Fifth floor common room [evening]

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla had noticed plenty of new faces and in an effort to make the ones on her floor feel particularly at home, had gone to J,GOB and picked up some cupcakes to go with the tea she was brewing. (Rilla was also learning the extent of her baking prowess and icing wasn't among her talents yet.)

She'd ignored the television, but had found the only radio station around that played music she found particularly interesting to listen to, so if you were wandering past the fifth floor common room, you'd hear the kettle shrieking and the sound of jazz playing.

Rilla was ahead of her time on music--just a few decades behind the rest of the school.

Comments

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

Dave was wandering the dorms again and ended up on the fifth floor again somehow. Most likely by walking up the stairs, but who could really be sure?

He really hadn't expected to hear the sound of jazz and a kettle when he hit the fifth floor, so he had to check it out. "I didn't even know the common rooms had radios," Dave said, partially to himself and partially to whomever might be listening. So many things he didn't know still.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Oh, hey! New kid I haven't met yet!"

Really, it was a standard greeting.

"I'm Ariel; who might you be?"

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Dave. Dave Nelson," Dave said after taking a moment to register that the bubbly girl started talking to him. "I guess the new kids are pretty easy to pick at that this point."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Well, you know, at this point," Ariel reasoned, "it's either a new kid, or it's just someone who's only recently dug himself out from one of the lockers that eat you, and so I tend to go with the first one. Do you live on this floor, Dave?"

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"No, I'm on the third floor. Which is the best floor, from what I'm told," Dave said, feeling like it was his duty to parrot Kate on that point. "You don't happen to know which lockers are the hungry ones, do you? Because I'd sure like to avoid that."

He was being sarcastic. Because really, lockers that ate people? Hilarious.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"I don't," Ariel admitted. "So I just tend to avoid all the lockers, myself."

No need to use your locker when your whole room was a storage space.

"I don't know who you've been talking to, either, but I'm pretty sure the fifth floor's the best one. I mean, we have me, and Rilla, and cupcakes, and great music. Did they have all that downstairs?"

She would hold off mentioning her Cheetos stash on the fourth floor. She didn't want to up their credibility for the best.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"I brought it from my room," Rilla admitted. "Hello! I'm Rilla."

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that makes sense," Dave said. "I'm Dave. You're a fan of jazz? Or is it just background noise while you're making... whatever it is that you're making?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"I'm making tea," Rilla said with a laugh. "Would you like some? And I've discovered that I really love jazz."

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I couldn't. The coffee around here might start feeling jealous if I start drinking something else," Dave joked.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Have the beverages gone sentient?" Rilla asked, looking a little alarmed.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

It was always nice to come back home and find some activity in the common room. It was made even better when some of that activity involved cupcakes and Rilla.

"Welcome cupcakes?" she guessed, eying them curiously...and hungrily. "I don't suppose they're just general cupcakes for people who love cupcakes, are they?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"I suppose I could spare one for you," Rilla said, beaming.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure?" asked Ariel, grinning. "I mean, I wouldn't want you to open up a can of worms there, Rilla. I mean, what happens if someone sees that you gave me one, and then they'll want one, too, and then where would we be except cupcakeless?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"So far, I think I can risk it," Rilla said. "If the entire school comes for cupcakes, you might have to share."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Well, I guess," Ariel said, sighing so dramatically at the hardship that caused, but then she giggled. "I guess I better eat it quickly, then! Thanks, Rilla."

[randomspanish.livejournal.com]

Freddie had found the fifth floor common room quite fun the previous night, so had forged his way up to it again that Monday evening. He happened to like the jazz music, so he wasn't going to complain. He did, however, have his laptop tucked under his arm as he was planning to sit down with it on one of the couches. There wasn't anything entirely odd about his attire... though his t-shirt had a penny on one sleeve and had 'Fried Clown' emblazoned on the front.

"Hi," he greeted on his way in. "Making something interesting?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Tea," Rilla said. "There's also cup--why are you frying a clown?" She pointed at his t-shirt.

[randomspanish.livejournal.com]

"I'm not actually frying a clown," Freddie said with a smile. "I mean, I don't hold anything against clowns, either. It was just a silly phrase we decided to put on a t-shirt. It's a good conversation starter, really."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"If you wish for people to believe you are a cannibal, perhaps," Rilla said. "I prefer cupcakes. Would you like one?"

[randomspanish.livejournal.com]

Freddie made a face. "I really hope it doesn't give that impression," he said, a little worried. He might have to retire this shirt. "But I definitely prefer cupcakes. They're the best combination of cups and cakes."

His face changed back to a pleasant smile.

"I'm Freddie, by the way."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Hi, other new kid I haven't met yet!" Ariel gave him a little wave.

[randomspanish.livejournal.com]

"Hi," Freddie greeted, waving with the arm that didn't have his computer tucked under it. "I'm Freddie. I guess this is the time where we all keep running into people we've not met yet."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

Ariel's head bobbed in a nod. "For about a few weeks, and then you just get used to everyone's faces. And I'm Ariel. You're not...the Freddie rooming with my little sibling Richie, are you?"

[randomspanish.livejournal.com]

"I think I might be," Freddie said. "Richie from Seacouver? Because that's my roommate."