5th Floor Common Room, Thursday Morning

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

This was not the bushes behind Castle Pup, where she'd gone to sleep. Last she remembered, the one called Mooner had left a plate of food out for her like he had done for the past month. There had been some kind of construction project going on. It had started shortly after she had made it abundantly clear that she would not be going into the building. Perhaps they had been building her a shack or something.

Florida didn't know where she was, or what was going on. But she was hungry. She had sneaked around the hallway until she found this room that looked like it might contain food. Those cupboards for instance.

The plan was to grab something to eat and run.

Clambering up onto the counter, she began to rummage through the top cabinets.

[Open!]

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[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall ignored the girl climbing on the counter as best as he could, considering she was in his way. He walked up and, without saying anything, reached over and around her to grab a bag of chips.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Eeep! She'd been so focused on looking for food she'd missed his approach! She stopped being in his way as she dove from the counter and ran across the room to hide behind the couch.

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the couch was where Squall was headed next. He sighed and looked at the kid. "I'm not going to hurt you," he told her with a bit of a pout. "There's nothing to be scared of."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

The words meant nothing to Florida. Someone had said something similar just after killing her parents. But the pout made her think twice. It was possible he was telling the truth.

But then how had she gotten here?

She didn't take her eyes off him as she scooted back along the wall. But more cautiously than frantically.

She also wondered what was in the bag.

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall rolled his eyes at her. "Whatever."

Then he sat down on the couch and started flipping through channels, looking for something that didn't suck too badly.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Hmm, his attention was no longer on her, which would make it easier to run for the door, but her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't found any food yet.

Plus that box across the room was doing something strange. She poked her head around the edge of the couch to see what was going on.

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall opened the chips and started eating, still flipping through channels.

He looked over at the head poking around the edge of the couch. "What?" he demanded.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Hey of the two of them who had suddenly appeared in an unfamiliar castle? Florida felt that if anyone had the right to demand 'what', it was she. But she didn't.

She just looked at the tv, frowning in confusion, then at him. Then back and the tv. And...she may have stolen a look at the bag of chips too.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"I don't think you are supposed to be up there," James cautioned in passing, peering over her shoulder. Hmmm, that looked interesting.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

These cupboards must be a trap, because they kept allowing people to sneak up on her while she was looking for food.

Florida spun, somehow managing not to fall off onto the floor or into the sink, taking a defensive stance. She probably resembled a cat, ready to attack or flee.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"That looks like popped corn on the top shelf," he said, observing her. Agile enough for a kid. Acrobat?

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Elf.

Popped corn? What the heck was popped corn? She eyed him cautiously, ready to make a break for it if necessary.

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

If she was expecting him to offer her some chips, or to otherwise be friendly, she was looking at entirely the wrong person. Squall sighed. "What do you want?" he asked again. The kid was starting to unnerve him.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

She shrank back, so that now only half her head was visible. Tentatively, she pointed at the tv, and made a questioning sound in her throat.

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall looked at the TV. "You're right, it sucks." So he changed the channel.

"Do you talk at all?"

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Are you new? Are you here with someone?" he asked.

She could talk, yes?

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Nope. She never took her eyes off him, and scooted backwards. Fortunately away from the knives.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

She stared at the TV. What had just happened? The noises and the pictures had just changed abruptly. He'd pointed something at it.

Again the inarticulate questioning noise, as she edged a little further out from behind the couch. Her curiosity was beginning to overcome her fear.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

He tilted his head, just watching her.

He didn't move or talk.

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Well, she was officially more worthy of his attention than the television, so Squall watched her intently. She was too young to be a student, so...

(Great. We're being invaded by tiny annoying mimes.)

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Not to worry, Florida would not be attempting 'walking against the wind' any time soon.

Her attention went away from the television when she noticed he was scrutinizing her. She eyed him right back, suddenly putting on a show of bravado.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Well this could go on for awhile.

Florida still did not take her eyes from him as she hopped down to the floor, slowly edging her way towards the door.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

He'd seen something similar from some kids around the Poor Quarter, kids that did not have a family or guild support, living how they could.

He made a mental note to look out for her.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

The moment he was no longer between her and the door, she bolted.

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall met her eyes. If she wanted a stare-down, he wasn't about to lose.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Florida's hair was unkempt and occasionally hid her eyes, so it might be hard to tell if she blinked. She didn't go back to hiding behind the couch though.

She even reached a tentative hand towards the bag of chips.