Fifth Floor Common Room [evening]

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla, after listening to the radio avidly for the last few days, had decided that the other candidates for Student Council had tapped out the baked goods bribery market, which was why she was seated at the table writing a series of very polite notes to the members of the sophomore class and tying blue (which were scary, but school colour-related!) and yellow carnations to each with a pair of blue and yellow ribbons.

Jims was snoozing in a wicker basket nearby, and pot of tea was waiting by the stove. She'd share with anyone who stopped in, but especially if you were a Soph.

Comments

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

Bruce was making his way back to his room after a day in the cave when he decided to stop into the common room just to see if anything was going on.

"Hello, Rilla. Doing some homework?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Sort of," Rilla said, holding up the school directory. "I'm writing to my fellow sophomores and asking them to vote for me."

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"You can't go anywhere to escape the election these days," Bruce noted in a lighthearted tone. "You only have one person running against you so far, right?"

[wasthecuteone]

Petra had posters, she had markers, she had glitter and glue and half the contents of her sewing supplies' embellishments bin. She was ready to start her campaign for Student Council. All she needed was a bigger space to work in. Common room. Perfect.

She paused in the doorway, nearly dropping half her armload of stuff, to ask, "...is that a baby?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"So far," Rilla agreed, "but there are still almost two weeks until the elections, so people can decide to run any day now!"

It was possible that Annie was rubbing off on her.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla nodded. "It is. It's rather a long story. Come in, though! He sleeps like a rock when he finally goes out."

[wasthecuteone]

"Babies usually are," Petra agreed. She eyed the bag of markers and glue that was part of her haul and asked, "You don't think the fumes will bother him? Maybe if I sit on the other side of the room?"

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"The important thing is that you've got a head start, and people will remember you from last year," Bruce said. "You'll be fine. But the letters are a nice touch."

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"And now the new students are getting in on the elections, too?" Bruce asked. "It's nice to see such a taste for democracy around here."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"I did it last year, too," Rilla said. "Mother says that thank you notes are important, so I suppose 'please' notes fall into that as well."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"If you wouldn't mind," Rilla said. "I'll even join you so we don't have to yell. I'm Rilla Blythe: are you new this fall or new from the summer?"

[wasthecuteone]

"Do you have a problem with that?" Petra asked, her tone suggesting he'd better not. "I have as much right to get involved as anyone."

[wasthecuteone]

"Petra West," Petra said, and confirmed, "Yeah, I just got here last week. Thought I'd accidentally sent my self to a loony bin for a few days there, but...apparently not so much."

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"It adds a personal touch and explains more than a simple flier, at least," Bruce said. "But on the other hand, you have a lot more notes to write this year, don't you?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"I worried about that for quite some time myself," Rilla admitted. "There was a lot that was different from home, and not just my roommate at the time being a boy. Some of it you'll almost get used to."

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"I don't. And even if I did, you wouldn't need my vote anyway. I'm a senior," Bruce noted. "I'm just impressed. I don't remember this much early excitement last year."

[wasthecuteone]

"Well, it's better to get an early start on these kinds of things, I think," Petra said. "That way you're not doing everything at the very last minute. Like, I worked on my pageant costumes for months...which, okay, not exactly the same, but still."

[wasthecuteone]

"My roommate has tiny--" Petra sat down her stuff and gestured vaguely with her hands "--dragon. Things. Three of them."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Rilla said. "I'm glad I got started now, or my hand will really start cramping."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla gaped. "Really? Mine just had a name that I thought might belong to a girl: Squall. Wouldn't that have been pretty if she grew up by the sea?"

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"So costumes aren't going to be a big part of your campaign?" Bruce asked. He was shocked by that. Shocked! "I suppose it's probably a smart move."

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"Just remember to pace yourself," Bruce offered. "And try to keep them relatively concise."

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

Stephanie had just been planning on scavenging for food in the fridge, although she had a book in one hand (for fun for once, not an assignment) as she wandered in; that was why she didn't notice Rilla and Jims right away.

Bad junior detective.

"Oh, hi," she remarked over her shoulder after a moment. "I'm not bothering you, am I?"

Give her a second. She hadn't noticed Jims's basket.

[wasthecuteone]

Petra didn't really think so, it put her in mind of babies, you know, screaming, but she said, "I guess it could be a pretty name, but I probably would have guessed boy. Or someone who was really obnoxious as a baby," she couldn't help adding.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla nodded. "Since I don't know most of these names, I don't want them to think I'm pretending some kind of friendship we don't have."