Third Floor Common Room, Friday evening

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

Dave had a few things on his mind right now. Concern over the beginning of the school year. Boredom now that his horrifying yet entertaining roommate had been away for a few days. Worry about voicemails talking about giving him weapons. But right now he was focusing on the Student Council election. He intended to win one of the sophomore seats, and he was going to do it the best way he knew how: by making the best damn jam he could. And he could make pretty good jam. He won gold medals three years running for Best Preserves at his local 4-H.

And if that didn't work, maybe he could terrify impress people with his trick knife-throwing. But he'd have to get the money for throwing knives, or at least have his mother send his set from home. So really, the preserves were his best bet.

And that's why he was hard at work in the common room's kitchen with several jars, pots, and plenty of fruit. Once he was done with this, he just needed a good tagline. Something about... "Dave will help you out of a JAM." Except that he was using jam to win votes. Somehow.

Dave was starting to realize that he hadn't really thought through the idea of preserves as a campaign tool. But it was too late to stop now.

[OOC: The common room is as open as common rooms tend to be!]

Comments

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

Quinn bustled into the common room in an apron, bearing a determined expression and a few boxes of Betty Crocker.

"Oh," she said, trying and failing at not sounding disappointed. "You're ... already cooking."

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

Dave looked over to see what Quinn was holding. "If all you're doing is baking, the oven's free," Dave said. "I'm sticking to the stove."

Not literally. He was very neat with his preserves.

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

"Just baking. It's cupcakes for the seniors for my student council campaign," Quinn explained, stepping over to an area of the counter that didn't seem to be in use to mix the batter. "Thanks. Is that jelly?"

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"It will be soon enough," Dave said. "I know it's probably not as strong a draw to the sophomores as cupcakes or something, but it's really good. I'm hoping quality counts for something."

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

"I'd be impressed if somebody made me jelly," Quinn said. She was lying a little bit, but she was going to be in nice-to-everybody mode until after the election. "All cupcakes prove is that I can read a box and add eggs. Canning is all ... technical."

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Thank you. You know, most people don't realize how much work goes into it," Dave said, totally buying the partial lie. "If I were a senior, you would have already won my vote."

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

Quinn beamed at him, or as much of a beam as she could manage when she was trying to wrestle a wooden spoon out of a safety-latched drawer.

"Thank you," she said smoothly. "And if I were a sophomore, I'd totally vote for the guy with the jam."

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"I wonder if that would work as a tagline," Dave mused. "Vote for Dave: he's the guy with the jam."

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

"I think mine is 'Seniors are Fabray-lous,'" Quinn said, trying to see how it sounded out loud. "Maybe ... add something to yours? 'The guy with the jam and a plan'."?

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

As usual, Kenzi was drawn to the smell of cooking. Something sugary and fruity. Nom nom nom. "OOoooo. Sharing?"

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Not yet," Dave said. "And only with sophomores, I'm afraid. Unless you are one."

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

Kenzi had to actually stop and think. Which was probably obvious when she lied, "Sure! And why are we so lucky?"

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Student Council elections. Some people give out cookies. I'm taking a different approach," Dave said, after noticing the weird pause. "Mostly because I'm not much of a baker."

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

"What kinds of fruity goodness are you baking?" Kenzi marveled. "And ... do you have to make jam for the Council? Is this a skills thing?" Hey, it was Fandom. It could happen!

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"I'm working on grape jam right now, but I have strawberries and blueberries, too," Dave said. "And no, this is really just a campaign thing. Making preserves is harder than you might think, so it gets the idea of good old fashioned hard work out there."

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

"So who am I voting for?" Kenzi asked, curious. Also, hard work for its own sake.... fun for people who liked it? Maybe he deserved someone's vote.

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Well, since it took you so long to decide what grade you're in, I'm guessing not me," Dave pointed out. "But I'm Dave. Nice to meet you."

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

Kenzi grinned, cheerfully not denying it. "Oh, that's how I know your voice. Radio Guy! I'm Kenzi. I was supposed to leave you some weapons, then I kinda got distracted by a friend turning into a monster."

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

Oh, goody. Quinn's favorite person. She didn't bother with much of a greeting.

"Kenzi! What grade are you in?"

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

"Why do you want to know?" Quid pro quo, Quin! Ooo, that all kind of flowed together, didn't it?

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

"Because I'd like to ask for your Student Council vote if you're a senior." Her teeth gritted with the strain of sounding nice as she said it.

Quinn didn't think Kenzi was a senior, but there were a lot of names on the class list she only half-recognized. Kenzi might be hiding inside one of them.

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

Ahahahha! Oh, the most legal forms of bribery went on during political campaigns. This could be great! "Wow. And what's your platform?"

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

"I offer proven, rational leadership that will guide us smoothly through this year and into the future."

Quinn was watching Kenzi closely; she doubted she'd impress the girl, but anything short of a burst of laughter would count as a win in her books.

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

A smirk is not a laugh, and now Kenzi was curious. "So the next time bad stuff invades, you'll be handing out weapons and shit?"

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

Hell, no. The way Quinn saw it, enough bad crap happened during invasions without her going out and looking for trouble.

"I've been more on the traditional-high-school side of leadership," she said diplomatically. "But if my classmates want someone who'll throw themselves into battles, I can try to do that."

Political campaigns: All about bribery and lying your ass off.