipperness. "What's not to love?"

He then turned to see the girl who had spoken, and that was about the point when his eyebrows knit in concern. "Are you alright?"

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Her nod was slow, but she smiled in as much of a reassuring way as she could make herself. "I look a lot worse than I am. There was... a smaller version of that giant lizard thing outside."

She wrinkled her nose. "Some deep scratches... but so so tired. Too much magic use."

She was telling the truth, she was just worn out from too much of her energy being used in a short time.

She'd be heading to her room to clean up and rest...

...as soon as she could stand away from the counter.

[wwiii]

"I think you need to sit down," Warren replied, with all of the expert opinion that came from being the shut-in son of a millionaire pharmaceutical company owner.

... Which wasn't much.

He was putting the popcorn bowl down and making his way over to offer her a hand getting to the couch if she wanted one, though.

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Actually, she appreciated the assistance and that was far less embarrassing than passing out on her face.

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"A-Ano," Hinata said, watching the other girl carefully. "Perhaps you should sit down?"

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah blinked and then smiled when she recognized Hinata.

"Hello, Hinata," she said with a nod. "I plan to as soon as I find something to drink and an icepack."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Or you could ask someone else for help," she said gently. "Did you want anything in specific to drink?"

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"That... that's a good idea," Savannah said agreeably.

After Warren (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhighdorms/1876389.html?thread=162128549#t162128549) helped her to the couch she smiled, shaking her head. "Anything but water or alcohol, please?"